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

I am a big fan of mythology and folklore, but it usually runs to Egyptian. Lately I've been reading more on Norse history, so I was excited to see this.

Unfortunately, it wasn't great. I'm not sure if the translation made it harder to read or not, but it was choppy. I will probably still give the next book a try though. Sometimes the first one isn't always the best, but it gets better after that.

**FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PUBLISHERS!! PUT THE DAMN GLOSSARY AT THE FRONT OF THE BOOK!! USE CONTENT WARNINGS!**

I want to say thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC! If Goodreads had partial ratings, I'd give this book a 3.5 stars.

This book was what I thought it'd be, but not at the same time. I enjoyed the concept and the typical outsider trope. I appreciated the journey Hirka went on. I really enjoyed Eirik's character. He was hilarious. Until I found out his son was Hirka's age, I totally shipped Hirik (Eirka?).

There were a few mentions of rape; one being past tense, and one as it's happening. I really wish there were content warnings about this kind of stuff.

There were a few points that made me not love the book entirely.
1) The magic system was never explained. "Might" was capitalized every time but it never specified it was the magic flowing throughout the land. I spent a large portion of the book confused by the Might and binding.
2) The entire book went on a rollercoaster of interesting highs and insanely slow lows. I wasn't slightly interested in continuing to read until 30% in when Eirik is introduced. I found myself wanting to know more about his situation. But then Hirka leaves, and then I found myself not caring again until the Rite at 50%. I thought, "yes! the point of the book!" And then the rollercoaster went downhill again, and I didn't care again until 80%. It was frustrating to go through points where I could have stopped reading and not been bothered about it.
3) The ending was super rushed. The entire scene at Bromfjell happened so quickly I had to reread parts multiple times to gather what was happening. It wasn't the ending I was expecting, but more description I think would have made it easier to take in. I felt like the Mr. Krabs meme.

I wasn't truly invested in the whole book, but I'm curious enough about the new land that I might give book two a shot when it releases. It's not a bad book, but I personally prefer more world-building with explanations and detailed descriptions of action scenes. Not to mention Hirka realized something very world-changing and we got no more than a sentence about it.

Eirik is still supreme. Erik > Rime.

I was intrigued by this cover originally, but I honestly had no expectations going in, but Odin's child really delivered! I have never read a translated version of a story before so this was really interesting - and Norse Mythology? Yeah, honestly the only Norse mythology I really knew going in was what my husband tells me about the video games he plays (yeah, sad I know).

ANYWAY, Odin's child follows Hirka, an outsider in her world - something that makes her relatable and I really enjoyed reading about a character I can relate to. It was interesting following Hirka on her coming of age journey and what is expected of her regarding rituals in her community.

This is the first in a trilogy and I'm excited to see what's coming next in the trilogy. Full of beautiful characters, and leaning on the mature side for YA this is a must read,

Odin’s Child follow Hirka, who finds out that she is a human. In this world the humans carry the rot, and soon the Rite is here... where everyone and the Seer will find out what she truly is.

Finally one of my favorite series is coming in English! I implore anyone to pick up this amazing Norwegian high fantasy! The different themes and plots happening will keep you guessing and cheering for these characters through and through. The second book in the series is actually my favorite, it takes the foundation from what we learn in this one to new levels! Just reading this and knowing where it will all go makes me even more excited for more people to read it. Rime is one of my favorite characters, and I’m so ready for people to be ready for his intenseness. 4/5 solid stars!

Absolutely phenomenal book!

The world building was fantastic and I absolutely adored the fact it is based on Norse mythology as I haven’t read many books that are, and this one has definitely peaked my interest to read more!

The characters in this book are so relatable which makes this such a fun read.

I highly recommend for fans of YA Fantasy.

I honestly don't know what I was expecting in terms of this book. I've never read anything that was a translated version of the original, nor have I delved into the realm of Norse mythology. I was pleasantly surprised!

The story's protagonist, Hirka, is an outsider in her world as she is tailess, unearthed and an outcast in a world that worships the Seer. When it is revealed to her by her "father" that she is a Child of Odin (a.k.a the rot), This coming-of-age novel follows Hirka through her journey of self-discovery, trials, and tribulations.

While the book was longer than I'm used to (approximately 12-hours of reading time vs my normal 5-6), I really enjoyed it. I did find it slow to start off with where I found myself saying "ok I get the point...". Once I got around 30% of the way through the book things started to really get interesting. The translation was easy to understand and was well-written. There were no plot holes and i would love to recommend this book to anyone who asks.

