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Rise
The action and adventure of Percy Jackson meets the complex heroines of The Cruel Prince as a family of valkyries fight to stop Ragnarök.
For seventeen-year-old Bryn, being the youngest, messiest, most rebellious sister in a family of valkyries isn’t easy. Especially considering home is a Renaissance faire in Chicago full of costumed workers who see her as nothing more than a nuisance. When her mother disappears on a mission for Odin, Bryn begins having strange visions about the impending Ragnarök. Bryn senses their mother is in great danger, but her annoyingly perfect older sisters refuse to take her seriously. Their mother is, after all, captain of the valkyries.
Things only take a turn for the worse when a half human, half giant named Juniper crashes the party with a violent zombie in tow, confirming Bryn’s worst fears—her visions of Ragnarök are real. If that wasn’t enough, the faire’s mysterious new addition, Wyatt the Black Knight, just so happens to have a ferocious secret that threatens everyone around him. Determined to survive Ragnarök, Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt team up to combat the horde of monsters that keeps appearing throughout the faire. But after Bryn ignores the call to deliver Wyatt to Odin’s eternal warriors in Valhalla, choosing to save his life instead, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever get this valkyrie thing right.
Whispers of divine interference—including sightings of the mischievous Loki—reach Bryn’s ears. Soon everyone at the faire becomes a suspect, leaving Bryn, her sisters, and their newfound friends the only ones who can stop the war to end all realms. Whether she’s ready or not, Bryn is about to learn how the ties between fate and choice are as interwoven and unbreakable as the bonds between sisters.
For seventeen-year-old Bryn, being the youngest, messiest, most rebellious sister in a family of valkyries isn’t easy. Especially considering home is a Renaissance faire in Chicago full of costumed workers who see her as nothing more than a nuisance. When her mother disappears on a mission for Odin, Bryn begins having strange visions about the impending Ragnarök. Bryn senses their mother is in great danger, but her annoyingly perfect older sisters refuse to take her seriously. Their mother is, after all, captain of the valkyries.
Things only take a turn for the worse when a half human, half giant named Juniper crashes the party with a violent zombie in tow, confirming Bryn’s worst fears—her visions of Ragnarök are real. If that wasn’t enough, the faire’s mysterious new addition, Wyatt the Black Knight, just so happens to have a ferocious secret that threatens everyone around him. Determined to survive Ragnarök, Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt team up to combat the horde of monsters that keeps appearing throughout the faire. But after Bryn ignores the call to deliver Wyatt to Odin’s eternal warriors in Valhalla, choosing to save his life instead, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever get this valkyrie thing right.
Whispers of divine interference—including sightings of the mischievous Loki—reach Bryn’s ears. Soon everyone at the faire becomes a suspect, leaving Bryn, her sisters, and their newfound friends the only ones who can stop the war to end all realms. Whether she’s ready or not, Bryn is about to learn how the ties between fate and choice are as interwoven and unbreakable as the bonds between sisters.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2024
16 people are currently reading
910 people want to read
About the author
Freya Finch
1 book26 followersFreya Finch writes about myths, magic, and mischief makers. Born and raised in Michigan, she earned her MA in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University in Chicago. Now she lives in the mountains of Poland where you can find her hiking with her German shepherd dog or lounging at home with her husband watching their favorite movies. Rise is her first novel. Find her on Instagram @freyafinchauthor
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January 2, 2024Well met! Rise is making its way out to ARC readers, and while I believe that reviewing spaces aren't for authors, I wanted to provide a list of potential triggers and content warnings. The following list will also be available on my website.
Content Warning List:
- alcohol use
- blood
- death/dying
- drugging
- mention of kidnapping by a parent
- near-drowning
- scars
- violence (fantasy)
- warfare (fantasy)
- weapons (bows and arrows, knives, spears, swords)
Content Warning List:
- alcohol use
- blood
- death/dying
- drugging
- mention of kidnapping by a parent
- near-drowning
- scars
- violence (fantasy)
- warfare (fantasy)
- weapons (bows and arrows, knives, spears, swords)
Happy reading! Fare thee well!
August 2, 2024
I really struggled with this book. It’s an urban fantasy, where I was expecting high fantasy, which is the first point that I struggled with.
The characters were interesting at the beginning but became boring and flat after a little while. Bryn in particular was quite cool, and then Wyatt showed up and she became insufferable.
I love Norse mythology, I love anything Viking or shield maiden related. I’m also a big YA reader, despite not being that age. None of these things affected my review, and if anything should’ve worked in favour for this book. I couldn’t bring myself to finish it as it felt too tedious and boring.
Thank you Disney Hyperion for the review copy.
The characters were interesting at the beginning but became boring and flat after a little while. Bryn in particular was quite cool, and then Wyatt showed up and she became insufferable.
I love Norse mythology, I love anything Viking or shield maiden related. I’m also a big YA reader, despite not being that age. None of these things affected my review, and if anything should’ve worked in favour for this book. I couldn’t bring myself to finish it as it felt too tedious and boring.
Thank you Disney Hyperion for the review copy.
March 27, 2024
Cover is a 5 out of five. Period.
A book about Valkeries hiding on Earth. One of them is trans but was accepted by Odin as a woman because, she is. Amazing. 11 out 5 stars. Their mom goes missing and there is a secret half sister who is an elf. Sweet. Juniper is great. 8 stars. Then…a boy shows up and is a bezerker who turns into a bear. Ok. Hmmmm. Then Bryn falls in love with him instantly, breaks her training, dreams of kissing him and fails the Bechdal test for the rest of the book. Didn’t want or need Wyatt in that way.
A book about Valkeries hiding on Earth. One of them is trans but was accepted by Odin as a woman because, she is. Amazing. 11 out 5 stars. Their mom goes missing and there is a secret half sister who is an elf. Sweet. Juniper is great. 8 stars. Then…a boy shows up and is a bezerker who turns into a bear. Ok. Hmmmm. Then Bryn falls in love with him instantly, breaks her training, dreams of kissing him and fails the Bechdal test for the rest of the book. Didn’t want or need Wyatt in that way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
A stunning, incredible Norse mythology YA with Valkyries in the human world trying to stop Ragnarök.
