What do you think?
Rate this book
Beast Becomes Her
Netflix’s Wednesday meets Norse mythology in this gorgeous dark contemporary fantasy following a teen berserkr sent to a secret magical academy where she must unmask the real killer behind the gruesome campus murders or risk becoming the next victim.
Edith has always been a good girl—she has to be, or her foster family might think she’s like her violent father. No matter how much anger simmers inside her, she keeps it buried, hidden…
Until the day she’s pushed a step too far, and that anger comes bursting out in the form of literal claws.
It’s then that Edith learns she’s a berserkr, a descendant of ancient Norse warriors with the ability to turn into animals. To avoid jail for attacking a student, Edith is shipped off to the mysterious Skallagrim Academy. The ancient school is supposedly a haven for people like her, a place where she can learn to control her powers and then push them down so deep that they’ll never come out again.
But someone—or something—is stalking the dark halls of Skallagrim.
On her second night, Edith stumbles upon a gruesome murder and is caught at the scene of the crime by Amund, who is tasked with hunting down wayward berserkir. Now, with Amund suspecting Edith as the killer, she’ll have to catch the real culprit to prove her innocence before she ends up in the hunter’s crosshairs—or becomes the killer’s next victim.
Edith has always been a good girl—she has to be, or her foster family might think she’s like her violent father. No matter how much anger simmers inside her, she keeps it buried, hidden…
Until the day she’s pushed a step too far, and that anger comes bursting out in the form of literal claws.
It’s then that Edith learns she’s a berserkr, a descendant of ancient Norse warriors with the ability to turn into animals. To avoid jail for attacking a student, Edith is shipped off to the mysterious Skallagrim Academy. The ancient school is supposedly a haven for people like her, a place where she can learn to control her powers and then push them down so deep that they’ll never come out again.
But someone—or something—is stalking the dark halls of Skallagrim.
On her second night, Edith stumbles upon a gruesome murder and is caught at the scene of the crime by Amund, who is tasked with hunting down wayward berserkir. Now, with Amund suspecting Edith as the killer, she’ll have to catch the real culprit to prove her innocence before she ends up in the hunter’s crosshairs—or becomes the killer’s next victim.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
About the author
Crystal Seitz
3 books135 followersA Viking at heart, Crystal battles Crohn’s disease and raids libraries for all the books on Norse mythology she can find. She works in marketing, but only because she can’t be a professional shield-maiden. She has a penchant for mythology, history, and all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found doing archery, drawing, or rewatching Game of Thrones.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I seriously love a book that has a 'whodunit' plotline with a side of romance. This book had me entertained the entire time! Starting with the introduction of Edith, who is brought to a magical academy to learn how to control the Beast within her.
Little did she know that as soon as she enters, the campus becomes dangerous with murders happening all around her. FREAKING LOVED IT! Edith is a baddie who is afraid of her Beast, but it’s so empowering to see how she slowly accepts who she is and embraces it.
We can’t forget the romance, which is obviously a reason why I read. Even though it was a subplot (for me), it was enough for me to yell at them to finally be together! Not to mention, the person of interest is a hunter, Amund, whose job is to stop Beasts like her who abandon humanity and stay beasts forever (talk about intense).
Anyway, the secret academy + Teen Wolf vibes are super on point here, and the suspense of trying to solve the murders all in one book had me entertained I loved every second! I also enjoyed how the author gave us a dual POV to get both perspectives: someone new entering the academy and the hunter, who is meant to protect the school but is failing to do so.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves a murder mystery, an academy filled with shapeshifters, hunters and witches and can't forget the sprinkle of romance.
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ❀*･ i'm feeling moody and want to tandem my current read so hi 👋
thank you SimonTeen for my eARC!
Little did she know that as soon as she enters, the campus becomes dangerous with murders happening all around her. FREAKING LOVED IT! Edith is a baddie who is afraid of her Beast, but it’s so empowering to see how she slowly accepts who she is and embraces it.
We can’t forget the romance, which is obviously a reason why I read. Even though it was a subplot (for me), it was enough for me to yell at them to finally be together! Not to mention, the person of interest is a hunter, Amund, whose job is to stop Beasts like her who abandon humanity and stay beasts forever (talk about intense).
Anyway, the secret academy + Teen Wolf vibes are super on point here, and the suspense of trying to solve the murders all in one book had me entertained I loved every second! I also enjoyed how the author gave us a dual POV to get both perspectives: someone new entering the academy and the hunter, who is meant to protect the school but is failing to do so.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves a murder mystery, an academy filled with shapeshifters, hunters and witches and can't forget the sprinkle of romance.
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ❀*･ i'm feeling moody and want to tandem my current read so hi 👋
thank you SimonTeen for my eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
જ⁀➴ 4.25 stars
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books and Crystal Seitz for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Beast Becomes Her will be officially published on March 3rd, 2026!
✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧
On today's episode of "Underrated books Kim thinks that are going to fly under the radar in 2026," I present to you Beast Becomes Her. This is the first YA paranormal book I've read in a while that I absolutely loved, and I can't wait for more people to get their hands on it and read it, too.
Edith Holden has spent the majority of her life trying to be the perfect golden child her foster parents expect her to be—star student, star athlete, perfect disciplinary record—so she and her younger sister, Bea, don't get separated. She compartmentalizes her anger and lets it simmer underneath the surface, never letting it show. When a situation at school pushes her too far, and she has to defend herself, she's shocked when her self-defense comes out in the form of claws. She and Bea are whisked away to Skallgrim Academy, a secret boarding school in Iceland for witches, hunters, and berserkir—shape-shifters—like herself and Bea in order to hone her newfound abilities and keep them under control. The problem? She's caught at the scene of a crime on her second night at school by none other than Amund Agnarsson, a hunter whose sole purpose is to kill berserkir like her...except she isn't the killer. Now she has to prove her innocence and fight her growing feelings for Amund, who may not be the cold-hearted killer he makes himself out to be.
Before I go into the review, I just want to say that people should definitely check the trigger/content warnings before proceeding to read. There's a lot of body horror and graphic violence throughout the story, even for a YA book. I've read a decent amount of horror and thrillers in the YA genre, but this one takes the cake so far for the most gore and graphic violence. There'll be a full list of content warnings at the end of my review!
As I mentioned earlier, the book is definitely Wednesday inspired. From the boarding school/academia setting, the gothic atmosphere, and the murder mystery aspect of the plot, it definitely reminded me of the first season of the TV show. I think anyone who's watched the first season, at the very least, will find a lot of the same vibes and even some parallels and similarities in the plot. I don't think I'd go as far as to say that this is a rip-off of the show or a fanfiction of the show, but it's nice to finally read a book where its comparison/pitch lives up to its name. The pacing of the story was pretty good, and I never felt like there was a dull moment. I honestly had a hard time believing that the finished copy of the book is 464 pages long because it never felt that way to me at any point while I was reading.
Another aspect I loved was the Norse mythology woven throughout the story. As someone who loves mythology of all kinds, the one I know the least about is Norse mythology, and I'm not entirely sure as to why, because it's so interesting! I learned a lot about berserkir, seers, witches, and hunters, and the role they all played in Norse mythology. It was so interesting to learn how seiðr (Icelandic for magic) affected each group of people and the consequences of what happens when it's taken too far.
The one thing I loved the most was the amount of female rage that's in this story. I love how explicitly clear the story makes it when it says that the reason why a lot of female berserkir have issues fully transforming is that they have to tap into their anger and rage, and because society tells women that they're not allowed to show that rage, they sometimes never end up doing so. This is the overarching character arc and development for Edith, as she spends most of her time struggling to transform. I love how she learned to accept that anger and rage are a part of everyone and that she's allowed to feel that rage because it makes her human and who she is. This obviously has implications in real life as well, and I believe that I loved this book so much because that's exactly what I needed to read at the time.
When it comes to Amund, I feel like his story is kind of like Edith's in reverse. Instead of letting himself feel rage, I love how he was able to come to terms with the idea that he doesn't need to be this cold, unfeeling person all the time, and he's allowed to stand up for himself and get in touch with a softer side of him. Granted, a lot of this softer side comes out with Edith and seeing his mom and his brother, Nils, but I love how the author tackled two major societal issues with gender roles and expectations and just...absolutely tore it all down. I do feel like Amund felt a little one-track-minded in the beginning of the story where it felt like he was a broken record. His POV was mostly a rinse and repeat cycle of him going on patrol, spying on Edith, reporting back to his dad on what's happening, and then finding another way to disappoint said dad because he would make no progress on catching the killer since he's so set on thinking it's Edith.
Oh, and the romance?! Agh, I love a good forbidden romance, and the tension between Edith and Amund was off the charts. Amund was down BAD for her the entire time, and I'm definitely biased, but I love it when a guy falls first and falls hard. (I highly suggest going to the author's Instagram to find the character art for Edith and Amund because they look so stinking cute together.) There is something significant I need to bring up about the romance aspect of the book, but it is somewhat of a major spoiler. I'll create a spoiler section at the bottom of this review after my pre-read in case you want to know, but I won't include it in my main review.
Last, but not least, I kind of had a feeling of who the killer was way before the book ended. I must admit that I didn't put the pieces together as to how they did it, but I got the right person lol.
Overall, this was a FANTASTIC read and probably one of my favorite books so far of 2026! This was my first book by Crystal Seitz, and I hope to read more from her in the future!
✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧
Trigger/content warnings: toxic masculinity, body horror, graphic violence (recounted and on-page), domestic violence and abuse
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As someone who loves to read about mythology, the one I don't see a lot of is Norse mythology, so I'm picking this ARC up in hopes I get my fix of it and learn a little more about it! This was pitched as Wednesday meets Norse mythology, and as a fan of the TV show, I can't wait to see what this book is all about!💜🐺
Spoiler section: There is a VERY loose love triangle in the story with Edith, Nils, and Amund. Albeit, it's a very one-sided love triangle because Edith admits multiple times that she doesn't like Nils as more than a friend, but Nils is just that one guy who's delulu enough to think he still has a fighting chance.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books and Crystal Seitz for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Beast Becomes Her will be officially published on March 3rd, 2026!
