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Runestone Saga #2
Bane of Asgard
The highly anticipated sequel in the acclaimed Runestone Saga from New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima with more adventure, mystery, and plot twists than ever before.
Reunited in New Jotunheim, Reginn, Eiric and Liv discover that they are game pieces being played on a hidden board. Eiric’s slaughter of the old council has opened Tyra’s path to power—she now has the perfect excuse to launch a war against the Archipelago. Tyra is also using her dottir, Liv, as a vehicle to raise a dangerous goddess. And Reginn is tasked with crossing the boundary between the living and the dead to gain access to powerful magical secrets.
With Reginn’s help, Eiric escapes prison and returns home to find his brodir and warn the Archipelago of the impending attack. Meanwhile, she remains at the Grove to try to prevent the outbreak of war. Soon, though, Reginn learns her true role in this use her power to raise the dead to ensure victory for New Jotunheim. The demon Asger Eldr tells her that she alone can prevent another Ragnarok. But how?
Back in the Archipelago, Eiric agrees to join the king’s forces, though that means taking up arms against his systir, Liv, and Reginn, the spinner who has ensnared his heart. For perhaps the first time in his life, he dreads the coming fight.
As the two sides prepare for an apocalyptic battle, Eiric, Reginn, and Liv find allies and enemies in unexpected places and draw on new strengths as they seek to prevent the destruction of the last of the Nine Worlds.
Reunited in New Jotunheim, Reginn, Eiric and Liv discover that they are game pieces being played on a hidden board. Eiric’s slaughter of the old council has opened Tyra’s path to power—she now has the perfect excuse to launch a war against the Archipelago. Tyra is also using her dottir, Liv, as a vehicle to raise a dangerous goddess. And Reginn is tasked with crossing the boundary between the living and the dead to gain access to powerful magical secrets.
With Reginn’s help, Eiric escapes prison and returns home to find his brodir and warn the Archipelago of the impending attack. Meanwhile, she remains at the Grove to try to prevent the outbreak of war. Soon, though, Reginn learns her true role in this use her power to raise the dead to ensure victory for New Jotunheim. The demon Asger Eldr tells her that she alone can prevent another Ragnarok. But how?
Back in the Archipelago, Eiric agrees to join the king’s forces, though that means taking up arms against his systir, Liv, and Reginn, the spinner who has ensnared his heart. For perhaps the first time in his life, he dreads the coming fight.
As the two sides prepare for an apocalyptic battle, Eiric, Reginn, and Liv find allies and enemies in unexpected places and draw on new strengths as they seek to prevent the destruction of the last of the Nine Worlds.
640 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2024
57 people are currently reading
5337 people want to read
About the author
Cinda Williams Chima
35 books11.6k followersNew York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 13, 2025
Aż mi przykro, że nie będzie kolejnego tomu, że to koniec tej historii :( Przywiązałam się do bohaterów, pokochałam nordycki klimat, wciągnęłam się na maksa! Jak dla mnie najlepsza seria Chimy :)
December 22, 2024
3.5
Oh, does it hurt me to say that I found this conclusion to be a drag. The opening exposition was an unfathomable 200 pages of the characters professing their love for one another and trying to come up with a plan, but it still felt like nothing happened. I loved these characters in the first book, but they all felt completely unrealized in Bane of Asgard. Cinda Williams Chima is still one of my favorite authors, but I think this suffered from the second book syndrome.
Oh, does it hurt me to say that I found this conclusion to be a drag. The opening exposition was an unfathomable 200 pages of the characters professing their love for one another and trying to come up with a plan, but it still felt like nothing happened. I loved these characters in the first book, but they all felt completely unrealized in Bane of Asgard. Cinda Williams Chima is still one of my favorite authors, but I think this suffered from the second book syndrome.
February 3, 2025
How could a book this long feel so short?! I wanted more, more, more! Everything got finished with great satisfaction, but she could have easily expanded it into a trilogy!
Want to read
September 3, 2023I am officially adding to my 2024 TBR! See you next year!
March 3, 2024
The first book was amazing, have yet to read this one, and am excited for it to be released!
August 5, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Bane of Asgard is the concluding book the the Runestone Saga series. It completes the journey the Reginn, Eiric and Liv as they meet their destinies. A tale deep with Norse Mythology and Viking roots, the lives of these three are tied together. Eiric bound to live by the ties of family and blood and Reginn by bonds of love, well at least the beginning of love.
This series had enough material in it to easily make it a trilogy. The Isle of New Jotunheim has been concealed from the world with many magic users for centuries. To make it to the isle, you have to have a token to get through the weather ward. They have been isolated and hatred towards the outside world has been flamed to the point of going to war. Liv was born to be a sacrifice, to hold the essence of a goddess ready to lead this war. Liv loves her brother Eiric and her other brother left behind in the Archipelago, but it is getting harder to hold onto her sanity and keep the wants of the goddess at bay.
Reginn is in the center. Trying to help Liv the best she can and keep her new friends from going to war. She also wants to protect the people in New Jotunheim without magic who have been fodder for the mages for years. She has a lot of power but needs to learn how to harness it and control it much better if she is going to make a difference in this war. Eirik wants to stay and help Liv but due to events of the first book, that would mean certain death. He ends up back in the Archipelago only to find more time has passed than he anticipated and many things have changed. Eirik needs to decide how he is going to save both his Brother and Sister who seem to be on opposite sides of this war.
There is a lot going on in the book. Eirik was probably my favorite PoV because of the dilemmas he faced coming back to a world so changed and trying to find his place in it. His struggles to first get out of New Jotunheim mostly alive, then with how to protect all the people he cared about and finally what his future would be were some of the things I also cared about the most in the story. Reginn is also a fun character. I likes the stories she tells and how those made it easier to twist truths and lie when needed to stay alive and thrive.
My one complaint about the series was some of the clean up of all the ties in the story. We spent a lot of time on some of the threads that when the ending to that thread came it seemed a little anticlimactic. The ending also felt a little rushed, much more than in any other series I've read by Cinda Williams Chima. A few things seemed to come out of left field even. I'm not sure if I didn't catch hints to a few characters and their origins in the first book or if the introduction to those concepts began in this one. Either way I didn't see the foundation so it felt slightly off.
