What do you think?
Rate this book
Midgard #2
Black Ice
New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard continues the thrilling urban fantasy series that began with Mist in Black Ice . Centuries ago, in Asgard, the Norse gods and goddesses fought their Last Battle with the trickster god Loki and his frost giants. All were believed lost, except for a few survivors…including the Valkyrie Mist, forgotten daughter of the goddess Freya. But the battle isn't over, and Mist―living a mortal life in San Francisco―is summoned to prepare for a new war, with the fate of earth hanging in the balance. Struggling to control her own growing power as she assembles a desperate team of allies, Mist faces enemies within and without, unable to fully trust even those closest to her. It will take all of Mist's courage, determination, and newfound magical abilities to stop Loki before history repeats itself.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 12, 2014
8 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Susan Krinard
76 books330 followersTrained as an artist with a BFA in Illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts, Susan Krinard became a writer in 1992 when a friend read a short story she'd written and suggested she try writing a romance novel. A long-time fan of science fiction and fantasy, Susan began reading romance -- and realized what she wanted to do was combine the two genres. Prince of Wolves, her first romance novel and one of the earliest to feature a werewolf hero, was the result. Within a year Susan had sold the manuscript to Bantam as part of a three-book contract, and the novel went on to make several bestseller lists.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 12, 2014
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
BLACK ICE continues along the same Norse vein as Susan Krinard’s first MIDGARD installment while adding even more characters, mythology and plot threads to the mix. In this book readers get to tag along as Mist preps for the coming battle with Loki by recruiting soldiers, locating the missing Valkyrie & their Treasures, and honing her magical abilities. The influx of new information was once again overwhelming at times, and having a strong understanding of Ragnarok and its lore is definitely advisable for maximum enjoyment. This series is heavily rooted in Fantasy, and although it does take place in a modern city, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it Urban Fantasy.
The sequel to MIST starts off with three main goals: the heroine must find the Treasures, stay a step ahead of Loki, and reestablish contact with Freya & Ginnungagap. However, more and more plot threads were added as this novel progressed which made it difficult to keep up. I wish that the author would have slowed her roll a bit, and focused more on character development and on building back stories instead of continuing to add to an already overflowing world. Anna and Orn were the only two newcomers that received any kind of introduction which just seemed odd to me considering we still know nothing about Gabi, Ryan, Danny, Edvard, Rick, Tashiro, Vidarr, Vail, Bryn, Eir, Sigrun, Regin, Rota, Skuld—well, you get the idea. There are LOTS of secondary characters.
Book 2 is heavy on dialogue and light on action which slowed the pacing down dramatically. I found myself enjoying the villains more than the protagonists because at least they were more clearly defined. Loki’s rants and schemes never disappoint—he is a trickster god after all—and I have yet to meet a version of him that I haven’t liked. Dainn is another interesting case, I think that ultimately he is a bad guy turned good (or at least as good as a dark elf can be), but he walks a fine line, and his end game is still anyone’s guess. Not to mention the screwed-up revelation that might just tip the scales in Loki’s favour.
Mist is the daughter of a frost giant and Freya, the Goddess of love & desire, and as a result she was born with a real hodgepodge of abilities. For the most part, the Valkyrie learns as she goes which made the magical rules of Krinard’s universe somewhat difficult to grasp; I expected this from the first installment, but was hoping for something a little more concrete from BLACK ICE. Mist did seem like she was more in control of her destiny in this novel which was a definite bonus. The budding relationship between her and Dainn didn’t play as much of a role in this book though which was also disappointing because I could have used a bit of fluff to help break-up the information overload.
BLACK ICE is bursting at the seams with gods, goddesses, and their minions; recommended for Norse mythology buffs.
BLACK ICE continues along the same Norse vein as Susan Krinard’s first MIDGARD installment while adding even more characters, mythology and plot threads to the mix. In this book readers get to tag along as Mist preps for the coming battle with Loki by recruiting soldiers, locating the missing Valkyrie & their Treasures, and honing her magical abilities. The influx of new information was once again overwhelming at times, and having a strong understanding of Ragnarok and its lore is definitely advisable for maximum enjoyment. This series is heavily rooted in Fantasy, and although it does take place in a modern city, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it Urban Fantasy.
The sequel to MIST starts off with three main goals: the heroine must find the Treasures, stay a step ahead of Loki, and reestablish contact with Freya & Ginnungagap. However, more and more plot threads were added as this novel progressed which made it difficult to keep up. I wish that the author would have slowed her roll a bit, and focused more on character development and on building back stories instead of continuing to add to an already overflowing world. Anna and Orn were the only two newcomers that received any kind of introduction which just seemed odd to me considering we still know nothing about Gabi, Ryan, Danny, Edvard, Rick, Tashiro, Vidarr, Vail, Bryn, Eir, Sigrun, Regin, Rota, Skuld—well, you get the idea. There are LOTS of secondary characters.
Book 2 is heavy on dialogue and light on action which slowed the pacing down dramatically. I found myself enjoying the villains more than the protagonists because at least they were more clearly defined. Loki’s rants and schemes never disappoint—he is a trickster god after all—and I have yet to meet a version of him that I haven’t liked. Dainn is another interesting case, I think that ultimately he is a bad guy turned good (or at least as good as a dark elf can be), but he walks a fine line, and his end game is still anyone’s guess. Not to mention the screwed-up revelation that might just tip the scales in Loki’s favour.
Mist is the daughter of a frost giant and Freya, the Goddess of love & desire, and as a result she was born with a real hodgepodge of abilities. For the most part, the Valkyrie learns as she goes which made the magical rules of Krinard’s universe somewhat difficult to grasp; I expected this from the first installment, but was hoping for something a little more concrete from BLACK ICE. Mist did seem like she was more in control of her destiny in this novel which was a definite bonus. The budding relationship between her and Dainn didn’t play as much of a role in this book though which was also disappointing because I could have used a bit of fluff to help break-up the information overload.
BLACK ICE is bursting at the seams with gods, goddesses, and their minions; recommended for Norse mythology buffs.
September 16, 2014
It’s pretty safe to say that the meaty, old-school urban fantasy Susan Krinard writes isn’t for everyone. This series is the epitome of its genre, heavily based in Norse mythology, with plenty of action but not a whole lot of romance to speak of. The upside, of course, is the abundance of information on Norse mythology, which is both entertaining and very educational. But at the same time, things like character development and humor suffer for it, and there is very little lightness to make this a more pleasurable reading experience for those who are not dedicated fans of the genre itself.
Trying to see Black Ice through the eyes of someone who doesn’t adore the genre itself was sometimes very hard. There is certainly more accessible urban fantasy to be found, and Krinard’s work is far more appropriate for urban fantasy purists. There are, believe it or not, people who prefer their UF free of humor, romance, and other things that serve to dilute and soften the narrative. I myself am not one of them, but I can appreciate what I like to call high urban fantasy on occasion.
Generally, Krinard’s sense of humor leaves a lot to be desired. I was disappointed by it in the first book, and this time it’s even more pronounced: this is an author who seems to be wholly unfamiliar with the concept of comic relief. In a narrative so heavily burdened with mythology, ancient weapons, gods and goddesses, a humorous remark here and there would have made a world of difference. As it is, there are parts that seem a bit dry and hard to get through.
Truth be told, this book also needed more in the way of character development. Mist’s powers continue to grow rapidly, reflecting the fact that she’s not just a regular Valkyrie, but daughter of the goddess Freya herself. While her powers grow almost beyond control, Mist remains the same. She is the quiet, stoic heroine, almost to the point of being bland. She has very few defining qualities and no faults to speak of, which makes it very hard for us to see her as an actual person and sympathize with her.
It needs to be said that the worldbuilding here is quite spectacular. Admittedly, it relies heavily on Norse mythology, but I was impressed both by Krinard’s research and by her use of mythological figures. Loki, of course, causes mayhem on every turn (try reading this without picturing Tom Hiddleston as Loki, I dare you), and Freya, a silent threat so very distant but so present at the same time, was even more impressive.
