In Odin’s Child, we follow Hirka, a fifteen-year-old girl who discovers she’s not like everyone else in her world—she’s tailless, born without the gift that connects others to the earth’s magic. Branded as an outcast and a myth, she becomes a target in a society that fears her very existence. As the truth of her origins unravels, so too does a much larger threat—one that could shatter everything.

This book has a fascinating premise rooted in Norse mythology and explores big themes like faith, belonging, and fear of the unknown. The worldbuilding is rich and the atmosphere compelling. The audiobook narrator did a great job bringing that to life, especially with the more intense or emotional scenes.

That said, I had mixed feelings overall. The pacing felt slow, too slow for my liking, and the story was much longer than it needed to be. Oddly, even with all that time, some core concepts and world details were under-explained, leaving me confused at times. Hirka’s naivety made sense for her age, but occasionally felt frustrating given the stakes of the world she lived in. I also wonder if something was lost a bit in translation—there were moments where the writing style or tone didn’t quite land for me.

Still, the ending pulled things together in a way that has me curious about where the series goes next. It’s not a perfect read, but there’s definitely potential here.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

With a heavy heart, a frank acknowledgement of my AuDHD, and with all due respect to this book this is a DNF @ 75%, but I was to make the point that this absolutely isn't a DNF out of anything bad in the book or a lack of quality of writing. It's just not exactly what I need right now.

This is a Norse mythological historical fiction about an outsider and the mystery herself around those in charge, and the adventure her and her friend go on toward that end. It's the beginning of a trilogy that if I was on a historical fiction kick, I would probably be rather into.

The world building, characters, and prose are all really interesting with the prose genuinely having some moments that were genuinely delightful to read.

In some ways this feels like a happy medium between historical fiction and romantasy that that will keep everyone entertained.

Honestly, if I wasn't having such a difficult time with my own mental health and the way of the world right now, I'm sure I would have finished this.

My only real complaint was the classic trope of the threat of sexual assault against a femme lead and the love interest appearing at the last minute to save the day. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

Odin’s Child by Siri Pettersen had a fascinating premise and a richly built world, but I found myself struggling to stay grounded in the story. There were moments of intrigue and originality, but the dialogue—possibly something lost in translation—often left me feeling confused and disconnected. I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t fully click for me. Maybe it wasn’t the right time—or the right reader.


Thank you Podium Audio and NetGalley for this audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

3⭐
* Epic Fantasy
* Forbidden Love
* 1000-year-old Secrets
* And of course, the consequences of making deals with the devil.

A bit slow for my liking, but once you're in, you're in. If youre an epic fantasy lover, this is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Podium Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hirka is different from those around her, she is missing a tail. She’s been told all her life that she lost it as a child. At 15, she learns this is a lie. That her father found her abandoned as a baby, and that she never had a tail. He scarred her back to make it look like she had lost her tail in an attack so that she wouldn’t be considered odd. She quickly learns that everything she thought she knew about herself is a lie and embarks on a journey to find out who she is while running from a coming of age ceremony that will show everyone in the community that she doesn’t belong. This book was not what I expected. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, it just wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It’s a unique tale that incorporates a lot of information from Scandinavian mythology which I loved. It took me quite a long time to really “get into” the book, it felt pretty slow-going at first. It did pick up, and I became a bit more invested in the story and its characters. I did have issues keeping some of the characters straight, and that may have been why it felt slow for me. The audiobook had a sneak peek at book 2, which has a change of setting that seems very interesting. I’m still a little unsure of if I will continue the series, because it was just okay for me, and not one that I immediately wanted the next book to find out what happened.

I think it’s really valuable to read or listen to books in translation so thank you for the opportunity! I think if you like ya fantasy then you will enjoy this, although it is a bit slow for me.

The first 60% of this book was particularly generic, but I decided to stick for the long ride, as the general worldbuilding and ideas of this book were particularly interesting. Although I feel that in a lot of senses, this feels like a very generic book, with your typical strong female redheaded character who is different from everyone else and must hide it, and with a broody, mysterious, and dangerous man by her side. They both have feelings for each other, but must control themselves from falling for their impulses because of... reasons.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding, the general ideas. The action was not particularly interesting, and I don't know if the lack of connection with characters has anything to do with this being a translation or if this is still present in the original language. I am undecided on whether I will continue reading the series or not.

This imaginative fantasy romance audiobook by award-winning Norwegian author Siri Pettersen opened my mind and warmed my heart! It inspired me to buckle up for an incredibly entertaining ride. The PG-rated romance between Rime and Hirka features countless twists and turns, pulling me out of my comfort zone and into a fantastical world filled with surprises at every corner.

The narrator, Siobhan Waring, delivers an impressive performance, bringing the story to life with her expert voice work.

With over 18 hours of captivating escapism, this well-crafted audiobook is a pleasure to experience. While it ends on a cliffhanger, fans won't have to wait to dive into the next installment—the final two books, or audiobooks, are already available.

I do feel the book could have benefited from condensing the first few chapters, which seemed unnaturally slow-paced. However, the author quickly hooked me and reeled me in.

A special thank you to Podium Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book and am super disappointed that I can't find the following two books on audio from my local library app!

I think it was supposed to be a YA book, but it doesn't really read like a YA book. (Side note: I've found this to be the case with many YA books originally written in another language. They don't seem to be nearly as "tame" as English-language YA books.)

It wasn't entirely predictable in the way most YA books are, either.

Perhaps the best compliment I can give any book in a series is a burning desire to read the rest of them, and I definitely want to see how this story plays out! Looks like it may be time to renew my audible membership for a few months.

A Captivating Fantasy with Norse Mythology

Siri Pettersen’s Odin’s Child is a thrilling fantasy with Norse mythology, rich world-building, and deep themes of identity and power. The world is vividly described, with unique landscapes, cultures, and a magic system. Hirka, the main character, has no magic and struggles in a society that fears those who are different.

The story explores oppression, politics, and prejudice. Hirka’s world highlights the dangers of fear and unchecked power. Her journey mirrors real-world struggles, making the story thought-provoking. Political intrigue and shifting loyalties keep the plot engaging.

With vivid writing, fast pacing, and well-developed characters, Odin’s Child is a must-read for fantasy lovers who enjoy action and meaningful themes.

This book was originally published in Norway so it’s hard to say whether my difficulty connecting with the story was due to the writing or the translation. The book has an interesting premise but left a lot to be desired. The characters lack depth and the book is too long meaning the story feels very slow and drawn out. The book has been given a lot of love and I’m disappointed that I didn’t share the joy. Not one for me.

This book just wasn't for me. The audiobook narrator is really good, but the story moves so slow I was zone out for a lot of it. The character development was okay, the plot was okay, I just wanted very invested and didn't care what happened to the characters. I won't be continuing the series.

SUCH A GREAT BOOK OMG!
I wish netgalley had the option to listen offline, but the story and narrations were great.

Reads very YA, but between the bloody battles, deep themes, and prostitution in the thrumming nights of Y’m, it is VERY MUCH an adult norse-inspired fantasy worth it’s weight in gold! Siri Pettersen is fantastic

I went into Odin’s Child expecting a strong Norse mythology influence, but while the world had some Nordic-inspired elements, it didn’t fully capture the mythological depth I was hoping for. Instead, the story leans more into political intrigue and a coming-of-age journey, which could have been engaging if the pacing had been tighter.

At over 600 pages, the book felt too long, and I found my interest waning about halfway through. The main character, Hirka, fits the familiar YA heroine mold—an outcast, “not like other girls,” thrown into a larger conflict. While her struggles with identity were compelling at times, her arc felt predictable.

That said, the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing the world and characters to life, which helped me stay invested longer than I might have otherwise. Fans of slow-burn fantasy with a political focus might enjoy this more, but if you’re looking for a fast-paced Norse-inspired adventure, this may not fully satisfy.

Odin’s Child starts off at a fast pace—quicker than I’m used to—which made it a bit challenging to get my bearings at first. I found myself rewinding sections to fully grasp what was happening. That said, the narration was superb, with a great tone and speed that truly pulled me in.

The mythology was fascinating, and the characters were well-developed, though I struggled to stay connected throughout the book. The main character wasn’t the easiest for me to relate to, but I really enjoyed the father figure and many of the elder characters. While I appreciated the world-building and unique take on mythology, this one wasn’t a favorite for me and unfortunately I dnf.

The people have tails and ravens are sacred. The ruling families, counsel of 12, and the "Seer" run everything but 1 area that is still independent. Then there is 1 girl and 1 boy, star-crossed in more ways than one but better and stronger together. The 1st in a Norse trilogy that is packed full of mystery, bad guys, secrets, and well written, complex characters. Didn't go into the book with any expectations or previous knowledge on the series.

A breathtaking fantasy that deserves to be a global phenomenon.

It’s not often I’m left completely at a loss for words, but this book rendered me speechless. Every time I tried to explain what made it so incredible—the superb world-building, the nuanced character development, the rich plot, the angst, the aching tension, the emotional depth—the words simply slipped away.

It became so overwhelming at times that I had to put the book down just to catch my breath, clear my mental palette, and start again—not because I lost interest, but because it demanded that kind of emotional pause.

Odin’s Child by Siri Pettersen is a masterpiece of fantasy literature, and I honestly can’t believe it isn’t talked about more. It’s the kind of story that grabs hold of your soul, sweeps you into its world, and doesn’t let go. It’s immersive, lyrical, layered—and it deserves far more recognition than it gets.

But this book is more than just fantasy—it’s a complex, emotional adventure, and once you dive into the next installment… well, just be prepared to have your mind completely blown.

To think this novel was originally written in Norwegian—had it not been translated, we might’ve missed out on this absolute gem. I listened to the audiobook, but I’ll be buying the physical books too, because this has officially become my new favorite series.

I only finished this book because I made a commitment on NetGalley. This was honestly one of the worst books I have ever read and finished. I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters. Not a single person the author wrote about had an actual personality that was likable or dislikable. They just existed.

The abrupt ends to many of the sentences in this book, whether in a paragraph or at the end of a chapter, was odd and didn’t feel right. There were a lot of words but nothing that was written really felt like it made sense or flowed well at all. The author would annoyingly write in the third person’s perspective then immediately have dialogue that didn’t make sense right after the third party explanation. It just felt wrong.

Despite the copious amount of words that this book contained, nothing was explained. So many aspects were just hard to grasp with no real flow between thoughts, descriptions, narration, or dialogue. It annoyed me that it took almost halfway through the book to truly describe the FMC albeit in vague detail. Were they merely humans with tails? Are they more like wolves? I literally have no idea. I was just so bored.

I did find it incredibly difficult to keep up with who is who or where I was within the story. I didn’t know what was happening or what the author was talking about/referring to. I was unable to picture anything that the writer was writing. There was no real excitement. No chemistry. There was nothing there to draw me in other than who Odin was and what the FMC could “potentially” do. It really lacked a buildup and fell so flat.

Hirka, like all of the other characters, fell short. She didn’t have a personality. There was no chemistry between Hirka and Rima; however, they somehow found themselves kissing a few times and willing to die for one another?? What?? So emotionless.

What exactly is the “force/might?” The rot? I literally did not care about anything in this book other than getting through to the end. This entire book was executed so very poorly.

I loved this. The translation is really good and the narration fits the book really well. I hope the next two in the series is going to be a good as this.
The story is really good. A nice exciting fantasy. Interesting world and that ending 😁😳

Highly recommend 😁

A slow start but a really decent book. The world building was very in depth and I loved the storyline. Sometimes the characters felt a little flat but all in all a great Norse inspired fantasy!