These are minor criticisms to the overall story. I will say I was happy with where the characters ended up in the end and that at least left me feeling satisfied with the story overall.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Jennifer Jill Araya did so well with this. I loved that I chose to listened to the story. Because of the Norse/Viking mythos used a lot of the names are strange looking. It was great to have a narrator really capture the accent and feel of the story. For me, that added to the overall enjoyment as some of the names, places and words could have tripped me up while reading. She embodied the characters and their arcs really well and all PoVs sounded distinct from one another. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Bane of Asgard is the concluding book the the Runestone Saga series. It completes the journey the Reginn, Eiric and Liv as they meet their destinies. A tale deep with Norse Mythology and Viking roots, the lives of these three are tied together. Eiric bound to live by the ties of family and blood and Reginn by bonds of love, well at least the beginning of love.
This series had enough material in it to easily make it a trilogy. The Isle of New Jotunheim has been concealed from the world with many magic users for centuries. To make it to the isle, you have to have a token to get through the weather ward. They have been isolated and hatred towards the outside world has been flamed to the point of going to war. Liv was born to be a sacrifice, to hold the essence of a goddess ready to lead this war. Liv loves her brother Eiric and her other brother left behind in the Archipelago, but it is getting harder to hold onto her sanity and keep the wants of the goddess at bay.
Reginn is in the center. Trying to help Liv the best she can and keep her new friends from going to war. She also wants to protect the people in New Jotunheim without magic who have been fodder for the mages for years. She has a lot of power but needs to learn how to harness it and control it much better if she is going to make a difference in this war. Eirik wants to stay and help Liv but due to events of the first book, that would mean certain death. He ends up back in the Archipelago only to find more time has passed than he anticipated and many things have changed. Eirik needs to decide how he is going to save both his Brother and Sister who seem to be on opposite sides of this war.
There is a lot going on in the book. Eirik was probably my favorite PoV because of the dilemmas he faced coming back to a world so changed and trying to find his place in it. His struggles to first get out of New Jotunheim mostly alive, then with how to protect all the people he cared about and finally what his future would be were some of the things I also cared about the most in the story. Reginn is also a fun character. I likes the stories she tells and how those made it easier to twist truths and lie when needed to stay alive and thrive.
My one complaint about the series was some of the clean up of all the ties in the story. We spent a lot of time on some of the threads that when the ending to that thread came it seemed a little anticlimactic. The ending also felt a little rushed, much more than in any other series I've read by Cinda Williams Chima. A few things seemed to come out of left field even. I'm not sure if I didn't catch hints to a few characters and their origins in the first book or if the introduction to those concepts began in this one. Either way I didn't see the foundation so it felt slightly off.
These are minor criticisms to the overall story. I will say I was happy with where the characters ended up in the end and that at least left me feeling satisfied with the story overall.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Jennifer Jill Araya did so well with this. I loved that I chose to listened to the story. Because of the Norse/Viking mythos used a lot of the names are strange looking. It was great to have a narrator really capture the accent and feel of the story. For me, that added to the overall enjoyment as some of the names, places and words could have tripped me up while reading. She embodied the characters and their arcs really well and all PoVs sounded distinct from one another. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
May 9, 2025
I was sure this was going to be a trilogy with so many plot threads to be untangled. Unfortunately, the last few chapters cut all the threads and we had a swift solution to all the problems. What a pity.
Still, there was so much going on in this story it made my head spin. Four armies, a passel of witches, and legions of the undead made for a complex game of chess. Definitely worth the read.
Still, there was so much going on in this story it made my head spin. Four armies, a passel of witches, and legions of the undead made for a complex game of chess. Definitely worth the read.
December 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this series.. but the ending of this one felt rushed unfortunately.
November 3, 2024
The conclusion in Cinda Williams Chima’s Runestone Saga duology packs a punch with its high-stakes plot and Norse-inspired world. Picking up after Children of Ragnarok, we reunite with Reginn, Eiric, and Liv, only to find that they’re entangled in a whole lot of politics.
This installment delivers action and twists in spades. If you thought the first book kept you on edge, Bane of Asgard dials it up even further, brimming with complex characters, intense world-building, and a little bit of romance. The unrelenting pace and layers of intrigue keep it all fresh and thrilling, even if the characters, for all their intrigue, still remain slightly out of emotional reach. Still, the story itself is a wild ride, hitting with a steady rhythm of plot twists and escalating stakes.
While the ending felt slightly less than fully satisfying, its tone fits the saga's more grounded vibe. Bane of Asgard serves as a stunning conclusion. It’s one of those stories that doesn't hold back—and makes me excited to dive into Chima’s other work. If you’re up for immersive, dense fantasy with a darker/upper YA slant, this duology is a great choice.
Thanks so much to Storygram and Epic Reads for the complimentary copy of the duology. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This installment delivers action and twists in spades. If you thought the first book kept you on edge, Bane of Asgard dials it up even further, brimming with complex characters, intense world-building, and a little bit of romance. The unrelenting pace and layers of intrigue keep it all fresh and thrilling, even if the characters, for all their intrigue, still remain slightly out of emotional reach. Still, the story itself is a wild ride, hitting with a steady rhythm of plot twists and escalating stakes.
While the ending felt slightly less than fully satisfying, its tone fits the saga's more grounded vibe. Bane of Asgard serves as a stunning conclusion. It’s one of those stories that doesn't hold back—and makes me excited to dive into Chima’s other work. If you’re up for immersive, dense fantasy with a darker/upper YA slant, this duology is a great choice.
Thanks so much to Storygram and Epic Reads for the complimentary copy of the duology. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
January 2, 2025
I loved this, and finished it faster than a normal read.
I only have three complaints: one was that the plot holes were kind of closed up really quickly after too much waiting- like the author really wanted to keep the suspense going, wasn't sure when to let it go, and then realized at the end of the book "oh shoot, I have to do something about this." I also felt that the main character's response to the character with the plot hole was not realistic.
The second is that the romance was a little ridiculous. Nothing really R rated, but fatally injured people aren't that attracted to each other. It seemed like it was added to keep up with the weird "romantasy" fad that plagues the teen fantasy genre.
The third is that while it was a good read, there was a lot of *inaction* that did not make much sense. I think it was implied that conflict created the problem? But after an action-packed first novel, having to wait forever for the final battle was a little hard.
That said: Don't read this before bed unless you want to be up all night. The author does a fantastic job adding in some surprises and twists and I think my favorite part was that several characters *looked*like they fit stereotypes and were revealed to only fit the stereotype externally- that it wasn't who they actually were.
I only have three complaints: one was that the plot holes were kind of closed up really quickly after too much waiting- like the author really wanted to keep the suspense going, wasn't sure when to let it go, and then realized at the end of the book "oh shoot, I have to do something about this." I also felt that the main character's response to the character with the plot hole was not realistic.
The second is that the romance was a little ridiculous. Nothing really R rated, but fatally injured people aren't that attracted to each other. It seemed like it was added to keep up with the weird "romantasy" fad that plagues the teen fantasy genre.
