Thunderstruck

by Lissa Layland

In this smart, sexy debut romantasy, an American exchange student arrives in Norway only to find herself in a love triangle with an intense activist and an aloof environmental law professor who turn out to be the Norse gods Thor and Loki.

Althea Leos, Type A as they come, doesn’t arrive in Oslo expecting to get dumped—academically speaking—by her thesis advisor, the stoic Professor Dahl. Reeling from being abandoned, Thea falls head over heels in lust with Torben, a Norwegian environmental activist and front-runner for Sexy Lumberjack of the Year. Thea is so love-drunk on Torben’s sweet, sexy smile, and also drunk-drunk, that she angrily follows the elusive Professor Dahl home and…

Thea stumbles accidentally across the bridge to Asgard, entering the immortal realm of Norse gods.

Odin, the Allfather, challenges Thea to pass a series of tests to prove she can keep her lips sealed about Asgard. Thea expects wolves the size of elephants and menacing ravens, but she doesn’t expect to find herself in slow-burn situationships with two “brothers” who happen to be Norse gods. Calm, cool, collected Althea Leos must navigate her desires for Thor and Loki while trying to overcome Odin’s trials.

Tropes

? Love triangle

? Academic romance

? Slow-burn romance

? Norse mythology

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Paranormal, Romantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Lissa Layland lives in Melbourne, Australia—on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung land—with her husband and rescue greyhound. As a nine-year-old, she wrote and performed “theatre productions” that were essentially pantheon fanfiction for her endlessly patient classmates. It’s no surprise she now writes fantasy and romance for adults. Somewhere in between, she worked in climate justice, including on campaigns for legal complaints brought before the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Reviews

[Melanie DirtyLittleSmut_Reader]

I’m INVESTED!!!!! ⚡️

Two hot gods fighting over one girl? Yeah, I’m listening. 😂

Loki is freaking AWESOME. Way to stand up for your girl!!!! 👏🏻 And honestly, I loved watching their relationship develop.

I did struggle a little with the fallout of her relationship with Thor. I just wish there had been more to it than her deciding she “didn’t want complicated.” It felt like such a big relationship to move past so quickly.

And girl… you do NOT always need to have the last word. When she tries to seduce Loki and it backfires, then lashes out about how he’s not really living, I was like… ma’am. YOU are the one making reckless decisions right now. 😂 Some of her reactions just felt immature to me.

BUT Alex!!! I really hope we get more of her twin in the next book because he is awesome. I love that he’s basically like, “Yep, semi-demigods. Makes sense,” while everyone else is having an existential crisis. 😂

I’m definitely invested enough to need the next book. Bring on the gods! ⚡️

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

[Chelsea]

Yeah, I needed this immediately after reading the blurb, and then I saw that cover and, yup. Immediate add to cart. 😂

Now, was it a 5-star read? Unfortunately, no. 😬 But that doesn’t mean someone else won’t absolutely love it! I loved the concept of a why choose, so I went into this with an open mind, but ultimately… it was just kind of meh for me.

Althea is a total Type A girlie who, after restructuring her life, finally gets the opportunity to attend a program in Norway that will help her achieve her educational goals. She definitely wasn’t expecting to get dropped by her influential professor on day one, but she powers through and continues on her path.

Said professor just happens to be a broody, handsome environmental lawyer who immediately makes an impression, and thankfully, I called it right away because this man had LOKI written all over him. 😂

As Althea continues navigating her new life and education in Norway, she’s introduced to an environmental group led by a strong, captivating man who seems to be popular with just about everyone. Thor, obviously. 👀 What Althea doesn’t know is that these men aren’t just hot environmental activists… they’re actual Gods living among humans.

One night, she stumbles upon the bridge to Asgard and suddenly finds herself at the mercy of Odin, their father, who also happens to be a massive douchebag who enjoys forcing everyone around him into some seriously sticky situations.

During her time in Asgard, Odin challenges Althea to a series of tests to prove she can be trusted with the secret of Asgard. Those tests push her into a slow-burn relationship with both Loki and Thor, two brothers who have already fought over a woman before and apparently decided round two sounded like a good idea. 😂

This one was kind of all over the place for me. For a why choose, the relationships felt surprisingly stiff at times, and some of the interactions became more annoying than enjoyable. The storyline was definitely there, but it felt unstructured and, unfortunately, a little boring.

I DID love the environmental aspect and the fight against the people trying to destroy it. Give me a good environmental villain to hate! 😂 But outside of that, I just didn’t find myself caring about much else.