My emotional investment starts and ends with Loki’s son Danny, an autistic boy too powerful not to be considered a threat to gods. Krinard was very smart to include him in this installment, not only because he makes us feel protective, but because he makes Loki a far more interesting villain.
Overall, I will be reading the next book, despite the flaws mentioned. There are things that could have been better, but there’s also plenty to admire. This series may not be for everyone, but I’m already deeply invested in it.
Trying to see Black Ice through the eyes of someone who doesn’t adore the genre itself was sometimes very hard. There is certainly more accessible urban fantasy to be found, and Krinard’s work is far more appropriate for urban fantasy purists. There are, believe it or not, people who prefer their UF free of humor, romance, and other things that serve to dilute and soften the narrative. I myself am not one of them, but I can appreciate what I like to call high urban fantasy on occasion.
Generally, Krinard’s sense of humor leaves a lot to be desired. I was disappointed by it in the first book, and this time it’s even more pronounced: this is an author who seems to be wholly unfamiliar with the concept of comic relief. In a narrative so heavily burdened with mythology, ancient weapons, gods and goddesses, a humorous remark here and there would have made a world of difference. As it is, there are parts that seem a bit dry and hard to get through.
Truth be told, this book also needed more in the way of character development. Mist’s powers continue to grow rapidly, reflecting the fact that she’s not just a regular Valkyrie, but daughter of the goddess Freya herself. While her powers grow almost beyond control, Mist remains the same. She is the quiet, stoic heroine, almost to the point of being bland. She has very few defining qualities and no faults to speak of, which makes it very hard for us to see her as an actual person and sympathize with her.
It needs to be said that the worldbuilding here is quite spectacular. Admittedly, it relies heavily on Norse mythology, but I was impressed both by Krinard’s research and by her use of mythological figures. Loki, of course, causes mayhem on every turn (try reading this without picturing Tom Hiddleston as Loki, I dare you), and Freya, a silent threat so very distant but so present at the same time, was even more impressive.
My emotional investment starts and ends with Loki’s son Danny, an autistic boy too powerful not to be considered a threat to gods. Krinard was very smart to include him in this installment, not only because he makes us feel protective, but because he makes Loki a far more interesting villain.
Overall, I will be reading the next book, despite the flaws mentioned. There are things that could have been better, but there’s also plenty to admire. This series may not be for everyone, but I’m already deeply invested in it.
August 9, 2014
"Black Ice" is the second book in Susan Krinard's "Midgard" series about the confrontation on Earth between Loki, the infamous Norse traitor, and Mist, a Valkyrie and daughter of Freya.
It will be in stores on August 12, 2014. It is a fresh look at ancient Norse gods and characters, who are often absent from the urban fantasy landscape. For that reason alone, it's a welcome diversion. However, Krinard's story askews a straightforward narrative, adds in two major characters and muddies the general story line set forth in the first book in this series. The resultant story, while original in parts, is so robust that its hard to follow all of the various plot lines. I am not a big believer in adding major elements of the story in the second volume, that have nothing to do with the first book.
As we know from the first novel, Mist is using magic and the aid of Dainn, a legendary elfin traitor, to try to thwart Loki's plans for world domination. Mist is gathering her various Valkyrie sisters to her side to fight Loki and save the humans from Loki's foul plans. However, Mist's side is plagued with traitors, Odin's sons turn against her, Dainn is not trustworthy, and even a lawyer hired to help find homes for orphan children may not be acting in Mist's best interests.
Then there is Anna Stangeland, who seems to have a remnant of Odin, in the shape of a raven masquerading as a parrot named Orn, who wants to find Mist, but seems to have plans of his own.
There is so much going on that its sometimes hard to keep it all straight.
"Black Ice" is certainly eventful and full of action, which are good elements in this complex story. But the Orn element, Dainn story, Danny story, Ryan story and the various betrayals and subterfuges all compete for attention in this swollen volume. The Orn element and the Danny story are new elements just added to story. It makes sense to switch points of view in a second book, but Krinard switches between several major characters, so that the Mist story sometimes takes a backseat.
Krinard has bitten off so much, filling the novel to the breaking point, and then in the last few pages gamely tries to set up for the next book in the series. It is not clear that she succeeds.
While again enjoying the Mist story line, one has to wonder --w as it necessary to add in the Danny story? Who is Orn and what does he want with Mist? How will Dainn ever escape Loki and Freya's plans for him enough to help Mist?
Maybe the third volume in this new adventures of the Norse gods will be more structured and not bursting at the seams with new characters, new confrontations. Let us hope so.
It will be in stores on August 12, 2014. It is a fresh look at ancient Norse gods and characters, who are often absent from the urban fantasy landscape. For that reason alone, it's a welcome diversion. However, Krinard's story askews a straightforward narrative, adds in two major characters and muddies the general story line set forth in the first book in this series. The resultant story, while original in parts, is so robust that its hard to follow all of the various plot lines. I am not a big believer in adding major elements of the story in the second volume, that have nothing to do with the first book.
As we know from the first novel, Mist is using magic and the aid of Dainn, a legendary elfin traitor, to try to thwart Loki's plans for world domination. Mist is gathering her various Valkyrie sisters to her side to fight Loki and save the humans from Loki's foul plans. However, Mist's side is plagued with traitors, Odin's sons turn against her, Dainn is not trustworthy, and even a lawyer hired to help find homes for orphan children may not be acting in Mist's best interests.
Then there is Anna Stangeland, who seems to have a remnant of Odin, in the shape of a raven masquerading as a parrot named Orn, who wants to find Mist, but seems to have plans of his own.
There is so much going on that its sometimes hard to keep it all straight.
"Black Ice" is certainly eventful and full of action, which are good elements in this complex story. But the Orn element, Dainn story, Danny story, Ryan story and the various betrayals and subterfuges all compete for attention in this swollen volume. The Orn element and the Danny story are new elements just added to story. It makes sense to switch points of view in a second book, but Krinard switches between several major characters, so that the Mist story sometimes takes a backseat.
Krinard has bitten off so much, filling the novel to the breaking point, and then in the last few pages gamely tries to set up for the next book in the series. It is not clear that she succeeds.
While again enjoying the Mist story line, one has to wonder --w as it necessary to add in the Danny story? Who is Orn and what does he want with Mist? How will Dainn ever escape Loki and Freya's plans for him enough to help Mist?
Maybe the third volume in this new adventures of the Norse gods will be more structured and not bursting at the seams with new characters, new confrontations. Let us hope so.
June 18, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/18...
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9780765332097
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.0/5
Publisher Description: Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie known as Mist one of the only survivors.
Review: The cover art is strangely compelling. Oh right, I am a dude. If I was a bald septuagenarian art critic, I would say it needed a redo. Longer hair, big breast plate (hehe) and knee high leather boots.
Confusing book is confusing. Initially there are so many character names/roles thrown out there that you just don’t have the energy to track that shjt. But that was my bad, as I didn’t read the first book in the series. If I had, there would be no review on this work as I never would have read it.
There is endless pages of dialogue that blanket any action or story-line. The characters are slim in development and are purveyed to the point where you don’t give a shjt what happens to them. Mist’s epithets range from “Odin’s balls” to “Loki’s piss”. Inventive to be sure. There were some honest moments of clarity where Mist finally sheds her tired and overworked goddess persona to galavant around the town with Dainn, (casting spells, finding Loki magic etc.) a hotty elf-man/boy with “deep indigo eyes”. People were murmuring here and there approximately 17 times throughout the novel. Not too bad considering the massive amounts of dialogue. There is some weirdness involved where a boy named Danny is the offspring of Loki and Dainn that seemed more like a story-line afterthought.
This was a confused, boring, messed up attempt at depicting Norse mythology. I think my Norse ancestors would be as insulted as I.
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9780765332097
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.0/5
Publisher Description: Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie known as Mist one of the only survivors.
Review: The cover art is strangely compelling. Oh right, I am a dude. If I was a bald septuagenarian art critic, I would say it needed a redo. Longer hair, big breast plate (hehe) and knee high leather boots.