The third is that while it was a good read, there was a lot of *inaction* that did not make much sense. I think it was implied that conflict created the problem? But after an action-packed first novel, having to wait forever for the final battle was a little hard.
That said: Don't read this before bed unless you want to be up all night. The author does a fantastic job adding in some surprises and twists and I think my favorite part was that several characters *looked*like they fit stereotypes and were revealed to only fit the stereotype externally- that it wasn't who they actually were.
April 2, 2025
A much accelerated pace of storytelling leading to a sudden quick conclusion - not surprising given that this is a duology. Cinda's style of writing remains clear and enchanting to read, however this book leads readers to expect curveballs thrown their way in almost every new chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2025
Too long.
October 28, 2024
It's been a long wait, almost 2 years, but well worth it 😊
I've really enjoyed it, I’ve devoured it 😋 just like the first book. Beautifully written, action packed, a lot of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, and great characters.
I loved Eiric and Reginn, and their no-nonsense relationship💕 I mean, the relationship between main characters in 95% of YA/New Adult fantasy books is so aggravating, full of ‘misunderstandings’ and unjustified angst, it is just unbearable.
It could have done with a few more chapters, as there was a lot going on in the end but we’ve kind of just got a summarised version of it, with nowhere near enough details. It felt a bit anti-climactic, and I was left with quite a few questions. For example , if time flows differently in New Jotunheim, than in the Archipelago, how will they be able to visit each other without being impacted? Maybe we’ll get a novella , one can hope :D
Even with the few loose ends, this is the type of book everyone should be talking about and I hope, I hope this duology will eventually get the recognition it deserves! I cannot recommend it enough❤️
I've really enjoyed it, I’ve devoured it 😋 just like the first book. Beautifully written, action packed, a lot of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, and great characters.
I loved Eiric and Reginn, and their no-nonsense relationship💕 I mean, the relationship between main characters in 95% of YA/New Adult fantasy books is so aggravating, full of ‘misunderstandings’ and unjustified angst, it is just unbearable.
It could have done with a few more chapters, as there was a lot going on in the end but we’ve kind of just got a summarised version of it, with nowhere near enough details. It felt a bit anti-climactic, and I was left with quite a few questions. For example , if time flows differently in New Jotunheim, than in the Archipelago, how will they be able to visit each other without being impacted? Maybe we’ll get a novella , one can hope :D
Even with the few loose ends, this is the type of book everyone should be talking about and I hope, I hope this duology will eventually get the recognition it deserves! I cannot recommend it enough❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2024
Not sure exactly how to feel about this sequel. I loved the first book. It had me enraptured almost immediately and I’ve waited two years for this sequel. At first it was meeting all my expectations. Questions were being answered from the first book and it seemed more lore was being built upon. However the ending was extremely rushed. There were too many loose ends that should’ve been addressed. The final battle was too quick and underwhelming compared to the build up to it. Grima should’ve played a bigger part in the end and the magical runes should’ve played a larger role. I think this would’ve worked better as a trilogy rather than a duology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
Loved the first book. This one had a lot of promise but the ending seems extremely rushed. A bit of a disappointment
October 30, 2024
It’s been a couple years since the first installment, and I did not do a reread prior to diving into Bane of Asgard. Therefore, I encountered several bits of confusion recalling character dynamics and referenced actions. That being said, the story gets going immediately, following Eiric’s struggle to heal his mind against Tyra’s onslaught with the help of his sister and lover. Not the same person. After quite a bit of exposition, many parties are launched that are aimed to bring war to Muckleholm. To be honest, the tension between the spinners and Muckleholm is stated, but not felt. The dynamic that Tyra is pushing the armies while also being subservient to Liv in the midst of a new, questioning council is difficult to swallow. The time discrepancy between paradise and Muckleholm is unexplained and inconsistent with the finale of the book. Though we get more information about the runic magic system, we are also told that there is other magic, and binding that magic doesn’t necessarily bind runic magic. Though both seem to be of Jotun? The miscommunication device is used heavily to push the story forward, and unfortunately inconsistently. Eiric is lured into a trap that he knows is a trap, eventually surrounding characters are informed it is a trap, and the king also knows it’s a trap, yet in later scenes Eiric posits whether or not he is walking into a trap, and the king is ticked off at Eiric’s “betrayal”?
I had many more instances where the story felt off, and could barely follow the mood most of the time. The rushed ending felt as though it was meant to be a cliffhanger, but the CWC has stated this was a duology. It’s possible I really needed a reread to refresh myself on the motivations of this story, but the execution on this read felt very below par for CWC. 2/5.
The prose is functional, combining nautical and war terminology as needed, without much in the way of emotional subtext. 3/5.
The characters are textured, just not given appropriate spotlights. Grima is motivated to eventually be the main villain, who’s is at odds with the time we have spent on Tyra. Rikkard is likable, as is Ivar, but their stories are summarized immensely. Eiric… is a big boy who can use his brain until it doesn’t suit the story. I am still confused at the role of Heidin in Liv. 2/5
I enjoyed the different cultures of the Jotun, Muckleholm, oppressed, Risen… when they were distinct. Whenever they got in a group they felt like arguing siblings; everyone had the same perspective of everyone roles, and they filled those roles. Any misunderstandings were a result of miscommunication rather than misinterpretation, which I would mind to be more allowable in these contexts. Food is bland, epics are derivative. Magic is confused. 3/5
This one hurt a bit to read. I have loved CWC’s other work, especially the Seven Realms Sequence. By the end, Riggen felt like a Raisa that was given less spotlight, and both Liv and Eiric just didn’t work for me. I hope the next world by CWC lands better. 2/5
Overall, 2.4/5, round to 2/5.
I had many more instances where the story felt off, and could barely follow the mood most of the time. The rushed ending felt as though it was meant to be a cliffhanger, but the CWC has stated this was a duology. It’s possible I really needed a reread to refresh myself on the motivations of this story, but the execution on this read felt very below par for CWC. 2/5.
The prose is functional, combining nautical and war terminology as needed, without much in the way of emotional subtext. 3/5.