Rise follows 17yo, Bryn, the youngest and most rebellious sister in her family of Valkyries. She lives in a Renaissance faire town in Chicago. After her mother disappears when on a mission from Odin, Bryn starts having visions about Ragnarök. Her and her sisters grow more and more worried their mother is in danger when she doesn’t come home. They need her now more than ever—the captain of the Valkyries. Their world becomes even more worrisome when a half-human, half-giant named Juniper with a zombie in tow. To make matters worse, Wyatt, the faire’s newest hire has a dangerous secret that threatens everyone. Bryn is determined to stop Ragnarök and find her mother, and with the help of Juniper and Wyatt, they might just be able to protect the faire from monsters and save Midgard.
This is an absolutely amazing, incredible book! I am entirely obsessed and cannot wait to read more from Freya Finch. I loved the Norse mythology and was captivated with the story. The plot is so interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I adored the setting! The Renaissance faire was so cool and made for such a unique story, and the perfect hiding place for Valkyries. It was all very atmospheric and so vivid to picture with the lovely writing.
I adored the beautiful themes of sisterhood and the unbreakable bond between sisters. Bryn is such a lovely main character. She’s so strong and sure of herself. She goes after what she believes in even when her sisters try to reign her in, and I really admired that. She’s such a strong main character! I loved Juniper!! She was so cute and funny trying to learn about human customs. And her magic was so cool. Reagan and Prima were such good older sisters. I really enjoyed their dynamic and felt so much for the two as Bryn is the baby and causes so much trouble—for good reason. They were all just so lovely to read about. Wyatt has my heart! He was so sweet, and smart, and has such an interesting background. I lovedddd the romance between Wyatt and Bryn!
Overall, this is such an incredible YA fantasy set in our world intricately woven with Norse mythology, impeccable characters and relationships, and gorgeous writing!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rise follows 17yo, Bryn, the youngest and most rebellious sister in her family of Valkyries. She lives in a Renaissance faire town in Chicago. After her mother disappears when on a mission from Odin, Bryn starts having visions about Ragnarök. Her and her sisters grow more and more worried their mother is in danger when she doesn’t come home. They need her now more than ever—the captain of the Valkyries. Their world becomes even more worrisome when a half-human, half-giant named Juniper with a zombie in tow. To make matters worse, Wyatt, the faire’s newest hire has a dangerous secret that threatens everyone. Bryn is determined to stop Ragnarök and find her mother, and with the help of Juniper and Wyatt, they might just be able to protect the faire from monsters and save Midgard.
This is an absolutely amazing, incredible book! I am entirely obsessed and cannot wait to read more from Freya Finch. I loved the Norse mythology and was captivated with the story. The plot is so interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I adored the setting! The Renaissance faire was so cool and made for such a unique story, and the perfect hiding place for Valkyries. It was all very atmospheric and so vivid to picture with the lovely writing.
I adored the beautiful themes of sisterhood and the unbreakable bond between sisters. Bryn is such a lovely main character. She’s so strong and sure of herself. She goes after what she believes in even when her sisters try to reign her in, and I really admired that. She’s such a strong main character! I loved Juniper!! She was so cute and funny trying to learn about human customs. And her magic was so cool. Reagan and Prima were such good older sisters. I really enjoyed their dynamic and felt so much for the two as Bryn is the baby and causes so much trouble—for good reason. They were all just so lovely to read about. Wyatt has my heart! He was so sweet, and smart, and has such an interesting background. I lovedddd the romance between Wyatt and Bryn!
Overall, this is such an incredible YA fantasy set in our world intricately woven with Norse mythology, impeccable characters and relationships, and gorgeous writing!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2024
It is said that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. In this case, we most definitely should. Let me explain why.
If you’re a mythology nerd like me, especially into Norse mythology, Freya Finch’s debut is going to be a blast to read. Rise is imaginative, funny, action-packed, engaging, and surprisingly wholesome at times. Bryn’s voice alone makes the plot so engaging that I found myself grinning in anticipation of her response to the situations she finds herself in. She’s the type of friend I had back in school who, if they called in sick, I knew the day would pass by a lot slower. She is funny, fierce, rebellious, loyal, messy, and just like anyone her age, wants to prove herself and find her place in the world... or Realms, in her case. But it’s not just Bryn. This novel is filled with an incredible cast of characters. So much so, in fact, that there isn’t a single character who failed to leave an impression on me. From Prima and Reagan to Juniper, Wyatt, and James, and many other characters that I can’t mention to avoid spoilers. My point being, I find it difficult to remember names in real life, let alone fictional characters, so the fact that I can remember the names of each single character in Rise says a lot about how real and impactful they all felt.
There was also the mystery aspect of the story. Kara, Bryn’s mother and the captain of the Valkyries, is missing, and Ragnarök is approaching. To make things worse, a half-giant, and a mysterious boy, are added to the mix, and Loki is apparently up to his usual mischief again. Joining in on the detective work to try and figure out how all of these components fit together was surprisingly one of the most fun aspects in a novel that features Valkyries and Ragnarök.
One of the aspects of Rise that I enjoyed the most was how imaginative Finch’s use of Norse mythology was. The Norse tales have been told and retold so many times in the past decade specifically, that I honestly wasn’t sure how Rise would be able to stand out. But it was such a pleasant surprise when it did, for the reasons I mentioned so far, from the characters to the mystery, but also the very imaginative utilization of the different aspects of Norse mythology. Each time Finch introduces a name or a word I think I’m familiar with, and therefore expect that I can foresee what is going to happen, I can’t do anything but watch how Finch takes something I thought I knew and transforms it into something that is unique to her story.
Overall, Rise is an incredibly fun debut by Freya Finch, and if you’re a mythology nerd and a Rick Riordan fan (both usually go hand in hand), you will absolutely fall in love with this story.
