For a story this short, it gave me so many feels. Also, Japanese queer valkyries. Need I say more? I really enjoyed this story and it was a quick read.

This was short and sweet and very beautifully told. It has an ethereal feel to it, which is appropriate given that Sakuma is a winged Valkyrie. But it is very clear that author, Ashton, has a love for both of these characters and the slowly developing friendship and love the progresses over time.

I loved how both characters perceive time in different ways; it adds to the complication of these connection, and also the frustration of Sakuma who's been stopped from doing his job.

I'm very glad that I read this, and it's well worth a read if you like World War II stories with some paranormal/romance aspects.

Beautifully written. Set against the harrowing backdrop of WWII, Ashton managed to forge a very human and deeply emotional story. The connection that developed between Sakuma and Ishii was slow, tender, and filled with so much fun and joy. I loved it!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I was unaware this book was going to be a novella (something I rarely read), I found Valhalla to be an incredibly satisfying read. I really love books with mythology, and Norse mythology is one of my favorites, so I was incredibly excited to read this. I enjoyed the romance and how realistically and slowly it developed. Both main protagonists, Sakuma and Ishii, were interesting and fairly likeable. Overall, I truly feel anyone looking for a sweet romance with an innovative concept will really enjoy this novella. I would definitely recommend it!

4/5

A wonderful romance, it almost seemed too short! I really appreciated the imagery and descriptive language. Very sweet and touching, while juxtaposed against the harsh background of the battlefield.

Wow, this was such a beautiful story, with a wonderful ending. It’s a story of a Valkyrie finding a mortal, a stubborn one, that doesn’t want to die over and over again in battles. They become friends in the times they see each other, and in the end, I’d say they fall in love or are falling in love. The ending is perfect in the only way in can be, and it’s so beautiful! This is a true gem of a story, and I can not say enough of how beautiful it is.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novella!

Title: Valhalla
Author: L.A Ashton
Genre: Fantasy romance 
Release date: 31st December 2018
My Rating: 4 stars 
Trigger/content warnings: Some violence and gore, descriptions of war. 

Very emotional, sweet, gripping and fast-paced short story! 
Extremely likeable and well-built characters, the world building was great, especially for a novella. 

Set against the backdrop of WW2, Japanese soldier Ishii is dying. Enter Valkyrie Sakuma, who is sent to collect the souls of warriors who die in battle and grant them a seat in Valhalla, but Ishii refuses to die. Thus begins the journey and growing relationship between Sakuma and Ishii.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this and I will be keeping an eye out for more by this author! 

Review to be uploaded on my blog, which I will link once posted.

There's a lot of mythos mixed together with history in this, but it works! Sakuma is a Valkyrie charged with taking souls to Valhalla. Ishii is a Japanese soldier fighting in WWII. He finds himself at death's door multiple times over the course of the war and Sakuma comes to try and collect him. Short and sweet, this story is a unique collection of elements that I haven't seen together before.

When I first read the synopsis of Valhalla, the premise of the book was difficult to wrap my head around. There were so many elements that just didn’t seem like they would work together cohesively – WW2, Norse Mythology, Japanese characters – but I was wrong. 

Ashton balances the numerous elements by keeping the rest of the backdrop pretty vague so that we, as readers, aren’t inundated with information. Yes, it’s World War 2 and gruesome things are happening, but really Ashton could have picked any war. There are really only four characters (two of whom aren’t that important) and the plot is largely character driven/well-paced.

We follow Sakuma and Ishii’s interactions over the course of a few years and watch their relationship grow increasingly intimate. While this is a romance, it isn’t heavily passionate, or insta-lovey and the burgeoning relationship is both moving and believable. There’s actual growth.

I also liked that there was an actual conversation about the atrocities of war and the fact that everyone loses in battles like these. I think that was a moving addition and tastefully done. 

The only issue I had with Valhalla is less of an issue and more of a personal preference. I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to mythology and so I was a little discomfited by the fact that there were male Valkyries. Yes, world population and whatnot has grown so there is a need for more Valkyries (which was the explanation they provided in the novella), but I still think they should be women…. Again, this is a personal gripe. Overall, I did like Valhalla and it was an enjoyable, quick read.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Valhalla is the story of Sakuma, a male Valkyrie (the female Valkyrie were understaffed, you see) who has the burden of taking warriors back to Valhalla once they die on the battleground. However, one day, Sakuma meets Ishii, a stubborn soldier who refuses to take his hand and go to paradise when he was supposed to die - and instead, he lives on. Fascinated, Sakuma follows him throughout his life, learning and bonding with him in a way that is both endearing and romantic.

I found this novella to be short, sweet, and almost like a taste test of something that I definitely want more of. As far as constructive criticism is concerned, the only two things that bothered me were the lack of description of the characters in certain places, and the habit of switching between Ishii’s given and family name in the third person narrative. If there had been some rhyme or reason to each change then it would have been fine, but occasionally they should change without any warning within a paragraph or two of each other. But if that’s the most I have to complain about, this is a pretty solid story.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a short, romantic, and uplifting read. I wish I had the promise of more of Sakuma and Ishii’s story on the horizon, but barring that, I’ll be glad to read the next story from this author - whatever it may be. Their writing style is engaging and easy to read, and I’m looking forward to what a longer novel in their hands would look like.