Song of the Broken: The Sundering

by Easton J. Thomson, Kamriana Thomson (Editor)

Be grateful for the monsters, little girl. It’s the monsters that keep the demons away.

In the Norse-inspired kingdom of Frostheim, Ivar has witnessed the worst the world has to offer—violence, greed, and betrayal. With his family’s honor destroyed at the hands of those he once loved and his newborn sister’s life hanging by a thread, he is consumed by a ruthless determination to keep her safe, even if it costs him his life. But as his journey pulls him into a web of bloody vengeance and buried secrets, he risks losing not just the fragile peace he clings to, but the humanity he’s fighting to protect.

Across the sea, Baldwin, a Berserkr bounty hunter with no memory of his past, finds himself in the war-threatened kingdom of Tybalta and is tasked by the King to stop an impending enemy invasion. Baldwin’s mission takes a sinister turn when he discovers a chilling truth—the enemy wages war on the vulnerable, trafficking children to further their agenda. As he delves deeper into the heinous atrocities perpetrated against children, Baldwin must confront his own fractured morality, torn between the need to stop the invaders and the sacrifices he must make to save the innocent.

In two powerful stories of vengeance, loss, magic, and redemption, Ivar and Baldwin stand against ascendant evil, each forced to confront the darkness where demons wear human faces.

Genres: Fantasy

748 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2026

Reviews

[Priscilla Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vikings hunting pedophiles? I wish I could sign up for the second book yesterday. I was privileged to read this early, as someone who had zero exposure to the author and their writing journey, and happened to sign up on the last day of ARC applications. Let's just say, I stumbled into more than I expected, in the best of ways.

I took some time to process my feelings after reading this book before writing this review, because the read itself was both exhilarating and heavy at the same time, especially as a parent and someone who has experienced traumas addressed in this book. I want to be deliberate in expressing: Easton J. Thomson did an excellent job in preparing his readers for the more difficult thematic scenes in this book. I'm a firm believer in the ideal that readers are not always supposed to feel comfortable or warm and cozy when reading books dealing with realistic evils, and it's okay to have the "ick" when something horrendous is happening to or around a character. The "ick" feeling means the author is doing a good job conveying the gravity of the evil or negativity in a scene, and you are responding to it appropriately.

With that said, the amount of GOOD the author has woven into the storyline will both hearten and warm you as you navigate a world where magic, mayhem, and meticulous plotting keeps you hanging on to every word. The witty banter between certain characters kept me engaged, while the battle scenes had me on the edge of my figurative seat, feeling like I was in the pages alongside the berserkers and fighters. The horses! You'll be so impressed by the horses in this book. Never have I ever wanted a battle-tested equine companion more than I do now.
Reading about champions fighting tyranny, the friendless finding family, and the weak overcoming obstacles which highlight their strengths was beautiful. I truly appreciated the amount of mythology and lore poured into the story line. Old gods, magical coming-of-age ceremonies, special abilities, and more were so fun to take in and explore throughout the story. In fact, I felt I walked away a bit more educated on Vikings, Norse mythology, and a brutal, breathtaking world that used to exist in olden days.

I laughed. I cried. I sat in shock. I processed and understood the heavy, necessary losses at times in the book. My heart bled alongside the characters with each cut, loss of life, and heartache they were dealt. Then, I was healed as the world was balanced and put to rights at times, giving me the perfect sensation of hope mixed with reality. This was one of the most surprising, well written/edited debuts I've read this year. You would not be disappointed in starting this book, but be warned: The ending will leave you dangling off a cliff. Don't worry, I'll scoot over to make some room for you to dangle next to me.

[DragonRiderElf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, it’s finally time.

I feel like I should preface this by saying “I have a lot of thoughts” (which is true)… but that’s an understatement designed to deceive you into thinking this will be a short review. It will most definitely not be. 😶

ALSO! ‼️LET US ALL BEAR IN MIND THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS TOTALLY SPOILER FREE! I WILL DO MY BEST TO HIGHLIGHT SPOILERS SO THEY ARE EASILY SKIPPED, BUT I MAY MISS SOME‼️

I have 200 notes and 221 highlights on this book 💀. Thank you, Kindle, for reminding me pretty colors and sticky note icons are (seemingly) a huge weakness for me. 🫣

OH! I ALSO had the audiobook for this, and let me just say, the narrator was AMAZING! I read the book by itself about 50% of the time, and the other 50% I was immersion reading. Kyle Snyder was the narrator, and though this was the first book I’ve listened to that he’s done, I would happily listen to more. Seriously, he did a great job! Especially during some heartbreaking scenes (😭).

I ADORED the healthy family dynamic Ivar had! Like, how often do characters actually have good parents that love them and that they live in these books? It was so refreshing to read (while it lasted).
I kid you not, one of my first notes is, “I love the healthy family dynamics in this book… even if they’re probably going to die soon.” 😔

‼️THIS SECTION WILL LIKELY HAVE A FEW VERY BIG SPOILERS, SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION OR SKIP TO THE YELLOW SIGN —>‼️

One of my biggest issues (and frankly the main reason I only rated this book 4 stars) with this book was the insane plot armor a lot of these characters had. And how even though everyone died left and right, everyone didn’t stay dead like dead people normally do. 😑
Bjorn, for instance. The Kroneulf killed him, but he was reborn as a Draconjartet (an allegedly very rare thing, and a gift from the Allfather to deserving warriors). Ivar’s own father, Kjellgrim (epic name btw), is a Draconjartet.
After Bjorn, we see a few other Draconjartet (Baldwin is one). But in Ivar’s last section, a couple of people come back as one as well. Specifically Olaf and Borg (Olaf deserving, Borg not). But, my question is how? Like how is this a rare thing if the characters come back as Draconjartet repeatedly? 🤨
I get what we’re going for, but killing characters off to bring them back almost immediately after (and they have to come back in the same day or they turn into an undead zombie, essentially) isn’t great. It’s okay once or twice, but after the 4th or 5th time, it gets old. 🫤

Also on Plot Armor:
Characters got severely injured when it was convenient for the plot. They went far beyond the natural capabilities of a body (even an Ashman body) on multiple occasions, and yet they don’t die.
On MULTIPLE occasions during Baldwin’s sections, the characters would be fatally wounded, but because they had a Druid, they were repeatedly healed. Even if someone lost a limb, she could reconnect it with her magic (look at you specifically, William— that scene was wild). And it somehow didn’t take a huge toll on her.
If there wasn’t the Druid, there was White Ash. An all healing substance gained from burning a troll that only works powerfully if no one is watching.
If you have neither White Ash nor Druid, then you push past your body, ignoring it’s explicit demands for rest even if that means stabbing the jagged edge of you forearm’s bone into the roof of a Jotunbjørn’s mouth and using that to anchor you so you don’t slide down the massive bears throat 🤨 (I’m sorry, it’s literally impossible to just move on from that and “ignore the faint black spots in your peripheral vision”… Ivar wasn’t even imbued with any supernatural strength at that point, so he should have, at the very least, passed out or thrown up).

