Valkyrie Rising

Valkyrie #1

by Ingrid Paulson

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly there’s a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Magic

352 pages, ebook

First published October 9, 2012

About the author

Ingrid Paulson does not, in fact, loathe anyone. Although the snarky sense of humor and verbal barbs in Why I Loathe Sterling Lane might suggest otherwise (and shock those who think they know her best).
Ingrid lives in San Francisco with her husband and children and enjoys long-distance running, eavesdropping, and watching science documentaries. She has always loved books and writing short stories, but was surprised one day to discover the story she was working on wasn’t so short any more. Valkyrie Rising, a paranormal girl power story was Ingrid’s first novel. Expect another humorous contemporary romance to join the list soon.

You can visit Ingrid on the web at www.ingridepaulson.com/.

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars How could this possibly fail to be anything but entertaining? I mean...valkyries!

Review to come.

But I bet I'm not the only one thinking kill the wabbit , hee hee.

[Natasa]

Cover reaction:


Oh, wow. It's just so mystical and beautiful and awesome and paranormal and magical and foggy and mysterious and... and... and WINGS! Those mountains behind the model make her look like she's got WINGS!





Summary reaction:


I'm on the fence here. At least it doesn't look like the romance subplot will take over half the actual plot (fingers crossed). Another bonus: Norway. How many YA books take place in Norway? How many can you think of off the top of your head? None? Yeah, me too. Hopefully this will take advantage of the fact that the majority of the western hemisphere knows next to nothing about Norway and fill our heads with all sorts of fantastical tales.

Bottom line: book, you better be as good as your cover.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I am ashamed to admit how little I know of Norse mythology, but really, what measly knowledge I have comes mostly from Kevin Hearne and his Iron Druid Chronicles. I used to resent Hearne for that teacher mode he tends to slip into in the middle of an action scene, but his never-ending lectures proved to be useful after all. And people say reading urban fantasy is a waste of time. But I digress…

I really didn’t think I’d enjoy Valkyrie Rising as much as I did. It took me completely by surprise. I only realized how much fun I was having when I looked up and saw that five hours had passed since I started reading. The plot is admittedly pretty formulaic, but there were a few things that made Valkyrie Rising stand out. First among them is the quality of Paulson’s writing. While I wouldn’t exactly call it beautiful, it’s pretty clear that Paulson writes with great ease. Her prose flows smoothly and the story itself is relatively fast-paced. Believe me, the Valkyries will barely give you time to breathe.

The romance was incredibly sweet and it certainly kept me on my toes, but I was a bit unhappy with the love interest. Tucker – Graham and Ellie’s best friend and Ellie’s secret crush – was undeniably charming, and yet, sometimes a boy, even a fictional one, can be a bit too perfect. Everything about him was in its place: he was adorable when he needed to be, unflinchingly loyal, sweet, patient, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, smart and extremely brave. But although I enjoy reading about a swoon-worthy boy as much as the next girl, I need him to have at least one defining characteristic, something that sets him apart and makes him unforgettable. I’m pretty sure I’ll forget all about Tucker the second I stop writing this review.

Ellie, on the other hand, won’t be so easy to forget. Her character is built on a cliché or ten, sure, but Paulson did with her what she absolutely failed to do with Tuck – she gave her just enough quirks to make her memorable. Aside from that, we get to witness some serious personal growth, and a few moments of weakness I found very endearing. The most interesting part for me was Ellie’s relationship with her brother Graham. Even though Graham’s overprotectiveness was just a tiny bit exaggerated, it served as a motivator for
Ellie’s growth and her fight for independence. A Valkyrie shouldn’t be bossed around by her older brother, should she?

I glanced down at the image of my grandmother in all her Valkyrie glory. I wished with all my might that she’d appear right then and save the day. But she didn’t. For the first time in my life, there was no one there to fix things but me.

Should you read Valkyrie Rising? Definitely! It’s well-written, fun and very romantic. Plus, there are Norse gods, angry Norwegian people, Valkyrie, Valkyrie hunters and swords. What’s not to like?!

[equilibri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy anything about this book, I'm sorry to say. Everything about it seemed to be wrong for me:

- Whiny, pathetic, weak heroine, who loves acting naive and stupid. She constantly moans about being all insecure while actually turning out to be a super-special snowflake. Unfortunately, there's no character development and she never even grows into her powers.

- Every single character is a complete cliché

- Obvious, predictable plot

- Beyond predictable, eyeroll-inducing 'romance'

- There's no ass-kicking or good action.

- Everything in this book felt like it's been done a million times before.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

advance copy of this novel was provided by HarperTeen through Goodreads


When I saw that this book was about Valkyries, I was excited. I don't think I have ever read a young adult Valkyrie book and it seemed like a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately I didn't like this too much. The actual rating I'm giving is 1.5 stars.

Ellie is not a likable character to me. She annoyed me to no end. I could tell the author wanted her to be a true heroine. Someone that didn't really have confidence but grows into the person she was always meant to be. She was a whiny brat that just let things happen to her until...VIOLA she's a kick ass Valkyrie who has never-ending powers? No, I don't accept that transition. She just pops up with these random ass superpowers when she conveniently needs them. No training, no clues throughout her whole life that she was a Valkyrie. It just starts to happen. That totally turned me off from the story.

The only thing good about this book is Tucker. He was such a good guy. You could tell that he was the misunderstood one, not Ellie. Ellie's story only got interesting to me when Tucker was thrown into the mix. I hope that this remains to be a stand alone novel and that a sequel doesn't spring up in the future. But even if it did, I won't be reading it.

[shady boots · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also available over at my blog.

______________________

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

Well this was an unexpected treat! Yeah, I do admit the blurb and the concept is very interesting and that it pulled me in, but for some reason my expectations for this book at the start were just... meh. I wasn't expecting anything special. But I'll say now that I was wrong, cause I really enjoyed reading this.

So we have Ellie Overholt, a seemingly shy girl with an uber-popular and a little too over- protective older brother, who goes to Norway for the summer to visit her grandmother Hilda. But during the first few days there, she realizes that the townspeople were acting very strangely around her. And then she finds out about the disappearances of the boys in the town, and how they're linked to the townspeople's beliefs of there being Valkyries around, and that she's one of them. When her older brother Graham is suddenly one of those kidnapped boys, it's up to Ellie and her brother's infuriating but gorgeous best friend Tucker, to find out the truth about the kidnappings and the legends surrounding it.

The Valkyries in this book are basically these drop-dead gorgeous girls/women that have the ability to control people, and what they do is that they seek out boys who are strong enough to be soldiers for Odin—yes, the Odin—and they take them to Valhalla. The leader of the Valkyrie pack is Astrid, and she's the most powerful besides Ellie's grandmother. I liked the overall mythology in this book, but if this were ever to become a series—which I desperately hope it will—I would love if the author expanded it, cause she can do so much with the world of this book.

Ellie was a very likable character. I liked that she kept her head in the game and wasn't so entangled in the romance—which we'll get to later. She was a little lost and oblivious at first, but that's normal and not her fault because she was kept completely in the dark about anything Valkyrie all her life, and she made up for it later on. She was never annoying in any way, really, at least for me. I dunno, I don't really have that much more to say about her. Just that she's a likable character.

Tucker Halloway. This guy, he's the witty, sarcastic, cocky, smirks-a-lot type. And yes, he's douchey. But you know what? He was the likable kind of douchey. He also was never afraid to show his vulnerable side, and I was always aware that he cared for Ellie. Something near the end did make me doubt him for a sec, though, and I'm pretty sure it might make you guys do the same. But in a nutshell he was an awesome love interest. A lovable douchebag.

The romance between Ellie and Tuck is one of the main reasons I like this book a lot. It was very slow-paced and hesitant, and it took over 250 or so pages before they kissed, which I'm so relieved about because in most YA these days, we have the main characters kissing in 100 pages or less.

Anyway, what I also liked about their romance was their banter with each other. Since I'm currently reading Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout right now, I couldn't help but compare these two with Katy and Daemon. The difference is I guess in the heroines, because Ellie isn't easily pissed or riled up by Tuck's remarks—which, believe me, aren't as assholish as Daemon's. Katy just immediately gets her panties in a twist and that just fuels Daemon even more. Most of the time Ellie kept calm and threw witty replies right back at him. Overall I thought their romance was really cute n' fluffy.

The ending is really making me want a sequel. Badly. I can't find there being any plans for a sequel because in Goodreads this book isn't even in a series. That kinda worries me because I can totally picture it in my mind, this being a sequel. The author can do so much and explore many new, awesomer things. And she just has to make this a series because there were quite a few things that were unresolved at the end.

Like, really, she has to. If she isn't going to then I don't think I can deal.

