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Midgard #3
Battlestorm
The third installment in New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard’s first urban fantasy series...
Centuries ago, 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 at the center of a new war, with the fate of earth hanging in the balance. As old enemies and allies reappear around the city, Mist must determine who to trust, all while learning to control her own growing power.
It will take all of Mist’s courage, determination, and newfound magical abilities to stop Loki before history repeats itself.
Centuries ago, 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 at the center of a new war, with the fate of earth hanging in the balance. As old enemies and allies reappear around the city, Mist must determine who to trust, all while learning to control her own growing power.
It will take all of Mist’s courage, determination, and newfound magical abilities to stop Loki before history repeats itself.
476 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
4 people are currently reading
184 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.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 18, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Battlestorm is the third installment in Susan Krinard's Midgard series. This is a series that actually features FOUR main characters: Mist, Loki, Freya, and Dainn. Mist is a Valkyrie with a pretty strange heritage who is loyal to Odin, and had been living in San Francisco for the past 50 years. Mist and her Valkyrie sisters were given the responsibility of guarding the most valuable treasures in mythology. Items like Odin's spear, Thor's Hammer, and Freya's Cloak.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 03/18/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: March 29th 2016 by Tor Books
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Battlestorm is the third installment in Susan Krinard's Midgard series. This is a series that actually features FOUR main characters: Mist, Loki, Freya, and Dainn. Mist is a Valkyrie with a pretty strange heritage who is loyal to Odin, and had been living in San Francisco for the past 50 years. Mist and her Valkyrie sisters were given the responsibility of guarding the most valuable treasures in mythology. Items like Odin's spear, Thor's Hammer, and Freya's Cloak.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 03/18/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: March 29th 2016 by Tor Books
April 4, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I had a great time with the first two volumes of the series and I admit that I was curious to get into this third installment. It must be said that the mere mention of mythology is very attractive and I was so happy to find all the characters again here!
Now that Dainn went in the opposite camp, Mist no longer knows what she must believe. Freya is always trying somehow to merge with her and the young woman is not sure of the consequences. Thus war is more present and both opponents are trying to tip the balance on their side. I admit that the author really leads us by the nose in her story and I was really surprised by all the unexpected revelations and I think no one will see them coming.
As I said the war is here and we learn the designs of Freya, and we therefore understand that ultimately nothing is really what it seems. But Danny is also a big focus of the story. While Mist is rising in power, those of this little boy are really amazing and we looked forward to see how far they would expend. I was quite surprised to see that finally everyone counts on that child, he is considered as either a savior or as the person to kill.
I had a great time while reading this story as always and I’m really surprised by the turn of the final. It was a very good one of course and it was once again a great discovery!
My English review
I had a great time with the first two volumes of the series and I admit that I was curious to get into this third installment. It must be said that the mere mention of mythology is very attractive and I was so happy to find all the characters again here!
Now that Dainn went in the opposite camp, Mist no longer knows what she must believe. Freya is always trying somehow to merge with her and the young woman is not sure of the consequences. Thus war is more present and both opponents are trying to tip the balance on their side. I admit that the author really leads us by the nose in her story and I was really surprised by all the unexpected revelations and I think no one will see them coming.
As I said the war is here and we learn the designs of Freya, and we therefore understand that ultimately nothing is really what it seems. But Danny is also a big focus of the story. While Mist is rising in power, those of this little boy are really amazing and we looked forward to see how far they would expend. I was quite surprised to see that finally everyone counts on that child, he is considered as either a savior or as the person to kill.
I had a great time while reading this story as always and I’m really surprised by the turn of the final. It was a very good one of course and it was once again a great discovery!
April 1, 2016
Originally published at Reading Reality
This is one of those stories where it isn’t so much that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” or even “the enemy of my enemy is my ally” but rather “the enemy of my enemy is someone else I can betray sooner or later, probably sooner.”
It feels like Battlestorm is the bastard child of American Gods and Babylon 5, and I’m still not sure whether I mean that in a good way or not.
