I really did try with this book because it sounded so interesting, but in the end it just wasn't for me. But I'm sure people who enjoy mythology will enjoy this book.

I have been a fan of Emmy Laybourne since her Monument 14 series. I have enjoyed her other books. I was really excited for this one and I requested it on Netgalley back when I think I didn’t realize how they counted your reviewing percentage on there, as well as I wasn’t yet doing well with my blogging keeping track of ARCs like I do now. So I never got to it. Then, about a year ago I think? I found a copy of it at the Dollar Tree, and I went ahead and purchased it. I set it as one of my Tackle My TBR books because by reading it, I can also get it reviewed over on Netgalley! So yay! It took me a bit to get into this one, but overall I enjoyed the Norse mythology aspect of it for sure. I didn’t realize it was going to have a sequel, but the way it ended definitely left it open and I am glad, because I’d love to see what happens next. But I’ll have to get ahold of that book, and who knows when or if I will have time to read it!

I love anything having to do with mythology, and I'm significantly less familiar with Norse mythology than Greek so I was even more intrigued by Berserker. Emmy is such a versatile author, and I've loved following her career. I really felt for Hanne and enjoyed reading about her violent gift. I loved her brothers, too. While things felt slow at times, I enjoyed it overall!

As much as I wanted to like this book. It just wasn't for me! I really liked the Viking element, but it was a hard book to get into.

Despite the fact that it took a LONG time to get through this book, it was worth the read. I'd never read anything by Emmy Laybourne (I will now for sure), yet Berserker stayed with me. I'm not one to force myself through a book but I couldn't let go of this one even though I kept putting it down. I love Norse mythology and reading about Hanne and her Berserker gift was very compelling -- combine that with the American Western frontier, I'm sold. I found myself thinking about Hanne and her brothers Stieg and Knut during my reading 'breaks' (switching to fluffy books) -- and if Hanne would go on a Berserker rampage if one of them was threatened. Would she fall in love with her cowboy guide? Be captured by someone collecting people with Gifts? I found it to be a unique book and I can't wait to read the sequel.

I would give the book 3 1/2 stars. It took me awhile to get through the story and I had trouble getting involved with the story. I would still recommend the book because I know others have enjoyed.

MINI YA REVIEWS
MAY 21, 2019 LEAVE A COMMENT
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Published by HarperCollins on March 5, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Time Travel, Humorous, General, Social Themes, Death & Dying
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780062748393
Goodreads
five-stars
“One of the best love stories I’ve ever read.” —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

“Read this one, reread it, and then hug it to your chest.” —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Debut author Justin A. Reynolds delivers a hilarious and heartfelt novel about the choices we make, the people we choose, and the moments that make a life worth reliving. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and John Green.

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack.

But then Kate dies. And their story should end there.

Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind.

Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do to save the people he loves.

I love when I read a book and my immediate next thought is – this would be a great Netflix movie (because Netflix is on their A Game with YA movies). Opposite Of Always by Justin A. Reynolds is the kind of book that begs to be made into a movie. It is the kind of book that you read and just immediately want to share with everyone you come into contact with. Trust me when I say that I think this will be in my top twenty for 2019. Like, is it too early or to weird to say hello I need the fan club membership card for Opposite Of Always.

Opposite Of Always is a time travel book for people who do not generally like time travel books (ie ME). Jack is visiting his future college and attending a party where he meets Kate. Kate is THE person for Jack, essentially his soul mate. And so, in one night the two bond over cereal and stairs. There’s banter which I am always a sucker for. Jack falls hard for Kate and the two form a relationship, only, Kate dies. The story doesn’t end there though, instead Jack is jolted back to the night he first met Kate over and over. He keeps reliving their brief time together, making different choices each time which have this ripple effect.

The plot is right on point. I felt like I actually learned something about sickle cell which I had not a lot of knowledge about except that T-Boz from TLC has it. As for Jack and Kate, their chemistry feels authentic. I loved every moment that Jack’s parents made an appearance. ALSO OMG JACK’S FRIENDS. They’re treasures and need to also be protected at all costs.

Friends, I could shout about this book all day. It’s a brilliant read and I can’t help but think FINALLY teens of color are getting the multitude of stories that they deserve with all kinds of different characters – and I love seeing that Opposite Of Always is among those stories. Granted, publishing still isn’t there yet, but I am just glad at least that it is STARTING. This is the first time travel book I’ve read with a Black teen boy as the main character and a love interest with sickle cell anemia. Add this one to your lists asap is the point I am getting at though.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mini YA ReviewsThe Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody
Also by this author: The Karma Club, , A Week of Mondays, In Some Other Life
Published by Simon and Schuster on October 2, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Travel & Transportation, Car & Road Trips, Family, Parents, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover, eARC
Source: Publisher
ISBN: 9781481499217
Goodreads
four-stars
In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.