(That’s all disregarding that while Danjelle and Ivar were on the run, they should have died multiple times and didn’t because of the spirits of their dead parents and a bald eagle, and later when Ivar was alone he was saved by a Jotunbjørn from a Troll, only to later be nearly killed by a bear, and survive because Arne found him in time.)

ALSO (not on plot-armor, but I’m putting it here because I’m already in a spoiler section), THE JOTUNBJØRN IVAR KILLED TO BECOME A BERSERKR WAS THE ONE THAT SAVED HIM FROM THE TROLL!
How do you bring yourself to kill the very creature that saved you? 😱
Maybe because its spirit essentially just transfers to you and it doesn’t move on to the afterlife or something? Idk. That was crazy to me. I couldn’t have done it. 😳

⚠️ALRIGHT, SPOILER SECTION OVER FOR A SECOND⚠️


Also, can we talk about how cool the world-building is? I feel like lot of research went into creating a very accurate-to-history fantasy world. A lot of the traditions of the people were historically accurate, but mixed with just enough fantasy to make it different.
I love the idea of the Ashmen!
🐺 If you slay a Kroneulf, you are imbued with its spirit, making you an Ulfhednar (which, historically, Ulfhednar existed— in a less fantastical form, but nonetheless, and that’s where we get the legend of the werewolf from).
🪶 If you slay a Blodravn, you are imbued with its spirit, making you a Blodjeger (which is my favorite of the three… they get really freaking epic powers).
🐻‍❄️ If you slay a Jotunbjørn (the largest and hardest to kill), you are imbued with its spirit, making you a Berserkr (just like a Viking Berserkr, but arguably more powerful, and maybe slightly more in control of yourself… given historical Berserkers track records of killing both friend and foe blindly).

I loved the build up of Frostheim. It was so cool! I feel like we got to see a lot of it too (whereas in Tybalta we kind of stayed in the same places).
I do question how enough sacred animals (the three aforementioned creatures) existed for there to be hundreds of Ulfhednar. I would have thought they’d be more rare. Berserkrs are seemingly the rarest (there were less of them than Draconjartet in this book).

I wish Romuel could have been explored some. They’re evil, yes… but it would have been interesting to see the life of the people there, instead of just seeing the soldiers.

I’m not even half way through this review. 😳🔫
One may ask, “How do you know that? You’re still writing it.” Because I know myself. Way too well. And I’m only at about chapter 7 in my highlights on my kindle. There’s what? 49 chapters? Leave me alone.

Another character comes in. If you read the spoiler section, then you’ll know I mentioned the Druid. Who am I talking about?
That would be Arrowyn. The spunky red-headed exiled princess Druid. If you don’t love her, I don’t love you.
(I’m joking. 😌 Calm down.)

“As much as you might wish for it, my arse does not belong to you, so it will not be doing as you please.” — Arrowyn 2026
(I love this quote so much)

She has a REALLY compelling story. Her relationship with Baldwin is one I DESPERATELY want to explore further (especially after that library scene… hello?).

Though I didn’t get to see much of Pic, I enjoyed him. His dynamic with Baldwin was incredibly well done!

“‘What the Hel is your problem?’ Pic roared angrily. ‘I have done everything you’ve asked of me, and the moment I want to make a plan for my future, you cut me down! Why are you like this?’”
—>
It’s not really justifying it… but if only you knew, Pic 😮‍💨 . Also, the narrator dominated this whole scene.

Baldwin has some great lines for his son too:

“‘If she isn’t for sale, then why did you need to give her all that money back there to gain her favor?’ the Berserkr sneered. The comment silenced the boy. ‘If she isn’t for sale, then why are you trying to buy her?’”
—>
Though the delivery was harsh (make no mistake, that was Baldwin’s intention and probably one of the reasons people don’t like him in his early chapters), he wasn’t wrong.

Also, a lot of Baldwin’s treatment of Pic was a reflection of his treatment of himself.

“A lack of action is still an action— and I chose to kill them all.”

‼️SPOILERS AGAIN! LOOK FOR THE YELLOW SIGN‼️

When later on Baldwin is thinking about Pic… and what happened with the boy… I realized how well written his sudden switch was.
We see beforehand that Baldwin was very kind and soft with his son when he was young, but that later on another child died because Pic didn’t intervene (for he too would be harmed… he was a kid).
I’d wondered for a while before seeing that what made Baldwin so harsh toward his son… but I realized that he wanted to raise a man that protected others. In Baldwin’s mind, being harsh and forcing Pic to become stronger would make him the man he couldn’t be for the kid before. Unbeknownst to him, he was doing more harm than good.
Something he only realizes after Pic’s death.

⚠️SPOILER END⚠️

Also, there was a character named Albert. He was kinda just there in the beginning. I thought he’d end up being more central to the story, but he disappeared about halfway through.
Idk why I mentioned him. I felt I should. It really wasn’t necessary… but now you know.
You’re welcome. 🖤

Historically, Vikings were considered barbaric because of their tendency to use violence, and with what I’ve seen of historical accuracy throughout the book, it actually does a really good job of letting you see things through the characters POV instead of the authors.
Baldwin may blood-eagle a pedophile (I didn’t find that barbaric… it’s justified in my book 🤷🏻‍♀️) and call it justice (it was), but characters that did not come from his part of the world, the ones that lived in a more “civilized” manor, may consider (did consider) it extreme and impulsive.



I do hope there is more behind why Romuel tortures and rapes children. In Baldwin’s end chapters it sounded like we were headed that way… but in Ivar’s, it doesn’t. In Ivar’s chapters, they make it sound like it’s purely for pleasure and feeling strong over the weak (which is despicable, but not enough motive imo).

I also really liked that any time I questioned something about a character or a decision they made, there was an answer. Most of the time. Like, if I was reading and didn’t understand why something happened, generally another character would question it as well. If a character was stupid, I wasn’t normally the only one who thought so.