Just as in American Gods, the primary movers and shakers of the story are gods from the Norse pantheon, Odin, Loki, and for added spice and betrayal, Freya. This is also as complex and dense a story as American Gods, without having any of its lighter moments. Battlestorm is Ragnarök moved to Midgard, meaning our present-day Earth, with all the possibilities for the end of the world as we know it that the idea of Ragnarök implies.
American Gods was much lighter in comparison, and that’s saying something.
Like the long story arc of Babylon 5, the story that began in Mistand continued in Black Ice has the feel of a long-anticipated and often repeated battle between Good and Evil. However, just as in Babylon 5, now that the forces of Good have revealed themselves in Odin, the contest is nowhere near that clear cut. Instead, we have a battle between the forces of Order and Chaos. Loki represents the forces of Chaos, and he desires a world where all law and order is eliminated, and only the strongest and most ruthless survive. On that infamous other hand, Odin represents Order. But Order with a capital O is not necessarily good. Odin is a force for the tyranny of order, a world where he will be the absolute ruler and utter dictator, and humanity can only exist in a state of blind obedience.
Poor Mist is caught in the middle. She wants to protect the people of Midgard, among whom she has lived for centuries. She believes that humanity should be left to determine its own path, without interference from her gods. But as a Valkyrie, Odin commands her obedience. And Loki holds those she loves captive.
Mist is going to have to betray someone in order to protect those she holds dear. Including the entire human race.
Escape Rating C+: If the concept of the Norse gods coming to contemporary earth to enact their final battle, or anything else, appeals to you, start this series at the beginning, with Mist. The three book series, Mist, Black Ice and now Battlestorm, is one long saga (how fitting!) and must be read in order to make any sense at all.
That being said, I personally think the whole thing probably works better if you can manage to read the whole thing not just in order but also close together. There are so many players in this story, so many wheels within wheels, that it feels impossible to remember who is betraying whom, and why, a year after the previous book. For those readers who, like me, read the books as they came out, I sincerely hope that the finished copy includes a synopsis of previous events. The ARC I read did not, and I really needed one.
A primer on the Norse pantheon probably wouldn’t hurt either, particularly focused on who is related to whom. Loki had a surprising number of powerful and interesting children, who all have agendas of their own, and do not always obey their father. But then, Odin has that problem with his kids as well. In Battlestorm, Loki’s personality and his relationship with his father feel like they owe a lot to Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I found Battlestorm to be dense. It took me twice as long to read it as I expected, because I kept needing to step away and digest what had just happened – meaning what had just gone wrong. Mist never catches a break. She also seems to always be the last person in the universe to find out or be told information that is crucial to her fight and even to her very existence. There are a few too many instances where someone is just about to tell her something she desperately needs to know – only to be interrupted and the opportunity disappear for days and pages. For the daughter of a goddess, Mist seems woefully, or deliberately, misinformed about damn near everything all of the time.
This is the part that reminded me most of American Gods. Not just the Norse pantheon, but Mist’s position is a lot like Shadow’s. She has been created for a purpose that she has no clues about, but is led around by the nose by beings who are much better informed than she is and who are deliberately keeping her in the dark. And in the end, very little is as it originally seemed, to her or to the reader. Also like Shadow.
For anyone who has read my reviews of Mist and Black Ice, I was dead wrong about Orn’s identity. The true identity of the parrot becomes totally clear very early in Battlestorm. Just call him Mr. Wednesday.
If some of the description of and comments about Battlestorm appeal, try American Gods. It is positively awesome, where Battlestorm has both its moments and its moments of frustration. If the idea of evil being good and good being evil sounds interesting, try Banewreaker and Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey, which explore the same themes.
In the end, I was glad I finished Battlestorm and saw the story begun in Mist and Black Ice come to at least some resolution.
This is one of those stories where it isn’t so much that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” or even “the enemy of my enemy is my ally” but rather “the enemy of my enemy is someone else I can betray sooner or later, probably sooner.”
It feels like Battlestorm is the bastard child of American Gods and Babylon 5, and I’m still not sure whether I mean that in a good way or not.
