An interesting and quick paced YA romantasy that puts the focus on Norse mythology. I enjoyed the book from start to finish!

Umm can we first talk about the ending !??
INSANE !! I am SHOOK !


This world was my favorite because it is rooted in Norse mythology! This was my favorite concept and I ate it UP !

The atmosphere was dark and snowy .
Bloody and romantic !!!
It was full of betrayal and monsters !

I loved the twist and turns , and the reveals we got !

Beautifully written, and easy to get lost within, INHERITANCE OF SCARS is an enjoyable young adult fantasy.

What drew me to this book originally was the fact that it’s a Norse mythology fantasy. I’ve been devouring Norse inspired fantasies all year and this book was no exception. I related to our FMC, Astrid, and her struggle with Crohn’s disease, and I thought the author did a fantastic and respectful job for the representation.

Pros:
•Norse inspired fantasy
•Respectful and well done representation of a chronic disease. I really wish I had this book when I was a teenager and struggled.
•Adventure
•Dreams which are actually visions.
•MMC, Soren, is great!
•Reincarnation- I really enjoyed this premise. Some people may not, but I thought it added a unique element to the story.
•Standalone.
•Great writing for an author’s debut.

Con’s:
•Pacing at times did lag a bit for me. But the overall story and characters carried the book.
•Indecisive FMC. I liked Astrid a lot, especially for being a teenage character. But she was fairly easily swayed. This may have to do with her age, and I didn’t find it too tedious, but if you’re the type of reader who needs absolutely determined FMCs, Astrid isn’t necessarily that. She’s strong in other ways though.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I would recommend this to anyone who has ever had a chronic bowel disease or any disability who would love to see more representation. Even if you don’t have those things, this is a great story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for a review!

This book was spellbinding from beginning to end. It's such a dark, haunting narrative about the cycles we start, the paths we walk, and the justification we give ourselves, even when our choices aren't always the right ones. But though this is a dark fantasy full of horrors and hurt, it also focuses on the power we hold to shatter those harmful repetitions and choose a new future that is entirely our own.

I absolutely loved diving into the eerie, twisting realm of Norse folklore and myths. Astrid was such a strong, captivating narrator, and she, Soren, and the rest of the cast made for such wonderful characters to accompany us on our journey through this unfamiliar world and rich plot full of twists and turns. I loved seeing the Crohn's rep and thought that it was handled beautifully! And the heaviness of the story meant that the moments of light, hope, and love shone all the brighter. Such a stellar debut - I'm looking forward to Crystal's future books!

I was really looking forward to this. The cover caught my eye and it sounded like a great read for this time of year. Although I liked certain aspects of it, there was some issues I had. The pacing was a bit slow at times and it didn't keep me as engaged as I had hoped. I don't think that the dual timeline helped for me either. I understand the reason for it, but it was a lot and it did feel repetitive since its from generation to generation. The setting was very spooky and dark and I definitely was digging that.

Overall, it was a good but just needed more.

when astrid’s grandmother disappears into the tiveden forest, she decides to enter it in search of her, despite the forest’s notoriety for its bloodthirsty monsters. soon after, she accidentally awakens a deadly draugr named soren…and she’s not sure if he wants to kiss her or kill her. either way, she needs his help to find her grandmother. the deeper they venture into the forest, the more astrid learns about soren and the truth behind her grandmother’s disappearance.

what initially drew me into this book was that it featured norse mythology and chronic illness (astrid has crohn’s disease, which is in remission). i love seeing both of these elements in fantasy books, so i was excited to see how these would play out in this book! i really enjoyed getting to learn more about norse mythology, as i’ve only read a handful of books featuring it. also, astrid’s chronic illness was represented respectfully, in my opinion, though i can’t speak to its accuracy since i don’t have crohn’s disease myself.

one thing i wished was different was the fact this is a standalone. a lot happened in this book, and i really wish this could’ve at least been a duology so these ideas could have been more fleshed-out! still, i really enjoyed this book, and i can’t wait for more from crystal seitz.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's already out, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

A stunning book! I had never read anything from this author but I will definitely be continuing to do so.

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an exciting read! Lots of twists and turns! I'm really impressed that this is the author's first work, I think her next book will be even better.

