I’m a huge lover of Norse Mythology which is why I was looking forward to reading <i>Between the blade and the heart</i>, was it deals with Valkyries. Overall, I found that the book had a<b> lot of interesting aspects to offer and indeed had a lot of potential</b>. Especially the world building stood out for me, as I found myself in a very vivid, complex world. However, there were also a few elements that could have been improved and further developed.

<b>What I liked</b>
⚔️ <b>The world building was perfectly vivid and interesting</b>. The world building was my favorite aspect of the book, because it had so much to offer. I loved seeing the world inspired by Norse Mythology and how the Valkyries were ingrained in the world order to take the life of those meant to die. There were so many creatures that populated this world, that it amazed me, especially as the author made this world her own. There were so many little details that we got to see and I’m curious to explore this world that Malin lives in even more, because there has to be so much more beneath the surface.

⚔️ <b>Oona and her friendship to Malin</b>. I really liked Oona, she was a good friend to Malin and I loved seeing their interactions. Out of all the characters, I liked her the best, because she was caring, loyal but also determined. She was more of a family to Malin than her own mother was and always ready to take care of her best friend.

⚔️ <b>The writing style was very pleasant to read</b>. Alongside with the world building this was a great combination, because it was very easy to get through the book. The writing style surely helped to convey so many information about this complex world in a way that never felt too much. I was never left hanging about any information, but also didn’t feel overwhelmed by them – everything was left in a very good balance.

<b>What didn’t quite work for me</b>
⚔️ <b>I didn’t really connect to the protagonist Malin</b>. Throughout the book I tried to relate to her or connect in any way, but it didn’t really work. I got that she was raised by a mother who disregarded emotions and wasn’t really there for her, but maybe that is the reason why I couldn’t really connect. Therefore, I wasn’t as invested as I could have been in her story, because there was not much that made me root for Malin. Often I felt like she was letting things happen to her more than actually acting.

⚔️ <b>The romantic relationships could have been better developed</b>. This might be my main complaint when it comes to this book, because here things were lacking the most. I was actually excited to see a love triangle with a bisexual main character, caught between a boy and a girl, but that excitement vanished. I didn’t really like Quinn – Malin’s ex-girlfriend – because she was really pushy and didn’t really respect Malin’s wishes. Therefore, I wasn’t a fan of their relationship, as I didn’t think Quinn was good for Malin. The way she was always demanding more and overwhelming Malin just didn’t sit well with me. However, at least their relationship was actually complex and had a background story. While, I liked Asher – Malin’s second love interest – a lot better, I felt like there wasn’t much complexity to his romance with Malin. They get to know each other, but then suddenly they are really attracted to the other and are filled with lust. I didn’t really see a reason for that, this transition felt too disrupted and sudden. It felt too rushed and there was not any buildup to anything romantic before, Malin only suddenly began to realize how attractive Asher was.

<b>IN CONCLUSION</b>: <i>Between the blade and the heart</i> offers a <b>fresh perspective on Norse Mythology and Valkyries that you don’t want to miss</b>. Full of vivid creatures and action, it’s perfect for fans of Mythology and kick ass characters! However, I feel like the romantic relationships and the main character could have been further developed.

Malin is an apprentice Valkyrie, she knows she was born for this job, she doesn’t question anything at least for now. Her guardian, Marlow, is also her mother, we cannot really say that she behaves like a mother, but genetically speaking it is the case. When she discovers that her mother has spared an immortal and the consequences are disastrous, she will do everything to repair the harm caused by her mother.

Malin is a young girl who begins to doubt her free will, she asks herself many questions, especially since her mother always told her that valkyries could not love. Malin is not afraid of danger, she is reckless, stubborn and a little daredevil. It is a character that I appreciate, the fact that she is a valkyrie helps a little.

Asher lost his mother because of Marlow and he asks Malin for help, he is also attracted to her. Together with the help of Oona, Malin's best friend and Malin's ex-Quinn, they will hunt down the immortal and kill him.