Just as in American Gods, the primary movers and shakers of the story are gods from the Norse pantheon, Odin, Loki, and for added spice and betrayal, Freya. This is also as complex and dense a story as American Gods, without having any of its lighter moments. Battlestorm is Ragnarök moved to Midgard, meaning our present-day Earth, with all the possibilities for the end of the world as we know it that the idea of Ragnarök implies.
American Gods was much lighter in comparison, and that’s saying something.
Like the long story arc of Babylon 5, the story that began in Mistand continued in Black Ice has the feel of a long-anticipated and often repeated battle between Good and Evil. However, just as in Babylon 5, now that the forces of Good have revealed themselves in Odin, the contest is nowhere near that clear cut. Instead, we have a battle between the forces of Order and Chaos. Loki represents the forces of Chaos, and he desires a world where all law and order is eliminated, and only the strongest and most ruthless survive. On that infamous other hand, Odin represents Order. But Order with a capital O is not necessarily good. Odin is a force for the tyranny of order, a world where he will be the absolute ruler and utter dictator, and humanity can only exist in a state of blind obedience.
Poor Mist is caught in the middle. She wants to protect the people of Midgard, among whom she has lived for centuries. She believes that humanity should be left to determine its own path, without interference from her gods. But as a Valkyrie, Odin commands her obedience. And Loki holds those she loves captive.
Mist is going to have to betray someone in order to protect those she holds dear. Including the entire human race.
Escape Rating C+: If the concept of the Norse gods coming to contemporary earth to enact their final battle, or anything else, appeals to you, start this series at the beginning, with Mist. The three book series, Mist, Black Ice and now Battlestorm, is one long saga (how fitting!) and must be read in order to make any sense at all.
That being said, I personally think the whole thing probably works better if you can manage to read the whole thing not just in order but also close together. There are so many players in this story, so many wheels within wheels, that it feels impossible to remember who is betraying whom, and why, a year after the previous book. For those readers who, like me, read the books as they came out, I sincerely hope that the finished copy includes a synopsis of previous events. The ARC I read did not, and I really needed one.
A primer on the Norse pantheon probably wouldn’t hurt either, particularly focused on who is related to whom. Loki had a surprising number of powerful and interesting children, who all have agendas of their own, and do not always obey their father. But then, Odin has that problem with his kids as well. In Battlestorm, Loki’s personality and his relationship with his father feel like they owe a lot to Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I found Battlestorm to be dense. It took me twice as long to read it as I expected, because I kept needing to step away and digest what had just happened – meaning what had just gone wrong. Mist never catches a break. She also seems to always be the last person in the universe to find out or be told information that is crucial to her fight and even to her very existence. There are a few too many instances where someone is just about to tell her something she desperately needs to know – only to be interrupted and the opportunity disappear for days and pages. For the daughter of a goddess, Mist seems woefully, or deliberately, misinformed about damn near everything all of the time.
This is the part that reminded me most of American Gods. Not just the Norse pantheon, but Mist’s position is a lot like Shadow’s. She has been created for a purpose that she has no clues about, but is led around by the nose by beings who are much better informed than she is and who are deliberately keeping her in the dark. And in the end, very little is as it originally seemed, to her or to the reader. Also like Shadow.
For anyone who has read my reviews of Mist and Black Ice, I was dead wrong about Orn’s identity. The true identity of the parrot becomes totally clear very early in Battlestorm. Just call him Mr. Wednesday.
If some of the description of and comments about Battlestorm appeal, try American Gods. It is positively awesome, where Battlestorm has both its moments and its moments of frustration. If the idea of evil being good and good being evil sounds interesting, try Banewreaker and Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey, which explore the same themes.
In the end, I was glad I finished Battlestorm and saw the story begun in Mist and Black Ice come to at least some resolution.
August 24, 2019
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Battlestorm" is the final book in Susan Krinard's "Midgard" trilogy. Mist and her allies are still dealing with the trickster god Loki as he plans to throw all of Earth into chaos. Mist is still on the hunt for the treasures of Odin, but even with the few she has found in her possession, she still feels that her side is on the loosing side of the battle.
