Book Review: Valkyrie

Game of Thrones meets Ragnarok in Between the Blade and the Heart, a gripping story of love and revenge from Amanda Hocking, author of the Trylle trilogy and the Kanin Chronicles.

Malin is a Valkyrie-in-training. It’s her responsibility to slay immortals, returning them to the afterlife to maintain balance in the world. She also struggles to maintain balance in her own life – between her studies, her duties as a Valkyrie and her conflicting feelings for her ex-girlfriend. But when a beguiling stranger breaks into her home on a quest for vengeance, Malin’s carefully balanced life falls apart. Asher is hunting the rogue immortal who murdered his mother, and he thinks Malin may have information. Her loyalties are tested, as she uncovers a betrayal that unravels everything she thought she knew. And she must decide if helping the mysterious Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk – to the world, and to her heart.

Malin’s mission to avenge her mother's murder has uncovered dangerous secrets. As a Valkyrie-in-training, Malin must slay immortals who’ve had their time, to maintain balance between humans and immortals. But her quest could destroy earth’s stability – and unleash chaos.

Just when she needs to focus, her friend Asher is in grave danger. He’s been dragged into the underworld, where vengeful immortals plot revolution. Malin believes her feelings mustn’t distract from her goal – but is desperate to rescue him. So she ventures into the darkest of realms, knowing she may not survive. With new allies at her side and new enemies ahead, Malin will face terrible choices. She’ll have to keep her head – or be ruled by her heart.

The red cover drew my attention in the bookshop.

I didn’t bond with the main character – she has the libido of a teenage boy – but she’s likeable enough. I bonded with her BFF Oona, a sorceress.

Mal (the main character) is a kick-ass heroine who has to deal with her duties as a Valkyrie-in-training, her dysfunctional relationship with her Valkyrie mother, her feelings for her ex-girlfriend and the feelings the new guy in her life brings to existence. And she has to save the world in secret with them and her BFF in tow.

An interesting cast of characters. Great worldbuilding. A fun mix of mythologies. Well-paced story.

The dystopian setting (smog-filled cities, humans and demons co-existing, wastelands stretching between the cities, etc.) is a haunting reminder of what the world can look like if we don’t take action to save it.

Well-written and highly enjoyable. If there’s a next book, I’ll read it.

Incredibly slow paced. And then the actual climax is basically yada-yada stab yada-yada stab yada-yada done. If I hadn’t been ill with nothing else to do but read, I wouldn’t have made it out of Kurnugia before putting the book away to be forgotten.

The world building is incredible. The mission Malin is on makes one want to read. But how many times can one Valkyrie throw up before the book is even halfway done?

The emotional growth of Malin is believable, yet despite the first person narration you never really know what she’s feeling unless she’s saying it – or throwing up.

I liked the addition of Valeska to the team. I found what happened to Atlas a bit over the top – in addition to what was happening to Asher.

Compared to the first book in this duology, this one is a snorefest.