Oona is adorable, I think she's my favorite character, she's an apprentice witch and she's always there for Malin. She is funny and charming, intelligent and sensitive and good advice.

I liked the story and I love Valkyries, they are strong women. I cannot tell you that there is no love triangle because as you can guess between Malin, Quinn and Asher there is tension. There were some typing errors but other than that I like the style of Amanda Hocking.

Quick word: If you want an original story with Valkyries and all kinds of creatures, do not hesitate.

About Amanda Hocking

The plot for this book was really original and interesting, a new take on Gods and dystopia that I really enjoyed. It took me a little while to get into and I felt it ended quite abruptly - I would definitely read the next one when it comes out. Also, although this was an advance copy, there were a lot of spelling, grammar and just general mistakes where the wrong word etc has been used, so this definitely needs some work before it’s published.

In a genre dominated by vampires and werewolves, I'm always looking to find Young Adult books that feature other paranormal creatures. The thing that first interested me about the Between the Blade and Heart was that it was book contained both Valkyries and Norse mythology.

Between the Blade and the Heart was not exactly what I had been expecting when I first started reading. For some reason, I had expected a historical fantasy setting heavy with elements of Norse mythology. I think my assumption was based on the vagueness of the synopsis and the fact that I was unfamiliar with Amanda Hocking's work. Instead, the book takes place in a near future setting with technological advances and was more similar to an urban fantasy novel. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I had been expecting at all! The story features many fantasy creatures from lots of different cultures and mythologies, as well as the typical Norse mythology elements. I was really intrigued by the idea of modern day Valkyries and their roles in the world.

I thought Malin, our protagonist to be well-rounded and interesting, I still couldn't find myself connecting with her that much. I did have a slight issue, however, with the romance. The book does contain a love triangle, albeit a different sort of love triangle than what is usually featured, and I felt like the relationships between the characters could have been developed a bit more. I also think that some of the secondary characters could have used more depth. The writing itself was really good and I found nothing to complain about the plot or pacing. The story is fast-faced, filled with action, and was definitely not a slow read. The ending sets up nicely for the sequel and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Hocking is back with a new series involving Valkyries, Angels, and a horde of other supernatural creatures to create an interesting cast of characters. We meet Malin and Marlow, a Valkyrie in training with her mentor mother, as Malin begin taking on the tasks of dispatching immortals to whence they came. Bound by a strict set of rules, Valkyries work hard to fulfill the orders sent by angels, and breaking those rules could bring about terrible consequences. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I absolutely loved it! You're going to hate the fact that it's going to make you wait until the next book come out, but it will be well worth it. There's a lot of romance, and I love that Hocking wrote a character who isn't afraid of her own sexuality. Not only that, but each character is interesting in their own right. I want to know more about them, especially Quinn and Asher. I'll stop here, but needless to say, I loved this book!

Malin was an interesting character to follow. She was born to kill immortals as her job and she's trained her whole life for it. Raised by a mother who really did not come off as "motherly", Malin grew up to be thick skinned. She was definitely flawed, I'll tell you that. Her biggest flaw was believing she could not fall in love, just feel surface emotions which evidently led to many problems in the rest of the story!

Other characters like Malin's best friend Oona, her ex-girlfriend Quinn and her new ally Asher brought in fun, quirky and intense moments to the story. They guided and supported Malin on her journey to revenge. My personal favourite was Oona, she was the human of the group with no real physical strength to fight, but she had really amazing sorceress powers that I would love to find out more about!

The Norse Mythology in this book does not focus too much on the mainstream gods that most people know of, this book dives deep into the creatures and other immortals of the Norse. Hocking did a great job of introducing all these types of immortals and describing how they would come to influence Malin's journey.

