The Warrior and Her Divine: A Tale from The Halls of Valhalla

by Gabriella Dennany

From the world of The Halls of Valhalla, this standalone fantasy puts you in the middle of the Dwarven realm...and a life-threatening heist.

"Once, there was a farmer girl who plowed the fields and waited for her father's return. She is forced to live amongst the stars, and soon forgets that she isn't one."

Traveling alongside gods and goddesses of ancient Nordic myth, Astrid the Asgardian is a simple mortal. Her humble background is steeped in war and betrayal, her homeland ripped away from her by the very gods she worships. Fighting glorious battles and retrieving legendary artifacts filled Astrid with a purpose, one that is seconds away from being ripped out of her hands when she fails in front of her godly companions.

When the All-Father Odin orders the company to steal the staggeringly powerful hammer known as Mjolnir from Svartalfheim, the last thing Astrid expects to happen is for their group to fracture and break at the seams. Burdened with a forbidden love for the treacherous god of thunder, Thor, and an otherworldly connection to the trickster god, Loki, Astrid is faced with her mortality in more ways than one. Is it possible for the mortal to be addicted to the divine, to crave gold beneath the skin, to be touched with power?

Astrid is destined for more than she'll ever be ready for, but to get there, she'll need to survive the treacherous labyrinths of the Dwarven realm, the cunning manipulations of her immortal companions, and her own encroaching darkness...

Follow Astrid's story further into a civil war between gods and a fate intertwined with a group of undead warriors in The Halls of Valhalla - out now.

**The Warrior and Her Divine is a standalone novella that takes place before the events of The Halls of Valhalla.**

Genres: Mythology

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2025

About the author

Born and raised in central Florida, Gabriella Dennany now resides in a small Virginia town, surrounded by mountains and valleys. After spending almost ten years researching Norse Mythology and planning a series surrounding undead young adults, The Halls of Valhalla is the first in a projected chronicle of four books. She spends her days gawking over her cat and watching birds at the feeder from her window.

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I make you feel a certain way,” she whispered, “And it frightens you.”

Thank you so much to Tales & Teacups and Gabriella Dennany for letting me read this ARC!

I love Norse mythology and really enjoyed Dennany’s depiction of it in The Warrior and Her Divine! We are made aware of many gods and goddesses, such as Thor, Loki, Sigyn, and Freyr, and are introduced to important characters and items through Kennings (figurative, two-worded phrases used to describe something), most notably ‘All-Father’ and ‘Swordslayer’.This one was pretty short and a quick read. It’s well-paced and had lots of action to keep you engaged and invested in the narrative. I particularly liked Astrid as the FMC. She starts off unsure of herself and where she stands with her beliefs, but by the end is fully confident in who and what she believes in.

Thor is an interesting character in this story. Although he’s a hero in Norse Mythology and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dennany depicts him here as a villain, and who leans heavily on his temperament, violence, and aggressiveness to get his way. I will say however, that this came off a little uncomfortable at times, especially with the way he treats Astrid (the relationship is emotionally toxic), but it was refreshing to perceive him in a different light than how we normally do.

Overall, The Warrior and Her Divine is a 4-star read and one to look out for if you like Norse Mythology or crave something different!

These are the tropes you’ll be able to find in this book:
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Platonic love story
✨ Love triangle
✨ Messy morally grey FMC
✨ Morally black MMC
✨ Mortal vs divine

[Lindsey C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book. I am not paid for my review. My opinions are my own.

Norse mythology has always intrigued me. So when I saw this book, I just knew I had to read it. This book is not your typical fantasy romance. This book is beautifully written and it keeps you wanting more. I loved the reimagining of the Norse mythology.

The world building is next level. I love the details that the author went into. And I understood where she was going with it. My issue is, I wish that there was more of a backstory. That some of the relationships weren’t so disconnected. Thor and Asterix relationship is so intriguing. But it’s also emotionally disjointed. It seems that that relationship is supposed to be the core of the story but it’s not. I was left with a lot of questions about them and about how her relationship with Loki also worked. I would definitely be interested in finding out more.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Dear Shadow,” “My beloved, how am I even to walk without you to guide me?”