Am I thrilled with who she ended up with? YES. Because apparently I’m a weirdo. 😂 So if you were rooting for the opposite brother… I am so sorry. 🫣

Overall, this just wasn’t the one for me, but I can absolutely see someone else getting way more enjoyment out of it. And thankfully, THAT ENDING?! 👀 It was GOOD. So at least we finished strong!

Not every book can be a winner, and that’s okay! 🤷‍♀️

[Victoria - Tori Simms (thevictorianstudy)]

4.5 ⭐️

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't sure what to think when I read the synopsis for this book. But, I was pleasantly surprised by it and I'm so happy with the outcome at the end. Though, I would like maybe a short novella offshoot about Thea and her brother, if not a sequel.

Thea is Type A to the T. She had a plan when she arrived in Oslo. But then her plan falls to pieces when her professor, Professor Dahl, drops her thesis despite saying it's one of the best he's ever had come across his desk. Reeling with having to choose the second best option, she joins student-led political protests against offshore mining and meeting a really cute redhead guy named Torben. She ends up getting really drunk after kissing him and angrily following his sort-of-brother home; Professor Dahl.

But hey, Professor Dahl and Torben are actually Norse gods, and now she's having to figure out how to make it out of Asgard with her life and promise to never tell anyone about what she's seen and done. There's a whole lot more there, but I really liked it.

Thea's relationships with everyone are really deep and you feel her emotions. The cast is really diverse, too, which was pretty cool and something I know other readers will feel really strongly about. Overall, I really liked it but I do wish it was longer and that's why I'm rating it 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Lissa Layland, NetGalley, Avon Books, and Avon & Harper Voyager for this digital ARC. All thoughts, views, and opinions are my own.

[Danielle🌶️📚]

Thank you Netgalley, AVON and harper voyager for the ARC <3

while I can admit mythological books aren’t what I gravitate towards, I find Odin and thor’s stories deeply compelling so I was excited to give this a shot. The first few chapters of
story building felt very YA/unserious
with the way the mmcs are described. when the mythological aspect was then brought in, it felt like a completely different book with those unserious romance tropes sprinkled in where they just never seemed to meld.

I felt like the romance aspect never felt appropriate, especially with the near family relation, I really found it off putting and near incestial. Every time it became spicy it felt jarring and awkward— having never felt like there was any tension or bonding have ever taken place to escalate to that level.

there was definitely good world building/ breakdown of the mythology, and if the book was simply that, it would of made more sense. Both mmcs almost felt like older brother figures leading her through her journey of discovery and not like the romantic relationship it is supposed to emulate.

[Kerie Parker]

When I read the blurb for this, I was excited! It sounded right up my street but unfortunately fell flat.
Thunderstruck was an okay read. I enjoyed the portrayal of Loki and thought the characters were fine overall but unfortunately I never felt particularly invested in the story.

I did finish it but found myself skim-reading quite a bit towards the end because I just wasn’t that bothered about what was going to happen next. There wasn’t anything I actively disliked, but equally, nothing really grabbed me or made the book particularly memorable. It seemed like a few things were happening but was really wrapped up. Not sure if this is intended to be a series?

Overall this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

[BookishKB]

⚡🪓 Thunderstruck 🪓⚡

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Norse Mythology
• Love Triangle
• Academic Romance
• Magical Trials
• Romantasy
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Jenn]

DNF. Just wasn't working for me.

[Cathy]

I liked this book, but I didn’t love this book. I actually found the relationship between Althea, her brother Alex, and her mom and sister to be more compelling and formative than her relationship with the MMCs for parts of the book.

PROS:
• Academic Setting – I really liked seeing our FMC, Althea, as a graduate student writing a complex thesis.
• Mythology – Thor, Loki, and other characters from mythology in a modern setting.
• Positive Family Relationship – Althea is a twin who has deeply cares for her brother and worries about her mom and younger sister while she is studying in another country.

CONS (for me):
• Shallow romantic relationships – while there is a love triangle aspect, I wanted to actually see more on the page about why Althea cared about the MMCs and why they were interested in her, beyond her lineage or a sense of duty.
• Wording took me out of the story – there were occasionally references items (example clothing) that didn’t seem like something a student from the US would use, and since the story is from Thea’s POV they seemed like odd choices that took me out of the story.

Given some of the ambiguity about the twins, the state of the environment and what that means for the gods, it seems like this might be setting up something going forward, which I would be interested to read to see how our characters develop a bit more.

