Fates change forever in this Viking time travel fantasy adventure, the last installment of the Call of the Norns series.
At this point, if things were going according to plan, it wouldn’t be my life, right? Turns out all of my worst nightmares were true, and we land back in the Viking world right as chaos descends.
Ragnarok is coming, and apparently I’m the only one who can stop it.
Try as I might to train in my magic, my skills prove to be tenuous at best. I’m starting to wonder if Hadriel wishes the bond had formed with anyone else, when Fate sends me one last message, and I have to make the most important decision of my life.
Aimee Vance writes heartfelt and hilarious romance featuring sassy heroines, grumpy heroes, and small-town happily-ever-afters—preferably with a Diet Coke nearby. Her romcoms blend humor and heart with sharp banter, big feelings, and love stories designed to make readers laugh, swoon, and feel right at home.
A lifelong fantasy and romance reader, Aimee studied public relations at Texas Christian University. She lives in Texas with her husband, two young daughters, and a Labrador Retriever. When she’s not writing, she’s usually rereading her favorite romances or cheering from the sidelines of her kids’ sporting events—occasionally at the same time.
Wow. What a fantastic ending to this fantasy trilogy. The premise of this trilogy remains so unique and refreshing. Who doesn’t love a fantasy world where a modern day FMC time travels to Viking times where she is bonded to a dragon as their Promised?
Shelby, our FMC, went through a lot in this book. Along with Domari, our MMC, and soooo many incredible side characters they are all battling against Ragarock which is the end of times. We get a fourth POV in this book but it doesn’t feel overwhelming and it weaves well into the story.
Vance wrapped up this series well and I really enjoyed this finale. Now I need to read the Deadlights Cove series since there are some Easter eggs that tie into this series!
This book is action packed and increases in pacing constantly. It didn’t leave much room for spice so this one is less spicy than previous books but it’s ALL ACTON.
Thank you so much to Aimee Vance for letting me be on your ARC team and street team! I loved getting to read this one early.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Fates Defied (#3) in The Norns Trilogy. I thought the story was well done without getting too in-depth into Vikings history/Norse Mythology but interjecting enough to take you on an adventure literally thru time.
I loved all the humor slipped in at the right time when it could have been an unreal moment for a person from the future to just pass by obvious differences in culture and also some historical situations and dialogue with hierarchy in villages.
The main character Shelbie was woefully out of her depth being thrown into a life so much unlike her own but I appreciated how the author didn’t just make her muster up bravery and be a heroine, she acted very much like I would have, sh*tting my pants that I was “not in Kansas anymore” and expected to perform something I did not know existed until like a few months ago. 🤣
The rollercoaster of emotions for everyone involved definitely heightened what was at stake as you lead up to the finale. Well done, I appreciated the multiple POVs Aimee wrote to help with the depth of the story!
A big thank you to Aimee for letting me be a part of the ARC street team!!
The final book in the Call of The Norns trilogy was truly a doozy! This book made me feel aaaall the emotions at some point or another and I'm so sad it's over 😭
If you're at all interested in a Viking x 31 year old millennial time traveling romantasy with DRAGONS, Norse mythology, and a broody mmc: check out this now completed trilogy by indie author Aimee Vance right now!
5/5 ⭐ If a book makes me cry, it's almost an automatic 5⭐ rating based on vibes alone, but this book deserves it for much more than making my cold heart feel something 🖤 1/5 🌶 (I actually don't remember if book 3 had any open door scenes but there were a few throughout the entire trilogy)
I fell so in love with these characters 😍 Shelbie was a super relatable fmc, and every other character was beyond welcoming, accepting, and supportive of her in every way. My favorite was Magnus because he brought support and acceptance to a level I didn't even know existed along with a silly light hearted attitude and the most fierce love of all.
This ending book was fast paced, action packed, and heart wrenching. The use of multiple pov's kept the action moving from many different perspectives and although I don't typically love the jumping back and forth, this one was clearly necessary and didn't leave me hanging as bad as other books with the multi-pov jumps.