"Maybe anger is a weapon. It can be used to hurt others, but it can also protect you."
✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧
On today's episode of "Underrated books Kim thinks that are going to fly under the radar in 2026," I present to you Beast Becomes Her. This is the first YA paranormal book I've read in a while that I absolutely loved, and I can't wait for more people to get their hands on it and read it, too.
Edith Holden has spent the majority of her life trying to be the perfect golden child her foster parents expect her to be—star student, star athlete, perfect disciplinary record—so she and her younger sister, Bea, don't get separated. She compartmentalizes her anger and lets it simmer underneath the surface, never letting it show. When a situation at school pushes her too far, and she has to defend herself, she's shocked when her self-defense comes out in the form of claws. She and Bea are whisked away to Skallgrim Academy, a secret boarding school in Iceland for witches, hunters, and berserkir—shape-shifters—like herself and Bea in order to hone her newfound abilities and keep them under control. The problem? She's caught at the scene of a crime on her second night at school by none other than Amund Agnarsson, a hunter whose sole purpose is to kill berserkir like her...except she isn't the killer. Now she has to prove her innocence and fight her growing feelings for Amund, who may not be the cold-hearted killer he makes himself out to be.
Before I go into the review, I just want to say that people should definitely check the trigger/content warnings before proceeding to read. There's a lot of body horror and graphic violence throughout the story, even for a YA book. I've read a decent amount of horror and thrillers in the YA genre, but this one takes the cake so far for the most gore and graphic violence. There'll be a full list of content warnings at the end of my review!
As I mentioned earlier, the book is definitely Wednesday inspired. From the boarding school/academia setting, the gothic atmosphere, and the murder mystery aspect of the plot, it definitely reminded me of the first season of the TV show. I think anyone who's watched the first season, at the very least, will find a lot of the same vibes and even some parallels and similarities in the plot. I don't think I'd go as far as to say that this is a rip-off of the show or a fanfiction of the show, but it's nice to finally read a book where its comparison/pitch lives up to its name. The pacing of the story was pretty good, and I never felt like there was a dull moment. I honestly had a hard time believing that the finished copy of the book is 464 pages long because it never felt that way to me at any point while I was reading.
Another aspect I loved was the Norse mythology woven throughout the story. As someone who loves mythology of all kinds, the one I know the least about is Norse mythology, and I'm not entirely sure as to why, because it's so interesting! I learned a lot about berserkir, seers, witches, and hunters, and the role they all played in Norse mythology. It was so interesting to learn how seiðr (Icelandic for magic) affected each group of people and the consequences of what happens when it's taken too far.
The one thing I loved the most was the amount of female rage that's in this story. I love how explicitly clear the story makes it when it says that the reason why a lot of female berserkir have issues fully transforming is that they have to tap into their anger and rage, and because society tells women that they're not allowed to show that rage, they sometimes never end up doing so. This is the overarching character arc and development for Edith, as she spends most of her time struggling to transform. I love how she learned to accept that anger and rage are a part of everyone and that she's allowed to feel that rage because it makes her human and who she is. This obviously has implications in real life as well, and I believe that I loved this book so much because that's exactly what I needed to read at the time.
When it comes to Amund, I feel like his story is kind of like Edith's in reverse. Instead of letting himself feel rage, I love how he was able to come to terms with the idea that he doesn't need to be this cold, unfeeling person all the time, and he's allowed to stand up for himself and get in touch with a softer side of him. Granted, a lot of this softer side comes out with Edith and seeing his mom and his brother, Nils, but I love how the author tackled two major societal issues with gender roles and expectations and just...absolutely tore it all down. I do feel like Amund felt a little one-track-minded in the beginning of the story where it felt like he was a broken record. His POV was mostly a rinse and repeat cycle of him going on patrol, spying on Edith, reporting back to his dad on what's happening, and then finding another way to disappoint said dad because he would make no progress on catching the killer since he's so set on thinking it's Edith.
Oh, and the romance?! Agh, I love a good forbidden romance, and the tension between Edith and Amund was off the charts. Amund was down BAD for her the entire time, and I'm definitely biased, but I love it when a guy falls first and falls hard. (I highly suggest going to the author's Instagram to find the character art for Edith and Amund because they look so stinking cute together.) There is something significant I need to bring up about the romance aspect of the book, but it is somewhat of a major spoiler. I'll create a spoiler section at the bottom of this review after my pre-read in case you want to know, but I won't include it in my main review.
Last, but not least, I kind of had a feeling of who the killer was way before the book ended. I must admit that I didn't put the pieces together as to how they did it, but I got the right person lol.
Overall, this was a FANTASTIC read and probably one of my favorite books so far of 2026! This was my first book by Crystal Seitz, and I hope to read more from her in the future!
✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧
Trigger/content warnings: toxic masculinity, body horror, graphic violence (recounted and on-page), domestic violence and abuse
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ As someone who loves to read about mythology, the one I don't see a lot of is Norse mythology, so I'm picking this ARC up in hopes I get my fix of it and learn a little more about it! This was pitched as Wednesday meets Norse mythology, and as a fan of the TV show, I can't wait to see what this book is all about!💜🐺
Spoiler section: There is a VERY loose love triangle in the story with Edith, Nils, and Amund. Albeit, it's a very one-sided love triangle because Edith admits multiple times that she doesn't like Nils as more than a friend, but Nils is just that one guy who's delulu enough to think he still has a fighting chance.
March 16, 2026
4⭐️
This book is the perfect reminder that as a woman: It’s okay for me to feel all of my emotions and throw my middle finger up to anyone who makes me feel bad for having them. I control me and no one can convince me otherwise!!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽!!!
“The only time a good girl ever shows her teeth is when she smiles.”
“But magic is something that belongs in books, not real life.”
“Anger isn’t exactly something a lot of girls are told to embrace.”
“The animal will always come out, whether you want it to or not.”
“But is a girl really ever safe alone at night? We should be able to go wherever we want, whenever we want, without having to worry about our safety, but…”
“Sometimes the most beautiful creatures are the deadliest.”
“Excuses don’t matter. Only actions do.”
“Berserking is a gift,”
“Maybe that’s what family actually is: the people you choose to spend your time with, not just those who share your blood.”
“One way or another, love always ends in loss.”
“Loving someone opens you up to hurt, but it also opens you up to a greater happiness and sense of connection to another person. Humans need those connections to live fulfilling lives.”
“When it comes to survival, never be sorry.”
“But asking for help doesn’t make you weak. Refusing to get the help you need does.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Next up on my March TBR List. Hoping this one does not disappoint!!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽!!!
This book is the perfect reminder that as a woman: It’s okay for me to feel all of my emotions and throw my middle finger up to anyone who makes me feel bad for having them. I control me and no one can convince me otherwise!!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽!!!
“The only time a good girl ever shows her teeth is when she smiles.”
“But magic is something that belongs in books, not real life.”
“Anger isn’t exactly something a lot of girls are told to embrace.”
“The animal will always come out, whether you want it to or not.”
“But is a girl really ever safe alone at night? We should be able to go wherever we want, whenever we want, without having to worry about our safety, but…”
“Sometimes the most beautiful creatures are the deadliest.”
“Excuses don’t matter. Only actions do.”
“Berserking is a gift,”
“Maybe that’s what family actually is: the people you choose to spend your time with, not just those who share your blood.”
“One way or another, love always ends in loss.”
“Loving someone opens you up to hurt, but it also opens you up to a greater happiness and sense of connection to another person. Humans need those connections to live fulfilling lives.”
“When it comes to survival, never be sorry.”
“But asking for help doesn’t make you weak. Refusing to get the help you need does.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Next up on my March TBR List. Hoping this one does not disappoint!!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽!!!
Did Not Finish
March 27, 2026I can't - DNF 7%
-------
The title is immaculate
-------
The title is immaculate
March 4, 2026
Halfway through I knew, this is going to be one of those books that I’m going to recommend forever.
To say I was addicted is understatement. I was obsessed with everything that was this book. That’s not a simple thing as I always stayed away from YA.
There are a solid plot, murder mystery, suspense, creepy scenes, Berserkers (shifters), witches, seers and hunters. The plot, the characters all were multilayered.
After an incident in her school, Edith Holden an almost 18 years old finds out that she’s not quite human. There is a whole different world out there that humans are unaware of. So in order to master her power she and her sister are shipped off to Skallagrim Academy for the beings like her. But something sinister stalks the halls of academy and Edith becomes the first suspect to the hunters.
I loved Edith. She was fearless, grumpy, a loyal sister and knew what she wanted. Even after the horrific childhood trauma, she always tried to do the best.
Amund Agnarsson is not only one of the top hunter student from the academy but also son of their legendary warrior. He was this tortured hero who is always trying his best to live up to all the roles that’s thrust upon him. He’s broody and courageous and doesn’t trust Edith one iota.
It’s kinda hilarious as both of them are a little interested in each other but would never admit it.
I would recommend reading this book after midnight for all the feels. It was the perfect mix of spooky, creepy and lore. The climax was especially amazing. When the killer and the motive was revealed I was stunned.
It’s also a clean romance and with more emphasis on plot. Romance is secondary but it won’t feel like that.
I loved the writing style. It’s fantastic.
Overall I highly recommend this book.
-Murder Mystery.
-Dark academia setting.
-Feminine rage.
-Slight Love triangle.
-Wednesday meets Norse mythology.
-Werewolves 🐺, witches and hunters.
-Forbidden romance.
-Epic climax.