If you’re a mythology nerd like me, especially into Norse mythology, Freya Finch’s debut is going to be a blast to read. Rise is imaginative, funny, action-packed, engaging, and surprisingly wholesome at times. Bryn’s voice alone makes the plot so engaging that I found myself grinning in anticipation of her response to the situations she finds herself in. She’s the type of friend I had back in school who, if they called in sick, I knew the day would pass by a lot slower. She is funny, fierce, rebellious, loyal, messy, and just like anyone her age, wants to prove herself and find her place in the world... or Realms, in her case. But it’s not just Bryn. This novel is filled with an incredible cast of characters. So much so, in fact, that there isn’t a single character who failed to leave an impression on me. From Prima and Reagan to Juniper, Wyatt, and James, and many other characters that I can’t mention to avoid spoilers. My point being, I find it difficult to remember names in real life, let alone fictional characters, so the fact that I can remember the names of each single character in Rise says a lot about how real and impactful they all felt.
There was also the mystery aspect of the story. Kara, Bryn’s mother and the captain of the Valkyries, is missing, and Ragnarök is approaching. To make things worse, a half-giant, and a mysterious boy, are added to the mix, and Loki is apparently up to his usual mischief again. Joining in on the detective work to try and figure out how all of these components fit together was surprisingly one of the most fun aspects in a novel that features Valkyries and Ragnarök.
One of the aspects of Rise that I enjoyed the most was how imaginative Finch’s use of Norse mythology was. The Norse tales have been told and retold so many times in the past decade specifically, that I honestly wasn’t sure how Rise would be able to stand out. But it was such a pleasant surprise when it did, for the reasons I mentioned so far, from the characters to the mystery, but also the very imaginative utilization of the different aspects of Norse mythology. Each time Finch introduces a name or a word I think I’m familiar with, and therefore expect that I can foresee what is going to happen, I can’t do anything but watch how Finch takes something I thought I knew and transforms it into something that is unique to her story.
Overall, Rise is an incredibly fun debut by Freya Finch, and if you’re a mythology nerd and a Rick Riordan fan (both usually go hand in hand), you will absolutely fall in love with this story.
August 5, 2024
Reminds me a bit of the Twilight series but with Norse mythology substituted for the vampire trope. Percy Jackson vibes, too.
October 7, 2024
3.5/3.75 rounded up
October 5, 2024
Rise by Freya Finch delivers all the fierce, fast-paced, and mythological action you could want! With strong Magnus Chase meets Thor: Ragnarok vibes, this book had me hooked from the very first page. The sisterhood of the Valkyries is at the heart of this story, and I absolutely loved every second of it. Each sister is beautifully unique, powerful, and memorable in her own way, and the bond they share is simply unbeatable.
The main character is both hilarious and fierce, a true standout among her Valkyrie sisters. Her wit and strength made her an absolute joy to follow, and I couldn't get enough of her voice or her dynamic relationships with the others. What makes Rise truly special is how well it blends the epic scale of Norse mythology with the warmth and camaraderie of sisterhood. The Valkyries aren’t just warriors—they’re family. And while their battles are spectacular, it's the moments of connection and loyalty that really stand out. This book perfectly captures the powerful combination of heart and humor.
If you're into sharp, funny heroines, epic adventures, and a cast of characters that feel like a real family, Rise is definitely a must-read! Can't wait for more of these Valkyrie sisters in future installments.
The main character is both hilarious and fierce, a true standout among her Valkyrie sisters. Her wit and strength made her an absolute joy to follow, and I couldn't get enough of her voice or her dynamic relationships with the others. What makes Rise truly special is how well it blends the epic scale of Norse mythology with the warmth and camaraderie of sisterhood. The Valkyries aren’t just warriors—they’re family. And while their battles are spectacular, it's the moments of connection and loyalty that really stand out. This book perfectly captures the powerful combination of heart and humor.
If you're into sharp, funny heroines, epic adventures, and a cast of characters that feel like a real family, Rise is definitely a must-read! Can't wait for more of these Valkyrie sisters in future installments.
July 15, 2024
My greatest wish after reading this book is to strap on some armor and elf ears and run around a renaissance festival. I live so far away from renaissance festivals now but this made me feel like I was back in the Midwest and going to the renfest every possible weekend like I used to. But apart from the overwhelming nostalgia I felt reading this book it had everything you could want in a summer adventure! With the main character Bryn you can: nerd out to the Norse mythology, solve the mystery of Bryn’s mother's disappearance, crush on the new cute self conscious boy that's just arrived at the faire, explore new realms, battle some monsters, and relax by the lake (between bouts of absolute chaos running amok at the faire).
But seriously, I had so much fun reading this. It had so many moments that I couldn't stop chuckling and it really felt like a mash up of a bunch of my favorite parts of late 90’s early 00’s adventure/action/comedy films.
But seriously, I had so much fun reading this. It had so many moments that I couldn't stop chuckling and it really felt like a mash up of a bunch of my favorite parts of late 90’s early 00’s adventure/action/comedy films.
July 21, 2024
An excellent fantasy adventure. The author has done a great job of weaving in various aspects of Norse mythology into the story, giving young readers a number of jumping off points to deepen their interest in the myths that inspired the novel. I expected to see mentions of Loki and Odin, even Fenrir, but the references kept coming with Angrboda, Utgard, the einherjar, and many more.
The novel keeps itself firmly rooted in both the very grounded setting of a Chicago renaissance faire, and the mystical realms of Norse mythology, without either ever feeling out of place.
The characters were also wonderful, I'd honestly love to see spinoff stories that make Kara or Wyatt the protagonist.
Like any work of art, the novel has flaws, but I don't think any of the flaws overshadow the aspects of the novel that made it a great read.
This novel gives me a lot of hope for a new generation of young adult readers spending their evenings reading about ancient myths and playing dungeons and dragons, like I did growing up.
Thank you so much to Ms. Finch for this novel, I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next.
The novel keeps itself firmly rooted in both the very grounded setting of a Chicago renaissance faire, and the mystical realms of Norse mythology, without either ever feeling out of place.