One of the best fantasy novels i've read in years. Why did this take so long to be translated? I can't wait for the next installments.

Very immersive tale with elements of Norse mythology. This is quite an intensive read but enjoyable as a whole new world is created around Hirka the tail less. This is the first book of a trilogy and I look forward to reading the others. This is a translated book from Norwegian to English which means some of the names and language can be a little more difficult to understand however there is a glossary at the back

Loved this story, a nice coming-of-age story following the journey of Hirka (15) and the rituals expected of those in their community, she struggles to come to terms with this challenge and doesn't believe herself capable. It's an interesting extension of Norse Mythology and I really enjoyed it.

Title: Odin's Child
Author: Siri Pettersen
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5

15-year-old Hirka has always been an outsider in the world of Ym: she’s the only person without a tail, and the only one unable to access the Might, a current of power that runs through the earth.

Her differences become more and more of a concern as the date approaches for the Rite—the ceremony where everyone is to be blessed by the all-knowing Seer and the Council of powerful families who rule in His name. With only a few weeks until the Rite, Hirka discovers the shocking secret behind why she is tailless and Mightless: she is not from this world. As an infant, she was brought through an ancient stone circle known as a Raven Ring, and as long as she’s in Ym, the passageway between worlds remains open inviting terrifying creatures called the blind to follow.

No one can know the truth of Hirka’s identity, especially not Rime, her childhood friend who just might become something more. But is Rime is hiding secrets of his own?

I was enthralled in this from the very first page! Hirka is a fantastic character, and I couldn’t wait to see what she’d do next. The mythology and culture in this book is so well-done it all felt natural, like I was watching familiar scenes play out before my eyes, yet it’s quite unique and not like anything I’ve seen before. Vivid characters and setting bring this story to life, and I cannot read to read the rest of the trilogy!

Siri Pettersen lives in Norway. Odin’s Child is the first of the Ravneringene Series.

(Galley courtesy of Arctis in exchange for an honest review.)

(blog link live 3/27.)

This is fantastic mature YA, with a real sense of the poetic and some beautiful character work. As the first book of a trilogy it handles the epic journey we are embarking on by engaging us with engaging and interesting characters, Odin's Child hits familiar beats for this sort of story, but deftly avoids them feeling recycled, and manages to subvert expectations and elevate the moments. Definitely worth your time. I'm looking forward to future volumes!

This trilogy comes to us from Norway and it shows. The landscapes and the figures have that harshness that is only found in Norse myths. Perhaps that’s why this first volume reminded me of Joe Abercrombie's The Broken Sea (without achieving, however, the same degree of excellence). There are some very good, skillfully crafted ingredients that make it a pleasant surprise. Lovers of Nordic folklore will appreciate. In any case, I really enjoyed discovering this universe.

Without falling into grimdark (this is assumed Young Adult and that does not mean anything else whatever the cover says), the universe in which our protagonists operate is still harsh, cold and ruthless. It doesn't feel good to be anything other than Ym's child around here.

This read was a pleasant surprise overall for several reasons.
Already, I really liked the different protagonists: Hirka, the tailless outcast who reminds me a bit of Thorn from The Broken Sea, raw, but with the heart in the right place (the desire to kill everything that moves in less), Rime, the son of a powerful Council family who refuses to bow to tradition and chooses another path, and Urd, a new member of the Council who has sacrificed too much to get there (especially in indulging with very ugly powers) and who obviously has a very evil plan in mind (I like that kind of villain).
Then there is this Nordic universe which always works with me, with original elements to keep my interest. As for the plot, it remains gripping, even if it suffers from too many lengths.

At romance level (oh yes, we don't cut it!), We have neither a silly love at first sight, nor a lame relationship with a narcissistic pervert, nor the old Stockholm syndrome. No, it's simple and obvious and it wasn't too much irritating.

Yes, because we come to the negative points: endless internal dialogues where, regularly, our two lovers whine thinking about each other. Usually I like it when the story dwells on the characters and their questioning, but this was a bit too much and the pace unfortunately kicked in. Besides, when I see this book being sold as epic, I think those who are only looking for it are going to be pretty disappointed. There is, in the end, very little action. We are more in political games and an identity crisis than the battle for Helm's pit. Personally, it suits me (despite the lengths), but some may miss it. Maybe in the following volumes?