Norse mythology came in strong this book and I loved the way the author tied it in to the fantasy world she created. It added some twists that I definitely wasn't expecting but added so much to the story. Amazing.
I felt like there were some loose ends that didn't get completely tied up and I'm excited to see if that's on purpose and how those questions may be answered in the future. I know there were easter eggs for the Deadlights Cove series, I haven't read those yet but now I'm excited to figure out what I'm missing! I wonder if these loose ends were already tied up in DC 🤔
The final battle was SO intense. After all the buildup of our fmc learning the ropes and everyone else figuring out their role, I could not put the book down until the battle was over! Although the ending kind of wrecked me, it was all tied up so beautifully and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to read this ending before release. Thank you so much Aimee, I can't wait to find out what you choose to bless us with next ❤️
It had romance, spice, action, sadness. I SOBBED at the ending! The characters hooked me from the beginning and the family dynamics were so strong. Shelbie is such a perfectly flawed Millennial ending up in Viking times and making a life for herself and I could totally see myself having her mindset with a lot of stuff. Plus she is dealing with her own anxiety problems throughout a lot of the book which made her so real!
But it also had lots of hope throughout the book. Hope that the characters could stop Ragnarok and live on with their loved ones. Lots of humor- Sassy Hadriel always cracks me up. There were quite a few surprises with characters too that I wasn't expecting this late in the series.
There are also a few questions I have that I hope indicates spin offs. And if you don't follow the author on social media, then you should know this subtly ties into her other series too!
Read if you love: -Vikings -Time travel -Dragons -Norse mythology -Fierce FMCs -Mental health rep
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book. My thoughts are entirely my own. Finish date: 6/17/25, Release date: 6/20/25
Epic battle Dragons Norse mythology Valkyries, Norns, and meddlesome gods Reluctant chosen one Found family Animal (dog) companions
A Viking time travel fantasy adventure, the last installment of the Call of the Norns trilogy. This series was so good! Aimee Vance has a way with words and making you feel like you are a part of the story. A romantic fantasy adventure filled with magic, Vikings, dragons, strong female characters, slow burn romance, time travel (Outlander type vibes), and impeding war… can I just jump into the book and be there already? Aimee injects humor throughout making me laugh out loud many times. The romance is written in the style of a contemporary romance as it’s a time travel story with a millennial woman in Viking times. The found family element in this book is done so well. A satisfying ending to a trilogy that I highly recommend! Rating: 4.5/5
Holy moly. 🤯 Talk about an author who has GROWN since the first book. Honestly, this book gave me the same feelings I had when I read Kingdom of Ash. Anxiety, laughter, heartbreak, and joy. This is the way a trilogy (or any book series) should end; providing the reader with the full gamut of emotions. It was a gift to be able to read these words and "live" with these characters, and I am so grateful that Aimee Vance went through what she did to get her here, because this was a story that I didn't know I needed. Bravo.🥰👏
It's so hard to land a trilogy, but Aimee Vance delivered - I was on the edge of my seat with the soundtrack to The Northman playing in my head the whole time. I loved how Shelbie and Signe's stories culminated, and never fear, readers: Domari and Shelbie have no contrived conflict or miscommunications in this one - they're as solid as can be. I'm going to have to stage a reread of the series sometime soon just so I can live it all again.
WHAT. AN. ENDING! I don’t even know how to write this review without spoilers for all my favourite parts.
Let’s just say that I’ve loved this world and these characters and Aimee wrote a fantastic conclusion to this saga.
Read this series if you love: - Vikings and viking mythology (Thor, Odin, Loki, etc) - Found family - Lots of action - DRAGONS! - Time travel - Soulmates
ARC REVIEW All you need to know is you should read this, now. Anything else is a spoiler and you deserve to experience this entire series without any spoilers!! Toodaloo let’s chat when you’re reading!! Happy release day babes!!!!!!
Thank you Aimee for the advanced copy, all views are my own
Immersive, rich world building really sets the stage for the conclusion of this trilogy.