The characters are textured, just not given appropriate spotlights. Grima is motivated to eventually be the main villain, who’s is at odds with the time we have spent on Tyra. Rikkard is likable, as is Ivar, but their stories are summarized immensely. Eiric… is a big boy who can use his brain until it doesn’t suit the story. I am still confused at the role of Heidin in Liv. 2/5
I enjoyed the different cultures of the Jotun, Muckleholm, oppressed, Risen… when they were distinct. Whenever they got in a group they felt like arguing siblings; everyone had the same perspective of everyone roles, and they filled those roles. Any misunderstandings were a result of miscommunication rather than misinterpretation, which I would mind to be more allowable in these contexts. Food is bland, epics are derivative. Magic is confused. 3/5
This one hurt a bit to read. I have loved CWC’s other work, especially the Seven Realms Sequence. By the end, Riggen felt like a Raisa that was given less spotlight, and both Liv and Eiric just didn’t work for me. I hope the next world by CWC lands better. 2/5
Overall, 2.4/5, round to 2/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2024
This series was the first time I ever had the opportunity to read about Ragnarok and the norse gods, and certainly was an interesting adventure. I loved the writing style and really enjoyed reading from both Eiric and Reginn's perspectives. Even though the novel was very long, the chapters were fairly short and I felt the pacing was pretty quick.
Notes:
This series NEEDED better marketing. When the first book came out I was shocked that I got it at my library right away, with no wait, considering how well known the author is. I was also waiting to see if this second installment would be on netgalley for reviews(it was not), and was surprised that at the time of release, there were no reviews on goodreads. They literally had no on read this to give it hype! That being said, I would definitely read more novels by this author, I think they just need better marketing.
The Story:
I enjoyed the story a lot! I don't know much about the norse gods, so every mention of them was new info to me. I don't know how this story relates to historical stories of the norse gods. That being said, I could understand what was going on for the most part with the different god groups. The more I read, the more the pieces fell into place. I was worried that by the end of the duology (yes this is the end of the story-was not clear from the description), that I would have unanswered questions, but I felt like everything resolved and I understood anything I had been questioning early on in the book. Eiric, Liv, and Reginn are such great characters.
I think my biggest problem with this series is the romance. It just was not good. I would have preferred for Reginn and Eiric to stay friends, and really just did not get why they gravitated to strongly towards each other. In the first book, I felt maybe there was a connection. However, they only met once, don't see each other for like 6 months, Eiric kills 100's of people, and Reginn's first action the second time they meet is to make out with him, then get in bed with him. Perhaps I forgot how strong their connection was in book 1, but I don't think that is the case.
I would strongly advise readers to read both books back to back, as I had to wait over a year between reading book 2, and had a difficult time recalling all the events that had happened in book 1. Luckily the 2nd book hints at what had happened in the first book, so I was able to catch up, but I think my enjoyment would have been better if I didn't have such a huge gap in my knowledge.
Overall, I'd read more of Chima's series, and would suggest this to YA or Adult readers who enjoy fantastical story retellings of the norse gods.
Notes:
This series NEEDED better marketing. When the first book came out I was shocked that I got it at my library right away, with no wait, considering how well known the author is. I was also waiting to see if this second installment would be on netgalley for reviews(it was not), and was surprised that at the time of release, there were no reviews on goodreads. They literally had no on read this to give it hype! That being said, I would definitely read more novels by this author, I think they just need better marketing.
The Story:
I enjoyed the story a lot! I don't know much about the norse gods, so every mention of them was new info to me. I don't know how this story relates to historical stories of the norse gods. That being said, I could understand what was going on for the most part with the different god groups. The more I read, the more the pieces fell into place. I was worried that by the end of the duology (yes this is the end of the story-was not clear from the description), that I would have unanswered questions, but I felt like everything resolved and I understood anything I had been questioning early on in the book. Eiric, Liv, and Reginn are such great characters.
I think my biggest problem with this series is the romance. It just was not good. I would have preferred for Reginn and Eiric to stay friends, and really just did not get why they gravitated to strongly towards each other. In the first book, I felt maybe there was a connection. However, they only met once, don't see each other for like 6 months, Eiric kills 100's of people, and Reginn's first action the second time they meet is to make out with him, then get in bed with him. Perhaps I forgot how strong their connection was in book 1, but I don't think that is the case.
I would strongly advise readers to read both books back to back, as I had to wait over a year between reading book 2, and had a difficult time recalling all the events that had happened in book 1. Luckily the 2nd book hints at what had happened in the first book, so I was able to catch up, but I think my enjoyment would have been better if I didn't have such a huge gap in my knowledge.
Overall, I'd read more of Chima's series, and would suggest this to YA or Adult readers who enjoy fantastical story retellings of the norse gods.
January 3, 2025
Oh boy. Let me preface this by saying I’m a superfan of the author, and that Cinda Williams Chima is fantastic at YA fantasy in general. So there was a lot of good going on in this book… but also plenty that made it way longer than it needed to be. I think the duology on the whole, if handed to a merciless editor, could have been a fantastic read… but as is, it was sometimes a chore to power through.
The good news is that the plot is compelling. The battles for the future of the world, all the politicking and scheming, it’s all really good stuff. I was definitely hooked on finding out what would happen next, particularly since the conflicts between the parties seemed very irreconcilable.
On that note, Chima really excels at creating multi-faceted conflicts with many sides all at odds, rather than a simple one-v-one or good-vs-bad conflict. There are three or four distinct sides in this conflict, each with clear motivations and distinct character. (Well… almost. One of the primary antagonists, Grima, still seems to have come out of nowhere and is fairly flat as a character.) Rikhard, in particular, would have been very easy to make a one-dimensional asshole, but ended up as a very compelling character. This also makes it more interesting for all the people caught in the middle, like the intrepid Eiric, since it’s nowhere near as simple as just choosing a side.
While Chima is fantastic at writing these big picture conflicts and the characters at the forefront of them, I think she is too taken with the logistics of warfare. This book, rather like Deathcaster, got way too bogged down in which army was going where, and which straight everyone was sailing through, and all the sort of details that make people tune out during history class. It’s good that Chima did all this work to ensure the logistical consistency of the story, but far less of it should be on the page.
Given that this is epic fantasy, it’s quite a serious book, but there were unexpected glimpses of humor towards the end, largely courtesy of Reginn. These were always a pleasure to come across, and probably hit even more effectively because of how unexpected they were! But on the other hand, I can’t tell if this was meant to be an attempt at humor, but Chima might have lost track of how to write teenage boys. After an insta-love sex scene (which was a *choice* in and of itself), Eiric is making jokes that amount to “my dick’s so big!” and it was just… cringe-y. It really read like someone being like “This is how teen boys are, right? Always on about their dicks?”
The language remained my biggest issue in this book – the Norse words that are then defined in English in dialogue, even though the characters are presumably speaking one language. The asinine spellings of familial relationships like “brodir” and “systir.” Like I said in the review of Book 1, there is almost no other author I would put up with this from. And occasionally, the language broke with some modern vernacular, such as when Eiric says something is a “pain in his ass,” which kinda pulls me out of the story a bit.