“I have seen you, and I love you still.”

The Warrior and Her Divine is an intriguing story in which the roles of the classic Thor & Loki dynamic we have come to know through the likes of the Marvel universe are reversed in a really interesting way. Loki is the reliable, trustworthy and loving friend while Thor is a loose canon, who appears to love the FMC Astrid, but perhaps is incapable of the real love she deserves. I really love how Dennany explored this.

The concept is great and the story was a quick, easy read to introduce us to certain dynamics within the company. Unfortunately I struggled to connect with the characters - we are thrown into the middle of a story and it’s difficult to grasp the relationship between Thor and Astrid, are they in love or aren’t they? I did, however, love the plutonic relationship between Loki and Astrid, but would have liked more of how their relationship came to fruition and what other feelings might be lingering there. I believe with some more reading into this universe I would connect more with the characters as there is some really interesting personalities waiting to emerge and I fear we did not get enough time to explore them.

Thor and Astrid are terrible for each other, and everyone can see it. I did appreciate that Astrid was trying to rid herself, on occasion, of Thor but she ultimately keeps falling back into her old ways. I’d be interested to continue reading the series to find out if she comes into her own.

The lore is full of depth and information that I really appreciated, which makes for a great prequel, which I believe this is. Ultimately, this book was well written and a compelling read, we unfortunately just don’t get as in depth a look into the characters as I would have hoped - but I guess that’s what encourages you to keep reading more!

Thank you so much to Tales & Teacups and Gabriella Dennany for sending me this ARC, I look forward to reading more of this world and it’s interesting characters.

[Samantha Hardesty · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I have seen you, and I love you still.” 😫

I will forever immerse myself in anything related to Loki, and this novella was a real treat.

You’re thrust into the story immediately and the world building from the get-go is exceptional. I thoroughly enjoyed the action, the plot and the interactions between Astrid and the gods, particularly the way Loki is portrayed.

Astrid is a great FMC, battling inner demons and being badass whilst doing so. I was really rooting for her throughout and can’t wait to read more of her in the series. I will say that her character ARC didn’t really hit me until later on in the book. I’d have loved to delve more into each character as well, particularly Sigyn, so I’m hoping for more of that in Gabriella’s Halls of Valhalla books 👀.

My main gripe with this was the toxicity of the relationship with Thor. The ‘touch her and die’ trope is one of my favourites but Thor was honestly vile and I wish Astrid would just run off into the sunset with sweet Loki. Actually maybe not because he’s married - maybe she should go with Ullr. I’d have also loved to have read more about Astrid’s backstory with both Thor AND Loki - but maybe that’ll come another time!

Thank you so much to Tales and Teacups and Gabriella Dennany for the ARC copy and reigniting my love for Norse mythology.

[lisha fogarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3.7/5 ⭐️

Astrid is a mortal, fighting battles alongside the Gods she worships. When her company is sent to steal the legendary hammer, known as Mjolnir, she must work alongside Thor, God of thunder, and Loki, the trickster God. Astrid must face her mortality, in a life which threatens her existence each day, a forbidden love which is set to be her ruin and a darkness that is growing inside her.

Tropes:
touch her and die
Morally grey main character
Platonic love
Mortal vs divine.

So this is a standalone fantasy, however is a prequel to The Halls of Valhalla (which I haven’t read but am definitely interested in reading after this!)
As the characters and gods are well known, it is easy to follow without having read the previous book.
I haven’t read much about Norse mythology but I found it interesting that Thor was portrayed as the morally black character opposed to Loki and I really liked this dynamic.
I found the relationships between the main characters to be toxic and manipulative however I found it read really well and made me want to know more! There was plenty of action which kept me entertained in such a short book but at the same time did not feel like any of the events were rushed. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a quick and easy read with plenty of action.

Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

[Tiegan Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader review 💕

Really enjoyable short read. It is not often we get to see Thor portrayed as the asshole in modern media, even though he is generally the short-tempered problem in the myths, so it was really refreshing having the impulsive and self-centred God from myth.

Astrid's experience as a mortal among Gods makes a really interesting dynamic, especially with her seemingly complicated friendship with Loki. All in all, this prequel made me so curious to see where the story is gonna go and I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series!

[Khas Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️
I was kindly sent an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book, the story centres around Astrid who is a mortal surrounded by Gods like Thor & Loki. Now I’m not familiar with Norse mythology but Thor is quite different in this book to the movies 😅

Tropes:
- Forbidden romance
- Touch her and die
- Platonic love story
- Mortal vs divine

In this book you’ll see Astrid develop into a BAD B, the relationship between the two main characters is very toxic and manipulative but the way it’s written makes you want to read more. It certainly has me wanting to read more Norse mythology stories and I will definitely read ‘The Halls of Valhalla’

Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC to review.

[Haych · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my very first arc read. I’m exceptionally grateful to Gabriella Dennany & Tales and Teacups for letting me read this before release.

I received an eARC of this work, and I have not been paid for review.

The Warrior and her Divine is a novella introducing aspects of the mythology within her larger series. It is a new take on more traditional depictions of Norse Mythos, in particular Thor and Loki, and provides an origin story for how Moljnir and Thor came to be.
Billed as an obsessive romance, with morally grey / black characters, platonic love, and epic adventure, this story has many promises to live up to in its short page count.

I am torn on how to approach this. For the most part, the story has some really interesting plot beats, and overall the concept is amazing, I just feel it fell flat on execution.
This is a really interesting take on Thor and Loki, and I liked the way Thor was written.
I really wanted to like Astrid, but her characterisation is all over the place. She’s morally grey, yes, which is fantastic and something that a lot of books now are lacking, but she’s simultaneously immensely competent and staggeringly fumbling- unfortunately incoherently.

The prose is really trying to pull its weight in painting an immersive world, but sometimes the overuse of simile, repetitive descriptions, and word proximity really made it difficult to stay fully enthralled.

This is added to by the formatting , and the chapters, which end blockily at times. It also may just be the arc but the formatting is really bad and inconsistent. Multiple font size discrepancies etc.

I was interested in the story but I think it would have been better as a collection of short stories but all occurring within a linear time frame.
As it is you get more lore dropped than the story has support for.

This book is really going to appeal to readers who enjoy traditional Norse mythology, and epic adventures. It’s got mature language, and is quite visceral in terms of descriptions of violence so that’s something to bear in mind.

Overall I’d give The Warrior and her Divine 2.8 stars / 5
I did really enjoy the originality of this story, and whilst I have some issues with the writing style, I’m invested enough in the world Dennany has created to add The Halls of Valhalla to my tbr.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it's exactly the kind of Norse fantasy I enjoy! Thank you so much to the author, and TalesandTeacups for the arc of this book.

This book was well-written & had clear themes it wanted to explore within the novella. From reading the synopsis you may think this is simply a romantasy, or an adventure story, and in a way it's both of those things. Yet it's also a dark tale focusing on worship, reverence, and toxic relationships. This is not the tone of a love story, it's the tone of a tragedy.

I liked how the gods were portrayed here - it was just the right amound of haughtiness and disregard for mortals, while still playing on the charisma and awe that puts them in such high regard. Given our main character, Astrid, is a mortal, I could very clearly feel the divide of mortal vs immortal.

Astrid was an incredibly interesting character to follow, a true morally-grey protagonist. She had many feelings and warring desires within herself. I think the author portrayed her struggles exceptionally well in her internal thoughts, it was so raw and believable.

The weakest area of writing within this book were sadly its fight scenes. Astrid is a soldier, and one of the royal guard on Asgard. Although she's a mortal, she's an elite warrior, and fighting is a large part of her character. We see a few battles and fight scenes within this book, but to me they felt brief, and lacking in detail. Writing a good fight it's a particular skill, I think the author could work on adding more description and choreography to these scenes, in order to really transcend the story. Choreography in particular would help, as these fights felt like they were over in 3 sword swipes.

The other, very small, thing I noticed about this book while reading, is that it felt like there were no major status changes throughout the novella. I feel like we weren't able to have any dramatic consequences or emotional changes because this is a prequel very clearly setting up for the main series. I would absolute love to see more stories in this world, perhaps further forward/backward in time, where this wouldn't have to be such a large consideration. Maybe young Astrid when she was friends with Loki? I imagine that could be full of adventure!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and would recommend to people who love Norse mythology, and enjoyed Marvel films in their youth! It reads well as a standalone, and has surprising depth to it for such a short work.

[Jessica Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gods and mortals are never supposed to interact, let alone have deep relationships and friendships with each other, and The Warrior and Her Divine is sure proof of that. This book is a standalone prequel to The Halls of Valhalla series. I’ll say that I haven’t read it yet, but you don’t have to since this is a standalone. It’s a quick read, for sure. If you like stories about Norse mythology and whatnot, you’ll probably like this book. Plus, Astrid is one of the more real FMCs I’ve read about in a while. She wrestles with her inner demons a lot and compares herself to the immortal gods she’s surrounded by, which feels very accurate to the comparison culture women seem to gravitate toward when it comes to literally anything.

While Astrid is the main character, the story heavily focuses on the relationships she has with Thor and Loki, and Thor and Loki’s relationship with each other. Fair warning here: emotional manipulation is a huge part of this. The relationship Thor and Astrid have is toxic as hell. It doesn’t help that Loki, who is married to Sigyn by the way, keeps looking at Astrid a certain way which makes denying the connection they have almost impossible. Thor gets glimpses of this and often turns into a raging, possessive piece of garbage. I’m ok with possessive partners. The “Touch her and die” trope is one that I tend to like. What I don’t necessarily like is when possession turns into anger which turns into harm caused to the partner. That just rubs me the wrong way. And Loki just has to stand there and watch Astrid deal with this because he literally can’t step in. Loki isn’t without fault here either. I mean, he’s literally married to another god and yet keeps eyeing up another woman. I 1000% prefer Loki over Thor though, especially because Astrid says something to Thor in one of their many heated moments about Loki and it kind of broke my heart a little.

Thank you to “Tales and Teacups” and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Miss Jordie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️



𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 by @gabrielladennanyauthor


Tropes:

• Mortal x God Romance ❤️‍🔥

• Enemies to Lovers (with a LOT of tension)

• Power Imbalance / Toxic Romance 🖤

• Morally Grey fmc 🏹

• Morally black mmc

• Betrayal💔

• Found Family (lightly touched)

• Forced Proximity

• Mythology Retelling (Norse)

• Fated But Forbidden💘

• Slow Descent into Darkness / Corruption Arc



Triggers:

• Emotional manipulation and gaslighting

• Toxic relationship themes

• Power imbalance in romance

• Depression / Suicidal ideation (brief but emotionally heavy)

• Blood and violence

• Death of loved ones

• divine punishment

• Mental health struggles (including feelings of unworthiness and isolation)



This is a myth-soaked, emotionally charged fantasy that gripped me from the first page. Set in a vividly reimagined Norse world, this standalone novella throws you into a whirlwind of gods, war, betrayal, and forbidden love. Astrid, a mortal caught in the crossfire of divine games, makes for a flawed yet fierce fmc whose choices kept me constantly guessing. The writing is lyrical and raw, and her take on Norse mythology—especially the darker sides of Thor and Loki—is bold and refreshing.



The romance is intense and often uncomfortable, leaning into themes of emotional power struggles that won’t be for everyone—but it is deliberate, and part of what makes this story so layered and thought-provoking. The pacing is lightning-fast (maybe a bit too fast at times—I wanted more space to breathe and more time with the side characters), but the tension and emotion make up for it.



This is the kind of book you devour in one sitting and then sit with afterward, mulling over the grey morality and aching decisions. If you love mythic fantasy with divine drama, complex women, and messy, high-stakes love, The Warrior and Her Divine is absolutely worth your time. ⚔️

[Ann Onimaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warrior and Her Divine is a beautifully immersive read that constantly keeps you wanting more, from the world and the characters till the final pages. From the beginning, the book swept me away with its reimagining of Norse mythology. The worldbuilding is richly detailed, with vivid imagery that makes every setting, from a simple office to the tundra of Jötunheimr, feel alive and tangible. I love a good fantasy that transports you, and this one delivered.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its sense of place, but worldbuilding is only as strong as its characters, and this book hints at a fascinating cast. Many characters are featured in another book by the same author, yet this one works well as a standalone. I never felt lost or confused, though I was left wanting more, more backstory, more emotional depth, more time with these characters. Whether that was intentional or not, it made me curious about the broader universe and what the other book might offer.
That said, some character dynamics, especially between Astrid and Thor, felt emotionally disjointed. Their relationship is central to the plot, but without a solid foundation of shared history or development on the page, it was hard to fully invest in it. I wanted to connect with Astrid, but her emotional arc didn’t resonate until much later in the book. Her internal conflict, which is centered on the duality of godhood and humanity, is an interesting theme, but it often feels surface-level. I could sense what the author was trying to explore with her character, but the execution left me a bit frustrated, especially when her decisions felt unearned.
Still, the supporting cast shines in its own way. While we don’t get deep dives into most characters, their personalities are vividly drawn through dialogue and interaction. A standout for me was Sigyn—she barely appeared and said little, yet made a lasting impression. That’s a testament to the author’s ability to bring characters to life with just a few strokes. Even with minimal page time, you feel these characters exist beyond the book.
Ultimately, The Warrior and Her Divine is a compelling read. The story is strong, the worldbuilding is exceptional, and while the characters often only skim the surface, there’s enough there to spark curiosity, and emotion. It’s the kind of fantasy that makes you want to linger in its world a little longer. Whether it was the author’s intention or not, it makes you want to pick up her other book.

[Mari Mairi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Warrior and Her Divine is a stand alone prequel Novella for Gabriella Dennany's The Halls of Valhalla series. It's short and sweet (e-ARC is 200 pages), so a good option if you're into Norse mythology, capable warrior FMCs, or are looking for something quick between series.

I primarily rated this as three stars because I had an extremely hard time getting into the story. The prose wasn't pulling me in, the world building didn't immediately excite me, the gods were quite repetitive with nicknames/how they teased the human FMC, and the footnote translations for the norse words kept yanking me out of the story every few pages (really would have preferred the translations to be provided in a glossary). Combined, all of this made it difficult for me to engage with the first half of the story.

All of that said, The Warrior and Her Divine has a really interesting take on the Norse gods. Thor isn't necessarily depicted as the hero--he's more of a hot-headed brute. And yet, our fiesty FMC feels some level of attraction to him and must work through whether that attraction is based in love or in a mortal's obsession with the divine. Does she love him or is she merely addicted to him? Also an interesting dynamic with Loki.

Thanks very much to the author and to Tales & Teacups for allowing me to ARC read this novella.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warrior and her Divine by @gabrielladennanyauthor

Troupes:
○ Morally grey FMC
○ Morally black MMC
○ forbidden love
○ touch her and die
○ mortal v. Divine

The Warrior and her Divine is A tale from The Halls of Valhalla which is book one of the Chronicles of Milo Bohr. This is based on Norse Myth. It is a retelling of Mjolnir, Thor's hammer.
I did not read The Halls of Valhalla (out now) before this, which is now on my TBR. It is a standalone and a prequel.

Releases July 14, 2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a short read and nothing what I was expecting, but I couldn't put it down. Thor and Loki are different in that series. Other series I've read, Thor is the good guy, and Loki is the bad guy. Not here... Thor is more of the villain. Loki is probably my favorite character in this story, and wants to protect the FMC Astrid who is a warrior in love with Thor, a jealous/ angry god of thunder, who only cares for himself. Astrid has been ordered to retrieve Mjolnir along with Thor, Loki, his wife, and others.

"No longer shall I let a god weaponize my fate... I am the crafter of my own fate. I spin the thread." -Astrid

I received this arc for an honest review from @talesandteacupspr

[Alaina Quintin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of The Warrior and Her Divine in exchange for my honest review! It is a fast-paced, myth-soaked fantasy full of betrayal, forbidden tension, and divine chaos. If you love Norse mythology, you’ll recognize names like Thor, Loki, and Sigyn… but they’re messier, darker, and way more morally complex than usual. At first I struggled with this, but I ended up loving how this challenged my view of them!

Astrid, our mortal FMC, is thrown into a world of gods with nothing but guts and grit. Watching her grow from uncertain to unapologetic was one of my favorite parts. And the divine love triangle? Deliciously unhinged.

Thor and Loki were both intense in very different ways and I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from uncomfortable dynamics or toxic power plays. That tension made the divine/mortal stakes feel real.

This one’s technically a prequel, but it didn’t take away from the experience at all. In fact, I’m even more excited to read The Halls of Valhalla next! It was a quick read, perfect for the beach, and a great way to break up my current TBR!

If you’re into flawed heroines, divine drama, and messy myth energy, this one’s for you.


🖤 Thank you to the author and Tales & Teacups PR for the opportunity to read this eARC!

[Caitlin Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had the privilege of reading Dennany’s first novel, The Halls of Valhalla, but this novella reads really well as a standalone despite being a prequel! It instantly pulled me in - incredibly well paced, with fleshed out characters, vivid and immersive world-building, and an overall excellent blend of mythology and modern-day writing styles and tropes. I LOVED how the FMC Astrid wrestled with her mortality and feelings of inferiority while being surrounded by otherworldly, ethereal, arrogant gods. You can instantly relate to her wanting to prove herself, but also finding her own strength and beauty in who she is. I’m all here for complex, realistic female characters that make mistakes and are fundamentally human. And the gods themselves are pieces of work, but are so thoughtfully and refreshingly created that you find yourself being pulled into their “divinity”. If you’re a fan of mythology retellings, especially Norse mythology, this is an amazing read for you! Plus the dynamics between Astrid, Thor, and Loki will have you gasping, kicking your feet, etc. And it just makes you want to read (or in my case reread) The Halls of Valhalla all over again!

[Erin Thorogood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great short stand alone. It is a prequel to The Halls of Valhalla series. I haven’t read that series and after reading this I would love to! The FMC Astrid is so relatable, you get to move along with her while she works through situations that she feels are out of her depth and through her constantly changing (and manipulated) emotions.

There are a few characters in the book but it focuses on Astrid, Thor and Loki. Mostly her relationship with the two, you get to see parts of Thor and Lokis relationship when they let it slip but I would have appreciated seeing more of them interacting.

The world building is easy to follow (especially if you have heard of the mythology before) while still being enticing. There’s a mix of magic, humanity and tension.

It leaves you wanting when it comes to all their interconnected lives but I assume (and hope) many questions will be answered in The Halls of Valhalla series.

If you enjoy Mythology or any of the tales they have been woven into, this is a great place to start an in depth journey into the characters we already know and love.

[Allie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ I received this book as an eARC but am not being paid for my review.

The world-building in this book is absolutely insane in the best way. This was my first dive into Norse mythology and I’ll admit—I was a little intimidated going in. But the author makes it super approachable. The footnotes are a huge help for anyone new to the genre, and I came away actually learning a lot about the gods and terminology without feeling overwhelmed.

✨ Tropes I loved:
• Morally grey main character
• Platonic love (!!)
• Divine x warrior

Astrid is a mortal warrior fighting alongside the gods in a brutal civil war between them and fate. She’s constantly at risk of death—and that tension never lets up. She’s also stuck dealing with an emotionally toxic (and morally black) Thor, while navigating the complexities of Loki, who’s morally grey and married.

This was a quick, action-packed read and honestly such a good starting point if you’re just dipping your toes into Norse mythology. Perfect for readers who love strong female leads, morally complex characters, and mythology with a twist of battle and fate.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ The Warrior and Her Divine by Gabriella Dennany
⭐️4/5 | 🌶️15

Big thanks to Tales and Teacups (@talesandteacupspr) and Gabriella (@gabrielladennanyauthor) for this gifted ARC!

If you’re into Norse mythology, this one might just be for you. The Warrior and Her Divine brings gods and legends to life through poetic Kennings and a fast-paced plot that never drags. With mentions of Thor, Loki, Sigyn, Freyr, and more, it really embraces the mythos in a bold way.