All in all, this book was great. It did a great job in differentiating itself from other currently popular YA titles, in that it had a nice slow-paced romance and a very interesting Norse mythology theme. If you're a huge fan of mythology YA, then this book is one you'd definitely enjoy. :D

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.. it was OK at first. Truthfully though all the side drama lost me, so much that I started skimming somewhere around 75%. Long before that though I already wasn't feeling it. Elsa seems like she's different. (KEY WORD: seems) There's that close relationship with her brother makes her stand out. BUT not really, she turns around and becomes one of those who wants to get out from so and so's shadow. It's her being stifled by the closeness, and doing some pretty ~oh, how do I put this politely? Wait, I can't...~ dumb things.

Then we work up to that point when it's all about that obvious connection between her brother's best best friend and her. The same is so obvious in fact that it might explain why I was so little impressed by the two of them. Simply because they say the right thing all the time and act just as you'd expect them to: where he pushes her buttons, she'd always respond. At first, I was feeling the Valkyrie addition; it could have worked for me except all that big brother's an ass and big brother's best friend, a bigger ass kept getting in my way.

That bit of her being special and her discovering exactly what that meant was what I wanted. And I got that to an extent because we learn of a family secret.. and it is a big secret. The funny thing is practically everyone is aware of what it is with the lead the only one clueless. From page one, she's treated differently and you wonder why that's the case alongside her. Anyway, living her life is already not easy but then there's the added drama of her dealing with being younger sister and wanting to get out from under her brother's protective shadow... but I wasn't really interested. Where the first half had me curious, the other half had me frustrated.

Issue:

On Tuck:
(Was I the only one wondering why Tuck was doing the training? Prior thereto, I thought him the funny screw up fun guy, side kick to her brother, life of the party, and obviously carrying a torch for the girl... but not a fighter (was so sudden is all).

2/5

[Ravenous Biblioworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2/5

As seen at http://youngadultbookguide.wordpress.com

I did not like this book. Yeah, I know. Yeah, I’m going to tell you how I really feel. Yep, I won’t hold back either. But before the rant I’ll tell you what I liked.

I liked the Norse mythology behind the book. I liked the last quarter of the book when everything fell together and started moving along and there was action. But by then I just didn’t really care anymore because everything neatly falls into place (in the not so good way)… into happily ever after, and the previous 3/4 of the books I was just too annoyed and irritated to put in effort to really care. So thinking upon it, there was really only one thing I liked about the book: the Norse Myths. Well I guess I liked the action at the end.

Let’s start with the plot. To be honest I was a raving demon the first quarter of the book. Because Valkyries do not do what was implied in that first part. And they only take the dead. So I was pissed to say the least. I’m all for author creativity, but if your going to twist and turn and manipulate the mythological figures into something else, why not just make it something else, instead of the perversion of what you made them to be. But putting aside my rage, I read on and held onto hope that the author will explain themselves by the end. I do have to hear the whole story. So by the end yes, the author redeems herself, though the reasons for taking live subjects is shaky at best and not very believable. Actually, it wasn’t very much specifically addressed. The only thing that was addressed was that according to tradition, Valkyries took dead souls only, the basic myth thing.

Still on plot. Through out the story, there was a carrot that was dangled upon readers face. People would whisper to one another in the book. You know, like, “Ha! We know something you don’t!” Then they would whisper more. “I bet you really want to knoOOOoooow!” Then they do some MORE whispering. “I bet you really really curious, aren’t you!?” Me at this point: “Actually no, I don’t give a /censored/. Oh cake!” Whispering Peoples: “We want cake.” Me: “Does it look like I’m /effing/ sharing.” Some would come up to Ellie and threaten her and she would be like, “I have no freaking clue what you are talking about.” (And she really didn’t and it really wasn’t her fault.) And they would be like,” Yes, you do, you murderous /expletive /.” Sure that was fine the first time around, but when Ellie proceeds to find answers for herself, the folks around her refuses to answer, which was fine the first time around too, but then they continue to do so, and it isn’t the first time around anymore. Then they would drop one word or two word hints. Basically, because the plot couldn’t hold it’s own, these hint droppings had to be given to keep readers’ interest in reading further. It was some coyness that was not needed. You don’t have Grandmother sit Ellie down and tell her that boys will start noticing her because she’s special, not because she’s pretty but special and Ellie has to be careful because there are things that Ellie don’t understand and then don’t even tell Ellie (and the readers) why… That’s BS! It’s a cheap way to build tension. A beginner’s way. Or having SOMEONE tell Ellie that she has to finish a task in a certain amount of hours and when asked why, reply with “I won’t tell you, but only that it’s baaaaaaaaad.” Taunting. That’s what it is. And NO, a fake out is not okay. What’s a fake out? Well, Ellie and Grandmother are sitting together and Granny is about to tell what the whole shebang is about and right when Granny is about to open her damn mouth, a freaking ELEPHANT tries to discreetly walk by the table they’re sitting at to fart – okay, not really, a soccer ball lands, smashes into the dinner table, disrupting them. I mean, it might as well be a farting elephant – the ludicrousness and audacity of that fake out was horrible. It’s not the only fake out. This is not good story telling. A compelling story will retain readers interest even if they knew the consequences. If coyness is the direction the story should go, there are more subtle and better ways to do it than how it was done here. (If you can see me now, I’m actually clinging to the ceiling, wildly shaking and twisting my head and screaming like a banshee in irritation.) In fact, I thought this story could have definitely been interesting if it was told right, without the coyness or fake outs, but alas it was not so.

Build up. Plot building. The first half was just awkward. Awkward in story telling, the way it was written, just awkward. In not a good way. When Ellie gets a taste of her new found powers, some of them she reacts to a little truthfully, others I’m still reeling from the absurdity. I will buy the whole Valkyrie fighting instincts thing. I will not however buy the fact that she can hear in towns over and NOT be overwhelmed by the sounds. If she can hear a freaking dog bark in the next town, can you imagine the sounds that bombard her: the people’s voices in the town she is currently in, the sounds of the multitude of cars rolling across the road, the clanks and clacks of the ship port they are in. It would absolutely overwhelm her into submission because she has NEVER experienced anything like it before. But nope, her super hearing is selective, and chooses to hear a freaking dog bark from the next town over and THEN, she’s not even surprised by this. Any normal human being would be like, WTF is going on? And NO, at this point she has not come to grips with her ancestry and NO, at this point she has no idea what is actually going on at all.

The romance. My eyes rolled into the back of my head so many times and I was shaking with such irritation, my family thought I was having seizures and by the eighth time they wanted to take me to see a doctor and I wanted to go because I could have describe to the doctor in great detail what my telencephalon looked like. The target coupling was obvious within the first few pages of the book. It would have been fine with the focus of the two in that relationship, because there was enough drama between the brother and what the love interest is to make it so. But nope, we have to go to Norway to find another jealous inducing stud to make this YA worthy. You get mixed messages and then at the end there’s this cop out for the love triangle to end. I guess it’s a good thing the triangle was not held onto, but the reason given was just so lame. Why have it in the first place?! Luckily, this book was low on the romance. Actually when I think about it, it was probably high on it but was told so awkwardly I just glazed over it (because Ellie does talks a damn lot about her love that she didn’t knew she loved until 3/4 of the way into the book. *Hi, Telencephalon, nice to see you again!*). I wouldn’t be this way if the book just chose to tell it straight without the pseudo-love-triangle. I think it would have been more compelling.

Characters. I didn’t like a single one. I hated a lot. No one had a likable quality. Ellie was too subservient to her brother Graham. Graham was a wanna be dad too much that he should have just knocked up some girl to boss around his own kid, if he wanted to be a dad so much. Now that I think about it, all the characters weren’t very full. We see contours to Ellie but not enough for her to be fully human. Traits and characteristics were imposed on the characters. They didn’t think/act to a specific way because their personalities demanded it but because the story demanded that they be that way for that moment because it made sense for that moment (aka typical characters in the YA trope just to move the plot along). If I saw the reason why Graham was such a tyrant of an older brother who acts like Ellie drops from his own loins, I would have bought why he was so bossy and it would pull him away from generics into real human. But that reason never came up (well, other than the reason of he loved her like a sister generic reason *Telencephalon, we got to stop meeting like this. What would people think?! Right, Right, you want to be called Cerebrum. Sorry I forgot.*). Granny had believable causes to be like the way she was, but it came off more like a plot device than Granny having to have to be that way. Tucker… attempts were made to make him whole, just didn’t elaborate enough to be as such. His familial background was a plot device. Why did he “friend” Ellie? We don’t know. The characters in the story – sure, they’re a certain personality type, but don’t mistake this as them being whole, I need to know why they act the way they do. I need to empathize with them to understand what makes them human and no reasons were available from the story.

Prose. I was not a fan of. Mainly because I could definitely detect the “debut” in the prose. Tucker and Graham uses words that no current teen boy would use. In fact, they sound very feminine at times. The dialogue was corny in some parts, very expectant. “I’m listening.” When someone is intrigued by Ellie’s idea (with context this would make sense – the pages around 280-286ish). Basically I knew what the characters were going to say before they even said it because the dialogue fell into the caricature trap of the good guy and bad guy, making room for only Tucker’s qirk responses, which isn’t enough. Moments where Ellie should be focused on a certain emotion she was focused on something else. Like the first coming into powers explanation above. While having super hearing experience, she was noting the scenery around her. Uh, no – she would be trying to understand what the hell is going on with her, and not noticing how, “Headlights flickered through the tress like lightning bugs” (page 52). Though this last part was more severe in the first half than last. Once the plot details were finally all scattered to grow, the writing got better. But the initial plot planting was hard to get through at times.