This series was set up so well and it was a delightful read. The anxiety and stress of being a "chosen one" for Shelbie make her feel so real and her struggle palpable. I love that she is able to depend on others for strength yet also build it up for herself. I also love to see that while she is fully in love with Domari, she realizes that she needs to stand on her own two feet for her to live her life instead of using him as a crutch...I feel like a lot of fantasy/romantasy books use the parter as a stand in for self-actualitization/character development and its SO REFRESHING that this is not the case here.
"But mostly, I cried for myself. For the life I gave up to be here, for the family and friends I’d left behind, for my battered and bruised body and soul, unwilling and unable to face everything that was coming. I was so fucking lonely, and sad, and afraid. So afraid."
Letting her be vulnerable feel empowering to me because watching her overcome that was inspiring.
Domari is very much a "touch her and die" MMC without it being over the top. A solid, dependable character who is utterly devoted to Shelbie. Supportive and caring but also strong and a badass. And the spice is pretty good, though not plentiful, which works with the plot. 🔥 His struggles and triumphs were a highlight of this series.
The secondary characters are done so well. I need little stories about them too! Each voice is different but weaves into the story seamlessly. Top tier found family 🤌🏻
“Sometimes the only way out is through. Good thing they picked a bad bitch like yourself. Zippers up, Shelbie.”
The ending was well done too. Some of it is very sad, some of it badass, some of it bittersweet. Works really well, and I liked the conclusion, though I am sad to see these characters go. I may have teared up several times 🥺 I would have been more than okay with 100+ more pages lol. I really enjoyed this series and recommend giving it a try. Loved seeing the little easter egg to the Deadlights Cove series! As someone who reads quite a lot of books, this series is truly well done and easily one of my best reads this year.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest opinion, etc.
"I was just a 31-year-old hot mess who'd accidentally traveled back in time, thrown into a world beyond my wildest dreams, woefully inadequate to wield the magic Fate had dumped on me."
*A huge thank you to Aimee for allowing me to read an ARC of Fates Defied. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Fates Defied is the third and final book in the Call of the Norns series. I can't believe this series is over!! I'm so sad to not be in this world any longer, but Vance closed it out perfectly. I gasped out loud. I laughed. I cried. I went through every emotion possible, and I'm left with such appreciation at how the story was woven together.
The story is multi-POV so we can follow our two couples (Shelbie / Domari and Signe / Gunnar) as they prepare for Ragnarock. The stakes are high and the fallout potentially world-ending. There is so much action, tension, love, grief, and heart in this book. I loved every minute of it. Well, except for that one bit. You know what you did, Aimee! I love how much the mythology comes into play, and how well it was incorporated into the story. There's twists and turns I didn't see coming, and they hit with such an impact. Vance's connection to her and B. Perkins' Deadlights Cove series is brilliant and is one of my favorite moments in the book.
I don't want to give away too much for fear of spoilers, so I'll just say that Fates Defied is incredible!! There is so much care and thought in this book that it leaps off the page. Vance is an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait for her next endeavor due out later this year. If the Call of the Norns isn't on your radar, it should be!
You can look forward to: -Time traveling FMC in her 30s -Viking MMC -Found family -Dragons -Norse mythology -Action and adventure -Romance and spice
"She was sunlight, the brightest dawn after the longest day, a promise of a future he'd never imagined. If only he could protect her enough to earn it."
"I'm with you, elskin min. I'm with you, always."
"Battle was coming, singing to her in a gruesome lullaby, and she was the melody...The song of death called to her, and she would dance for it."
"Wear your history with pride instead of shame. Everything led us to this moment, and we fight together until the very end."
As the final chapter in the Call of the Norns trilogy, Fates Defied delivers everything I could have hoped for—and more. From the very first page, I was completely immersed, feeling as if I were walking alongside the characters, caught in the storm of fate, magic, and an impending apocalypse.
The Viking world the author has built throughout the series reaches its peak here: vivid, brutal, and deeply emotional. The stakes are impossibly high—Ragnarok is upon us—and the emotional tension is unrelenting. I found myself holding my breath during the final battle scenes, eyes glued to the page, desperate to see how it would all play out.