The plot, Astrid & Soren really carried the book with their evolving relationship. Fair warning though, if people don't like reincarnation and Astrid getting feelings for her great-great-great-great x20 grandmother's boyfriend...it may not work out for y'all, lol.

I think my only complaint was how indecisive the protagonist could get. She's a teenager which makes sense, but also it got kind of annoying after a certain point. She would agree with x person only to go person y instead and then went back to person x. It was a lot of information for her to process but it was kinda funny to me how often she kept going back and forth with her decisions. It was satisfying when she finally decided on one thing and followed through with it in the end, so it was great character development there, at least.

I really love that Astrid had Crohn's Disease and it didn't make a huge impact on the story or setting. It was part of her life and she deals with it but it didn't impact her story too negatively. I really love fantasy books that have disabled protagonists but their disability doesn't define them or upend the story. Excellent work there!

I love reading books wiith wonderful and accurate representation. Not to mention a creative storyline annd dynamic characters. Grea story!

I greatly enjoyed Inheritance of Scars, a debut novel by Crystal Seitz that’s officially being released on Oct. 1. It’s labeled dark fantasy by the publisher, and it certainly includes peril, difficult choices, and dark history and consequences from the past, but I found the ending very satisfying, and the journey there was interesting and well written.
The protagonist is Astrid, a teen who lost her mother in infancy and whose father took her away from the village she grew up in, mostly raised by her grandmother, nine years ago, never really explaining why. Her adolescence has been gravely complicated by Crohn’s disease, so she’s made few friends in Stockholm since then. When her grandmother goes missing and is declared dead, her father grudgingly agrees to take Astrid back for the memorial service.
Astrid finds evidence that her grandmother, Amma, didn’t just wander off, but took a trip into the forest – and left instructions for Astrid to join her. When Astrid, desperate for reunion, tries to follow these instructions, she soon finds out that all those Norse folk tales Amma used to tell her were actually warnings about real monsters. There are very good reasons that nobody from the village ever goes beyond a certain point into the forest, the weird dreams she’s having are some kind of ancestral visions, and there’s a destiny that Astrid, the descendant of the foremother of the village, is expected to fulfill. As she is repeatedly told, “The blood oath must not be broken.”
A lot of this book is about making choices and figuring out who to trust. Astrid’s distrust of her father’s motivations is reasonable, given his years of silence, but she continually wonders about the motivations of a traveling companion who joins in her quest. She also distrusts certain feelings that begin stirring within herself, since she’s unsure whether those feelings are really entirely hers. And when she finds out about her family legacy, and hears about her duty to follow it, she hates it but feels she has little choice. There were numerous times I felt she was making the wrong choices, but could understand why she made them. That made it all the better when she finally saw that she was being presented with some false and unacceptable choices, realized she had other options, and became an active agent rather than a reactor to events or a passive vessel.
Plot threads early in the novel are woven through and come back to the forefront in exciting ways. Astrid can’t save everyone, and some losses are profound, but some unexpected allies arise; so their actions together have big impacts not only on the present but transforming some of the past.
The excellent writing skills displayed by Seitz also strongly contributed to my enjoyment of this book. The word-pictures she paints of Astrid’s childhood memories and the forest journey are immersive, the creatures encountered along the way are creepily described and often quite chilling, and conversations feel convincing.
This is a really good debut novel. I will certainly keep it in mind as a possible Lodestar nominee, and Seitz as a possible Astounding nominee (since a quick search doesn’t reveal any previously published short fiction, etc., by Seitz) when awards season comes around.

I gave up on this book at the 55% mark. I really struggled with the pacing of this story. The book felt very dragged out, especially in part two. I also was weirded out about the whole Torsten/Soren/Astrid love triangle. It was gross to think about Astrid having feelings for her ancestor's ex-lover. I couldn't get behind Torsten and Astrid's relationship. I did like the Crohn's representation in the book! I think readers with chronic illnesses with relate with Astrid. Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC.

Ok, this was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I’m so sad that I didn’t love it the way I hoped. The story wasn’t bad and the concept was interesting, I just thought it dragged, I was constantly page watching.