Overall, I just didn’t like it. I liked the Norse Mythology and the last few chapters, which would probably consist of 30 or so pages but that’s it. It’s too bad, because underneath all these issues, I can see a very interesting story. Paulson has a great eye for action, which is good arsenal in her hands as I feel not a lot of female YA authors can write action (read fighting scenes) well.

Verdict: I’m going to have to say pass.

Comment on the Cover: Why would they use a picture of that girl? Up close she looks like she’s still hung over and/or on a drug high. The dark eyes do not work. She isn’t a hideous girl, but the photo’s lighting does all sorts of wrong for her. I get the mystery appeal but it did not work.

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

As much as Elle loves her brother Graham she's tired of his overprotective big brother tendencies that can gets a little out of control and even embarrassing. She feels like she'll never compare to him or his side-kick best friend, Tucker. So when Ellie leaves a week early to Norway to visit their grandmother before Graham, she's relived that she gets to spend the summer where not everyone worships the ground he walks on and she can finally let loose. But things have been strange since she's arrived. People in the town are telling her to go home and are blaming her and her grandmother for things that couldn't possibly be their fault. Teenage boys have been missing and while it's hard to believe, Ellie is starting to think the legends may be true and Valkyrie's really do exist.
When Graham goes missing to, it's up to Ellie to embrace her destiny and be the Valkyrie she was born to be. With the help of Tucker, they must find a way to get Graham and the rest of the kidnapped boys back, but first Ellie must fight to prove her worth and stop Odin from building his undead army and unleashing a war to rule all.

Wow, this was surprisingly good. I've always loved mythology. I admit my knowledge of Norse myths are more limited to the Thor movies then in my reading escapes, which is why I found this so refreshing and fun to read. Valkyrie Rising has a lot going for it.
It's set in Norway, which I found cool since I loved reading about the land and somehow it made it more alluring. I also really enjoyed the concept of empowering fierce warrior women known as the Valkyrie and seeing how it ties in with Odin and Loki and we even have a little Celtic myth on the side to sweeten the story line even more.
Ingrid Paulson is a strong writer! I loved how quickly she brings you into the heart of our main protagonist, Ellie and the conflicts that she has to face from beginning to end. I felt connected and invested with her instantly. The pace and the flow of the story was perfect. It was slow building at first, but it never felt dull or dragged out, instead it gave it that mysterious edge to keep it captivating. Once the story started to move on, the more intense it got, in both plot-action and romance.

I really enjoyed every single one of these character. They are all wonderfully developed and intriguing.
When we first meet Ellie, she seems like such a lost and defeated character. She may be 16 years old, but she feels like a child most of the time under Graham's watchful eye. But once Ellie gets to Norway and learns about who she truly is, she slowly but surly starts to believe that she's a lot stronger and braver then she realized and it shows when she becomes a total warrior badass.
The way Ellie goes on about Graham, I thought he would end up being a jerk, but he's actually not a bad guy and only doing what a big brother is suppose to do.
Then we have Tucker Halloway. Aww, Tuck, how much I adore him. The minute we meet Tuck, I knew we were gonna get along just fine. There is something very irresistible about his personality that I just want to hug. He's infuriating, sarcastic, witty with a warm smile that made my heart do flips. I also liked the secret-twist concerning his past. I never saw that one coming.
But my favorite part was the sweet-as-sin romance between Tucker and Ellie. They've always had a rivalry-bantering friendship, but you could feel the longing and tension between these two in waves. The romance was so adorable. It's the kind of romance that was still in the unsure stage. New, hopeful, confusing. It's where everything is muddy at first before it becomes inevitably clear. I also loved how protective he was and how his jealousy made him deliciously sexy. I smile just thinking about them.
I also really liked the other characters as well. Their Grandmother, Hilda, was wicked cool. I'd love to have a grandma like that! Astrid, Kjell and Loki also brought in the perfect amount of intrigue and entertainment into the story. Fun stuff.

All in all, I was really impressed with Valkyrie Rising. The concept is fascinating, the writing is smooth and consuming and all these characters will have you invested from minute one. I'm not sure if we're getting more in this world, but I would love to see more Tucker where Paulson takes this next.
An amazing debut and a solid escape!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I set my expectations too high for this one. I was a little dubious when I saw it came out after Thor, but thankfully there is absolutely 0 Marvel influence here.
Except maybe not thankfully? Because Norse mythology where Loki is a lecherous creep and Odin a third-rate dictator and Thor nonexistent is kinda......



Can we go back to.....?



Anyway, sorry, no more comparisons. This is the story of Elsa.



Just your average, gorgeous 16-year-old whose biggest worry in life is her brother's over-protectiveness and her feelings for her brother's best friend, Puck. I mean Tuck. But I swear I kept confusing him with Puck.



Elsa flies to Norway with her brother to visit her Grandmother for the summer and there makes a shocking discovery....she's not normal! She is...she is....
Well, no one will tell her what she is because this is YA novel and who ever explains anything to the heroine at first? Do you see Dumbledore explaining anything to Harry Potter? And if he doesn't need to know, you don't either.
BUT as you can clearly see the title of the book, I will spoil this. She is a Valkyrie. Shocking, I know.



And now she's got powerssssss. And end-of-the-world level danger that only she can defeat. She must save her Grandmother, her brother, and the world by....
Well, it involves Loki, lots of punching things, and general mooning in Tuck's direction. You fill in the blanks.



I mean, on the bright side, there is not really a love triangle?
Actually, despite my mockery, there is quite a bit done well with this book. The ending wraps up the first installment of the adventure. It leaves a lot left unfinished but doesn't end on a cliff-hanger. No love triangle. Heroine is Super Special but the plot could have seriously kicked it up on the Destiny stuff and it doesn't. The banter, while predictable, did make me smile occasionally.

I just didn't really know what was going on half the time? Which was probably more me not caring than the author not explaining but that's a problem too. I really didn't care much. This book falls into the YA genre tropes right at the start and makes no effort to climb out. It was a pleasant read that high school me would have enjoyed but it was also an easy, forgettable read. Things work out just a little too neatly. There was some potential here but it takes the easy road.

Also, this picture I found represents like 98% of the scenes with Loki, which is seriously disappointing because I am not even a Loki fangirl and I sensed something great might exist in his character and interactions with Elsa. Alas, nothing came of it. It was just creepy and super awkward.

[Joy (joyous reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a Norse legend about a god who made soldiers out of the dead. Odin and his minion - the brave and the strong Valkyries aided the god in guiding the dead to his kingdom. This novel, however, tells the story of a power hungry god who collects living soldiers instead of the dead.

Ellie's looking forward to a summer holiday in Norway; away from the hustle of L.A. and away from Tuck - her brother's best friend who stirs a gamut of emotions that she's sometimes too afraid to entertain. But luck and fate are definitely not on her side when she finds out that he's to stay with them for a couple of weeks.

Norway used to be so friendly. What ever happened to the nice people who used to drill her about the celebrities in Hollywood? What ever happened to the nice, warm reception that she used to get from everyone? There's something amiss in the little town as she dodges insults, whispers and threats lest she leaves the country. She soon finds out the cause of their contempt by witnessing a kidnapping in plain sight. Her grandmother disappears without a trace and Ellie's brother, Graham was taken right under her nose. Kickassery ensues. She needs to embrace her true nature if she wants to save the people she loves and those who'd been kidnapped. This is the stuff legends are made of and it's up to Ellie to answer to the call.

Loooooove. That is all.

How could I not? Kick ass, Xena-like women, mythology and romance. Ingrid Paulson hit all the right notes in this novel, creating her version by simplifying a Norse myth that an uneducated reader like me could appreciate. The romance was torture in the most pleasurable way possible: slightly forbidden, ocassionally awkward and plenty sweet. You only need to read the prequel to this book (Valkyrie Symptoms) to love all the ways that Tuck could reduce you into a puddle of goo.

There were plenty of actions and frustrating secrets, leading to a suspenseful, wholesome read. While there wasn't anything cliff-hangerish (that's not a word, I know) about the ending, the wait for the next one will be just as tortorous. Ellie's just come into her power and abilities and the sisterhood of the Valkyries was barely glanced over. I'm not only looking forward to Tuck and Ellie's budding romance, I'm also looking forward to how these warriors would defeat a god. There is also an ominous mystery surrounding Loki that definitely sets the tone for the next book.

Overall, this book has become one of my favorite Mythology retelling so far, regardless of whether or not I'm abreast of the original one. Action packed, sweet romance, kick ass character, what else could you possibly want? Valkyrie Rising is a lovely introduction to a series that's original in the cacophony of YA paranormals we read nowadays. Do yourself a favor, don't miss out on this one.

