Foretold

Sisters of Fate #1

by Rinda Elliott

It is written that three Sisters of Fate have the power to change the world's destiny. But only if they survive…

The Lockwood triplets have had the prophecy drummed into their heads since birth. Still, Raven, the eldest of the sisters, can't believe it's really happening. She's the reincarnation of a Norse goddess? One of the sisters is destined to die? When it starts snowing in summer in Florida, the sisters fear the worst has come to pass. Ragnarok, the Norse end of the world, has begun.

Raven finds herself the secret protector of Vanir, a boy with two wolves, a knowledge of Norse magic and a sense of destiny he can't quite explain. He's intense, sexy and equally determined to save her when it becomes clear someone is endangering them. Raven doesn't know if getting closer to him will make a difference in the coming battle, but her heart isn't giving her a choice.

Ahead of the sisters is the possibility of death at the hand of a warrior, death by snow, death by water or death by fire.

Or even from something else…

Sisters of Fate

The prophecy doesn't one is doomed to die.

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

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

I write urban fantasy, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Okay, and some space opera and post-apocalyptic menage as Dani Worth. I'm a lover of all kinds of romances! Some of mine (so far) are M/F, M/M/F and M/M.

Currently, I'm focusing on M/M romance because that's been my favorite for many years. I finally took the plunge in 2015 along with my good friend and co-writer, Jocelynn Drake. We are releasing long M/M romantic suspense right now (Unbreakable Bonds) and are already planning another series as well--possibly one that combines our love of MM romance with our love of urban fantasy.

I enjoy unusual stories and credit growing up in a family of curious life-lovers who moved all over the country. Books and movies full of fantasy, science fiction and romance kept us amused, especially in some of the stranger places.

I do get questions about the open series out. Beri O'Dell, Crux Survivors, The Kithran Regenesis and The Brothers Bernaux are unfortunately all on hold. That publisher is in the midst of closing so I don't know what will happen with them yet. Also, they weren't selling very well either, but I'm hoping I can self-publish the last of the stories in them at some point for the fantastic fans they do have. I'm sorry for the delay.

I’m represented by Miriam Kriss of the Irene Goodman Agency.

You can find me at http://rindaelliott.com, http://www.deadlinedames.com.
I also write erotic books as Dani Worth-http://www.daniworth.wordpress.com
And for more info on my co-authored M/M series with author, Jocelynn Drake, http://www.drakeandelliott.com

Reviews

[Shera (Book Whispers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

****Review copy received through Netgalley for an honest review. Release date April 1, 2014****

Mythology buff. That's me. Mixing my urban fantasy/paranormal romance with Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Celtic, Welsh, Native American, Norse . . .so on. However, I haven't gotten what I wanted out of Norse mixer uppers yet. The Loki's have been interesting for sure. Foretold was my golden ticket. A fresh new idea about the end of the world featuring three girls possessed by The Norns (Norse Fates) to herald in Ragnarök. AKA the end of the world!

Right up front it was clear this book was not going to give me what I wanted. However, it was also clear I was going to have a blast! Clearly Elliot knows her mythology and it flavors this read nicely. Every time a legend or God(dess) I knew was mentioned I felt like an eager student with my hand in the air! The best part is the magic wasn't too far stretched, and it's magic with laws. So no crazy wild cheat-magic. Where some miraculous magical thing is pulled out of a character’s bottom to save the day!

The use of the legends of Ragnarök was really well done. Amping things up is the sudden mystery as to why the time table for the end of the world seems to be speeding up and going all kinds of crazy. People die and the mayhem that ensues touches on some realistic points of a society falling apart. Maybe not as much as I would like, but the attempt is there. The fear that Raven's Norn might take over her body or bust out “alien style from her chest” is a real fear. It's interesting watching fear turn into acceptance as Raven finally decides to deal with the role she has to play. There's a lot of mystery going on here with the other possessed warriors, the triplets conception and truth of who their father might be, and what's going on with the other girls while readers are junky out on Raven's tale.

Elliot does a great job of building up Raven and Vanir. The romance doesn't make me want to roll my eyes and vomit. The characters even comment on their instant attraction to each other. It's fun watching them fall for each other. Though Raven talking about checking in her V-card after one kiss was lame. Lame. Vanir is a great guy with the perfect mixture of modern white knight, without being too old school. Raven. Well I was hoping that the sisters would be more . . . warrior. It's clear that that job is for the men. Even though the girls are supposedly supposed to protect them. It's more like they're there to be soul mates. Sure Raven does some pretty awesome things and saves Vanir a lot, which was really cool. Raven spends a vast majority of her time being the damsel. It's OK. Diversity in the type of girls in this genre is a good thing. In the end Raven saves the day with Vanir. Partnerships are a good thing.

Foretold is a very easy and light read. It's a YA paranormal romance that's going to follow each sister and their chosen guy with each book. Which is standard for adult titles, but not for YA PNR. The light read aspect doesn't allow for true character building. It's a fast read and any even faster story. Which works well for Foretold.

Foretold is a great paranormal romance Norse mythology YA read! It's fun and feeds that happy giggly side of my soul. With just a tiny-dash enough death and adrenaline to appease the dark side. The Loki character here may not be the most intriguing Loki I've read, but there is definitely room to grow. Better yet there is no love triangle. Sure some girl has a crush on Vanir, but it worked. Raven didn't get jealous and she was OK with someone having a crush on him. Yeah! This leaves more time for Raven and Vanir to get to know each other, which means readers can become more invested in them. The plot is ambitious and twisty enough readers should have plenty of fun with it. Whether or not you're good at predicting plots. In the end all the matters is that the mythology was grand and I had fun! My mind is making “give-me give-me” hands as I wait for Forecast!

Sexual Content: Sexual humor, make outs, kissing, and talk about a past rape.

