Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
319 Pages
Synopsis: Valkyries have one great responsibility to return immortals to the afterlife by slaying them. As a Valkyrie, Malin has always known that the balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die, her world is thrown into chaos.
Malin not only wrestles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought—-she’s also thrust into the path of a gorgeous blue eyed guy named Asher who needs her help slaying the rogue immortal who destroyed his family. The balance of the world is at stake. And, as Asher competes with Malin’s ex for her love and loyalty, so is her heart.
I’ve enjoyed Amanda Hocking’s previous books and when I first heard about this new series with Valkyries my eyes immediately lit up. I LOVE Norse mythology! Between the Blade and the Heart wasn’t perfect, but it’s a pretty decent start and has me hopeful that some of the kinks will be worked out in the next book.
I wound up with mixed feelings about the heroine of the story, Malin. She’s bisexual which made me very happy. She’s kick-ass with a tough attitude which is perfectly in keeping of what a Valkyrie should be. But then there’s a love triangle between the new guy in her life, Asher, and her ex-girlfriend and as I’m not a fan of love triangles, naturally this got on my nerves. Making it worse was that I didn’t buy into the relationship that Malin had with either of them. There just didn’t seem to be any depth to them. And her helpless dithering between the two of them just didn’t fit with the rest of her personna.
Besides the Norse mythology, there’s a lot of other supernatural and mythological creature that live in this world. I had mixed feelings about this as well. There was a lot I liked, but at times it almost felt like too much was being introduced. That said, Amanda Hocking always impresses me with her world building and what she does here did not disappoint. It’s detailed and wonderfully descriptive and it’s most definitely unique. The plot itself was exciting and kept me turning the pages and I finished this in two sittings.
Overall, Between the Blade and the Heart left me feeling a slightly disappointed, but there are enough positives that I’m still looking forward to reading From the Earth to the Shadows, the second book in this duology. And I just won an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway so I’m a happy camper. So, if you’re a fan of Norse mythology I recommend you give this a try, especially if your already a fan of Hocking.
Sounds like it needs less complicated love triangle and more Norse excitement, Kim.
I suspect this one is not for me.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Exactly Pete! Unfortunately you find this all too often in YA books.😕
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Hmm, I love Norse Mythology too, but this doesn’t sound up my street.
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It’s definitely not Neil Gaiman.
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Off to google!! 😀
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😁
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I don’t know about this one either. Like Fraggle I too love Norse Mythology but it also has a number of things that you wrote in the review that don’t really get me excited for this one. So…kind of in the middle here, but still loved your review 😊
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Thanks Michel. I love Rick Riordan’s middle grade Magnus Chase series which is an hysterically funny depiction of Norse mythology. I also loved Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology.
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I have heard a lot about the latter in fact😊😊 I think I’ve seen a review for one of his books for it late last year on another blog😀 Current read though: *tumtumtum* :The Cabinet of Curiosities 😊😊
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Yay! You’ve just made me very HAPPY!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
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Thank you for giving a very honest review of the book. It was a breath of fresh air.
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Thank you for your kind comments.😊
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Omg that’s so funny – I won it too! I guess we will both be reviewing the next one!
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Yay! *Fist Bump!*
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Whoop whoop 😂🤜🤛🤣
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I love Norse mythology!! Unfortunately, sounds like the love triangle will kill this novel for me, haha. Great review though!
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Thanks Ellen. Despite the love triangle I have hopes for the sequel.😊
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Great review Kim! I was at a four on this one probably because I didn’t let the whole love triangle bother me in it, she just seemed to be raised to be hopeless in love so flopping around and not making up her mind seemed to fit after learning about her mother.
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That is one way of looking at it. You know me and love triangles though.😒
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I’m always putting my characters into therapy and giving them the benefit of the doubt. LOL
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🤣
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Oooh I really want to read this one! Amazing review, Kim 🙂
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Thanks Sophie! I hope you love it.😊
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I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this book as much as you hoped. I already have this in my tbr but I’ve been hearing a lot of mixed reviews about it which is making me a bit hesitant to pick it up. I hope the second book is much better! And Great review! 🙂
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Thanks Raven!
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Fantastic Review Beautiful Book Sister! I know how you are with love triangles so I can understand your mixed feelings! I loved your review and it was very fair and honest!💖💛💙💚💜📚
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Thanks Dani. Did you read Carrie’s review? The triangle didn’t bother her as much.
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I did see ger review and I don’t mind love triangles so I might have to check it out! I know they are very cliche but I can dig some of them. I’m not a fan of insta-love though! I might have to cgeck this out!
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😙
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Years ago, before I was blogging, I tried Trylle and after a few chapters I put the book down and never felt an urge to pick it back up although the ideas and world building seemed solid I just didn’t feel anything from the characters at all. So when I read the no depth comment I was nodding my head, that’s how I felt too. I’m definitely looking forward to your review on the next book though, I’m hoping you enjoy it even more and the issues you had are gone. Fingers crossed!
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Thanks Jen. 🤞🏻
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The mythology sounds interesting but the love triangle does not hmmm. To read or not to read
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I won the sequel in a Goidreads giveaway, so I’m hoping the romance gets better. I’ll let you know.🤞🏻
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It’s always so satisfying to win something through Goodreads! Congrats on that and I’m glad to hear this was still a fun ride even with its issues. Norse mythos is just too awesome to fail us! 😀
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I still haven’t gotten my copy though and it’s been 3 weeks.😒
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Aw man 😞 Maybe they are waiting for it to be closer to release date or something..
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😡
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