[Zemira Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The reason I read this book was that short story- Valkyrie Symptoms, which came out a couple of days ago. It’s in Tucker’s POV and it was so sweet. I liked the banter he shared with Ellie, kid sister of his best friend, Graham. Tucker is afraid to act on his feelings towards Ellie because he thinks her brother will not approve and doesn’t want to lose their friendship. This short story is set a couple of days before Valkyrie Rising begins. It was a great introduction for the series and the only thing I didn’t like is that it was too short.

Valkyrie Rising starts with Ellie travelling to Norway, to visit her grandmother. After she gets there people start acting strange and they claim her grandma is a witch. A lot of young boys disappeared and people think she is responsible even though all grandma did was help out. But not all think that way. Ellie meets Kjell, a local boy who is drawn to her and they hit it off. But soon her brother and Tuck appear so we get to see Ellie interact with her brother and also Tucker teasing her. Everything doesn’t go so smoothly and her brother disappears along with Kjell and grandma so Ellie begins the search with a little help from Tucker. She also discovers she is Valkyrie. That is a mythical creature from the Norse mythology. They lead dead warriors to Valhalla. The problem is that those missing boys aren’t dead, which is a big no-no according to Loki, who also graces us with his presence.

The first part of the book was more enjoyable, middle was messy and the ending was satisfying. The reason I didn’t like the middle is that two teenagers were up against ancient mythical creatures and the managed to stay alive without any help from adult, if you don’t count Loki, who didn’t really help at all. He was observing, not willing to get his hands dirty. I am well aware the fact this is a story for teens but I don’t get why didn’t we hear from Ellie & Graham’s mum at all? She just ships her kids to a different continent and doesn’t bother to call them? Then grandma disappears. Sure, teens are going to save, not just the town but the world all alone. Am I the only one who notices how unrealistic and messed up this is?

It could have a sequel but at the same time I feel it did solve all problems so it could work as a standalone. But if it gets a sequel, I’ll read it.

You can read this review and much more over atYA Fanatic

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the YA book that I have been most looking forward to reading all year. The cover, the Norwegian setting and the idea of Valkyries just captured my imagination. Wow was I disappointed! I almost put it down about 6 times.

The story is about Ellie, her brother Graham, and his best friend Tuck who are spending the summer with their grandmother in Norway. But strange things are happening in their quiet town and Ellie finds herself in the middle of it all.

This book is SLOW! For 140 pages Ellie wonders around Hicks Ville Norway thinking to herself “hmm something strange is going on here…” but never really confronts anyone about it, avoids the subject when other people want to speak to her about it and fails to warn her brother when she know he is in danger. I don’t think I really need to add that she is not a likeable character!

Then all of a sudden within the space of 2 pages BAM she realizes she is a Valkyrie, knows how to fight, has super powers and is ready to kick ass. There is no build up to this discovery or learning process. In an instant she just becomes a “super warrior” and is totally unfazed by it all. What made this development even more infuriating for me was that the plot was SO predictable, the only thing I had to look forward to, was how Ellie was going to be effect when she realized she was a Valkyrie. But it was just glossed over.

The rest of the book is spent chasing around the other valkyries searching for Ellie’s brother. Unfortunately the author has done such a mediocre job at creating characters that I really didn’t care if they found the guy or not. To be honest I would have been more concerned if they had kidnapped a puppy. (And I’m not even a dog person.)
There is the constant threat that Ellie is going to step up and kick someone’s ass but she never does. It’s all talk and no action. And that is not the only thing that fizzles. The romance between Ellie and Tuck just has no spark or tension. Tuck seems to be a better side-kick then a love interest.

So to recap. The plot was thin and predictable the characters were unlikeable and one dimensional and nothing of interest ever really happens. I am trying to think some redeeming features and the only thing I can come up with is that there was no cliff hanger ending, so there might not be a sequel!

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I enjoyed a lot of things about Valkyrie Rising. The rich and refreshing setting of Norway. The way the mythology was woven nicely into the story and the fact that it was filled with badass female warriors known as the Valkyries.

Ellie, the main character, was likeable and brave, and her brother's best friend and the love interest Tucker was my favorite because of his awesome personality and protectiveness of Ellie. All the characters were great and believable, and I loved how the romance played an important role that never once overshadowed everything else the book had to offer.

The pace and action really began to pick up at the halfway point, but the beginning was still as intriguing as the rest of the novel. Overall, I thought Valkyrie Rising was well done and thoroughly entertaining.

[Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also find my review on my blog The Bookaholic as part of the VALKYRIE RISING Blog Tour!

I’ve always been big into mythology stories. Just adore them. There’s something special about how you can take these amazing legends and stories that have been passed down through the centuries and twist them around in so many different ways. Valkyrie Rising isn’t any different there, and it’s refreshing and beautiful.

Now, I do admit that I’ve never been real into the Norse mythology area. Normally, I like Celtic and Egyptian mythology. I’ve also enjoyed some of the typical Greek mythology--but to be honest, I see so much of that in literature, that I’ve been waiting to pick up something that’s just seemingly new. I immediately felt that with this book and I was smiling like a kid in a candy shop (or maybe just feeling that high you get when you pick up a book you know will be good) from the first page. Paulson has made a fan out of me. I want more Norse mythology now. And after the amazingly gorgeous descriptions, I want to go to Norway SOON.

Ellie and Graham’s sibling bond strikes me to the core. I love, love, love seeing strong sibling relationships in books. I relate to them. I have a brother myself. I felt for Ellie when she was fighting for Graham. I would go to great lengths like that as well, and I’m glad that her reactions to events and emotions around her were realistic. He was always protecting her, but when it came to her turn to protect him, she didn’t hesitate. Ellie was a fighter, confident, and a good leader. Though had her small flaws as well. There were times she wanted to give up. She was scared. She continued to push herself. I also liked that she was hesitant and thought things through first, rather than just constantly jump ahead recklessly. She wasn't a stereotypical female character for sure.

Oh Tuck. Tuck. Tuck. Tuck. Well…what to say about him? He is exactly the idea of a girl’s swoon-worthy crush. The brother’s best friend. And it just so happens that he travels to Norway with Ellie and Graham, and ends up on the adventure with Ellie. Lovely. Of course, this makes things a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed seeing the relationship slowly build between him and Ellie while they were on the rescue mission for her brother. It’s quite obvious from the very beginning he cares for her, and will protect her, just as much as he cares for his best friend. I liked this development. It wasn’t insta-love because they’d all grown up together. They were starting to see each other in a new light. And in reality, this happens. Paulson did an excellent job developing all of the characters, their traits, and growing relationships. I also really liked Ellie’s grandmother--who was protective and fierce, though gentle and caring.

You guys, I sat down to read this book and I finished within a matter of a few hours because I could not stop reading. I could just talk and talk about this book. I really could. There’s so much I could continue saying.

Like for example: There were these kick-ass beings called Valkyries. Not being too familiar with Norse mythology, I found them extremely fascinating. I think I could compare them to sirens or succubi in a weird sort of way. They attracted young males with their otherworldly beauty and would steal them away. Now I just want more. More, more, more.

There are surprising twists throughout. It’s unique. It’s fantastical.

I think it’s a stand-alone? Which is awesome. I love stand-alones just as much as I do series books. But here's the thing: for once, I really wish there was a sequel in the works for this one. The ending was left a bit open-ended, though well resolved, and could easily turn into a fun and much loved series. I think I just wanted more Tuck and Ellie. Le sigh. Either way, I'll keep my eye out on future work of Ms. Paulson. I'm sure to love anything else. ^^

It wasn’t long enough!! That’s the only thing where I felt like it hurt me. I wanted it to be longer. I know...repeat..but I just can't get over it. I've waited a while now to share my thoughts on it, and since finishing the book, I can't stop thinking about it. It really struck me. I don't find many in this genre that can stick out like that. I remember texting a friend halfway through reading with these exact words: "Holy hell, you HAVE to read this book the first chance you get!"

I loved the romance and the tension and the suspense.

Valkyrie Rising is a definite must-read.

4.5 Stars!

<3
Pixie

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick and Dirty: A girl finds out she is a Valkyrie and goes against her heritage to save the disappearing boys throughout Norway.

Opening Sentence: Half the school came to Graham’s eighteenth birthday party.

The Review:

It’s summer and that means it’s time for Ellie (Elsa) and her brother Graham to visit their grandma in Norway. It seems like a normal vacation. Until Ellie is asked out by a college boy that her grandmother just happened to babysit when he was younger. They meet friends along the way — friends that seem to hate Ellie’s guts the minute they get in the car. And then the most bizarre thing happens at the bar. Three “bobsled” girls catch the attention of everyone inside the bar. And not just the dopy-they’re-hot kind of attention. This had boys and girls are turning heads with milky-white eyes. After a close call and everyone hating Ellie even more for saving Kjell’s life, Ellie dreads the two weeks her brother and his best friend Tuck visit. Not just because Tuck is infuriatingly messing with her, but also the danger of 18-year-olds in Norway keeps climbing, just as the sightings of the bobseld girls increase. Tossed into the Norse and Celtic mythology, Ellie has only has hours to save the disappearing boys from Odin’s growing army. And sort out Tuck’s feelings for her at the same time.