The characters were also wonderful, I'd honestly love to see spinoff stories that make Kara or Wyatt the protagonist.
Like any work of art, the novel has flaws, but I don't think any of the flaws overshadow the aspects of the novel that made it a great read.
This novel gives me a lot of hope for a new generation of young adult readers spending their evenings reading about ancient myths and playing dungeons and dragons, like I did growing up.
Thank you so much to Ms. Finch for this novel, I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next.
May 4, 2024
This was SUCH a fun read. Fast paced, action packed and bursting with snark, this book swept me up and wouldn't let go.
Juniper was my favourite character and I wish to bundle her up and take me home with me, but the entire cast is full of fantastic characters who are easy to root for, including our protagonist Bryn who although humourous and daring also struggles with her feelings of inadequacy in a very relatable way. I also adored Reagan and sweet shy Wyatt was impossible not to love.
You can see the passion Finch has for Norse Mythology in every page of this book, it's a treasure trove of references and as someone who loves Norse Myths also, this was such a fun fresh take.
Juniper was my favourite character and I wish to bundle her up and take me home with me, but the entire cast is full of fantastic characters who are easy to root for, including our protagonist Bryn who although humourous and daring also struggles with her feelings of inadequacy in a very relatable way. I also adored Reagan and sweet shy Wyatt was impossible not to love.
You can see the passion Finch has for Norse Mythology in every page of this book, it's a treasure trove of references and as someone who loves Norse Myths also, this was such a fun fresh take.
June 25, 2024
Rise was everything I needed in a Norse Mythology YA Contemporary Fantasy set in a Midwest Renaissance Faire!! Freya Finch knocked this out of the park. The plot was fast-paced, action packed and witty! I loved the way the Norse mythology was so easily woven into a current timeline! The characters were fleshed out and so easy to root for, with wonderful & believable relationship building! The romance was a perfect little side plot and didn’t get in the way of the story. This is one of my new favorite YA reads!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Melissa de la Cruz Studio for and eARC in exchange for and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Melissa de la Cruz Studio for and eARC in exchange for and honest review.
March 24, 2024
This book was so fantastic! Fast-paced, voicey, and inspired by Norse mythology, RISE has a wonderfully fleshed out cast of characters. Bryn, the protagonist is relatably messy and the complex sisterly dynamic between Prima, Regan and Bryn is extremely well depicted. Wyatt is a sweet cinnamon roll of a love interest and of course who can forget Juniper? I will protect Juniper with my whole heart as she's just the greatest. Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy!
February 2, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Buddy read with my nephew. Some YA books read as very YA while some don’t. This one very much feels YA and my 12 year old nephew loved it. Rise has many great themes but was rather slow to me.
Norse mythology and Viking inspired, featuring Ragnarok, Odin and Loki. This book has strong female protagonists, including Reagan, a Valkyrie, who lets her parents know she’s a trans girl at age 5. Highly recommend it for YA readers.
Buddy read with my nephew. Some YA books read as very YA while some don’t. This one very much feels YA and my 12 year old nephew loved it. Rise has many great themes but was rather slow to me.
Norse mythology and Viking inspired, featuring Ragnarok, Odin and Loki. This book has strong female protagonists, including Reagan, a Valkyrie, who lets her parents know she’s a trans girl at age 5. Highly recommend it for YA readers.
April 25, 2024
Wow, just wow. I was immediately drawn to Bryn and her relationship with her sisters. I could relate to her character and I could not put this book down. It's full of adventure, plot twists and more. I haven't read YA in awhile and I remembered why I loved reading these kinds of books. Highly recommend.
September 12, 2024
The YA valkyrie book you need to read! And I don’t care for much YA, but following Bryn Martel and her sisters as they face Ragnarök was everything I needed in an easy fantasy read. Also, did I mention valkyries?
September 17, 2024
Fun, action-packed, engaging characters, and the Norse mythology concept will draw in many readers. I can see this being successful in Battle of the Books. It isn’t the most amazing fantasy ever, but it has wider appeal than some and is accessible for all grade levels. Wrapped up a little too nicely for me, but I was engaged throughout.
April 14, 2025
This is a case of a really cool concept, interesting characters, great voice and solid worldbuilding getting overshadowed by a lackluster plot and a forced romance.
July 22, 2025
This wasn’t great. It started off strong, I liked the summary and the cover, and the first couple chapters set a good foundation for the story. It had percy jackson vibes a little, which I liked, but it was still its own thing.
I’ll break this off into three sections: plot, characters, and world building. Spoilers ahead.
Plot-
I think where it started to go wrong was after Bryn saved Wyatt’s life. I was expecting them to go on some adventure or something but they just stayed in Ravenwood. The whole time. Except for the very end where Brynn’s in Valhalla for like two seconds.
To be honest, I think it would have been more interesting if Bryn took Wyatt to Valhalla like she was supposed to and went from there. One of the main things that drew me to this book was the whole valkyrie premise and I wish it was a bigger element in the story. About a quarter into the book it started to feel very stagnant. I think another thing that added to the slow pace was the fact that the characters would go and fight in a battle and then just… go home? Take a shower, eat some dinner. Pet the cat. Go on a walk. Like, if they all think Ragnarok is happening, they should be a little more urgent.
The action scenes were very repetitive. Monsters come, they fight, someone gets hurt, drinks magical mead, gets healed, repeat.
In terms of plot twists, they were definitely twists. But the kind that you can’t even remotely see coming, because there was no leading up to them. It was just a total 180.
Characters-
Similar with the plot, the characters started off strong and then fell off pretty quickly.
Bryn had a big introduction, being escorted by police back to her house after she “stole a cop car”. The book emphasizes how rebellious she is. Bryn is the least rebellious FMC I’ve ever seen 😭 Her older sister (Prima) grounds her after the police car incident and BRYN LISTENS 😭😭 I was so surprised when Bryn didn’t use the seidr right away just because PRIMA TOLD HER NOT TO 😭
GIRL. use the seidr and find your mom!! Prima’s not the boss of you! Even if she was, I thought u were supposed to be rebellious 🤨
I suppose saving Brynn saving Wyatt was against the status quo, but I’m not counting that because it slowed the story down.