A nice end to the series. I'm really just glad I'm finally done. As I've done in all my reviews for this series let me stress a few important things: first, this series is overall just fun and magical and it's an enjoyable ride. And second, don't take it seriously. The series isn't amazing literature, it does have it's problems, it can read rather convoluted and overly complex. Really just read the series if you like all things Norse mythology and if you want a series that will take your mind off life. It's fun. I reached a point with the series that I had to come to terms with that because I was starting to get frustrated with the plot and characters. I was getting confused about plot details. I was getting confused about character details. Though I love the character of Dainn, there were certain things with him I couldn't wrap my mind around that left me terribly confused. The same goes for the little boy Danny which ties into Dainn. Don't get me started on the weirdness that is the Freya plot. At least Loki and Mist seemed to be consistent in what was going on with their arcs. I mentioned this is my review of book 2: too many characters! Some characters felt unnecessary. Some characters just randomly pop up (especially near the end) that made no sense. And nobody stays dead! Other characters felt wasted. The series almost feels like one jumbled mess of characters and plot that Susan Krinard threw together without thinking about it carefully. But still, let me repeat: don't overly think the series. I don't regret reading this series. I still had a massive amount of fun. There were moments that I genuinely laughed out loud. I adore most of the characters. And above all I really like Susan Krinard's take on Norse mythology and placing it in this modern setting. I think I just expected a lot and didn't get entirely what I was hoping for. It definitely makes recommending this series difficult because readers have different tastes and different ways they read a book. You may either love or hate this series or fall somewhere in between like me. Overall, probably a solid 3/5 rating for the whole series.
"Battlestorm" is the final book in Susan Krinard's "Midgard" trilogy. Mist and her allies are still dealing with the trickster god Loki as he plans to throw all of Earth into chaos. Mist is still on the hunt for the treasures of Odin, but even with the few she has found in her possession, she still feels that her side is on the loosing side of the battle.
A nice end to the series. I'm really just glad I'm finally done. As I've done in all my reviews for this series let me stress a few important things: first, this series is overall just fun and magical and it's an enjoyable ride. And second, don't take it seriously. The series isn't amazing literature, it does have it's problems, it can read rather convoluted and overly complex. Really just read the series if you like all things Norse mythology and if you want a series that will take your mind off life. It's fun. I reached a point with the series that I had to come to terms with that because I was starting to get frustrated with the plot and characters. I was getting confused about plot details. I was getting confused about character details. Though I love the character of Dainn, there were certain things with him I couldn't wrap my mind around that left me terribly confused. The same goes for the little boy Danny which ties into Dainn. Don't get me started on the weirdness that is the Freya plot. At least Loki and Mist seemed to be consistent in what was going on with their arcs. I mentioned this is my review of book 2: too many characters! Some characters felt unnecessary. Some characters just randomly pop up (especially near the end) that made no sense. And nobody stays dead! Other characters felt wasted. The series almost feels like one jumbled mess of characters and plot that Susan Krinard threw together without thinking about it carefully. But still, let me repeat: don't overly think the series. I don't regret reading this series. I still had a massive amount of fun. There were moments that I genuinely laughed out loud. I adore most of the characters. And above all I really like Susan Krinard's take on Norse mythology and placing it in this modern setting. I think I just expected a lot and didn't get entirely what I was hoping for. It definitely makes recommending this series difficult because readers have different tastes and different ways they read a book. You may either love or hate this series or fall somewhere in between like me. Overall, probably a solid 3/5 rating for the whole series.
May 17, 2017
“Battlestorm” (Tor, 476 pages, $15.99) unfortunately left behind most of the positives that lifted the first two volumes (”Mist” and “Black Ice”). Susan Krinard’s combination of urban fantasy, Norse mythology, and romance novel tropes hasn’t moved forward, and in this long book, the plot gets seriously tangled up in the minutiae of Norse gods and the complex nature of several characters.
Mist, a Valkyrie with more powers than the usual run-of-the-mill battle maiden, is fighting Loki, the classic trickster god, for control of today’s planet, as the Norse gods try to move in and take over. Along the way, she has the classic love/hate relationship with the handsome, mysterious, powerful Dainn – and no matter what he does, she finds a way to believe he’s truly trying to do the right thing.