The only things that really bothered me were the love triangle and the confusing world. The love triangle added too much unnecessary angst to the story. Although it was more interesting because Malin is bisexual, therefore vying for her heart was a girl and a boy. As for the world, I was slightly confused as to whether it was set on our world today, in another dimension and how exactly it worked.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was fast, it was head first into the battle and there was never really a dull moment.

I expected. . . more from Between the Blade and the Heart. At the mere mention of Valkyries I was SO ready to love this book and I did to an extent but this wasn't a home run for me.

But hey, bring on the mythology!

Hocking took several cultures and mythos and just smashed them together into one book. I kind of liked it because rather than feeling like the supernatural beings introduced were all put in a room together to make things "interesting," there seemed to be a modern unified world theme going on. Plus I totally love mythology in general so I was more than happy to keep reading. Granted, I had to look up a lot of the beings as I was reading which detracted from the reading a bit but I also found it interesting too so good and bad there.

And the heroine, Malin, was typical for what I'm used to seeing in urban fantasies (which is what I'd say this book is most like). Spunky, a bit stubborn, and enjoyable to read. Though I can't speak to the quality of rep (please check out other reviews that can better speak to it), Malin is bisexual and I loved seeing the dynamic between her and her ex-girlfriend, as well as her guy friend because, frankly, I've never seen it done in such a seamless way where it simply happens. I want more of that!

Honestly, the story was interesting enough too. I can't say it was super memorable but I was hooked. Where Hocking lost me was the writing itself. I enjoyed her Trylle books well enough but this time around, it took me a while to really get into the book (well over 30% and I even contemplated DNFing). Between the Blade and the Heart is pretty heavy on the detail but it wasn't anything I actually wanted to visualize. Earlier in the book, Malin's food is described in far too much detail but could I tell you where she was in terms of setting? Nope. I liked the level of detail in this book but not what was described because it felt like anything relevant was glossed over and I lost a sense of place in this book. I wasn't grounded in the world and ended up reading more on the surface than anything which took away from what could be a really good novel.

Thankfully, the detail didn't get in the way as much further on in the story and I started enjoying the book more, but it took slogging through the first half. If you enjoyed her previous books then I'd say give it a go but if you're already unsure about reading it I'm not sure I can recommend it. There are a lot of great elements but some of the final execution just brought it down for me.

***3.75

Between the Blade and the Heart is set in a futuristic world, where immortals, demons, and mythical creatures roam the streets. The story is a cool combination of Norse mythology and sci-fi tech. It focuses on Malin, our badass main character. She is a Valkyrie-in-training under the mentorship of her mother and the organization that she serves, the Evig Riksdag. The job of the Valkyries is to kill and “return” immortals to the underworld city of Kurnugia. But, what happens when a Valkyrie fails to do so?

The world-building in this novel is very interesting. The settings encountered by the reader are often familiar places that have been totally reimagined by Hocking. She doesn’t just use Norse mythology in the story, though that is the bulk of the mythology used. She beautifully intertwines many different mythologies to create a totally enamoring world. I really enjoyed the breadth of new and interesting creatures and beings that existed alongside well-known ones.

The story was told in first person POV in Malin’s perspective. I enjoyed seeing the story unfold through her eyes.

The pace of the story was not too fast and not slow. It was fast-paced in action-packed scenes and slower and more descriptive in others. The plot was very clear and the story was easy to follow, but, it still took me by surprise with a few unexpected twists and turns.

The characters were dynamic and relatable, especially Malin. They had distinct personalities and looks, and they ranged from Valkyries to Demons, and I was never underwhelmed with the all of the different characters in the story. I really had fun with them. Also, two thumbs up for having a bisexual main character and lots of LGBTQ+ representation.

Overall, I wish the story progressed a little bit faster and there were some more action-packed scenes. I enjoyed the twists and turns that were there, but I was hoping for some more surprises.

