The Weight of a Soul

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of the below book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Title The Weight of the Soul

Author Elizabeth Tammi

Release Date December 3, 2019

Description from Amazon

When Lena’s younger sister Fressa is found dead, their whole Viking clan mourns—but it is Lena alone who never recovers. Fressa is the sister that should’ve lived, and Lena cannot rest until she knows exactly what killed Fressa and why—and how to bring her back. She strikes a dark deal with Hela, the Norse goddess of death, and begins a new double life to save her sister.

But as Lena gets closer to bringing Fressa back, she dredges up dangerous discoveries about her own family and finds herself in the middle of a devastating plan to spur Ragnarök –a deadly chain of events leading to total world destruction.

Still, with her sister’s life in the balance, Lena is willing to risk it all. She’s even willing to kill. How far will she go before the darkness consumes her?

Initial Thoughts

I love mythology and Viking culture so this book totally caught my eye. I was also intrigued by the fact that Elizabeth Tammi is a young author. I think it’s so cool that she hasn’t even graduated college and she already has two published works! You go Elizabeth Tammi!

Some Things I Liked

Vikings and Norse Mythology. I loved the cultural references and the attention to detail that this book uses. My knowledge of Norse mythology mostly comes from watching Vikings on the History Channel and the Thor movie series (can you blame me? I mean have you seen Chris Hemsworth?) But, despite my somewhat limited knowledge, I recognized so many names and loved the fact that this book made me want to research new terms that I wasn’t familiar with.
Morally grey main character. Lena was so devoted to saving her sister, Fressa, but she had moments where she was blinded by this devotion and she did things that she probably wouldn’t have without the pressure of her deal with Hela. I really enjoyed the fact that Lena wasn’t all good.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Romance. I totally missed the romance factor in this book. Amal loved Fressa, but we really didn’t get to see that. Where was Lena’s person?? She did everything by herself and I found that somewhat disappointing.

Series Value

This HAS to be a series. Lena deserved so much better. This book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and I would be VERY interested in reading another installment.

Final Thoughts

This was a slow read for me. It wasn’t a terribly long book but it did take me a while to read it. I think I wanted to see more characters but, this story is mainly about Lena and Lena’s actions. I hope to see this turn into a series because this is a world I would like to learn more about. Overall, I liked it a lot, but I think it came up just short of a 5 star review for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – if you liked the Viking vibes and the idea of a sister who would do anything to protect a sibling, definitely check this book out. Also, check out The Girl the Sea Gave Back which is a sequel to Sky in the Deep.
Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell – again, if you like Vikings and the warrior culture mentioned in The Weight of a Soul, definitely check this new release out.
Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford – if you liked the bond between sisters that drove this story, check out Crown of Coral and Pearl.

This was my first ever ARC! I was a bit nervous to read this, but the fact that it was Norse mythology based had me very excited as well. I ended up enjoying The Weight of a Soul quite a bit, although I found the ending a bit rushed. I haven’t heard mention of a second book, (or of this being a series) but the way it ended would almost have to have plans for a second book. (Which I would totally read!)

This story follows Lena who is basically the princess of her clan, on a mission to bring her sister back from the dead. Throughout her mission she has to change the person she is, to become someone willing to do absolutely anything to bring her beloved sister back. Turns out her sister might need to be brought back for more than just for Lena, but for the fate of the world.
There were so many twists and turns, some of which actually surprised me and really invested me even more in the story. And although I saw the ending happening similarly to the way it was, I felt it was a bit rushed and thrown together compared to the way the rest of the book flowed. But I do think it can be forgiven if there are plans for a sequel.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Norse mythology or just a quick fun read about a girl willing to do anything for her sister. (Honestly, after reflecting, I get some Frozen vibes from this. That sisterly love is unconditional and unstoppable.)

I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review will go live on Goodreads on September 6th, 2019.

I'm still shook from the ending, it all happened so suddenly I don't think I have recovered yet.

Our MC, Lena, is one of the better MCs I've read. However there is a time or two where it feels like she jumps to a conclusion or decides to do something with almost no thought or reason to it. I think a portion of this is validated by the way the book is written and it makes sense when you look at it as a cohesive whole.

It felt hard to miss Fressa, when we barely saw her and didn't get a lot of flashbacks to see why her and Lena would be so close. I liked how basically all of the other characters were developed besides Fressa, but she is only really present for such a small portion so it isn't a big deal.

The plot does hit a bit of a slog in the 30% to 50% range, it just feels like nothing is happening and we're just waiting. Before and after that point, it reads great. I loved the way the last 50% percent of the book was written and I basically binged it in one sitting.