Death and destruction are everywhere, the battles are with swords to maximize the gore potential, and Krinard must resort to the latest trick of the fantasy trade -- bringing the dead back to life – as a result.
Though most of the loose ends are wrapped up at the end of “Battlestorm,” among them the inevitable pairing of the star-crossed lovers, the door is open for more adventures of Mist. I’m afraid, though, this is the end of the ride for me. Two volumes would have been enough, and four would simply be overkill.
Mist, a Valkyrie with more powers than the usual run-of-the-mill battle maiden, is fighting Loki, the classic trickster god, for control of today’s planet, as the Norse gods try to move in and take over. Along the way, she has the classic love/hate relationship with the handsome, mysterious, powerful Dainn – and no matter what he does, she finds a way to believe he’s truly trying to do the right thing.
Death and destruction are everywhere, the battles are with swords to maximize the gore potential, and Krinard must resort to the latest trick of the fantasy trade -- bringing the dead back to life – as a result.
Though most of the loose ends are wrapped up at the end of “Battlestorm,” among them the inevitable pairing of the star-crossed lovers, the door is open for more adventures of Mist. I’m afraid, though, this is the end of the ride for me. Two volumes would have been enough, and four would simply be overkill.
March 13, 2017
Mist discovers what her mom, Freya is up to. Loki’s plans start to come to fruition and we finally see who/what Orn is all about. The whole thing accumulates into a pile of revelations, betrayals and twisted alliances as the final confrontation and battle erupts in SFs Central Park.
Even though most of the main threads are finished, (I love the way we see a bit of the close future of each character) there is still enough interesting possibilities at the end that I hope they’ll be a 4th book or at least an off-shoot.
My biggest complaint. Even though I’m glad my favorites survived, the way some died and ‘miraculously’ come back became too corny and opportunistic. To be fair, if the good guys all get to survive then some of the bad ones should have also.
Footnote: 1) I grew up in Fremont/Milpitas, California, just a few miles from where Sleepnir’s battle was. Know the area well, though it’s changed and expanded a lot since the 60s.
2) What happened to Mist’s cats? They ran away after the fire and haven’t been mentioned since.
Fave scenes: Fenrir & Danny, Ryan releasing Dain, Mist taking Dainn after the undead battle and Dain’s execution.
Even though most of the main threads are finished, (I love the way we see a bit of the close future of each character) there is still enough interesting possibilities at the end that I hope they’ll be a 4th book or at least an off-shoot.
My biggest complaint. Even though I’m glad my favorites survived, the way some died and ‘miraculously’ come back became too corny and opportunistic. To be fair, if the good guys all get to survive then some of the bad ones should have also.
Footnote: 1) I grew up in Fremont/Milpitas, California, just a few miles from where Sleepnir’s battle was. Know the area well, though it’s changed and expanded a lot since the 60s.
2) What happened to Mist’s cats? They ran away after the fire and haven’t been mentioned since.
Fave scenes: Fenrir & Danny, Ryan releasing Dain, Mist taking Dainn after the undead battle and Dain’s execution.
June 18, 2017
Found this one, like its series mates, a little slow-moving. Not to mention, while Mist's insecurities may well be a vital part of her realism as a character, they're a little trying in an x-hundred years old Valkyrie. On the other hand, the world needs more readable urban fantasy. Koji is still my favourite character.
February 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this whole series.
August 9, 2023
Good series! Loved that the heroine is not perfect.
April 24, 2016
This is the final book in a trilogy, so I'm going to avoid talking too much about plot and just give some general impressions. As a side note, I'm actually FB friends with the author's husband and have met her on a few occasions and enjoyed meals with both of them. They provided me with an ARC of book 2, but I purchased this one myself!
This urban fantasy series imagines a world there the Norse gods are real, and Ragnarok kind of sort of happened? The gods are absent and the Valkyrie have been scattered to the four corners of the earth, guarding sacred treasures. But then it turns out the gods aren't completely gone, Loki and Freya are fighting for the fate of Midgard (aka good ol' planet Earth where we all live), there's elves and giants running around getting into battles, and all the action centers on San Francisco.