In conclusion, without being the revolution of the genre and despite the lengths, Odin's Child is doing very honorably. With endearing characters, a familiar universe and a gripping plot, Siri Pettersen offers us an entertaining reading.

I was pretty excited when I saw this book on the read now list. I'm a fan of Norse Mythology and although the book is aimed at teenagers, I thought I'd give it a go.

Unfortunately, I struggled to get into the story. I stuck with it but found it hard work to keep going. I was hoping the characters would eventually grow on me and I was constantly waiting for the hook but it never came.

I had made an assumption that the book was set to the background of Norse mythology but this was not the case. The iron age beliefs were not featured and this is maybe where I went wrong with this book.

Thank you anyway for the opportunity to read this, free of charge.

I absolutely adored this book! I am a big fan of anything mythical, so when I saw this book on my dashboard I could not wait to read this! Thankfully, I was accepted as a reviewer and I believe my heart jumped a bit.

This book did not disappoint! I loved the characters and I absolutely adored the storyline. It was well written (I was a bit scared for that as it is a translated book) but it was phenomenal! 100% recommend.

Interesting book based on Norse mythology but with a twist. The monster in this tale is actually a human girl thrust into a world of ymlings wh9 are like humans but have a tail. They also wield the “might” which is like a magic system that lets them have powers.

Hirka is 15 and about to undergo the coming of age rite when she discovers she’s actually what is known as an Odin’s child - a portent of doom that draws the blind ones (monsters that thirst for the might and will kill ymlings to get it). She also apparently brings the rot - a disease that makes people rot from then inside out. She was found abandoned in a stone circle and her father maimed her and claimed she was attacked by wolves hence why she’s been known as the tail-less girl all her life. Hirka is smart, sharp, honest and she’s fearless. She helps people, acts as a healer and she protects the weak. She has a complicated rivalry/friendship with Rime (a son of a noble family), which evolves into something else as they start to work together.

The book started off well and I liked the world building. The ymlings are a superstitious and religious lot and they follow tradition/bow to the Seer. They are ruled by an inner circle of councillors who have created a corrupt system of ruling. A lot of the book deals with exposing this layer of corruption and revealing thousand year old secrets. There’s a lot of politics and religious intrigue with bits of mythology woven in. It’s interesting for about 2/3rds of the book when it revolves into a very complicated mess and it becomes hard to follow what is going on. The characters are likeable - Hirka and Rime (and maybe Ilume) are the only fully fleshed out ones. The others all seem slightly 2 dimensional. Even the “villain” is 2 dimensional and I never quite got a full grasp of his actions or motivations. The ending is also a bit lacklustre until I realised this is book 1 of a trilogy, so there is more to come. I also realised that this book has been translated into English, so maybe there are some elements that we’re lost in translation.

All in - it was quite interesting and I would read the rest of series to see what happens next. 3.5 stars.

Welcome to the land of Ym, where everyone is born with a tail and the ability to bind the Might, to be one with the very essence of nature. Well, everyone except one, that is. At fifteen winters, Hirka neither sports a tail or has the ability to bind. What she’s got is hair the color of fire and a courage that borders to recklessness. All she want, has ever wanted, is to fit in, to be like everyone else and yet that’s the one thing she’ll never do. Because she’s not like the people she grew up among and Hirka is about learn just how cruel fate can be.

There are many players in this game for power. But only one key. And she has no idea what’s coming for her.

I read this book in 2013 when it was published in Sweden and I absolutely loved the book. I completely devoured it and to this day, Odin’s child is unlike any other book I’ve come across. It’s one of a kind in more ways than one. Odin’s child is written in an unique, eerie way which in my opinion captures the mystical feeling of Scandinavian myths and nature in an absolutely fantastic way. It may take a little while to get used to but it’s worth it!

Odin’s child is a book about hate and love, of power and greed. A story of how it sometimes is easier to blindly follow, to live in denial rather then to see the harsh truth. It’s a tale about the unknown and how we fear and despise that which is different.

This young adult fantasy book with Norse origin is truly one of a kind. It’s not every day a Scandinavian written YA fantasy book comes out on the international market and I remember back in 2013 thinking Odinsbarn (Swedish title) was just as good as any other internationally released fantasy book I’d read. And now, 8 years later, the book has been translated and (as of today) is released to the world! So to everyone out there who has yet to read this brilliant book: add Odin’s child to your tbr at once because you don’t want to miss out on this spellbindning adventure. Trust me.