This was still such a fun read. If you are a fan of sexy paranormal books with dynamic worldbuilding, kickass ladies, and cool mythology, give Between the Blade and the Heart a read!

This is the second book I have read by this author, and I while really enjoyed the other book I read by her, I had a hard time getting invested in this book. The writing is good, but the characters and the plot felt a little cookie-cutter to me. The comparison of Game of Thrones, meets Blade Runner, was a little lost on me because I haven't seen Blade Runner, but I also don't really see much comparison to GoT either as this is an Urban Fantasy and GoT is a High Fantasy.

There's a lot of set up for the plot. Halfway through the book, and they are still making plans and talking about what needs to happen. Which bothers me, because it's supposed to be a dire situation and they are just faffing about not really doing anything.

Not a huge fan of Marlow, but I don't think we're supposed to like her. I didn't feel that there was much of an emotional impact for what happened to her because I didn't like, or care, about her character in a way that I feel like I should have for the scene to work the way I presume the author wanted it to.

Now, I have to address the romance(s) in this book. It's kind of a love triangle, but it's different because, our MC Malin, is bisexual. Which isn't really something that's often covered in books. Heck most people, Straight and gay, don't really think that Bisexuals exist. But I gotta say, that I was really on the fence about it through most of the book. I didn't see either love interests as anything beyond attraction and infatuation. I wasn't sure how to feel about the exchanges we're given of Malin and Quinn's past relationship, as it was mostly just them kissing or something similar. But I got to say that the exchanges between Malin and Asher seemed to have more meaning than anything happening between Malin and her ex. But since they only knew each other for barely a week, I couldn't really buy how they feel for each other. It, like most romances, felt a little forced and ultimately, unneeded.

Over-all, the book was enjoyable, my complaints aside. There was just a pacing issue that made things feel dragged out. I want to read the rest of the series because I am interested in the plot, I just hope the pacing is better in later books.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little nervous picking up this book when I saw some of the reviews posted on Goodreads but so glad that I did. I have been a fan of Amanda’s since reading the My Blood Approves series and the Trylle series way back. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. This book kept me interested and not wanting to put it down and finding time to grab it and read some more.

I loved the Norse mythology aspect of the book. I would have loved to see a little more of it throughout the book but it was a different from her other writings and I loved that she expanded out.

Malin started out to not be so likable in the beginning of this story – well I kind of couldn’t stand her. I had a hard time connecting with her but luckily I forged on and once I met her mother I understood where Malin was coming from and she grew on me.
The story does have a love triangle so those who have an aversion to that may not like this book. I also didn’t think she had a great connection with either of her love interests in this book. Overall it was faced paced and adventurous. This book brings out the question if our lives are predestined or if we really have free will and I liked the different perspectives of the characters in the book. I like how their outlook was determined on where they are in the “pecking” order. I am really hoping for a romance between OOna and Atlas… Please, please, please take it in that direction.

This book does end on a cliff hanger so I hope that book two come out soon because I’m hooked.

Between the Blade and the Heart is a brand new series by Amanda Hocking that is based on Norse Mythology and more specifically the training of a young Valkyrie who discovers that her life and all she believed was twisted lies and hidden agendas.

Easy, entertaining a full of potential for another series that will be added to the must pre-order list, I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

I'm a fan of Hocking's novels but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, mostly Malin. I'm chalking this lack of connection up to a newly developing series and hoping that the connection is going to build with the progression of the story/series.

The story is fast paced, action filled, quite unique.

I received this ARC copy of Between the Blade and the Heart from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. Between the Blade and the Heart is set for publication Jan. 2, 2018

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Amanda Hocking
Series: Valkyrie (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Wednesday Books (January 2, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250084792
ISBN-13: 978-1250084798
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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Amanda Hocking has created a rich, vibrant world based on Norse and other mythologies. Gods, Goddesses, the Valkyrie....it's all in this new young adult series! Book one, The Blade and the Heart is coming out January 2nd from St. Martin's Press! I loved this book....the world building is rich, the storyline is amazing! Another great book from Amanda Hocking!