Prima and Regean (Bryn’s older sisters) … I just can’t understand their logic. Their mom has been missing for a while at this point, and Bryn is concerned that she’s missing or in danger. Their mom… is a valkyrie… literally goes on dangerous missions all the time… and Bryn’s sisters DON’T BELIEVE HER?? Like I get Bryn’s the younger annoying sibling but like… Did they stop and think at all like “Hmm ya maybe mom HAS been gone for a while and maybe we SHOULD look into that since we’re VALKYRIES and danger is a part of the JOB”
And they do end up looking for the missing mom after a while, but it’s too late. I already lost trust in their judgement. Which might be okay except for the fact that we (as the reader) are told that the older sisters are perfect and good at everything. So it gets a little contradictory.
Wyatt and Juniper- They were okay. Bryn, Wyatt, and Juniper all had good chemistry with each other and I thought there was definitely potential for them as a team. But this did not come to fruition unfortunately, because as I’ve stated before, the plot became stagnant pretty quickly.
Thrud- The villain of the story. I didn’t buy her motivation. Moving on,
Word building-
This is mostly about the logic in this world. One thing I was confused about was the Draug (zombie ppl). At the very beginning of the book, Juniper is being chased by a hoard of draug and she grows roots/plants with her powers to make a wall to protect herself. The draug phases through it. From then on, I was like okay, so the draug can phase through stuff. But then towards the end, the characters are trapped in a store with draug outside banging on the doors. The door and the walls are made of wood. The draug don’t come in. Then Bryn is like “… omg… 😦 they can’t phase through wood or stone! they can only phase through dirt!“
so like, how did that draug at the beginning phase through Juniper’s root wall. Bc roots are made of wood??
Also, for a book influenced by norse mythology, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interactions with gods or ppl not from earth. There’s like three norse characters throughout the whole book that the FMC interacts with. There’s a lot of TALKING about people, like Odin. Well, where is he? Like not even an appearance? 🙂↔️
And lastly, the convenience factor. The stakes just weren’t high enough for me. Any problem the characters ran into along the way was resolved in a matter of pages, because someone had a secret special power, or they found a special book that had a spell that could fix everything. Any time someone got hurt, they were healed right after. That kind of thing.
I’ll break this off into three sections: plot, characters, and world building. Spoilers ahead.
Plot-
I think where it started to go wrong was after Bryn saved Wyatt’s life. I was expecting them to go on some adventure or something but they just stayed in Ravenwood. The whole time. Except for the very end where Brynn’s in Valhalla for like two seconds.
To be honest, I think it would have been more interesting if Bryn took Wyatt to Valhalla like she was supposed to and went from there. One of the main things that drew me to this book was the whole valkyrie premise and I wish it was a bigger element in the story. About a quarter into the book it started to feel very stagnant. I think another thing that added to the slow pace was the fact that the characters would go and fight in a battle and then just… go home? Take a shower, eat some dinner. Pet the cat. Go on a walk. Like, if they all think Ragnarok is happening, they should be a little more urgent.
The action scenes were very repetitive. Monsters come, they fight, someone gets hurt, drinks magical mead, gets healed, repeat.
In terms of plot twists, they were definitely twists. But the kind that you can’t even remotely see coming, because there was no leading up to them. It was just a total 180.
Characters-
Similar with the plot, the characters started off strong and then fell off pretty quickly.
Bryn had a big introduction, being escorted by police back to her house after she “stole a cop car”. The book emphasizes how rebellious she is. Bryn is the least rebellious FMC I’ve ever seen 😭 Her older sister (Prima) grounds her after the police car incident and BRYN LISTENS 😭😭 I was so surprised when Bryn didn’t use the seidr right away just because PRIMA TOLD HER NOT TO 😭
GIRL. use the seidr and find your mom!! Prima’s not the boss of you! Even if she was, I thought u were supposed to be rebellious 🤨
I suppose saving Brynn saving Wyatt was against the status quo, but I’m not counting that because it slowed the story down.
Prima and Regean (Bryn’s older sisters) … I just can’t understand their logic. Their mom has been missing for a while at this point, and Bryn is concerned that she’s missing or in danger. Their mom… is a valkyrie… literally goes on dangerous missions all the time… and Bryn’s sisters DON’T BELIEVE HER?? Like I get Bryn’s the younger annoying sibling but like… Did they stop and think at all like “Hmm ya maybe mom HAS been gone for a while and maybe we SHOULD look into that since we’re VALKYRIES and danger is a part of the JOB”
And they do end up looking for the missing mom after a while, but it’s too late. I already lost trust in their judgement. Which might be okay except for the fact that we (as the reader) are told that the older sisters are perfect and good at everything. So it gets a little contradictory.
Wyatt and Juniper- They were okay. Bryn, Wyatt, and Juniper all had good chemistry with each other and I thought there was definitely potential for them as a team. But this did not come to fruition unfortunately, because as I’ve stated before, the plot became stagnant pretty quickly.
Thrud- The villain of the story. I didn’t buy her motivation. Moving on,
Word building-
This is mostly about the logic in this world. One thing I was confused about was the Draug (zombie ppl). At the very beginning of the book, Juniper is being chased by a hoard of draug and she grows roots/plants with her powers to make a wall to protect herself. The draug phases through it. From then on, I was like okay, so the draug can phase through stuff. But then towards the end, the characters are trapped in a store with draug outside banging on the doors. The door and the walls are made of wood. The draug don’t come in. Then Bryn is like “… omg… 😦 they can’t phase through wood or stone! they can only phase through dirt!“
so like, how did that draug at the beginning phase through Juniper’s root wall. Bc roots are made of wood??