-Standalone, TW, safe.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
To say I was addicted is understatement. I was obsessed with everything that was this book. That’s not a simple thing as I always stayed away from YA.
There are a solid plot, murder mystery, suspense, creepy scenes, Berserkers (shifters), witches, seers and hunters. The plot, the characters all were multilayered.
After an incident in her school, Edith Holden an almost 18 years old finds out that she’s not quite human. There is a whole different world out there that humans are unaware of. So in order to master her power she and her sister are shipped off to Skallagrim Academy for the beings like her. But something sinister stalks the halls of academy and Edith becomes the first suspect to the hunters.
I loved Edith. She was fearless, grumpy, a loyal sister and knew what she wanted. Even after the horrific childhood trauma, she always tried to do the best.
Amund Agnarsson is not only one of the top hunter student from the academy but also son of their legendary warrior. He was this tortured hero who is always trying his best to live up to all the roles that’s thrust upon him. He’s broody and courageous and doesn’t trust Edith one iota.
It’s kinda hilarious as both of them are a little interested in each other but would never admit it.
I would recommend reading this book after midnight for all the feels. It was the perfect mix of spooky, creepy and lore. The climax was especially amazing. When the killer and the motive was revealed I was stunned.
It’s also a clean romance and with more emphasis on plot. Romance is secondary but it won’t feel like that.
I loved the writing style. It’s fantastic.
Overall I highly recommend this book.
-Murder Mystery.
-Dark academia setting.
-Feminine rage.
-Slight Love triangle.
-Wednesday meets Norse mythology.
-Werewolves 🐺, witches and hunters.
-Forbidden romance.
-Epic climax.
-Standalone, TW, safe.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Want to Read
August 26, 2025I wonder how much of this is just genuine Wednesday fanfic
August 31, 2025
Oh she is overFLOWING with feminine rage and we have nothing but respect for her.
Thanks to the author for the early copy!
Thanks to the author for the early copy!
March 2, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
PHEWWW I couldn't put this down! The eerie and atmospheric setting, the ancient magic, the deadly monster on campus, the romantic subplpot 🤌 LOVE.
I really enjoyed Edith's character in all her complexities. The way that Seitz depicted Edith's fears, trauma, tenacity, and ferocity throughout the story is both impactful and truthful.
The story is fast moving and had me in a chokehold almost right away. Although I guessed the main big plot point, I still had the most fun reading this book.
I would have loved to see the romance between Edith and Amund have slightly more depth, and the ending felt rushed to me - perhaps this would have been better as duology? (Or maybe that's just because I want more story)
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the ARC!
PHEWWW I couldn't put this down! The eerie and atmospheric setting, the ancient magic, the deadly monster on campus, the romantic subplpot 🤌 LOVE.
I really enjoyed Edith's character in all her complexities. The way that Seitz depicted Edith's fears, trauma, tenacity, and ferocity throughout the story is both impactful and truthful.
The story is fast moving and had me in a chokehold almost right away. Although I guessed the main big plot point, I still had the most fun reading this book.
I would have loved to see the romance between Edith and Amund have slightly more depth, and the ending felt rushed to me - perhaps this would have been better as duology? (Or maybe that's just because I want more story)
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the ARC!
March 6, 2026
Young Adult fantasy, thriller, and romance all rolled into one? Yes, please! Even better, this one manages to balance those elements really well, making for a story that feels both engaging and satisfying from start to finish.
I was initially drawn to this book because I play Dungeons & Dragons, and my character happens to be a berserker, so I was especially curious to see how the author would approach that concept. I loved the way Norse mythology was woven throughout the story. The mythology added depth and texture to the world without ever feeling overwhelming or overly complicated.
At its core, the book also does a great job capturing the messiness of being a teenager—trying to figure out who you are, where you fit, and how to navigate relationships. Now imagine dealing with all of that while also discovering you might have unusual abilities… or the capacity to transform into something far more powerful and dangerous. It’s a lot for any character to handle, but it works here in the best possible way.
The world-building deserves special praise. It’s rich and immersive without getting bogged down in unnecessary exposition. That’s something I especially appreciate in fantasy—particularly when it’s a standalone. The author manages to create a vivid setting filled with history and detail while still keeping the story moving forward at a satisfying pace.
By the end, the plot ties together nicely and feels complete, which is exactly what I want from a standalone fantasy. At the same time, the world is interesting enough that it could absolutely support more stories if the author ever chose to revisit it. There’s no frustrating cliffhanger here—just the sense that there’s still more to explore if the door ever opens again.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging read that should appeal to fans of YA fantasy who enjoy a blend of mythology, adventure, and a bit of romance along the way.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Simon Teen via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I was initially drawn to this book because I play Dungeons & Dragons, and my character happens to be a berserker, so I was especially curious to see how the author would approach that concept. I loved the way Norse mythology was woven throughout the story. The mythology added depth and texture to the world without ever feeling overwhelming or overly complicated.
At its core, the book also does a great job capturing the messiness of being a teenager—trying to figure out who you are, where you fit, and how to navigate relationships. Now imagine dealing with all of that while also discovering you might have unusual abilities… or the capacity to transform into something far more powerful and dangerous. It’s a lot for any character to handle, but it works here in the best possible way.
The world-building deserves special praise. It’s rich and immersive without getting bogged down in unnecessary exposition. That’s something I especially appreciate in fantasy—particularly when it’s a standalone. The author manages to create a vivid setting filled with history and detail while still keeping the story moving forward at a satisfying pace.
By the end, the plot ties together nicely and feels complete, which is exactly what I want from a standalone fantasy. At the same time, the world is interesting enough that it could absolutely support more stories if the author ever chose to revisit it. There’s no frustrating cliffhanger here—just the sense that there’s still more to explore if the door ever opens again.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging read that should appeal to fans of YA fantasy who enjoy a blend of mythology, adventure, and a bit of romance along the way.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Simon Teen via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
December 13, 2025
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me an early read.
I was an early reader on her first book, so it's nice that I was given a second book to read early.
I liked that this book featured a PTSD character who doesn't want to change into a werewolf after her father slain her mother. She and her younger sister are then taken to a school in Norway in which they are to learn how to control their powers / capabilities. There are witches, seers, werewolves, and hunters. Some can also learn how to be skilled in these other types while also being a werewolf.
I like how strong minded / willed our female lead is, and her protection is when it comes to her sister. It escalates more when she finds out that someone is killing people off in the various factions throughout the campus. This catches the eye of the hunter that dislikes werewolves, and has a difficult relationship with their father - who is the leader of the hunters.
Most of the book is basically her trying to resist her powers, figure out who the killer is and understand this growing relationship with the hunter who is slowly starting to seem interesting than feared.
The reason I knocked the book down a star is that the sister is talked about a lot but isn't seen much and kind of vanishes through the book.
The book ends where if she wanted to make a second book about the politics / outside world, then I'd welcome it.
I was an early reader on her first book, so it's nice that I was given a second book to read early.
I liked that this book featured a PTSD character who doesn't want to change into a werewolf after her father slain her mother. She and her younger sister are then taken to a school in Norway in which they are to learn how to control their powers / capabilities. There are witches, seers, werewolves, and hunters. Some can also learn how to be skilled in these other types while also being a werewolf.
I like how strong minded / willed our female lead is, and her protection is when it comes to her sister. It escalates more when she finds out that someone is killing people off in the various factions throughout the campus. This catches the eye of the hunter that dislikes werewolves, and has a difficult relationship with their father - who is the leader of the hunters.
Most of the book is basically her trying to resist her powers, figure out who the killer is and understand this growing relationship with the hunter who is slowly starting to seem interesting than feared.
The reason I knocked the book down a star is that the sister is talked about a lot but isn't seen much and kind of vanishes through the book.
The book ends where if she wanted to make a second book about the politics / outside world, then I'd welcome it.
March 2, 2026
ARC review
3.5/5 stars
Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are honestly given.
Edith has always kept herself apart, distant from her classmates and foster parents, ever since her father murdered her mother and killed himself. But when an altercation with an aggressive (male, of course) classmate turns violent, she’s forced to acknowledge that she’s more than just a regular human and enroll in a secret magical academy for bersirkir, witches, hunters and seers and learn to control her powers before she becomes something worse. Once there, she has to unravel a mystery steeped in decades old history and solve the murders of classmates in order to secure her safety.
YA fantasy set in a school for magical beings from Norse mythology? Sign me up! Add in a tinge of romance, a ton of found family and I’m a pretty happy reader.
All in all, this was a satisfying read. It’s told in dual POV between Edith and her love interest, Amund (a hunter with an abusive father). I liked both characters but they both had a character trait that also just irked me where they were committed to a chosen path or belief even though it served them no benefits. Why is Edith so dead set on rejecting even learning about her bersirkir abilities, even when they may save her life? She’s so black and white. And Amund is committed to staying with his abusive father and hating the bersirkir even when he knows it’s wrong. I’m coming from a place decades older than these characters though, and this will probably work better for a younger audience than me.
The world building is fantastic and the lore surrounding the creation and history of the magical groups is well explained. And the murder mystery of classmates really amps up the suspense and creates the perfect background to Edith and Amund’s developing relationship! My only quibble with the resolution of the mystery is a personal one - I really hate when the “power of love” is the magical solution. It’s weak and lazy and this has hints of it.
3.5/5 stars
Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are honestly given.
Edith has always kept herself apart, distant from her classmates and foster parents, ever since her father murdered her mother and killed himself. But when an altercation with an aggressive (male, of course) classmate turns violent, she’s forced to acknowledge that she’s more than just a regular human and enroll in a secret magical academy for bersirkir, witches, hunters and seers and learn to control her powers before she becomes something worse. Once there, she has to unravel a mystery steeped in decades old history and solve the murders of classmates in order to secure her safety.
YA fantasy set in a school for magical beings from Norse mythology? Sign me up! Add in a tinge of romance, a ton of found family and I’m a pretty happy reader.