I enjoyed Malin as a main character. She is very torn between duty and emotions. She has to deal with self doubt and the pull of relationship ties, as she tries to sift her way through secrets and dangers. For me, the story brought a new facet to the mythologies. I will definitely be reading more of this series as it comes out.



From the publisher:



SUMMARY:

When the fate of the world is at stake

Loyalties will be tested



Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.



As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk -- the the world and her heart.


As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.



AUTHOR BIO:

Amanda Hocking is the author of more than twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Rating: 3.5 stars

"It was a strange, cold thing to realize I was born to be a murderer."

Fun fact. Krigare is the Swedish word for "warrior". And that's who we're introduced to. Or at least, that's what Malin, a Valkyrie-in-training is going for. Her life is a mix of learning to "return" the immortal as per instructions from a higher power and attending a special college for those working in the paranormal sector. That is, until she learns her mother went off track years before, creating a domino effect of misfortune.

The characters were an interesting mix. I liked Malin for her spunk, but I also felt sorry for her because she'd been dealt a bad card in terms of parents. I mean, her mom wasn't exactly maternal, was she? She was pretty cold, selfish, and intolerant of people. On the other hand, Malin's best friend and roommate was both really thoughtful and pretty sassy, exactly how a friend should be. But honestly, there were way too many characters with strange names thrown in, so it was difficult for me to keep track of who was who, and who was important.

Let's take a moment to celebrate some more bi rep! Yup, that's right. Malin is bi. Now, I can't speak for the accuracy of the representation, but I was excited when it hit me that Malin has an ex-girlfriend, one she is still not quite over. Then there's Asher, who's so steady and caring. She also had a casual FWB relationship going on with a guy at the start. I liked this modern attitude towards relationship being included.

The atmosphere of the book is grungy, set in alleys, bars, and neon-lit streets. Creatures lurk in the shadows and canals. Everyone seems to be tattooed or have piercings, even the "good girls" having an edge to them. Under all the rust, there's almost a steampunk futuristic feel to the world, with hoverbikes and electronic business cards. Mixed in with all the normal world is the mythological, with mortal and immortal coexisting in an uneasy balance.

As the book centres around a Valkyrie, I expected to just encounter Norse mythology, but cultures from all over the world were represented, such as the pontianaks of Indonesian and Malaysian nightmares, the spirits of women who have died while pregnant and lure their victims with the cry of a baby before gorging on their entrails. (Yeah, I know. Pleasant, right?) While I liked that there was diversity in the myths given life, it was almost too much; names were thrown in without explanation at times, breaking my flow while I googled a term. Actually, I quickly remembered that I could quickly check something on Wikipedia straight from my Kindle, which I have never needed to do so often before. It's like nothing could be normal, not even the pets. (That being said, Bavarian wolpertingers sound pretty cute.)

Thinking about it, there was maybe too much detail about the living world and not enough about the physical. I couldn't place anything because real locations were referred to as if they were a short drive away when, in actuality, they were thousands of miles apart. I had no idea where Malin actually was since beings from all over the world were present in her city, and her "assignments", despite being in different countries and across oceans, were talked about as nearby. One was in Japan, another in Australia...not exactly walking distance. It was only towards the end that I deduced she was somewhere in the US? I think?

All the detail slowed down the plot initially, but it picked up around the halfway point. From then on, Malin both showed her capacity to kick ass and get muddled up in feelings. I mean, she's only 19, so can we really expect her to think rationally and make the best choices? Nope. Anyway, as the pace picked up and the information dumped on us at the start settled down, things got more exciting and twisted and really so much bigger than anyone thought. I'm looking forward to book 2!

This is such a different take on the whole myth retelling thing, which was very refreshing. Plus it was a great read that was really hard to put down. The world that the author has created is also unique and full of interesting creatures as well as humans.