3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5/5

Absolutely fantastic! Foretold was an absolutely amazing YA paranormal romance. I loved this book! After reading the blurb, I had high expectations going in and this book definitely didn't disappoint. Loved it!

I just love how original the concept for this book is. I've never seen anything similar to this book, with its interesting use of Norse mythology. Three sisters that are reincarnations of Norse goddesses, the onset of the Norse apocalypse, and three warriors who are reincarnations of Norse gods who are also prophecized to kill one of said sisters. Not to mention their insane mother and a certain trickster god on the loose. It was all wonderfully done and I loved it all.

Raven was a wonderful heroine. She was strong and determined to keep Vanir safe and find a way to keep her sister and herself alive. I really liked her. She was a lovely character.

Vanir was just amazing. This guy was so sweet and determined to keep his family safe, after he proved a target for dark spirits. He had a way of going from super hot to super sweet and, overall, totally swoon-worthy. And, he was just a very nice guy in general. He just also happened to have the power of a god if someone really pissed him off. I absolutely adored him. He was perfect.

The romance was lovely. Raven and Vanir were great together. They were both strong and determined and definitely proved themselves a formidable team. And, the heat level between them was on the higher end for YA books. My one issue with them was that it seemed a bit too insta-love. I got that they were fated to be together and the souls of the gods that they housed led them to have an instant connection, but I wish we had seen them actually gotten to know each other more. But, they were a little too busy with an apocalypse to worry about going on dates, so I understood it. Overall, I thought they were perfect together.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. It was a little all over the place at first because I didn't understand what was going on and it took a while to explain things fully. But, once I got it, I was riveted. There were tons of thrills and one hell of a surprise to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me excited for book 2.

Foretold was a fantastic YA paranormal romance. I loved this book! The romance, myths, surprises, and thrills were all wonderful. From beginning to end, it was just lovely. YA romance readers, this is a book you don't want to miss.

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very new and innovative tale involving the influence and impact of the old Norse gods on the modern world. Not directly from the gods themselves but focusing on a doomful prophecy about the souls of the Norns, weavers of fate inside teenage triplets who due to their runic way of seeing the past, present and future have led a very troubled and restricted life.
Foretold follows one of the triplets Raven Lockwood as she travels through a freak nationwide snow storm to stop her crazy mother from seeking out 3 boys who may hold the souls of Odin, Thor or Frey. As the story centres on fate a lot of fated things happen but never as you expect and all lead to a fantastic climax of an ending. The characters are fantastically well created and established, each with their own secrets, agendas and personality. I loved every chapter, was truly gripped as the plot became more complex and I finished it in 2 days because I couldnt put it down. Really looking forward to Forewarned the 2nd book in the trilogy which follows the adventures of the 2nd triplet which we get glimpses of through phone calls between the triplets. Another highly recommended book for lovers of norse mythology.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foretold drops us into a world on the brink of destruction and keeps us on the run from beginning to end, engaging our minds with prophetic puzzles while warming our cheeks with a romance helped along by the heavy hitters of Norse mythology. Because we hit the ground running in this tale–or rather flat out sprinting–confusion and unease are what dominate in the opening chapters (as they're clearly meant to), our timeline with Raven jumping from present day to a few days prior when a massive snowstorm and the suspicious disappearance of the girls’ mother throws their world into chaos. Pieces of a prophecy are spoken of casually, and because we haven’t grown up with it as the girls’ have, it takes us a little while to mentally organize all the information that’s so quickly distributed. Before too long though we’re right there with Raven, ready to save the world and get swept off our feet as we do so...

Full review available at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect start to the series. Suspenseful. Action-packed. Fascinating mythology. Romance. Raven is a fierce heroine and Vanir is totally awesome. Can't wait to see what happens with Kat and Coral. Waiting is going to slay me.

Love how the author brought the mythology into the modern day. As I am not very schooled on Norse myth this was intriguing and exciting and riveting. Though even if I had been aware I would have been just as captivated.

Review TK next week.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. I am obviously back to my obsession with mythology, and this series follows Norse mythology, specifically Ragnarok. It is an interesting concept and made even more awesome by the fact that this book and the other two all technically take place at the exact time. I feel like that would be difficult to pull off but I really look forward to reading Forecast when it comes out in a couple more months.

[Jill Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking excellent. Totally okay for adults or young adults. The action is great, the characters are awesome and the romance is real and yet appropriate for teenage readers.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Foretold is the first book in Rinda Elliott’s new Sisters of Fate young adult series. I am quite the fan of Rinda’s Beri O’Dell urban fantasy series. I find that series to be gripping and unique. I also love the depth with which she writes her characters. When I found out she was writing a YA series I thought I should check into it even though young adult isn’t one of my go-to genres anymore. And once I read the blurb, I wanted to read it. I knew that if Rinda put just half of what she puts into her UF series into this new one, Sisters of Fate and Foretold would be good.

And it was.

The Sisters of Fate series follows triplets who were each born with the soul of a Norse goddess inside them. This has given them the ability to see into the past, present and future. Their biggest fear is that once the end of the world begins, the goddess will take over their bodies and free will and they will essentially cease to exist as themselves. If that’s not enough, there is a prophecy stating that one of the girls will be killed by a warrior during the end of the world. Fun all around. Well, Foretold begins when the end of the world does. In this series, Raven, Coral and Kat are not only attempting to not be taken over by crazy goddesses but they are also trying to figure out what is up with their mother, who has vanished, on top of trying to find this warrior who could be wanting to kill them. They have three suspects where the warrior is concerned so they branch off, each sister searching one boy out. The sisters feel that, as they were born with a goddess’ soul, these men may have been born with a god’s soul.