All in all, this was a satisfying read. It’s told in dual POV between Edith and her love interest, Amund (a hunter with an abusive father). I liked both characters but they both had a character trait that also just irked me where they were committed to a chosen path or belief even though it served them no benefits. Why is Edith so dead set on rejecting even learning about her bersirkir abilities, even when they may save her life? She’s so black and white. And Amund is committed to staying with his abusive father and hating the bersirkir even when he knows it’s wrong. I’m coming from a place decades older than these characters though, and this will probably work better for a younger audience than me.
The world building is fantastic and the lore surrounding the creation and history of the magical groups is well explained. And the murder mystery of classmates really amps up the suspense and creates the perfect background to Edith and Amund’s developing relationship! My only quibble with the resolution of the mystery is a personal one - I really hate when the “power of love” is the magical solution. It’s weak and lazy and this has hints of it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW — Beast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz
First of all… I need to sit down.
Beast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz is not just a retelling — it’s a reclamation.
This story takes the bones of a familiar fairytale and strips it down to something raw, aching, and beautifully human. It isn’t about taming the beast. It’s about understanding her. Becoming her. Owning the sharp edges instead of sanding them down to be more “palatable.”
And that? That’s powerful.
The heroine isn’t fragile porcelain waiting to be saved. She is fury wrapped in silk. She is survival with a heartbeat. Watching her navigate her trauma, her power, and her identity felt less like reading and more like witnessing a transformation carved in a firelight.
The romance? Slow-burning. Tension-heavy. Intimate in a way that feels earned rather than rushed. It’s not just longing — it’s recognition. Two souls circling each other, wary and wounded, learning that love doesn’t have to mean surrender.
What I loved most was the atmosphere. There’s a darkness to this book — not overwhelming, but present — like walking through a forest at dusk where you’re not entirely sure what’s watching… but you’re not afraid to keep going.
This story asks:
What if the beast was never the villain?
What if she was simply becoming?
If you love: – Feminine rage
– Fairytale retellings with bite
– Emotionally layered romance
– Heroines who choose themselves
Then you need this on your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the ARC — this one left claw marks on my heart in the best way.
— Muse of Myths 🌿
May we all learn to love the beast within.
First of all… I need to sit down.
Beast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz is not just a retelling — it’s a reclamation.
This story takes the bones of a familiar fairytale and strips it down to something raw, aching, and beautifully human. It isn’t about taming the beast. It’s about understanding her. Becoming her. Owning the sharp edges instead of sanding them down to be more “palatable.”
And that? That’s powerful.
The heroine isn’t fragile porcelain waiting to be saved. She is fury wrapped in silk. She is survival with a heartbeat. Watching her navigate her trauma, her power, and her identity felt less like reading and more like witnessing a transformation carved in a firelight.
The romance? Slow-burning. Tension-heavy. Intimate in a way that feels earned rather than rushed. It’s not just longing — it’s recognition. Two souls circling each other, wary and wounded, learning that love doesn’t have to mean surrender.
What I loved most was the atmosphere. There’s a darkness to this book — not overwhelming, but present — like walking through a forest at dusk where you’re not entirely sure what’s watching… but you’re not afraid to keep going.
This story asks:
What if the beast was never the villain?
What if she was simply becoming?
If you love: – Feminine rage
– Fairytale retellings with bite
– Emotionally layered romance
– Heroines who choose themselves
Then you need this on your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the ARC — this one left claw marks on my heart in the best way.
— Muse of Myths 🌿
May we all learn to love the beast within.
March 14, 2026
This book had a really, really slick twist at the end as well as a fairly strong big “boom” of a moment. Unfortunately … after that, it feels like the author just wanted to wrap everything up and so all threads were tied together in a simple bow with a half-page scene to get it all over with, and because those are the final pages of the book, those are the final moments I’m left with.
On the one hand you have solid characters, solid world building, and a good plot — with a few unfinished side plots that feel like they should have been pulled in, because there was an easy answer to them right there — but on the other you have a slapped together happy ending.
Edith is a good character, and a solid depiction of someone going through grief, fighting through a need to please, a need to protect herself, and the fixation on the murders makes perfect sense. It’s easier to track down a killer than to find the right groups to fit in with at a new school, or to make friends with people who are so like your father, the man who killed your mother. She goes from being afraid to being angry, to embracing her right to be angry. It’s a cathartic journey with a believable arc and I really had fun with her story.
Armund is more passive, and I kind of find it hard to believe while seeing how and why it works with the story. He’s obedient to his father, feeling obligated to stay with him because his mother took his brother, Nills, with her when she left. It’s been years of obedience and endurance, but when a new girl shows up, she’s the reason he starts rebelling against his father. It’s very fast, and I’m not sure it’s set up as well as I would personally like, but it fits the story and isn’t against his character … it just feels like there needed to be another chapter of him dealing with his feelings for his father.
Speaking of, there’s a scene near the end where Armund does turn his back on his father with the stupidest reasoning. Now I get that Armund is a kid, that he’s thinking with emotions more than logic, but it’s a thought Amund uses again in an effort to make it okay for him to hate his father.
But because the end is so quickly thrown in my face with a lackluster “and then it was all fixed!” scene, none of that is dealt with. While Edith gets to confront her memories and emotions of her mother and father, Amund doesn’t. There’s no revelations, no coming to terms with what happened, just Amund shrugging it off and the book ends. If there’d been more to the ending, more to Amund’s break from his father to give it weight and consequence rather than a lackluster bandaid, I think I would have liked this book better.
As it is, Edith’s arc is good, her story is engaging and I actually laughed at her reveal. This is well worth the read, and the most fun I’ve had with a YA … all year. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
March 30, 2026
4.75 stars (rounded up to 5)
i always enjoy reading fantasy books that have a murder mystery aspect involved. that’s why reading beast becomes her was so much fun!! the world building was great and the writing style was beautiful and very evocative.
after she attacks a student, to avoid jail, edith holden finds herself attending the mysterious skallagrim academy, learning that she is berserkr, and belongs to a world where magic and supernatural creatures are very real. the story heavily references norse mythology, but does so in a way that is easy to understand and adds a mythical feel. the descriptions are beautiful and evocative, making the academy feel like it’s a living breathing institution. there’s something in the way crystal seitz writes, where once you start reading, you don’t want to stop. seriously, her writing was so addicting.
edith was such a complex and well-written protagonist and probably has one of the best character arcs that i have read in a ya fantasy standalone. as the story progresses and it really starts getting into edith’s studies at the academy as well as the murder mystery part, you can truly feel how much she just wants to let the anger out. the way her anger is described feels so visceral, and honestly, i loved it when she unleashed the full force of her powers and gave into that incandescent rage she felt. edith gave us some badass moments in the book and i absolutely adored her.
i wasn’t expecting a dual pov book, so i was pleasantly surprised when i found out that amund also had a pov. at the start of the story, he is quite stubborn in his beliefs and despises berserkrs like edith. but as people start to show up dead around the academy and he is forced to team up with edith, things (and feelings) change. his character development is also great, and feels well rounded. i loved the enemies to reluctant allies to lovers dynamic between edith and amund. and they are true enemies at first. neither likes the other, and amund even suspects her to be the mystery killer on campus.
i don’t really want to spoil what happens, but the murder mystery aspect was so interesting to me, i honestly had such a hard time guessing who was the actual culprit because the plot would lean towards one, and then deliver a jaw dropping twist that would destroy that guess. the last 10% of the book delivers on the action, and gives us the perfect ending to this amazing book.
beast becomes her was such a great read, and i know this is technically a standalone, but i soooo wouldn’t mind another book set in this world.
thank you crystal seitz and margaret k. mcelderry books for sending me an e-arc!
i always enjoy reading fantasy books that have a murder mystery aspect involved. that’s why reading beast becomes her was so much fun!! the world building was great and the writing style was beautiful and very evocative.
after she attacks a student, to avoid jail, edith holden finds herself attending the mysterious skallagrim academy, learning that she is berserkr, and belongs to a world where magic and supernatural creatures are very real. the story heavily references norse mythology, but does so in a way that is easy to understand and adds a mythical feel. the descriptions are beautiful and evocative, making the academy feel like it’s a living breathing institution. there’s something in the way crystal seitz writes, where once you start reading, you don’t want to stop. seriously, her writing was so addicting.
edith was such a complex and well-written protagonist and probably has one of the best character arcs that i have read in a ya fantasy standalone. as the story progresses and it really starts getting into edith’s studies at the academy as well as the murder mystery part, you can truly feel how much she just wants to let the anger out. the way her anger is described feels so visceral, and honestly, i loved it when she unleashed the full force of her powers and gave into that incandescent rage she felt. edith gave us some badass moments in the book and i absolutely adored her.
i wasn’t expecting a dual pov book, so i was pleasantly surprised when i found out that amund also had a pov. at the start of the story, he is quite stubborn in his beliefs and despises berserkrs like edith. but as people start to show up dead around the academy and he is forced to team up with edith, things (and feelings) change. his character development is also great, and feels well rounded. i loved the enemies to reluctant allies to lovers dynamic between edith and amund. and they are true enemies at first. neither likes the other, and amund even suspects her to be the mystery killer on campus.
i don’t really want to spoil what happens, but the murder mystery aspect was so interesting to me, i honestly had such a hard time guessing who was the actual culprit because the plot would lean towards one, and then deliver a jaw dropping twist that would destroy that guess. the last 10% of the book delivers on the action, and gives us the perfect ending to this amazing book.
beast becomes her was such a great read, and i know this is technically a standalone, but i soooo wouldn’t mind another book set in this world.
thank you crystal seitz and margaret k. mcelderry books for sending me an e-arc!
January 9, 2026
3.5 stars Rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book early with an eARC!