I did have trouble connecting with Malin at first. She was a bit bold, and aloof with everyone she meets. But as the story unfolds, and we learn more about her and her life as a Valkyrie in training, I started to like her more. Her interactions with her friend and roommate Oona is when I started to really like her. Oona is probably my favorite character in the book and they have a great friendship and understanding of each other. I also like Sloane, who is a classmate at Ravenswood Academy. I loved that there was a school that taught classes in the supernatural and other magical arts. Sloane and Malin don’t like each other, but they have a very interesting interaction in the middle of the book that really spoke to what living in their world was like.

There is a sort of love triangle in the story, but it is not the main story, it is just sort of there and part of Malin’s character and life. She actually does sort of sleep around with lots of people, and that is just who she is. I’m not sure I like Asher, even though he is the son of a Valkyrie and is strong and knows his way around a sword, but he is also kind of a wet noodle. I’m not explaining it well, I guess he is too emotional given his background. But he is a nice contrast to Quinn, Malin’s ex-girlfriend. I really didn’t like Quinn, she is just to bold and controlling.

Although this is a story about Valkyries and other mythical creatures it is not a rehashing of any of the Norse myths. It is it’s own story about free-will and the internal struggles to figure out how you belong in the world. It is fast paced with lots of action and sassy dialogue. A nice mix of diverse characters, even the mythological ones have diversity in their sexual orientations. The ending leaves you hanging a little bit, but it is a great read and I am looking forward to seeing how it all ends in the next book.

*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review***

This ended up being such a quick and entertaining read! Everything just flowed so well and I absolutely devoured this!

Plot

The story is an urban fantasy that mixes together many different mythologies but the main one mostly being Norse since the story revolves around Valkyries who were created to kill immortals. However, there are so many different supernatural creatures portrayed including your basic vampires, demons, and angels but we also get to see some more unique ones such as gorgons, aswangs, and jorogumos! I thought the world building, in this case, was fantastic it was fun seeing such a blend of supernatural beings! I did want a little more information and details on the world but I’m sure I’ll get more in the sequel.

Apart from the world building, another aspect I really enjoyed was the pacing. This was an incredibly fast paced book, I was hooked right off the bat and all the way up until the end. The writing and dialogue flowed well and kept my interest, I’ll definitely be checking out more of Hocking’s books!

There also wasn’t any lack of action and twists, and be forewarned the book ends off with a pretty brutal cliffhanger!

Characters

I also really enjoyed all of the characters and while I think they could have used a bit more development and complexity I still thought they were all a lot of fun.
CMalin, our MC, is a badass Valkyrie who is also smart and stubborn at times. I liked how feisty she is, however, at times I felt she could be a little….fickle since she seems to not really know what it is that she wants.

Then there’s Quinn, the ex-lover, and Asher the new guy and both are love interests. I liked both characters and I could easily see how Malin fell for both of them. Basically Quinn and Asher are both badasses as well.

Speaking of badass….Malin’s mother, Marlow, was also really badass. She’s a fellow Valkyrie and is incredibly focused on her job and doesn’t really open up ever, even with her own daughter. I kind of had a love/hate relationship with Marlow.

There was also a strew of many other side characters that I loved as well such as Malin’s best friend who is also a witch and her pet Wolpertinger (which is the most adorable thing ever).

Romance

I wouldn’t say I loved the romance in this book but I also didn’t hate it either but there is a bisexual love triangle so there is that. There is a bit of insta love and there definitely is a love triangle, but as I mentioned I didn’t mind it too much. Malin’s attraction to both Quinn and Asher was believable as both characters could offer her something different, however, I don’t think Quinn treated Malin the best though. I’m here for Malin x Asher!

In Conclusion

What I Loved:

World building
Fast paced, action packed plot
Unique supernatural/mythological creatures

What I Didn’t Love:

Characters could have used a bit more development
Romance was “meh”

Recommend?