The twists were perfect, and I had to keep guessing where the plot was going. When it was moving, which again is one of my issues and why this isn't 5 stars. The twists and pushes are great, but it still hits a really slow slog for a time and I think that might be a deterrent for some.

I read Elizabeth Tammi’s Outrun The Wind last year and absolutely devoured it. When I heard that she was coming out with a second book, I was beyond excited.
Lena and Freda are sisters who are extremely close. When Fressa is suddenly killed, Lena stops at nothing to get her back. As someone with sisters, I related to this feeling a lot, as I would do anything for my sisters. I loved the relationship that the sisters had with one another and felt that it was very well-written and realistic.
I do feel like the twist at the end was slightly predictable but, it fit well with the overall tone of the story. I also wish that Lena had been a little more developed but, I still really liked her character and the strength she possessed. I only wish she had been fleshed out a bit more.
The ending also left off with enough openness for a potential sequel and I’m very intrigued to see what Tammi comes up with next. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Elizabeth in the future.

The Weight of a Soul, wraps you in a mythical intrigue holding you in a whimsical dream-like state, and it throws you in and out of a web of emotional chaos.

Featuring Vikings, and Norse Gods, the novel tells the story of the heirs of Clan Freding. Starting with an emphasis on the familial, and characteristic relations between the characters, the novel immediately gets to work setting a scene, and weaving its web. Carefully traipsing the line of reality, and mythology, we experience a death, a pledge, murder, heart break, feelings of betrayal, understanding, and the reuniting of lovers.

Above all other things, this novel is brilliant. It’s linguistic magic runs parallel to a wonderfully constructed plot-line, likeable characters, and an easy read.

Give me everything Norse mythology! I loved how Elizabeth tied in the god and goddesses of Scandanavia into this story that's rich with family and tradition. I loved the bond Elizabeth created between Fressa and Lena and all the emotions that come with being so close to someone you love.

This book was such a rollercoaster that was filled with incredible descriptions that allowed you to feel everything that the characters experience. From the grief and despair of the loss of Fressa, to the desolation the tribe feels at their possible impending doom and the determination of Lena to right how Fressa was wronged.

It was incredibly emotional from start to finish and be prepared with tissues!

Reading this book was like being caught inside a devastating, wistful, beautiful dream. I could feel it all so vividly: Lena's raw grief and despair, the bone-chilling coldness of her world, and the gathering darkness heralding the approaching doom. Offering a fascinating new take on Norse mythology, The Weight of a Soul is about what happens when gods meddle in mortals affairs and how sisterly love and devotion can challenge the will of the cruel gods and resist fate. Amazing and thought-provoking!

This was a beautiful story with a beautifully tragic ending. This book tells the story of Lena, who loses her sister in an untimely death. Lena would do anything to get her sister back, even make a deal with the gods. Lena doesn't really know what shes getting into or what she'll have to do to get her sister back and not every story has to have a happy ending.

This book is well written with great pacing. I read it all in one sitting with no real interest in putting it down. I highly recommend it for anyone that likes the cruel sort of fairy tales or Norse mythology. This would also be a good transition book for anyone who is a fan of Marvel's Thor who wants to read historically based mythos of some of those characters.

Lena knows her path in life . She is to be the next healer in her village . The daughter of a chieftain .
Fressa is Lena’s sister , a warrior in her own right , and the other half of Lena’s heart and soul.
Amal is a childhood friend . He has grown up with both sisters , until his affection has gradually changed in the direction of Fressa
Amal and Fressa are so in love they are engaged to be married , and just await the chieftain to return to ask his permission. Unknown to the friends, Lena and Amal have been betrothed since birth. . The chieftain doesn’t care about love ... he wants to strongest to lead the village ... Fressa overhears this and with a broken heart , runs into the forest .
Lena goes to find her sister and finds her dead. . So many suspects at this point . Is it a rival clan ? Did someone sneak into their borders ? Or is it something supernatural? Lena thinks back to the gift her father brought back from a trip for Fressa that glowed green with ruins ?

I have to say I loved this book from the moment I started reading it . I didn’t want the story to end . This is heartfelt , sad ,poignant and will not end the way anyone wants.

The Weight of a Soul follows Lena’s journey as she tries to bring her beloved sister, Fressa, back from the grave with the goddess Hela’s help. Her death was mysterious. Lena knows it wasn’t supposed to happen and tries to reverse it. Yet, greater things than the love she has for her sister are at play and Ragnarok is approaching.