Rounded up from 3.5/3.75 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Hannah]

Oh my word, what a read! Thunderstruck was everything I wanted from a Norse mythology meets kinda fan-fiction romance 😂 This honestly had everything. The perfect triangle, two hot Norse gods fighting over Althea? Perfection.

The whole story was brilliant, as was the romance between our main characters. I loved every second of this book and it was such a good read! I’ll definitely be reading more from Lissa!

[Katie ✨]

3.75 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

First things first, I need a while book of Maya and Britta. I love them.

This book was so good! I was grinning from start to finish. My only complaint is that I felt like there was so much going on that every plot line left me wanting it more fleshed out. I wanted more about the aftermath of Professor Pedersen and his academic antics.

All in all, a solid debut! I will eagerly pick up book two!

[Dani✨]

What a fun read! Layland perfectly combines the world of the gods with that of mortality and academia. She has created a story of love, friendship, emotionally heavy issues, and global climate change. It puts into perspective, that not enough people follow their hearts and even less care for the land we live on. Truly a stunning way to make reader involved in real world challenges! This is a cozy magical reality I’d love to spend time in :) Cheers to the “super-strength pheromones,” hard-headed rationality, slutty little glasses and trusting/ knowing yourself. Eennâm Lii Eellim. I’m excited to see what Layland writes next ⚡️💕

[Chyna E.]

The synopsis obviously peaked my interest; I love a good Loki romance. However, as there were things I enjoyed, so were there things I very much didn't, which made rating this book a bit hard. 

Starting off strong, I heavily enjoyed the environmental activism plot. The Aesir's magic, Seidhr, relies on a thriving natural environment, which is waning with humanity's negative impact on the environment. Tasked as the Protector of the People, Thor is sent to Midgard to try to stop climate change from affecting their magic. Thor, known as Torben on Midgard, rallies college students to participate in environmental activism, while Loki, or Lukas, voluntarily works on Midgard as a professor in Environmental Law, which is what Althea is writing her thesis on during her year abroad. The Vaettir (Nordic spirits) do not believe the Aesir's methods are working, and take it upon themselves to protect the Seidhr themselves, which causes tension between the two groups. This was the most compelling aspect of the story. I think this issue was refreshing to read, but I do wish we had gotten a bit more in the way of details. It is mentioned throughout the book as a whole, but specifics were not discussed. It felt like a major part of the plot to not explain the work Thor and Loki were doing on Midgard. 

I also rather enjoyed the family dynamics between Althea and her family. They have such a healthy bond and communicate. Althea has two siblings, including a twin brother Alex, who still live in America, taking care of their mother who has cancer. The book explores Althea's reason for pursuing her education, her guilt for taking the time away from her mom, and has discussions with Alex and her mom about future plans and what that would look like for the family dynamic. There is no ill-will, just family being supportive and wanting her to be happy with her life. I found their interactions to be so wholesome. This is a stark contrast to Odin, Thor and Loki's family dynamic, which if you know anything about Norse mythology, is messy. We get bits and pieces of this dynamic as well, and it is TOXIC. 

However, the romance, which is a main focus of the book, is dull and not developed well enough to be convincing. Althea starts with a romance with Thor, which is more lust fueled than anything. Thor is brash, quick to anger, and pushy. He very much holds a grudge against Althea for most of the book regarding her decision against pursuing anything long-term with him. Their dynamic just felt manipulative and not at all romantic. Then we have Althea's relationship with Loki, and while it is far less toxic, the romance feels almost more one-sided to me? Loki punishes himself by denying him what would make him happy, which includes keeping Althea at arms length. However, what attract Althea to Loki isn't explained much besides physical aspects. It made the HEA feel, meh. 

The plot twist surrounding Althea and Alex's lineage, and the cross-over between gods from different mythologies felt off in the story. If there was a definite plan to continue the story as a series, it would make more sense, but I do not see that this is to be a series? In the context of this book, it felt like it was dropped, then rushed, and not developed as a storyline. Most of the major plot points felt rushed, and most of the book kind of felt like not enough was happening. I had issues with the pacing overall. 

