I received a copy via NetGalley and publisher St. Martin's Press for an unbiased review. I am not one to give in detail description of what happens in the book but I really enjoyed the direction the book took and found it a good wrap up to the duology. The only thing I'm sad about... is that it's over. I like how Malin is more comfortable with herself than the previous book and more aware of how her actions can affect others. I think her choosing the direction of her love life grounded her nervous energy and allowed us to focus on other things but it was slow in coming. She had a lot of unresolved issues that took precedence over other things in the plot line but it wasn't as bad as the first book and didn't have this doom day feeling to it if she ever did fall in love. Overall I have to say I'm not impressed with this duology and felt it could have been a pretty impressive series. The plot did move quickly but that was because there is so much information you need to know and the action has to move forward in order to reach any kind of climax. I think it has some really good qualities but it's not something I will re-read and that to me is disappointing.

Great sequel, great characters. This book wraps up things nicely, but I still want more.

Satisfying conclusion to this duology. Hope to see more from this author in the future

I want to thank Wednesday books and Goodreads for an ARC of this book. I liked it better than the first one. The things that bothered me in the first one were tightened up in this. Marlin made a decision on her love life and stuck to it. They gave us real places like Panama and Belize so you kind of had an idea on where they were and what it might look like. In the first one it was like you flitted from city to stone ages then back again. I was sorry to see one character go and liked the addition of most of the new ones. This book is an easy read as the action is nonstop much like the first one. I think the ending was good and a real talk piece so read with a friend. I also love it’s a duology and that you didn’t have to wait long for this to come out. I think if you can get through the first book then definitely try the second. It is well worth it. If you read the first book and decided you had enough give it a second chance as this one makes it worth it.

Malin is tasked by Odin to retrieve items critical in the battle against Ereshkigal and her army as they attempt to free themselves from Kurnugia, the underworld where they are trapped, and launch hell on Earth. Barely surviving the last battle at the Gates of Kurnugia, Malin's task will take her past the gates and deep into the underworld and back to where Asher has been taken captive. Malin finds herself once again endangering the lives of those she cares about most in order to stop the uprising and save the world. She recruits the help of her closest friends as well as some new allies...but who can really be trusted. 

I am a huge fan of Amanda Hocking and have read almost every novel she has written. I was so excited to get the change to read and review one of her books. From the Earth to the Shadows is the second novel in the Valkyrie duology. This book begins right where the other novel left off with the remaining team recovering from battle and coming up with a new plan. This novel introduces a few new characters as Malin prepares to enter the underworld on Odin's mission. I felt that this novel had a lot more action and battle sequences opposed to the character building and romantic tension of the first book. Malin is still struggling with her feelings towards her X, her mom, and Asher which kind of felt like it dragged on a bit too long and part of the reason I dropped my rating. Overall I enjoyed the second novel more than the first as it focused more on the trip to the underworld and upcoming battle and less on Malin's "inability to love anyone" drama. Although this series is not my personal favorite, I would definitely recommend this one for anyone who loves strong female protagonists with a notably large cast of fantasy/mythological based creatures.