Confusing book is confusing. Initially there are so many character names/roles thrown out there that you just don’t have the energy to track that shjt. But that was my bad, as I didn’t read the first book in the series. If I had, there would be no review on this work as I never would have read it.
There is endless pages of dialogue that blanket any action or story-line. The characters are slim in development and are purveyed to the point where you don’t give a shjt what happens to them. Mist’s epithets range from “Odin’s balls” to “Loki’s piss”. Inventive to be sure. There were some honest moments of clarity where Mist finally sheds her tired and overworked goddess persona to galavant around the town with Dainn, (casting spells, finding Loki magic etc.) a hotty elf-man/boy with “deep indigo eyes”. People were murmuring here and there approximately 17 times throughout the novel. Not too bad considering the massive amounts of dialogue. There is some weirdness involved where a boy named Danny is the offspring of Loki and Dainn that seemed more like a story-line afterthought.
This was a confused, boring, messed up attempt at depicting Norse mythology. I think my Norse ancestors would be as insulted as I.
August 15, 2019
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Black Ice" by Susan Krinard continues the story of Mist and her allies as they seek to stop the god of michief Loki from collecting the treasures of Odin before he harms the people of Midgard. Mist in the meantime must learn to discover her own gifts and powers and struggle with the problems of leadership.
Book 2 was another "okay" part to this series. I still continued to have fun and overall enjoyed it. I did struggle with the fact that I just felt like the same things were happening in this book that were happening in book 1, and I felt like the plot really went nowhere. Susan Krinard has a fantastic premise and setup but doesn't ultimately know what to do with it at times to really expand the world she's set up. I was kind of hoping that this book would really go through with the "action-adventure-globe-trotting" angle when book 1 ended with Mist and her allies realizing they need to hunt down all the remaining Valkyrie who possess the treasures of Odin. Instead, when Mist and company discover a new Valkyrie, that narrative is over within a chapter. I just felt like some amazing opportunities were missed to have fun with that narrative. Susan Krinard feels the need to rush back to San Francisco which feels the must mundane of everything going on.
Still loved the Dainn/Mist/Loki dynamic. I need somebody to hookup! The introduction of the little boy Danny was a nice curveball. And really enjoyed Anna and her bird Orn.
As far as some more negatives I still just don't understand the point of characters like Ryan, Gabi, and Tashiro. Why are they there? Their stories have gone absolutely nowhere. I think there's a problem in general with an overabundance of characters.
At the end of the day, this series isn't perfect. I mentioned in my book 1 review that this series isn't meant to be amazing literature, but it's still fun and enjoyable and I love the concept of modern day Norse mythology.
"Black Ice" by Susan Krinard continues the story of Mist and her allies as they seek to stop the god of michief Loki from collecting the treasures of Odin before he harms the people of Midgard. Mist in the meantime must learn to discover her own gifts and powers and struggle with the problems of leadership.
Book 2 was another "okay" part to this series. I still continued to have fun and overall enjoyed it. I did struggle with the fact that I just felt like the same things were happening in this book that were happening in book 1, and I felt like the plot really went nowhere. Susan Krinard has a fantastic premise and setup but doesn't ultimately know what to do with it at times to really expand the world she's set up. I was kind of hoping that this book would really go through with the "action-adventure-globe-trotting" angle when book 1 ended with Mist and her allies realizing they need to hunt down all the remaining Valkyrie who possess the treasures of Odin. Instead, when Mist and company discover a new Valkyrie, that narrative is over within a chapter. I just felt like some amazing opportunities were missed to have fun with that narrative. Susan Krinard feels the need to rush back to San Francisco which feels the must mundane of everything going on.
Still loved the Dainn/Mist/Loki dynamic. I need somebody to hookup! The introduction of the little boy Danny was a nice curveball. And really enjoyed Anna and her bird Orn.
As far as some more negatives I still just don't understand the point of characters like Ryan, Gabi, and Tashiro. Why are they there? Their stories have gone absolutely nowhere. I think there's a problem in general with an overabundance of characters.
At the end of the day, this series isn't perfect. I mentioned in my book 1 review that this series isn't meant to be amazing literature, but it's still fun and enjoyable and I love the concept of modern day Norse mythology.
July 19, 2014
I would like to thank NetGalley & Tor Books for giving me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Thankfully this sequel lives up, and exceeds, to the standards set for it. Mist is still struggling to control her magic, which continues to grow at an astounding rate. But for her to learn about her magic she must trust Dainn, and trust is in short supply between those two. Although she wants to trust him there are a few too many incidents during which he has revealed either a lie or partial truth he's told to Mist - always claiming they were for her own protection or that of someone she cares about. Dainn seems almost allergic to sharing the entire truth, at least to Mist.
Yet they share a growing attraction, and Mist has yet to stop defending him. Possibly because she understands part of his pain, both of them having been deceived by Loki in the guise of their lover. Though of course Dainn suffered a far greater punishment, one that seems to keep getting worse as time goes by.
Mist has been thrust into the role of leading the opposition against Loki's planned takeover of Midgard. And though Freya, her recently discovered mother, may arrive in time to help, Mist can't wait for her arrival. Not too mention, Mist isn't too sure how much she trusts Freya. Why ignore her daughter all these centuries only to 'claim' her as kin on the eve of the next Ragnarok? And Dainn seems to run hot and cold whenever the top of her mother comes up.
Poor Mist has a large role to fill, and she keeps getting hit time after time with shocking surprises, few of them good. Though she does find some of her Valkyrie Sisters, unfortunately some are still unaccounted for, and that could mean that they're either still out there, or that Loki's found them first. She also must come to grips with her new magical ability, but there are problems with doing so, problems she is unaware of. And time may run out before she learns of the danger she's facing. She also must come to terms with the 'glamor' she's inherited from her mother, the ability to turn heads without even knowing it. But in this sense it's her newfound ability to draw people to their cause, people who feel the call to save their way of life. Too bad most of those people are just average people rather than the trained warriors she so desperately needs. But even the average person can rise up and surprise themselves. Can they do it when facing frost giants? That remains to be seen.
Full of action, and high on emotion, this second book is everything the first book promised and so much more. It's got forbidden love, family drama, teenage rebellion, deceit, betrayal, stunning alliances, revelations to shock even the most stalwart reader, and plenty of hints of things to come. The majority of the action and drama centers on Mist, Dainn, and Loki, however that doesn't discount all the other crucial characters: Vali, Ryan, Bryn, Anna, Orn, Vidarr, Gabi, Danny, Tashiro, Eir, Edvard, and so many others. There are plenty of shocks throughout the book, and certainly not all just for Mist. The end of this exciting read is not only a cliffhanger, but a very thought provoking one. It will challenge you to think of all the different ways in which the final statements could be fulfilled, ensuring the story stays present in your mind until the next book is released.
New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard continues the thrilling urban fantasy series that began with Mist in Black Ice.
Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie known as Mist one of the only survivors.
Or so she thought.
The trickster god Loki has reappeared in San Francisco, and he has big plans for modern-day Earth. With few allies and fewer resources—but the eyes of the gods and goddesses of an old world upon her—it’s up to Mist to stop him before history repeats itself.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
Thankfully this sequel lives up, and exceeds, to the standards set for it. Mist is still struggling to control her magic, which continues to grow at an astounding rate. But for her to learn about her magic she must trust Dainn, and trust is in short supply between those two. Although she wants to trust him there are a few too many incidents during which he has revealed either a lie or partial truth he's told to Mist - always claiming they were for her own protection or that of someone she cares about. Dainn seems almost allergic to sharing the entire truth, at least to Mist.
Yet they share a growing attraction, and Mist has yet to stop defending him. Possibly because she understands part of his pain, both of them having been deceived by Loki in the guise of their lover. Though of course Dainn suffered a far greater punishment, one that seems to keep getting worse as time goes by.