Like the first two books in the series, I felt this one started a bit slowly for me as I had to remember who all the characters were again and get reinvested in the world, but once I caught on I was hooked and I really wanted to know how it all resolved!
One thing I enjoy about this trilogy is that it doesn't overly humanize the gods or make them too nicey-nice. I feel like it does a pretty accurate job of portraying how the gods can be kind and generous with their most beloved followers, but often times they just do not give a shit about mortals and use them as pawns.
Another thing that I enjoy is that the various forms of magic are pretty well-written and utilized throughout the books, especially this one as our heroine Mist finally starts to realize the true depths of her abilities. There's some pretty awesome magical battles, along with some more traditional sword-swinging going on.
I felt a little "meh" about certain elements of how the story was resolved, though. In fact I'd probably give this story a 3.5 instead of 4, but Goodreads only allows whole stars, so there you have it.
A couple of scenes hint at the possibility of other supernatural forces at play, so it will be interesting to see if Krinard revisits this world through the lens of other pantheons or magical beings.
This urban fantasy series imagines a world there the Norse gods are real, and Ragnarok kind of sort of happened? The gods are absent and the Valkyrie have been scattered to the four corners of the earth, guarding sacred treasures. But then it turns out the gods aren't completely gone, Loki and Freya are fighting for the fate of Midgard (aka good ol' planet Earth where we all live), there's elves and giants running around getting into battles, and all the action centers on San Francisco.
Like the first two books in the series, I felt this one started a bit slowly for me as I had to remember who all the characters were again and get reinvested in the world, but once I caught on I was hooked and I really wanted to know how it all resolved!
One thing I enjoy about this trilogy is that it doesn't overly humanize the gods or make them too nicey-nice. I feel like it does a pretty accurate job of portraying how the gods can be kind and generous with their most beloved followers, but often times they just do not give a shit about mortals and use them as pawns.
Another thing that I enjoy is that the various forms of magic are pretty well-written and utilized throughout the books, especially this one as our heroine Mist finally starts to realize the true depths of her abilities. There's some pretty awesome magical battles, along with some more traditional sword-swinging going on.
I felt a little "meh" about certain elements of how the story was resolved, though. In fact I'd probably give this story a 3.5 instead of 4, but Goodreads only allows whole stars, so there you have it.
A couple of scenes hint at the possibility of other supernatural forces at play, so it will be interesting to see if Krinard revisits this world through the lens of other pantheons or magical beings.
May 23, 2016
I've enjoyed the other two installments and I knew this one would have tons of actions in it. This is the last book in the trilogy and so a lot of things needed to be wrapped up. Oh but what to say so I don't spoil it for anyone else who has not read the first two...
I will say this... There is a huge twist I didn't see coming. I knew there was going to be one because of the raven in the previous book but that one played out sort of what I thought. The relationships in Mists life (all of them... friend, foe and lover) all have their own conclusions. I have to say this... I hated Loki until the end. I still didn't trust him, but he wasn't hated like before. It was a journey to get to that point. There is lots of action and predicaments I wasn't sure how Mist would solve and get her friends out alive. Not everyone makes it, but it is solved with an HEA in the end.
So much happened and so what I've said just doesn't seem like much. I just don't want to spoil anything for people just starting the trilogy. The ending is open enough for more adventure so I could see this one going into a series if the author and publisher decide to go for it. I would love this and while I don't see immediate global destruction ahead (I mean just because I don't see it, doesn't mean it won't happen) I see so many problems happening that Mist would have to fix.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a solid, twisty, and action packed ending to a great fantasy read. I highly recommend it to those that enjoy UF and fantasy.
I will say this... There is a huge twist I didn't see coming. I knew there was going to be one because of the raven in the previous book but that one played out sort of what I thought. The relationships in Mists life (all of them... friend, foe and lover) all have their own conclusions. I have to say this... I hated Loki until the end. I still didn't trust him, but he wasn't hated like before. It was a journey to get to that point. There is lots of action and predicaments I wasn't sure how Mist would solve and get her friends out alive. Not everyone makes it, but it is solved with an HEA in the end.