I highly recommend checking this book out! Especially if you love urban fantasy, mythology, or just a fun, action-packed read!

Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie #1)
I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A few months ago, the museum in my hometown began their run of a special exhibition about Vikings and Norse mythology and since then I have visited it three times. One can only imagine my excitement when I found this little gem of a story on NetGalley, which combines futuristic elements with Norse mythology.

I must confess that recently I took a small step back from reading Young Adult fiction, because of the overused stock characters that came to dominate this genre. The reader always gets introduced to a special snowflake that wasn’t aware of some talent/gift, but is able to overcome whatever peril is thrown in her way with minimum character development. This is not the case in <i>Between the Blade and the Heart</i>. The main character, struggling to establish herself not only in her profession, but also as a person, while dealing with family issues, primarily a lack of maternal love and affection, is interesting enough to carry the story and keep the readers’ attention. The secondary characters are in their own way just as strong as the protagonist, which makes for a great collection of personalities as they embark on their adventure.

The plot with its many references to Norse mythology (and here I have to admit, I wish I knew more about this fascinating subject) is catching and intriguing, explores the importance of mother-daughter relationships, sexual orientation and includes a lot of fantasy.

The writing has a natural flow that transports the reader into the story, unfolding in the reader’s imagination and stays there long after the book is finished. The author takes her time setting up the story and introducing the characters. It is a slowly unfolding story that shows the author’s love and commitment.

Overall, I am extremely glad that I stumbled upon this story and cannot wait for the second installment. The rougher setting of the world the author has built combined with the ruggedness and internal conflict of the protagonist makes for a great read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Norse mythology, fantasy and unconventional characters that breathe some fresh life into the Young Adult fantasy genre.

Going into this book and based off the description, I thought the basis for the supernatural creatures would be Norse, given that Valkyrie are one of the most famous facets of that pantheon. However, from the offset the mythology seemed to be a bit of a compilation. I noticed when Malin said the immortals slain by Valkyrie go to Kurnugia. Not familiar with the term I looked it up and it's not from Norse mythology but rather Sumerian. It does still refer to an underworld but readers should be aware that it's not Norse the way Odin and the Valkyrie are.

Beings from other religions are also included, such as Samael (Talmudic lore) or creatures like pontianaks (female vampiric beings from Malaysian/Indonesian folklore). It made it a strange reading experience when it seemed like a lot of importance was placed in these women of Norse mythology,  but also throwing in elements of other times and places.

It's not so much that I mind different pantheons blending; the Percy Jackson universe is an example of it being done well. However, when the book seems unaware of it's multifaceted nature and absorbs these elements rather than acknowledging them, it interrupts the reading experience because I continually have the feeling that I need to check a reference to see where a new element came from.

Malin was hard to feel sympathy for initially, as she was very content to be boxed in by her Valkyrie blood, even stating herself that it takes over at times and makes her crave the kills/"returns" of immortals. Her lack of agency and mannerisms felt stilted.

The romantic aspects of the book were varied. Her love interests/partners were complicated and some were sweet, such as the Cambion Jude (son of an incubus and human) on the sweet side and complicated AF in regards to Quinn, fellow Valkyrie and ex-girlfriend. However, I got this feeling that there were some subtle digs at aromantic people. When Malin and her roommate Oona were discussing Malin's ex and her current hookup, there was some digging in Oona's part about how Valkyries could totally fall in love, nothing in the books that said they couldn't. While not vocalized, Malin said some things internally that led to my thinking she was aromantic/bisexual.

I'm not clear on when or where this book takes place. The feel I get from the writing leads me to believe present day, but then there are things like hover bikes and such that point to the future. Also, how well known are supernatural creatures? Most of the time it seemed like the human populace was unaware, but then Malin visits a bar where she points out that regulars patronize the place whether they're human or otherwise and no indication is given that the physical differences (horns, etc) are noticed. Also, Oona is apparently a student at the same school as Malin, training in thaumaturgy, and she works at a bodega that sells some talismans and what not. Human awareness seems to fluctuate a lot and it was hard to grasp what kind of world this was for them.