I loved the setting of this book. I haven’t read anything mythological in a long time, and seeing the Norse gods portrayed fairly accurately was a relief after watching Thor: Ragnarok last year. I loved reading the author’s note. Elizabeth Tammi mentioned that she took some liberty with portraying the Vikings—mainly because of the lack of historical knowledge about their traditions and customs. Her inclusion of Amal was a choice that reflects that maybe Vikings had more diversity than we thought due to their extensive trade routes. She put a lot of thought and creativity into the setting, and I really appreciated that.

The plot had me intrigued the entire time. I struggled to get into it, but that’s just the way I am when I read ebooks. However, I loved Lena and the exploration of what she would do to get her sister back. It’s such a different take from many of the books I read where the characters are morally sound and find ways around the rock and the hard place. The arranged marriage wasn’t exactly something that I saw as necessary, but it definitely showed that the other characters were willing to move on after Fressa’s death. I was hooked, and continued reading with anticipation and fear as to what Lena would do next.

The characters were the only part of this book that didn’t wow me. Lena was a little hard to love. I loved the exploration of her morality, but as a person I didn’t really see many reasons to root for her. Her sister was a vibrant character who did seem worthy of saving, and their relationship as sisters was believable. Amal was a good friend but didn’t really stand up for himself or for his love with Fressa.

Overall, this was a great story! It explores the characters’ morality in ways that I did not expect and presents a story filled with vikings, mythology, and sibling love. I was satisfied with the ending, the execution of the story, and the creativity put into making the world.

I found this book super interesting for a super weird reason, but I loved it because of the tie in's with Marvel movies! I know this probably wasn't the case or the inspiration for Tammi, but it is immediately what I thought when they introduced Loki, Hela, and Ragnarok. It was super awesome to read a book that involved these legends. Only was missing Thor!

The Weight of a Soul followed the daughter of the clan chieftain, Lena. Her sister Fressa died early in the book and Lena is trying to get her back, refusing to believe that she is gone. She strikes up a deal with Hela that will make Lena compromise everything she believes in.

I found this book to be interesting, with good characters and a solid plot. I believe the timing and pace was a little off for my taste, but it wasn't a huge point of contention for me. The ending caught me by total surprise and was very sad - but made a lot of sense after I thought about it for awhile.

For fans of Sky In The Deep and Warrior in the Wild, Elizabeth Tammi brings The Weight of a Soul, which makes you question a person's worth and value in relation to the weight of their soul compared to others. A tale about love, family, and how far one will go to protect their sister.

Im a sucker for anything norse so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. There are surprisingly few fantasy book surround Norse mythology but this one definitely doesn't follow the same patters as some of the others do. I portrays grief well and what it can drive people to do.

I loved reading about Lena's world and how one event can cause a chain reaction.

The cover is also stunning and I think fits the mood of the book.

Netgalley Book Review! Thank you @netgalley and @fluxbooks for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
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The Weight of a Soul
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While on vacation I finished The Weight of a Soul. I really enjoyed this book 👍.
Lena's younger sister, Fressa, is found mysteriously dead in the middle of a forest. She decides to strike a deal with Hela, the Norse goddess of death, to bring her sister back. While on a journey to bring back her sister, Lena discovers that there are many other secrets in her Viking village, including a plot to bring on Ragnarok.
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I loved everything about this book. The writing was both clear and imaginative which made for a very fast-paced read. I picked this book because of the Norse mythology embedded but stayed because of the characters. Lena would do anything to save her sister. It was refreshing to see not only sisters who supported one another but also a character who really would go to the ends of the earth to save the person she loves.
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Her relationship with Amal, her best friend and sister's "fiance", was also challenged in the book. I absolutely LOVE Amal. He is so kind and supportive despite the challenges that he (and Lena) have to face. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and after what happened towards the end of the book, I NEED book 2!

I am always a fan of Norse-themed fantasy, and was really excited to dive into this one. I loved the relationship between the main characters, and the way the plot unfolded as they explored the mystery of her friend's death. The worldbuilding was really interesting, and I loved the beautiful prose.

I really loved this story. It was a really fun read. I’m hoping there will be a sequel because that abrupt ending had me wrecked and heartbroken.
It was fast paced and well written characters. I loved Lena and Armal so much. I really didn’t see some of the crazy plot twists coming. I also enjoyed the themes of family and estrangement.

Okay, I loved that this is a Viking book and features Norse gods and goddesses! There aren't enough of these books around so I'm always happy to read them. This started out strong, fast pacing and lots of questions about what's happening. I liked the relationship between Lena and Fressa and that Lena would do anything to help her sister. As I got closer to the ending, I thought there must be a second book because there's no way all this will resolve. Well, I was (mostly) wrong. Things wrapped up so quickly that I wasn't quite sure what was happening. I'm still holding out for a sequel because I still have questions and the ending is abrupt. Still a good, fun read!