Credit where it’s due, Chima pulls off a very satisfying ending to her myriad plot threads. Things are nicely wrapped up, and there is satisfying resolution for the characters. It’s not always easy to stick the landing in a series that’s this complex and ambitious, so major props for that. My one complaint would be that
That said, on the way to said satisfying ending, Chima ends up putting way too much into this book. There are multiple new POVs introduced, some for very little discernible purpose (who’s Drifa? Why do we care?). There were multiple subplots about groups of fiskers, an aggrieved community of sailors. There was a whole thing about Ivar’s real father that came from nowhere and went nowhere. This is why my overall perspective is that there is a true gem of a novel buried underneath all this text, but there’s plenty that still had to be done to get to it. I’m kind of mixed on whether this duology was worth it at the end, because there were so many irritations standing between the reader and the cool world and story.
The good news is that the plot is compelling. The battles for the future of the world, all the politicking and scheming, it’s all really good stuff. I was definitely hooked on finding out what would happen next, particularly since the conflicts between the parties seemed very irreconcilable.
On that note, Chima really excels at creating multi-faceted conflicts with many sides all at odds, rather than a simple one-v-one or good-vs-bad conflict. There are three or four distinct sides in this conflict, each with clear motivations and distinct character. (Well… almost. One of the primary antagonists, Grima, still seems to have come out of nowhere and is fairly flat as a character.) Rikhard, in particular, would have been very easy to make a one-dimensional asshole, but ended up as a very compelling character. This also makes it more interesting for all the people caught in the middle, like the intrepid Eiric, since it’s nowhere near as simple as just choosing a side.
While Chima is fantastic at writing these big picture conflicts and the characters at the forefront of them, I think she is too taken with the logistics of warfare. This book, rather like Deathcaster, got way too bogged down in which army was going where, and which straight everyone was sailing through, and all the sort of details that make people tune out during history class. It’s good that Chima did all this work to ensure the logistical consistency of the story, but far less of it should be on the page.
Given that this is epic fantasy, it’s quite a serious book, but there were unexpected glimpses of humor towards the end, largely courtesy of Reginn. These were always a pleasure to come across, and probably hit even more effectively because of how unexpected they were! But on the other hand, I can’t tell if this was meant to be an attempt at humor, but Chima might have lost track of how to write teenage boys. After an insta-love sex scene (which was a *choice* in and of itself), Eiric is making jokes that amount to “my dick’s so big!” and it was just… cringe-y. It really read like someone being like “This is how teen boys are, right? Always on about their dicks?”
The language remained my biggest issue in this book – the Norse words that are then defined in English in dialogue, even though the characters are presumably speaking one language. The asinine spellings of familial relationships like “brodir” and “systir.” Like I said in the review of Book 1, there is almost no other author I would put up with this from. And occasionally, the language broke with some modern vernacular, such as when Eiric says something is a “pain in his ass,” which kinda pulls me out of the story a bit.
Credit where it’s due, Chima pulls off a very satisfying ending to her myriad plot threads. Things are nicely wrapped up, and there is satisfying resolution for the characters. It’s not always easy to stick the landing in a series that’s this complex and ambitious, so major props for that. My one complaint would be that
That said, on the way to said satisfying ending, Chima ends up putting way too much into this book. There are multiple new POVs introduced, some for very little discernible purpose (who’s Drifa? Why do we care?). There were multiple subplots about groups of fiskers, an aggrieved community of sailors. There was a whole thing about Ivar’s real father that came from nowhere and went nowhere. This is why my overall perspective is that there is a true gem of a novel buried underneath all this text, but there’s plenty that still had to be done to get to it. I’m kind of mixed on whether this duology was worth it at the end, because there were so many irritations standing between the reader and the cool world and story.
November 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ | 2/5 Stars
What. Was. That. Ending.
I turned the last page of The Bane of Ragnarok and just sat there, baffled. Not because the plot was shocking or brilliant—but because it felt like entire sections of the story simply…never happened. Yes, the book technically has multiple POVs, but somehow it still manages to skip over the characters whose perspectives were absolutely vital to making the ending feel earned. Instead of deepening the narrative, the POV choices left massive gaps—like the story was unfolding out of sight while we were stuck watching the wrong corner of the battlefield.
The final battle arrives with almost no buildup, bursting in like it’s about to redefine everything…only to sputter out like a candle dropped in water. After such a long journey, this was the payoff? It felt abrupt, hollow, and wildly disconnected from the emotional and narrative stakes the story had been setting up.
And that’s the confusing part: the book is huge. Absolutely sprawling. Yet it still feels like it’s missing half its heart. Important threads are introduced then abandoned. Characters vanish. Major arcs get brushed aside or forgotten. Entire scenes that should’ve been pivotal feel like they happened off-page. Honestly, it reads like a draft of a duology crammed into one overstuffed volume.
The pacing suffered for it. Somehow slow and rushed at the same time—pages upon pages of buildup with no resolution, followed by major moments that last all of five seconds. The characters deserved more space. The plot deserved more clarity. The readers deserved an ending that felt intentional instead of clipped.
Do I still admire Chima’s talent? Absolutely. Her gift for characterization is undeniable. She can take someone you hate in chapter one and make you appreciate them by the end—that’s her magic, and it’s here in flashes. But these bright moments only highlight how much potential went unrealized.
Because the ending? I still can’t wrap my head around it. After so many villains, so much worldbuilding, so many fascinating possibilities…everything just goes poof in the last handful of pages. Conflicts that should’ve been monumental dissolve into nothing. Characters who mattered suddenly don’t. And it’s hard not to ask: why? Why choose to rush what could have been breathtaking?
This book never lets us sink into the depth it promises. Instead, we skim the surface of a story begging to pull us under.
I’ll continue to love this author, but I can’t pretend this didn’t leave me craving something far more complete and satisfying.
Final Verdict: Beautiful writing overshadowed by rushed pacing, missing perspectives, and an ending that collapses under its own potential. A disappointing finish to a story that could have been extraordinary.
What. Was. That. Ending.
I turned the last page of The Bane of Ragnarok and just sat there, baffled. Not because the plot was shocking or brilliant—but because it felt like entire sections of the story simply…never happened. Yes, the book technically has multiple POVs, but somehow it still manages to skip over the characters whose perspectives were absolutely vital to making the ending feel earned. Instead of deepening the narrative, the POV choices left massive gaps—like the story was unfolding out of sight while we were stuck watching the wrong corner of the battlefield.