Good-bye Marvel’s Thor and Asgard. Helllllllooo Loki and the amazing Valkyrie sisterhood (although I will always picture Loki as Tom Hiddleson). This is my first Norse/Celtic novel, and it blew away my expectations. Okay, so my expectations were based on a certain Avenger and his evil step-brother, but hey, it’s always nice to be surprised. In this story, Loki is hovering over the good-bad fence and Odin (god of wisdom and such) is the evil one. Ellie is a Valkyrie — someone who takes fallen soldiers and puts them in Odin’s growing army. But Valkyries are only supposed to take dead boys. But Astrid and her sisterhood are kidnapping alive 18+ all across Norway. At first Ellie shrugs it off as a scared populace. But when her brother is kidnapped and her grandmother is taken, Ellie has no choice but to embrace her Valkyrie heritage and fight — even if she has to make a deal with Loki.

The romance! It is sooooo sweet and heart wrenching and a tad predictable, but hey it still had me flipping pages. I loved Tuck from the very first scene, even if he was drunk and a smarty-pants. His sarcasm and constant (well usually) bickering with Ellie kept the romance light and mysterious. And he has as secret!! (It seems like all YA boys have secrets nowadays.)

The intertwining of Norse and Celtic mythology was flawless. The history of Norse gods and goddesses are so interesting, plus I just love Loki. He isn’t on team good or evil. He’s more of a team for himself. And his actions might just be on both ends of the spectrum. As long has he gets his way in the big picture.

Story = amazing. Writing = faced paced. Characters = strong. Romance = mysterious. Valkyrie Rising is a book of epic proportions and I cannot wait until the next installment.

Notable Scene:

“What’s your price, Loki?” Astrid forced the words out from between clenched teeth. “Even if Elsa didn’t have such foresight, I’m not agreeing to anything unless you tell me all the terms.”

“But you will, Astrid,” Loki said, stretching. “Because your trust is a condition of my silence. When the time comes, rest assured you’ll have no choice but to give me what I want. Until then, your secret is safe with me.”

Astrid actually looked startled as she eyed Loki. She growled low in her throat. “Cleverness won’t mend a broken neck.”

“Just like violence doesn’t resolve conflict,” Loki said. “it just begets more violence. It’s unfortunate for you that the same isn’t true of cleverness.” Loki was the only one who laughed at his joke. “Odin may still delude himself,” Loki drawled. “But I think you see the nuances of his modern world. You understand that true peace comes through negotiation. Compromise. And don’t you worry, we’ll reach one.”

FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Valkyrie Rising. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

Sometimes, it kind of seems like authors have purchased dictionaries of mythological and paranormal creatures, flipping through and arbitrarily choosing one to write about, because they know it will make them money. Actually, that's what my friend suggested when I tried to explain the plot of Valkyrie Rising to her. I'll admit that she does have a point, but, hey, I prefer some well-done variation to consistent repetition of vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.

NGL, I hardly know anything about Norse mythology. My childhood mythology obsession only stretched as far as Greek and Roman, so do not expect this review to critique the accuracy of Paulson's take on Odin and Valkyries. I can't tell you that. What I can tell you is that this book was just so fun, and that I loved the Valkyries. I mean, who doesn't love a group of hot girls who can destroy anyone with their physical prowess and mind powers? Sure, some of them are a little bit evil, but they're still really interesting, which is clearly the most important thing.

I completely loved the first half of this novel, before the paranormal elements really entered the scene, not that I didn't like those but they weren't my favorite part. What I loved was the dynamic between Ellie and Tuck. They have this snarky back-and-forth banter, a mutual loathing/attraction, that I find incredibly compelling. Basically, they remind me a whole lot of Benedick and Beatrice (couple name: Beatrick) from Much Ado About Nothing. Given that they are perhaps my OTP, that's seriously high praise from me. The best moments are when Ellie and Tuck really get the insults flying thick and fast.

Ellie comes across as a real teenage girl to me, awkward and rebellious and lonely and without an accurate sense of herself. Graham, Ellie's perfect older brother, basically runs her life, keeping guys from dating her, because of an uncomfortable instance one time, and making sure she sticks to curfew. Ellie resents this, but cannot find the will to act out, because she basically hero-worships Graham. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Lugh and Saba in Blood Red Road, especially in the later discovery that the younger sister turns out to be much stronger.

I bonded with Ellie almost immediately, alone at a party, unsure whether to join or to hide. She feels uncomfortable in her own skin and no longer knows if she's a social pariah because of herself or her brother. When she goes to stay with her grandmother in Norway, she arrives before her brother and Tuck. She meets a really hot guy, cuter even than Tuck and older too, Kjell, and he asks her out. She agrees to go in a fit of rebellion. Though he's gorgeous, she does not trust him one bit, and has little to no interest in him. This made me want to fistbump Ingrid Paulson for letting a heroine care more about personality than looks.

I will say, though, that aside from Tuck and Ellie who I loved, the rest of the characters did not seem particularly well-developed. I really don't have a sense of any of them as people, even Graham, which might be part of why I dislike him so much. This dovetails with my other complaint: this should be a series. The story does wrap up, but it's open-ended. So far as I know, a sequel isn't in the works, but it should be, and then we could see the other characters grow more.

Valkyrie Rising is just a heck of a lot of fun, with the added bonus of a unique setting in small town Norway. I loved reading it and will be keeping an eye on Paulson's career from here on out.

[Nafiza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having two older brothers of my own, I can totally empathize with Ellie’s feelings about her Nordic Godlike sibling who casts Ellie in shadow. His protectiveness also sounds rather familiar (all those cute boys who wouldn’t look at me cuz of my damned brothers, sigh!). I found the novel to be vastly entertaining and very engaging. It is total fluff – enjoyable fluff and I did enjoy reading it. I found the setting a welcome change from the usual settings of YA paranormals and would have loved a bit more description of the area but that’s just me. The pacing is quick and events progress quite rapidly. I also liked the portrayal of Loki, the trickster god. The love interest is very swoonworthy and the way Paulson describes him, I wouldn’t mind having a boy-next-door if that’s how they come (they don’t, I know for a fact, the boy next door to me is 12 and a brat).

There were a few aspects of the novel that gave me pause. Ellie’s complete obliviousness that Tuck likes her. I understood that she is scared to trust her instincts but the boy is more than obvious – he’s all but flashing a neon sign on top of his head. Also, I understand “The One” and all that but it seemed rather unbelievable that a God would single out a scrawny sixteen year old as the object of his revenge. I mean, this is a god we are talking about, you know? Who is immortal. Who has been living forever and forever is a long time. Why would he mess around with a sixteen year old when he would be able to fry hotter fish with the Valkyrie in power, Astrid? Also, what is up with the villain being excused because he is the god of knowledge? Like that at all excuses all the people who have been killed or all the evil stuff he has done since he woke up? Seriously? What the heck?

I don’t buy that. So yeah, I had some questions about the way the narrative turned but still, when all is said and done, it was entertaining. I enjoyed it. This one is a great addition for the days when you want to indulge in some guilty pleasure.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A book that takes us to Norway and introduces us to the mythological Valkyries and Odin.
Ellie at sixteen has spent the majority of her young life in her brother's golden shadow. Graham is successful in almost everything. He is the perfect older brother, despite the fact that he is fiercely protective of Ellie. If any boy even looks in her direction he is there to fend them off. Ellie and Graham are headed to Norway for the summer to spend some time with their Grandma Hilda. Much to Ellie's dismay, at least she pretends to be dismayed, Tucker, Graham's best friend, will be accompanying them as well. Once Ellie arrives in Norway she find things are not quite right. Handsome and popular boys over the age of eighteen are mysteriously disappearing. Worse, people are casting suspicious glances at Ellie and her grandmother as if they are somehow responsible for the kidnappings. When Ellie comes face to face with the real perpetrators she realizes that perhaps her vision of the world is limited and perhaps they are supernatural entires. Ellie fears for Graham's safety and she is determined to make sure that he doesn't fall victim. Can Ellie somehow find a way to stop the Valkyries from stealing her brother?