I have lots of thoughts on this one. The beginning and end were the best parts. The middle suffered from repetition and a very slow plot.
First, the good parts. I liked Edith. She was an amazing protagonist. I liked the emphasis on women using their anger to become powerful, not hiding it to “be a good girl.” I also really liked the overall theme and the setting / lore. It was SO unique and brilliant! And overall, I just really enjoyed reading most of the book. Even the middle had some good parts.
There may be inferences to spoilers below. If you want to go in blind, don’t read:
Now to the … not so great parts. I was disappointed in the mystery. We had an entire section of the book, at least 30% of it where the team was so focused on one suspect and it was SO obvious he had nothing to do with it. But all the red herrings pointed to him and it was annoying. I knew from the moment his name came up that it was not him. ☠️ So for them to spend that much time on it…. Ugh. They also chose another suspect later solely because that person was the only one they knew with the ability. ☠️☠️☠️ It was the most outrageous misdirection ever.
I also didn’t really like Amund much. Broody dark MMC with a sad past. Typical. He also didn’t have much chemistry with Edith. It was like… almost there but not quite anything. 😅 I didn’t like that their relationship was some sort of innate connection. Suddenly they just “feel right” with each other. But mates never came up so…. Just the power of love? 😅
Overall, I think if you liked Crystal’s first book (Inheritance of Scars), you will like this one. Crystal excels at giving readers a new and inventive storyline in her books! It’s what draws me to her. This is for fans of dark academia, mystery fantasy, and lore building.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book early with an eARC!
I have lots of thoughts on this one. The beginning and end were the best parts. The middle suffered from repetition and a very slow plot.
First, the good parts. I liked Edith. She was an amazing protagonist. I liked the emphasis on women using their anger to become powerful, not hiding it to “be a good girl.” I also really liked the overall theme and the setting / lore. It was SO unique and brilliant! And overall, I just really enjoyed reading most of the book. Even the middle had some good parts.
There may be inferences to spoilers below. If you want to go in blind, don’t read:
Now to the … not so great parts. I was disappointed in the mystery. We had an entire section of the book, at least 30% of it where the team was so focused on one suspect and it was SO obvious he had nothing to do with it. But all the red herrings pointed to him and it was annoying. I knew from the moment his name came up that it was not him. ☠️ So for them to spend that much time on it…. Ugh. They also chose another suspect later solely because that person was the only one they knew with the ability. ☠️☠️☠️ It was the most outrageous misdirection ever.
I also didn’t really like Amund much. Broody dark MMC with a sad past. Typical. He also didn’t have much chemistry with Edith. It was like… almost there but not quite anything. 😅 I didn’t like that their relationship was some sort of innate connection. Suddenly they just “feel right” with each other. But mates never came up so…. Just the power of love? 😅
Overall, I think if you liked Crystal’s first book (Inheritance of Scars), you will like this one. Crystal excels at giving readers a new and inventive storyline in her books! It’s what draws me to her. This is for fans of dark academia, mystery fantasy, and lore building.
March 10, 2026
After reading Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz last year and really enjoying it, I was excited to dig into Beast Becomes Her. However, I was left disappointed and ended up DNF-ing the book a little over a fifth of the way through.
I understand that I’m older than the target audience when diving into a Young Adult book, and I do take that into consideration while reading. Saying that the writing felt “very YA” in a YA book is truly silly, because of course it felt that way. However, that was not the case here. This read like it was written for an even younger audience, except for the significant number of f-bombs and other swearing. The repetition of phrases and an extremely simple prose style combined to make a story that felt childish in its approach, as if the author didn’t trust the reader to make deeper connections. Everything was laid out, almost heavy-handed in its telling, not showing. Truly, had I been reading a story aimed at younger kids, I wouldn’t be saying anything, but the darker theme/tone, the heavy use of swearing, and the characters' ages made it clear that this was not for children. It was genuinely hard to read in that aspect, as I was looking for a bit more depth to the writing, and I wasn’t getting it. That being said, I did try to get through more, as again, I had enjoyed Seitz’s previous novel and hoped that I would get used to the disconnect. Unfortunately, that never happened.
Not only did the writing lack depth, but everything else did as well, from the world to the characters. I think the magic system was cool (although the constant switch in how the author spelled berserkr/berserkir/berserker was a bit confusing, unless it was a difference in singular vs. plural, in which case I completely missed that), but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. Even the murder plot, which is something I usually enjoy, wasn’t enough.
It really all comes back to the writing, and I know that’s probably a kind of petty thing to put a book down for, but if I’m not enjoying my reading experience, I’m not going to continue. It’s especially disappointing because I don’t remember the other book being written this way, which is crazy, because it feels like a step backwards.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I just could not get past the writing style. Beast Becomes Her unfortunately has to go in my stack of DNFs.
I received an advanced copy of Beast Becomes Her from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I understand that I’m older than the target audience when diving into a Young Adult book, and I do take that into consideration while reading. Saying that the writing felt “very YA” in a YA book is truly silly, because of course it felt that way. However, that was not the case here. This read like it was written for an even younger audience, except for the significant number of f-bombs and other swearing. The repetition of phrases and an extremely simple prose style combined to make a story that felt childish in its approach, as if the author didn’t trust the reader to make deeper connections. Everything was laid out, almost heavy-handed in its telling, not showing. Truly, had I been reading a story aimed at younger kids, I wouldn’t be saying anything, but the darker theme/tone, the heavy use of swearing, and the characters' ages made it clear that this was not for children. It was genuinely hard to read in that aspect, as I was looking for a bit more depth to the writing, and I wasn’t getting it. That being said, I did try to get through more, as again, I had enjoyed Seitz’s previous novel and hoped that I would get used to the disconnect. Unfortunately, that never happened.
Not only did the writing lack depth, but everything else did as well, from the world to the characters. I think the magic system was cool (although the constant switch in how the author spelled berserkr/berserkir/berserker was a bit confusing, unless it was a difference in singular vs. plural, in which case I completely missed that), but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. Even the murder plot, which is something I usually enjoy, wasn’t enough.
It really all comes back to the writing, and I know that’s probably a kind of petty thing to put a book down for, but if I’m not enjoying my reading experience, I’m not going to continue. It’s especially disappointing because I don’t remember the other book being written this way, which is crazy, because it feels like a step backwards.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I just could not get past the writing style. Beast Becomes Her unfortunately has to go in my stack of DNFs.
I received an advanced copy of Beast Becomes Her from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2025
Beast Becomes Her is everything I ever wanted in a Norse mythological dark academia fantasy story! I am so blown away by how easy it was to get lost in the pages of this sophomore novel by Crystal Seitz. The atmosphere, world building of Skallagrim Academy, the characters and all they went through. It was all exquisitely written and had my heart in a vice grip. I adore the story that Crystal was woven around the lore of the Beserkir and Norse magic seiðr. This is absolutely a 2026 release to have in your lineup, so don’t sleep on it!!!
March 17, 2026
First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley & Simon and Schuster publishing for the amazing opportunity of reading this book. Even tho I’m a little late to the party so I’ll keep my review short and sweet.
This book for sure was a book i wish had gotten to sooner. The idea of a school setting has been done so much but Crystal is able to make it fresh and new. Throw in Norse Mythology and it is a kick out of the park.
I enjoyed the characters and world building. I guessed the hidden villain and was like Ha! Got ya!
Overall a great book that will have you hooked
This book for sure was a book i wish had gotten to sooner. The idea of a school setting has been done so much but Crystal is able to make it fresh and new. Throw in Norse Mythology and it is a kick out of the park.
I enjoyed the characters and world building. I guessed the hidden villain and was like Ha! Got ya!
Overall a great book that will have you hooked
April 11, 2026
3.5 rounded up
I am giving the book the benefit of the doubt and rounding up my rating because I listened to the audiobook and one of the narrators made some chapters a bit painful. Names are pronounced differently every time they were said, and the voice he used for Amund sounded like a whiskey drinking police chief, one shift away from retirement. That voice would have been better used on his dad, who had a weasely cartoon voice.
I liked a lot of things- the characters, the magic system, the feminine rage- but I did guess the killer pretty quickly.
I am giving the book the benefit of the doubt and rounding up my rating because I listened to the audiobook and one of the narrators made some chapters a bit painful. Names are pronounced differently every time they were said, and the voice he used for Amund sounded like a whiskey drinking police chief, one shift away from retirement. That voice would have been better used on his dad, who had a weasely cartoon voice.
I liked a lot of things- the characters, the magic system, the feminine rage- but I did guess the killer pretty quickly.
March 13, 2026
Not what I expected in the BEST way. I had seen this book floating around, so of course I had to read it. Honestly, I loved the mystery parts of the plot more than the romance, but was happy it was in there of course. Who doesn't love a good detective/solve the murder story though? The romance was just a bonus, an added layer that made me really love reading this book.
March 21, 2026
3.75/5
Did Not Finish
March 30, 2026Too YA for me. maybe someday
October 22, 2025
Review TK because it might be spoilery but I enjoyed it a lot!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 3/3/2026. Never having seen Wednesday (hold your shock, I know), the blurb of Wednesday meets Norse mythology for this book meant little to me other than OMG YAS NORSE MYTHOLOGY BESERKERS RAVENS WYRDING which, in all reality, is quite enough for this mythology/folklore geek. Beast Becomes Her revolves around Edith discovering her magical transformative heritage and being shipped off to a magical school in Iceland to deal with it. Of course it is not that simple and she has heaps of traumatic baggage even before she learns she can sprout claws and plopping her with her beloved little sister in a school where murder starts happening is not about to help her state of mind. However, what can a girl do? Two words - Female Rage.