Foretold follows Raven as she tries to find her ‘possible warrior’ Vanir, a boy with two wolves. There is an instant connection between Raven and Vanir. Their chemistry is intense. There is no sex in this book (because it’s YA after all) but the level of chemistry rivals many adult books that I have read. It is incredibly well written.

I really enjoyed Raven. Yes, she is a ‘teenager’ but she’s smart and knows what needs doing. She does not whine or annoy, which I really appreciated. Not once did I want to smack her and that is important to me while reading a YA heroine.

Vanir was good to read too. Yummy (for a teenager) and, as with Raven, not over the top. I also loved the relationship he had with this brothers. And the wolves, too cute.

The story is non-stop! A truly exciting ride. Made me hope that if there ever truly was an ‘end of the world’ that it does not go as it does in this book. It is not fun, people. Not fun at all. And to see how Vanir, Raven and her sisters cope with it all is great. And even though this is only book one, there is one hell of a twist (or five) and there is a bit of closure at the end of this one. I liked that. A bit of a breather before continuing on with the madness in the next book.

As you can tell, I was quite impressed with this book as a whole but the part that excites me the most is how this entire series will come together. Each sister will have her own book and much of each book takes place during the same timeline. So some of the phone conversations we see in Foretold, we will also relive in Forecast (the next book due out August 2014) and pieces of the first two books will appear in Foresworn when it releases, but we’ll see them from different points of view. That, to me, is really cool. So for that, and because this book was really good, I will definitely be checking out the next installment.

Overall, I truly enjoyed Foretold. I had a feeling Rinda would give us wonderful and thorough characters along with unique and interesting storylines and I was right. That is exactly what she did. I am thoroughly intrigued by this series and I look forward to reading more.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has been on my to-read list since I first saw the cover and read the blurb, it just sounded awesome. So when I saw it on netgalley I immediately requested it and I am so happy I got approved! Foretold is just as awesome as the blurb suggests. It's a fast paced story with a great main character with Norse Mythology interwoven in the story.

I started Foretold on a whim, knowing I had some time before I had to start my next review book I started this during my lunch break and read the first 8% before I had to convince myself my lunch break had taken long enough already. Foretold gripped my from the first page and I just wanted to sit there and read it all. As I got it from netgalley the pdf was too small to read on my Kobo, so I read this on my ipad (let me state that I don't like reading on my ipad especially in the evenings because of the lit up screen). I read this on my ipad in only 3 days, because I didn't care how I had to read it, I knew I wanted to read this book.

While many books are about predicting and usually preventing the end of the world, Foretold starts smack in the middle of Ragnarok. It's snowing in winter and the three sisters know those prophecies might be right after all and then they find out their mom has disapeared leaving some clues behind and then they seperate and go find those boys she might be after. The story was done really well and it had that keep-reading-feel. It was just great and kept me interested at every turn. Although the ending was a bit less good and the twists was a bit weird.

The main character of Foretold is Raven, the oldest sister. She can see the past, which might seem as a bit useless it actually sounded interesting. I really liked Raven, she loved her sisters fiercely and she gave people a change even when they might not deserve it. I did think that sometimes she lept a little too many secrets and wondered if some things could've been resolved earlier if she had says something. Then there's Vanir, who has two wolves accompanying him that protect him. I also really liked him and his brothers. The side characters where really well developed as well, at least most of them. We really get to know a bit about Raven her two sister's even though they aren't really in this book and they only have phone contact. I can't wait to read their books!

There also is some romance and while it develops really fast (almost insta love) it was done well and I did really feel the emotions and chemistry between Raven and Vanir.

Then there's the world building. I really liked the norse mythology parts, bit by bit we learn new things, there was no info dumb and while there are still a lot of questions that remina, it was easy enough to get an idea of the world. I would've liked a bit more explanation about the magic, as that was still a bit vague. I did really like the idea of the Rune Tempes, really original!

To conclude: Foretold is an addictive story about three sisters and norse mythology, the book grabbed me from the first page and I didn't want to put it down. The story was doen really weel and I liked the characters. The romance developed a bit fast, but I did like the romance and felt the chemistry between the two characters. The world building is done well, although some questions still remain. I can't wait for the second book in this series!

[Amy A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Vampire Book Club

In Norse mythology the beginning of the end of the world, Ragnarok, is signaled by the onslaught of snow for three years, followed by a tidal wave, and ending with war, blood, and death.

Triplets Raven, Coral, and Kat carry the reincarnated souls of norns, goddesses, within themselves. Triggered when they were nine, they’ve known since they were born that they would be essential in trying to save the world. The three sisters are to find the warriors who, like them, carry the reincarnated souls of gods within. The warriors have the ability to save the world. The sisters must protect these warriors at all cost, even at the cost of their lives, for it is also prophesized that one of the norns will die at the hand of a warrior. Which one has yet to be determined.

Raven takes center stage in Foretold. When the snow starts, she and her sisters know the end is just beginning. After their mother suddenly disappears they know something more ominous is on its way. When they find research material in their mother’s bedroom, they realize she’s been looking for the warriors herself probably hoping to prevent the death of one of her daughters. That their mother has always been on the eccentric side makes them fear the worst and forces the girls to split up to find their warriors before something terrible can happen to them.

Raven is a very competent heroine. Dubbed the ‘mature’ triplet since she was the first born, Raven has had to take on a lot of the more parental responsibilities in the household. She’s very levelheaded and knows immediately what needs to be done once Ragnarok starts. Still trying to understand her own powers as well as her overall role in things to come, Raven doesn’t back down when faced with the myriad of challenges put before her.

When Raven finds/meets Vanir for the first time, they both feel instantly drawn to one another. Vanir lives in a small town in Oklahoma with his brothers. It’s hinted that Vanir and his brothers have some knowledge of Norse mythology, but Raven wonders how far this knowledge extends and if they know of the god’s soul that resides within Vanir and what will happen once the god comes to power upon his 18th birthday.

