Valkyrie's Chosen

by Marisa Wolf

Bryn Siegmund has always been exceptional at her job as a top recruiter for Life Enders Incorporated. She's seen the best and worst the world has to offer. But nothing has prepared her for the challenge of her unexpected Director of the Valkyries Initiative. Her task is to assemble a team capable of facing interdimensional threats while she navigates a web of dangerous politics, treacherous allies, and powerful enemies. The Spider, a formidable criminal organization, is ahead of her at every step - targeting her and her fledgling team. Bryn has to rely on her instincts, her magic, and a team of questionable allies. The lines between friend and foe are blurred, and the stakes are deadly. Bryn’s new role may cost her more than she ever imagined.)

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2024

Reviews

[Ellen Behrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without having read the other Hit World books, I wondered if I'd be lost starting with this one but quickly got oriented, thanks to Marisa Wolf's storytelling talent. Because her main character, Bryn Siegmund, is tasked with creating a new team to accomplish a particular goal, readers learn who the team members are and what the mission is as we read.

In less capable hands, this could be boring stuff, but Wolf's likeable narrator has a voice that makes us keep reading and wondering and turning pages.

The idea of Life Enders is disturbing (perhaps because I haven't read the earlier books), but handled in such a casual way it's hard not to buy right into it. I'm not much of a fan of "magic" books -- it can be an easy exit from tough plotting -- but Wolf is not a lazy writer. Bryn's abilities are plausible and logical and never abused, which invited this skeptical reader into that world on terms I could accept.

There's not much to add about the plot beyond what's in the book's description: Bryn facing the bad guys--if, in fact, they are bad--as she tries against all odds to get the job done--if, in fact, this is the job she's really supposed to be doing.

Ah! Such is the twisty-turny way of the Hit World via the Valkyries. For those of us who don't normally read in this genre, Marisa Wolf provides a great on-ramp. Buckle up for a great ride!

[Melissa Olthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic, Murder, and Mayhem!!

Folks this is Urban Fantasy at its AWESOMEST!! Snarky characters, possible world ending problems, and a twisty turny plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Bryn is everything you want in a main character - strong in the best way possible and so very human in her flaws. Does she make mistakes? Heck yes she does! But she picks herself back up (with a little help along the way) and takes care of her business. Love this story!! It's everything I want from Urban Fantasy and more than a few surprises I didn't know I needed!!

[Per Gunnar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason I read this book is that I got a recommendation in my feed for the second book in the series. Obviously I cannot start reading the second book in a series so I had to read this one.

I have to say that I am not convinced. I would go as far as to say that if I had not gotten a recommendation for the second book I might have ended the series after this one.

This book felt disjointed. I felt it was just a long string of events and action scenes strung together without any real direction or cohesiveness. Yes there is the overarching goal of putting together a hit team but it really felt haphazard to me.

I am also not convinced that I really like the main character, or any of the characters for that matter.

One thing that really grated on me was her constant harping about her boss. I mean, how many times per chapter do you have to read Cynthia Fucking Witherbot before it gets tiresome.

In addition to that constant whining she frequently doubts herself and whines about if of course.

She is also supposed to work for the good guys. At least that is the impression you get at the start. But at the end it feels like there are really no good guys in the book.

As I wrote I might have dropped the series after this book but since the real reason I read this book was that I got a recommendation for the second book and that one is written by a different author I will have a go at that one anyway.

[The One True Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I plan on reading this this weekend and I will update my review if it is not as awesome as everything else she's written, but let's be real for a minute. That will not happen. Marisa is awesome. Her books are awesome. Read them and you'll become awesome, provided that you are capable of being awesome but are not quite there yet. The only thing I expect this book to be missing is an in depth discussion about cybersecurity best practices.

**Update**
It took me a bit longer to finish this book than I had planned, but to say I was not disappointed is an understatement. This book was wonderful and just dragged me through it. There were several twists and turns that were a surprise, even though I knew they were coming. The book also had tacos, as promised, but it did need more tacos, but can you ever have enough tacos? It also would have been nice to see the tacos be used as a weapon to dispatch an enemy, but it is sad to see a good taco wasted.

If you don't like this book, I would humbly suggest that you seek immediate psychiatric help, because that is the only explanation I can think of that would happen.

Note: I am not a doctor and this should not be construed as medical advice. Just one man's opinion.