This is one I grabbed along with a few others I found on NG, and really enjoyed reading it! It was one of the few I haven't heard and didn't know any about before starting, and sometimes that's the best way to find books!

this was a great start to a series, the characters were great and I really liked learning about the environment of the book. I look forward to more from this series.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Overall, I liked this book quite a bit. The story was interesting, and the characters were likable. Plus, Vikings + magic + mythology + a quest? Sign me up. The writing flowed well and added to Runa’s character and perceptions of herself. Descriptions were enough to let me see without being distracted from the story.

The book did have its weaknesses, but they weren’t enough to diminish my overall enjoyment or desire to read sequels. Runa’s transformation from being unsure of her powers and self worth into a confident, powerful runecaster is rather abrupt. She starts out the book being tether clumsy and unskilled in casting the tunes, and then she suddenly can do it without trouble. Perhaps it’s because she finally has the proper motivation (her sister) and forgets her self doubt—I don’t know. I’m also a little confused about the Katla/Odin thing—I’ll explain more in the spoiler section. And forgive me, but it bothered me that Oski was genderless. Not only is it awkward to constantly be reading “they/them” as singular pronouns (yes, I know it’s considered acceptable now, but it. is. awkward and disrupts the flow of reading), but Valkyries are female—read your Norwegian mythology. I’m also a little confused about why Runa’s goal at the end of this book is what it is. Does she really think that’s going to work out well?

Despite the rapid turnaround in her confidence and ability, I really liked Runa (17). She had a fierce love for her older sister and a strong determination to save her. I liked that, even though she lacked confidence because she was considered the village freak, she didn’t dislike herself. Einar (??), a half-elf from a neighboring clan, was quiet and gentle, though he wasn’t weak. I liked how he was with Runa. 

Although the story is definitely left open for a sequel, this portion was wrapped up nicely. It’s like the Harry Potter books—the minor story arc is concluded, but the overall story is not. I am a little sad with the way some things ended, but I look forward to reading more and hope the end end is happy. Considering Runa’s objective when this book concludes, however, I’m not sure how that will work.

Note: Runa’s older sister has a girlfriend. Oski is a genderless Valkyrie who is in love with one of the Fates (female).

I have been drawn to books lately with sisters/family bond themes and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed this and found myself going back for more as the day went on. I'm a little late reading this but I'm glad I did! I'm going to buy this ad add it to my collection I love the cover.

This story had me from the start. The writing was strong and descriptive, which I haven't seen as much lately in a lot of other books I've read. It was nice to feel more emersed in the story.

The story itself was enticing and unique. I really enjoyed the mythology and the setting. The way the beginning played out was so interesting to me and I was so into it that needed to know what was going to happen. I didn't want to stop reading.

The love the MC's have for eachother and their village really drives the story. I really enjoyed the journey they go on and the people they encounter along the way to get it all back. It was a lot of fun watching Runa grow into her own and partner up with others she wouldn't norlmally get involved with.

I am definitely interested to see what happens in the next book when it comes out!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

This fell flat for me, there was something about the character that I just couldn't mesh with. I think I went in with too high expectations because I was excited about the Norse Mythology aspect. I also didn't get along with the writing style, this is mostly a personal preference issue. I think there is potential here and I could possibly be interested in reading other books written by this author but unfortunetly this just didn't do it for me.

DNF. I don't know why, I tried multiple times but I just couldn't get into this book. I was a slow start and I struggled to connect with the main character.

This was a really fun read! I’ve always found mythology fascinating, especially Norse mythology. So when I saw a book that centered around that, I was really excited to give it a go. While at times this plot was a little uneven, overall I found it to be an interesting and enjoyable read!

One of my favorite parts about this book was the unique and strong characters. Each one had their own personality and agenda. There were times when I felt the character growth felt a bit rushed, but for the most part I thought they were all believable and well-developed!

As with the character growth, I thought the plot felt a little rushed at times. Although there were other times when I think things moved a bit too slow. I enjoyed the story, but I think the pacing was kind of all over the place.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. While I would have liked a bit more character development, and the plot could have been smoother, I still had a great time reading this. I’m interested to see where the story goes next!

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I love the feeling of Nordic legends and traditions. Runa is a daydreamer and she wants to see the world and not follow her destined path of being a runecaster. It is only when her sister who is the protector of a sacred moonstone does she knows that she has to do something. She with two companion she goes to find a way to get the stone and her sister back. The path before her is no an easy one. This is the great start to a series. I want to read more that comes from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, first. This cover! It is gorgeousssss. I love the pop of blue on her cloak and her white hair. I think I requested this off the cover alone.

This book had a lot of positives for me. It’s based on Icelandic mythology – which I know nothing about. It was so interesting to read a book based off this and I learned a lot! It made me want to research more Icelandic myths.
Next was all the rep! There is a female-female relationship, along with an asexual character that uses they/them pronouns. I believe this is the first book I’ve read with an asexual character, too!

This was a pretty quick read for me. The story was fast paced and compelling. I did see some of the twists coming, but not all! I liked the magic system. It was well explained and thought out. The ending twist I didn’t see coming and I loved it!

There was a romance – a small one. I didn’t like the guy though. His personality reminded me of a wet noodle. I think she should have gone for the sexy Elf instead! There wasn’t much of the elf, but I’m hoping to see him again in future novels!

Runa, the MC, was interesting. She started out so unsure of herself and insecure, but grew along with the story. I really enjoyed her character arc and can’t wait to see what happens in the next novels!

The reason I gave 3.5 stars was because the story slowed down at points and it became hard to push through. Most of it was action-packed and interesting, though. The ending also kind of dragged to me.

I definitely recommend if you are a fan of fantasy, mythology, with a little bit of romance.

As always thank you Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for the arc. 