Mist has been thrust into the role of leading the opposition against Loki's planned takeover of Midgard. And though Freya, her recently discovered mother, may arrive in time to help, Mist can't wait for her arrival. Not too mention, Mist isn't too sure how much she trusts Freya. Why ignore her daughter all these centuries only to 'claim' her as kin on the eve of the next Ragnarok? And Dainn seems to run hot and cold whenever the top of her mother comes up.
Poor Mist has a large role to fill, and she keeps getting hit time after time with shocking surprises, few of them good. Though she does find some of her Valkyrie Sisters, unfortunately some are still unaccounted for, and that could mean that they're either still out there, or that Loki's found them first. She also must come to grips with her new magical ability, but there are problems with doing so, problems she is unaware of. And time may run out before she learns of the danger she's facing. She also must come to terms with the 'glamor' she's inherited from her mother, the ability to turn heads without even knowing it. But in this sense it's her newfound ability to draw people to their cause, people who feel the call to save their way of life. Too bad most of those people are just average people rather than the trained warriors she so desperately needs. But even the average person can rise up and surprise themselves. Can they do it when facing frost giants? That remains to be seen.
Full of action, and high on emotion, this second book is everything the first book promised and so much more. It's got forbidden love, family drama, teenage rebellion, deceit, betrayal, stunning alliances, revelations to shock even the most stalwart reader, and plenty of hints of things to come. The majority of the action and drama centers on Mist, Dainn, and Loki, however that doesn't discount all the other crucial characters: Vali, Ryan, Bryn, Anna, Orn, Vidarr, Gabi, Danny, Tashiro, Eir, Edvard, and so many others. There are plenty of shocks throughout the book, and certainly not all just for Mist. The end of this exciting read is not only a cliffhanger, but a very thought provoking one. It will challenge you to think of all the different ways in which the final statements could be fulfilled, ensuring the story stays present in your mind until the next book is released.
September 12, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My English review
After enjoying the first book, I was excited to discover this second volume by Susan Krinard. I must say that I have a soft spot for everything about mythology and it’s true that this volume presents everything that can please me.
We thus find Mist, always equal to herself, and who finds herself increasingly at the heart of a war she must lead to save the world. Indeed, now that one of her sisters, Bryn, teamed up with her, she knows that she will have to find all the others so they help her to oppose Loki and his plan. Yet this is far from simple and new problems are constantly being added. Anna, a young woman, is strangely attracted to Mist and her bird encourages her to go to her. But as she tries to follow her instincts, it seems that Loki and other characters are very interested in her future. But besides that, Dainn is in a borderline control with the beast he carries in and he is not persuaded to stay long master of himself. Allies could become enemies and vice versa, but Mist should always keep a cool head in order to find the best solutions for all. But between the searches of her sisters, her desire to protect everyone and the control she must have over everyone, Mist will really have many things to do throughout the novel.
Our heroine has changed a lot throughout the two volumes, and it’s true that I’m pretty impressed with her composure and all she has to manage simultaneously. True, she does not have all the answers, but she tries to do her best at all times. Of course, her only weak point is that she must always monitor Dainn and to assure that he does not go wild. Mist also has a fiery temperament and is always demanded everywhere. The allies gather but it is just the beginning. We also have many revelations and turning situations throughout the story and I admit that I was surprised more than once by the particular purpose for which I was not expecting at all. We’ll learn here a little more about the past of the young woman as well as the ones of other characters. I also forgot to mention one of the new characters that we discover, like Danny? I admit that this autistic child immediately intrigued me and being the son of Loki, one wonders what will be his fate and what course he will take.
I had a lot of fun with this second novel and all the characters are found here. There’s really no downtime and mythology is more present than ever. Susan presents a nice mix of mythology, conspiracies, creatures of all kinds and a foretaste of a war that promises to be epic. So it was a very pleasant surprise and I look forward now to dive into the sequel that looks more than promising.
My English review
After enjoying the first book, I was excited to discover this second volume by Susan Krinard. I must say that I have a soft spot for everything about mythology and it’s true that this volume presents everything that can please me.
We thus find Mist, always equal to herself, and who finds herself increasingly at the heart of a war she must lead to save the world. Indeed, now that one of her sisters, Bryn, teamed up with her, she knows that she will have to find all the others so they help her to oppose Loki and his plan. Yet this is far from simple and new problems are constantly being added. Anna, a young woman, is strangely attracted to Mist and her bird encourages her to go to her. But as she tries to follow her instincts, it seems that Loki and other characters are very interested in her future. But besides that, Dainn is in a borderline control with the beast he carries in and he is not persuaded to stay long master of himself. Allies could become enemies and vice versa, but Mist should always keep a cool head in order to find the best solutions for all. But between the searches of her sisters, her desire to protect everyone and the control she must have over everyone, Mist will really have many things to do throughout the novel.
Our heroine has changed a lot throughout the two volumes, and it’s true that I’m pretty impressed with her composure and all she has to manage simultaneously. True, she does not have all the answers, but she tries to do her best at all times. Of course, her only weak point is that she must always monitor Dainn and to assure that he does not go wild. Mist also has a fiery temperament and is always demanded everywhere. The allies gather but it is just the beginning. We also have many revelations and turning situations throughout the story and I admit that I was surprised more than once by the particular purpose for which I was not expecting at all. We’ll learn here a little more about the past of the young woman as well as the ones of other characters. I also forgot to mention one of the new characters that we discover, like Danny? I admit that this autistic child immediately intrigued me and being the son of Loki, one wonders what will be his fate and what course he will take.
I had a lot of fun with this second novel and all the characters are found here. There’s really no downtime and mythology is more present than ever. Susan presents a nice mix of mythology, conspiracies, creatures of all kinds and a foretaste of a war that promises to be epic. So it was a very pleasant surprise and I look forward now to dive into the sequel that looks more than promising.
November 21, 2014
This is the second book in the Midgard series. It follows closely to what happened in the first book, Mist, and this should not be read out of order. If you are looking for action, then this is the series for you. While we had some hints of romance in the first book and it was continued in this book, I didn't feel connected to it. It just didn't quite have the same impact as it did in the first book. Mist's development continues in this story and I have enjoyed how much she has grown. I think this growth will continue as she becomes more comfortable with her power and how powerful she will become.
We also get introduced to a few secondary characters. I hope those get more developed as the series progresses. I can see a lot of potential with some of them. Right now they are all a bit underdeveloped but we just met them and we seemed to be in the midst of some battle when they came onto the scene. There are some animal characters that have personality and I look forward to learning more about them as well.
I give this book 3 stars. It is a good continuation to the big showdown you know is coming. I recommend it to those that enjoy UF with a lean toward fantasy as well as those that know their norse mythology.
We also get introduced to a few secondary characters. I hope those get more developed as the series progresses. I can see a lot of potential with some of them. Right now they are all a bit underdeveloped but we just met them and we seemed to be in the midst of some battle when they came onto the scene. There are some animal characters that have personality and I look forward to learning more about them as well.
I give this book 3 stars. It is a good continuation to the big showdown you know is coming. I recommend it to those that enjoy UF with a lean toward fantasy as well as those that know their norse mythology.
May 6, 2015
Great series, Norse mythology mixed in present day. A battle is brewing that may end earth as we know it. The future of Midgard is in the balance. Looking forward to the third book in this trilogy!!!!
nope
April 2, 2016"And Sigyn--" [Loki] shrugged. "She was never worthy of me." pg. 264
*throws book into a dumpster fire*
*throws book into a dumpster fire*
November 16, 2020
Mist, a Valkyrie survivor of the Last Battle, is fighting off Loki with few resources and fewer allies. And the allies she has are not very dependable. Then Anna appeared with Orn, a gray parrot that could change into a Raven, and the conflict escalated. Mist manages to thwart Loki on some fronts, gaining some of the treasures of the Norse Gods, but in the end losing a key ally while gaining a goddess who seems less than helpful. Susan Krinard has created an interesting universe, but if you have a chance, start with Mist, the first volume of this series before reading , so that you know what is going on.