I found the beginning and initial set up of Foretold to be a little stilted and, at times, awkward, but I can forgive this because there is a lot of ground to cover and Foretold is just the beginning. The Norse mythology that runs throughout the story could, in places, become a little overwhelming. Rinda Elliott understood this because she made sure that things were explained in layman’s terms. Once the story found its legs, it really got going and doesn’t let up in the end. The fast pace and seemingly ticking clock promise to continue in Coral and Kat’s stories.

While the relationship between Vanir and Raven was almost instantaneous, not everything was fulfilled within the confines of Foretold. I still want to see Vanir and Raven’s relationship grow, and I’m interested to see how or if Elliott will continue their story while moving on to the other sisters.

[Patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Ao longo deste ano tenho tido a sorte de encontrar muitas surpresas em livros que me podiam parecer medianos ou não suficientemente bons à primeira vista, e Foretold, a minha estreia com a autora Rinda Elliott, foi mais um desses casos, um livro que quase me poderia ter passado ao lado, mas que acabou por me agarrar desde a primeira página. Uma história viciante e imaginativa, fluída, cheia de humor e acção, este livro fez-me recordar um dos meus livros preferidos, Predestinados, pela capacidade da autora em brincar com a mitologia e, ao mesmo tempo, conseguir manter-se fiel aos mitos originais, encontrando um equilíbrio espantoso entre o que conhecemos e a sua imaginação fértil. Com uma escrita divertida e entusiasmante, Rinda consegue fazer-nos devorar o seu livro enquanto nos arrasta por completo para a sua história.
O mundo está prestes a acabar, profecias concretizam-se, deuses nórdicos reencarnam em jovens dos nossos dias, numa narrativa rápida, cheia de adrenalina, onde não falta romance e perigo, onde os mitos se entrelaçam com o presente e a normalidade é algo que já ninguém conhece. Sem ser complexo, este livro não deixa de ser intrigante ou viciante, permitindo-nos desfrutar de cada momento da leitura com um prazer crescente, enquanto, criaturas fantásticas aparecem do nada, deuses vivem dentro de nós e somos perseguidos por algo que desconhecemos e tememos. Imaginativo e curioso, equilibrado em momentos de acção e romance, com a dose certa de humor, este é um enredo que traz a mitologia nórdica a um outro patamar, com uma originalidade estranha e espantosamente fiel aos contornos dos mitos.
Como se não bastasse toda a adrenalina crescente que se vive em cada momento, a autora consegue ainda manter-nos em suspenso quanto ao que se passa com as outras duas protagonistas, conseguindo contar-nos tudo e esconder-nos tudo ao mesmo tempo, já que não temos pleno acesso ao que se passa com as irmãs de Raven. Se neste livro há pistas e personagens importantes, há também muitas peças do puzzle que ainda nos faltam, permitindo-nos apenas adivinhar o que aí virá.
Para além de tudo isto, esta história tem personagens fáceis de se adorar e com as quais rapidamente criámos uma ligação. Irmã mais velha e responsável, Raven é um misto de força e timidez, com uma personalidade desastrada e um coração do tamanho do mundo enquanto Vanir, irmão mais novo, sensível e forte é um líder debaixo do ar de rapazinho. Juntos são o casal mais fofo à face da terra, protagonizando os momentos mais doces e divertidos do livro, sem que o romance monopolize ou enjoe. Juntando a isto um par de irmãos mais velhos protectores e meio doidos, uma mãe totalmente louca e duas irmãs gémeas completamente diferentes, é de se notar que este livro tem um rol de personagens irresistíveis, e que só tenho pena não tenham um bocadinho mais de profundidade.
O livro ideal para os fãs de Josephine Angelinni que prefiram a mitologia nórdica, Foretold é uma mistura fantástica de mitologia, aventura e romance, prometendo uma trilogia que irá conquistar facilmente quem a ler.

**I received a digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Aparajitabasu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Link to the review at my blog Le' Grande Codex - here

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Fantastic. Riveting. A certified page-turner. Thrilling and romantically sexy. Foretold by Rinda Elliott is the first book in the Sisters of Fate series and a marvelous kick-starter to the marvelous series. I tend to take tiles from Harlequin Teen at face value, simply because their stories have never let me down, also because the cover is eye grabbing for us to pick it up. So I requested it from netagalley and...... definitely not disappointed at all.

With the majority of Greek/ Roman Mythology centered YA stories, you don't see many of them about Norse myths at all. So that is one of the major points of this book. If that wasn't enough, Elliott's unique and almost lyrical penmanship is a plus. Couple it with the myth of Ragnarok, the Norse end of the world prophecy, a fast paced and riveting plot, and strong characters.... and the result is one killer amazing book to cherish and love.

Three warriors carrying the souls of major Norse Gods. Raven, Coral and Kat, our resident 'Sisters of Fate', the triplets carrying the souls of the three Norns and the sneaky trickster God running around causing havoc and the sweet and fiercely passionate romance between Raven and Vanir..... Oh tingling all over..... Foretold is surely one of the best reads of this year.

Raven and Vanir made quite the pair. From their accidental meeting to them falling irrevocably in love with each other, while dealing with the chaos and the coming apocalypse and stopping the culprit, and of course those sneaky moments of intense passion. They carried the plot forward their actions and I loved them for it. Both were loyal, stubborn, determined, passionate individuals. They knew as they tried to figure out what was happening that they even would give their lives, if it meant that their loved ones were safe.