The protagonist’s journey hit especially hard in this book. Their struggle to master magic, the uncertainty of their bond with Hadriel, and the heart-wrenching choice at the climax—stay or go—had me feeling every ounce of the weight on their shoulders. The author did a brilliant job weaving personal growth with epic mythological storytelling.
What I love most is that despite the grand, high-stakes narrative, the story never loses sight of the human element. It's emotional, raw, and real—even with time travel and Norse gods in the mix. Fates Defied is the kind of book that leaves you staring at the final page, torn between satisfaction and the ache of saying goodbye to beloved characters.
If you're looking for an unforgettable time travel fantasy steeped in Viking lore and raw emotion, Fates Defied is not to be missed. Just be prepared to lose sleep—you won’t be able to put it down.
I loved this series so much! Shelbie is a 31 year old stuck in a mediocre job with no real direction or purpose in her life. When she drunkenly books a hiking adventure in Sweden, she gets so much more than she bargained for. Shelbie ends up traveling to the age of Vikings where she, the last of the Promised, has to embrace her power and work with the clans to try to stop Ragnorak.
This series really captured me from the first book. I loved the way that Shelbie was portrayed and how she felt unsure of herself even into her 30s. The Eriksson clan really captured my heart though. Between Domari, Gunnar, Signe, Yrsa, Magnus, and Bjorn, I absolutely loved all of the different characters. I loved that the story was told from several different perspectives in this book so that we could understand the motivations behind people's actions especially those that wouldn't have made sense from another perspective. I especially loved Signe's perspective and seeing how her upbringing and circumstances really affected her entire world view. I also loved the modern pop culture references that Shelbie would throw out every so often - it was funny and also really emphasized how out of place she was even when trying to fit in.
This is definitely a fantasy series that I would recommend. The way that Aimee Vance weaves Shelbie into the Viking era and portrays that mythology is absolutely wonderful.
Wow what an epic conclusion to this amazing trilogy! The Eriksson clan is one of my favorite book families of all time and I absolutely adored seeing the growth throughout this series. I am amazed at all the lore Aimee was able to seamlessly weave into the story. Some major bombshells were dropped, starting from page 1, and they just kept coming.
I truly enjoyed seeing one specific character’s end game and little bit of a redemption arc. I loved the tie in from the prologue to the almost-ending bringing things full circle, even more so than just for Shelbie.
I do remember one specific moment where I thought “hmm Aimee wouldn’t do that, would she? She definitely is a happily ever after kinda gal”, and wouldn’t you know, it’s the one time I’ve ever predicted a major plot point that just devastated me. Even with the start of Ragnorak being brought down on them, Shelbie, Domari, Hadriel, and the Erikssons persevere on, finding comfort in family, peace, and rebuilding together.
Also - HOLY CRAP THE SURPRISE RELATIONSHIP TO DEADLIGHTS COVE!! If you haven’t read them yet, go there immediately next! And if you have, maybe it’s time for a re-read, eh?
This series was a whirlwind! Shelbie is in her 30s, stuck in a mediocre job with no real purpose. So she books a solo hiking adventure in Sweden to prove she can do something with purpose. But what she doesn't realize is the trip is Fated to bring her back to the time of the Vikings and be the Promised who can stop Ragnarok.
What I loved about these books are the wit (weaving of pop culture zingers and romance and mythology made these books easy to devour!) and the heart! Shelbie isn't a teen who has been foretold to save the world...she's a 31 year old who is struggling with her mental health and her place in the world. She is REAL and someone you want to root for. Domani and the Erikson clan is the found family you want to have. AND DID I MENTION THE DRAGONS?!
This series has the magic and history feel of the Outlander series...but without the unconsenting romantic situations and the 800 pages to get through. There are some open door romance scenes in each book, so these are aimed for adult readers.
All three books are out NOW so don't sleep on this series!
*wails and sobs* WHAT?! Are you kidding me?? Fates Defied, the grand finale of the Call of the Norns trilogy, was EPIC in every single way. I’ll never be the same.
