Vikings and cowboys...who knew? I really liked this mashup! Good pacing, likable protagonists, this is a fun read.
I am looking forward to the next installment!

I normally really like Emmy Laybourne's books. They usually are so creative an fun, but this one? This book was really dull, not at all what I usually expect from her. Reading the description I expected so much from this book. Emmy plus this premise? Heck yeah! But not, maybe it's just not her wheelhouse.

I loved this one so much, I hate it took me so long to start it! Hanne is exactly the kind of strong female lead I've been looking for. The writing is absolutely beautiful.

I absolutely love it when a book surprises me! I honestly had no idea what Berserker was about when I started reading it. I didn't expect it to be so dark, gritty and bloody. There were some really cringe-worthy moments and I love every one of them! The author gave Norse/Viking mythology a whole new twist in Berserker that made it all the more intriguing! Hanne was an amazing protagonist. She's loving and gentle but can be seriously badass. The family dynamic was also great. I love that they always had each other's backs no matter how complicated and messy things got. There was also a bit of romance between Owen and Hanne. It was adorable and sweet. I liked it. Although I do think they should have gotten to know each other better before throwing the word 'love' around.

I received an e-arc to read and review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it kills me to DNF it. I mean, seriously, Norse mythology meets the Wild West? But there it is. I was not expecting the multiple POVs, and though it's not badly written, I just couldn't find anything to get excited about. They leave Norway so soon into the book that you don't really get a sense of the world they grew up in, and yet it's midway in the book before they even arrive in the West. I was just bored. And while Berserkers are very much a part of Norse mythology, I was disappointed to learn that the Nytte are fictional. I was expecting the actual Norse mythology to play a larger role. I had to set this down for other commitments and I just have no desire to pick it back up. I'm very much in the minority on this one, so don't let me dissuade you from giving it a go, but I just have so precious little reading time these days and even less patience with a book that isn't doing it for me.

I love the premise/folklore piece that some bloodlines carry special powers from the gods that advanced the Norse empire. The kids in this book have such family struggles that you're rooting for them from the get-go. Plenty of fantastical items that require some willing suspension of disbelief, but it's a book where the pacing is fast enough that you'll stick around for the crazy ride.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The idea of a teenage girl berserker was interesting in and of itself, and the world-building around this concept of the Nytte was pretty solid and interesting to learn about. At first when the book switched perspectives from Hanne to Owen, I was surprised but enjoyed it because it gave us more of Owen's backstory before he met Hanne and her family. However, the switch to Rolf's POV was a little jarring though eventually I got used to it and enjoyed hearing more about his travels trying to find the Nytteson. I was surprised to learn about Ketil though, so well done on subtly seeding that but not revealing it too quickly. I thought the action scenes were pretty interesting and well-written and loved the chase aspect of the story, even if the the Hemsteds weren't always aware how close danger was to them. That brought the Western feel to the story out to the forefront for me. The climax was pretty epic and surprising, and I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series.
My only real complaint was the almost insta-love between Hanne and Owen. I thought maybe there would be some sort of twist to explain that (like maybe his mother was from an Irish line of power-blessed people like the Nytteson or something) but not really. I could buy that they were pretty quickly attracted to each other, but the way it was described made it seem more like a "fate" type situation and kinda irked me a bit. It was nice how neither one of them went the full insta-love route about it, though, and instead both Hanne and Owen were reluctant to give in to their feelings for one another. That saved it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have no idea why I requested this book. In fact, I feel like I distinctly remember reading the synopsis and deciding NOT to request it. All the same, the approval landed in my inbox so I must read it. It was better than I thought it was going to be for sure. I liked some of the sibling relationships, but I thought the youngest sister was just SO ANNOYING. I mean…she really seemed to have no awareness of their situation and she just seemed so spoiled. Main characters were pretty bland to me. Plot was okay but didn’t make sense at times. I was also a little confused because the characters made it sound like there were two additional gifts, but they never explained what they were.

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel starts off with a rather gruesome scene of the main character slaughtering a pig using her special powers. This is probably where I should have stopped. I was bored with the family dynamic and ended up not finishing this one soon after.

