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The Army of One #3
Vengeance of Asgard
When the gods tremble,
Men must act.
While weak and fearful gods argue in their shiny halls, Drake and his Wolves step up and prepare Asgard for its last battle. The enemy ships have been spotted. Blood and fire are reaching the blessed island.
But a last mission awaits the Wolves before the prophecy ends. Freyja requests them to fetch her exiled brother, for he is the one fated to kill Surtr, the ruler of Múspellsheimr.
Drake has lost faith in the gods, but honor compels him to answer the call. Eleven warriors thus depart Asgard for the Elven realm and the most dangerous mission of their afterlife.
Men must act.
While weak and fearful gods argue in their shiny halls, Drake and his Wolves step up and prepare Asgard for its last battle. The enemy ships have been spotted. Blood and fire are reaching the blessed island.
But a last mission awaits the Wolves before the prophecy ends. Freyja requests them to fetch her exiled brother, for he is the one fated to kill Surtr, the ruler of Múspellsheimr.
Drake has lost faith in the gods, but honor compels him to answer the call. Eleven warriors thus depart Asgard for the Elven realm and the most dangerous mission of their afterlife.
- GenresFantasy
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2025
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 18, 2025
Wow what an epic conclusion to the trilogy!
Baptiste has delivered an action packed yet emotionally charged end to his Army of One series. With some of the most intense battle scenes you’ll come across (it is the end of the world after all ) you’ll be kept on the edge of your seat throughout this story.
But what surprised me was the emotional impact. Have grown to love many of these characters over the series it was hard to say goodbye
Full review to come
Baptiste has delivered an action packed yet emotionally charged end to his Army of One series. With some of the most intense battle scenes you’ll come across (it is the end of the world after all ) you’ll be kept on the edge of your seat throughout this story.
But what surprised me was the emotional impact. Have grown to love many of these characters over the series it was hard to say goodbye
Full review to come
January 11, 2025
Well, I just finished Vengeance of Asgard by Baptiste Pinson Wu, and it has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster ride! Exhilarated by the battle scenes, sad because of losses, and feeling bittersweet as this is good bye to The Wolves and their leader, Drake.
First, I want to say there are not many authors who can so effortlessly capture the salty banter between brothers, and sisters, at arms, as well as Baptiste has. How it's used is just as important as the words that are used, whether it's to calm nerves before battle, or paying homage to those who have fallen. The teasing is the binding that holds them together, and gods have they been through it! The life that is breathed into every single one of them made them jump off the page for me! It's extraordinary how Baptiste can do this, without missing a beat, on every single page.
The story begins with Drake being led to Odin's chamber by Frigg, who believes Drake will be able to rouse Odin from his unconscious state. and his Wolves carrying out a request from Freyja to go find her brother, Freyr, because he and his sword are necessary to fulfill a prophecy. But on the cusp of battle, THE battle of Ragnarök, it would have to be done swiftly. Also, the bridges off of Asgard are closing at a rapid rate, in preparation for the battle, and may not even function on their return.
What unfolds is epic in scope, and takes the reader into new realms, full of dangerous foes and unusual allies. The level of tension kept me rapt, with no sense of time passed. The dangers keep coming, too numerous to count, and would freeze mere mortals in their tracks. But the band of Einherjar shove their fears aside and dig into deep wells of perseverance. They fight for each other, for their home, for glory in a heroic death. Because it is death that ultimately awaits them all on Asgard. Ragnarök is coming, and they need to retrieve Freyr, and sneak into Muspellsheimr to steal back Freyr's sword, which is integral to killing the god Surtr, and bring both back to Asgard.
There are some very funny scenes throughout this book, sandwiched between the monsters and war, and they include a couple of new characters, Gullinbursti who is called Gull, and Hildisvini, called Ottar, and are the servants of Freyr and Freyja, respectively. They bring some levity and wisdom to the dire circumstances they're all in, and it's superb. Other familiar faces step up, surprisingly casting aside their petty desires and selfishness, to show they are resilient, and will make the hardest of choices when it matters most.
I enjoyed being reintroduced to some characters that were in Beasts of Jotunheimr that you'll definitely recognize, but you'll have to red and find out who they are. I'm not going to spoil the surprise!
Baptiste Pinson Wu has written a saga which will resonate in your mind and soul, long after you've read the last word. The dynamic within the Wolves is poignant, heartbreaking, and the scope of the world, characters, and battles is outstanding! All I can say is READ THESE BOOKS!!