The Weight of a Soul presents an interesting moral question - what would you do to bring your sister and best friend back to life? Kill a stranger? What if that murderous goal turns closer to home? How do you measure the weight of your loss against the loss of others you love?

Lena is devastated when her sister, Fressa, is taken from her. A warrior of great skill, Fressa is found dead with no visible illness or wound. Lena believes there is more there than meets the eye and demands the opportunity to speak with Hela, the goddess of death, to learn how she can change her sister's fate. Hela lays forth a challenge - bring her a soul of the same heft and Fressa's soul will be released from Valhalla.

This story was a slow beginning with one exception - Fressa is killed before we can even truly begin to care about her as readers. Over time, we learn to care about Lena and therefore want this situation resolved for her sake, but I found Fressa to be a figment of Lena's memory more than a character we desperately desired to save. This made Lena's descent more and more difficult to empathize with as she considers more extreme actions to meet Hela's challenge.

For me, the story picked up enormously about halfway through. We had more interaction with Norse gods, but you don't need any familiarity with the canon to enjoy the story - something that is often a barrier to entry for a less-known group of gods (unlike Greek/Roman, for example). We also had more interaction with the very small, insular community in with Lena lives. She is the daughter of the chief, tasked with leading the group when her parents pass away. I wished for more mother-daughter relationship building in particular, but overall the expansion of the story to encompass this small community strengthened the narrative.

Ultimately, if a second book is introduced here I will absolutely read it. By the last 20% of the book, I was eagerly flipping through the pages, hoping for Lena's sake that she failed in her quest. The tension quickly heightened in a way that was very engaging indeed. I would recommend this as a quick read with a digestible moral, but some bigger questions about how far each of us would go when pushed to fight for the ones we love.

**My thanks to Elizabeth Tammi, Flux, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.**

I enjoyed reading this book! As a lover if Norse mythology this made for me. It blends well known Gods of Norse mythology with the story of a young girl named Lena who just wants to get her sister back from the dead. But this book also deals with the politics of the tribe and the question of how far would you go to save the one's you love. I would a hundred percent recommend this book especially if you like Norse mythology, hela and Loki and a main character who isn't flat but a fleshed out character.

Omg! Love Lena's character so much. From the beginning she pulls you in with her love for her sister Fressa and her duty as a Viking. I love the entire story, her devotion to bringing Fressa back from death. This is a book that I was not able to put down at all, I was able to connect with Lena and I know it will be hard to forget her. This is a must read, for everyone that loves mythology, and love strong female characters. The ending unexpected, I'm still crying.

I requested this because of the premise that Hela is going to make an appearence. Because you know, you gotta have an interesting time making deals with the Norse goddess of the dead!
Happy to say that we even got some more of the gods (which I was not-so-secretly hoping for)!

Lena is the oldest daughter of Fredrik, the chief of the village and head of his clan. She has two best friends in the world: her younger sister Fressa and Amal, the boy who came to live in the village from a foreign land. Lena is learning to be a healer and she's to be the chieftess after her father, while Fressa is already a more skilled swordswielder than most young men in the village.
When Fredrik returns from one of his raids, Fressa dies under mysterious circumstances before she could tell his father about her and Amal's engagement.
Lena can't accept her sister's death and summons Hela to bargain with her for Fressa's life, but soon she gets caught up in something much bigger than she expected as the gods have plans with Fressa's soul.

Norse mythology and settings are one of my favourites, so I just enjoyed being in this world a lot, and I could picture it quite easily.
I feel like for some people this story could prove to be slow-moving, there's a lot of inner monologue and not much conversation, but I didn't mind that at all. To me, it was kind of slow, and I felt being kept in the dark for the most part, and at the end everything got dumped all over me.

Lena is quite a likeable main character, I was surprised to see how fearless she was when it came to getting her sister back. I feel like she didn't think twice before conjuring a dangerous, fearsome goddess, and I like this kind of duality to her. She is so surprisingly fierce while I first pictured her as someone calm and peaceful practicing to be a healer.
Her grief is SO STRONG, so moving! I think it portrays that heart-wrenching, never-ending feeling of losing someone dearest to you very well. Actually, most of the book I felt like Lena pretty much lost her mind in her grief and I was thinking: "OMG, how is this going to play out now?".

The only thing that I had minor problems with was Lena's thinking at times: she could've understood what Hela was going for in the first place (she made that teeeeeerrible bargain by the way!), but again, she was kind of crazy with grief, so I can't blame her all that much.