The final battle arrives with almost no buildup, bursting in like it’s about to redefine everything…only to sputter out like a candle dropped in water. After such a long journey, this was the payoff? It felt abrupt, hollow, and wildly disconnected from the emotional and narrative stakes the story had been setting up.
And that’s the confusing part: the book is huge. Absolutely sprawling. Yet it still feels like it’s missing half its heart. Important threads are introduced then abandoned. Characters vanish. Major arcs get brushed aside or forgotten. Entire scenes that should’ve been pivotal feel like they happened off-page. Honestly, it reads like a draft of a duology crammed into one overstuffed volume.
The pacing suffered for it. Somehow slow and rushed at the same time—pages upon pages of buildup with no resolution, followed by major moments that last all of five seconds. The characters deserved more space. The plot deserved more clarity. The readers deserved an ending that felt intentional instead of clipped.
Do I still admire Chima’s talent? Absolutely. Her gift for characterization is undeniable. She can take someone you hate in chapter one and make you appreciate them by the end—that’s her magic, and it’s here in flashes. But these bright moments only highlight how much potential went unrealized.
Because the ending? I still can’t wrap my head around it. After so many villains, so much worldbuilding, so many fascinating possibilities…everything just goes poof in the last handful of pages. Conflicts that should’ve been monumental dissolve into nothing. Characters who mattered suddenly don’t. And it’s hard not to ask: why? Why choose to rush what could have been breathtaking?
This book never lets us sink into the depth it promises. Instead, we skim the surface of a story begging to pull us under.
I’ll continue to love this author, but I can’t pretend this didn’t leave me craving something far more complete and satisfying.
Final Verdict: Beautiful writing overshadowed by rushed pacing, missing perspectives, and an ending that collapses under its own potential. A disappointing finish to a story that could have been extraordinary.
November 13, 2025
Dziś przychodzę do Was z moją opinią o drugim tomie napisanego z rozmachem cyklu "Saga Kamieni Runicznych" 📚 Cindy Williams Chimy. "Wrogowie Asgardu" to kontynuacja, która stawia poprzeczkę jeszcze wyżej i pokazuje, że autorka doskonale wie, jak budować napięcie i rozwijać swoich bohaterów. 👌 Jeśli więc lubicie złożone fantastyczne światy oraz historie oparte na mitologii nordyckiej, z pewnością będziecie zachwyceni! 🤩
W tej serii dzieje się naprawdę dużo, a ze względu na to, iż "Wrogowie Asgardu" to druga jego odsłona, za nic na świecie nie chciałabym Wam tu niczym spojlerować. 🙅♀️ Nie będę zatem skupiać się za bardzo na fabule, ale na moich ogólnych odczuciach względem książki.
Autorka w godny podziwu sposób rozwija swoich bohaterów, dość mocno komplikując przy tym wydarzenia. 🤯 Erik, Reginn i Liv stopniowo uświadamiają sobie, że ich losy są częścią o wiele większego planu niż mogliby przypuszczać, a oni sami są jedynie narzędziem w rękach potężniejszych graczy. 😲 To, jak Chima poprowadziła niektóre postacie, zaskakuje, ale jednocześnie jest bardzo naturalne i przekonujące. 👍 Przekonuje również stworzone przez autorkę uniwersum. Chima nie boi się sięgać do głębokich pokładów mitologii nordyckiej, czerpiąc z jej bogactwa pełnymi garściami. Świat przedstawiony jest spójny, klimatyczny i namacalny - od runicznych symboli, przez wikińskie obyczaje, po hierarchię bogów i śmiertelników. Nordycki klimat w pełnej krasie! ❤️ Wszystkie poruszone w książce wątki przeplatają się ze sobą, tworząc narrację, która nie pozwala na moment znudzenia. 🙂↔️ Poza tym jak można mówić o nudzie, skoro bohaterowie grają o najwyższą z możliwych stawek - to nie walka o tron czy terytorium, ale o samo przetrwanie rzeczywistości, jaką znają. 😱
"Wrogowie Asgardu" to mocno angażujące fantasy z charakterem, świetnymi postaciami i starannie zbudowanym światem. 👌 Jeśli pierwszy tom Was zaciekawił, drugi definitywnie przekona Was do tego cyklu na dobre. A jeśli jeszcze nie znacie "Sagi Kamieni Runicznych" - najwyższy czas to zmienić. Gorąco polecam❗️☺️
W tej serii dzieje się naprawdę dużo, a ze względu na to, iż "Wrogowie Asgardu" to druga jego odsłona, za nic na świecie nie chciałabym Wam tu niczym spojlerować. 🙅♀️ Nie będę zatem skupiać się za bardzo na fabule, ale na moich ogólnych odczuciach względem książki.
Autorka w godny podziwu sposób rozwija swoich bohaterów, dość mocno komplikując przy tym wydarzenia. 🤯 Erik, Reginn i Liv stopniowo uświadamiają sobie, że ich losy są częścią o wiele większego planu niż mogliby przypuszczać, a oni sami są jedynie narzędziem w rękach potężniejszych graczy. 😲 To, jak Chima poprowadziła niektóre postacie, zaskakuje, ale jednocześnie jest bardzo naturalne i przekonujące. 👍 Przekonuje również stworzone przez autorkę uniwersum. Chima nie boi się sięgać do głębokich pokładów mitologii nordyckiej, czerpiąc z jej bogactwa pełnymi garściami. Świat przedstawiony jest spójny, klimatyczny i namacalny - od runicznych symboli, przez wikińskie obyczaje, po hierarchię bogów i śmiertelników. Nordycki klimat w pełnej krasie! ❤️ Wszystkie poruszone w książce wątki przeplatają się ze sobą, tworząc narrację, która nie pozwala na moment znudzenia. 🙂↔️ Poza tym jak można mówić o nudzie, skoro bohaterowie grają o najwyższą z możliwych stawek - to nie walka o tron czy terytorium, ale o samo przetrwanie rzeczywistości, jaką znają. 😱
"Wrogowie Asgardu" to mocno angażujące fantasy z charakterem, świetnymi postaciami i starannie zbudowanym światem. 👌 Jeśli pierwszy tom Was zaciekawił, drugi definitywnie przekona Was do tego cyklu na dobre. A jeśli jeszcze nie znacie "Sagi Kamieni Runicznych" - najwyższy czas to zmienić. Gorąco polecam❗️☺️
June 29, 2025
This is the second book in the Runestone Saga. The only thing I can say that was disappointing about this Saga was that it was only a duology. I think that these characters have a lot more life in them with adventures to come.