Adorably sweet and passionately sexy. These two were made for each other. Raven's inner turmoil throughout regarding the culprit and the conviction to save Vanir against all odds was commendable. Vanir too wasn't far behind, his coming into his Norse Godly powers and his intense journey with Raven, whom he may know but still persistent enough to be kept safe from any harm was a marvel to observe. Then of course Forecast boosts of a thrilling tale to support such strong characters. Intense, page-turner with surprising instances of twists & turns in the mix and this series debut just pulls off that 5/5 stars it gets. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

"Intense and riveting page-turner with strong Norse roots and a romance that transcends the end of the world"

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harlequin TEEN and Netgalley.)
Raven and her sisters have been brought up to believe that they have Nordic Goddesses inside of them, and that one day the end of the world will begin, and one of them will die.
Is this really true? Is snow that falls all over the world the beginning of the end? And what is there mother up to with her iron skillet?


When I first saw this book I had a gut feeling that I wouldn’t like it, and although it was no teardrop, it wasn’t great either.

Raven was an okay character, but I never really warmed to her. I didn’t love her, and I didn’t hate her, I just didn’t really care all that much about what happened to her. I thought she did come across as a little naïve at times, but the whole book had a sort of naïve, immature feel to it, so she fitted with the rest of the book.

The storyline in this was a little shaky. The original ‘triplets with goddesses living inside them’ wasn’t too difficult to accept, but as the story progressed it became more unbelievable, and I really lost interest. By the half-way mark I was really struggling, and had it not been for the fact that I kept switching between this book and another book, I think this would have been even more unbearable.

There was some romance, but it was very much of the soul-mate, made-for-each-other, I-instantly-knew variety, which I know puts a lot of people off. The kiss scenes we got weren’t bad, but I didn’t really feel the attraction between the pair.

The ending was okay, but I was mainly glad to have finished. I won’t be reading any other books in this series.
Overall; okay~ish, but I was glad to finish!
5 out of 10.

[Angela Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite line...

"Sarah had one of those good doctor voices, warm and soothing. The kind that said trust me before they stuck you with a needle the size of a fishing pole."

The line I hated the most...
"Don't miss Coral's story in FORECAST. Coming August 2014"

What? I have to wait 4 months? But I'm worried about the sisters!

Alright, I'll wait.

But what about Kat?
Dru?
The warriors?

And just what did Hallur do to his foot?

[Andrea Heltsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. With the popularity of Norse Mythology, I had high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. The characters were fun. I loved getting to know the triplets. This first book was from one of three and from Ravens pov. There was a great romance woven through the book. Overall, a great read. Five glittery stars!

[Jenny Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid first book for the series. I enjoyed its focus on Norse mythology rather than the more common Greek mythology. The romance was a bit fast - one of those love at first sight sort of things. Overall, it left me interested enough to continue the series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

sisters and norse mythology . Well played and going to read about the other sisters :)

[Giollyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

La mia recensione qui -> http://unafatainlibreria.blogspot.com...

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.

We NEED more books about Norse mythology! Actually, we need more books about lesser known myths and legends, period. Anyway, all I know about Norse mythology is Thor and Loki, movie-based versions. So I don't know how close this version to the actual myths, but I thought Foretold was fantastic!


Rating: 4 stars!

From the first page, I was HOOKED. I kind of loved that this story was told in 1st person; it helped to create this sense of desperation and determination in the main character. Raven Lockwood, one of the triplets, is searching for a boy she believes her mother is going to kill. All her life, Raven has heard of the prophecies describing a three-year long winter, warriors who would eventually kill one of the norns. One of the triplets. It's a prophesy that sends her mother on a downward spiral, where she's finally snapped. I loved Raven's character! She was sassy, comically so in tense situations. She was fierce and loyal, a combination that she has to figure out where she falls on the line. Is her mother really capable of this? Should she tell the kind people who have taken her in? Should she tell Vanir, the guy she's starting to fall in love with? When Raven finds Vanir, she also finds death and destruction, magic and chaos. But what if it isn't really her mother behind all of it? And what kind of secrets is Vanir's family hiding?

I loved Vanir's character! He's got the perfect blend of vulnerability and strength. He's a guy who doesn't fully understand what's coming and what part he plays in all of it. He's drowning in grief, but he's protective of Raven. Truths are uncovered, secrets played out. Vanir doesn't understand what's really happening, but he'll do whatever it takes to save the people he loves.

Okay, so their romance was quickly developed. In truth, it'd probably be considered insta-love. It happens quickly, takes them both by surprise, and by the end, they're already in love. But I just don't care that it was too fast. That forever for them isn't totally believable. I thought they were adorable, had great chemistry, and maybe they were even destined for each other because of the souls they hold inside themselves. Whatever the case, I didn't even care that it was sort of insta-love. My love for the both of them overshadows that.

I also loved the secondary characters! I was kind of sad that we didn't really see many interactions between the triplets. I'm hoping those bonds will develop further in the next books. But I liked the additions of Vanir's family, and I also enjoyed the dialogue between the characters.

Like I said above, I didn't care that their romance developed fast. Everything about this book was fast-paced. It was intense. It was suspenseful. However, I was a little disappointed in this post-apocalyptic world. Mostly because it just happened so quickly. There wasn't much background or depth leading up to it, or to the relationships between Raven and her mom, and Raven and her sisters. I just wish this had been longer; it could have easily been 100 pages longer, and I wouldn't have been bored. I just think that if this had been a longer length, the development of the characters and this fantastical story-line could have been much more believable. I still loved the plot, and the fast pace never slowed down for me. But I just wanted a little more of it.

Foretold was such a wonderful retelling of these Norse myths. I don't know anything about them, so I don't know if there is any truth to them or not. As a reader who just wanted a cool story about Norse myths, I got it. It was fast and intense, and I loved the characters. I can't wait for the next sisters' books! :)

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so eager to start Foretold; I am really enjoying mythology as of late and Norse mythology is something that I know little about. The premise sounded awesome and I was expecting to fall head over heels for this one!

Foretold is the first book in the Sisters of Fate trilogy and it follows Raven, the eldest of the triplets. The Norse goddess that is inside of her gives her visions of the past. I honestly don’t really know what to make of Raven. I did like her as she certainly wasn’t a unlikeable character, but unfortunately I was just completely detached from her. The entire point of the books is that the triplets have this destiny and that one of them will die but they have no idea who it might be. There were times during the story that I thought it might be Raven but I was just entirely impartial to it. The reason being I think was because there wasn’t a lot of character building. Raven is a strong girl going into the story, and she maintains that strength throughout the story so it’s not like she grows into it. You are given a fast track summary of why she is where she is, and a little bit of briefing about the girls childhood but nothing in-depth. Also Vanir, the warrior that Raven seeks out, is the same. I did really like him, but I was just entirely detached from his well-being. It’s unfortunate, because I really think that took me away from the story a bit.

The story however, I was immediately drawn into. If you like fast paced, you will get it with Foretold because you are literally thrown into the beginning of the end of the world so everything is going at top speed. The entire span of the book is about 3 or 4 days and you are spun through them. I loved learning about Ragnarok, which is the Norse end of the world, and the Gods and Goddesses. I thought the explanations were good, but not overwhelming. I didn’t get a huge dump of information, just enough that I knew what was happening, but also didn’t feel the need to Google anything. I also loved how the warrior boys each had certain characters of the Gods, it was really interesting and kept the story attached to its original mythological roots.

The main problem I had with Foretold, and honestly is the only reason I didn’t rate it four stars was the insta love. Now, I do not get overall upset with insta love normally. I am not a huge fan but often I overlook it and it really doesn’t strike a nerve with me like it does with some. BUT … it was SO prominent in Foretold. It was such a HUGE part of the story and I just kept thinking, “This is ridiculous”. Like I said above, the entire story takes place over about 3 or 4 days and by the end of the book Raven and Vanir are completely in love with each other. I knew they were going to be, so I expected a bit of romance, but it was borderline ridiculous because within 12 hours they were completely addicted to each other. Even Vanir’s brothers commented on it! Although, I suppose if it’s opening wrote about being sudden that it was supposed to be like that, but I just couldn’t get invested in the love aspect of the story. I will probably enjoy it more in the second book though because I know what to expect going in.

The battles and the end of the word shenanigans were probably one of my favorite aspects of the novel. There were so many things being thrown at you, and so much craziness: Loki, Giants, Ice Arrows .. it was awesome and there were times I was on the edge of my seat because I had no idea what was going to happen from one scene to the next!

All in all, Foretold was a really good start to a series that I will definitely be continuing. Now that I know what to expect with the characters and romance, I’m sure I will enjoy the second book a lot more. If you need a book that is fast paced and essentially plot driven, you really should give this a try. The mythological aspect was fantastic and I can’t wait to read Carol’s story!

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lockwood triplets have had a prophecy drummed into their heads since birth. Still, Raven, the eldest of the sisters, can't believe it's really happening. She's the reincarnation of a Norse goddess? One of the sisters is destined to die? When it starts snowing in summer in Florida, the sisters fear the worst has come to pass. Ragnarok, the Norse end of the world, has begun. Raven finds herself the secret protector of Vanir, a boy with two wolves, a knowledge of Norse magic and a sense of destiny he can't quite explain. He's intense, sexy and equally determined to save her when it becomes clear someone is endangering them. Raven doesn't know if getting closer to him will make a difference in the coming battle, but her heart isn't giving her a choice. Ahead of the sisters is the possibility of death at the hand of a warrior, death by snow, death by water or death by fire. Or even from something else…

Foretold is the start of what looks to be a fast-paced trilogy, filled with Norse mythology and teenage hormones, spiraling towards an explosive climax. The end of the world is coming, that much is known, but can it be stopped? Can all three sisters be saved, or must one be sacrificed?

Raven and her sisters Kat and Coral are all searching for a number of things, or people. Their mother. The possible warriors they're supposed to protect from their potentially insane mother. Raven seems to be the most practical of the three, but we only get her point of view and brief moments with her siblings. While they are all searching for something outside themselves, there's also the journey inside them that's happening. There's the norn inside of them, the ancient goddess. Is the norn something to fear or something to listen to? Will Raven accept it, or will it always be there, a sensation of power that she could lose control of?

I should've known that, from the description, there would be some insta-connection happening between Raven and Vanir. I'm not totally sold on the insta-love from her perspective, her main goal is consistent: keeping him alive and away from her mother. On the other hand, it feels like insta-love for him. He's described as touchy-feely, he keeps checking on her to make sure she's okay. His brothers provided some great comic relief at times but also a rational point of view, yelling about how it's all teen hormones and not love.

I do hope that Norse mythology will be the next mythology trend. More and more books are popping up with a heavy focus on it (books by Gratton, Livingston, and Paulson). I think Greek mythology isn't interesting anymore, the same myths are retold over and over. With Norse mythology there are different gods to explore, different mythical creatures to reveal. Mother figures and tricksters, berserkers and valkyries. I like what the author did with the mythology here, how it's woven into the present day and the lives of Raven and her sisters. How the world is really coming to an end.

I found this book exciting and fast. With the world actually ending, the stakes are the highest they could be. One wrong move and that's it. It's all over. And the Lockwood sisters are racing against the clock. Maybe it moved too fast at times, maybe Raven hit her head against something far too often to not end up with a serious concussion, maybe they rushed into making out, but I still enjoyed it. With the next two books focusing on the other sisters and their journeys, I'm curious as to how the end of the world will play out.

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 4/3/14: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2014/...

I was hesitant about this one because the cover seemed a little cheesy, but the Norse Mythology aspect won me over in the end. I love learning more about Norse lore. It's not as common in novels and I have always found it fascinating. I loved the Stork series by Wendy Delsol, Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson, and The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton. I was interested to see how Rinda Elliott would put her own spin on the lore.

Foretold largely focuses on the story of Raven and Vanir. Raven is the oldest in a group of triplets. She and her sisters shelter spirits of the Norn, reincarnated souls of powerful Norse Goddesses. An ancient prophecy foretells that one of the girls will be killed by her nineteen birthday at the hands of one of the warriors. Raven's mother has been researching and preparing to stop this event from occurring, but when she goes missing, the girls realize she's found the warriors and is targeting each one. Each of the girls goes off to search for a warrior in order to offer him protection and assistance. The girls want to live, but not at the expense of having innocent blood on their mother's hands and their consciences.

Raven ends up in Oklahoma where she meets Vanir, a gorgeous guy who has healing powers in his hands and is followed by two overly protective wolves. Raven knows Vanir is the warrior she has been seeking. A tale full of magic, romance, and adventure begins the moment these two meet.

I loved the Norse aspects of this one and found I was introduced to things I didn't know. This novel revolves heavily around Ragnarok aka "The End of the World". Snowstorms in summer, blazing fires, and massive waves are plaguing the world and it seems this is only the beginning. Things are going to get a lot worse and soon if Raven and her sisters cannot stop it. I think its pretty awesome that the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of three talented sisters. I love when strong females get to save the day.

My biggest complaint with this one was the instalove. I understood that there were supernatural forces at work and Vanir is attractive on many levels, but it just seemed too sudden. I will say Raven and Vanir have to face some rough moments together so I could see how it would draw them closer. I just wanted more build up.

All in all, I loved this one and had a blast reading it. There were moments that made me laugh, cringe, swoon, and cheer. I'm so excited to read the next story which will tell Coral's story. I hope that even though they won't be the main focus that Raven and Vanir will also make appearances.

One Last Gripe: I felt the characters made some stupid decisions at times. If a crazy woman was hell bent on my destruction I certainly wouldn't leave the security of my home and the protection of my family to go visit a rune-stone in the middle of nowhere.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The Norse Mythology

First Sentence: Three days after the end of the world began I had two choices - drive into a river or hit a deer.

Favorite Character: Vanir

Least Favorite Character: Loki

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. I’ll admit I had fairly low expectations after just finishing another book by this same publisher that I did not like at all, but more on that another day.

The beginning of the book was a bit difficult to follow, because it starts almost immediately with a long flashback that introduces lots of new characters, sets up the action, and gets you familiar with the prophesies and mythology rapidly. It was not easy to sort it all out and I felt myself getting confused about which of the triplet sisters was which, and why exactly their mother was crazy… it was just information overload. However, soon you are back in present day, focused on the story of just one of the three sisters, and things make more sense as the story progresses.

I loved the use of Norse mythology in this book, even though the author took a rather creative take on it, because it is an often forgotten bit of mythology that is just so cool. I also appreciated that while there was an instant connection between the two main characters because they both house ancient Norse gods, it is not really insta-love and they are hesitant to trust each other completely despite their attraction. It’s more believable that way. A major pet peeve of mine is when disaster strikes because the main character tries to take care of everything themselves and doesn’t share the truth with her friends or love interest. This doesn’t happen here, because although the main character is reluctant to open up to her new friends, once she realizes she can trust them she spills the beans and gets the help she needs. Finally, and possibly the best part of this book, is that you get a complete story even though it’s the opener of a series. It’s told from the perspective of one sister with glimpses at what is going on for the other two, but you get some conclusion to her story arc which is satisfying as a reader.

My one gripe about this book, other than the rushed beginning, was that I wish there was more interaction between the sisters before they split up on their rescue missions. They are supposed to be extremely close, but since I’d only ever seen them together in one short flashback, it’s not realistic. We get some short phone conversations in which the main character tells us that her sisters are acting oddly, but I’d rather have that be apparent because I know those characters, not because the narrator told me so. Since I didn’t have that connection to the other sisters as a reader, I didn’t share the main character’s concern for their safety because I essentially didn’t know them. Ultimately, it’s a small complaint that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this first book, but since the main prophecy of this series is that one of the sisters dies, it did seem like a missed opportunity to connect me as a reader to the other sisters whose stories are told in later books.

Review originally posted at No Money 4 Books.

[Pili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Foretold when I read the review for it on Supernatural Snark, Jenny's blog! I love Jenny's reviews cause they're fantastic and her taste is quite similar to mine, so when I saw that she had loved this one... I knew I had to read it!

Foretold starts with Raven Lockwood, the eldest of the Lockwood triplets, trying to find and save the life of a warrior that might have been prophecised to kill her. Because of that prophecy, the triplet's mother has left to find the warriors (one for each sister) and kill them before they have a chance to kill the girls. The triplets have the souls of the Norns inside them (some sort of reincarnation) and the amount of Norse mythology that permeates the pages of this book is amazing!

We follow Raven while she tries to find her warrior and to save his life in the middle of the beginning of a freak summer snow storm, that could be the beginning of Ragnarok. As it happens, the warrior finds and rescues her, and they find themselves fighting an unknown enemy, even if Raven suspects her mother.

The book keeps you turning page after page, building the suspense and keeping it full of action, with a few moments when we get some necessary information and world building, that luckily never feels like info dumping. I loved reading all the Norse mythology references and I loved how the connection between Raven and Vanir developed.

It might have seemed a bit like insta love in any other case, but aside from the hormones insta attraction, there's more to Vanir and Raven than just themselves, since they have parts of old Norse gods inside them, that have a connection between them. I really loved reading about Raven and Vanir together, even when it seemed that the little bits of intimacy that they kept on stealing might have not been at the best of times.

I also loved how important family was in this book. Even if we're following Raven, she never forgets about her sisters, Coral and Kat, and through the little snippets of information we gather every time they get in touch, I cannot wait to read the other sisters' books and see what's up with them! Vanir's family is also very important and very present, and a central part of the climax battle. And even more key to everything is Dru, the triplet's mother.

If you love a good bit of romance with a few swoons, Norse mythology and loads of action, this books is perfect for you! Very well deserved for stars for this one and I already have book 2 and 3 preordered!

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Fighting to keep Ragnarok from happening.

Opening Sentence: It was written that the kynkvisl, Norse descendants, will one day house the souls of the gods.

The Review:

Raven is on a mission to find her mother when winter hits in Oklahoma during the middle of summer. She knows this is the first sign of Ragnarok. When her car is run off the road and into a river, she knows that this is all tied together somehow. She thinks that she smells lavender, a sign of her mother’s magic, and she begins to suspect that her mother might be up to no good when young men are disappearing.

Soon Raven realizes that Vanir is who her mother is looking for, but she knows that she must keep him alive no matter what the prophecy states. When they fight a frost giant Raven knows that Ragnarok isn’t happening like the stories tell, it is going much faster than anyone expected. She must figure out how to stop her mother before it is too late.

Will Vanir help her, or will she be the one who dies? Will she be able to figure out what her mother is doing before it is too late? Will Vanir realize what he is carrying inside him in time?

I liked this story, it was a quick read and interesting. Not too many Ragnarok prophecies being fulfilled, and the trances and reading of runes was really interesting. The fact that they still spoke Old Norse really was something I loved. I wasn’t quite blown away by the story. I kind of didn’t understand some things, but overall, I enjoyed this and I am looking forward to seeing what the next book brings.

Notable Scene:

It was why Mom homeschooled us after that. If one of us went into the run tempus and moved before we came out, others would only see me or one of my sisters blink from one spot to another. The world stopped only for the sister who went into it. Mom had never hidden the fact that we carried norn souls from us, but even she hadn’t known about this weird time-stopping thing that forced us to write prophetic runes. Kat’s showed the future, Coral’s the present and mine, which came form the oldest of the norn sisters, showed the past.

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

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review may contain spoilers).

So, yes, after watching Thor, I became much more interested in Norse mythology. (I don't remember when I originally became interested. The 'blame' for Greek mythology could probably be laid at my mum's feet). So when I received an invite for the blog tour for book three of this trilogy, I immediately signed up... then promptly bought book one from Amazon, so I knew what was going on.

Young adult paranormal romances can be really hit and miss for me. Luckily, this book fell firmly in the former category. I found myself very intrigued by the idea of the souls being inside the characters. It seemed a similar concept to reincarnation, but different enough to be a fairly unique twist.

It was also nice to see the plots overlap with her sisters. I assume that, when I read the next two books in this trilogy, I'll see what happened from their point of view.

I did like a lot of the characters in this book. It was nice to see Raven interact with her sisters and I could also understand her loyalty to her mother, no matter how difficult things were with Dru.

I would have liked to know a bit more detail about how the Norse gods and goddesses had ended up inside human souls. It was good that the symbols Raven drew were shown in the book. I felt that added a kind of authenticity to the book.

I did like the hints of Raven's relationship with Vanir. It seemed quite believable and it was nice to see the relationship take the time to grow and form. I was left a bit confused by exactly who knew what, though... and also why Vanir's brothers assumed something bad just because of Raven's name.

There were some nicely humorous moments in this and plenty of moments of action. The danger the characters were in felt real and I was rooting for them. I did have more questions than answers by the end of the book, but they merely make me want to read more to find out what's going to happen in the next two books.

The book itself was well-written and drew me in with an easy, entertaining read. I will definitely be reading books two and three soon.

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange on an honest review.

Foretold is the first book in the Sisters of Fate trilogy that follows the Lockwood triplets during Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse. They are the Norse goddess reincarnated with a doomed fate. One sister must die. This story follows the eldest sister of the three Raven.

Raven was a strong minded and determined young lady. She accepts who she is and deals with it the way she should, but she doesn't let her Norn control her.

Vanir, Raven's protector, was sweet, mysterious and strong. His wolves are freaking awesome! I think Vanir was an awesome guy for Raven as a protector and a boyfriend.

The romance was pretty awesome. They were both like minded which made them a great team together. The "intimacy" between them was a bit a strong which I totally enjoyed. Even though it was insta-love, it was written well enough that it didn't bother me like most insta-love relationships because it built it to something amazing.

The other two sisters, Coral and Kat, are interesting just like Raven and I'm excited to see what happens for each of them.

Overall this was a pretty good read for me. My second book involving Norse mythology and kept me hooked. Not to mention it was fast paced which I always love.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this series browsing my library's electronic offerings. Each book is short and tells the same story from different angles, and I will copy the review into each book.

This series is very light reading with a romance level similar to Twilight. The characters are pretty basic and are not what drew me in.

I read this series and gave it three stars because I loved, loved, loved the Norse mythology! I want to go read my Norse mythology books and learn more about the interaction of the characters and where their destinies are supposed to fit. The danger was real. I really worried about the world ending in the brief days described in the plot. The author was a good enough writer that these books were hard to read on cold days because I swear her Ragnarok winter made me colder. I can totally recommend this series for super light reading on a hot summer day.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I disliked how the author used "Norse" as a catchall term to describe people of Scandinavian descent--and the term was overused to the point where seeing it in a sentence made me roll my eyes. The characters were all right, too, although I felt like the plot twist was a bit obvious and lots of the action was really contrived.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting to say the least. I enjoyed it and it was definitely different. I do like mythology and this book is about Norse people/Gods. It follows these sisters who have to realize who they are and fight the good fight for what is right. I definitely think there will be more books to come. I enjoyed the sisters relationship, it reminded me of me and my sisters lol!