July 30, 2023
And the story continues, lots if twists and turns with magic. You think you know who the bad guys are but ... are you sure?
September 14, 2014
The battle to stop Loki bringing devastation to Earth continues – Mist has to gather her allies, call in her sister Valkyries and the Norse treasures they were holding, anything that can give her an advantage in the coming conflicts
She’s also attracting mortal allies – but is that through genuine need or her own powers changing their choices? Because Mist is also the daughter of the goddess Freya and that’s definitely a learning curve – and brings complications since Freya’s motives may not be entirely what they seem
And there’s Loki, source of all kinds of chaos – who has got his son involved.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Norse Mythology and this story takes it and runs with it. We’ve got some decent research with a lot more myths than the standard, well known elements being presented, including the fascinating treasures that litter the Norse gods. This book takes them, the gods, the world setting, the mythology, the runes and makes something really fun and really fascinating with it. The story of the Valkyrie, unknown godchild, facing off against the devastating forces of Loki with numerous other members of the pantheon playing their own manipulative games is an really good one and definitely seizes my attention
The book even acknowledged that Freya is more than just a succubus. Well, just. There’s a brief nod to Freya once having martial aspects before focusing again on all her terribad sexiness that drowns everything in sex and did we mention the sexiness?
The plot is complicated and involved with several threads and battles going on at the same time while Mist tries to handle them all, learn to trust others and learn exactly what she has become. She does seem to spend more time commenting on how exhausted she is than doing exhausting things though; there was also waaaaay too much dialogue and internal monologue for people desperately battling away
She and her sister Valkyries are all competent, but they’re also very different women. There’s a really huge potential for these women to pool their resources and skills and be a far greater whole.
There are greater problems though
I have a great way for Mist to defeat Loki.
Step 1: Stab Dainn
Step 2: repeat Step 1 until no movement is detected
Step 3: scrape up remains and drop into wood chipper
Step 4: assign Einherjar to watch the remains and stomp on anything that twitches.
No, seriously. I think Dainn may be one of the biggest barriers to Mist actually getting anything done. She spends so much time worrying about him, questioning his loyalty, fearing for him that she actually does very little outside of that, he’s something of an obsession of hers. In turn he does little that’s productive except mope and whine and angst and mope some more – occasionally becoming a big monstrous thing that can be thrown against the enemy (his one real use). It would help a lot more if he didn’t keep so many secrets – he keeps so much from Mist that he’s a constant liability.
In fact, though he’s the main culprit, the entire secrecy of the series is quite ridiculous. Mist doesn’t share things with her fellow Valkyrie. They tend to keep secrets from her (oh, I have a berserker, did I not mention that? Silly me). Dain doesn’t mention Freya’s true motives, his meetings with Loki, the nature of the beast and just about anything else he ever learns. No-one tells Anna anything and the Raven tells no-one nothing.
And then they all angst about their secrets. It makes the book so painfully slow – because we have all of these plot points that could be advanced so much faster and so much more meaningfully if people decided to share their myriad secrets. And I get not trusting people – but there must be a core of trust between these characters! On top of being road blocks for the plot, so many of these characters have big internal monologues about their secrets (looking at you Dainn) that we have further padding of the book. And I’m tired of Dainn keeping things from Mist for her own good, going behind Mist’s back for her own protection et al; it never works out for him so why does he keep doing it? On the plus side, it doesn’t work out for him and each time it’s clear how his patronising, patriarchal foolishness comes back to bite them all – but it’s done now. Can we stop.
Read More
She’s also attracting mortal allies – but is that through genuine need or her own powers changing their choices? Because Mist is also the daughter of the goddess Freya and that’s definitely a learning curve – and brings complications since Freya’s motives may not be entirely what they seem
And there’s Loki, source of all kinds of chaos – who has got his son involved.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Norse Mythology and this story takes it and runs with it. We’ve got some decent research with a lot more myths than the standard, well known elements being presented, including the fascinating treasures that litter the Norse gods. This book takes them, the gods, the world setting, the mythology, the runes and makes something really fun and really fascinating with it. The story of the Valkyrie, unknown godchild, facing off against the devastating forces of Loki with numerous other members of the pantheon playing their own manipulative games is an really good one and definitely seizes my attention
The book even acknowledged that Freya is more than just a succubus. Well, just. There’s a brief nod to Freya once having martial aspects before focusing again on all her terribad sexiness that drowns everything in sex and did we mention the sexiness?
The plot is complicated and involved with several threads and battles going on at the same time while Mist tries to handle them all, learn to trust others and learn exactly what she has become. She does seem to spend more time commenting on how exhausted she is than doing exhausting things though; there was also waaaaay too much dialogue and internal monologue for people desperately battling away
She and her sister Valkyries are all competent, but they’re also very different women. There’s a really huge potential for these women to pool their resources and skills and be a far greater whole.
There are greater problems though
I have a great way for Mist to defeat Loki.
Step 1: Stab Dainn
Step 2: repeat Step 1 until no movement is detected
Step 3: scrape up remains and drop into wood chipper
Step 4: assign Einherjar to watch the remains and stomp on anything that twitches.
No, seriously. I think Dainn may be one of the biggest barriers to Mist actually getting anything done. She spends so much time worrying about him, questioning his loyalty, fearing for him that she actually does very little outside of that, he’s something of an obsession of hers. In turn he does little that’s productive except mope and whine and angst and mope some more – occasionally becoming a big monstrous thing that can be thrown against the enemy (his one real use). It would help a lot more if he didn’t keep so many secrets – he keeps so much from Mist that he’s a constant liability.
In fact, though he’s the main culprit, the entire secrecy of the series is quite ridiculous. Mist doesn’t share things with her fellow Valkyrie. They tend to keep secrets from her (oh, I have a berserker, did I not mention that? Silly me). Dain doesn’t mention Freya’s true motives, his meetings with Loki, the nature of the beast and just about anything else he ever learns. No-one tells Anna anything and the Raven tells no-one nothing.
And then they all angst about their secrets. It makes the book so painfully slow – because we have all of these plot points that could be advanced so much faster and so much more meaningfully if people decided to share their myriad secrets. And I get not trusting people – but there must be a core of trust between these characters! On top of being road blocks for the plot, so many of these characters have big internal monologues about their secrets (looking at you Dainn) that we have further padding of the book. And I’m tired of Dainn keeping things from Mist for her own good, going behind Mist’s back for her own protection et al; it never works out for him so why does he keep doing it? On the plus side, it doesn’t work out for him and each time it’s clear how his patronising, patriarchal foolishness comes back to bite them all – but it’s done now. Can we stop.
Read More
March 12, 2017
review coming
August 7, 2014
4*s
review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Black Ice is the action packed sequel to Mist and book 2 in the Midgard series.
We join Mist almost immediately after her showdown with Loki in the finale of book one. Mist, Dainn and her allies are recovering from the battle with Loki, regrouping and working through the discoveries they made. They know that Loki will attack again but whether it’s today, tomorrow or months from now they have no idea, but one thing they do know is that they need to be prepared. They also know that they need to strengthen their side and to do that, they need to find more of the Valkyrie and the gifts they protect. On the other side, Loki is also looking at what he learned from the battle with Mist, he’s left wondering whether Mist is powerful in her own right or whether it all comes from her mother…. He knows he must find out though and he also has a few more tricks up his sleeve, one that will surely bring Dainn and his beast to heel.
The battle for Midgard is only just starting and both sides are preparing for the long game so now its all about getting your players and placing them on the board.
I thought Black Ice was a good sequel to Mist and I really enjoyed it. It was a really fast paced read filled with action, betrayal, misdirection and secrets galore, where it feels like everyone has an agenda and you never know who to trust.
Mist again is a great character, quite hardened by her warrior/Valkyrie status, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders at the minute and everyone is looking to her to be the leader, a position that makes her uncomfortable but she will own it. I would have liked to see her soften a bit because she is so stuck in her role and I had thought she might have found something with Dainn but alas not yet. Dainn is still mysterious but we get a couple of reveals about him that show him in a different light, he is still struggling with his beast and I thought it showed his crumbling will against it well but also his determination to keep in check – as if he needs to do this for Mist, but he’s still keeping secrets from her so I’ll be curious to see what becomes of that.