Ericik escapes the island on a boat meant for the Queen. it is manned by a bunch of sailors called Fiskers who have no love for the queen or even the temple. in fact, they want revenge on the Jotun who have held their families captive and forced them to sail on their ships. does not take the crew long to realize that Ericik can help them free their families. All Ericik wants to do is go home and find his brother. He wants to warn the King that war is coming. Reginn is forced to raise the dead. She is tired of being forced to do what others want. Leading an army of dead monsters and humans is not quite her idea of fun. Soon, Reginn realizes that dead or not, these creatures matter and still feel like the living. Liv has been transformed into a Goddess, and soon, the Goddess will take over her body. Liv might want revenge for the way she was treated by men, but she would never hurt those she loved. The problem is that Liv no longer controls her body. King Rikkard is shocked when he sees Ericik again just to hear war is coming. Being a king, he is not worried. The king has fought many battles. Until the ones he loves are killed, and his heir is kidnapped. This time, there may not be any one left when this battle is done.
I really enjoyed this duology. This Saga was filled with parts of Norse Mythology. I think this author is fabulous at world building and creating characters that, as a vivid reader, I want to be. I think this is my favorite book that I have read by this author. I can not explain why, because I would be giving away too much information. I just really appreciated how one woman made a difference. I recommend this book to young and old if they like a good adventure, mythology and true love and friendship.
Ericik escapes the island on a boat meant for the Queen. it is manned by a bunch of sailors called Fiskers who have no love for the queen or even the temple. in fact, they want revenge on the Jotun who have held their families captive and forced them to sail on their ships. does not take the crew long to realize that Ericik can help them free their families. All Ericik wants to do is go home and find his brother. He wants to warn the King that war is coming. Reginn is forced to raise the dead. She is tired of being forced to do what others want. Leading an army of dead monsters and humans is not quite her idea of fun. Soon, Reginn realizes that dead or not, these creatures matter and still feel like the living. Liv has been transformed into a Goddess, and soon, the Goddess will take over her body. Liv might want revenge for the way she was treated by men, but she would never hurt those she loved. The problem is that Liv no longer controls her body. King Rikkard is shocked when he sees Ericik again just to hear war is coming. Being a king, he is not worried. The king has fought many battles. Until the ones he loves are killed, and his heir is kidnapped. This time, there may not be any one left when this battle is done.
I really enjoyed this duology. This Saga was filled with parts of Norse Mythology. I think this author is fabulous at world building and creating characters that, as a vivid reader, I want to be. I think this is my favorite book that I have read by this author. I can not explain why, because I would be giving away too much information. I just really appreciated how one woman made a difference. I recommend this book to young and old if they like a good adventure, mythology and true love and friendship.
January 30, 2025
A mostly solid ending to this high fantasy duology from Chima. Sadly, though, it wasn't as memorable as the endings to her other series. I think this is mainly due to the more generic feeling of the characters mixing with the somewhat lackluster climax to this saga. The characters, while good and fully developed, feel like somewhat flat versions of her more dynamic characters from The Heir Chronicles or her Seven Realms/Shattered Realms. In addition, the character who was set up to the be the big bad throughout the first novel and the first quarter of this final novel, is put on the back burner for the last half of this book and a third player who had barely a mention in the first book is instead propped up as the main baddie in her place. And then all of the villains are dealt with over the span of two and a half pages.
This is after a cumulative 1,000+ pages of buildup.
It was very much how I felt when I read Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. It's a lot of buildup -- all of which is interesting -- to a final battle that never happens. Which means that this was a good one time read, but not something I'm ever going to bother picking up again. And as much as I enjoyed it, I can't say that I don't feel that I somewhat wasted my time.
I definitely recommend checking out this duology from your library, especially if you're interested in Norse Mythology and Viking lifestyle because this saga does take those stories and put an interesting spin on them. I just don't think I would recommend *buying* this particular duology of Chima's, not if your library system has it on its shelves.
This is after a cumulative 1,000+ pages of buildup.
It was very much how I felt when I read Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. It's a lot of buildup -- all of which is interesting -- to a final battle that never happens. Which means that this was a good one time read, but not something I'm ever going to bother picking up again. And as much as I enjoyed it, I can't say that I don't feel that I somewhat wasted my time.
I definitely recommend checking out this duology from your library, especially if you're interested in Norse Mythology and Viking lifestyle because this saga does take those stories and put an interesting spin on them. I just don't think I would recommend *buying* this particular duology of Chima's, not if your library system has it on its shelves.
May 29, 2025
Bane of Asgard receives three stars from me, not because the book is bad because of what it lacks.
I like to start with the positives and Chima is still a master story teller. I love her world building and the characters she creates. Eiric and Reginn were both fascinating and fun to read about. This is what saved the booked and helped me decide on 3 stars.
However, this can only help so much. Bane of Asgard was 625 pages but I never felt like anything… happened. The beginning started off slowly and then when it finally picked up it was like a blur. I felt like the reader had to wait too long for action that never came.
Major plot points (and SPOILERS coming up) were just failed to be explained. Such as, why did Grima never age significantly if New Jotunheim was 10 years behind Muckleholm and she made frequent trips to both? For that matter why was her death so short and what happened to her stone? Who was Ivar’s dad and why was it necessary for Ivar to be half elf?
I don’t know, I promise I did like the book but it just seemed like I read 500 pages for a climax that never actually came. I enjoyed the ride but not so much the execution. This book would have been great as the second book in a trilogy, not so much the final book in a two parter.
I like to start with the positives and Chima is still a master story teller. I love her world building and the characters she creates. Eiric and Reginn were both fascinating and fun to read about. This is what saved the booked and helped me decide on 3 stars.
However, this can only help so much. Bane of Asgard was 625 pages but I never felt like anything… happened. The beginning started off slowly and then when it finally picked up it was like a blur. I felt like the reader had to wait too long for action that never came.
Major plot points (and SPOILERS coming up) were just failed to be explained. Such as, why did Grima never age significantly if New Jotunheim was 10 years behind Muckleholm and she made frequent trips to both? For that matter why was her death so short and what happened to her stone? Who was Ivar’s dad and why was it necessary for Ivar to be half elf?
I don’t know, I promise I did like the book but it just seemed like I read 500 pages for a climax that never actually came. I enjoyed the ride but not so much the execution. This book would have been great as the second book in a trilogy, not so much the final book in a two parter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2025
Cinda Williams Chima does it again—this time with a duology that feels both epic and compact. Bane of Asgard delivers a sweeping conclusion to her Norse-inspired tale, weaving together myth, magic, and mortal stakes in a way that only she can.