This book gave me so much joy. I can’t even begin to describe the things I felt reading it. Not only is it so solid writing and story wise, and just fabulously romantic, but never in my life have a read representation like this. I literally wept multiple times reading lines that almost perfectly described my own experience with Crohn’s disease. If I had this book as a teenager, I would have truly felt seen and not so alone. I can’t believe this book exists and we are so blessed it does.

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the opportunity to read this book.

A really fantastic debut! I loved the plot so much, the characters and their arcs, i loved the horror SO MUCH i do wish there was more of it or that the characters interacted with it more but that’s just me, i could always have more horror. I loved how much heart went into this story, evidently, i loved the romance- there were some aspects of it that i couldn’t fully get behind but understand the need for them for the plot- overall, a joy to read and i can’t wait to read more from this author!

I think this book has a lot of fantastic things that make it incredible, from atmospheric writing to an incredible setting. Though, I found it just wasn't for me. This isn't anything against the book, but rather due to my personal tastes!

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what expect when I requested this book. The summary drew me in as well as the unique cover.

I absolutely loved this book! We follow Astrid, who returns to the village her grandmother raised her in after her uprooted and moved them away 9 years prior. When she returns to the town, she discovers her grandmother to be missing. When she finds a mysterious note from her grandmother, she refuses to believe everyone in the village who says she died. As she searches the house, she accidentally wakes up Soren, a centuries old Vikings warrior (Draugr). As he is in search of the woman who imprisoned him, they both find themselves headed in similar directions. Astrid must follow Soren into a deadly magical forest as he is the only one who can help her navigate it. As they venture the forest together, Astrid and Soren learn more about the past that has brought them together and are faced with a choice to right the wrongs of a centuries old curse or to continue to honor the roles that they were cast in.

I loved that in addition to the main plot, we get flashes of the back story for how Soren was trapped in the basement of Astrid's grandmother's house. Those flash backs were crucial to understanding the current plot line. This book was full of twists and turns, morally gray characters, and themes about identity, fate/destiny, family, and love. It was unique and different. It also doesn't hurt that it's a stand alone!

Overall, I would recommend this to fantasy lovers who like a little paranormal and a little bit of a "darker" mood and setting.

The Inheritance of Scars poses a question: Could you handle the weight of a generational legacy? And what if that legacy turned out to be a curse?

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of Inheritance of Scars.

This unique fantasy, infused with Norse mythology, presents a captivating blend of romance and an almost gothic atmosphere. While it is categorized as fantasy, romance, and mythology, I would also venture to label it as a mystery. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, leading the protagonist’s life to unravel in dramatic fashion. Despite the chaos, she senses that not everything is as it seems, prompting her to follow clues, rely on her intuition, and seek guidance from an unlikely ally to uncover the truth.

The main character is young and that is evident and occasionally a source of frustration; however, she ultimately embodies strength and a compassionate heart. In contrast, the male lead struck me as neither evil nor purely morally ambiguous. Rather, he appears kind, patient, and willing to change, albeit with a slight edge that adds complexity to his character.

Key Themes:
-Mythology
-Mystery
-Betrayal
-Sacrifice
-Disability Representation (Crohn's Disease)
-Romance
-Quest

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The beginning was engaging and intriguing, while the ending delivered a surprising twist. Although there were a few slower points in the middle that felt drawn out, they did not significantly detract from my enjoyment. I would also note, based on descriptions I’ve encountered, that this story doesn’t fit the traditional enemies-to-lovers trope for me; to me the romance would be better described as being lost but finding your way back home.

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I did feel, however, that the weight of the trauma at the conclusion was somewhat glossed over. Maybe that’s just my perspective, but the ending was traumatic and filled with death.

Filled with bone-chilling forests, Norse mythology, and dark, moody settings, Inheritance of Scars has taken vampires to a new and fresh level. Those who love the enemies to lovers trope will swoon for the romance in this book, which takes place between Astrid and Soren (who just so happens to be my next book boyfriend for many reasons). I love that the author has taken pieces of her journey with Crohn’s disease to Astrid to create an authentic and much-needed lens for readers on the page. The world needs more diverse books. I can’t wait to read more from Crystal!