Overall, I liked some aspects of the story, and disliked others. Whether I would recommend this to anyone, it depends on what they are looking to get out of their reading experience. I am not sure that I would read the sequel if there is one. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[monique - persephone]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

This is an adult Percy Jackson UNIVERSE / Norse mythology / love triangle extravaganza.
It was so fun, from the first page I was hooked. I was quite drawn to the main character in terms of her determination to complete a goal. She set her goals and lived to achieve it for others because she was so headstrong about it. Her arc throughout the book was logical and I respected the hell out of her.
Plotlines; Throughout the book, I did want our FMC to be a tad more fleshed out in terms of her tone because I felt that I was being held at arm’s length from her, despite being in her head. BUT from the arc of her character, this was completely intentional. Her main issue is not acknowledging her feelings about her decisions and relationships with the other characters (not just lover relationships, but friendships too), and I love how this was handled through healthy discussions with those characters. I also respected the hell out of her with a whole heap of actions, including; not throwing everything a way for a person, healthy relationships conversations with friends, potential partners, and family. I really respect that the author did not make a certain character a villain just to give “meaning” to an action. Sometimes it is what it is, and it sucks but we need to admit it, not ignore it and then try to move forward in a positive way. I have never seen a love triangle handled with such maturity. I wish more books did it like this one, it was just realistic in all sides and the reactions.
Onto the book itself, it was fun. It is incredibly fast paced at times but can slow tf down when needed. I enjoyed the aspect of the found family with the friends and appreciated the representation of differing bodies. Could there have been more? Sure, always. But I appreciated our characters not having the” best model” bodies in the universe (apart from Thor lmfao). I enjoyed the prose and the easy readability of it. I loved all the settings and enjoyed going back to university with out characters. I LOVE that the author managed to discuss a topic so high on all our priority lists and could model through the characters, how we can in fact contribute in any small way and it helps. I LOVED that the problems needed all the characters working together to solve, and not one character was deemed more important than the other. I could also easily discern between each character just by the tone of their dialogue. I was never confused about who was talking, which is usually a hard thing for me. I usually need to flick back and forth and go back up to check who was talking to try and follow. The fact I never had to do this once speaks to how well the cast of characters have been fleshed out. I loved the story of the gods and their lore. I can’t wait to see more. The spice was on point too, if I wasn’t injured, I would have woken up my husband and jumped him.
Overall, it’s a 3.75-4 star for me. It kept me up till 3am in the morning. I highly recommend this is you want something fun, engaging and enjoyable. For Percy Jackson lovers, this is not Percy Jackson the books at all but uses the trope of ancient religions and their gods to drive the story. It was just the most fitting story to relate to this in terms of the gods and their interaction with mortals. I felt the story expanding with each page and I am very excited for the second book!

[Eve Tsak]

I’m always a little wary when I pick up fantasy after a break because it’s a genre that demands your full attention, especially when you’re learning a new world and magic system. At first, I’ll admit I found some of the Norse mythology terminology and world-building a little confusing. There were moments where I felt like I was trying to keep up with unfamiliar words and lore, but the further I got into the story, the more everything clicked into place. By the end, I was completely invested. I actually think this was the perfect fantasy to ease myself back into the genre because it balances mythology with an academic setting, a contemporary world, and a portal fantasy element that never feels overwhelming. The combination of university life, environmental research, mythology, and another realm made for a really addictive reading experience.

The romance was absolutely the highlight for me. Going into this, I was nervous because love triangles are very hit-or-miss for me, and I was worried it would turn into a why-choose situation. Thankfully, it didn’t. Instead, it gave me major The Vampire Diaries vibes with the Thor/Loki dynamic, and from very early on I knew exactly who I was rooting for. Loki completely stole this book for me. The professor, the glasses, the tortured immortal energy, the constant insistence that mortals and immortals shouldn’t be together—I was gone from the start. Even when I was questioning where the romance was heading, Loki kept me turning the pages. Despite some surprisingly early romantic moments, this is still a slow burn at heart, and the tension between Althea and Loki was exactly what I wanted. Every interaction felt layered with history, longing, and the sense that neither of them believed they should want what they wanted.

One thing I really appreciated was how accessible the fantasy felt. While there are gods, mythical creatures, portals, and another realm, the stakes are often tied to academic research, environmental concerns, and uncovering the truth rather than constant battles or high-octane action. For me personally, that’s probably why this landed at four stars rather than five. When I read fantasy, I tend to love stories with incredibly high stakes and intense danger, whereas this felt more character-driven and relationship-focused. That said, I genuinely enjoyed the blend of fantasy and academia, and I loved seeing mythology woven into a modern setting. The water creatures, the mythology, the different realms, and the mythology-inspired history all reminded me why I love fantasy so much in the first place.

And then there’s the ending. That epilogue absolutely made this book for me. After spending the entire novel invested in these characters, seeing everything come together left me with the biggest smile on my face. It was sweet, satisfying, and exactly the ending I was hoping for. For a debut novel, I was incredibly impressed. The world-building became easier and easier to follow, the romance had me fully invested, and Loki may genuinely become one of my favourite fantasy love interests.