I loved the epilogue with Fressa, and I'm confused because I feel like this totally ends like a first book in a series?! Will there be more? I'd read it.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5/5
Wow. This book really surprised me. In the best possible way. I came into it with no expectations but I ended loving most every part.

The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi is about a girl named Lena who wants nothing more than to bring her sister back no matter the cost, even if it means hurting others to do so. In this fast-paced semi-fantasy novel based greatly on Norse mythology, comes a heart-wrenching story of grief, honour, family duty, and most importantly, sisterly love.

The beginning of the book started a little clumsily for me. I couldn’t quite get into the hang of Tammi’s writing style until about 2 chapters in. Looking back, the opening of the novel makes a lot more sense in how the whole story played out.

I can’t get enough of Lena. I love her. I love how emotionally deep and interesting she is. I felt for her every page. I want more of her and other of Tammi’s characters cause she writes such a well developed world with actual not boring characters (bless).

I can’t even be mad with that ending. It was so beautiful. And I don’t say that often. It left you wanting more while also being completely satisfied at the same time. I really hope for a sequel or companion novel to this book cause I would just eat it up.

Character and plot development was good. It was very slow at the start, but the climax and ending really pick up the pace and wrap the book up together nicely.

I loved Lena, and I was so sad at her ending. I think she deserved more, the poor girl had been through hell and back for her sister.

My one, and biggest gripe about the story were the GODS. I am not familiar with Noors legends, and I feel a good backstory and explanation of the gods would have been very nice. We get a few stories here and there, but at the end of the day I still don’t know very much about any of them and they are such key parts of the story I wish the author had delved into that more. Plus I just love mythology, I wish the author had breathed life into the Gods.

I think this was a very touching story. In the end, I enjoyed it. There were a couple slow parts, like the wedding was not one of my favorite scenes, I thought it was overdrawn and long. I wish there had been more storytelling and life in the gods. But it was an entertaining read, and it kept my attention well. I would recommend!

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN FICTION AND MORE. Norse mythology? A dark novel? A fascinating worldbuilding that caresses the meanings of life, responsibility, privilege and humanity? DO GIVE ME MORE. "The Weight of a Soul" hooked me from the very first page and made me devour this novel in just a couple of hours. A relationship between sisters, a beautiful tale of what it means to belong... THIS IS SUCH A COMPELLING NOVEL. Please, go buy Elizabeth Tammi's new book NOW because you won't regret it !!!

#TheWeightofaSoul
Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for the opportunity to read and review The Weight of a Soul.
I found myself having trouble getting the pace at first. It does start slow, but quickly gets going with the bond of two sisters. Lena is a wonderfully written character that will keep you turning page after page to find out what happens to her. The twists and mythology of the story is well done. It is a dark, haunting tale of love and the bonds we cannot let go.

I’m not going to lie to you half of these characters I pictured as the Marvel cast.

“Weight of a Soul” finds Lena drowning in grief following the seemingly random death of her younger sister and as the rules of her clan pushes her towards marriage and the responsibilities of a chiefs wife, she sets off to plead with the God of Death to bring her sister back, even if the price is more than she may be willing to pay.

I really loved the concept of this book and just how far someone would go for someone they love especially while in those stages of grief where any offer to change things seems like a good choice. I wasn’t sure if we would actually go there with the price of this deal but I was morbidly happy to see that we did and with each new attempt Lena became a bit darker and slightly more unhinged as she held out hope that at least her efforts were for something only to find that sometimes the gods have other plans.

I enjoyed the set up of the mythology as I’m not too well versed in the Norse myths and with my recent marcel rewatch I did mash some of the similar elements together but it didn’t affect my overall read. The introduction of Loki and his truth, or deception, as the god of mischief was a lot of fun especially once we hit the twist and despite knowing what the answer would be, I think it wrapped up well giving us a nice little green eyed wink to the audience that not all endings are final.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

** I was provided with an electronic ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Elizabeth Tammi's sophomore novel, The Weight of a Soul, follows Lena and her clan in the Viking age of Scandinavia. Of course, the Norse gods have their own plans, and Lena and her sister, Fressa, have roles to play.

It seems to be a somewhat recent theme in YA novels to go with a Viking sort of setting, and I am absolutely here for it. Tammi comes across as respectful to the mythology she draws from, while also interpreting the gods and their magic in her own way.

Tammi also does well with pacing throughout the course of the novel, and establishes the potential/need for a sequel without leaving the reader in a nasty cliffhanger. She also doesn't make things easy for Lena in her quest for the gods, which was nice to see.