This was an enjoyable YA fantasy about 4 Norwegian siblings, 3 of whom are gifted--or cursed--with a special ability. Due to a crisis at home, they set sail for America to find an uncle who they think can help them. I really liked the elements of Norse culture and mythology and then being set (for most of the book) in the American West in the 1800s. Unique combination and one that worked for me! There was a bit of a romance, but no insta-love, and I thought it was more realistic than most. The only thing I didn't like was some of the characters occasionally made some really dumb decisions. It was interesting to see how their abilities could be both a gift and a curse and how the reactions of others varied: kill, or at least drive out, the freaks; weaponize them; etc. I also liked the close family relationship the siblings had and their distinct personalities.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

When I read the synopsis to Berserker, I knew I was reading this novel; when I started reading it and found out it was based in an older era, that I'm not usually interested in, I thought well that's the end of that. I'm glad to say that I was sorely mistaken. That's definitely a good thing because I was left wanting more of this world and to see more characters who have the "Nytte" gene. That was compelled me to keep going on and really made this story unique.

It's such an interesting concept that involves Odin, the ancient blood gift Nytte (as mentioned above), Vikings, the berserker gene that makes Hanne have a violent, warrior side to her persona. It's one of the gifts that moves down lineages (especially if both parents are descendants), berserker being the most gruesome of them all. There are others, more for creating/crafting or for venturing purposes, but you'll have to read it yourself to hear more about those.

I'm taken from viewing a form of pig slaughter Hanne's father has perfected by taking advantage of her gift, to an almost ruined special meal prepared for her oldest brother who's leaving home, to the main thing that sets the rest of this story in motion and it is an absolute doozy. There is a never-ending amount of close calls and dangerously motivated characters set on using the Nytte abilities for their own selfish purposes.

More than all of that, is where it leads Hanne and her siblings, what befalls them after using their abilities on a constant basis (because yes, it's seem to be more of a curse than an actual gift). There is so much that goes on in this book that doesn't disappoint, and even though it wasn't in a setting I very much enjoy, everything pertaining to their Nytte gift and what they have to go through to reach their destination in this novel, makes that part only a minor issue in my rating of Berserker. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

***I received this copy from Feiwel & Friends via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

When I read the blurb for Berserker, I was immediately intrigued. Norse mythology and Vikings have always been subjects that I have been interested in. I thought (actually still think) that the Viking society was fascinating. I also think that Norse mythology is fascinating too. When I saw that the different powers that Hanne has are a gift to from the gods, I needed to read this book. I am glad I did because Berserker is a book that was well worth my time reading.

Berserker starts off in Norway. Hanne is a simple farm girl who has a horrible secret. If she sees anyone that she loves harmed in any way, she flies into a killing state. That state is called a Berserker and the Vikings from which Hanne is descended from made the term famous. Hanne is able to keep her gift a secret until she witnesses her father being murdered. It is then that she flies into Berserker mode and kills the men who murdered her father. With her mother long gone, it is up to Hanne’s older brother to keep the family together. When Hanne’s younger brother is accused of the murders, Hanne decides that traveling to America is the only way to keep him out of jail. It is also the only way to keep their powers secret. But, there are outside forces who are searching for the siblings. And they have the means to capture the kids and return them to Norway. The question is, will they? Or will Hanne and her siblings be able to settle in America and live out their lives in peace?

I felt awful for Hanne for about 90% of the book. Her family feared and loathed her. Which was not right. She had no control over what powers she would get. It was an unlucky roll of the dice that she got Berserker. Hanne needed reassurance from her parents, not for both of them to turn their backs on her. Even her siblings feared her. They also blamed her for their mother leaving. I wanted to reach through the book and hug her, I felt that bad for her. But, once she got to America, she started to change. She started coming out of her shell and started realizing that she could learn to control her powers. It was a very powerful thing to read.

I loved how the author wove the fantasy and historical elements of this book together. It made the book so very interesting to read. I could picture myself on the train with the Norse immigrants. I could see them being treated as 2nd hand citizens because of how they were dressed. I could see myself with them as they crossed the Atlantic on a ship. And when they had to go through Ellis Island to be allowed into the country.

I do have a gripe with Berserker. It was the storyline with Rolf, Ketil and their mission for the Baron to gather more Nytteson. The Nytteson were people who had powers like Hanne and her brothers. It as not resolved and that bugged me. The author did attempt to end it with Rolf but I was left very dissatisfied.

The end of the book was fantastic. Actually, the word I am thinking of here is wild. Everything that transpired in the ending was intense. I did think what happened to Ketil was very fitting. I also had my reservations about Rolf. With the way the book ended, I am hoping that a book 2 is in the works. I would love to read it.

Berserker is an intense fantasy, historical fiction, young adult book. It had a great plot. It also had great characters. This is a book that I could see myself reading over and over.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen

Why: Violence. Other than some graphic scenes of people being killed, the book is very clean.

I would like to thank Emmy Laybourne, Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Berserker.

All opinions expressed in this review of Berserker are mine

I received no compensation for this review

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This is a very unique story, sort of a twist between Stranger Things and Lonesome Dove. I have to say I like it a lot! The characters are interesting, and the plotline is very imaginative. There is just enough romance to not disgust most teenagers, and enough mysticism to keep them interested in what comes next. I would like to read more of the authors' books.

I loved Emmy Laybourne's monument 14 series so I knew I needed to get my hands on this. The concept in the blurb was so intriguing. If I am being honest the first half of the book moved to slow for me. I found myself putting the book down far too often and taking way longer to finish it then I would have expected.
The second half of the book though had me hooked. Once it picked up I was riveted to the end. I loved the siblings relationships with each other. Even when they were mad the love was so evident. The romance was a great slow burn but I wanted to see just a little bit more once the deal had closed between them.
I loved the Nytte how it works and what it means for them in the long run. Hanne's self loathing because of what it means. All in all the book really picked up at the end. I would recommend it for sure. Because it lulled in the beginning though I have to give it a 3.25.

***3.75 STARS***

PLOT

Berserker wasn’t at all what I was expecting & for a minute there I wondered aloud what exactly I was reading? the answer took me by surprise & intrigued the hell out of me enough for this frightful bookworm to read through the bloody scenes. I can only describe Berserker as Norse Mythology meets the American Frontier with hints of the classic novel Of Mice and Men & guess what bookworms?!?! IT WORKS!!! part of the reason I think that it did is because Laybourne has created her own lore in this world instead of using everything we know about Norse Mythology. The opening scene really sets the tone for this short read, bloody and raw. Our MC Hanne & her siblings (with the exception of the youngest) all have been gifted/cursed with special abilities from the Viking Gods. It is believed that the Viking God Odin gifted three of his favorite Kings with special abilities known as The Nytte. This gift/curse doesn’t come without its consequences, there is a big price to pay as a result of using their ability. The odds of inheriting The Nytte are greater if both parents are descended from these kings & such is the case for our MC & her siblings. They don’t know the names of each ability or even if they quite believe in the origin of these abilities but they’ve learned to use them to make a living. Hanne is a Berserker which is the only gift that is focused on taking life whenever someone she loves in danger. While in Norway, her father has her using her “gift” to slaughter pigs for local farmers (detailed in the book) because her technique leads to better quality meat. A incident on the farm triggers Hanne’s Berserker abilities ending in tragedy & the need to go on the run. While on the run they manage to catch the interest of a man who has made it his mission to find Nyttes daughters & sons with a keen interest in their abilities. Although this mans intentions are not readily made known, Hanne doesn’t trust him & will keep her siblings running to put as much distance as possible between the law & this stranger.

CHARACTERS

*IN ORDER NOT TO SPOIL ANYTHING, I WON’T BE INCLUDING EACH CHARACTERS NORSE GIFT/CURSE…BESIDES IT’S MORE FUN FINDING OUT FOR YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY ;)

Hanne- The MC aka the Berserker & sort of the matriarch of the family. She loves her family fiercely & her abilities have sharpened her senses to the point where if any danger is even headed their way she is ON IT! Hanne doesn’t see The Nytte as a gift but rather a curse she can’t control & when it strikes it leaves her mortified at the end results. When I picture Hanne there is only one Goddess that comes to mind…Lagertha !