♡ “If you asked me to imagine Mr December from the Hot Lumberjack’s annual calendar, he’s exactly what I’d picture. Then I’d buy a copy of the calendar.”

♡ “Of course I’ve thought about it. But wanting something isn’t the same as it being good for you.”

♡ “I’ve lived a thousand lifetimes among the Æsir, and each one leaves its marks. I won’t let them scar you.”

♡ “But when his darkened gaze falls upon me, I light up with longing.”

♡ “You’re all the things I’ve ever wanted, and was convinced I would never be able to have.”

♡ Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the eARC ♡

[donutdot]

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

never thought i'd be here reading what feels like a self insert fanfic with loki and thor but i am so here for it!! truly feels like the best of ao3 in a book. for context i don't know much about thor and loki (never really got into marvel) but i thought this was done nicely and kept true to the vague image i had of them in my mind.

the plot is simple humans are wrecking havor on earth (midgard) and the ægir and vættin on asgard want to stop that. simple enough and i can see this being the first book in a longer series because fighting climate change is hard!! who knew such a book would be about climate change anyway?

okay the love triangle. typically not a fan of love triangles especially when it involves brothers (ahem belly, conrad and jeremiah who were also mentioned in this book) but i am happy that for once i started and ended on the right side of it.

spoilers ahead!!

i was so sure althea was going to end up with thor (torben) based on the beginning and while they did have chemistry i liked that they were somewhat adults about it, they wanted different things and after meandering decided to stay friends. though for a hot while there it got me fretting that loki/althea was not endgame despite being so bonrad coded.

personally not a fan of the professor thing but i think him being loki (reformed god of lies and trickery) takes the point away because despite being a god he is also kind of a stuffy professor and i thought the way he and althea opened up to each other was sweet. imagine sitting next to each other at a long table in a library, late afternoon sun spilling in from the window while you look at each other. exactly like that. and forced marriage is a thing but i liked that it wasn't an enemies to lovers context and changed little for the way they are. the way they worked each other through their very similar issues on what they want and finally finding each other was so satisfying.

"in the evenings we'd have heated discussions about the news, and in the mornings we'd drink coffee in bed, while doing the crossword and reading. reading for pleasure! not even textbooks!"

"i learned that you're part immortal. but i also learned that you're fiercely intelligent. that you have a chronic commitment to doing what's right, to justice. that you're so beautiful it hurts, sometimes, to look at you."

oh. and the fact that he gave up immortality to pursue just one lifetime!! they get to grow old together!!

i am manifesting a book for thor so hard as a sequel, maybe one for britta and hefring too.

[TheNevraEndingStory]

Thunderstruck revolves around Althea “Thea,” an American studying in Norway, where she meets environmental activist Torben and the aloof Professor Lukas Dahl. They are brothers, sort of, and they also happen to be the Norse gods Thor and Loki. So naturally, a love triangle ensues. Odin gets involved because, of course he does, and Althea has to jump through a ton of hoops after discovering Asgard, all while trying to figure out her feelings for Thor and Loki.

With all the Marvel movies, this premise definitely had me intrigued. What would it be like to find yourself in a love triangle with Thor and Loki, and who would you pick? There is a lot of Norse mythology woven throughout the story, which was one of its strongest parts and gave me more to explore. A good portion of the book takes place in Asgard amid Odin’s shenanigans. At times, it moved at a glacial pace, but then again, I suppose anyone dealing with a temperamental god would have to put up with whatever he wanted.

The “situationships” Thea has with Thor and Loki felt very surface level to me. One of those relationships never receives much closure and is seemingly glossed over after being built up throughout the story. The romantic connection the story ultimately focuses on begins awkwardly, and its resolution feels rushed near the end.

Thea is written as someone who is not in touch with her feelings and does not like to label things. However, if we are meant to believe that she has grown or that her feelings have changed, that development needs to happen more gradually instead of feeling tacked on at the end.

Overall, Thunderstruck was an interesting read. I understand how it falls into the romantasy genre, but it felt much heavier on the fantasy, especially earlier in the book, than the romance. The spicier moments, or should I say the thunderstruck moments, were mostly concentrated toward the end. The premise and mythology kept me interested, but I needed more emotional depth and a stronger romantic payoff for the love triangle to fully work for me.

Thunderstruck releases on November 17, 2026.