You want action? It’s there in DROVES. You want romance? Yup, it’s got that too. You want cool *ss women who make you want to be them? How about 9 of em? Friendship and found family, acceptance, and love? The Erikkson’s have got you. A DRAGON with an incredibly dry sense of humor that will have you cackling? Hadriel is your guy. Not 1, but 2 stunningly handsome dogs who bring fierceness and loyalty like you’ve never seen? Mhmmmmm. Emotional damage that will have you questioning all of your life choices? YYUUUUPP! Fates Defied has it ALL.
I’ll be recommending this trilogy to anyone and everyone. I absolutely loved it. Aimee Vance you are a genius and I can’t wait to read more from you. Thank you so much for the gifted review copy. I wasn’t able to get to this one by release day, but the entire series had me hooked and I’m so glad I got a chance to read them!
"Fates Defied" by Aimee Vance is the last book in the "Call of the Norns" series. This series is a Viking time travel fantasy adventure that I think is very underhyped.
I received an advance review copy from the author. Opinions from this review are completely my own.
What you can expect: - time travel - romantic fantasy - Vikings - Norse mythology - Chose One - Soul Mates - Dragons - epic battle - found family
This was a great ending to this trilogy. Each book was better than the one before and you can see an evolution in the writing.
The time travel and fantasy part made me start reading the series, but the characters stole my heart. There are strong women that can fight and have magic, men that love until death and a community that is like a big family.
This book has a fast pace with a lot of action, but also humour and emotional moments. As a reader it felt like I was part of the story and I went through a lot of emotions.
If you like fantasy and Norse mythology, you will like this series.
Shelby's back with the Ericsson clan and trying to figure out how to safe the effing world, being the famous Promised and all that. Time is running out and the stakes have never been higher in this phenomenal last part of Shelby' epic story.
Holy dragon balls. This. Was. Wild!! And totally worth the wait!!!! There's so much happening in this book, I barely had a minute to breathe. However, between all the action there are tender moments too and I haven't read a book that made me cry three times in a long time (thanks for that. Someone put a "have tissues at hand" warning in the TW or somewhere, please and thank you!)
If you like epic fantasy stories, time travel, meddling gods, sassy and powerful women, caring Vikings who would do anything for their loved ones mixed with humour, action and a sprinkle of spice, you should definitely put this series on your TBR!
This is book three in the series, that needs to be read in order!!
Buckle up, shieldmaidens and chaos-lovers, because Fates Defied throws you back into a world of Norse mythology, magic mishaps, and fate-twisting decisions—with enough drama to make Odin spit out his mead.
Vance delivers a brilliant mix of:
📚 Time travel romance ⚔️ Viking battles & dragon fire 💘 One reluctant heroine + one fated bond 💥 And just a tiny threat of Ragnarok, no big deal
The pacing? Addictive. The banter? Chef’s kiss. The question of “Should I stay or should I go?” has never carried so much magical weight.
If you love:
Mythology-infused fantasy
Characters that feel like your chaotic best friends
…then you need this book on your shelf.
Final verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fiery, fate-tangled thrill ride that proves being chosen by destiny doesn’t come with a user manual… just a whole lot of trouble (and maybe a sword or two).
A must-read for fantasy lovers! This story follows Shelbi, a time traveler who finds herself thrust into the Viking era—confused, misplaced, and questioning her purpose in life. It's the ultimate sabbatical: what if the journey to find yourself meant landing in the wrong century? Shelbi travels thousands of years across time to discover where—and when—she truly belongs. At its heart, this is a love story rooted in trust, partnership, and mutual strength. I especially loved that the female main character is just over 30—finally, some age representation! She proves that being a badass doesn’t have an age limit. Beautifully detailed and rich with imagery, this story pulls you right into its world—you can almost feel the clash of swords and the presence of gods and Valkyries around you. A powerful, immersive experience from start to finish.
Please just read this series, especially if you're into Vikings, Norse mythology, time traveling and magic!
This is the third and final book in this series, and I won't spoil too much, but this story is so good. It is imperative that you read the other two books before this one.
Shelbie and Domari are one heck of a duo, as are all of the other couples. Ragnarok is coming, and will they be able to stop it?
I received this as an advance copy, and this is my honest opinion.
I think Aimee Vance can do no wrong--writing style, characters, fantastic storyline, wit. This was an absolute winner of a book, and I'm calling it one of my favorite books/series of the year. I love the real characters, and the focus on friendship. Highly recommend this one if you are looking for a great read.
This fabulous book is now my whole personality - sorry not sorry. Chosen One, fighting against fate, saving the world, Vikings, AND dragons? Yes, please and thank you! Oh, yes, throw in Valkyries and meddling gods, too. Watching Shelbie and her new found family go through this trilogy has been delightful and heart wrenching, bittersweet and beautiful. Her growth and learning to trust and lean on others was thrilling to watch, as was Domari learning to forgive himself and lead. I loved all the characters and even though I knew the final battle would be tragic, I still loved every minute of the book. Aimee Vance is a true auto-buy author for me - I own every book she's written (usually in more than one format, even!) and will continue to devour anything that comes from her pen.
It’s very complicated for a book series to have no weak link among them. There is, usually, one of them that doesn’t quite match the pace the others have; however, that’s not the case here. This trilogy is amazing. But this book, this last book, has everything. It has action, has romance, has friendship, has self-struggles, has family, has loyalty, has pain… The characters we know well by now go one step further and show us what love is, in its many forms.
It’s an easy 5 stars recommendation from me. Read it if you want to laugh, to fall in love, to have an ugly cry and to feel proud; all with a fit ending that will make you feel whole.
A fantastic end to a fantastic series! This was a highly anticipated read for me this year. I've been excited to see how Shelbie and the gang's story would wrap up and it did not disappoint!
I loved being back in this world with all its viking lore! The stakes were so high and there were so many twists and turns. And oof that ending!
The characters were definitely put through it, but everything wrapped up nicely at the end.
It's been a fun journey to follow Aimee's writing since Fates Illuminated and I'm so excited to see what's to come in the future!
I LOVED this entire series but this was definitely my favorite of the three books. It was epic. I loved getting more of Hadriel, the dragon. I loved the banter. I loved the love story. I loved seeing Shelbie become who she was meant to be. I loved the feeling of being on the edge of my seat and NEEDING just one more chapter. This was such a perfect ending to this wonderful story. Also, Domari is the book boyfriend to end all book boyfriends.
I probably should have waited to write this review until after my emotions had settled, but I’m not sure my heart could handle that.
Shelbie and Domari, Signe and Gunnar, Hadriel, Magnus and so many others have imprinted themselves on me. I’ve loved this series since the beginning and now that it has finished, I already miss them.
Fates Defied is action-packed and full of emotional damage from start to finish. The love these men have for their women is only outweighed by the strength of the women they follow. I love that Shelbie is not the perfect hero that we see in books these days. She has flaws, emotions, hangups. Ones that every normal woman has also had before. Fear, anxiety, not feeling worthy, not fitting in. Everyone can relate to her, and I think that is part of what makes this story so special.
And dont think you’re getting away with that Deadlights Cove Easter egg! Now I’ve got a book to reread…
This book was amazing! Shelbie (the main character of the trilogy) is so relatable, and yet even better somehow! Any and all loose ends from the earlier two books are tied up in this finale- and the Vikings just keep getting hotter 😝 I’m genuinely sad to say goodbye to these amazing characters, but cannot wait to fall in love with this author’s future creations!
Wow! I have such bittersweet feelings about the end of this series. Fates Defied is the final book in the Call of the Norns trilogy and wrapped up the series brilliantly! This world of Vikings, dragons, and magic has captivated me, as all of Aimee Vance’s books do. The strength of the women is inspiring, the men are drool-worthy, and the dragons…. What else is there to say. Thank you Aimee!
As a big fan of Aimee Vance’s writing, I was so excited to read the final book in this series! This was definitely my favorite of the three. Without giving any spoilers, I enjoyed the character development, multiple POVs, and how satisfying it was to finally read how everything wrapped up!