Stieg- not sure if he’s the oldest or second oldest to Hanne but either way he is more of the patriarch of this family. Stieg is a intellectual with a passion for knowledge & conversation. He knows more than one language & will never pass up the opportunity to teach. Stieg also has a ability that he uses sparingly whenever in dire straights. What I liked about Stieg is that he wasn’t made out to be the stereotypical bookworm, he’s just as much down to have fun as he is to hit the books. Also, his ability is pretty bad a** ;)

Knut- Knut reminded me most of Lennie from Of Mice and Men which meant that I was already on Over protective mode upon meeting him. Tender hearted standing at 6’2, Knut also carries The Nytte & it is tied to his physical strength. There’s no way you won’t love him when you meet him :)

Sissel- my least favorite of the siblings, she is the youngest and most spoiled. Sissel is all about comfort and finding a good match for marriage, in other words being taken care of. Sissel is described as frail in physical appearance & very likely to have had The Nytte skipped her. This being book 1 in the series, I can’t help but wonder if Laybourne has special plans with this sibling…

Owen- The cowboy the siblings pay to safely guide them to a uncle who could possibly help Hanne control her Berserker abilities. He is actually one of my favorite characters in this book, its just him and his dog Daisy until he meets the siblings. Owen loves Daisy to pieces & has trained her to help herd cattle with dreams of one day training pups on a farm to do the same. He minds his business & lives a simple life until chaos is introduced and he has a decision to make…

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS

I managed to fly through my reading of Berseker because of my general interest in Norse Mythology & the ease with which Laybourne used the well known mythos as a jumping board. This is a VERY bloody read & had some cringe worthy passages that surprisingly engrossed me. Why the 3.75 rating? well for starters, this is still a good rating in my book & translates into a 4 star rating on Goodreads. The siblings were for the most part traveling in this book trying to reach their uncle to help Hanne & I enjoyed that adventure very much. However, my only complaint is how neatly the ending was presented compared to how bloody, chaotic, and raw Berserker was for the most part. Berserker could also easily be viewed as a stand-alone which really left me thinking where the series would take Hanne and her siblings. I’m still curious & have every intention on continuing on to read the next book. It may very well be that in the sequel the siblings find a way to reverse or at least stop the consequences of their abilities…So, I do have questions bookworms which means I’ll be returning to this world when the next book is releases :)

HUGE thanks to Feiwell & Friends, Netgalley, Goodreads, and Emmy Laybourne for the ARC copy of Berserker.

Berserker by Emmy Laybourne centers around Hanne Hemstad and her family. Their family line has been gifted/cursed by the Norse Gods and Hanne's power gives her the ability to be a berserker. When they are forced to leave Norway and seek haven in America we learn more about her family, their gifts, and their heritage.

For me Berserker started off a bit slow but picked up after a bit. The characters and their family interactions and character development were definitely a strong point for the book. I think Ms. Laybourne portrayed Hanne as a character who was very weight down by her heritage and has serious troubles finding the good in it, which was realistic, but burdensome.

Overall, I recommend Berserker by Emmy Laybourne and look forward to the next book in the series as the ground work has been laid for something that can grow and develop into something that can be dynamic, historical and magical.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

4/5

First let's talk facts.
I requested this book on netgalley, but ultimately didn't finish it before release as I had hoped. I was also chosen for a @storygramtours tour on it. Neither of these altered my review in anyways.


When I originally heard about this book, I saw the title and the tag line and I was sold. "Are Hanne's powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?" Sounds badass, right? Then after I got excited I saw it mixed Vikings and the American West. I'm not going to lie, I cringed. This could be horrible or great. Fortunately it was the latter.


The book starts in their hometown in Norway then they end up fleeing to America and going on a bit of an adventure, lots of road bumps on the way. The book had quite a bit of action in its small size (under 400 pages). A lot of the characters seemed believable, the different gifts were interesting. The author did a fantastic job at intertwining a Berserker and her gifted family with the American West. She chose A time period that was realistic for a lot of the things that were going on and how issues were resolved. (Would the events that unfolded in this book be realistic in 2017? Heck no!)