This is about a girl who is to be a rune caster. Only one thing nothing works for her. She wants to travel the world instead of being stuck in her clan. Things change when her clan is attacked by a rival runecaster wanting the moonstone. To save her clan and the world she has to travel to save her sister and the world.

I loved this book. I loved the magic system and the trials that she had to go through to save her people. The character growth I felt was pretty good. I did feel that the love intrest was kinda sudden. It's a hate to love and happens kinda fast. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-Arc. Will read more from this author in the future. See star rating for my review.

3.0 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

This is a good first book in a new YA Fantasy series that weaves Norse mythology and magic into the story of a young woman embarking on a quest to save her sister and clan.

Syr is a powerful runecaster for her clan and keeper of a magical gem called a moonstone. The moonstone magnifies her power and is essential in her clan's survival. Runa is her younger sister. Syr is training Runa to be a runecaster, but Runa would rather sail away and explore the world like their father. One day another clan under the spell of an evil witch raids their village and kidnaps Syr. After most of her clan is killed or put into a sleep-like trance, Runa sets off to rescue Syr. Along the way she is joined by a fallen Valkrie and the handsome half-elf heir of the rival clan that attacked her village. Both have their own reasons for aiding Runa's cause. With each challenge Runa faces on her quest, she becomes more adept at magic and gains the confidence she'll need to face the evil queen.

This is a fast-paced, easy, read. I consider this "fantasy-lite" as there is almost no world-building and few characters, but it's still an entertaining story. As with most YA books, there is no descriptive violence and no sex. Runa's character development is unrealistically quick and choppy, but considering the book is short for a fantasy novel, I guess the author needed to abbreviate her journey. This isn't a book that is thought-provoking or will spur hours of conversation with your friends, but it's still a fun, quick read.

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

In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the runecaster her clan has been hoping for. She spends her days daydreaming of sailing away and exploring the world instead of studying the runes and learning her spells. The villagers consider her odd, in looks and in manner. She’s nothing like her talented sister, Sýr, keeper of the sacred moonstone that ensures the village’s continued survival. But when a rival clan led by an evil witch raids the village and kidnaps her sister, 

Runa is forced to act. With a fallen Valkyrie by her side, and the help of a gorgeous half-elf Runa is not quite sure she can trust, the apprentice must travel to the site of an ancient runecasting competition to try to win back the magical gem. But the journey will not be easy; the three unlikely companions encounter malevolent and supernatural creatures at every turn. Somehow, Runa must summon the courage and strength to face her destiny, a destiny she never wanted. Or die trying. - Goodreads

It is hard to believe that Runa is a 17 year old girl. From the moment you met her, she is whining and complaining. She reads like a 12 year old and that is a problem for me. She doesn't do anything on her own. I understand not being good at something or being different but her voice is whinny and she depends way too much on her sister even for the littlest things and because of this I see how very selfish she is. 

I ended up not finishing this book. I did not like Runa. I did not like how everyone babied her. This is unfortunate because the world building of this novel is done really well. I would love to read a book about this world but with better characters.

Title:  The Stone of Sorrow
Author:  Brooke Carter
Genre:  Fantasy
Rating:  4 out of 5

In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the runecaster her clan has been hoping for. She spends her days daydreaming of sailing away and exploring the world instead of studying the runes and learning her spells. The villagers consider her odd, in looks and in manner. She’s nothing like her talented sister, Sýr, keeper of the sacred moonstone that ensures the village’s continued survival. But when a rival clan led by an evil witch raids the village and kidnaps her sister, Runa is forced to act. With a fallen Valkyrie by her side, and the help of a gorgeous half-elf Runa is not quite sure she can trust, the apprentice must travel to the site of an ancient runecasting competition to try to win back the magical gem. But the journey will not be easy; the three unlikely companions encounter malevolent and supernatural creatures at every turn. Somehow, Runa must summon the courage and strength to face her destiny, a destiny she never wanted. Or die trying.

I enjoyed The Stone of Sorrow. The setting and culture were interesting enough to keep my attention, even though there were parts where I felt like the character development was lacking a little. The setting felt familiar—because I’ve read a fair amount of Norse mythology—but not in an “Oh, this again?” sort of way. More a comfortable familiarity. I’m interested to read what happens next.

Brooke Carter is from Canada. The Stone of Sorrow is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review.)

If adventure with just a bit of romance is your thing, than this book is most likely for you. I enjoyed following the adventures of the magical beings of this story though I do wish that aspects of their quest were a bit more detailed so one could really get immersed in them.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley .  My review opinion is my own. 
This was a book outside of my reading comfort zone that kept me reading into the night. The charcters are richly drawn and the plot fascinating.  This is the first in series and I look forward to the next in series. 

This is the story of a talented runecaster who does not want to live in her small village and cast. She dreams of  life bigger then the one she is destine to live. .She is a bit of an outcast and not as well loved as her sister who is both beautiful and more talented . When her sister is kidnapped she must act and save her sister throwing aside her own needs.  I loved the story, the plot and charcters. This is a enjoyable fun read that definitely takes you away.

I really loved the concept for this book and it kept me entertained pretty much the whole time. The only problem I really had with it was the lack of detail and the fact that it jumped all over the place at times. It was hard to follow and more than once I had to reread to understand where things stood. I also feel like it lacked character depth and I didnt connect with any of the characters on the level I would have liked to.  Besides that it was well written and I enjoyed it. I would definitely read the next one!!

I love fantasy books that draw from the richness of specific cultures. However  I feel like there is an oversaturation of books that do that but don't necessarily feel original enough to stand out. This one is among the few Nordic-inspired ones that I have found deserve special recognition. It was epic. What I liked most about it, though, were the characters. They were well fleshed out and had realistic arcs.