Also, for a book influenced by norse mythology, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interactions with gods or ppl not from earth. There’s like three norse characters throughout the whole book that the FMC interacts with. There’s a lot of TALKING about people, like Odin. Well, where is he? Like not even an appearance? 🙂↔️
And lastly, the convenience factor. The stakes just weren’t high enough for me. Any problem the characters ran into along the way was resolved in a matter of pages, because someone had a secret special power, or they found a special book that had a spell that could fix everything. Any time someone got hurt, they were healed right after. That kind of thing.
November 24, 2024
I would've ate this book up if I read it as a teenager
January 2, 2024
Freya Finch knocked her debut novel out of the park. "Rise" brought my inner mythology nerd so much joy! The novel uses the hero's journey formula but with surprising plot twists. We meet our leading lady, Bryn, when she is escorted by the police to the Renaissance Faire where she lives with her mom and two older sisters. The fun trials of Bryn and her friends get started when we learn that Byrn's mother Kara is missing. Why is Kara missing a problem? Well, she is the head Valkyrie in charge of Midgard. Bryn's journey is action-packed and full of Chicago references. One of the things I enjoyed about "Rise" is Finch's flawless explanation of the Norse mythology references. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes adventure and Norse mythology. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Rise; it truly Ragnorocked.
January 3, 2024
Freya Finch’s debut novel doesn’t read like a debut. Rise is the perfect mixture between action adventure, found and real family and the struggle of growing up and finding your own place in the world. I was intrigued from the first page on and when she tossed in a slow burn romance, I was sold. Bryn is an unlikely heroine with a very strong voice and the kind of humor that I love – even when faced with being the worst Valkyrie ever. Wyatt is a refreshing take on the "mysterious stranger" and Juniper is just a delight. The relationship between Bryn, Juniper and Wyatt feels natural from the beginning till the end. I loved all their interactions. Freya Finch manages to delve deep into Norse Mythology without requiring any knowledge about Norse Mythology from her readers. It never feels like reading a dry mythology text either. I can only echo the comparison to Percy Jackson!
Rise is definitely the book I will recommend to anybody (and reread) once it releases!
Rise is definitely the book I will recommend to anybody (and reread) once it releases!
December 24, 2024
“This is what a real valkyrie is supposed to be. Relentless, furious, insatiable.”
—
I was surprisingly more into this than I expected.
This was handed out as an Advanced Reader Copy at YALLFest. Apparently Melissa de la Cruz has a publishing brand? And they released this, which is about a teenaged valkyrie from a family of valkyries who live/work in a Renaissance Fair near Chicago. Which is a ridiculous premise, but it’s fun, and not more ridiculous than a lot of other YA books.
Honestly, the biggest mark against this book is the title and cover. It’s such a generic title, that there’s nothing to make the front cover stand out, or give you an idea of what the book is actually about. It’s also not as much about the sisters as the front would have you believe? They’re a huge part of it, but the main character is firmly the youngest, Bryn.
I also think that the book assumes that you already know a lot about Norse mythology. Some of it is explained as necessary, though it still assumes you’ve got the basics. There are some reveals towards the end which I don’t know if they’re adequately foreshadowed if you don’t know the myths. Which you might! I don’t know. Most people are not mythology nuts like I am, so I don’t know where you guys stand on those things.
Bryn can be a bit silly at times, in how she handles things, but I don’t think she’s ever actually stupid. She’s a teenager, and makes mistakes in a way that makes sense. That’s relieving; too often, many authors have teenaged characters make wildly bone-headed choices and excuse it with, “They’re young! Didn’t you do this kind of thing all the time as a teeanger?!” And, uh, no, I wasn’t THAT stupid, c’mon.
And!! So much of this book is about sibling relationships, and I am ALL ABOUT THAT.
[Does it handle Norse myth in modern day better than “Magnus Chase”? Hm… Let me get back to you.]
I don’t think it’s brilliant, but it is fun, and does pretty well with the premise it has. Valkyries! Berserkers! Draugr! Trolls! Lightning! Throwing knives! It’s a lot, and it’s mostly pretty good.
—
I was surprisingly more into this than I expected.
This was handed out as an Advanced Reader Copy at YALLFest. Apparently Melissa de la Cruz has a publishing brand? And they released this, which is about a teenaged valkyrie from a family of valkyries who live/work in a Renaissance Fair near Chicago. Which is a ridiculous premise, but it’s fun, and not more ridiculous than a lot of other YA books.
Honestly, the biggest mark against this book is the title and cover. It’s such a generic title, that there’s nothing to make the front cover stand out, or give you an idea of what the book is actually about. It’s also not as much about the sisters as the front would have you believe? They’re a huge part of it, but the main character is firmly the youngest, Bryn.
I also think that the book assumes that you already know a lot about Norse mythology. Some of it is explained as necessary, though it still assumes you’ve got the basics. There are some reveals towards the end which I don’t know if they’re adequately foreshadowed if you don’t know the myths. Which you might! I don’t know. Most people are not mythology nuts like I am, so I don’t know where you guys stand on those things.
Bryn can be a bit silly at times, in how she handles things, but I don’t think she’s ever actually stupid. She’s a teenager, and makes mistakes in a way that makes sense. That’s relieving; too often, many authors have teenaged characters make wildly bone-headed choices and excuse it with, “They’re young! Didn’t you do this kind of thing all the time as a teeanger?!” And, uh, no, I wasn’t THAT stupid, c’mon.
And!! So much of this book is about sibling relationships, and I am ALL ABOUT THAT.
[Does it handle Norse myth in modern day better than “Magnus Chase”? Hm… Let me get back to you.]
I don’t think it’s brilliant, but it is fun, and does pretty well with the premise it has. Valkyries! Berserkers! Draugr! Trolls! Lightning! Throwing knives! It’s a lot, and it’s mostly pretty good.
July 23, 2024
Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Scoville Spice Scale: The world's mildest 🌶 😉
"It's naked, but that doesn't mean much when it looks like a week old scab woke up and chose violence."
This is Freya Finch's debut novel? I don't know whether to say pinch me or pinch her because this reads like a seasoned author wrote it!