The storyline was a good progression and whilst it was action packed and a good few secrets were revealed, it did seem like it was all about building their allies up to create an army. Obviously Loki is still looking for ways to create portals so that he can gain the upper hand but Mist is always there to thwart him. Loki seems to hold all of the cards as well and that he is manipulating the whole story, playing Mist & Dainn like puppets, testing the powers, what they know and playing with emotions in a way only Loki can. I did enjoy the new characters in this and thought it was logical that Mist would be trying to locate her Valkyrie sisters, what they bring to the story is interesting and I liked how they were found and what they had to offer. Loki also brought some surprises to the story which opens the world up even further but brings a situation that really does require a stretch of the imagination. Freya will also make an appearance but whether Dainn’s plan to keep her out of Mists body has worked remains to be seen and as Mists power grows, she becomes more of a target. The plot is really jam packed with action and the pacing is very fast but I liked that, yes the story is complicated and there is a lot to keep track of but it was certainly easier reading that the first book now that we are well acquainted with the characters, their world and what is at stake. I’ll be looking out for book 3 for sure.
review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Black Ice is the action packed sequel to Mist and book 2 in the Midgard series.
We join Mist almost immediately after her showdown with Loki in the finale of book one. Mist, Dainn and her allies are recovering from the battle with Loki, regrouping and working through the discoveries they made. They know that Loki will attack again but whether it’s today, tomorrow or months from now they have no idea, but one thing they do know is that they need to be prepared. They also know that they need to strengthen their side and to do that, they need to find more of the Valkyrie and the gifts they protect. On the other side, Loki is also looking at what he learned from the battle with Mist, he’s left wondering whether Mist is powerful in her own right or whether it all comes from her mother…. He knows he must find out though and he also has a few more tricks up his sleeve, one that will surely bring Dainn and his beast to heel.
The battle for Midgard is only just starting and both sides are preparing for the long game so now its all about getting your players and placing them on the board.
I thought Black Ice was a good sequel to Mist and I really enjoyed it. It was a really fast paced read filled with action, betrayal, misdirection and secrets galore, where it feels like everyone has an agenda and you never know who to trust.
Mist again is a great character, quite hardened by her warrior/Valkyrie status, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders at the minute and everyone is looking to her to be the leader, a position that makes her uncomfortable but she will own it. I would have liked to see her soften a bit because she is so stuck in her role and I had thought she might have found something with Dainn but alas not yet. Dainn is still mysterious but we get a couple of reveals about him that show him in a different light, he is still struggling with his beast and I thought it showed his crumbling will against it well but also his determination to keep in check – as if he needs to do this for Mist, but he’s still keeping secrets from her so I’ll be curious to see what becomes of that.
The storyline was a good progression and whilst it was action packed and a good few secrets were revealed, it did seem like it was all about building their allies up to create an army. Obviously Loki is still looking for ways to create portals so that he can gain the upper hand but Mist is always there to thwart him. Loki seems to hold all of the cards as well and that he is manipulating the whole story, playing Mist & Dainn like puppets, testing the powers, what they know and playing with emotions in a way only Loki can. I did enjoy the new characters in this and thought it was logical that Mist would be trying to locate her Valkyrie sisters, what they bring to the story is interesting and I liked how they were found and what they had to offer. Loki also brought some surprises to the story which opens the world up even further but brings a situation that really does require a stretch of the imagination. Freya will also make an appearance but whether Dainn’s plan to keep her out of Mists body has worked remains to be seen and as Mists power grows, she becomes more of a target. The plot is really jam packed with action and the pacing is very fast but I liked that, yes the story is complicated and there is a lot to keep track of but it was certainly easier reading that the first book now that we are well acquainted with the characters, their world and what is at stake. I’ll be looking out for book 3 for sure.
August 24, 2014
Originally published at Reading Reality
Black Ice is the followup to the first book in this series, Mist. I can definitely say that the title of this latest entry is appropriate, not just because there is literal “black ice” in San Francisco (in June!) but also in the sense of “things are always darkest just before they turn completely black”.
This story is not an upper. The situation starts out grim and keeps getting grimmer. Also Grimm-er, in the sense of myths and fairy tales coming entirely too true.
Mist, the titular heroine from the first book, spends this story fighting off Loki and other enemies while continuing to both gather and lose followers.
Some die, some betray her. Whichever is the worst outcome on any given occasion. There is a lot of nonstop action, but also a sense that little to nothing is going Mist’s way.
Black Ice feels a lot like a “middle book” in a trilogy, in that the plot is on a downstroke.
Mist gains new allies; she finds a couple of her sister valkyries and one of Odin’s ravens (either Huginn or Muninn, we don’t know which) arrives on the scene with its person.
Meanwhile Loki turns out to have a dangerous new ally of his own, and gets his hooks firmly embedded into some of Mist’s own allies. Things are not looking up.
Oh, and her mother comes back. Mist has no idea that her mother Freya is planning to the biggest betrayal of all, because she’s too wrapped up in the more immediate grief at the loss of her would-be lover, Dainn, back to Loki.
It’s too bad that Dainn is not the first (and probably not the last) from her inner circle to turn their coat towards the god who is trying to bring on the end of the world. The contest isn’t even serious to Loki, he’s just playing a very big game.
Mist wants to save the place that she’s come to love, and all the people who follow her. Some will die. Some have already died. All Mist can do is soldier on and hope that their sacrifices will be worth it.
She has no idea that she is in more danger than anyone else.
Escape Rating C+: The story setup is that Loki is the embodiment of evil, but I'm not sure that anyone is playing the good side of the eternal equation unless it’s Mist herself. Freya is not “good” by any human definition, even though she puts on a very good show of being benevolent. It’s pretty obvious that the agenda she is hiding is every bit as (possibly more) self-serving than Loki’s.
And while Freya’s agenda seems obvious to everyone but Mist, I’m less convinced about Loki’s. He’s still (and always) a trickster, but he’s quite capable of doing evil in the name of not so bad. Or at least survival.
Mist spends the whole story being run off her feet from battle to battle. She never catches a break. Also she gets betrayed so many times, and most of the betrayals are obvious up front. I wish she’d get a bigger clue.
The really interesting character this time out is Anna Strangland, accompanied by her raven-disguised-as-a-parrot, Orn. While Orn is obviously more than he appears, we don’t get a clear picture of what he is. (Bets on Huginn or Muninn). But Anna gets dragged out of her everyday life into Ragnarok, and manages not to be overwhelmed and to make a place for herself.
I hope that book 3 moves the story into an upswing. There really needs to be a bright side to look on, and where Black Ice ends, it isn’t even on the horizon.
Black Ice is the followup to the first book in this series, Mist. I can definitely say that the title of this latest entry is appropriate, not just because there is literal “black ice” in San Francisco (in June!) but also in the sense of “things are always darkest just before they turn completely black”.
This story is not an upper. The situation starts out grim and keeps getting grimmer. Also Grimm-er, in the sense of myths and fairy tales coming entirely too true.
Mist, the titular heroine from the first book, spends this story fighting off Loki and other enemies while continuing to both gather and lose followers.
Some die, some betray her. Whichever is the worst outcome on any given occasion. There is a lot of nonstop action, but also a sense that little to nothing is going Mist’s way.
Black Ice feels a lot like a “middle book” in a trilogy, in that the plot is on a downstroke.
Mist gains new allies; she finds a couple of her sister valkyries and one of Odin’s ravens (either Huginn or Muninn, we don’t know which) arrives on the scene with its person.
Meanwhile Loki turns out to have a dangerous new ally of his own, and gets his hooks firmly embedded into some of Mist’s own allies. Things are not looking up.
Oh, and her mother comes back. Mist has no idea that her mother Freya is planning to the biggest betrayal of all, because she’s too wrapped up in the more immediate grief at the loss of her would-be lover, Dainn, back to Loki.