Thank you to the author, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing an advance copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Carmen]

I received a copy from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Althea Leos, aka Thea, is extremely family oriented, and choosing to work on her thesis in Norway is something she struggles with. It doesn’t help that her prestigious thesis advisor immediately dumped her onto one of his colleagues. So what’s Thea going to do? Knock her thesis out of the park, join a local activist group, and develop feelings for the leader of the group! Only Thea isn’t sure what she really wants, and what was supposed to be a drunken apology turns into her stumbling into Asgard itself. Now she just has to pass a couple tests and prove that she won’t breathe a word about the gods being real, which is hard to do when she’s got a thing for both Thor and Loki!

I really liked this book, but I wasn’t sold on the romance plot at all. There was zero romantic chemistry unless things were starting to get a little spicy. Thea kept thinking about how she was trying to get her libido under control while it was off having a nice vacation. I do like that Thea, Thor, and Loki developed pretty good friendships. I just wasn’t seeing the romantic energy.

That said, I enjoyed reading the rest of the book. There’s a wonderful cast of characters, strong family bonds, and excellent worldbuilding. I really liked how the author made our climate change impact the Norse gods, which was a really interesting take on things that I hadn’t seen before. I just wish the story leaned more into this and less into the romance plot. I don’t know if this is the first book in a series, but it seemed like a series opener that could be left as a stand alone. If the story does continue, I will definitely check it out.

[Em]

The cover made me a little wary because it looks like it'll be a Harry Potter fanfic (no hate, was mostly confused), but I promise it's not! I picked it up because I love mythology and was curious what new spin the story could take.

The good: it's a pretty original take, at least to me, of what happened to the ancient gods, how they are influenced by humans, and why a mortal would be interacting with them now. It weaves in figures from beyond Greek and Norse mythology, which was nice. The narrative heavily centers on the perils of climate change, which was also a welcome surprise.

To that end, the blurb isn't fully accurate: the three tasks set by Odin are complete a third of the way into the book. It's the first book in a trilogy, and I'm not sure how there will be a romance element in the second book unless there is a terribly breakup or the focus shifts to another pair of characters. I'm hoping it's not the former.

The meh: there's something a little tell-y about the writing from time to time. Like the author wondered "how can I slip in [trait] so that the readers know?" and inserted a detail that comes across stilted, or a description that's said often but isn't backed up by action. One example in particular is Althea's (apparent) type A-ness; I think Thunderstruck is intended to also be a tale about adaptation, of changing course as you discover who you want to be, but Althea's journey is a little wanting here. Maybe it's going to be developed in the next book?

I'll definitely be picking up book two though! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

[The Lit]

🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
​I am giving Thunderstruck by Lela Mayland a glowing 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
​A captivating, high-energy romance packed with magnetic chemistry, stormy atmosphere, and intense emotional sparks that keep you hooked from beginning to end! ⚡⛈️💜✨
​ARC Disclosure: A big thank you to NetGalley, the author Lela Mayland, and publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperCollins for providing an advance digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, fanatical reactions, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
​The Review
​Thunderstruck by Lela Mayland is an electrifying read that delivers fantastic emotional stakes and unforgettable chemistry! With a bold, high-concept premise and dynamic character relationships, this book hits all the right notes for romance readers looking for high-energy romance with real heart.
​The narrative strikes a great balance between sizzling interpersonal tension and deep emotional resonance. Watching the main male lead navigate his connection with the heroine while dealing with high-voltage circumstances makes for an absolute page-turner. The pacing keeps the story moving fast, and the character development feels earned and deeply satisfying. It's a fun, atmospheric, and thoroughly engaging 4-star read!
​The Good
​Electrifying tension, magnetic leads, high-stakes emotional growth, vibrant atmosphere, and fast-paced narrative flow!
​The Not So Good
​The middle section takes a brief moment to catch its breath as the characters work through their internal conflicts, but the payoff at the climax is well worth it!

[Book Dragon]

Well. I. Never.

A love triangle? Really. I willingly read a love triangle? And couldn't put it down? I'm Astonished!

Not only did I enjoy this book I'm also simultaneously gutted I'm finished. I have all the feels. All of them. I almost didn't read this because it was a love triangle, but I am so very, very glad I did.

Not just because I enjoyed the escape to Norway, and it's beautiful descriptions. Not because the characters were quirky and realistic and side eye human. But because for the first time in months, in the depths of my grief, I found a book that transported me elsewhere and I just never wanted it to end!

I can see that some people may dislike the 'real world' content (hello slutty little glasses!) but you know what, I actually wasn't bothered a bit! I'm not sure what made this so different, but it worked for me.