This book leans far into the ways that girls/women are judged and limited and controlled and, to be honest, this is a good and necessary conversation to have. Especially for a YA book. Because things won’t change unless we look them dead in the eye, name them, and fight them. Yes, there are a lot of uncomfortable topics in the book. Domestic abuse (physical, emotional, mental), rape culture (no really does mean no, you know), mental health and self care, identity, trauma. There are trigger warnings, yes, and it is wise to pay attention. However, if you can, I highly suggest you go ahead and read on through them.
From the jump, my heart broke for Edith who has the Good Girl persona down pat as a survival mechanism. Don’t be too loud or too aggressive or too cold or too flirty. Get top grades, be involved, toe the line. Inside, though, she is wound painfully tight and struggles with her suppressed feelings constantly. Despite the efforts of her foster parents and therapy, she cannot move fully away from the murder-suicide of her parents. She is angry but does not feel allowed to be angry. She is afraid and guilty and blames her dad and her mom and herself. Maybe if she was BETTER… Being inside Edith’s head is vividly honest and painful, showing all the ways that not dealing with things and suppressing and playing parts can poison you from inside out. Despite all of these issues, though, Edith loves her little sister deeply and appreciates her foster parents and clings to friends when she finally finds them - even if she keeps walls up. She is loyal and smart and, when she IS stupid, it is the sort of stupid that we know comes from being a teenager, compounded by trauma. Edith is easily the best part of the book and seeing her come into her own and embrace her power and use anger for HER purposes is liberating.
Her counterpart, enemy-to-smoocher, partner-in-detecting Amund the Hottie Hunter is less the best. While his backstory and trauma and psychological scars are intriguing and believable, I found him to be a less engaging character. There is something less consistent to him and less deep. Plus his obsession with Edith being gorgeous etc rings like ticking off a note on a list. Oh, yeah, they have to be attracted to each other! I grew to like him and he does have a decent arc but he definitely is the less interesting part of the pairing.
Props to other characters like Valerie and Kris and Tala and little sister Bea, too. Props to Amund’s dad for being a Grade A Ass, I guess, and various other oppressive, awful male characters. Villainy is most horrific when it is so close to being actual and real. We can laugh at the dark wizard but the dark father figure is less funny.
That said, the one disappointment I had in the book was pacing. Much like the “telling” of how attracted Amund is to Edith feels like a writing trick, focusing on one particular and obvious character as the possible suspect for over 2/3rds of the book is a waste… And ironically had me picking out the real killer much sooner than I might normally have because it felt so forced. It was a believable end but spending that much time on the wrong one leaves the right one like a really rough right turn (unless you live in my weird brain, I suppose).
Overall, this was a fantastic book. Norse mythology, magic, mystery, and Female Rage being the real magical power? Yes, please. A real-time mental shift of how one views a victim, blames a victim, raises and supports a victim? All too timely. No more of this “what was she wearing” or “why didn’t she leave.” F*ck all the way off with that nonsense. Let’s put the blame where it belongs!
This book leans far into the ways that girls/women are judged and limited and controlled and, to be honest, this is a good and necessary conversation to have. Especially for a YA book. Because things won’t change unless we look them dead in the eye, name them, and fight them. Yes, there are a lot of uncomfortable topics in the book. Domestic abuse (physical, emotional, mental), rape culture (no really does mean no, you know), mental health and self care, identity, trauma. There are trigger warnings, yes, and it is wise to pay attention. However, if you can, I highly suggest you go ahead and read on through them.
From the jump, my heart broke for Edith who has the Good Girl persona down pat as a survival mechanism. Don’t be too loud or too aggressive or too cold or too flirty. Get top grades, be involved, toe the line. Inside, though, she is wound painfully tight and struggles with her suppressed feelings constantly. Despite the efforts of her foster parents and therapy, she cannot move fully away from the murder-suicide of her parents. She is angry but does not feel allowed to be angry. She is afraid and guilty and blames her dad and her mom and herself. Maybe if she was BETTER… Being inside Edith’s head is vividly honest and painful, showing all the ways that not dealing with things and suppressing and playing parts can poison you from inside out. Despite all of these issues, though, Edith loves her little sister deeply and appreciates her foster parents and clings to friends when she finally finds them - even if she keeps walls up. She is loyal and smart and, when she IS stupid, it is the sort of stupid that we know comes from being a teenager, compounded by trauma. Edith is easily the best part of the book and seeing her come into her own and embrace her power and use anger for HER purposes is liberating.
Her counterpart, enemy-to-smoocher, partner-in-detecting Amund the Hottie Hunter is less the best. While his backstory and trauma and psychological scars are intriguing and believable, I found him to be a less engaging character. There is something less consistent to him and less deep. Plus his obsession with Edith being gorgeous etc rings like ticking off a note on a list. Oh, yeah, they have to be attracted to each other! I grew to like him and he does have a decent arc but he definitely is the less interesting part of the pairing.
Props to other characters like Valerie and Kris and Tala and little sister Bea, too. Props to Amund’s dad for being a Grade A Ass, I guess, and various other oppressive, awful male characters. Villainy is most horrific when it is so close to being actual and real. We can laugh at the dark wizard but the dark father figure is less funny.
That said, the one disappointment I had in the book was pacing. Much like the “telling” of how attracted Amund is to Edith feels like a writing trick, focusing on one particular and obvious character as the possible suspect for over 2/3rds of the book is a waste… And ironically had me picking out the real killer much sooner than I might normally have because it felt so forced. It was a believable end but spending that much time on the wrong one leaves the right one like a really rough right turn (unless you live in my weird brain, I suppose).
Overall, this was a fantastic book. Norse mythology, magic, mystery, and Female Rage being the real magical power? Yes, please. A real-time mental shift of how one views a victim, blames a victim, raises and supports a victim? All too timely. No more of this “what was she wearing” or “why didn’t she leave.” F*ck all the way off with that nonsense. Let’s put the blame where it belongs!
March 7, 2026
This is a book that centers female rage - as in the entire plot of this book is a discussion of female rage and the consequences that come with the societal pressure put on women and girls to suppress their rage. Edith, our main character, finds out that she comes from a magical lineage in which she can transform into a berserkir and yet Edith cannot successfully and safely do this because she cannot access her inner rage. Edith comes from a foster home after losing her parents in a murder/suicide and despite the immense amount of trauma that she has experienced we see Edith struggling to suppress her feelings. As a girl, she has been taught that showing her rage and expressing her displeasure at being disrespected and abused is not acceptable in society and this is keeping her from being able to access a crucial part of herself. Obviously this is a fantasy world and Edith, quite literally, cannot protect herself from harm because she cannot go berserk and transform, but we also see that in a more nuanced discussion as well.
The author really tackles various forms of abuse and manipulation in this book as Amund, our MMC, also is experiencing emotional abuse from his father. We see Amund struggle with leaving his father behind to save himself and that opens Edith's eyes to a new perspective about what happened with her mom. Edith has always seen her mom's choice to stay in an abusive marriage as the reason she died but she fails to see that things aren't always black and white and leaving a situation like that isn't always the safest option. We see Amund help Edith to accept her anger, to embrace it and the ways it literally and figuratively is changing her, and we get to watch as Edith grows capable of protecting herself and others by tapping into her rage. Complacency in dangerous situations, making ourselves small to avoid rocking the boat, can certainly have a place in keeping women safe but sometimes the claws need to come out and women need to fight back.
There is also a really interesting depiction of both chronic illness and disfigurement in this book. Edith is plagued with migraines, in this case as a result of not being able to tap fully into her magic, and it impedes her life in various ways. We see Edith have to suck it up, swallow down some pain medicine, and keep trucking along despite having a migraine because the world doesn't stop turning because you're sick. And this is another contributor to Edith's rage. The anger that her body is not fully her own and that she cannot control it the way others can. She does not currently have control over her transformations and she also cannot control her migraines and the way they throw off her entire day. Edith also suffers a facial injury in the course of the story and we get to watch her process the disfigurement and rebuild her sense of identity.
I thought the Norse mythology and magic system was really fun to read and I had a good time following these characters. I started to absolutely despise one of the characters in this book when he started swiftly trekking into incel territory but I suppose he has enough of a redemption arc in the end - at least he takes accountability for his actions but still... ew. The female empowerment and support was really fantastic to read and this could have easily been stretched into a series but I enjoy being able to get these one off fantasy standalones as well.
Content Warning: domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, murder, body horror, animal attack, facial injury, misogyny, bullying
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
The author really tackles various forms of abuse and manipulation in this book as Amund, our MMC, also is experiencing emotional abuse from his father. We see Amund struggle with leaving his father behind to save himself and that opens Edith's eyes to a new perspective about what happened with her mom. Edith has always seen her mom's choice to stay in an abusive marriage as the reason she died but she fails to see that things aren't always black and white and leaving a situation like that isn't always the safest option. We see Amund help Edith to accept her anger, to embrace it and the ways it literally and figuratively is changing her, and we get to watch as Edith grows capable of protecting herself and others by tapping into her rage. Complacency in dangerous situations, making ourselves small to avoid rocking the boat, can certainly have a place in keeping women safe but sometimes the claws need to come out and women need to fight back.
There is also a really interesting depiction of both chronic illness and disfigurement in this book. Edith is plagued with migraines, in this case as a result of not being able to tap fully into her magic, and it impedes her life in various ways. We see Edith have to suck it up, swallow down some pain medicine, and keep trucking along despite having a migraine because the world doesn't stop turning because you're sick. And this is another contributor to Edith's rage. The anger that her body is not fully her own and that she cannot control it the way others can. She does not currently have control over her transformations and she also cannot control her migraines and the way they throw off her entire day. Edith also suffers a facial injury in the course of the story and we get to watch her process the disfigurement and rebuild her sense of identity.
I thought the Norse mythology and magic system was really fun to read and I had a good time following these characters. I started to absolutely despise one of the characters in this book when he started swiftly trekking into incel territory but I suppose he has enough of a redemption arc in the end - at least he takes accountability for his actions but still... ew. The female empowerment and support was really fantastic to read and this could have easily been stretched into a series but I enjoy being able to get these one off fantasy standalones as well.