What I Liked:
*I am always excited when I run across a book with an original paranormal element and storyline so I was thrilled to find in Rise of the Valkyries a modern vision of the Norse mythological Valkyries. The Valkyries are fierce maidens who brought the best of the best soldiers after they died to serve in Odin's army. The Valkyries are back in modern times and this time they are stealing the brightest of the living. These girls are gorgeous and deadly and definitely a bit scary. Needless to say, this book gave me something different and unique and I loved the use of Nordic mythology.
*I adored the strong sibling relationship in this one. Graham is extremely protective of his younger sister so much that it is to the point where is overly protective. I am a big fan of books that feature great brother-sister relationships and this one has a duo with an amazing bond. I loved that both Ellie and Graham were willing to sacrifice and go to great lengths to protect each other.
*I enjoyed watching Ellie grow. At the beginning, she comes across as a girl who is always hiding in her brother's long shadow. Graham is popular, handsome, athletic and draws attention wherever he goes, while Ellie is quiet, a bit shy and never in the limelight. She doesn't even date since Graham disapproves of every eligible boy. As the story progresses, Ellie realizes she has some extraordinary powers and she quickly learns to wield them in order to protect the ones she loves. By the end of the book, Ellie transforms into a strong, capable, fierce girl who is willing to take on insurmountable odds to save her brother. She definitely comes a long way. She even takes a stand against Graham and refuses to let him make all her decisions for her and she finally finds her voice.
*Tucker, the swoon worthy, witty, boy next door who secretly has a crush on Ellie. He is one of those boys with charm and a smile that will melt your heart. I loved that he and Ellie had been secretly crushing on each other for years but were afraid to acknowledge their feelings. This is one of those romances that is hesitant and awkward as two longtime friends finally realize their feelings for each other. I really enjoyed the romance in this one.
*I loved that this book refrained from cliffhangers and love triangle and it had an exciting mystery, great characters and blended mythological characters into a modern day setting. Not to mention it had a couple of unexpected twists.

And The Not So Much:
*One of my biggest complaints was that there was some predictability in this one. If the Valkyrie are taking the best and the brightest boys over the age of eighteen who do you think would be a likely target? I was frustrated that Ellie and even her grandmother knowing all this didn't do more to protect the boys.
*I was disappointed a bit in Ellie at times. She immediately finds herself in a strange situation and she knows that her grandmother is aware of what is going on. Yet, she doesn't confront her grandmother and express her concern for the safety of her brother. Furthermore, when the her grandmother tries to sit her down and talk to her, she avoids the issues. That was a sticking point for me. I felt that she should have been a bit more savvy and tried harder to talk to her grandma and to explain to Graham what was going on. I felt, it got to the point where it got to be a bit unbelievable.
*I felt like I never had a true picture of Hilda. In fact, I didn't connect with her and didn't really like her. I did not like the way that she refused to step up and confront the disappearances especially when she knew what was going on. Furthermore, I never had a true sense of who she was. Why she made some of her decisions and so forth. I would have liked to know a bit more about her history and I would like to have seen more development in regards to her character.
*Finally, I was left wondering what happened to Ellie's and Graham's father. He died but what was he like? How did he die and did he inherit anything special from his mother? Ellie and Graham's parents are nonexistent in this one.

Rise of the Valkyrie is a fun book with a fresh take on Nordic mythology. I loved the mystery, action and sweet romance in this one. It has an unexpected story line along with good world building and memorable characters. If you are in need of something different give this one a read.

Favorite Quotations:
"Something tells me you won’t want to show your face in public wrapped in an old lady’s tracksuit.”
"I shifted until I could covertly watch her reaction as I backed up and dumped a whole truckload of crazy at her feet."
"The words were warm against my cheek, as was the scent of reckless summer radiating from his skin."
"I knew I’d been forgiven, no matter how much my words had hurt him, because there was a connection between the two of us, an affection born of a common childhood, the roots of our lives inextricably tangled. No matter how much either of us grew or changed, he’d always be my painfully perfect big brother."
"I buried my longings so deep, it would take an excavation team to drag them out of me, because this was about something deeper than his flirty words and playful smiles. This was about a lifetime of friendship and rivalry that had somehow turned into so much more. At least for me."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted @ Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still trying to figure out why I selected "I really liked it" over "I liked it". Probably because it is another debut novel read for me, and I have to give the author and editing team credit. It could have been awful, but it wasn't. I had fun and I never knew what to expect. I even laughed out loud a couple of times.

I am probably not the target audience, but I can still enjoy a YA romp in Norway with a group of bad ass Valkyrie super models and a couple of love sick teen agers. Throw in a couple of Norse Gods, and I can be quite happy.

I read this book for a team toppler event and a task on my yearly challenge list. Win - Win!

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been pining for Valkyrie Rising ever since I saw the cover and read the title. YA has explored endless paranormal creatures from vampires to aliens. Yet, Valkyries are pretty new to the genre. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I realized that this book was going to be based on Norse mythology. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.

When Ellie, along with her older brother, Graham, travel to Norway to spend the summer with their grandmother, Ellie's life changes for good. In the small town where her grandmother resides, young boys are swiftly going missing and rumors of Valkyries are slowly spreading through the community. Ellie doesn't realize the extent of the kidnappings until her own brother goes missing. Now, along with Tuck, Graham's sarcastic and humorous best friend, she must do everything possible to save her brother and along the way she learns about the ancient mysteries surrounding her.

At the beginning of the book, the reader is introduced to Ellie, a smart, but shy girl who has always been known as "Graham's younger sister". Ellie doesn't like being in the shadow of her older brother and she wants nothing more than to be known for herself, but it's not easy for her considering her brother is very overprotective of his baby sister. At first, I thought Ellie's character was bland, but as the story progressed she underwent a tremendous growth, easily making her one of my favorite female YA characters. Seeing her grow as I read the book was very much a pleasant experience since her maturing process was realistic. As a reader, I could see what propelled her towards such an incredible growth. By the end of the book, she had shed her mousy appearance to become a fearless tigress. There's nothing more I enjoy reading than characters who grow due to circumstances, so you can see why I adored Ellie's character. Moreover, Ellie was a down-to-earth girl that I could easily see myself becoming friends with. Her friendly personality was yet another appealing trait of hers. Although I really liked Ellie as a protagonist, my favorite character in the book was Tuck. He was such a fun character to read about. He was a sarcastic, but not overly sarcastic that he appeared conceited, and absolutely lovable character. He would make the wittiest of comments in the most serious situations and that would make me grin like crazy. I thought that the secondary characters were also really well fleshed-out. They all had distinct personalities and I never felt like they were underdeveloped. All in all, the characters in Valkyrie Rising were fantastic.

Since Valkyrie Rising is set in Norway, I was expecting it to be highly descriptive and to have a strong world-building. And thankfully, I was right. The world building was absolutely mesmerizing. Ingrid Paulson ensures that her readers thoroughly understand what's going on with her setting. I thought that the mythology in the book was rich and very knowledgeable. Ingrid Paulson went to lengths, making sure that there are no holes in her world-building. Complex, but rich, the world-building was fascinating. I honestly felt like I was with Ellie in her world.
The plot itself was mysterious and highly entertaining. I did feel like in some places, the plot didn't move much, but for the most part it was intense, fast-paced and very addictive. The author maintained the element of secrecy and mystery, making me very curious to find out what was going on. I also enjoyed the different relationships that existed in the book.. The relationship between Ellie and Graham was one of the highlights of the book for me. I loved the deep sibling bond that they shared. It was heartfelt and realistic. The romance between Ellie and Tuck was simply put, perfect. There was nothing instant about it since they've known forever. Moreover, it progressed at a slow pace, never taking over the plot, instead developing at the same time as the plot. The author's writing was addictive and I strongly believe that she will become very well known in the YA world if she keeps on writing this well.

To sum up, Valkyrie Rising was an original, highly entertaining and riveting story with characters that enraptured me. I do not hesitate at all to recommend this book to all fans of YA paranormal looking for something fresh with a kick-butt heroine and an exciting plot-line.

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4 1/2 stars***

I am so unbelievably ashamed of myself for putting this book off for so long. I daresay I had the galley in my possession for a few months before I even cracked it open. And then I remembered the allure of that cover, and the pull of Norse mythology reminded me why I wanted to read the book in the first place. I love mythology, any kind and of any origin, in all of its various permutations over the years and through various retellings. Can't get enough of the stuff. And the fact that I knew next to nothing about Norse mythology intrigued me beyond belief. Again, why didn't I read this novel sooner???

I've heard the term valkyrie before, but in case you weren't aware, a valkyrie is "each of Odin's twelve handmaidens who conducted the slain warriors of their choice from the battlefield to Valhalla". You don't need to know that going into this story because the author does such a splendid job of explaining the mythology in the book -- without going overboard with the details, I might add -- that you'll pick it up fairly quickly. But it always helps to be prepared...just ask Elsa. ;0)

I don't normally say this, but I would totally like to see this book made into a movie. Norway as the backdrop for all of the action would be gorgeous. And I've already got the head Valkyrie cast....as well as many of the other characters. But Astrid was the first one I had pegged down. I'm serious people...I'm never able to cast a book, but these characters are so clearly defined, even as they waver in their beliefs, that I knew exactly who should play the parts. Scary.

That synopsis might make it sound like the romance is first and foremost in this book, but let me tell you, Valkyrie Rising is equal parts action, danger, romance and myth. No one aspect stands out more to me than the others. And I loved every bit of it...from Elsa finding out who (and what) she was to her taking on her nemesis even when she was likely to be defeated to the swoonage between Elsa and Tuck, the ever-persuasive boy-next-door. Yes, it's safe to say that this story far exceeded my expectations.

I laughed out loud, I whooped in celebration, and I stared in open-mouth shock at times. This novel brings it. There's family drama. There's boy drama. There's really-beautiful-girls-who-want-to-destroy-the-world-on-Odin's-behalf drama. And it gets intense at times. If I had to compare it to any of my recent reads, I'd have to go with Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, due to the mystical mythology, the will-they-or-won't-they aspect, and just the way that the setting is like another character in the story. There's also a touch of humor in both stories that just feels so authentic, so true to the characters. You don't have to enjoy mythological tales to appreciate this story...it's simply the kind of book that will speak to your sense of adventure and make you wish that your grandmother had passed down some extraordinary genes to you.

Favorite quotes:

"Last name too? Bad sign. But here goes." He leaned closer, knowing full well how destabilizing his proximity could be. Before I could help it, I was batting my eyelashes right back at him. A reflex as involuntary as the knee-jerk test at the doctor's office.

"He laughed. It was a noteworthy event--his teeth were so straight it wouldn't have surprised me if he said he'd had braces twice. But his smile was crooked. It was the best possible combination."

"We should call the police," Tuck said.
"And tell them what, exactly," I said. "That we think Valkyries kidnapped my brother? And attacked my grandmother? Maybe we should interrogate all the other fictional creatures, starting with the Easter Bunny?" I knew I wasn't being helpful, but my frustration was screaming for an out.
"Leave the Easter Bunny out of it," Tuck murmured. "I know that dude has an alibi."

Thanks to HarperCollins for providing a review copy and to Shane at Itching for Books for hosting the blog tour.

This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar Books: Starling by Lesley Livingston, Loki's Wolves by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr, The Weight of Stars by Tessa Gratton, Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

I'm a huge mythology fan, and I think Norse might be one of my favorites (tied with Greek and Indian). So I was REALLY excited to get an ARC of Valkyrie Rising. I loved the hint of Norse myths that the blurb promised and the idea that the book was set in Norway. (I love a good foreign setting!) And while this was a solid debut, I found myself slightly disappointed.

Let me explain.

When I read a book based on mythology, I tend to want something more akin to urban fantasy - with really strong worldbuilding and appearances by gods and other creatures. I want the story to be so steeped in mythology that I lose myself in the world. A book that comes to mind is Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck - she utilizes so many different types of Indian mythology to craft her world. Starling by Lesley Livingston is another example.

But Ingrid Paulson chose a different path: to take one sliver of the mythology and craft her world from that, as opposed to the entirety. She focuses exclusively on Valkyries and their powers. It reminded me of Fury by Elizabeth Miles, which focused only on the Furies of Greek mythology. And for me, I tend to be a little unsatisfied with so little myth.

So my main complaint with the book has less to do with Ms. Paulson's writing abilities or her ability to create an interesting story and more with personal preference.

Because this book is written very well! The pacing is great, the characterizations are interesting, and the love interest is swoonworthy. This is also very much of a "girl power" book, and I think lots of readers will like that. But at the end of the day, it feels very much like a paranormal book instead of this epic fantasy that I was hoping it would be.

Still, I think this is a strong debut. I loved the setting! And I think Ellie is a smart protagonist that makes a lot of mature decisions that readers will appreciate, I feel. For one, she's not totally enamored by the local boy who mysteriously falls for her basically at first glance. She also values her own independence more than power. I think Ellie will resonate with a lot of readers who are sick of the "too-stupid-to-live heroines" that many characters are accused of being.

I also liked Tuck, the love interest, especially at the beginning. He's really funny and charming, and I might have swooned a little over him in the first 50 pages. But as the story progressed, I found him less interesting as he becomes less significant to the plot. I understood that this was Ellie's story and so she was the main focus, but I tend to like love interests that have their own character arcs and are integral to the story.

I'm looking forward to more books by Ms. Paulson in the future. I think she's a really good writer! And while the worldbuilding in this story wasn't my cup of tea, I think a lot of people will enjoy the sprinkling of mythology in a story that's very much of a coming-of-age, coming-into-her own kind of book.

[Eliza Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really about a 4.5, but I rounded up out of love. :-)

I found this book sort of at random, and last night I was looking for something a little different to read, so I decided to give it a try. And BOY am I glad I did! I would have zipped through it all in one sitting if it hadn't been relatively late when I started it. So let's see...how to describe my love....

The story was fun, and I loved the concept. In a book market so saturated with vampires, werewolves, and angels, Valkyries were a nice change. Being set in Norway was a fun change, even if it made the names of places basically unpronounceable for me. But the best part about this book was the characters. I LOVED them. If they stay consistent the way they were here, I'd read any book the author wants to throw at me about them.

Ellie/Elsa/Ells was the kind of main character I like to read about. She has real insecurities, but she's not a doormat, and she doesn't make her decisions solely based on the boy she likes. She put actual thought into her actions, so even when she wasn't sure who to trust, or she was keeping secrets, it never dragged on and on where I was saying, "Just tell him already!!!" The romance was super believable, had a great build up, and Tucker was just an awesome character. Super swoon-worthy. It was obvious that he had his insecurities, too, which he tried to hide behind verbal sparring and teasing flirting...but ultimately he was honest with Ellie and he treated her well. Even Ellie's brother, Graham, was a great addition to the story, even though he wasn't present as much. He felt very believable, rather than just like a cookie-cutter character who was put there to annoy Ellie and not actually grow and change with the story.

I only had one small qualm, and it's the reason I deducted half a star. It only loses half, because by the time this came around in the story, I was already so addicted to the characters that it almost didn't matter. But it needs a mention, all the same. 3/4 through the story, we learn that Tucker also has some distant Valkyrie blood. Now, I could see a few spots where there was supposed build-up, so it wasn't that the author wasn't trying, but it still felt a little out of the blue to me. And a little too convenient. It didn't break the story for me, but I did notice it, and it's never a good thing when I get pulled out of a story like that.

All in all, though, I love love loved this book. I'm mostly just sad that it's brand new, which means any theoretical sequels won't be coming out for at least a year. Boo.

PS - Am I the only one who pictured Tom Hiddleston every. single. time. Loki made an appearance, regardless of what he was supposed to look like at the time? Hehe.

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, I really enjoyed this book! And after that synopsis how could you not expect to love it? Valkyrie Rising is an action packed novel that sucked me in and kept me in Norway until I finished the book... amazing! I am so excited to tell everyone about this book...

The characters were nothing short of amazing. Ellie was a great and relatable (and sarcastic) character. I enjoyed reading the story from her perspective. Also, her brother, Graham was a vivid character who learns the some valuable lessons about being a big brother. Tuck, Graham's friend, was also pretty great. Astrid, an evil valkyrie in the beginning, was also fun to read about because her personality and traits were unique and vivid. I hope we see more of all these characters in the second book.

Okay, Norse mythology. Kidnappings. Valkyries. What could be cooler? This novel definitely had a plot to die for. The audience will never be bored, or at least I never was, with all the end-of-your-seat action. I think I read this in half the airplane ride. (P.S This is fun to read on a plane because then you can pretend to be going to Norway!)

There were several "plots" (I may be using this term loosely.) One was about the kidnapping of young men in the Norwedgian fishing village. Another one was the war including the gods. There was the part where Ellie tries to figure out some family secrets, and what she is. And finally, there was the romance between Ellie and Tuck, plus the relationship between Ellie and Graham. All these "plots" joined together to make an awesome story!

The conclusion solves most everything and there was no cliff-hanger, which I liked. However, there is definitely room for more books in the series. And I hope the second one comes out soon! I want more gods, goddesses, valkyries, and action! What will happen next in the war of the gods?

Overall, Valkyrie Rising was an epic read. Fans of mythology, action, and romance will love whipping through the novel like I did.

4.5/5 bookcases

[Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I start with this review? I really wanted to love this book. I was drawn to it by the cover and the blurb, but unfortunately, it didn't do it for me. I say this with a sad face. This review might come off as bit of a rant.

I think my biggest issue was the main character, Ellie. I couldn’t connect with her and found her to be immature, whiny, and weak. There were times that I thought okay, here we go. She is going to kick-butt now and show these girls whose boss, but that never happened. It was a tease. Every time she took one step forward, she took three steps back. I really felt like I was a kid being tricked and this annoyed me to no end. It made it hard for me to really enjoy the story. I liked every character in this book, but Ellie. I even liked the main female villain more than her.

Tuck is the love interest in the story, and he’s also Ellie’s brother’s best friend. The relationship between Tuck and Ellie started off great and I really liked them together, but the more I kept reading, the more I was praying for a love triangle. And I hate love triangles. I wanted him to stop pursuing Ellie. It was so obvious he liked her, but Ellie refused to believe it and constantly put herself down. It was the hardest thing for her to believe that someone like Tuck would actually want to be with her. Eventually down the line, though, she realizes how much Tuck cares for her and this made me like them again as a couple. I kept on reading because even though I didn’t really care for Ellie, there was a good story being told here. I started to like it a little bit better, but then the author throws in a curve ball that, to me, was just too convenient. I couldn’t buy any of it.

Now that I’ve gotten all that out, I will say that the book wasn’t all that bad to the point that I did not finish it. I did read until the end, but I think it was more because of Tuck and the world of the Valkyrie’s than it was anything else.

2 out of 5 stars!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valkyrie Rising is by far one of the best Mythology books I have read this year. I loved how the setting was placed in Norway and how the characters each had their own inner demons ans secrets to face. Thank you to Around The World ARC Tours for allowing me to read this ARC copy and when it releases on October 09, 2012 I will be purchasing a copy for my book shelf.

We met Ellie who is a shy girl who lives in the shadow of her older brother. Her older brother Graham is very protective of his sister and watches over her constantly and if that is not bad enough he at times can be the controlling older brother. So Ellie is excited when she finds out she will be spending the summer with her Grandmother in Norway. In Noway Ellie knows she can have freedom from her brother.

Then the unthinkable happens Ellie finds out that her annoying brothers best friend will be vacationing in Norway with them. Man is Ellie mad because what she thought was going to be a free and clear summer to enjoy herself is now going to be filled with Tuck and Graham. That is not the only thing Ellie finds out when she reaches Norway for the summer. She finds out that all the young guys are being kidnapped and she fears for her brothers safety.

While there in Norway Ellie starts to change and realizes that she has powers that have awakened and she is not sure what to do with them or why she has them. With the help of Tuck Ellie will find out what is going on and she will have to do so fast because someone very important to her has been kidnapped and she will stop at nothing to get that person back.As her powers awaken and she finds out what she is she will have to learn how to harness those powers and fast to save the person she loves and the town boys.

This is such a great read. I love mythology and I loved how the Sirens and Warriors were described. If you love this genre this book is for you and I look forward to more from Ingrid Paulson.

[JeanBookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ingrid Paulson’s Valkyrie Rising is an amazing Norse Mythological story that follows sixteen year-old Ellie. Living in the shadows of her older brother Grahm, she felt like she could not be her own when every time people see her, they only think of her as Grahm’s baby sister. This fact made her life invisible and her love life to be non-existent. Although Grahm is always telling Ellie what to do, he’s not a bad brother. He’s only doing it to protect his sister. Ellie knows this about her brother and she love him for it that’s why she would do the same for her brother even if it puts her life on the line.

Ellie is definitely a girl that readers will see grow in this book. She comes off as this girl who is trying to discover herself and her purpose in this world. The transformation she goes from a non-existent person to one of the fiercest warriors was absolutely amazing. Ingrid’s writing style was slow and methodical and provides readers with an astonishing story plot. The touch of Norse Mythology was a plus and gave the book so much more. The appearance of gods like Odin and Loki was definitely exciting. Valkyrie Rising delivered a very gripping tale about some of the baddest female warriors ever. Although fierce and tough, they were also sympathetic which gave the story the rightful kind of balance. It will not fail to satisfy any reader and when the end nears, it can be counted as a well written standalone, but most will hope for a series.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I might not have (okay, probably wouldn't have) picked up if not for a challenge. And, again, I'm so glad that my challenges have gotten me outside of my comfort box and opened me up to so many genres/books I'd not have picked up six years ago. Valkyrie Rising is one of those books

First, I thought the world building was done very well. I haven't read a valkyrie book before (that I can remember) so all of the details in the world-building were really helpful. And it gave me a fuller comprehension of what happens towards the end of the book, which I appreciate.

I loved Ellie's character. I taught high school for over 25 years, so I found Ellie to be endearing. She's one of those teens who is what I guess you could call a bit awkward and somewhat of a social misfit. However, as she grows into who she is going to become, I was able to see her growth and how much more she learned to rely on herself and her own strength. She definitely is a heroine that I can write home about. In other words, she is an awesome, strong female heroine.

There were definitely characters I loved (Tucker for one) and others that I had ambiguous feelings about (Graham), but I don't think I truly hated any of the characters. The only one that even comes close would be Loki.

The romance (or lack of it) was pretty tame, which I like, but it could've been a bit steamier! lol I was rooting for Ellie and Tucker and just waiting for their first kiss. I think some people hate that wait, but I love it because if/when they do kiss, it is so much sweeter. Personally, I don't care much for books where that first kiss is from the get-go quite as much as story lines where you feel almost like you're part of that first kiss because you kept saying, "DO IT!" lol

Recommendation: I think it's a good one to read for yourself and see what you think.







Gram. I have a love-hate relationship with that woman. She wouldn't have been in that list if she didn't keep so many important secrets from Ellie. I'm still not sure if she redeemed herself in the end.

The romance. Ah. Sometimes, I was (like I always do) screaming at Tucker and Ellie to just kiss. I mean, damn Graham. Damn you. You are irrelevant.
Anyways, it was really sweet, and I liked the way it built up, and it was so cute in the end when Ellie thought Tucker was under some kind of spell. Heehee. But I hated that twist. But I'm glad they were able to overcome their differences in the end.

I couldn't have been more satisfied with the ending. It was wrapped up nicely.
But I just wished there would be a sequel. That would be awesome-sauce :)

All in all, I loved Valkyrie Rising, and no doubt that i'll be re-reading it and reading Ingrid's future works.

[Jen Meegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to take a chance on this book even though it had a small number of reviews (but the ratings were high). In retrospect, I wonder if I'd have given this book higher ratings had I not just read two really fantastic YAs back to back (Libba Bray's "The Diviners" and Kresley Cole's "Poison Princess"). But it is what it is.

What I Liked:
- With so many fairy tales and myths being mined for story content, I give this author big kudos for finding something fresh and relatively untapped to write about. As far as I'm aware, there just isn't much out there talking about Norse mythology and valkyries in particular. Take note future YA writers....Greek and Roman myths aren't the only ones out there! Why not try on something Northern European for size?
- Once Elsa (Ellie), the lead, hits her stride...she's a great role model. Loyal, honest, courageous....all things any young woman should be proud to emulate. But let's not forget all the other "girl power" (or is that grrrl power? I get so confused....) going on in this novel. There's Hilda, Ellie's grandmother, a woman who clearly didn't get the memo about how senior citizens are supposed to behave...Astrid and her gang...and a young village woman (names hidden to protect the innocent..) who more than shows her mettle when push comes to shove.
- Of all the relationships going on in this book, none struck me as so real as the one between Ellie and her brother, Graham. It was clear they loved each other deeply....and in spite of Graham's overbearing demeanor towards his sister, the reader knew all along he behaved that way out of protectiveness and respect. I like how the relationship was forced to change and how Graham takes it in stride.

Now...for the not-so-great....
- I never really felt that into Ellie. In the beginning, it seems like we're supposed to see her as a wall-flower, caught in her brother's shadow and resenting it. But then based on some early comments from Tucker, we are also left to conclude she's drop-dead gorgeous and alluring. Yet, as with almost 90% of YA heroines....she's totally clueless about her appearance and its effect on guys. Oh, and she does like to read...so I suspect we are supposed to gather she's a smart cookie. BIG SIGH. Just for once, how I'd love to come across a heroine who doesn't seem like a nincompoop when it comes to how she looks. I get this is all part living in Graham's shadow, etc....but girlfriend has a mirror!!! She can't be that oblivious. Also, there were a lot of very obvious hints thrown about Tucker's feelings for her as well as her place in the larger mythology of the book...but again, she comes across as either dense or not terribly engaged with what's happening around her. I did enjoy Ellie a lot more when she was able to embrace her family legacy....but to me, the transition from wallflower Ellie to butt-kicking Ellie wasn't a smooth one and, as a result, it made her seem a bit two-dimensional.
- Without giving anything away, the big reveal about one of the male leads fell flat to me...and a bit too contrived. I was disappointed at how it all unfolded.
- I felt like Ellie and Graham's back story was touched on only very briefly. I eventually figured out the dad had died and from what I can recall, we don't ever really get to meet their mom. It's the same for Tucker's parents (although I actually felt like I had more info about his parents than I did about Ellie's). This seems to be endemic of many YA novels...the parents are barely there, dead, or emotionally/physically distant and only thrown into the story to provide the bare bones about the lead characters. As a parent, I'd sure love to see more involved moms and dads...not these self-centered or preoccupied drips who barely make a dent on the reader's consciousness.
- Things got a bit muddled once the action started to heat up. I felt as if there were almost too many things happening...and too many characters flitting in and out. I found myself skimming a lot and not really feeling as engaged as I would have liked. Truth be told, while the setting and inspiration for the story were definitely unique, the way things unfolded and the characters themselves (aside from grandma and Loki), were pretty predictable and fairly stock for a YA supernatural.

My overall take on this book: It had its moments, especially due to the use of Norse mythology, but overall...it didn't stick with me, nor was able to engage with the book as much as I would have liked. It's clear this is the first in a series and I have noted many series start off with a whimper but end with a bang. My hope is this will be the case with Valkyrie Rising and the author needs some time to hit her stride.