Meet Bryn - who thinks she's the worst valkyrie ever. Bryn is having a hard time and you would be to if your half sister you never knew about showed up out of the blue and your older sisters are always telling you that you are out of your depth and there's a new Black Knight at the Renaissance Faire where she lives full time. Bryn's life was already interesting, but then her mom disappeared, and when Juniper, the aforementioned half-sister, showed up with some zombie type of monsters in tow, things got complicated real fast. Especially with that guy, Wyatt, playing the Black Knight!
This norse mythology inspired story absolutely enthralled me. Bryn, our female main character, is a take charge, get it done gal, and she has no fear of jumping in feet first. The only problem is that this gets her in trouble sometimes.
Juniper, half-sister to Bryn and her sister, is a darling yet fierce defender of her family. She and Bryn bond so beautifully. Readers will adore their relationship.
Wyatt. I love how Bryn and Wyatt slowly open up to each other, and it is so pure and good. Wyatt is such a wonderful male character. I don't want to call him main because this book is all Bryn. But Wyatt's character grows so much.
I read this as an adult and enjoyed it so much. This book is geared towards Teens and Young Adults. I give it high recommendations.
Thank you to disneybooks and netgalley for this gifted book in exchange for an honest review.
Scoville Spice Scale: The world's mildest 🌶 😉
"It's naked, but that doesn't mean much when it looks like a week old scab woke up and chose violence."
This is Freya Finch's debut novel? I don't know whether to say pinch me or pinch her because this reads like a seasoned author wrote it!
Meet Bryn - who thinks she's the worst valkyrie ever. Bryn is having a hard time and you would be to if your half sister you never knew about showed up out of the blue and your older sisters are always telling you that you are out of your depth and there's a new Black Knight at the Renaissance Faire where she lives full time. Bryn's life was already interesting, but then her mom disappeared, and when Juniper, the aforementioned half-sister, showed up with some zombie type of monsters in tow, things got complicated real fast. Especially with that guy, Wyatt, playing the Black Knight!
This norse mythology inspired story absolutely enthralled me. Bryn, our female main character, is a take charge, get it done gal, and she has no fear of jumping in feet first. The only problem is that this gets her in trouble sometimes.
Juniper, half-sister to Bryn and her sister, is a darling yet fierce defender of her family. She and Bryn bond so beautifully. Readers will adore their relationship.
Wyatt. I love how Bryn and Wyatt slowly open up to each other, and it is so pure and good. Wyatt is such a wonderful male character. I don't want to call him main because this book is all Bryn. But Wyatt's character grows so much.
I read this as an adult and enjoyed it so much. This book is geared towards Teens and Young Adults. I give it high recommendations.
Thank you to disneybooks and netgalley for this gifted book in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2024
This book was so so fun. It was everything I look for in a light YA fantasy. It was fast paced and full of adventure, with just the right amount of teenage drama. I honestly couldn’t put it down. The storyline was so engaging and pulled me in so completely I didn’t just want to know what was going to happen, I NEEDED to.
I really enjoyed Bryn’s character. She’s brave, kind, and unfailingly loyal to her friends and her personal beliefs. Like any good YA protagonist she has the tendency to throw herself into situations without thinking them thru, but it’s always with the best intentions. She’s not in it for glory or to make a name for herself, she just wants to do the right thing but goes about it the wrong way. While she does go through some growing pains and works through a lot of self-doubt, these aspects of the story never take center stage for long, adding to the plot without taking it over.
I love stories with mythology, and I this book was no exception. I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t try to explain how or why the Norse Gods rule the nine realms, they just do. There were a few times where I needed to take things at face value, to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride, but that was easy to do because I was having such a good time.
If you’re into mythology, magical realism, and YA reads about figuring life out, I highly recommend this book. It leaves it pretty open for a sequel and I’ve got my fingers crossed there’ll be more to come. Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (Rounded up for Goodreads and NetGalley)
Pub Date: July 2, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for a free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Bryn’s character. She’s brave, kind, and unfailingly loyal to her friends and her personal beliefs. Like any good YA protagonist she has the tendency to throw herself into situations without thinking them thru, but it’s always with the best intentions. She’s not in it for glory or to make a name for herself, she just wants to do the right thing but goes about it the wrong way. While she does go through some growing pains and works through a lot of self-doubt, these aspects of the story never take center stage for long, adding to the plot without taking it over.
I love stories with mythology, and I this book was no exception. I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t try to explain how or why the Norse Gods rule the nine realms, they just do. There were a few times where I needed to take things at face value, to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride, but that was easy to do because I was having such a good time.
If you’re into mythology, magical realism, and YA reads about figuring life out, I highly recommend this book. It leaves it pretty open for a sequel and I’ve got my fingers crossed there’ll be more to come. Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (Rounded up for Goodreads and NetGalley)
Pub Date: July 2, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for a free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2024
Based in Norse mythology, this is another one about the importance of family and finding one’s own strength. Bryn is the youngest of three Valkyrie sisters, but her magic doesn’t come easily to her.
Being able to hide their true identities by living in a Renaissance Faire/amusement park type village, the three sisters are waiting for their mother to return from a secret mission in Asgard.
But that’s not actually where the story begins. We start in Jotenheim with Juniper, who must urgently find her mother in Midgard (Earth).
Add in Bryn’s sister’s self-absorbed ex-boyfriend and the new Black Knight (who has a big secret of his own), and things get complicated really fast. Especially when Juniper drops the bomb that Bryn’s mom…is also her mom. Bryn is filled with self-doubt about how well she really knows her mother, her late (and totally normal) father, and her place in her family.
As more and more events portend the coming of Ragnarok, Bryn wonders if she—or any of them—will be able to survive.
There are mistaken identities, secrets, and more as this story gallops toward its satisfying conclusion.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic. Violence. There are LGBTQ+ characters. Mild cursing. Parental death or distance.
Who Might Like This Book:
If you like Norse mythology, this is definitely one for your collection. Also for fans of family stories and coming of age. There is a romantic element, but it is definitely not the focus of the story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
Being able to hide their true identities by living in a Renaissance Faire/amusement park type village, the three sisters are waiting for their mother to return from a secret mission in Asgard.