Another great thing is according to Goodreads this is book one, but if you didn't want to continue the series it could be read as a standalone. She did a great job tying up loose ends yet leaving an opening for book two.


Now for the most important questions:
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I continue the series? Most likely.

This was a pretty good book, although it was missing that special something for me to bump it up to the 4 star level. I really like the background of the kids' powers and the Norse mythology in this and it blended with the old west setting better than I was expecting it to. I think that for me the plot just moved a little bit too slowly and also I thought the big fight at the end was a little bit anti-climactic. Also, while the romance between Hanne and Owen doesn't necessarily overtake the rest of the plot I do feel like it was the weakest part and while I've come to expect it from YA novels I'm always still like 'you could have left that out though'. Still it was an interesting story and a nice blending of genres that you don't really see a lot of.

As soon as I saw that Berserker was being promoted as Norse mythology meets western novel, I knew I had to read it. To my delight, it turned out exactly as promised and Emmy Laybourne did a fantastic job of weaving those two disparate genres together. Berserker was a surprisingly touching story that was full of adventure, family, and magic.

After Hanne murders some local villagers who were attacking her father due to her Berserker nature, the Hemstad siblings have to leave their hometown in Norway and follow their eldest brother to America in hopes of escaping prosecution. Owen, a young cowboy hiding secrets of his own, agrees to help them cross the treacherous frontier and get to their uncle's house. While the plot was relatively slow and straight-forward, it was also interesting enough that I never got bored. The story unfolded naturally and I liked how the author took the time to fully explain the world and to develop the relationships between the characters. There were also a few plot twists toward the end that have me excited for future installments in this series.

I loved how Emmy Laybourne laid the foundations for her world. The Nyettes, the special powers that are bestowed upon some Norse families, are extremely powerful but come with a high price. I liked that there was a limit on the powers and that Hanne struggles to come to terms with hers. While this novel isn't gory, the author does an excellent job of portrayed the violence that Hanne can unleash when not in control of her powers. Additionally, I loved how the family dynamic between Hanne and her siblings was explored, particularly in regard to their various powers. There's also a tiny bit of romance that you'll be rooting for because they're so adorable together.

The relationships between the characters were the strongest part of this book for me and I loved seeing how each character developed over the course of their journey. I'm very intrigued by the premise of this series and will definitely be reading the sequel. Berserker was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of YA, Norse mythology, and westerns.

This was an excellent book! I was really quite surprised by just how much I ended up liking this one. I try to go into books as blindly as possible so I didn't read the summary of this book too closely and as a result, I was really quite surprised by some of the turns the story ended up taking. This was the kind of book that I found myself reaching anytime I had a moment to spare. I am so glad that I took a chance on this gem of a book.

Hanne and her siblings posses a gift. Or maybe a curse depending on how you look at it. Hanne doesn't see it as a gift. She is a Berserker which means that anytime someone she cares for is in danger she loses control to the Nytte and people die. Hanne doesn't want to be someone who kills so she really struggles with this gift. She must eventually flee Norway with her siblings after one of her murderous rages.

I really liked the characters in this story. Hanne was so easy to like and her struggle with her different sides felt authentic. Her elder brother, Stieg, has his own gift which proves to be rather useful to the family. Stieg is a really even tempered and intelligent man. Knut also has a gift and is the quietest of the siblings but he possessed a certain wisdom. Sissel was the youngest sibling and the most difficult of the group. I am not sure that I really cared for her character but I think she added a needed element to the group.

When I started reading this book, I had no idea that the story would soon shift to the American frontier. The change in setting was really well done. I could completely envision the small towns and wilderness that this group encountered. I think the combination of the frontier setting and the Norse mythology worked perfectly in this little story and I found it to be really exciting. There were a few sections of the book that were a bit more violent that I would have expected but it worked well with the story.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This book is listed as being the first in a series but this story stands on its own. This was the first book written by Emmy Laybourne that I have had the chance to read but I am eager to read more of her work including future installments in this series.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - Feiwel & Friends via NetGalley.