Which brings me to my next point. THANK GOD THESE CHARACTERS ACT WITH INTELLIGENCE! 🤩
Like, they make dumb decisions sometimes (as I said, Easton lets them screw up), but there’s normally a smart character nearby.

‼️SPOILER‼️

I don’t understand why, when Baldwin was fighting Athols and his men, some of the men started raping the children off to the side and killing them. It makes Romuelians look like just a bunch of sex-crazed loons who can’t restrain themselves to even just fight. That felt like it was just for shock-value. It wasn’t necessary to the plot.
Killing them I may understand, but raping them makes no sense at all.

⚠️END SPOILER⚠️

I also really like how self-aware these characters are. Baldwin specifically. He became really self-aware after a certain event made him rethink his life choices.

“… I was going to make him be tough. But instead I became ruthless and unfeeling.”

Arrowyn too though.

“… but I understood now why you blood-eagled him, even if I could never do it myself.”

Also, the characterization at some points was so well done, especially for a first time author.

“‘You deserve to feel joy. They would have wanted you to.’
She doesn’t understand… can’t understand the weight that I carry.
The stricken faces of the murdered children were burned in his memory, the pain and guilt branded upon his soul.”
Even just in this bit right here, you can see how different the characters are. I thought it was really well written, personally. 😌

I also love that a lot of times, when characters argued, they both had a valid place in the arguments. I didn’t feel like one was justified and the other was a jerk, I felt like they both had good reasons for argument. Ivar and Olaf, Baldwin and Arrowyn, Arne and Ivar, etc. it didn’t matter who it was, they often had a good reason for arguing.

Speaking of Arne… I loved him. His character was great. I do have a couple of issues with him, but overall, he was an amazing father figure for Ivar.

‼️SPOILERS TOWARD THE END! LOOK FOR THE YELLOW SIGN —>‼️

I do want to know how he knew everything he did. And still somehow went under everyone’s radar.
He knew how to fight, he was a blacksmith, but he could also read old runes, he had a ton of old books from many kingdoms, he somehow learned about investments and finance and taught them to Ivar, he was fluent in multiple languages, he knew multiple fighting styles from multiple kingdoms, and he had a wife + homestead on top of it all… and he can’t have been more than sixty when he died!

“By all measurable accounts, Arne was an expert in more than a few subjects, some of which included mathematics, a thorough history of Abathraxia, the line of Kings and heraldry from each of the seven kingdoms, the feudal laws and justice of Frostheim, diplomacy and governance, and economics—particularly the risks of debt and taxation.”

It felt like a lot of his character was plot convenience for the sake of Ivar having all the skills to be king. 🥲 I mean, Arne taught him almost everything he knows.
I just don’t know how. And we never learn. Nor does Ivar. I’d have loved for that to have been addressed.

⚠️YOU’RE GOOD!⚠️

Froði and Dag! My favorite brothers! And Ivar’s best friends!

I was so mentally prepared this whole book for one (or both) of them to die! Everyone else did, so why wouldn’t they?

(Seriously though… expect everyone to die… that way it’s a pleasant surprise when someone doesn’t… 😃🔫)

I ADORED them (Froði may be my favorite though)!
I may just really freaking love the Blodjeger abilities. Ulfhednar are cool and all… but Blodjeger are better 💅.

I was so glad for them though. They added such nice comedic relief to Ivar’s life, and it was so cool getting to watch him grow up with them.
Y’all should all be fearing Froði on the battlefield, that’s all I’m saying (Dag too, but at least you can see him coming).

All I can say is that I am always so happy when characters have reliable friends!

I LOVE William!!! He is so great! I loved his relationship with Baldwin too!! But like, idk, something about him was so… refreshing? I feel like his guilt over everything happening under his nose in the city could be a huge arc moment for him.
He’s just such a good character and I’m so sad he’s only a side character!

“William staggered away, heaving as he clutched the edge of Baldwin’s desk.”

I think it’s also important to mention how well-represented so many aspects of this book are. A huge issue in the fight against human trafficking is the fact that the people that work those cases have to watch footage of the abuse children sustained, they have to watch videos of children being SA’d… and they can’t handle it. They get burnt out and traumatized. Therapy isn’t enough to fix the toll it takes on a person to watch that kind of stuff happen to children. It’s hard to keep people on the job, because it feels like such a hopeless endeavor, and they have to sacrifice their minds for it.
I feel like that was represented really, really well with Williams character. And I’m glad it was included.

‼️I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY SPOILERS WILL BE IN THIS (or if there will be any), BUT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT THERE MAY (likely will) BE SOME! LOOK FOR THE YELLOW SIGN IF YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS —> ‼️

I was SO confused by them in the beginning. I didn’t know if there was going to be a romantic sub-plot between them (because I was imagining Baldwin older than he is, I think)… but I actually love the way it was done…
For the most part. 😗

They really got on my nerves quite a bit. I did not like the way they treated each other for a while, but I did at the same time? 🤨 It’s hard because their relationship spans about a week (maybe two), so I don’t even know when I started being okay with them.

They had a lot of tension, and frankly I think their relationship was made stronger by how much they went through individually together (I hope you know what I mean, because I barely know what I mean 😄).
Somehow though, they kind of began to heal each other. I personally thought they had a fairly Beauty and the Beast kind of relationship.

“‘That is the dessert spoon,’ she whispered. ‘Use this one instead.’ She nudged him toward the larger one beside it.
‘I’m not a child. I know how to eat.’ Baldwin bit back, sharper than he intended.
The Princess simply looked at him—no scolding, no glare—just a warm compassion that saw straight through his rough exterior.
Her voice softened. ‘I know you do. But I also know how cruel nobles can be if you give them reason.’ His jaw tensed, unsure how to respond. She gentled further. ‘Let me help you tonight.‘“

Baldwin had a huge amount of character growth in this book, from the beginning to the end, and I think a very large part of that was the fact that he had her to hold him accountable.

Another incredibly intriguing aspect of them is the fact that Arrowyn (seemingly) knew Baldwin before he lost his memories. She knows who he was. 😱
And we have no clue how. And you won’t find out in this book either. 😑

It adds a ton of depth to them. Their supernatural bond has been with them for a while, it would seem… and I don’t have any answers as to how it started! 😭

Also, you know the “who hurt you” trope? This book has it… in such a painfully done way! 😭😭😭

“‘Tell me who did this to you,’ he demanded, his voice ursine and threatening. ‘I need to know who—‘
‘You!’ She cried, trembling and bitter.’”

WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?!? WHAT!?!? 😱🤯

I just— I just need a book two. I have to know what went down with them.

My heart broke for them after a scene. He couldn’t make it to her, but he could feel through their bond what was happening. And it broke my heart. The whole book did, but that was on a different level than a lot of it. Maybe because of the more inside information on the details… but only a few scenes were worse than that (Ex. When William has to check Oliver’s mind…).

Their relationship felt earned. It was fast forming because of the timeline, it wasn’t insta-love, it wasn’t enemies to lovers, it wasn’t a quick fling… it was forged in their Godfire.



⚠️I KNOW THAT WAS A LONG SPOILER SECTION, AND I AM SORRY! BUT IT HAD TO BE MENTIONED AND THERE WERE MAJOR SPOILERS IN IT!⚠️

Let me just leave you with a self-inflicted title right now… because even though I enjoyed this book… I don’t know that I can move past this. 💀

Alpha-bear

😄🔫

Yeah… so, um… no.

Also, the end of Ivar’s last section (end of the whole book)? INSANE! OH MY GOSH! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS! WHY DID THIS BOOK HAVE TO HAVE JUST COME OUT!? 😭🔫

(This review was originally 38,555 characters, but GR has a 20,000 character limit)

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own though, worry not).

[Rebekah DeVall]

At first, I found myself loving Ivar the most—a young boy, just trying to survive a terrible winter in the wild with his newborn sister after his parents’ death. His story was heartbreaking, devastating, a big brother just trying to do the right thing for his little sister (who did NOT deserve her ending, by the way. No spoilers, but like Stephanie Tanner was known to say… HOW RUDE.)

Baldwin felt more exhausting to me, constantly making coarse comments, being a jerk to his kid, and killing… and killing… and killing… but he grew on me. In spite of his flaws, his constant pursuit of justice and protection for kids became his saving grace and kept me eagerly listening to his chapters.

My Favorite Parts:
- young Ivar and Danjelle, just trying to survive
- the banter. There are so many good jokes and bits.
- Vikings + shapeshifters + fighting some seriously evil guys? Sign me up.

This one’s a book not for the tender-of-heart. Think “Sound of Freedom” but with more death… (you have been fairly warned) but if you’re up for some deep themes, epic battle scenes and supporting a good cause, go no further. You've found it. Seriously.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Brave men do not ask beforehand whether they will live or die. Nor do they fight because they know they will win! They fight because the lives of their family are worth the price of death. What kind of man will you be?”
~King Kjellgrim

I gave it 4 stars only because I would give Tolkien 5!
I had the privilege of reading this ahead of release and I must say I’m ready for more. First, the artwork is vivid. The stroke of the artist’s hand brings life to each character and the attention to detail demonstrates the rich landscape and history of Nordic lore. A muse to inspire even the dullest of imaginations. The old Norse language and reference to mythology immediately drew me. How does a writer take the heartbreaking, grievous and intricately entangled, poison infested roots of child trafficking and weave it with a very ancient mythology? Stories so rich in their history that people built life around them: and yet, respect and beauty of the old lore is never diminished, changed, nor does it dominate the more modern story. Instead, they interlock like the rings of an anchor, rooting both stories and lending support and enthusiasm to each other. At first, it took me a minute to get to know the characters as Thomson set the stage. But he does well giving maps and language explanations to help you explore the world with great ease. Many times I found myself saying names out loud or practicing pronunciation. If you are a fan of Tolkien and found yourself trying to speak elvish, you will enjoy reading here! The characters themselves are well written, complex and beautiful. Their joy becomes yours and their grief/horror is felt too. You root for one and rage at another. As someone who has a complicated history with sexually assault, I was unsure how my mind would react to the content. I am relieved to say my heart and mind were protected from the trauma. Easton does an excellent job of exposing the complex depth of this ancient and yet modern evil on paper. Somehow he wrote it in such a way that I wasn’t triggered but still able to experience the emotions of fighting injustice and seeing the horror of it. He enabled me to become the Viking hero instead of the victim. He took action and did what so many of us desired to happen and yet never crossed the line where we felt like we became the very thing we hate. I strongly recommend you read this book. I struggled to put it down. The great thing is you can read it more than once because you will find new connections and more details you missed the first time. I absolutely love a good book that continues to engage me long after its end.

Bravo Sir, I look forward to reading more in the future.

[Screams & Reviews 💋🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little over mid way - review! 63% into this book! She is a big one….

This book has me in a chock hold . I am mad at the world, crying one minute, in love with all the characters. This book has 2 parts and follows two people. I love that…. Cause some parts end on a cliffhanger. Also this is my first Vikings book and I need them all and everything this author puts out in the world!

Baldwin is an amazing man and I hope he sees his son soon! The sense when he was sitting with the old man 😩. My heart! He is living a life without him and he thinks he failed him but he is making it up by all the kids he is saving.

Ivar….. oh Ivar! Watching him grow in this book is being a pleasure. The bound that him and his sister have is sweet and love that he still does things for her to know their mother and father. So sweet!

Björn- ohhhh you! I loved you in the beginning and now…. I want to kick your ass too!

Also love love love the songs in this books! I noticed myself singing it along with the characters in the book and if you live audiobooks! Perfectly done!!! This narrative is 🔥

Ok back to reading! You need to by this book BTW here is the link.
So glad I waited a year for this one and got added to the arc team 😩🖤

-Screams & Reviews ⚔️🖤📚👏🏻


🚨🚨Final thoughts! 🚨🚨
I gave you what I thought 63% ( I will add in my Goodreads post) into this BIG GIRL and now I am going to finish this one off with! AMAZING! This book was well written, though about and you can tell this author took his time with writing this book!
The characters are deep and make you fall in love with them. Which doesn’t always happen in books. Ivar will forever have my heart and watching him grow up and taking care of not only his sister but mother was precious. The background of this story was amazing and I love what this author is supporting and helping people realizing what’s happening in this world. That is the man reason I wanted to read this book. I saw the cause that this author had in mind and that he was adding Viking mythology into it and needed to find out how he blended the two!

Other things that have been added into this books which I found very different than others…. music as in a written song along with different languages that I am sure isn’t real so that makes it more unique as well. But I could be wrong 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Baldwin is an amazing man and fights for what he believes in! There was times in the books I was yelling at the character thinking to myself words that I am not going to add in this review but Baldwin said them in a nicer way. 🤣 oh and the details! Fantastic, the was this man was fighting for he life I swear I was in the room with him, egging him on and fighting with him with my words. This man was fighting for a cause and I was there for it. The High tension drama that his man bring really helped me with how long this books was. Then you have the clam and sweets of Ivar. The two parts blended very well together.

And let’s talk about this audiobook! This narrator killed it! I personally have never read a book this long and I feel would have gotten lost in the pages without this audiobook. That is my personal opinion and background on having a large family and only able to do audiobooks. Plus it made it so much more fun to read and interact with the characters. This worked so much better for my brain than just reading a 1070 page book. 📕 the difference voices and when he was singing, the fight sense’s everything was chefs kiss’s! NOT to say I wouldn’t read this book again and notate it ! That would be a whole different kind of experience for me. There was a few parts in the book ( animal attack) being one and I swear I felt like I was inside the book. I could hear the bones/ skin breaking. Not only from the details that the author added into this book but the audiobook helped aswell.

Overall this book was great, take your time…. Think about what you are reading and the background/ morals that this author is bringing to the table. and even tho I waited so long for the book to come out it a well worth read!
Top non horror book for me this year! I can’t wait to see what else this author breaks to the table. I will forever have this one in my heart and will be getting the book to notate in it aswell and not just enjoy it from the audiobook but also the pages too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 stars!

-Screams and Reviews ⚔️🖤📚

[Kyla Talbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as ALC and all opinions are my own.

I want to start by thanking the author. He went above and beyond with this book. The audio was an absolute masterpiece. You can tell that heart went into every aspect of this book and I totally respect that. This book is deep, you need to sit with it and not rush it. A lot of this read is very heavy and not for the faint of heart. You can absolutely tell the research and time that went into each and every page. It’s Vikings so there is going to be some fighting and gore so if you are a reader who stays away from some of this, this may not be the book for you and that’s okay. The writing was descriptive and painted the perfect picture of what was happening in each scene. Each aspect of this book is written respectfully delivering topics that need to be talked about. I did have some trouble keeping things straight but I fully believe that was a me problem and nothing to do with the book itself. I would absolutely recommend. Take a look at the authors purpose for this book as well. It’s been a while since I read something with this much impact.

[Viorel Mocanu · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book deals with a horrible ,namely pedophilia.you need to have a strong stomach to read it.

[CJ Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing book, I havent finished reading it yet but thats because this books doesnt deserve to be rushed. It is an amazing story and written perfectly!
It doesnt feel like you are lost or confused. Without giving any spoilers it is about a viking who hunts down someone who harms children and it is an amazing book! Give it a chance

[Meaghan (thesistersarebooked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Epic fantasy
- The fight against real evils in the world
- Characters that are unforgettable
- A fantasy novel with a cause
- A small romantic subplot
- Epic battle scenes
- Not for the faint of heart
- Heroes fighting for the innocent
- Vikings k*lling p*dos
- Monsters
I listened to this as an advanced listening copy. The story draws you in immediately with incredible characters. I can’t express in words the impact that this fantasy novel has left on me. It’s more than just a novel, and I don’t recommend picking it up if you’re not emotionally prepared. It’s not for the light of heart what is revealed in these pages. The realities that are written in fiction form are still based on many true accounts. So buckle up and know that you’re fighting for the cause of the innocent by buying this book and reading it.


Trigger warnings
- child ab*se
- s*x trafficking
- ritualistic ab*se

[Nichole McWhirter · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ARC Reader here. My opinions are my own. Thanks to the author for the copy!

⭐️Rating: 4.5
📖Genre(s): epic fantasy
📚Sub genre(s): Norse Fantasy
🎭Tropes and Themes: Nordic mythology/culture/spiritual practices are thoroughly expressed, action/battle heavy, archetypal characters, political corruption, soul-bond /fated mates, ritualistic magic, Norse gods,
💥Triggers: graphic depiction of gore (on page), death/gorey description of an older child (on page), injury to infant/infant starvation/exposure to elements (on page), near death of an infant, sexual assault (off-page/brief mention), sexual assault (briefly on page- ch41), child trafficking and sexual assault (warning! Jarring scene -CH23), death and dismemberment of children (ch40), suicidal ideations and an attempt (on-page), severe depression/existential crisis, Alcoholism
🗒️Other notables: 3rd person POV with 1st person interior monologue, story switches between past and present a lot -and isn’t exactly linear, dual POV’s
✨Some highlights: lush world building, beautiful imagery, epic fight scenes, audiobook accents voice distinction, deep lore
😒 Wasn’t a fan of: excessive use of descriptive adjectives -adjective overload/purple prose.
🌊 flow, plot, and pacing:
Plot kind of drags a bit bc of overwriting of some scenes, adjective overload, and the hefty amount of Nordic lore. Flow feels a bit longwinded for the same reasons. It took me some time to adjust for it. But by part 2 I was hooked. The book isn’t linear-it often jumps between past and present, and different characters.

💭 My thoughts:

What a heck of a debut novel!
If you know anything about this author, you’ll know that this book is centered around bringing awareness to CSA and child trafficking…. There are a quite a few heavy scenes and themes. Please read the trigger warnings.

This is an epic in every sense of the word. Deep running lore, mythology, and culture.
The magic system is top tier. The world building is drunkenly lush. The fight scenes are gnarly. Our characters are categorical/archetypal. Good is good, and bad is BAD -with very few exceptions. Our main characters are unforgettable, and multifaceted.

This story is so tragic from beginning to end. It’s intense, complex, gory. It’s re-read worthy -I feel I may have missed a couple of things in this first read through -and I still have questions left unanswered.
Take your time reading this one. Immersion reading was really helpful with word pronunciation and tracking vital parts of the story (for me). The VA’s voice cracking at the most heart wrenching scene really did me in. Made me cry a good spell. VA nailed voice differentiating, and the different accents were nice.

This book felt like a journey, and I feel like where it left off has me travel worn and weary… but at the same time… it feels like just the beginning… It’s not over yet.

[Zach Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

RECIEVED BOOK FROM AUTHOR AS AN ARC READ!!!

This book is fantastic!!! There were parts it made me cry as well as make me happy and mad. It's such a great book to read, and I can't wait for the rest of the books. Highly recommend reading this book, especially if you love fantasy books. and definitely will open your eyes to the demons that walk among us in real life to.

[Ginger & Inked · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece, it is truly a fantasy novel that is meant to be read slowly. It is a very heavy read and demands attention.

Vikings saving children? Yes 100%.

You follow the separate journeys of Ivar and Baldwin as they come to face with the horrors of child abuse and trafficking.

Ivar you meet when he is an 11 year old boy along with his sister Danjelle. Ivar faces many challenges from betrayal, survival and as he grows we see the man he becomes and his drive to protect the innocent. His number one motivator is his sister who is only a baby when he is 11.

Those first few chapters were emotionally hard, I cried so much. My husband listened to the audio copy and even he said that it was difficult to keep his emotions in check.

Then you meet Baldwin who is a bounty hunter with a vengeance. He is powerful but cannot remember who he is, you follow Baldwin as he faces grief with himself, does not trust anyone save a select few and is suspicious of everything, especially when it comes to the welfare of children.

Baldwins journey is heartbreaking and graphic with the injustices he experiences of the children he ends up on the hunt to find. I found myself crying and raging right alongside him and Arrowyn who is a Druid princess who accompanies him on his journey.

I was so invested in both stories and did not find myself once wanting to read about the other until I got to their part. Each deserves your full attention and you will experience many emotions when reading (or listening).

The narrator for the audiobook did this epic fantasy justice and immersed you into the world. The different accents complimented the book perfectly and you can’t fault his work.

Most books are centred on the main characters and their development - this one is too but it also is around the protection of children and the morals these men have. It is written in such a way that perfectly encapsulates the journey, growth and actions of the characters and why they do the things they do.

There is a perfect magical system, mythical creatures, epic world building and complex characters that Easton has turned into this masterpiece. He has done so much research to perfect his first novel.

It is long and heavy but I implore you to read, take your time and feel the emotions. And then spread the word to others and awareness of child trafficking and abuse, as that is Easton’s mission and every physical copy that is bought will have a portion of the costs donated to the charity on his website that specialises in rescuing children from the horrors of trafficking.

This book broke me and more, my husband and I cannot wait for book 2!

“But let us not become the demons we hunt…we are not men who thirst for blood, but fight to protect those closest to our hearts - those who depend on us for protection. We are not cruel. We are not murderers. Let our shield wall be strengthened by those behind us… Those who cannot stand for themselves…”

[Micailah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy guacamole. I have a lot of thoughts. First of all Easton Thompson has successfully created one of the most realistic, well thought out worlds I’ve read about in a long time. Usually fantasy books make you learn a lot of new terms in order to understand basic things but the way the author does it in this book doesn’t make it seem like a chore at all. Though, I will admit I’m a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. This world immerses you, with rich descriptions of landscape and culture and use of different languages. It also helps that some of our favorite marvel characters make several appearances-Thor, Odinn and Loki.
I was almost never bored. All of the characters were interesting, with real fears and failures that they overcame. Though the switching povs back and forth irked me sometimes due to all the cliffhangers (but I’m over it now). The happy parts were happy. The funny parts were FUNNY (I love Erik). The sad parts were devastating and the dark parts were both devastating and appalling. I usually don’t read books that involve occult themes but to be honest I don’t know if the very serious problem of human trafficking can be brought up and taken seriously without it-both in our world and in this one. Definitely an adult read as there’s a lot of lengthy detailed descriptions of battle and death but reading about Justice being served was honestly very therapeutic for me personally. I wish more Justice for people who hurt children happened in our real world but alas…. Also I just want to point out how privileged we are to not see/experience this kind of gore today like many countries still do. Seeing people stabbed and mutilated is a horror many people still experience DAILY and we’re privileged to not have to. So everyone who’s saying they won’t finish it because of the gore-that’s totally your discretion but keep in mind how privileged you are to be able to CHOOSE to not to see/read that kind of stuff.
Oh and spoiler, having Danjelle survive multiple kidnapping attempts just for her to die at home in an ambush is kinda cruel BUT I’m very happy something worse didn’t happen to her. I cried a while over her death as it was.
The only real complaint I have about this book is now I have to wait for the next one to come out and try not to forget all the details and characters from this one.

[Bowden Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good!!!!!!!!!!!

From the intriguing and amazing world building to the characters that are incredible to watch and observe this book is incredible!!!!!

Baldwin and Ivar are two amazing characters with some of the strongest arcs I have ever watched. Their stories are incredibly well done and heartfelt, with both joy, losses, and jokes that are unforgettable.

Additionally, the side characters, that honestly sometimes they are almost as much the main characters as Baldwin and Ivar, are incredibly well developed, and have very satisfying arcs as well that are unforgettable.

The books outline is also incredibly unique and well done. Most split perspective stories usually swap up perspectives every chapter or two however this book took a very different turn, and instead of swapping between perspectives every other chapter the book was split into seven segments with each one being a different characters perspective. This aloud for more interesting cohesion between the narratives giving you more time to connect with each character and understand them, which is something that I really appreciated especially with the distance of time and in world distance between where the characters perspectives were taking place.

Additionally, as someone who listened to the audiobook version of this story first I have to say that while at the beginning, the narrator could be a little jarring since his Norse accent is very thick, it honestly really helped fill in the world and add more to the story making it feel more like you were there.

This book is incredible and well, yes it does have some incredibly dark moments and portray several harsh and difficult moments to read through I would highly recommend it to any man or woman who wants to read something that shows what it takes to protect those we love and how even in a world surrounded by darkness there will always be those willing to fight!

[Shontel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words.

This was the most heartbreaking book I have ever read. Absolutely devastating. I am crushed by it.

When I first heard about this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I knew it was going to be heart wrenching before I started it. However, I completely underestimated this novel.

Easton J. Thomson wrote this epic book to bring awareness to child trafficking and abuse. Let me just say, as a mom, this was a hard read. But EVERY parent should read it. This is not your average fantasy fiction, nor is it something I would recommend for youth. It's gritty and dark, painful and deep.

I also want to mention that I was able to get the audiobook of this book and the narrator was seamless and excellent. If you can, I'd definitely recommend getting the audiobook. It made the experience all the more immersive and made the Nordic words throughout the book easier to understand.

And, the author is giving a portion of every book sold to Lantern Rescue, an organization actively fighting child trafficking through frontline rescue and recovery operations. 

This isn't just an excellently written fantasy novel, this is a mission to save and protect children.

If I could give this book more than 5⭐, I would.

[Kayla Bafetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me preface by saying this is not my typical read.

This story was extremely interesting for someone who knows very little about Viking culture. I wanted to absolutely love this story, unfortunately it just wasn’t my cup of tea. That being said, I absolutely LOVED the story telling through the audiobook, they did an absolutely amazing job portraying the different characters.

I cried, I screamed, I wanted to punch Bjorn in the face, I definitely had a crazy amount of emotions reading this story. Following two characters, Baldwin and Ivar, was hard to follow. I kept expecting them to cross paths, maybe they will in a future book, maybe they’re more connected than I realized.

There were definitely times this book got to me. Following the story through some dark topics, through child trafficking, through child abuse, it’s a hard read. It’s meant to stir emotions, it’s meant to be respected, and I absolutely have all the love and respect for the author for being attention to those topics. If a second book does come out, and I truly do hope it does, I’ll be excited to follow these two through the rest of their story.

[Elizabeth Woodiwiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Song of the Broken: The Sundering, and this is one of those stories that truly lingers after the final page.

At its heart, it's a powerful fantasy story about brokenness, courage, sacrifice, and the fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. The world is vivid, the stakes are high, and the emotional weight behind the story gives it a depth that goes far beyond adventure alone.

What stood out to me most was the mission woven through the book. This story does not shy away from darkness, but it also does not leave the reader there. It points toward hope, resilience, and the value of every life, especially those who have been exploited, silenced, or forgotten.

The fantasy elements are wonderfully well done, but the message is what gives the book its real power. It is both an engaging story and a reminder that fiction can help us look more honestly at real-world suffering while still holding onto courage and hope.

If you love meaningful fantasy with heart, weight, and purpose, Song of the Broken: The Sundering is absolutely worth reading.

[KG]

This is such an awesome well written epic fantasy. It has an amazing storyline while also raising awareness on real world issues. Child trafficking. I’ve never read a story like this. I absolutely loved it.
Not just for the message but also the whole world is so unique.

Easton is amazing at storytelling and his writing is phenomenal! I did listen to the audiobook version and Kyle Snyder narrated this so well! The different voices he does and the way he reads, really paints a picture of exactly what is happening. I would highly recommend listening to him!

This book is so heartfelt, it’s sad, it’s inspiring and so much more.

The only reason I rated it 4.5/5 stars is because I got confused at times. I don’t know if it’s the words I wasn’t familiar with or what but I think that’s a me issue 😂

Either way I highly recommend this read! It’s such a good one and so meaningful at the same time. Keep doing what you’re doing Easton! It’s so important and I can tell you put a lot of heart and soul into your book 👏🏻

[Katie Janssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional masterpiece. The characters are so well created that you can’t help but have strong feelings (both positive and negative) for each and every one that it makes it that much more exciting or crushing when things happen to them. From the very beginning we have our hearts ripped out and over and over again they are repaired only to be torn apart again. The emotion and change of voices for each character that the narrator managed was astounding. I love what both the narrator and author have done with this book in creating so much to love and bringing more awareness to a terrible subject that most people seem to avoid talking about. After finishing, I’m left in deep thought and emotional recovery mode but cannot wait for book 2 and the rest of the series, as I’m now deeply invested in the story and characters

[Amelia Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Song of the Broken is an amazing read. It’s hard to find good books these days to fit the type of fantasy I’m interested in, but this one definitely did. I love Norse mythology and the author has depicted it perfectly, the world building in this story is phenomenal. The characters are compelling and emotionally driven adding layer and depth to the story.
For me it was hard to start the story, but once you get into it you can’t stop. I love how immersive and engaging it is.

My favourite part about this book is the author going into topics that need to be talked about more. Like the child trafficking, as it is a bigger problem in this world than people realise. I found that the author incorporated it well into the story. And it was nice to read a book where the characters have noble intentions and fight for a just cause.

If you're into epic fantasy with outstanding world-building, deeply developed characters, and Norse-inspired mythology, this book is absolutely worth reading.

[Arien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now you may be wondering, why 3.5 stars if you liked the book. Well here are my reasons. [keep in mind this is my opinion and i mean no offence]

The Gore! Omgoodesss. There was so much everywhere! A lot of it felt unnecessary. I am very aware of the author's anger about the subject, but please… the substantial amount of gore was unnecessary to say in the least.

Vulgarity. There are variations of swear words and real ones. As well as the crudeness that is portrayed as banter or flirting. It certainly did not feel like it to me, made me rather uncomfortable if im being honest.

Unrealisticness. I read a lot of fantasy so I am used to this, but not to this degree. A 40ft bear moving silently through a forest… no. I'm sorry but no.

The DND [Dungeons and Dragons] aspect of the book. I know the history of the game and it was uncomfortable to me to read a very strong theme of DND within the book. Zombies, rituals, spirituality, visions, animal spirits and such.

While this seems rather harsh, it is my honest view of the book. But not all of it, obviously. I loved the main subject of the book. Protecting the vulnerable and innocent. Children. This subject NEEDS to be talked about and action NEEDS to be taken. As a victim knowing there is someone out there who is strongly advocating awareness about this issue I am grateful. How he wrote the scenes that revolved around this theme was admirable. Easton wrote it in a way you could feel it all, the sorrow, the anger, the pain of the children. But never did he explicitly describe what was being done to the children.

[Alexus Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you don’t rush, you don’t put down when you need a break, you push through the hard parts evens when the page gets blurry. It’s a book you feel, you go through every emotion, every laugh every war cry, and EVERY HEARTBREAK. Easton J. Thomson took a hard topic and gently yet sternly wove it into a fantasy worth reading (I’d advise everyone to read) As a first born I understand Ivan to the core, the soul crushing need to protect. As for Baldwin I adore that tough, blunt, humorous man! And every other protector in this book has my whole heart!! 10/10 this book will stay with me forever. IN FIRE, WE RISE! <3

[Caitlyn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Epic fantasy, Vikings, mythology and magic, all my favorite things in one. But even better: one, the pacing is fast. Never a dull moment. And two, a beautiful mission behind it. The story is a heavy concept, but tactfully written. The audiobook is incredible. Thoroughly enjoyed this read and plan to reread. Book 2 can’t come out fast enough.

[Amber Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story! I listened to the audiobook and it was truly a masterpiece. An incredible emotional journey for the reader and characters, and as much as you want to keep reading or listening and fly straight through to find out what happens next, this book is one that you need to let sit with you and fully give the attention that it deserves.

[Marian Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good it will make you cry

This book is amazing. The parts that are emotional make you feel as if you’re right there with Ivar and Baldwin going through at all with them. Beautifully written, definitely can’t wait for more!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from an Arc reader.

This book was one of the best books I read so far.The world building was on par with Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter only this time in a Viking style world. You can tell how much detail that went into understanding the Viking and Norse cultures that inspired the world building in the book without stereotyping. The first part or two really set the world and by part three the plot starts to pick up more pace.

However a few things to note about the book is that it does cover heavy topics like rape and trafficking. It does not shy away from expressing the gravity while respecting the topic by not explaining or writing in detail the acts being done to the children. There is also plenty of fighting and descriptions of the gore that occurs to the adults fighting. So if things like heavy topics or gore are too much for you then this may not be a book you want to read. For this reason I’d say it’s an intermediate to advanced read due to the heavy topics, breaks to take a moment away from the heavy topics, the world building, and amount information you read through in the book. If none of these things bug you then I definitely recommend you read this book.

[Robbie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivars and Baldwin journeys are only just beginning but I’m so invested because Easton did such a phenomenal job creating them! The growth Ivar goes through in the face of such loss and tragedy to the journey Baldwin takes against such a huge issue will have you glued to the pages!

While this book tackles the incredibly important and heartbreaking topics of child abuse and trafficking, it’s also an empowering story of resilience, hope, and survival.

It will make you think, break your heart, and likely bring you to tears, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

[Jessica Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been blessed to receive the ARC/ALC copy for Song of the Broken
The characters felt real, the plot was filled with the right amount of fantasy, realism & heart-pounding action.

What truly reeled me in, was Easton’s ability to create the world that is true to reality. From giving intimate moments & showing the dark side of evil that’s happening in the world all around us when it comes to trafficked children. As a mother myself, this book spoke out to me & I immediately knew it was worth the read!

The plot was intriguing, lots of deep action, & the characters really stood out. The book was captivating & I’m looking forward to more of Easton’s releases!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like magical Vikings who reap bloody carnage on child molesters, this is the book for you.

Top notch fantasy. Courage. Protective men. Justice.

And that ending needs a sequel yesterday!

Hardcover copy already in my sights.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before diving in, as always, I would like to urge everyone to closely read the author's note of this book. There are a few disturbing scenes, and while not described in detail, there are enough insinuations to make most people squirm at least a little. If r@pe and child abuse are big triggers for you, you might have difficulty with the contents of this book.

Thomson did not shy away from the horrific realities of woman/child abuse, working with actual victims to shape the book and give it a type of authenticity readers can really feel connected with but also greatly disturbed by, so please be sure you are mentally prepared and take breaks if/when needed.

Okay! Now that's out of the way, let's get into it. I'm going to go over some key things that I liked and didn't like. Let's go!

They say a good book makes you feel deep emotions, and man... I felt ALL the emotions. My heart was filled to the brim before being torn out and then pieced back together again and again. Over and over. I probably went through two whole tissue boxes with all the crying I did—but amidst the tears there were also joy-filled moments. Wholesome and heartening moments that reminded me of how much I adore being a parent and having the privilege of keeping my children protected and loved. There was lots of comedic relief as well—to break up the heaviness that weighs on the book—and I even burst out laughing at times, making my kids curious, my cat jump, and my dog wag his tail excitedly.

The story is incredibly captivating, following two main characters, one of which, Ivar, stole my heart for being such an amazingly wonderful, brave, and loving young lad as we follow his life story from the age of eleven until adulthood. And the other... the other will haunt my dreams, probably for years to come, solely because of all of the mysteries left around him! I'm dying to know more about Baldwin's clouded past, so much so that I feel like I became a crazy detective throughout this book with all my theories, and I don't know what I'm going to do with all these questions until the next book comes, but I'm likely to lose sleep over it.

Going into this, I'll admit, I wasn't sure if it would really be my cup of tea. While I love magic-filled fantasies and Viking mythology, I've been stuck on the romances for quite some time, and I wasn't sure if I would be captivated enough to really go at this, but, my oh my, those fears were squashed when little Ivar and Ellie met. The puppy love was infectiously sweet between them, and it gave me all the warm fuzzies I needed to keep reading straight from chapter one.

Then, there was Baldwin! Baldwin gave me the grumpy MMC vibes I yearn for in all my books. He's brutish, he's funny, and he has a tendency to wreak monstrous, bloodthirsty havoc on the evil demons of the world. He has no restraint when it comes to those who harm children, and it fills me with SO much satisfaction. He deals brutal and gory retribution. AS. HE. SHOULD!

“I’ll admit, I have my problems. And in a way, I’m just like you. When I find an enemy and they beg for mercy… I just can’t stop.”

Now, I was listening to the audiobook while also reading along on my Kindle, and there are actual pros and cons for each version with this book.

I loved listening to the audiobook because a lot of the dialogue in this book is written in an eye dialect fashion (intentionally misspelled words to convey specific accents), and while it helps to shape those accents in the mind for some, I fear it might be difficult for other readers to read and understand without being taken out of the story to really try and nail it down in their heads.

I know, personally, I'd have found it hard if I were just reading and not listening, but Kyle Snyder did a fantastic job on the audio book and made everything flow in such a way that it's easy to follow even with the heavily accented phrases.He breathed life into the characters in a way so few have a gift for, changing his voice for each character so they were easily distingishable. I didn't even cringe at his lady character voices like I thought I might!

However, there is one downside to doing just the audiobook, and that is that there are many of what I assume to be Old Norse words in this book. Words that are not commonly known and are not necessarily explained/defined within the story. Thomson has included a glossary at the back of the book to refer to while reading and also did something that I absolutely ADORE in the Kindle version—linking the words in the story to the glossary so that you just have to hold down on the highlighted word and a preview of it in the glossary will pop up with its definition! This is the first time I've ever seen this Kindle feature myself, and I found it ridiculously helpful, but I would not have been able to do this or use the glossary at all had I just been listening to the audiobook.

long story short:

Song of the Broken truly did break me... but in the best way! It's so good. It's painful and heartbreaking and pushes the boundaries of moral comfort to make you almost sick at some points—even without being explicit—but that only serves as a testament of how gutwrenchingly well written it is. The book is tackling a subject that SHOULD make you feel that way. I give it a raging five stars and wish I could give it more.

It has everything: action, suspense, mystery, comedy, wholesome feels, gutting heartbreak, and, above all, a powerful purpose. Thomson has partnered with Lantern Rescue and pledged to donate $1 for every book sold to fund real-world rescue operations, so every book sale counts, and I would recommend doing so from his website!


Note: This is the first of a series and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.