A lot can happen on the road from lost to found…

Ali Collins doesn’t have room in her life for clutter or complications. So when her estranged father passes away and leaves her his only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—Ali knows she won’t keep it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. And especially not when a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast is offering enough money for the car to save her childhood home from foreclosure. There’s only one problem, though. Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift.

But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, does.

The road trip gets off to a horrible start, filled with unexpected detours, roadblocks, and all the uncomfortable tension that comes with being trapped in a car with your ex. But when Nico starts collecting items from the quirky strangers they meet along the way, Ali starts to sense that these objects aren’t random. Somehow they seem to be leading her to an unknown truth about her father. A truth that will finally prove to Ali that some things—even broken things—are worth saving.

Jessica Brody is one of those authors where I KNOW I am going to be immediately engaged and basically gobble up the book in a matter of days. The Geography Of Lost Things confirms this theory, my dear friends. I am forever going to be one of her fans, I think. I picked this book up in hopes of a palate cleanse as well as a chance to knock another book off of my Netgalley queue. What a treat my time with this book was — even the parts that got emotional and had me flipping ahead just to make sure things turned out okay.

The Geography Of Lost Things is a road trip book starring Ali, who has inherited her father Jackson’s 1968 Firebird Convertible. This is about the only good thing she has inherited from Jackson and she believes it will fix her problems. You see, the Firebird is worth big money and so Ali can save her house which is getting foreclosed on with the proceeds from the sale of the Firebird. There’s a problem though — the sale will take place about 5 hours away and Ali can’t drive stick, thus cannot drive the Firebird. Her ex, Nico, however, can drive stick. And so, the two embark on a trip to sell the Firebird. Along the way, Nico has the idea to trade up items in order to make the money Ali needs and to also allow for her to keep the Firebird.

Ultimately, this is a story of a father and daughter relationship that is far from perfect. It’s a story of acceptance and other people who are just doing their best, even when we cannot see that. It’s a story of forgiveness. I think that this book hit me hard, even though I have an awesome dad with none of the issues Jackson has. Brody writes in such a way that it was easy for me to connect with Ali. She was easy to care about.

Also, this book really did make me want to read the rest of Brody’s books that I have not gotten to yet. I guess that’s a good thing — to know that I have some excellent reads just waiting for me to pick them. I would 100% recommend this for people who are suckers for road trip tropes and character growth and vulnerability. It is definitely a superb book to ease into summer with.

Mini YA ReviewsBerserker by Emmy Laybourne
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 10, 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Historical, United States, 19th Century, Romance
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781250135230
Goodreads
The highly anticipated historical fantasy from Emmy Laybourne, author of the internationally-bestselling Monument 14 trilogy.Ancient powers. Strong love. Desperate times.

1883. Hanne would give anything to be free of the ancestral Viking curse that overcomes her when she or anyone she loves is in danger. She becomes a Berserker—an elegant, graceful and shameless killer.

When she kills three men attacking their father, Hanne and her siblings must flee Norway and head to the American frontier, on a desperate search for their uncle, the one man who can help Hanne learn to control her powers.

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their ancient powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

A gripping and emotional story filled with adventure, destruction, longing and redemption.

I’ve decided that if I want an action adventure read with very light romance, I am going to pick up something by Emmy Laybourne. Berserker is Laybourne’s historical fiction with a supernatural twist. Set in 1883 this is a story of Norse siblings who immigrate to America after a horrific incident. Meanwhile, it’s also the story of a young man named Owen who is the bastard son of a big shot rancher. Owen is trying to make his own way into the world on his own merits. The two storylines intertwine into a plot that is engaging and quickly moving.

Hanne is a Berserker, meaning that she has this power granted to her by the Norse gods to go into a killing frenzy to protect those she loves. This is fine, except that when her father is killed, she ends up also killing three men to protect her family who has to run to America. There, they hope to find Hanne’s uncle and learn how to control the Nytte which is what the power is called (each of her siblings except the youngest, Sissel, has a form of Nytte that has manifested). Anyways, there are also two men who happen to be trailing Hanne and her siblings and their intentions are not quite clear. Regardless, Owen ends up guiding Hanne and her family through the wilderness.

So, I am really jazzed at how much I enjoyed Berserker. When I saw the small print, I was like ah goddamn it, this is going to take forever to read. Then I just breezed through it in like a day. I ended up deciding that I want to check out the second book, about Sissel asap. On the whole, Laybourne rights a compelling book with a plot and concept that came out of left field for me. Definitely would recommend if you like books about girls who kick literal ass.

Imagine reading a Willa Cather novel with occasional flashes of raw violence like a Quentin Tarantino movie, and you get a feel for Emmy Laybourne's <em>Berserker</em>.