Astrid, our FMC, stood out most to me. Her transformation from unsure and questioning to firm and fearless in her convictions was such a satisfying arc to watch unfold.

Now—let’s talk Thor 👀
Not the Marvel golden boy here. Dennany reimagines him in a darker, more antagonistic role that was honestly jarring at times, especially with how he treats Astrid. Their dynamic leans emotionally toxic, and it definitely made me uncomfy at points—but it’s always interesting to see a familiar figure reimagined in such a different light.

It’s a shorter read, but one packed with tension, action, and some complex emotional themes.

✨AND IT’S OFFICIALLY OUT AS OF YESTERDAY—GO GRAB YOUR COPY!✨

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Astrid is in a fighting company with Thor, Loki, Signyr and Ullr. They are travelling over the 9 realms to find Mjolnir, and take it back to Odin. There are trials and tribulations, and Astrid is painfully aware she is the only mortal among them. All the while, Astrid is dealing with her feelings and turbulent relationship with Thor.

I rated this 2.5 stars. I enjoyed the story and the characters fit well, it was an interesting spin on Norse Mythology. I haven't read any of this authors other work, but the writing style didn't flow well for me when reading. I also felt the story jumped about a bit and feel like parts were missed, I'm not sure if I would feel the same if i read the other works in this series (this is a stand-alone prequel). I would love for this to have more immersive world building and character dialogue.
It has nicknames (at least 6) and 'Touch her, you die' trope.
My favourite quote is 'As far as Astrid was concerned, fate could go suck on a goats cock.'

Thank you to TalesAndTeacups and Gabriella Dennany for this ARC and honest review.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Gabriella Dennany and Tales & Teacups for the eARC I received ahead of release.

I've always enjoyed learning about Norse mythology so jumped at the chance to read this. This book is a short standalone prequel to Dennany's The Halls of Valhalla series, which I admit I have not read but will be adding to my tbr.

The book stays true to traditional mythology with the chatacters visiting many recognisable realms as they search for Mjolnir so they can present it to the All-Father. It focuses on Astrid and her relationship with Thor, and Loki, but we do also meet many other gods and goddesses, including Sigyn, Freyr and Odin. I really enjoyed the way Dennany portrayed these gods and will say Thor is definitely not the hero in this story. Astrid is a strong, realistic and relatable character who is doing her best while constantly comparing herself to literal gods. I would say though that an existing knowledge of norse mythology does help in understanding the world created here.

[Kyle F · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warrior and Her Divine: A Tale from the Halls of Valhalla is a brilliant and gripping read that catches your attention from the first sentence filled with palpable tension, colorful and dramatic character history, and a wonderful description of the fantastical Norse world set by Ms. Dennany. The rich, vast realms of Yggdrasil portrayed in the book contribute to a total world with in-depth history and a large pantheon of complex creatures and imperfect beings. In a world where the main character is surrounded by friends (and almost-enemies) with godly powers, The Warrior and Her Divine has a realistic main character who embodies the greatest aspect any person can have: sheer will and utter resilience against greater powers and forces that try to control mortal fate. Combined with an exciting cast of divine companions and a godly inamorato, The Warrior and Her Divine is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of fantasy, action-adventures, or modern mythological epics!

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Tales and Teacups as well as Gabriella Dennany for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fast-paced ride and I honestly had a great time with it. Astrid strength stood out to me from the first few pages. Torn between morality, loyalty, and constantly comparing herself to literal gods (relatable). The Norse mythology aspect was super fun and to see how Gabriella brings her version to life was enjoyable. I don’t read a lot of experience with Norse books so this was a great start for me!

The story leaned into some very complicated divine entanglements (hi Thor and Loki 👀) and I wanted a little bit more depth and answers to some questions I still do not have answers to this was a successful read! If you’re into morally grey gods, emotional tension, a heroine stuck between divinity and disaster and….touch her and die?….i think you need to read this one!

[Lydia Anslow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be picked as an ARC reader for this book.

I’ve always loved mythology whether it be Greek, Roman or Norse so this book definitely intrigued me. I did struggle a bit to start with not quite grasping the world building and how the characters fitted together but once I’d got halfway through it became much clearer. I enjoyed the way that Astrid doesn’t start out completely confident in herself but as the story goes on she becomes a fierce and feisty lead. Thor definitely wasn’t portrayed the way I’ve always known but that also made it more interesting. Not knowing what to expect when he appeared in the book, or how he would react when certain things would happen or Astrid would stand up to him. Loki however, I really enjoyed seeing a softer more caring side to his character; especially when you could see how many times he tried to save Thor from himself and in the end even he had to give up.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A tale of love and death, of a mortal within a god's world. Everyone loves a story about a mortal amidst the unimaginable."

This was a dark and action-filled fantasy romance novella about a mortal girl surrounded by the presence of Norse Gods.
The FMC, Astrid, was such a badass; however, her relationship with Thor was probably one of the most toxic relationships I've ever read. I had my fingers crossed that our homegirl would run for the hills, she's such a strong, independent and fierce woman and deserved so much better than that disgusting man.

I really enjoyed the storyline and the interactions between Astrid and the other characters; my heart broke for Darrow - he was my favourite. I believe that if I hadn't been in such a massive reading slump and had read this over far fewer days, I would have a higher rating.

*ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly sent this book as an ARC copy by the author. I don't know alot about norse mythology but this has made me wanting to read and learn more about it.

⭐⭐⭐.5

The platonic relationships, between a mortal and immortals, in this story are lovely. Presenting a new perspective on gods compared to the egotistical, selfish presentation one expects, Loki's character shows a deep affection for Astrid. Unlike Loki, Thor is more stereotypical, having a very fluctuating character going from being loving (in a possessive way), to violent and selfish.

I've got to say Darrow was my favourite character - the bard. Astrid's loyalty to a dwarf she only just met is touching, and her trying to complete his story at the end 😭.

I enjoyed this book and will read the next one.

[Manasa HR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a 3.7⭐️ rounded to 4.

The Norse mythology is what pulled me into reading this book. The concept is great. I have not come across any book that makes Thor a villian or close to a villian. Seeing this here is a change that i always wanted to read. It definitely creates an alternative approach to seeing things.

I struggled with connecting to the story for about initial 30% . I am so glad i did not stop and pushed through! It was worth completing.
Though i wish there was weightage given to character introduction and how they came to be!

Hoping this will be a foundation for next in this series.
Thank you for the ARC Gabriella and Tales & Teacups! I enjoyed reading and would like to be part of upcoming books in this series.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick standalone read, placed in the world of the Norse gods! If you love Norse mythology and want to see the interactions of the gods like Loki and Thor, this book is for you! Following a mortal FMC on her adventures with these gods, she is the mortal lover of one and loved by the other brother. As she battles the truth of her love Thor and the monster he may be, she has to look within to see if she is also a monster herself.

I enjoyed this quick read, it was fun to jump into this world of mythology and it was a fun adventure tale to read! My rating 4/5 stars.

Thanks to tales and teacups pr for the gifted arc of this book, all opinions given are my own!

[Kerri.Libraryx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! It is Norse Mythology. This is a prequel standalone and I fell in love with all of the characters in the story. Astrid is definitely my favourite character and I admired her throughout the story. It had me dragged in from the minute I started reading it. I just wish there was a little bit more background on the characters. I haven’t read the halls of Valhalla and this makes me think I should definitely get this read as soon as possible! The characters are all great however the gods can be a little bit of hard work. If you love Norse mythology this is definitely for you! I can’t wait to read more books by this author ❤️

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Norse mythology retelling, it spun expectations of key Norse gods on their heels. It was a very quick read, and the pacing of the story was good. The FMC had good development and growth over the storyline, and I felt for a few of the characters. But, the characters felt both very developed but also rushed, making me wonder if there is something I’m missing, I feel like whilst this is a standalone novella set before the main series, it does require the audience to read the rest of the series to get a full picture.
Overall it’s left me feeling slightly confused.
Thank you to Tales and Teacups and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.