Content Warning: domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, murder, body horror, animal attack, facial injury, misogyny, bullying
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
March 6, 2026
I stumbled upon the character art for this book while on Instagram, and have never been so thankful that a post gave me a halting pause. I was absolutely ecstatic to read this, and it reminded me why one of my favorite genres has been, and may always be, young adult fantasy. I flew through this story so fast, I feel it’s only appropriate that it gets 5 ⭐️
The book begins by introducing us to Edith, the FMC, as she navigates high school in Massachusetts. Edith has prided herself on being a “good girl”; getting good grades, being a star track runner, and NEVER letting her anger get the best of her. However, in a moment when a classmate cannot understand the concept of consent, her life changes. Edith is revealed to be a berserker: a descendant of fierce Norse warriors who fought with an animal-like fury, and who could actually shapeshift into animals. In order to learn how to control her powers and not end up like her father, Edith is sent to the Skallagrim Academy in Iceland, a school for others like her. It is here that she consistently stumbles into “wrong place, wrong time” situations as students and faculty begin turning up mauled around campus, drawing the attention of Ahmund, a hunter, to her.
Ahmund, our MMC, unlike Edith, has grown up in the world of witches, berserkers, and seers - dedicating his life to the protection of the academy and hunting down berserkers who have lost their humanity. While he initially believes Edith is behind the attacks, something else is lurking in the shadows. Ahmund and Edith quickly realize they will need to team up to protect the school and their loved ones (no other reason…because they’re definitely not attracted to each other).
I felt very connected to Edith for a lot of reasons, but primarily because she holds such a debilitating fear that if she allows herself to feel any anger, she will end up like her abusive father. While this plays into the themes and parallels of abusive dynamics in the books, it is also a hard-hitting commentary on how society often paints women as hysterical if we express strong (and valid) emotions. I also felt very connected to Ahmund and his internalized responsibility of doing better and being better, resulting in him pushing himself to the edge. I loved how the author created parallels between Edith and her experience with abuse, her abusive father, and her mother not leaving, and Ahmund’s experience with abuse, his abusive father, and his mother leaving, but the trauma is long-lasting for Ahmund and his brother, who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. I think that these parallels made the connection and dialogue between the characters so much stronger!
I read that this book is often compared to if Wednesday were integrated with Norse mythology and culture, to which I would have to agree. The Skallagrim Academy perfectly encompasses the aesthetic for dark fantasy books while providing an air of mystery that draws our main characters together. I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to Norse culture through this book - what an untapped market!
🐺 Norse Mythology
🐻 Hunter x Hunted Love Interests
🐺 Training Sequences
🐻 Murder Mystery
🐺 Feminine Rage
The biggest thank you to NetGalley, McElderry Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. A special thanks to the author for tackling such emotional, but important themes, in her book, to create characters who hold my heart
The book begins by introducing us to Edith, the FMC, as she navigates high school in Massachusetts. Edith has prided herself on being a “good girl”; getting good grades, being a star track runner, and NEVER letting her anger get the best of her. However, in a moment when a classmate cannot understand the concept of consent, her life changes. Edith is revealed to be a berserker: a descendant of fierce Norse warriors who fought with an animal-like fury, and who could actually shapeshift into animals. In order to learn how to control her powers and not end up like her father, Edith is sent to the Skallagrim Academy in Iceland, a school for others like her. It is here that she consistently stumbles into “wrong place, wrong time” situations as students and faculty begin turning up mauled around campus, drawing the attention of Ahmund, a hunter, to her.
Ahmund, our MMC, unlike Edith, has grown up in the world of witches, berserkers, and seers - dedicating his life to the protection of the academy and hunting down berserkers who have lost their humanity. While he initially believes Edith is behind the attacks, something else is lurking in the shadows. Ahmund and Edith quickly realize they will need to team up to protect the school and their loved ones (no other reason…because they’re definitely not attracted to each other).
I felt very connected to Edith for a lot of reasons, but primarily because she holds such a debilitating fear that if she allows herself to feel any anger, she will end up like her abusive father. While this plays into the themes and parallels of abusive dynamics in the books, it is also a hard-hitting commentary on how society often paints women as hysterical if we express strong (and valid) emotions. I also felt very connected to Ahmund and his internalized responsibility of doing better and being better, resulting in him pushing himself to the edge. I loved how the author created parallels between Edith and her experience with abuse, her abusive father, and her mother not leaving, and Ahmund’s experience with abuse, his abusive father, and his mother leaving, but the trauma is long-lasting for Ahmund and his brother, who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. I think that these parallels made the connection and dialogue between the characters so much stronger!
I read that this book is often compared to if Wednesday were integrated with Norse mythology and culture, to which I would have to agree. The Skallagrim Academy perfectly encompasses the aesthetic for dark fantasy books while providing an air of mystery that draws our main characters together. I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to Norse culture through this book - what an untapped market!
🐺 Norse Mythology
🐻 Hunter x Hunted Love Interests
🐺 Training Sequences
🐻 Murder Mystery
🐺 Feminine Rage
The biggest thank you to NetGalley, McElderry Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. A special thanks to the author for tackling such emotional, but important themes, in her book, to create characters who hold my heart
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a NetGalley ARC of this book.
After accidentally attacking another student in a moment of rage, main character Edith is sent to Skallagrim, a magical school in Iceland. When a student is murdered and Edith is found at the scene, she becomes the main suspect. As bodies are discovered across campus, Edith teams up with her new friends to clear her name and discover the true killer.
I was pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. The beginning was a bit off-putting in terms of storytelling: Edith has very little backstory before the incident at her school, and the world of magic is introduced to Edith (and her foster parents) with very little fanfare before she is whisked off to magic school. I assumed there would be some kind of pushback from Edith or the adults in her life when they were told that Edith has magical abilities and needs to be sent halfway around the world, but her parents seemed to have no issues with her (and her 10-year-old sister!) being sent to Iceland on their own. After Edith arrives at Skallagrim, however, she is immersed in a new world with magical cliques, love interests, and intrigue and the plot really picks up. While Edith is reminiscent of Enid Sinclair in the show Wednesday, the author covers a lot of weighty topics (feminine rage and toxic family dynamics to name just two) which gives a lot of depth to Edith's character. I appreciated Edith's reluctance to perpetuate the abuse she saw in her early life and how that played out in her relationships throughout the book. Overall, this book was a solid YA magical fantasy murder mystery.
After accidentally attacking another student in a moment of rage, main character Edith is sent to Skallagrim, a magical school in Iceland. When a student is murdered and Edith is found at the scene, she becomes the main suspect. As bodies are discovered across campus, Edith teams up with her new friends to clear her name and discover the true killer.
I was pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. The beginning was a bit off-putting in terms of storytelling: Edith has very little backstory before the incident at her school, and the world of magic is introduced to Edith (and her foster parents) with very little fanfare before she is whisked off to magic school. I assumed there would be some kind of pushback from Edith or the adults in her life when they were told that Edith has magical abilities and needs to be sent halfway around the world, but her parents seemed to have no issues with her (and her 10-year-old sister!) being sent to Iceland on their own. After Edith arrives at Skallagrim, however, she is immersed in a new world with magical cliques, love interests, and intrigue and the plot really picks up. While Edith is reminiscent of Enid Sinclair in the show Wednesday, the author covers a lot of weighty topics (feminine rage and toxic family dynamics to name just two) which gives a lot of depth to Edith's character. I appreciated Edith's reluctance to perpetuate the abuse she saw in her early life and how that played out in her relationships throughout the book. Overall, this book was a solid YA magical fantasy murder mystery.
After accidentally attacking another student in a moment of rage, main character Edith is sent to Skallagrim, a magical school in Iceland. When a student is murdered and Edith is found at the scene, she becomes the main suspect. As bodies are discovered across campus, Edith teams up with her new friends to clear her name and discover the true killer.
I was pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. The beginning was a bit off-putting in terms of storytelling: Edith has very little backstory before the incident at her school, and the world of magic is introduced to Edith (and her foster parents) with very little fanfare before she is whisked off to magic school. I assumed there would be some kind of pushback from Edith or the adults in her life when they were told that Edith has magical abilities and needs to be sent halfway around the world, but her parents seemed to have no issues with her (and her 10-year-old sister!) being sent to Iceland on their own. After Edith arrives at Skallagrim, however, she is immersed in a new world with magical cliques, love interests, and intrigue and the plot really picks up. While Edith is reminiscent of Enid Sinclair in the show Wednesday, the author covers a lot of weighty topics (feminine rage and toxic family dynamics to name just two) which gives a lot of depth to Edith's character. I appreciated Edith's reluctance to perpetuate the abuse she saw in her early life and how that played out in her relationships throughout the book. Overall, this book was a solid YA magical fantasy murder mystery.
After accidentally attacking another student in a moment of rage, main character Edith is sent to Skallagrim, a magical school in Iceland. When a student is murdered and Edith is found at the scene, she becomes the main suspect. As bodies are discovered across campus, Edith teams up with her new friends to clear her name and discover the true killer.
I was pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. The beginning was a bit off-putting in terms of storytelling: Edith has very little backstory before the incident at her school, and the world of magic is introduced to Edith (and her foster parents) with very little fanfare before she is whisked off to magic school. I assumed there would be some kind of pushback from Edith or the adults in her life when they were told that Edith has magical abilities and needs to be sent halfway around the world, but her parents seemed to have no issues with her (and her 10-year-old sister!) being sent to Iceland on their own. After Edith arrives at Skallagrim, however, she is immersed in a new world with magical cliques, love interests, and intrigue and the plot really picks up. While Edith is reminiscent of Enid Sinclair in the show Wednesday, the author covers a lot of weighty topics (feminine rage and toxic family dynamics to name just two) which gives a lot of depth to Edith's character. I appreciated Edith's reluctance to perpetuate the abuse she saw in her early life and how that played out in her relationships throughout the book. Overall, this book was a solid YA magical fantasy murder mystery.