First, I want to say there are not many authors who can so effortlessly capture the salty banter between brothers, and sisters, at arms, as well as Baptiste has. How it's used is just as important as the words that are used, whether it's to calm nerves before battle, or paying homage to those who have fallen. The teasing is the binding that holds them together, and gods have they been through it! The life that is breathed into every single one of them made them jump off the page for me! It's extraordinary how Baptiste can do this, without missing a beat, on every single page.
The story begins with Drake being led to Odin's chamber by Frigg, who believes Drake will be able to rouse Odin from his unconscious state. and his Wolves carrying out a request from Freyja to go find her brother, Freyr, because he and his sword are necessary to fulfill a prophecy. But on the cusp of battle, THE battle of Ragnarök, it would have to be done swiftly. Also, the bridges off of Asgard are closing at a rapid rate, in preparation for the battle, and may not even function on their return.
What unfolds is epic in scope, and takes the reader into new realms, full of dangerous foes and unusual allies. The level of tension kept me rapt, with no sense of time passed. The dangers keep coming, too numerous to count, and would freeze mere mortals in their tracks. But the band of Einherjar shove their fears aside and dig into deep wells of perseverance. They fight for each other, for their home, for glory in a heroic death. Because it is death that ultimately awaits them all on Asgard. Ragnarök is coming, and they need to retrieve Freyr, and sneak into Muspellsheimr to steal back Freyr's sword, which is integral to killing the god Surtr, and bring both back to Asgard.
There are some very funny scenes throughout this book, sandwiched between the monsters and war, and they include a couple of new characters, Gullinbursti who is called Gull, and Hildisvini, called Ottar, and are the servants of Freyr and Freyja, respectively. They bring some levity and wisdom to the dire circumstances they're all in, and it's superb. Other familiar faces step up, surprisingly casting aside their petty desires and selfishness, to show they are resilient, and will make the hardest of choices when it matters most.
I enjoyed being reintroduced to some characters that were in Beasts of Jotunheimr that you'll definitely recognize, but you'll have to red and find out who they are. I'm not going to spoil the surprise!
Baptiste Pinson Wu has written a saga which will resonate in your mind and soul, long after you've read the last word. The dynamic within the Wolves is poignant, heartbreaking, and the scope of the world, characters, and battles is outstanding! All I can say is READ THESE BOOKS!!
September 12, 2025
“Vengeance of Asgard” book 3 and final entry to the red hot trilogy “The Army of One” by Baptiste Pinson Wu, brings with it every ounce of raw, brutal, fated and chaotic energy that has been building throughout this crazy romp through the 9 realms. This finale Wu has crafted is a ride like no other …raise your mead horns, grab your battle kits and steel your nerves, the enemy has finally arrived, Drake and the wolves of Odin ready themselves to make one last stand! 💪
After the bloody and grueling journey out of Loki's twisted tricks from book 2, and that world shaking preview to the ‘end of time's’ battle between Odin and Fenrir, we were left with Drake and his Wolves back in Asgard with Ragnarok on their doorstep, and Odin alive…but not conscious. Wu wastes no time with picking up right after their arrival, and setting into motion the fated end of the Gods. Preparations are being made, and armies are called upon for this last stand to save the realms, and possibly humanity. Everyone from the Gods, Aesir, and Vanir…to the Dwarves of Nidavellir must stand as one! 🔥
We are once again blessed with Wu’s fast paced and vividly creative battles, throughout these otherworldly realms he has brought to the pages of this Norse trilogy. I've said it for the previous two books, and I'll say it again, Baptiste can spin Norse Mythology like no other! Fresh, brutal, creative and epic twists to these stories that have been passed down throughout the ages, is what you continue to get when you crack open these books. With no shortage of new areas, reached by bifrost gates unknown to most, we follow our band of crazy wolves from the the lost lands of Álfheimr, to the burning halls of Hel. Unforeseen horrors lurk around every corner our pack of warriors take, and honor will be tested with loss and heartache looming over every decision. ☠️
This trilogy has been preparing us for the final war of wars…and it does not miss! This entry was off and running from the first page, but by Thor's hammer does the final few chapters steal your very breath! Wu you're as crazy as our MC…and I love it! This was an ending worthy of the story you set out to tell! Battles on a scale that a book has no business holding…but does, and absolutely beautifully! I can only imagine what the chaos I read in the end of this entry would look like brought to life. I didn't want it to end…but when it did…I could imagine no other way I wanted to see it. Thank you Baptiste Pinson Wu, for a journey I will not soon forget…or stop talking about. 🍻
4.5⭐ for this epic ending to a trilogy that will bring you through every emotion our body and minds can handle. This is what creativity at its finest looks like, don't hesitate to take that jump and experience a journey that will continue to inspire, long after you're done! 📚
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
After the bloody and grueling journey out of Loki's twisted tricks from book 2, and that world shaking preview to the ‘end of time's’ battle between Odin and Fenrir, we were left with Drake and his Wolves back in Asgard with Ragnarok on their doorstep, and Odin alive…but not conscious. Wu wastes no time with picking up right after their arrival, and setting into motion the fated end of the Gods. Preparations are being made, and armies are called upon for this last stand to save the realms, and possibly humanity. Everyone from the Gods, Aesir, and Vanir…to the Dwarves of Nidavellir must stand as one! 🔥
We are once again blessed with Wu’s fast paced and vividly creative battles, throughout these otherworldly realms he has brought to the pages of this Norse trilogy. I've said it for the previous two books, and I'll say it again, Baptiste can spin Norse Mythology like no other! Fresh, brutal, creative and epic twists to these stories that have been passed down throughout the ages, is what you continue to get when you crack open these books. With no shortage of new areas, reached by bifrost gates unknown to most, we follow our band of crazy wolves from the the lost lands of Álfheimr, to the burning halls of Hel. Unforeseen horrors lurk around every corner our pack of warriors take, and honor will be tested with loss and heartache looming over every decision. ☠️
This trilogy has been preparing us for the final war of wars…and it does not miss! This entry was off and running from the first page, but by Thor's hammer does the final few chapters steal your very breath! Wu you're as crazy as our MC…and I love it! This was an ending worthy of the story you set out to tell! Battles on a scale that a book has no business holding…but does, and absolutely beautifully! I can only imagine what the chaos I read in the end of this entry would look like brought to life. I didn't want it to end…but when it did…I could imagine no other way I wanted to see it. Thank you Baptiste Pinson Wu, for a journey I will not soon forget…or stop talking about. 🍻
4.5⭐ for this epic ending to a trilogy that will bring you through every emotion our body and minds can handle. This is what creativity at its finest looks like, don't hesitate to take that jump and experience a journey that will continue to inspire, long after you're done! 📚
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
February 14, 2025
Baptiste Pinson Wu really deserves more of an audience for his books. The work he is able to do in the relatively short books he writes is incredible, and “Vengeance of Asgard” is no exception. This is an intense, action packed finale to this great trilogy which has all been leading up to Ragnorok. This series, and book, is full of great character work, and truly epic moments. It amazes me what Wu was able to do in just over 900 pages of work throughout the trilogy. Seriously, if you enjoy Vikings or Norse mythology, and truthfully even if you don’t, pick this series up, I believe you’ll find a new favorite author.
November 21, 2025
Wow, an incredible trilogy from Baptiste. I didn't realise how attached to the Wolves and this world I had got until I was nearing the end of the third book in the trilogy and didn't want it to end.
Taking characters and stories from Norse mythology that you are familiar with and then injecting a wealth of action, humour and emotion - this series got better and better with each book.
Thank you for taking me on this journey! Sköll
Taking characters and stories from Norse mythology that you are familiar with and then injecting a wealth of action, humour and emotion - this series got better and better with each book.
Thank you for taking me on this journey! Sköll
May 22, 2025
Awesome end to the trilogy. The Army of One trilogy has easily moved into my top reads of all time. It was gruesome and beautiful, heartbreaking and inspiring. Honestly can't say enough for how much I enjoyed reading these books and I will for sure be reading more of his writing.
April 19, 2025
What a ride!!!! what an exhilarating read!!!! The last 50% is just unputdownable and non-stop.
Full RTC
***********************
Vengeance of Asgard (Army of One #3) by Baptiste Pinson Wu
This was never about stopping Ragnarok… It was about causing it” - Thor:Ragnarok
Mythology, in general, has always been something that captivates and fascinates me, given that I was raised in and surrounded by stories from Indian mythology (we just call it religion). I loved the stories from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythologies as my reading expanded, but Norse Mythology is one that is utterly fascinating for the simple reason that it ventures into the end of times territory, aka Ragnarok. Indian mythology also has this end-of-world prediction built in with the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Kalki avatar - but that story is yet to be written. Ragnarok is unique in the sense that it has happened (per mythology), and that is where we pick things up in Vengeance of Asgard
“This was to be the last battle of our time, the end of our world. This was to be Ragnarok, this age’s dusk.”
Vengeance of Asgard has Drake, our protagonist, trying to prepare a paralysed Asgard for Ragnarok. However, before we get to Ragnarok, Drake has a mission that he needs to complete to position Asgard for Ragnarok. That mission allows Drake to be with his team of Wolves for one last time - Wolves whom we didn’t see much in the previous book. Once that mission is completed (at very high cost), the stage is set for what we have been promised from the first book - Ragnarok
“You’re just a man. You stepped into the eye of the storm and tried to stare at the sun, this is on you. Being a Drake got to your head. You thought you were more than you are, and at the same time, you thought being just a folk shielded you from fate. How could such a lowly creature bring about the end of the world? And yet, you can’t change the fact that some of the powerful gods of Asgard met their end because of you. How many more before you realise you are Asgard’s doom?’
Vengeance of Asgard is an unstoppable, thrilling book that concerns itself with Ragnarok as a function of Prophecy. In fact, it is telling how all the supposedly divine beings are nothing but pawns of prophecy. All of them are paralysed by thoughts of Ragnarok, and their ultimate fate is tied to the various stages of Ragnarok. The only one fighting actively against the precepts of prophecy is Drake, and yet, it is telling that his actions designed to thwart prophecy almost lead down the path that was prophesied. In a way, it reminds one of “An Appointment in Samarra” storyline - that there is no escaping destiny despite the ample free will everyone possesses.
“I’d like to tell you that you could cheat fate, but it’s impossible”
However, what the book does very well through Drake is to posit that prophecy and, therefore, Ragnarok might not actually be an endpoint but a marker in the journey through necessary sacrifices. Drake’s journey therefore, becomes the fight of a man raging against the dying of the light on his own terms. Drake, as a character among the overpowered beings surrounding him, demonstrates tremendous agency and his choices propel a compelling narrative forward. Drake’s history also gets revealed - I didn’t think that was particularly strong, but it does serve a purpose in the story
And this is a pretty unputdownable, thrilling, action-packed, gritty story that just doesn’t pause once the rubber hits the floor. The action sequences are suitably bloody, memorable, and easy to follow, while the desperation of the fighters shines through the frenetic writing on display. Despite the non-stop nature of the book, the author allows for characters to breathe and live through. Drake’s Wolves get their individual moments while Drake himself gets his chances to reconcile his relationship with Odin, Thor, and other important characters. The stakes are further enhanced personally for Drake when the by-product of a prophecy is revealed, and these moments are well-seeded in the book
“I grinned my most vicious grin, telling him in this simple message that death was coming for him. He should have stayed home. They all should have”
Ragnarok, esp post-MCU, has become a rather well-known commodity. What the author does rather well is move the focus away from the gods to someone on the ground. This is also done by showcasing the Gods as rather petulant, petty, almost human-like creatures, and none of them come out shining. That has been a common theme across the trilogy, but this book is particularly vituperative on them, especially in the first half. The second half of the book does allow for some reprieve, but the damage is done. I did love the ending of the series - in a way, it fulfils the apocalyptic nature of prophecy, but also gives hope. In a way, there is poetic justice all over, be it the very nature of the cycle of Ragnarok, or even Drake’s eventual fate, or the fate of the other realms. The book is basically non-stop, and once it finishes Drake’s quest prior to Ragnarok, it just absolutely monsters through. That was a point where I thought the book might have benefited from a non-linear storytelling, juxtaposing events from Ragnarok with the events from Drake’s quest
Vengeance of Asgard is a thrilling conclusion to the Army of One trilogy - a trilogy that is all about building the momentum till Ragnarok. It is action-packed and fast-paced for sure, but it never comes at the cost of individual character development or some fantastic relationship building. While pop culture has inundated us with enough elements of Ragnarok, the Army of One trilogy puts a fresh spin on things, focusing the story not on Ragnarok but on characters who go through it. The Army of One trilogy isn’t afraid to go big, and it goes really big with Vengeance of Asgard, which caps off this fantastic trilogy. The Twilight of the Gods arrives in a truly epic, gritty fashion in this power-packed trilogy
4.5 Prophecies on 5
Full RTC
***********************
Vengeance of Asgard (Army of One #3) by Baptiste Pinson Wu
This was never about stopping Ragnarok… It was about causing it” - Thor:Ragnarok
Mythology, in general, has always been something that captivates and fascinates me, given that I was raised in and surrounded by stories from Indian mythology (we just call it religion). I loved the stories from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythologies as my reading expanded, but Norse Mythology is one that is utterly fascinating for the simple reason that it ventures into the end of times territory, aka Ragnarok. Indian mythology also has this end-of-world prediction built in with the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Kalki avatar - but that story is yet to be written. Ragnarok is unique in the sense that it has happened (per mythology), and that is where we pick things up in Vengeance of Asgard
“This was to be the last battle of our time, the end of our world. This was to be Ragnarok, this age’s dusk.”
Vengeance of Asgard has Drake, our protagonist, trying to prepare a paralysed Asgard for Ragnarok. However, before we get to Ragnarok, Drake has a mission that he needs to complete to position Asgard for Ragnarok. That mission allows Drake to be with his team of Wolves for one last time - Wolves whom we didn’t see much in the previous book. Once that mission is completed (at very high cost), the stage is set for what we have been promised from the first book - Ragnarok
“You’re just a man. You stepped into the eye of the storm and tried to stare at the sun, this is on you. Being a Drake got to your head. You thought you were more than you are, and at the same time, you thought being just a folk shielded you from fate. How could such a lowly creature bring about the end of the world? And yet, you can’t change the fact that some of the powerful gods of Asgard met their end because of you. How many more before you realise you are Asgard’s doom?’
Vengeance of Asgard is an unstoppable, thrilling book that concerns itself with Ragnarok as a function of Prophecy. In fact, it is telling how all the supposedly divine beings are nothing but pawns of prophecy. All of them are paralysed by thoughts of Ragnarok, and their ultimate fate is tied to the various stages of Ragnarok. The only one fighting actively against the precepts of prophecy is Drake, and yet, it is telling that his actions designed to thwart prophecy almost lead down the path that was prophesied. In a way, it reminds one of “An Appointment in Samarra” storyline - that there is no escaping destiny despite the ample free will everyone possesses.
“I’d like to tell you that you could cheat fate, but it’s impossible”
However, what the book does very well through Drake is to posit that prophecy and, therefore, Ragnarok might not actually be an endpoint but a marker in the journey through necessary sacrifices. Drake’s journey therefore, becomes the fight of a man raging against the dying of the light on his own terms. Drake, as a character among the overpowered beings surrounding him, demonstrates tremendous agency and his choices propel a compelling narrative forward. Drake’s history also gets revealed - I didn’t think that was particularly strong, but it does serve a purpose in the story
And this is a pretty unputdownable, thrilling, action-packed, gritty story that just doesn’t pause once the rubber hits the floor. The action sequences are suitably bloody, memorable, and easy to follow, while the desperation of the fighters shines through the frenetic writing on display. Despite the non-stop nature of the book, the author allows for characters to breathe and live through. Drake’s Wolves get their individual moments while Drake himself gets his chances to reconcile his relationship with Odin, Thor, and other important characters. The stakes are further enhanced personally for Drake when the by-product of a prophecy is revealed, and these moments are well-seeded in the book
“I grinned my most vicious grin, telling him in this simple message that death was coming for him. He should have stayed home. They all should have”
Ragnarok, esp post-MCU, has become a rather well-known commodity. What the author does rather well is move the focus away from the gods to someone on the ground. This is also done by showcasing the Gods as rather petulant, petty, almost human-like creatures, and none of them come out shining. That has been a common theme across the trilogy, but this book is particularly vituperative on them, especially in the first half. The second half of the book does allow for some reprieve, but the damage is done. I did love the ending of the series - in a way, it fulfils the apocalyptic nature of prophecy, but also gives hope. In a way, there is poetic justice all over, be it the very nature of the cycle of Ragnarok, or even Drake’s eventual fate, or the fate of the other realms. The book is basically non-stop, and once it finishes Drake’s quest prior to Ragnarok, it just absolutely monsters through. That was a point where I thought the book might have benefited from a non-linear storytelling, juxtaposing events from Ragnarok with the events from Drake’s quest
Vengeance of Asgard is a thrilling conclusion to the Army of One trilogy - a trilogy that is all about building the momentum till Ragnarok. It is action-packed and fast-paced for sure, but it never comes at the cost of individual character development or some fantastic relationship building. While pop culture has inundated us with enough elements of Ragnarok, the Army of One trilogy puts a fresh spin on things, focusing the story not on Ragnarok but on characters who go through it. The Army of One trilogy isn’t afraid to go big, and it goes really big with Vengeance of Asgard, which caps off this fantastic trilogy. The Twilight of the Gods arrives in a truly epic, gritty fashion in this power-packed trilogy
4.5 Prophecies on 5
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