So much happened and so what I've said just doesn't seem like much. I just don't want to spoil anything for people just starting the trilogy. The ending is open enough for more adventure so I could see this one going into a series if the author and publisher decide to go for it. I would love this and while I don't see immediate global destruction ahead (I mean just because I don't see it, doesn't mean it won't happen) I see so many problems happening that Mist would have to fix.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a solid, twisty, and action packed ending to a great fantasy read. I highly recommend it to those that enjoy UF and fantasy.
April 11, 2016
Worth The Wait
Ohhh this was totally worth the wait! So very worth it!! I am truly hoping that this is not the last book in the series. It is not supposed to be but the way things were tied up.. It very well could be. A lot happened in the book! I mean ALOT, ALOT! Mist found out what Freya was up too, Orn finally became Odin. Odin is LAME too by the way! Typical mythical God! So was Freya for that matter but we knew that. I definitely did not expect Odin, The All Father, Great Wise one to be such lameO. Freya and Odin are gone Good Riddance. Mist and Daain finally told each other "I love you." Took 3 books and that's what I like about this series. You don't just fall in love with people and live happily ever after. Relationships are messy and complicated and there is sometimes excess baggage. Loki is part of that baggage. And Danny... Who is Loki and Daains child. (Who are both male) Loki tricked Daain into thinking he was a woman way back in Asgard. So yeah It's a crazy story and full of twist and turns. Mist and her Allies went through Hel and came back even stronger. So with the way the story was left... The series could continue, if not I am happy with the way it wrapped up.
Oh and am I the only one who actually likes Loki a little bit?? Sure he's technically a "bad" person. But he's the trickster who loves chaos. It's sorta his thing. Compared to Odin or Freya.... He just doesn't seem that bad.
Ohhh this was totally worth the wait! So very worth it!! I am truly hoping that this is not the last book in the series. It is not supposed to be but the way things were tied up.. It very well could be. A lot happened in the book! I mean ALOT, ALOT! Mist found out what Freya was up too, Orn finally became Odin. Odin is LAME too by the way! Typical mythical God! So was Freya for that matter but we knew that. I definitely did not expect Odin, The All Father, Great Wise one to be such lameO. Freya and Odin are gone Good Riddance. Mist and Daain finally told each other "I love you." Took 3 books and that's what I like about this series. You don't just fall in love with people and live happily ever after. Relationships are messy and complicated and there is sometimes excess baggage. Loki is part of that baggage. And Danny... Who is Loki and Daains child. (Who are both male) Loki tricked Daain into thinking he was a woman way back in Asgard. So yeah It's a crazy story and full of twist and turns. Mist and her Allies went through Hel and came back even stronger. So with the way the story was left... The series could continue, if not I am happy with the way it wrapped up.
Oh and am I the only one who actually likes Loki a little bit?? Sure he's technically a "bad" person. But he's the trickster who loves chaos. It's sorta his thing. Compared to Odin or Freya.... He just doesn't seem that bad.
July 18, 2016
I think Krinard's Mist series definitely gets better as the series goes on. This was in my opinion the best book in the series. The action definitely picked up and had some twists that I was not expecting. The book ended where you know it could continue if Susan Krinard chooses but if not it has a satisfying ending.
March 24, 2016
Watch out Jotunar, Alfar, Beserkir, and duplicitous Aesir gods, the Mighty Mist is in the house. And she takes her responsibilities as a Valkyrie vigilante very seriously.
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2016/03/24...
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2016/03/24...
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January 5, 2021-this was a slow read. i kept getting pissed at the cruelty and evil of some of the bad characters. it was a book i wanted to throw a couple times. it wasnt a bad book, i just found it a bit anger inducing.
June 19, 2017
kept me interested and looking for the end typical keep the hero in a mess book
February 1, 2017
This series just kept getting better as it went on. Strong finish, with a good twist.
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