But that’s not actually where the story begins. We start in Jotenheim with Juniper, who must urgently find her mother in Midgard (Earth).
Add in Bryn’s sister’s self-absorbed ex-boyfriend and the new Black Knight (who has a big secret of his own), and things get complicated really fast. Especially when Juniper drops the bomb that Bryn’s mom…is also her mom. Bryn is filled with self-doubt about how well she really knows her mother, her late (and totally normal) father, and her place in her family.
As more and more events portend the coming of Ragnarok, Bryn wonders if she—or any of them—will be able to survive.
There are mistaken identities, secrets, and more as this story gallops toward its satisfying conclusion.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Magic. Violence. There are LGBTQ+ characters. Mild cursing. Parental death or distance.
Who Might Like This Book:
If you like Norse mythology, this is definitely one for your collection. Also for fans of family stories and coming of age. There is a romantic element, but it is definitely not the focus of the story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
September 2, 2024
Great for young adults
I chose this book to read as it fits the need for a book challenge I am doing; a book by a new author. It peaked my interest because of Norse mythology and Valkyrie.
It was a very quick read but it did keep me hooked. The book feels very juvenile. I did have to continue to remind myself that this was a young adult book so the character behaviors fit with their ages and the story.
The story itself felt very fresh and included many Norse themes and people. It was all tied in very seamlessly and it was easy to understand the background of these myths and people without having to look any of it up.
Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt were very likeable and easy to root for. Again, their emotional maturity tracks with their age. There are a lot of negative feelings that Bryn harbors about herself due to her older sisters. Being a teenage girl, with older sisters and a mom who are all doing great things with their roles would be hard to stomach when Bryn herself is struggling with her power. I felt for her.
Her sisters were ehh. We learned more about Reagan but I didn't feel anything for her except rage for not sticking up for Bryn. And the oldest sister, I felt more rage for her being a very typical older sister. Freya nailed her character with the being bossy, felt responsible for Bryn, not listening or believing her and thinking she messed everything up.
All in all, it was a decent book and I would read another story by Freya Finch.
I chose this book to read as it fits the need for a book challenge I am doing; a book by a new author. It peaked my interest because of Norse mythology and Valkyrie.
It was a very quick read but it did keep me hooked. The book feels very juvenile. I did have to continue to remind myself that this was a young adult book so the character behaviors fit with their ages and the story.
The story itself felt very fresh and included many Norse themes and people. It was all tied in very seamlessly and it was easy to understand the background of these myths and people without having to look any of it up.
Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt were very likeable and easy to root for. Again, their emotional maturity tracks with their age. There are a lot of negative feelings that Bryn harbors about herself due to her older sisters. Being a teenage girl, with older sisters and a mom who are all doing great things with their roles would be hard to stomach when Bryn herself is struggling with her power. I felt for her.
Her sisters were ehh. We learned more about Reagan but I didn't feel anything for her except rage for not sticking up for Bryn. And the oldest sister, I felt more rage for her being a very typical older sister. Freya nailed her character with the being bossy, felt responsible for Bryn, not listening or believing her and thinking she messed everything up.
All in all, it was a decent book and I would read another story by Freya Finch.
July 20, 2024
Bryn is spending the summer between her junior and senior years of high school as an employee at a souvenir shop at the Ravenswood Renaissance faire outside of Chicago, which employs her two older sisters and their mother, too. Unlike most people, they live at the faire site year round - a fitting place for a family of Valkyries to live, where their occasional appearance in full armor will be overlooked by most people. But some odd things happen this summer; Bryn's mother never returns from a business trip and can't be reached, and an unfamiliar teenage girl appears - from Jotunheim, the realm of the Frost Giants. From there, things get a little strange.
Rise is a coming-of-age novel based on Norse mythology, with a few changes to make the story fit into today's world. As happens all too often in Norse mythology, Loki is causing mischief, and the onset of Ragnarök looms - unless Bryn can stop it before the world ends. This is a fast-paced and engaging novel, with a main character who is real and realistic, a 17 year-old young woman with real interests, family problems, and fears. This novel is recommended for readers of all ages, but is most especially recommended for teens and young adults.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rise is a coming-of-age novel based on Norse mythology, with a few changes to make the story fit into today's world. As happens all too often in Norse mythology, Loki is causing mischief, and the onset of Ragnarök looms - unless Bryn can stop it before the world ends. This is a fast-paced and engaging novel, with a main character who is real and realistic, a 17 year-old young woman with real interests, family problems, and fears. This novel is recommended for readers of all ages, but is most especially recommended for teens and young adults.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 24, 2024
Bryn’s mother is a Valkyrie, charged with ferrying souls to Valhalla. Bryn and her sisters, Reagan, and Prima are Valkyries-in-training. Growing up in Chicago, Bryn feels inadept compared to her sisters. When she starts having Apocalyptic visions, she’s worried about telling her family. Then, her mom doesn’t return from a mission. Soon, a half-giant named Juniper shows up claiming to be their half-sister and that the apocalypse is nigh. Distrusting Juniper, Brynn and Prima hire a shapeshifter named Wyatt to find their mom. With sighting of Loki, is this really divine interference or Is the apocalypse nigh? Is Juniper really their half-sister?
Narrator, Hannah French’s intonations help to distinguish the well developed, engaging characters. Her narrative pacing is a little slower than would be expected for the type of novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, adventure, and draws the listener into the story. The world building is done well and draws the listener into the story. Listeners who like fantasy, mythology, and adventure with LGBTQ+ elements will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where such audiobooks are popular.
Plese Note: A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.
Narrator, Hannah French’s intonations help to distinguish the well developed, engaging characters. Her narrative pacing is a little slower than would be expected for the type of novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, adventure, and draws the listener into the story. The world building is done well and draws the listener into the story. Listeners who like fantasy, mythology, and adventure with LGBTQ+ elements will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where such audiobooks are popular.
Plese Note: A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.
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