Then there's the geographical location. Many places are mentioned that are quite a distance from each other, like Shibuya, the Gold Coast, and Tanzania. I think this book takes place in Australia because of the Gold Coast being an hour away from the HQ where Malin gets her assignments, but it's never really clear.

There were some issues with pacing and fleshing out of the events that I actually did like. The story line was there and I liked it well enough, but there also seemed to be something missing, something to give it that oomph that really sets a book apart. Aside from that, Between the Blade and the Heart was enjoyable enough and was interesting in that it got me to look up the different mythological beings that showed up. A lead to further reading, entertaining, and magical, not bad. I'm not sure I'll pick up the sequel next year, but I might pick it up at the library.

In Between the Blade and the Heart we follow Mal, a Valkyrie who returns immortals to the afterlife by slaying them to keep the balance of the world from being thrown into chaos. After Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die she struggles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought. Now she has to figure out how to fix her mothers mistake before the immortal sends the world crashing down around them.

Mal is a strong and determined character, but she definitely has some issues because of the way her mother raised her. The family dynamics between the two of them was heartbreaking. The female friendship between Mal and her human roommate, best friend and sorceress in training, Oona was fantastic. Shes caring, but not afraid of calling Mal out on her shit. I hope we get to see more of Atlas in the next book. I totally wanted more of that scene where Oona and Atlas try to pick up the same guy at the bar.

I also liked Asher and Quinn. They both have distinct personalities and qualities that made them likeable, but Im not sure how I feel about the love triangle. I loved all the diversity and reading about a bi character, but we dont all have feelings for both guys and girls at the same time. Im not saying it doesnt happen or that theres anything wrong with that, but spreading that stereotype does us a huge disservice. We do often like just one person at a time. Also it was kind of weird how Mal completely ignored the creepy thing her mom said and all the other signs she was given.

I thought this was going to be your traditional urban fantasy, but it didnt really feel like one because the world had some futuristic elements to it, which I loved. I also loved all the different creatures and Norse mythology. I would have liked a bit more information about the world, but this is the first book in a series and I understand the author didnt want to slow down the pace by adding all the world building at the same time. The beginning hooked me, but then the pace slowed down and the story slowly started losing my interest.

In the world in Between the Blade and the Heart, immortals and mortals live together. The Valkyrie are ordered to keep balance amongst the citizens by taking a grim reaper approach if you will in dispatching immortals that seem harmful to the community. Malin, a Valkyrie in training, was brought up by a distant mother who always taught her to stay away from emotions in this world made up of rules. She is taught to withhold these principles and keep to the high priority a Valkyrie faces while upholding her duties. That is until Malin is faced with a devastating blow when someone close to her breaks the rules and saves an Immortal “Marked” for death by the Valkyrie. Malin slowly begins to realize nothing is what it seems in her life. She is joined by her ex-girlfriend and a mysterious boy named Asher on her quest to right the balance her mother threw off at the expense of love and emotion.

I enjoyed this book immensely! Out of all the characters, I wished Quinn, Malin’s ex-girlfriend, was my best friend! She is supportive, brave…uh, could not get enough of her! I enjoyed the LGTBQ element to the story. There is conflict between Quinn and Malin due to the emotional bond between the two and I wish they would work it out. On the other hand, I like Malin and Asher’s attraction as well. It’s difficult to pick between the two!

The book is fast-paced and will keep you on your toes. Most chapters end on a cliffhanger note that pulls you in tighter as the story progresses. Does it have it’s flaws? Yes. Does it overwhelm the plot? No. I like this world and ready for the next chapter!

Loved it! I've always loved the books this author has written and will recommend.