I am absolutely excited to continue to follow Tammi in her future books, particularly in this same series as it was decidedly my favorite so far that I've read in this Viking theme.

Overall, well written, a one-sitting read, and a really good time.

This is a story with many twists and turns, it keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next! Great read and a great story!

I enjoyed reading The Weight of the Soul by Elizabeth Tammi very much. From the description, I thought I would like it but did not realize just how much. The thing that struck me was the relationship of Lena and Fressa. While we did not get a lot of time with both sisters and most of our knowledge of their relationship is through Lena, we can sense the strong bond between them. The girls are complete opposites in nearly everything and it is made clear that Fressa seems to be just about everyone's favorite sister. Their parents and the villagers all seem to gravitate and understand her while Lena is something of an outsider. She mentions that feeling throughout the book and most especially once she begins her attempt to bring Fressa back. It would have been too easy and unfortunately the expected thing to have the sisters compete against each other. Luckily, our author is too smart to fall into that tired trope. She recognized that more often than not sisters, women, indeed all people are better and smarter than that.

I sincerely hope Ms. Tammi continues this story, the ending is written in such a way that another book naturally comes to mind (and expectations).

I came for the Norse mythology and I stayed for the imperfect in the best way characters. You would never know until you got to the author's note that there was some of the "second book syndrome" while writing it. The question that fuels the story in this book is how far would one person go for the love of a sister? Lena was a character who felt she knew what she had to do but was confused and then berwhelmed by it, understandably. When Hela and Loki appeared in the story, it was well done. The gods and mythology aspect of the book were well incorporated. I'm usually a little more judgmental when reading a book marketed as teen/young adult because I've read some many that are just too juvenile but this certainly was not. A good book for people who enjoy well written fantasy.

I absolutely loved the story and world that Elizabeth Tammi has created in this novel. The pacing was a little slow at times, but it doesn't detract from the novel. As a fan of Norse mythology, I loved seeing it used in this book. I hope there will be a sequel so I can return to the world Elizabeth Tammi has constructed.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book filled to the brim with lore and heart! I love a novel that takes mythology and makes it their own, and that’s exactly what Elizabeth has done here. We see familiar faces like Hela and hear names we know by heart like Loki and Odin, but it’s in a way you’ve never seen them before.

We follow Lena, the daughter of a chief of a Viking settlement. They are awaiting her father’s return from a raid to ask his permission for her sister, Fressa, to marry the boy she loves, Amal. When he does return, he comes bearing gifts and hands a sword to Fressa, the village’s strongest fighter. It lights up with runes in her hands but the strangeness of the weapon is forgotten as their father reveals that Amal has been promised to Lena from childhood since she is the elder sibling and will be chieftess someday.

At this news, Fressa runs off, only to be discovered by Lena minutes later on the floor of the forest, dead. Thus begins Lena’s journey into Helheim, where she strikes a deal with Hela to bring her sister back if she can find a soul equal to that of what she has lost. Lena loses herself in the drive to get her sister back, and ends up with blood on her hands, but no one she encounters is good enough for the goddess. Time behind to run out as the signs of Ragnarok draw near, and Lena finds out things about her village that stop her in her tracks.

It’s such a lovely story of sisterhood and love, and I especially like how the women in this novel are portrayed as strong, cunning, and a valuable part of this society. Fressa’s loss is deeply felt throughout the community, and seeing Amal trying to grieve his lost love while preparing to marry her own sister is absolutely devastating. The ending here made me audibly gasp, and I really hope there’s a sequel in the works! I recommend this to fans of myths and thrillers alike!

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book had everything I could have ever asked for - Norse mythology, drama and tragedy and a female lead that is relatable and complicated.

I was sold on the blurb, but I didn’t realise just how much I would love this book. When you first meet Lena, Amal and Fressa, you are sucked into their friendship and their love for each other. They are a trio that can’t be broken apart till they are. As you can imagine, it’s a story of love and friendship and following your heart.

Lena is flawed and she’s confused by everything that is happening around her. She’s definitely not the favourite of the family, which adds another layer to her character and makes you understand her better. And there’s a lot that she’s going through. She’s not a warrior like her younger sister, but training to be a healer, and despite all their differences, the sisters love each other. Not once do Lena and Fressa argue about Amal, the boy engaged to Fressa. He’s part of their trio and that’s perfect. There’s no romantic triangle and mess around it either.

When her sister dies, Lena goes on a mission to get her back. She makes a bargain with Hela, who tells her what it will take to bring Fressa back. Little does Lena know that it’s not as easy as she hopes it will be. And the journey that Lena goes on, the things she does and the way she does it makes her selfish and almost cruel. She’s got a one track mind - bring Fressa back and sometimes you wonder if you’d do the same thing if you were in her position.