March 6, 2026
2.5⭐
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Beast Becomes Her is an atmospheric, gothic, dark academia-filled novel about Edith, a girl who's always tried to be the perfect girl expected of her, who realizes her anger can be used to help rather than hurt those around her. This story combines feminine rage and romance in a lovely way.
Edith and her sister are orphans after their parents both died in a murder suicide while Edith was still young. Years later, they are being fostered by the perfect people, and Edith struggles with whether she is good enough for them. She doesn't know whether she will ever fit into the life they have set out for her, and she believes this to be true when she ends up lashing out at a student at her school. She is sent away to a school called Skallagrim in Iceland after discovering she is a berserkir, an ancient being that is both animal and human, where she wants to learn to control her feelings and hide her powers. While there, she makes friends and enemies (to lovers?😋), and is found at the scene where a murder has taken place. She doesn't know what happened, but is determined to find the killer and save her friends and sister to prove herself. She must learn to get along with her oh-so-dreaded enemy to prevent any more deaths...
What I really enjoyed about this book is all the mythology incorporated into it. I never realized just how curious Norse mythology would make me. The gothic vibes were very atmospheric, and with all the tragedy happening at Skallagrim, the setting really adds to the vibe and provides for a more immersive experience. I also enjoyed all the relationships and dynamics that were included in the story; each character felt so complex and individual, with their own backgrounds and relationships. Feminine rage and toxic masculinity were strong themes throughout the story that made it that much more real. I felt angry with the main character because of how powerfully her emotions were described.
As for the romance aspect of the story (I didn't even really realize there was going to be one, so it made me happy when I realized there was), the attraction felt pretty instant, and I didn't get the tension and angst that I was expecting from their dynamic. The ending was sweet, though, and I would say that the romance is definitely more of a side plot, while the main plot was focused on the mystery aspect. Some moments felt very repetitive, especially with the conflicts in the story, like our characters were not learning from mistakes, and jumping to conclusions. It also felt like the two main characters were having the same internal monologues over and over to themselves, which took me out at times. Overall, for me, I think it was just how repetitive the story could be that threw me off.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes ya urban fantasies with complex characters and old mythology.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!~~
3.5/5 stars rounded down!
I liked this! The romance was kinda generic, and the mystery dragged on more than it should've, but I could tell the core part of the book had a lot of heart.
I liked Edith's POV a lot more than Amund's, because her growth and gradual acceptance of her berserker side felt a lot more natural and relatable, particularly the bits regarding her embracing the feminine rage. I loved the relationship she had with her family, her sister and foster parents, as well as the friendships she gained while at Skallagrim. Amund should have complimented her, especially considering his half of the story is him dealing with his father's abuse. Plus, he thought and said things that the book was trying to convince you were badass but were actually kinda typical teenage boy cringe. Other than that shared experience, him and Edith don't really have a lot of chemistry. So many of their "romantic" moments felt forced, and their reasoning that they should be together was not really anything other than it felt "right." It didn't really sell it for me.
As for the main mystery, I accurately guessed the culprit much sooner than our leads, which is frustrating considering they fixate on one guy for so long before instantly jumping to someone else because they were the only one our leads knew for certain had a particular power linked heavily to the case. The reveal when it finally happened was not satisfying, whatsoever. Additionally, the culprit was just sorta given a pass because their actions attributed to another character's wrongdoings before getting sent off to get therapy. Mind you, the culprit killed a handful of people, some of which were near and dear to our leads, and would have been the direct cause of many more deaths if Edith and Amund didn't stop them. I dunno, hurt people hurt people, but there are some crimes, I feel, that are less excusable than others.
I also feel the need to say the worldbuilding is pretty decent here, especially for a standalone fantasy. It helped a bit that I was somewhat familiar with Norse mythology (Thank you, Magnus Chase), but the smaller details about Norse runes, magic, and berserkers in general was stuff I wasn't really privy to. But one detail I do find funny is that the lengths that all this magic is concealed from the world, but the most normal people in this book, Edith's foster parents, accept is so readily. It's implied they were magicked into thinking so, but I personally like to believe they're just like that, so ready to accept the weirdness of Norse mythology being real for their daughters' sake.
Overall, this was a decently good read. Maybe I'll read Seitz's debut to compare, but I can only hope to see improvement come whatever she may write/publish next.
3.5/5 stars rounded down!
I liked this! The romance was kinda generic, and the mystery dragged on more than it should've, but I could tell the core part of the book had a lot of heart.
I liked Edith's POV a lot more than Amund's, because her growth and gradual acceptance of her berserker side felt a lot more natural and relatable, particularly the bits regarding her embracing the feminine rage. I loved the relationship she had with her family, her sister and foster parents, as well as the friendships she gained while at Skallagrim. Amund should have complimented her, especially considering his half of the story is him dealing with his father's abuse. Plus, he thought and said things that the book was trying to convince you were badass but were actually kinda typical teenage boy cringe. Other than that shared experience, him and Edith don't really have a lot of chemistry. So many of their "romantic" moments felt forced, and their reasoning that they should be together was not really anything other than it felt "right." It didn't really sell it for me.
As for the main mystery, I accurately guessed the culprit much sooner than our leads, which is frustrating considering they fixate on one guy for so long before instantly jumping to someone else because they were the only one our leads knew for certain had a particular power linked heavily to the case. The reveal when it finally happened was not satisfying, whatsoever. Additionally, the culprit was just sorta given a pass because their actions attributed to another character's wrongdoings before getting sent off to get therapy. Mind you, the culprit killed a handful of people, some of which were near and dear to our leads, and would have been the direct cause of many more deaths if Edith and Amund didn't stop them. I dunno, hurt people hurt people, but there are some crimes, I feel, that are less excusable than others.
I also feel the need to say the worldbuilding is pretty decent here, especially for a standalone fantasy. It helped a bit that I was somewhat familiar with Norse mythology (Thank you, Magnus Chase), but the smaller details about Norse runes, magic, and berserkers in general was stuff I wasn't really privy to. But one detail I do find funny is that the lengths that all this magic is concealed from the world, but the most normal people in this book, Edith's foster parents, accept is so readily. It's implied they were magicked into thinking so, but I personally like to believe they're just like that, so ready to accept the weirdness of Norse mythology being real for their daughters' sake.
Overall, this was a decently good read. Maybe I'll read Seitz's debut to compare, but I can only hope to see improvement come whatever she may write/publish next.
March 8, 2026
The sub-genre of fantasy based on classic mythology is one of my favorites, and this novel did not disappoint in that regard. The Norse myth of the berserker is woven throughout this novel, in a way that explains the myth without overwhelming the reader with information they may already have. The setting for this novel is the Skallagrim Academy, a specialized boarding school for children and teens who are heir to various skills from Norse mythology - berserkr, witch, or hunter, and, in the past, seers, although that section of the school is closed and crumbling, due to a calamity several decades in the past that no one wants to talk about.
Edith is a high school senior, a perfectionist who is afraid of losing control, the way her father did when he murdered her mother. But until her claws appear one day in response to a bully, she had no idea that berserkrs were real, much less that she might be one herself. The social worker who place Edith and her sister, Beatrice, in foster care after the death of their parents is herself from Skallagrim Academy, using her job to help her find new berserkrs when they manifest and convince to attend the Academy. The sisters are transferred to Skallagrim, and Edith is plunged into a mystery: someone is killing students.
Edith is a foster child since the death of her parents, desperately afraid of disappointing her foster parents and being placed somewhere else, somewhere she won't be able to stay with her sister. Her attitude demonstrates a societal norm; all her life, she's striven to suppress her emotions, to avoid the angry emotional outbursts the her father demonstrated, the anger which ultimately led to him killing his wife in a rage. The idea that good girls control their emotional that they don't respond with anger, makes it difficult for her to release her inner berserkr, a difficulty that pervades her personality, making it difficult for her to acknowledge positive emotion as much as negative emotion. Her emotional awareness and growth throughout the novel are tied to her ability to manifest her berserkr side, and is key to the novel's plot.
There are several relationship-based subplots within this novel that will appeal to a variety of readers, all of which also relate to that same theme of emotional growth. Due to some graphic violence, this novel is appropriate for older teens and adults, although it may be appropriate for older middle school students.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Edith is a high school senior, a perfectionist who is afraid of losing control, the way her father did when he murdered her mother. But until her claws appear one day in response to a bully, she had no idea that berserkrs were real, much less that she might be one herself. The social worker who place Edith and her sister, Beatrice, in foster care after the death of their parents is herself from Skallagrim Academy, using her job to help her find new berserkrs when they manifest and convince to attend the Academy. The sisters are transferred to Skallagrim, and Edith is plunged into a mystery: someone is killing students.
Edith is a foster child since the death of her parents, desperately afraid of disappointing her foster parents and being placed somewhere else, somewhere she won't be able to stay with her sister. Her attitude demonstrates a societal norm; all her life, she's striven to suppress her emotions, to avoid the angry emotional outbursts the her father demonstrated, the anger which ultimately led to him killing his wife in a rage. The idea that good girls control their emotional that they don't respond with anger, makes it difficult for her to release her inner berserkr, a difficulty that pervades her personality, making it difficult for her to acknowledge positive emotion as much as negative emotion. Her emotional awareness and growth throughout the novel are tied to her ability to manifest her berserkr side, and is key to the novel's plot.
There are several relationship-based subplots within this novel that will appeal to a variety of readers, all of which also relate to that same theme of emotional growth. Due to some graphic violence, this novel is appropriate for older teens and adults, although it may be appropriate for older middle school students.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews