Love Emmy Laybourne! Great YA book... interesting plot and love the characters. Leaves me anxious for a sequel.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the late 1800s, this is the story of 4 Norwegian kids whose bloodline makes them Nytte. Nytte are people blessed with special abilities from the old Norse gods. The kids don't see the abilities as blessings and due to the main character Hanne's berserker ability causing her to kill several men to protect her family, the kids flee to America in search of their uncle. They are pursued by agents of a Norwegian baron who collects Nytte and by various other law agencies. In America they meet up with a cowboy who aids them in their journey. Then the fun begins.
I enjoyed the idea of Viking powers and how they fit together in a Viking crew (berserker, oar breaker, whatever the wind controller was called, treasure finder). I wish Hanne had been a little more accepting of her abilities to begin with but then you wouldn't have had the story you had. The bad guy was definitely despicable, but the showdown at the end bothered me. Here Hanne is, fighting against her power and the mystical chant magically makes her super-awesome-mega-berserker-at-one-with-the-universe. It was a bit too over the top even in a fantasy setting.
Overall a good read and I will order it for the library collection.

Norway meets United States in this supernatural read. It was interesting to read about customs in Norway and Norse legends. I liked reading about Hanne and her siblings. Owen the cowboy in the United States was very likable and he had a unique dream he was pursuing. When he agrees to be a guide for Hanne and her siblings it is the start of the true adventure. I must admit when I first started reading I was unsure about the book but it soon hooked me and as you can see I read it within 24 hours. Didn't want it to end but it does end without a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see where the group ends up in Berserker #2. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.