But oh man, all this Norse mythology was perfect. I am a big fan of all kinds of mythology, but there’s something about the Norse myths that just makes you want more. And the way the gods get involved in this story, the way they manipulate the lives of these Vikings makes you breathless.

While the pick-up is a little slower than I would have liked, I didn’t see that ending coming, but to have Fressa and Amal get their ‘happy’ ending made sense. Because as part of her mission, Lena succeeded, even if it cost her everything else.

What popped into my mind as I was reading was that this is the kind of book that comforts you. The kind of book you want to wrap around yourself like a blanket and sink into for as long as you can.

The Weight of a Soul totally CRUSHED me. I went in mainly for the Viking life but left amazed with this book and with what happens with Lena and Fressa. There's not only the huge mystery surrounding Fressa’s death but also hints towards Ragnarok, which is only supposed to be a legend.

Above everything in the book, I thought the relationship between the two sisters was the best part of it. Following the death of her younger sister Fressa, older sister Lena is unable to cope with Fressa’s death and makes a deal with Hela. This deal that Lena makes with Hela is actually what most of the book focuses on instead of the gods, but I loved the role that the gods played.

They didn’t appear often, but whenever they did, I knew it was for something important. Even if it didn’t seem like it, the gods were never standing still. They were always moving behind the scenes, and I just LOVED the subtle manipulative behavior from the gods against characters like Lena.

The Weight of a Soul also addresses what it means to be in the shadow of a sibling. Despite Lena being older, Fressa’s the favorite daughter, the better fighter, and the better choice for who should lead their village.

Lena’s known this for a long time but still has to bear the burden of being the older sister, even more so after Fressa dies. As the daughter of the village’s chief, Lena has to live up to her mother’s expectations, including when and who she’s to marry.

In the book, Lena was fully aware of how poorly she compared to Fressa, but I loved what Elizabeth Tammi did with this and didn’t pit sister against sister. Instead, it was about the love the sisters had for each other. Even as their parents had seemingly moved on, Lena was always thinking about Fressa and loved her younger sister so much that her only goal was to bring Fressa back. But the deal that Lena made with Hela was no small one. It was absolutely heartbreaking seeing what Lena had to do and how she did it.

The pacing of the book was on the slower side, but it picked up so much towards the end with a twist that changed everything. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, it did. The epilogue for this book was beautiful. I thought it was a satisfying way for Lena and Fressa’s story to end, while still keeping in mind all the things that Lena had done.

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

This is a fascinating book that starts off very slowly.

I really loved Lena as a character and her strength.

I really how there's a sequel!

I was granted an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's a story steeped in Norse mythology that focuses on the bond of sisterhood, the power love holds over us and the lengths a person will go for it. It focuses on Lena, the eldest daughter of a Viking chief and her younger sister and best friend, Fressa. Grief is explicitly dealt with in this novel. I appreciated that the author did not make her MC plow through her grief. Instead, the entire novel is mired with it when Lena finds Fressa dead in the woods. It really helps capture the spectrum of grief. Lena is consumed by it, and it's raw and real.
Desperate for answers and to get her sister back, Lena makes a deadly deal with the goddess of death, Hela, to exchange another soul of equal weight to her sister's so she can return Fressa to the land of the living. Lena crosses some stark lines in this novel and has to grapple with the way she does it. In the process, she finds out truths about herself and her sister that alters the course of her world. She also finds herself mixed up in the wills of the often capricious gods she was taught to revere.
The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because it does start off extremely slow, but there is quite the twist at the ending that made it completely satisfying. The last 25% of the book was my favorite. This book is dark, lyrical and beautifully written. I can't wait for the next one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

“Weight of a Soul” finds Lena drowning in grief following the seemingly random death of her younger sister and as the rules of her clan pushes her towards marriage and the responsibilities of a chiefs wife, she sets off to plead with the God of Death to bring her sister back, even if the price is more than she may be willing to pay.

The Weight of a Soul presents an interesting moral question - what would you do to bring your sister and best friend back to life? Kill a stranger? What if that murderous goal turns closer to home? How do you measure the weight of your loss against the loss of others you love?

I really loved the concept of this book and just how far someone would go for someone they love especially while in those stages of grief where any offer to change things seems like a good choice.

Character and plot development was good. It was very slow at the start, but the climax and ending really pick up the pace and wrap the book up together nicely.

This was a very interesting read which pulled me in from the start with the viking setting and influence. I love a story that brings mythology and tries to keep that a theme but not the overall one. Lena the main character was really the only character that developed but she is also the only one that was one hundred percent focused on. This story is told by how she sees things and copes with what happens in her life and her responsibility to her people.