✨ What worked for me:
1. The world-building is lush and layered, pulling from myths and legends but twisting them into something fresh.
2. The mythological play—gods, tricksters, and mortals colliding—felt like a love letter to folklore fans.
3. The pacing kept me hooked, even if it didn’t hit the same “wow” factor as her longer series.
📚 Where it differed from her other works: This duology doesn’t have the sprawling depth of The Seven Realms or The Heir Chronicles. And honestly, that makes sense—Chima wrapped up a full story arc in just two books. The trade-off is less time for character intricacies, but the payoff is a tight, complete narrative that doesn’t drag.
💭 Final thoughts: While it didn’t blow me away quite like her other series, I still found it well-written, engaging, and satisfying. It’s a testament to Chima’s skill that she can condense such a rich mythology into a duology without losing the magic. And now? I’m eagerly waiting to see what she conjures up next.
✨ What worked for me:
1. The world-building is lush and layered, pulling from myths and legends but twisting them into something fresh.
2. The mythological play—gods, tricksters, and mortals colliding—felt like a love letter to folklore fans.
3. The pacing kept me hooked, even if it didn’t hit the same “wow” factor as her longer series.
📚 Where it differed from her other works: This duology doesn’t have the sprawling depth of The Seven Realms or The Heir Chronicles. And honestly, that makes sense—Chima wrapped up a full story arc in just two books. The trade-off is less time for character intricacies, but the payoff is a tight, complete narrative that doesn’t drag.
💭 Final thoughts: While it didn’t blow me away quite like her other series, I still found it well-written, engaging, and satisfying. It’s a testament to Chima’s skill that she can condense such a rich mythology into a duology without losing the magic. And now? I’m eagerly waiting to see what she conjures up next.
December 26, 2024
This series was the first time I ever had the opportunity to read about Ragnarok and the Norse gods, and it was indeed an enjoyable adventure. Picking up after Children of Ragnarok, we reunite with Reginn, Eiric, and Liv, only to find they’re entangled in many politics. As a conclusion in a two-book series, it delivers action and twists in spades. If you thought the first book kept you on edge, Bane of Asgard dials it even further, brimming with complex characters, intense world-building, and a little romance. The unrelenting pace and layers of intrigue keep it all fresh and thrilling. Still, the story is a wild ride, hitting with a steady rhythm of plot twists and escalating stakes. While the ending felt slightly less than fully satisfying, its tone fits the saga's more grounded vibe. Bane of Asgard serves as a stunning conclusion. It’s one of those stories that don't hold back and are different from most fantasy tropes I have been reading. If you’re up for immersive, dense fantasy with a darker/upper YA slant, this duology is an excellent choice.
January 22, 2025
Listen, I will read any book Chima writes. Her mastery of the English language and storytelling is nothing short of inspiring. That said, this conclusion to the Runestone Saga duology was a dimmer star for me than most of her books.
I tried to find a Book 1 recap and was unsuccessful, so I was totally lost for the first 5-6 chapters because there was not a standard "this is a series, let me catch you up" narrative at the beginning of the book. These were published a couple years apart, so I really would have appreciated a recap on the author's website or in the book.
After I felt more into the story, it just felt like not a lot really happened. I wasn't particularly bored, but if this was made into a movie, the first 70% of this book could likely be covered in 20 minutes. This second book wasn't as hard hitting as the first. I'm still left with questions even at the end...
I tried to find a Book 1 recap and was unsuccessful, so I was totally lost for the first 5-6 chapters because there was not a standard "this is a series, let me catch you up" narrative at the beginning of the book. These were published a couple years apart, so I really would have appreciated a recap on the author's website or in the book.
After I felt more into the story, it just felt like not a lot really happened. I wasn't particularly bored, but if this was made into a movie, the first 70% of this book could likely be covered in 20 minutes. This second book wasn't as hard hitting as the first. I'm still left with questions even at the end...
March 21, 2025
I love all of the books that this author has written. It took me a minute to get back into the world since I last left it, but once I was in, it was worth it. I appreciate a duology so a lot had to be resolved in this hefty tome. Eiric and Reginn are such great characters and I loved the arc of their story. They both care so much about the few people they love and trust. There were some twists to the story, some fun additions to the cast of characters, and twists of characters, especially of Grima- she is a spider. There is quite a bit of violence, some mild swears, and a few romance bedroom scenes that are not graphic. 9th grade and up, for fans of viking culture and epic fantasies. I also need to know who Ivar’s father is.
August 6, 2025
🎧3.5 Stars
Cinda Williams Chima is an excellent storyteller and one of my favorite authors. Her world building is superior but I think it got a bit in the way with this one as it sure made the story drag for the first third of the book. May have worked better as a trilogy? But, all the threads tied up nicely for a great ending. Wonderful, complex characters - I didn't always know who the good guys and bad guys were - so that was a nice twist. As always - I will wait for her next book - whatever it may be.
Cinda Williams Chima is an excellent storyteller and one of my favorite authors. Her world building is superior but I think it got a bit in the way with this one as it sure made the story drag for the first third of the book. May have worked better as a trilogy? But, all the threads tied up nicely for a great ending. Wonderful, complex characters - I didn't always know who the good guys and bad guys were - so that was a nice twist. As always - I will wait for her next book - whatever it may be.
November 29, 2024
slightly let down by this one. the author talked about how she really struggled to finish this book and sadly, that comes through. i think cramming this into two books was the wrong idea. there were too many enemies and our main characters had no idea whose side they should be on all the way until the end. the ending was also unsatisfying. i found myself setting this book aside for over a day when i was at 85%-90% through… which for the climax of a fantasy series, that should NEVER be happening, once you hit 80% you should be racing to the finish line. also, i got bored by how much of this book was “they sailed to (insert scandinavian place name that i can’t tell apart)” lol, especially at the end. i just think that even three books instead of two would have given this series a chance to deepen and breathe and come to an ending that wasn’t so random and unsatisfying
July 7, 2025
Probably like a 1.5, but I'm rounding down because of how annoying the ending was. Everything is perfectly solved, and even though there was so much potential, everything is fixed in 2 paragraphs.
I had to re-read the couple of LINES - literally lines - when all 3 "sides" are facing off because how did we go from a dead army being risen to a peaceful ending for all. It felt like the fantasy version of a hallmark movie, which sucked cuz I was actually excited for a cool final battle scene. Instead, we got the most basic person who can look like anyone trope being used again and again.
I had to re-read the couple of LINES - literally lines - when all 3 "sides" are facing off because how did we go from a dead army being risen to a peaceful ending for all. It felt like the fantasy version of a hallmark movie, which sucked cuz I was actually excited for a cool final battle scene. Instead, we got the most basic person who can look like anyone trope being used again and again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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