***I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley (thank you Arctis Books!) in exchange for a honest review.***

I really enjoyed this book. Anything to do with Norse Mythology is something I know I will be hooked from the beginning, which I was. I really liked the characters and I look forward to seeing where the rest of the trilogy takes the story.

Ever since I saw this series on one of my favorite Booktuber’s shelves, I wanted an English translation of this series. I didn’t even know what it was about - I just thought the covers were way cool and it was from a Norweigan author which was also cool. Much to my delight, this ended up being a pretty cool story!
Hirka is tailless and magic-less amongst a people where that simply does not happen. Her lack of a tail is easily explained - her father claims a wolf tore it off when she was just a babe - but the lack of the Might (magic) is simply unheard of. Among the Ym, when a child reaches the age of fifteen they attend the Rite, where they are tested for strength of magic and sort of choose a path for their lives. As the Rite draws near, her father reveals that he is not her true father and she is not from this world, but is truly a child of Odin. It’s unclear if this means she is merely human or some other race entirely, because the descriptions are somewhat vague. We know Hirka has hair red as flame and no tail, but beyond that there isn’t much detail.
As one would expect, Hirka is distraught by this news. She had hoped her childhood friend Rime could help her through the Rite by sharing his Might, but the knowledge that she is not of this world haunts her. Not only does she not belong, but her presence keeps a gateway between worlds open, allowing monsters known as the Blind into Ym. Hirka’s journey is full of twists and turns and kept me on my toes!
Rime also gets plenty of POV chapters, which is fortunate because he was quite interesting! He was the sole heir to one of the Council seats, but rejected it to join the rank of Kolkagga assassins. His goal being to carry out the true will of the Seer, who the council claims to represent. He has torn obligations, desiring to help Hirka but he also must carry out the will of the Council and these two things are at odds with one another.
There is yet another POV of one of the newly elected Council members. He’s a right bastard by all counts and has something seriously wrong with him. He ends up trying to hunt down Hirka as well. The key word here being “try” - she’s a tough one to hold on to!
Odin’s Child is a fascinating story. I loved the setting and the Ym - it’s honestly quite rare to have truly unique non-human people in fantasy these days. Lots of humans, but few elves and dwarves, and even fewer that are something else entirely. It lent an air of additional mystery to the story, which had plenty of unexplained or vague things going on. I like being plunked down in an unfamiliar world, where everything is new and unexpected and you get to figure things out along with the characters. Overall, I found this to be a fresh, exciting story with plenty of action, politics, and some genuinely emotional scenes. I can’t wait for the sequel!

It was a little challenging to get into this book, and while I did finish it, it was tedious at times. It's clear that the author had a clear image of the world she created and was consistent, but it was a little convoluted and hard to follow at times. While I really enjoyed a few of the characters (impulsive Hirka for example) I am not sure I will continue in the series. Thank you for the advance release copy, really appreciate it!

trigger warning
<spoiler> ableism, gore, bullying, sexual harassment, rape, trauma, grief, suicide, mental illness, being drugged, kidnapping, torture </spoiler>

Hirka always thought that the only difference between her and everyone else was that she got attacked as a tiny child and now, as a result, is tailless. She has the scars to fit the story.
But as an old friend comes back a changed person, it dawns on her that there might be more.

You <i>could</i> read this as a standalone. The plot in the first book is resolved. There are open questions, but mostly they concern future events and you could make the cut. I, however, liked this so much I was glad to see my library has the German translations in stock.

I was promised a story inspired by Norse mythology, but this had a weird religious system I didn't expect. The highest person is the Seer, a raven, and all raven are sacred. Then there is the council of twelve people, led by the Ravenbearer who has a staff that makes a nice perch for the seer.
And everyone has to go to the capital, stand in front of the people, of the council, and be blessed in their fifteenth year to prevent a plague.
I certainly would do that to prevent a plague.

Hirka is a fun protagonist. She is impulsive, in the small but also in the big things. But, what sets her apart from so many young adult protagonists is that she's able to learn from her mistakes, because they have consequences.

I liked how heavy topics are adressed. Rape happens, but the people it concerns are treated with respect by the author, and the results are thoroughly explored.
I liked how inner-world myths were revealed to be true.

Will read more of this series and probably other things by this author.
The arc was provided by the publisher.