The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.
Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?
Move aside Vampires and Werewolves… Valkyries are here and they are her to stay. When I found this book on tour, I knew I had to be a part of it because I have been practically itching to try out something new. While, Vampires and werewolves make for an entertaining read, and I am always up for a good murder story, but every now and then something new feels refreshing.
Bryn Halbrook is lost in the foster care system ever since her father died he stay mother walked out of her life. She often feels lonely as she feels that she is different from those around her. For instance nobody around her can see the auras and nobody else has had to realise that the ‘gift’ that she has helps her know who is going to die only by losing their best friend. Then Aiden turns up and everything seems to shift in her life. She is attracted to Aiden, the brooding new kid in the foster family. But just as sudden as his appearance in her life Aiden disappears from their lives. Now Bryn is left alone to work out her inherited legacy.
As the protagonist, Bryn Halbrook is certainly an interesting character. True to her teenage years, she is having trouble in ‘finding herself’ and things are bit dramatic. But what’s teenage life without a bit of angst and drama? Her character grows over the story and she grows into someone I can like – quite practical (well most of the times) and strong. Aiden, with his brooding nature and good looks is intriguing. I always have a hard time believing in the love at first sight thing and so the ‘love’ between Bryn and Aiden was a bit too much for me to accept. I mean, they hardly knew each other before Bryn’s self admission of her one and only love.
The plot as such was quite interesting to me. I love Mythology even though I have very little knowledge of foreign mythology, I enjoy reading and learning more. Valkyrie was a new concept for me and I liked it. The novel is fast paced and the author has hardly wasted any time with unnecessary details or situations.
Overall I liked quite a lot.
As the ultimate battle, Ragnarok, draws closer, it's a race against time for Bryn, Fenrir and their team to discover who kidnapped her foster brother from the halls of Asgard and what's causing the mysterious deaths of so many of Odin's chosen warriors.
In the exciting sequel to DEAD RADIANCE, Bryn encounters dwarfs and dragons, new friends and old foes—but worst enemy of all may be the person she trusts most!
The second book picks up soon after where the first book ended. Bryn is now a Valkyrie in training. Without her best friend by her side, Bryn has a hard time – doubting herself and second guessing her decisions. But time isn’t on her side either. She has to save Aiden and find out who is poisoning people soon as without new warriors, they have little hope of winning the looming war.
The character of Bryn is in a spiral mode in the instalment. On one hand she is second guessing all her decisions and on the other hand she doesn’t know whom to trust. But I loved her spunk. She moves ahead with her training, her agenda of saving Aiden from hell and find the culprit behind all the poisoning. Even in this second book, her character keeps growing and I loved that fact.
Once again, the best part of the plot was the mythology. I loved the Viking mythology. A lot of different gods and creatures are introduced to the readers in this book. Even Thor makes an appearance. It was interesting to not only learn about the Gods & creatures but also their powers.
The author’s style of writing remained consistent with the first book. She did put in a couple of amazing twists that I absolutely loved reading about. But, is it funny that every time I read the name Loki, I get a mental picture of Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth popped in when Thor made an appearance?
The book ended with a HUGE cliffhanger and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third part!
About the Author
Tee has been a writer from the time she was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into her imagination. Poetry was her first foray into the art of the written word. Books were her best friends, her escape, her haven. She is essentially a recluse but this part of her personality is impossible to practise given she has two teenage daughters, who are actually her friends, her tea-makers, her confidantes… She is blessed with a husband who has left her for golf. It’s a fair trade as she has left him for writing. They are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…
Her heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where her old roots still remain, and her heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. Her love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of Tee has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because she is so torn between these two lands – she shall forever remain cross-eyed.
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I found your great blog through the WLC Blog Follows on the World Literary Cafe! Great to connect!
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