Siblings Knut, Stieg, and Hanne Hemstad are a dying breed. They've been cursed with a gift - to be from a family with ancient powers. Hanne is a Berserker. She can sense when a loved one is in trouble, from a long way away, and she flies into an uncontrollable, murderous rage. This is not something she can control ... it's simply who she is. But it's gotten her into trouble at home in Norway and so the teens flee their native land in search of an uncle who might be able to help them with their abilities. But he's somewhere in the American west. It's the 1800's and the country is a vast and dangerous space. Fortunately they have each other - a bond that is stronger than any other. But how many will have to die because of them?

I found the concept behind this novel really intriguing. This really sounded like a novel that I would absolutely enjoy ... Norse mythology, American western, some historical fiction. If someone asked what kind of book I'd like to read, this could well be what I describe.

But the execution of this book is just dull. So little actually happens here, except for in brief spurts. The ending (the last 6% of the book, according to my Kindle) was exciting and terrifying, but it was so little, so late.

Mostly we are treated to 300 pages of a young girl moaning about herself and her uncontrolled Berserker-ness, with a little bit of uplifting chatter about family. And 50 pages of action that almost always involves someone being brutally hurt.

I really could not connect with any of the characters. I did not buy in to their frustrations and never believed in their special abilities or that it was as detrimental as they seemed to think. Instead I just saw teens with the need to feel sorry for themselves.

I recognize that this high-pathos attitude is a common trait in a lot of YA literature, and while I don't generally care for it, I can usually find a story amid the pathos that is worth following or rooting for. Not so in this case. This book just felt like a huge missed opportunity.

Looking for a good book? <em>Berserker</em> by Emmy Laybourne tries to be an exciting mash-up of Norse mythology and the old American west for YA audiences but ends up being not much of any of it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The old Norse gods give powers but is it a gift or a curse? Hanne sees it a curse because when someone she loves is threatened she goes into a killing trance. She ends up killing the men who were threatening her father. Hanne and her siblings need to escape so they don’t get arrested. They fled to America where they are in search of their uncle who Hanne wishes will be able to help her control her power. Aided by an American cowboy they will have to fled weather, bounty hunters, animals and dangerous terrain in order to get to their destination.

Norse mythology and there is violence in this book. An action packed book . This is the 1st book in the series. I enjoyed and the book and the wr

I was very excited when I first heard about Berserker, but unfortunately, it did little to catch my interest. It wasn't a poorly written book or a bad story, it just wasn't particularly interesting enough to get into.

I mean, I liked it while I was reading it because kind of a cool Norwegian spin on a Western with neat god-gifts and the Wild West. But also, it's kind of maybe not accurate to the religion and mythos? But what do I know? Not Norwegian. I did reaaaaalllly dislike Keitel (spelling?) And the romance was a little sudden. And boy oh boy did I hate Sissel, the lazy, whiny youngest child. And I see the sequel is mostly about her and I am so not interested.

Very unique concept with enjoyable characters. I love the inclusion of Viking lore and gods/goddesses as well as making it her own thing instead of just following previous concepts by the book.

Unfortunately, I lost interest in this book after picking it up. I may give it another shot in the future.

Long ago the Norse gods bestowed gifts of strength, power, and skill on a few humans. Hanne's family is heir to these gifts, but in the 1880s these gifts feel more like a curse. After a tragic event incurs the suspicions of their neighbors, Hanne and her brothers and sister are forced to flee to America in search of their long, lost uncle.

Berserker is a clever blending of Norse mythology and the Old West. Emmy Laybourne's book is filled with sympathetic relationships. I really loved the bond between Hanne and her brothers, and Owen is so solid. I'm excited to see that Ms Laybourne has a sequel coming out in 2019.

Emmy Laybourne shows her versatility with this foray into a fantastical historical fiction. The author manages to imbue a sense of the horror she does so well but in this title, she overlays it with some American history. Recommended for fans of the Vikings series and young adults, who should enjoy this new offering.

Interesting twists in this title! I enjoyed the story, especially the interweaving of mythology into a Western-like story.

I think this will appeal to high school age students for sure!

Berserker wasn’t at all what I was expecting. Berserker is basically a heartwarming story about four teenagers with powers bestowed by the old Norse gods. Hanne, the female lead, is a Berserker, which means that she flies into a killing state whenever her loved ones are threatened.For me, the best thing about Berserker was its emphasis on the special bond between siblings. In spite of their many differences.

After the death of their father, Hanne and her siblings flee to America, where they are tracked and hunted by an unknown pursuer.

Hanne was a deeply sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for her from the very first page of the book. Actually, the only character I wasn't fond of was her sister Sissel. However, near the end, she began to grow on me. This story is packed with action, magic, and familial love, with the right dash of romance. This will be an excellent addition to any library.

I did not care for this one. A slow read. I really wanted to like it as I love mythology, but I just couldn't get behind this one...

4.Very quick, really enjoyed this one, review to come closer to the release.