Overall, I enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC. I could relate deeply with the underlying emotional aspect of this story. Survivor's guilt, loss, grief, love, intensity, and ultimately a quest for resolution. This was a great read for me. Will read more from this author in the future!

I've always loved Norse mithology so it was obvious I was going to enjoy this fantastic novel. Apart from that, I absolutely loved the relationship between the main characters and how the story was told. Although the novel wasn't perfect I recommend it if you want to have a great time.

Thank you to the publisher.

Offering in the YA Norse inspired fantasy genre have been extremely disappointing lately (Sky in the Deep, I am looking at you…) Happily this was not the case with this book. Tammi uses Norse myth to build a dynamic fantasy world with engaging characters and a fast paced plot. I am a big fan of a strong sister bond as an essential part of the plot and pitting that against the will of the gods was simply excellent. Highly recommend this.

I enjoyed this book alot, I gave it 5 stars. I enjoyed the amounts of mythology that Elizabeth incorporated into this book. It made me want to read more mythology books immediately afterwards.

I also really enjoyed the relationship that Lena had with both her sister and to Amal. There was genuine friendship between the three of them and none of this three-way love triangle. There wasn't any jealousy or animosity towards any of them. Lena did everything she could so that she could have her sister back but also to have her back for Amal too.

100% would recommend this book for an easy-read. Also, I enjoy reading stand alone books alot more often now and I think that this book is a perfect definition of a stand alone book.

I want to start by saying that I absolutely loved how this novel started by jumping right into the story. It made it really easy to fall into and I liked having the backstory and world building sprinkled throughout the pages. In the context of this story it worked really well.

If you love Norse Mythology, then I'd definitely suggest you pick this up for a read. I was a bit disappointed that the Viking element didn't play a bigger role in the overall story because I was so excited for it, but the depth of the mythology somewhat evened it out.

As a character, Lena is easy to sympathize with, but she's also frustrating. There were so many moments in which I wanted to reach into the book and shake her because I felt she was being completely unreasonable. On the other hand, I completely understand why she had so many sharp edges and the fire that seemed to both fuel and plague her.

My other slight complaint is that I wish we'd gotten to see and know Amal a bit better. I feel like he plays such an important role and he's so connected to both Lena and Fressa, but at the end of the day he's like a piece of the puzzle that doesn't entirely fit within the story.

That being said, I really did enjoy this ARC and I can't wait to have the actual book on my shelf once it's published.

Lena, Fressa, and Amal have been friends for as long as they can remember, but Lena has noticed that her younger sister and Amal have been getting closer than just friends. When their father, the chief of the village, returns from a long-term raid after almost a year, Fressa and Amal are determined to solidify their engagement but her father has other plans: Lena and Amal have always been meant to wed to strengthen the village and allow Amal to become the next chief. With a mysterious death and winter coming much sooner than anticipated, it seems as if all is not right in Lena's small village. But what can be done to make things right?

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I really enjoyed the morally gray nature of our protagonist. Lena is so determined to bring back her sister that she makes choices that she might not have made otherwise. Her character arc wasn't the most dynamic, but her choices felt right based on the character development that happened in the story. I also really enjoyed the Norse mythology elements that were woven into the story. Some of the last third of the book felt a bit "info dumpy" with the Norse references, as if the author is trying to make sure anyone that isn't familiar with the stories will still understand the information, so I just wish that the Norse stories were a little more naturally woven in at times. Overall this was an enjoyable read that felt different from a lot of books that are currently being released.

Absolutely wonderful read! I enjoyed the plot, characters, and prose so much. Would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I don't think I've ever read a book that was based in so much Norse mythology and included visits with the gods. I was expecting a Viking sisters book but this was so much more. Lena and Fressa are daughters of the clan chief. They are incredibly close, and when Fressa unexpectedly dies it sets Lena off on a journey to get her sister back. Lena calls upon Hela to help and ends up visiting the goddess who says the only way to get Fressa back is to find a soul to take her sister's place. The clan is on edge due to the chief always off looting, and the weather not behaving correctly. Lena is in a desperate place, and her character is all over the place at times. I liked the way the clan interacted, and the magical elements to the story. I was surprised at how short the book was given the plot. The author does an amazing job of keeping the story interesting, and concise in that length of pages. I ended up enjoying this far more than I expected to in the beginning. The characters and world are great, the action is a perfect amount and the ending was sad but also fitting.

A wonderful story!! I really loved the characters and world building for this one. Highly recommend this one!