I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say that Norway is not the only place we travel to, and that a feisty and strong female lead matched the two literal hunkerchunks of side eye men. But I really, and I mean really, loved the entire concept of climate and nature activism in this book. It was so utterly refreshing. And surprisingly, for a love triangle, utterly uncomplicated!


☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
So much tanks to Team HarperFiction for choosing lil' ol' me to read this as an ARC - it really was a fantastic read and I honestly never saw that coming!

[Megan]

Thunderstruck by Lissa Layland was the addictive Norse Mythology romance I needed. First off, I loved the concept of how the story started with the FMC, Althea Leos, who is an American exchange student working on her thesis. Thus, as she becomes more familiar with different individuals like the other MMC's, Professor Dahl and Torben, it is clear that she has an attraction to both men. Second, I loved how the story gets messy with the romance since she eventually finds out the Norse Gods are the two men in her life. Talk about the love triangle between brothers, now that's crazy. And I can't say too much about the spice but it is definitely spicer in different parts of the book with each MMC. And lastly, I did enjoy the trials and stipulations from the Allfather, Odin. I felt these situations defined Althea and the two Gods to truly see changes in their character's development and finding their own purpose/sense of self. In all, my favorite part about this whole story is Althea realizing who she loves and makes her a better person. In addition, I don't want to spoil it but I also loved how the God she ends up with, changes his mentality and follows who he chooses to love/do with his life.

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are interested in love triangles, Norse Mythology, and a good romance/spice book. Thank you NetGalley, Lissa Layland, and Avon and Harper Voyager for my ARC copy!

[Tressa Heigel]

If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy, a multi-god love triangle, and an environmentally friendly subnarrative - you’ve found the right book! I was getting Percy Jackson meets The Vampire Diaries, meets Thor, and honestly it was a fun time.

What I liked:
⚡️The mythology inspo! Anything related to Norse mythology has me immediately hooked, and the modern setting gave this story a touch of whimsy. Throw in some SLGs and an academic foundation, and it was a bright, unique way to incorporate Loki and Thor while keeping the fantasy element accessible enough for any reader.

🌎The environmental tie-ins. I have to applaud Layland, this is one of the most creative ways I’ve seen global climate change and eco-activism incorporated into a book, let alone a romantasy. It was the plot line I didn’t see coming, but was wholly invested and engaged in through to the end!

Though I did enjoy this book, I think it could’ve been longer in order to really build stronger chemistry between the characters. I felt like they definitely seemed friendly, but the deeper connections didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d expected them to. All in all, I’d totally read the second book to see how the story moves forward!

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to eARC this! All thoughts are my own 🖤

[Kimberly McCoy]

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. I rated this 2 stars, as I was pretty disappointed with how the story played out. Reminder these are my opinions only and should be taken with a grain of salt.

I don't think the plot was that well plotted out. I feel like there was too much "filler" in the story that you lost the true plot. The amount of time she is talking about Thor or Loki with friends, and nothing happens afterwards (just moves into the next typical college student day) was very disappointing, especially when the description and the start of the story had so much potential. (SPOILER: The plagiarism scene not only came out of the blue, but also added no value to the story)

I also don't feel all the characters (secondary) were used to their potential. Britta could have definitely been used more, as well as Maya and Alex. They felt very much like "fluff" characters that added no value to the story. (SPOILER: Maya's state that Loki fixed seemed to have to impact to the overall story).

Honestly, I will say it was so hard for me to finish reading this book, but I pushed through as best as I could and once I hit about 65% it started to get better. But a book should not take that long to show progress in the plot.

[Katie May]

3.5

I think this suffers from way too many story lines and the romance really suffers for that. Aside from a brief scene closer to the beginning there isn’t really much romance until like 75 ish percent in? That’s really too far into the book in my opinion. With this set up there could have been tension and banter coming out of everyone’s ears (besides wow they’re so hot) but there really is none in favor of the Asgard plot lines (of which really no one picked this up for). Eventually all their overwhelming attraction to each other culminates in some brief seggual content but I had a harder time caring about who got together at that point.

The FMC does read a little immature and sometimes the repetitive descriptions bogged it down a wee bit. It was giving Percy Jackson for a bit of it.

This was certainly fun and easy but with cramming all the romance into the back of the book really changed the tone and it could have been an easy 5 stars. This wasn’t really that sexy as promised in the blurb.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin]

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐️’s

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and also to NetGalley for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A woman travels to Norway to work on her thesis about environmental law. She becomes entangled with two brothers, and quickly finds out that she is getting much more than he bargained for and it’s not just her world that is suffering.

The premise of this book is amazing! That said I do have some critiques. The “love triangle” in this story really was not necessary. The way that relationship is handled is off-putting and awkward. The love interest feels more like a vehicle for explaining background info. This book very much feels like two separate books. The first half is a TON of info dumping. I understand why, but I feel like the gods system/plot would benefit greatly from some simplification. The second half of the book was amazing! Things were moving with both the plot and the romance aspects. It felt like a whole new book. This is a debut so based on the second half of this book I am excited to see what else this author might have in store!

[Chelsea Hall]

⭐️⭐️. 5 / 2.5

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

Thank you, NetGalley, AVON, and Harper Voyager for the arc.

When I first read the premise, I was really excited for this novel. It seemed so original, and I love mythology, so I couldn’t wait to pick it up.

Honestly, there were some interesting ideas of how the gods and environmentalism were tied together. But there were too many plot points going on to really flesh out the one plot.

I also feel like making the MFC a semi-demi-god came off odd to me. Her character also just came off as a fanfiction protagonist to me and not the main character driving this novel. She almost seemed too childish to me. I just had a hard time connecting with her, and so when she was revealed to also have powers, it threw me off.

The romance in this novel had so much potential, but because of all the plot points, it wasn’t thoroughly fleshed out. It came off too weak at moments for me.

But there were fun moments in this novel, and it was such a unique idea. I do want to see more romance novels that explore this premise of gods and mortals.

[Shelby]

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!

As an environmental professional with a climate background who loves a mythology moment, it's safe to say this book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. And boy, she did NOT disappoint.

Layland expertly wove climate justice, romance, and mythology together, balancing these three pillars to deliver an incredible story. Her environmental messaging wasn't only inspiring for rising advocates, but reassuring for established ones like myself, reminding us about the value in our work.

Then there's the romance. I'll admit that there's one brother in particular I loved most, and let's just say, without spoiling the love triangle, that I WON. There were screams, bitten nails, pounded fists, tears... If that doesn't prove how evocative of a read this is, I don't know what would!

Thunderstruck has become one my all-time favorite books, and I need the next books like I need air. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go look into environmental master's programs at the University of Oslo for no reason in particular!

[Jacqui Lawson]

I want to preface that I received an advance copy from Netgalley in return for this review.

I was so excited to start this. I dropped all my love of horror and thought I would give this a try because I love a good fantasy//romance that gives you the happy feel goods.
As the story progressed, I started to feel like the connection between Thor and the MFC were just superficial and not really built up well.
The story line with Odin kind of threw me off because of the serious demand on her. And the panic to get back home? I love Thor and Loki and even more because Norse mythology is some of my favorite but this story did not really provide what I was expecting.
This also sounds terrible but the activism to save the planet was a bit much for me. Please don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in preserving and protecting our planet but this felt like a shove and did not fully sit right with me.
The writing was good, plenty of complex sentences and usage of time period language, it just wasn’t for me. Although I really wanted it to be.

[Abby May]

3.5 ⭐️

Althea is an American PhD student on an exchange program in Oslo, Norway. She’s been extremely Type A and sensible her whole life, and her best friend Maya is hoping she’ll learn to let loose a bit while she’s in Oslo.
She meets activist Thorben, as well as professor Lukas and stokes up a bond with both of them, only to discover they are the Gods Thor and Loki.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis, it’s such a fun way to combine fantasy with a traditional romance novel! I also really liked the Nordic setting - that alone was a fun deviation from most romances I’ve read in the past.

This was a really fun and enjoyable read - the fantasy elements are easy to follow. While there was great tension between the characters, I have to admit I didn’t feel much romantic chemistry between them so the ending felt a little flat but I still enjoyed it nonetheless!

This is book 1 of a trilogy and I will definitely be on the look out for book 2.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me this eARC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Mai White]

Real world blended with Norse mythology.

So we have a very real problem and that is climate change. I think the author did a wonderful job of bringing this to light within a romantasy setting and involving the Gods.

The love triangle is between Thor and Loki; there's not a great deal of relationship building, they're attractive (I mean, of course they're gods) but I didn't really get a great sense of emotional bonding. Although perhaps it's attraction first, feelings later, we shall see.

The middle chunk of the book unfortunately did drag a little, not a whole lot happens and I did push myself a little to read it. However it very much picks up again at the end and is well worth sticking around for. I think I would've liked to have seen more tension, jealousy or meaningful moments, something in the middle to stay fully engaged in the romance.

Overall I did enjoy Thunderstruck and I would like to read book two to find out what happens next.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read early, thoughts and opinions are my own.