It’s too bad that Dainn is not the first (and probably not the last) from her inner circle to turn their coat towards the god who is trying to bring on the end of the world. The contest isn’t even serious to Loki, he’s just playing a very big game.
Mist wants to save the place that she’s come to love, and all the people who follow her. Some will die. Some have already died. All Mist can do is soldier on and hope that their sacrifices will be worth it.
She has no idea that she is in more danger than anyone else.
Escape Rating C+: The story setup is that Loki is the embodiment of evil, but I'm not sure that anyone is playing the good side of the eternal equation unless it’s Mist herself. Freya is not “good” by any human definition, even though she puts on a very good show of being benevolent. It’s pretty obvious that the agenda she is hiding is every bit as (possibly more) self-serving than Loki’s.
And while Freya’s agenda seems obvious to everyone but Mist, I’m less convinced about Loki’s. He’s still (and always) a trickster, but he’s quite capable of doing evil in the name of not so bad. Or at least survival.
Mist spends the whole story being run off her feet from battle to battle. She never catches a break. Also she gets betrayed so many times, and most of the betrayals are obvious up front. I wish she’d get a bigger clue.
The really interesting character this time out is Anna Strangland, accompanied by her raven-disguised-as-a-parrot, Orn. While Orn is obviously more than he appears, we don’t get a clear picture of what he is. (Bets on Huginn or Muninn). But Anna gets dragged out of her everyday life into Ragnarok, and manages not to be overwhelmed and to make a place for herself.
I hope that book 3 moves the story into an upswing. There really needs to be a bright side to look on, and where Black Ice ends, it isn’t even on the horizon.
August 11, 2014
***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES***
So I love mythology and I enjoyed Mist, the first book in the series. So I had my heart set on more Norse mythology goodness!
And while I did get some of that, I felt like Black Ice suffered from second book syndrome. It just feels like it's a build-up to major events happening in book 3 and while there are several battles taking place, it never really felt like the stakes were high. I didn't feel like either of the main characters was actually threathened by the events and it wasn't exciting as it should have been.
We do meet a set of new characters, which I liked, well most of them. There are is a monster that I could have done without knowing, cause he's nasty! But I liked getting to know more of the Valkyries. I did guess pretty early on that there would be a twist about one of the new characters and what it would be, but it's pretty well done.
I felt like Black Ice didn't give me all that many answers to questions I had and I get that it can't give me all the answers as it's not the last book in the series, but I would have liked just a little more knowledge about where this is headed. And OMG I just wanted to shake Mist and Dainn and their non-relationship that's the big elephant in the room and tell them to just KISS ALREADY and stop worrying about the beast or what the beast will do or just STOP IT WITH THE BEAST OK. There was so much talk and thinking about the beast. It was kinda getting on my nerves.
I do still very much like the richness of the Norse mythology and Mist and Dainn are kinda awesome, but I just wished Black Ice would have been a little more exciting than it was.
My rating: 2 stars
So I love mythology and I enjoyed Mist, the first book in the series. So I had my heart set on more Norse mythology goodness!
And while I did get some of that, I felt like Black Ice suffered from second book syndrome. It just feels like it's a build-up to major events happening in book 3 and while there are several battles taking place, it never really felt like the stakes were high. I didn't feel like either of the main characters was actually threathened by the events and it wasn't exciting as it should have been.
We do meet a set of new characters, which I liked, well most of them. There are is a monster that I could have done without knowing, cause he's nasty! But I liked getting to know more of the Valkyries. I did guess pretty early on that there would be a twist about one of the new characters and what it would be, but it's pretty well done.
I felt like Black Ice didn't give me all that many answers to questions I had and I get that it can't give me all the answers as it's not the last book in the series, but I would have liked just a little more knowledge about where this is headed. And OMG I just wanted to shake Mist and Dainn and their non-relationship that's the big elephant in the room and tell them to just KISS ALREADY and stop worrying about the beast or what the beast will do or just STOP IT WITH THE BEAST OK. There was so much talk and thinking about the beast. It was kinda getting on my nerves.
I do still very much like the richness of the Norse mythology and Mist and Dainn are kinda awesome, but I just wished Black Ice would have been a little more exciting than it was.
My rating: 2 stars
August 13, 2014
This is the second book in the Midgard urban fantasy series and there's certainly a lot going on. I have previously read books by this author aimed at fans of paranormal romance so was quite keen to see what Ms Krinard would do with something based on Norse mythology. It's an interesting idea with a modern day Valkyrie as the heroine and the concept of Loki also known as the trickster god as the protagonist is very appealing but Mist is still following a steep learning curve and as her powers magnify so too do her troubles.
I'm not really sure that I'm the right person to review this as I have not read the previous book that sets the scene . There are an awful lot of diverse characters in this story and for this reader they are not fleshed out enough. Such a lot does depend I think upon the readers knowledge of Norse mythology and just about everything from Freya to Frost Giants is thrown into the mix. I found it quite confusing at times to remember who was doing what and just why . Dainn is a character who I don't feel has really been given a fair shot and I'm not quite fully convinced by the interaction between him and Mist if honest. She is certainly a heroine to reckon with and I would prefer her to be on my side and not against me as her emerging powers could be awesome but this book just lacked something for this reader. I wasn't expecting romance but I just did not really enjoy it as much as I hoped. I'm sure someone else will rate this higher but for me three and a half but please read and make up up your own mind as this author truly is very talented.
So much going on but unfortunately for me it missed the mark so I'd say three and a half
Copy gifted by publisher in return for an honest review
I'm not really sure that I'm the right person to review this as I have not read the previous book that sets the scene . There are an awful lot of diverse characters in this story and for this reader they are not fleshed out enough. Such a lot does depend I think upon the readers knowledge of Norse mythology and just about everything from Freya to Frost Giants is thrown into the mix. I found it quite confusing at times to remember who was doing what and just why . Dainn is a character who I don't feel has really been given a fair shot and I'm not quite fully convinced by the interaction between him and Mist if honest. She is certainly a heroine to reckon with and I would prefer her to be on my side and not against me as her emerging powers could be awesome but this book just lacked something for this reader. I wasn't expecting romance but I just did not really enjoy it as much as I hoped. I'm sure someone else will rate this higher but for me three and a half but please read and make up up your own mind as this author truly is very talented.
So much going on but unfortunately for me it missed the mark so I'd say three and a half
Copy gifted by publisher in return for an honest review
August 10, 2014
This is a wonderful mix of mythology with the here and now. This is the second book and even though I had not read the first one it still was easy enough for me to follow along. There is a battle going on with the main players being Loki and Mist with their prospective fellows that are right there along with them. The is also a child Danny involved that Loki has kept close to him for his advantage that is quite a unusual twist to a story such as this. If as a reader you are looking for lots of adventure this is the novel to read. There are alot of twists and turns the author takes you through that exhilarated while reading this novel. I am used to reading alot of her paranormal novels so this was quite different to me but still enjoyable because of the fantasy that is contained within. I also especially liked the character Anna I found her most intriguing especially after she realizes she is not crazy she finally listens and seeks Mist. The banter at times between Loki and Mist I must say I did find sarcastically humorous. You also learn exactly how Danny came to be as Loki's son he is certainly not the typical way of things. All in all even though it is modern day the dilemma must be stopped before it is said history repeats and you the reader have a ringside seat while reading this novel. Received a advanced copy by the author for a honest review.
August 6, 2014
**I received this book from NetGalley/Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
"Worry only about what you have the power to change." quote from the ARC
Black Ice is the follow-up to Mist and continues Krinard's Midgard series, The series is set in modern day San Francisco centuries after the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war in an effort to stop Ragnarok. The series main protagonist is Norse Warrior/Valkyrie Mist who is more that she appears.
Mist has faced many challenges and sometimes feels the weight of the world on her shoulders. Mist and her sister Valkyries were given the responsibility of guarding and keeping the most valuable treasures like Odin's spear, Thor's Hammer, and Freya's Cloak away from Loki and his allies. Mist herself is responsible for probably the most powerful treasure in Odin's Spear called Gungnir.
*FULL REVIEW POSTED @ GIZMOS REVIEWS*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd July 1, 2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: August 12th 2014 by Tor Books
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
"Worry only about what you have the power to change." quote from the ARC
Black Ice is the follow-up to Mist and continues Krinard's Midgard series, The series is set in modern day San Francisco centuries after the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war in an effort to stop Ragnarok. The series main protagonist is Norse Warrior/Valkyrie Mist who is more that she appears.
Mist has faced many challenges and sometimes feels the weight of the world on her shoulders. Mist and her sister Valkyries were given the responsibility of guarding and keeping the most valuable treasures like Odin's spear, Thor's Hammer, and Freya's Cloak away from Loki and his allies. Mist herself is responsible for probably the most powerful treasure in Odin's Spear called Gungnir.
*FULL REVIEW POSTED @ GIZMOS REVIEWS*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd July 1, 2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: August 12th 2014 by Tor Books
December 15, 2014
This is a surprisingly thick book given the length of time it covers -- I might have miscounted, but it seems to be under a week from start to finish. These are just super-busy days. Mist, a valkyrie who turns out to be the daughter of the goddess Freya and an ice giant, is busy trying to organize a team to fight Loki, the trickster god who alone has escaped from the Void in which the rest of the Norse pantheon reside. But Loki's not the only one who seems to be playing tricks...
I'll avoid spoilers, but say that this is one of the best executed versions of stories whose driving force is people unwilling to honestly talk with their allies. Lots of secrets are kept (even by the allied "good guys"), although most everybody knows everybody else is keeping some secrets, and its these secrets that drive a lot of the conflict.
There is a 'twist' part way through the book which I think would be fairly obvious to people familiar with Norse mythology (I read books and books of myths as a kid), but I speculate anybody less familiar would love the revelation.
I'll avoid spoilers, but say that this is one of the best executed versions of stories whose driving force is people unwilling to honestly talk with their allies. Lots of secrets are kept (even by the allied "good guys"), although most everybody knows everybody else is keeping some secrets, and its these secrets that drive a lot of the conflict.
There is a 'twist' part way through the book which I think would be fairly obvious to people familiar with Norse mythology (I read books and books of myths as a kid), but I speculate anybody less familiar would love the revelation.
October 10, 2014
Lots going on, deftly woven in, great imagination. Good setup for the third book. I enjoyed all the mythology references.
Could see the Danny's parent reveal from pretty much the beginning - were we supposed to cos it seemed pretty obvious.
Why did Dainn never end up telling Mist about Freya's plan for her? He had opportunity too, even with his little note. Am I missing something or is it just plot delay?
The book felt a wee too dense though, it needed some pauses and some lighter moments in contrast. I was frustrated after a while by how Mist kept saying she needed sleep, and everyone said she needed sleep, in order to recharge and get more mystical energy, but she just kept on going and somehow managed to fight okay anyway, and I ended up absorbing that fatigue she exhibited throughout. It irritated me. I ended up being absurdly relieved she got a couple of hours in near the end, to pause with her.
Could see the Danny's parent reveal from pretty much the beginning - were we supposed to cos it seemed pretty obvious.
Why did Dainn never end up telling Mist about Freya's plan for her? He had opportunity too, even with his little note. Am I missing something or is it just plot delay?
The book felt a wee too dense though, it needed some pauses and some lighter moments in contrast. I was frustrated after a while by how Mist kept saying she needed sleep, and everyone said she needed sleep, in order to recharge and get more mystical energy, but she just kept on going and somehow managed to fight okay anyway, and I ended up absorbing that fatigue she exhibited throughout. It irritated me. I ended up being absurdly relieved she got a couple of hours in near the end, to pause with her.
February 10, 2017
Mist has started gathering her sister Valkyries along with some human allies to help fight against Loki. Then when her mom shows up things get complicated and really dangerous.
Dain is too depressing. He needs to get a backbone and stop trying to blame himself for every little thing that goes wrong.
Fave scenes: the Jotunn’s dying words, Eir’s place, meeting Ryan’s aunt and finding Sleipnir.
Dain is too depressing. He needs to get a backbone and stop trying to blame himself for every little thing that goes wrong.
Fave scenes: the Jotunn’s dying words, Eir’s place, meeting Ryan’s aunt and finding Sleipnir.
August 5, 2016
Susan Krinard is a veteran writer, but most of her career has been in the romance genre, which shows in “Black Ice” (Tor, $14.99, 382 pages), the second in a series featuring Valkyrie (yes, an actual Norse legend) Mist. Mist lives in contemporary San Francisco, and not surprisingly is dealing with her attraction to a tormented, handsome elf who has been cursed by Odin.
And Loki (the villain of the piece), Freya, Odin and all the Norse gods and their hangers-on are part of the story, as they try to invade our world. There’s plenty of magic and violence as Mist battles giants, the evil Loki and some gender-bending plot twists. Krinard knows her stuff, and “Black Ice” moves along briskly, but it looks like there are several more books to come in the Midgard Series. If this sounds interesting, definitely start with "Mist," as there’s a lot of backstory going on in volume two.
And Loki (the villain of the piece), Freya, Odin and all the Norse gods and their hangers-on are part of the story, as they try to invade our world. There’s plenty of magic and violence as Mist battles giants, the evil Loki and some gender-bending plot twists. Krinard knows her stuff, and “Black Ice” moves along briskly, but it looks like there are several more books to come in the Midgard Series. If this sounds interesting, definitely start with "Mist," as there’s a lot of backstory going on in volume two.
October 26, 2016
The story is pretty good but the printing errors are horrible. Doesn't anyone proofread books anymore? It wasn't just a typo here and there either. For example, there were one-and-a-half sentences at the bottom of a page and then at the top of the next page those same sentences were repeated. It was highly distracting and I'm not sure it's worth reading any more of the series once it comes out if the errors are going to continue like this. My college English professors drilled proofreading into my head and books like this feel more like a proofreading exercise than the fun escape they should be.
August 21, 2014
Mist, a Valkyrie who survived Ragnorak till our time only to discover that she has to face Loki, returns with new allies in Black Ice (trade from Tor) Loki has a son he is protecting, Denny who seems autistic, but has more magic potential. At the same time Mist finds some of the lost Valkyries and other allies. The Alfar Dainn has to deal with his dark curse that turns him into an animal. I like this series by Susan Krinard far better than the comic based Thor movies. Review Published by the Philadelphia Weekly Press
October 8, 2015
Not a bad read, but I was exhausted just following the characters from crisis to crisis. The next "issue" I had was Tom Hiddleston has ruined Loki as a truly nefarious character. Each time Loki plotted ruin, I imagined Hiddleston holding Thor's hammer & Captain America's shield. Or I thought about him making a spot of tea, whilst getting so excited at his plotting. So, sadly, I couldn't immerse myself into a world where I was supposed to root for an annoying Elf and a Valkyrie lacking Cole's snarky humor.
December 25, 2015
At first, I thought it was a nice mix of Norse mythology and modern settings. Unfortunately, the further I read, the harder it became for me. The writing is great but the whole plot fell flat, at least for my case.
This book was not mean for me to read, perhaps, it will fare better in other readers' hands.
This book was not mean for me to read, perhaps, it will fare better in other readers' hands.
October 18, 2016
This series continues to disappoint as it should be so much better than it is. Great idea, great mc but lousy execution. I will read the last in the series but without enthusiasm, when will we get a good Valkyrie book?
One other thing - lose the damn elf this alone will gain an extra star.
Recommended for students of Norse mythology
One other thing - lose the damn elf this alone will gain an extra star.
Recommended for students of Norse mythology
September 19, 2014
Loki can't be trusted. He is the trickster god, after all. But aren't all gods duplicitous? You really can't trust any of 'em. Looks like Midgard's in trouble (again).
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2014/09/19...
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2014/09/19...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews