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Call of Crows #3
The Unyielding
Stieg Engstrom, Angriest Viking Ever, has got big problems. The human Viking Clans of earth are in danger of being obliterated—along with the rest of the world—and the only one who may be able to save them is a super pain-in-the-ass Crow. Most people annoy Stieg, but this is the one woman he really can’t stand…
Erin Amsel loves being a Crow! Why wouldn’t she when the other Viking Clans are so hilariously arrogant and humorless? She’s not about to let all that come to an end! She just didn’t expect to be shoulder to shoulder in battle with Stieg. Then again, he’s so easy to torment—and also kind of cute.
With the future of the world riding on them, Stieg knows he’ll have to put aside his desperate need to kiss the smirk right off Erin’s face. Wait. What? He didn’t mean that—did he? No! They have one goal: To conquer the idiots. Because nothing bugs Stieg more than when idiots win. If only he can keep himself from suddenly acting like one….
Erin Amsel loves being a Crow! Why wouldn’t she when the other Viking Clans are so hilariously arrogant and humorless? She’s not about to let all that come to an end! She just didn’t expect to be shoulder to shoulder in battle with Stieg. Then again, he’s so easy to torment—and also kind of cute.
With the future of the world riding on them, Stieg knows he’ll have to put aside his desperate need to kiss the smirk right off Erin’s face. Wait. What? He didn’t mean that—did he? No! They have one goal: To conquer the idiots. Because nothing bugs Stieg more than when idiots win. If only he can keep himself from suddenly acting like one….
400 pages, ebook
First published March 28, 2017
533 people are currently reading
2877 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Laurenston
46 books7,933 followersOriginally from Long Island, New York, Shelly Laurenston has resigned herself to West Coast living which involves healthy food, mostly sunny days, and lots of guys not wearing shirts when they really should be. Shelly Laurenston is also The New York Times Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, creator of the Dragon Kin series. For more info on G.A. Aiken's dangerously and arrogantly sexy dragons, check out her website at www.gaaiken.com.
Pseudonym G.A. Aiken
Pseudonym G.A. Aiken
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October 1, 2020
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Amazon US * Amazon UK
The third in Shelly Laurenston's Call of Crows series The Unyielding brings us the story of Erin and Stieg. Erin is a the Crow that loves causing chaos everywhere she goes and apologizes for nothing. Stieg can't stand the pain in the ass Crow and doesn't want to be around her more than he's forced to be, so he hates his new orders of having to watch over her. Erin is the only one that can save the world from crumbling down around them, which means Stieg needs to make sure the people she pisses off with her personality don't actually succeed in killing her.
Erin is kind of the bitch out of this group of girls, but that's why I loved her! She was so unapologetic about her personality and she never tried to change who she was for others. I really liked that she was such a strong characters and didn't give in to social-norms. I can't lie and say there weren't times that she got a little annoying, but that was the beauty of her character - you'll love to hate her.
Stieg was the quiet Viking and there were times that he came off a little shy but I think that was just because Erin's character was such a powerful one that his took a seat in the background sometimes. But I mean all of this in a good way because the two of them worked really well together and seeing the difference between them endeared me to Stieg even more. On the outside everyone thought he was the angry one, but we got to see a different side to him and I really liked that.
This is a series that I will highly recommend for anyone that likes a good Paranormal and other-worldy story. Ms. Laurenston perfectly brings you into a world that has Gods and Goddesses and leaves you no room to doubt that all of these creatures are real. Her writing has always been able to captivate me and I know it will continue to do so in the future so I can't wait to read more from this series.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
The third in Shelly Laurenston's Call of Crows series The Unyielding brings us the story of Erin and Stieg. Erin is a the Crow that loves causing chaos everywhere she goes and apologizes for nothing. Stieg can't stand the pain in the ass Crow and doesn't want to be around her more than he's forced to be, so he hates his new orders of having to watch over her. Erin is the only one that can save the world from crumbling down around them, which means Stieg needs to make sure the people she pisses off with her personality don't actually succeed in killing her.
Erin is kind of the bitch out of this group of girls, but that's why I loved her! She was so unapologetic about her personality and she never tried to change who she was for others. I really liked that she was such a strong characters and didn't give in to social-norms. I can't lie and say there weren't times that she got a little annoying, but that was the beauty of her character - you'll love to hate her.
Stieg was the quiet Viking and there were times that he came off a little shy but I think that was just because Erin's character was such a powerful one that his took a seat in the background sometimes. But I mean all of this in a good way because the two of them worked really well together and seeing the difference between them endeared me to Stieg even more. On the outside everyone thought he was the angry one, but we got to see a different side to him and I really liked that.
This is a series that I will highly recommend for anyone that likes a good Paranormal and other-worldy story. Ms. Laurenston perfectly brings you into a world that has Gods and Goddesses and leaves you no room to doubt that all of these creatures are real. Her writing has always been able to captivate me and I know it will continue to do so in the future so I can't wait to read more from this series.
The Unyielding Playlist:
Hunger - Frankie & The Heartstrings
Mooncalf - Active Bird Community
Gone - JR JR
What's Real - WATERS
Morocco - Moon Taxi
Atomic Man - Portugal, The Man
Come Home - CHAPPO
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2025
Apparently this book isn't meant to be read as a stand alone...oops... only my stubbornness made me see it through But now i gotta go back& figure out who the hell everyone is
But if I know anything its that I love Erin and Stieg... but mostly Erin!!
So we got the whole cliche end of the world and of course... ERIN AMSEL is just our ONE and ONLY CHANCE. But really its beacause she's the only one brave enough to actually stand up to the boss
And guys she is. she totally fucking is.
And now lets meet our main-squeeze, I mean love interest the Raven Stieg
And its love at first sight
NOTTTTTTTT!!! Not so much as a slow burn, but at first they can't stand each other then they gotta then they work together then its love/hate.
In general Erin struggles with..hmm, what's the word...Order. Rules. Logic. Any of those would work.
Stieg finds out she was selected to do this likely death resulting mission and he kidnaps her. And she is so fucking chill about it
And then we meet a legit EVIL GRANDMA who knows the HARBINGERS OF DEATH !! oh come on thats some iconic funny shit rich there guys
And to be honest there seemed like some hilarious charactes that i could tell i was supose to know but didn't...but guys it was so fucking funny going in blind.
In the end Erin and Streig gotta go through the 9 (?) Relms and meet the greatest dwarf couple in the world
And then it just ends. Seriously this is the fucking ending:
THATS IT?!??! What am i suppose to do with that?? I want to keep reading and finds out what happens but i always wanna go back so i understand who is who. #book struggle #definitely recommend!
But if I know anything its that I love Erin and Stieg... but mostly Erin!!
“I don’t understand why you’re so uptight. My God, man, loosen up.”
“He shot you in the head. I’d think you’d be a little angrier.”
Amsel shrugged. “I don’t let the little things bother me.”
“He shot you in the head,” the man repeated. “How is that a little thing? And then he did it again!”
So we got the whole cliche end of the world and of course... ERIN AMSEL is just our ONE and ONLY CHANCE. But really its beacause she's the only one brave enough to actually stand up to the boss
“Sweetie,” Rada said, leaning forward, “that’s ’cause she’s insane.”
And guys she is. she totally fucking is.
And now lets meet our main-squeeze, I mean love interest the Raven Stieg
And its love at first sight
“She’d never met anyone so young who seemed so bitter. Something about him just radiated “old man ordering kids off his lawn.”
NOTTTTTTTT!!! Not so much as a slow burn, but at first they can't stand each other then they gotta then they work together then its love/hate.
In general Erin struggles with..hmm, what's the word...Order. Rules. Logic. Any of those would work.
Stieg finds out she was selected to do this likely death resulting mission and he kidnaps her. And she is so fucking chill about it
“He refused to stop or even turn around at the sisters yelling at him to stop. Erin settled back into the seat.
“You’re not going to complain?” he asked.
“Nope. I can tell.”
“Tell what?”
“That you’re madly in love with me.”
“Oh, shut up.”
And then we meet a legit EVIL GRANDMA who knows the HARBINGERS OF DEATH !! oh come on thats some iconic funny shit rich there guys
“While he consumed the burger, he used his free hand to reach over and picked up the napkin, frowning at Erin’s artwork. “Jace’s grandmother does not have horns. Or a crown. Or seven heads.”
“Are we sure?" Erin asked skeptically."
And to be honest there seemed like some hilarious charactes that i could tell i was supose to know but didn't...but guys it was so fucking funny going in blind.
In the end Erin and Streig gotta go through the 9 (?) Relms and meet the greatest dwarf couple in the world
“Then what are you doing here?”
“It’s complicated.”
The dwarf pulled a chair over and sat in front of Stieg. “All right,” he said, “who fucked up and started Ragnarok again?”
And then it just ends. Seriously this is the fucking ending:
THATS IT?!??! What am i suppose to do with that?? I want to keep reading and finds out what happens but i always wanna go back so i understand who is who. #book struggle #definitely recommend!
April 3, 2017
4.5 stars
This started off a bit slow but it kept steadily building up! I had missed the Crows and their shenanigans! SL is a master of multiple POVs. On every POV I wanted more. Every time, SL left me wishing it was just a bit longer.
This book even with it's multiple POVs centers around Erin Amsel. The irritating, pain in the ass Crow that you can't decide if you love or hate. In the first book, Erin got on my nerves big time. Then on the second book I started to see more of how she ticked. And in this one I can't say I fell head over heels in love with her but I was certainly entertained by her. Erin's mission in life is to irritate the living hell out of everyone around her. She finds it hilarious to piss off other people. In this book, I found it funny too. In the other two books it was 50/50 for me. Even though she can be irritatingly funny, Erin is also loyal, persevering, and willing to sacrifice herself for others without a second thought. She is also brilliantly brutal in battle like her sister Crows.
Her romance with the ever angry(mostly in appearance) Stieg Engstrom didn't go off with a bang. It was much more of a slow build relationship for me. Their connection and trust didn't just appear but it was built up. Their adventures forged the way and their compatibility became more and more apparent as the book progressed. I was quite skeptic about them in the beginning and felt like the book wouldn't rate over 3.5 stars but slowly SL wound her magic all around me and as the plot progressed the more engrossed and bewitched I became.
Our Nine Clans finally unite, not without grumbling, to defeat their enemy and stop Ragnarok. Gullveig is determined to squish humanity under her gold Prada booties. (She is a Vanir Goddess of healing obsessed with gold.) She is unstoppable and so far no God or human has managed to kill her and make it stick. Our Clans are desperately searching for something to help them defeat her. But with Gullveig teaming up with Hel (Loki's daughter), it doesn't look that great for anyone in our world.
With the situation coming to a head Erin is left with no choice but to go to extremes.
This was definitely another fantastic addition to the series. I cannot wait to see where Shelly Laurenston will take this next.
Counting down the months!
Nope, still too far away!
This started off a bit slow but it kept steadily building up! I had missed the Crows and their shenanigans! SL is a master of multiple POVs. On every POV I wanted more. Every time, SL left me wishing it was just a bit longer.
This book even with it's multiple POVs centers around Erin Amsel. The irritating, pain in the ass Crow that you can't decide if you love or hate. In the first book, Erin got on my nerves big time. Then on the second book I started to see more of how she ticked. And in this one I can't say I fell head over heels in love with her but I was certainly entertained by her. Erin's mission in life is to irritate the living hell out of everyone around her. She finds it hilarious to piss off other people. In this book, I found it funny too. In the other two books it was 50/50 for me. Even though she can be irritatingly funny, Erin is also loyal, persevering, and willing to sacrifice herself for others without a second thought. She is also brilliantly brutal in battle like her sister Crows.
Her romance with the ever angry(mostly in appearance) Stieg Engstrom didn't go off with a bang. It was much more of a slow build relationship for me. Their connection and trust didn't just appear but it was built up. Their adventures forged the way and their compatibility became more and more apparent as the book progressed. I was quite skeptic about them in the beginning and felt like the book wouldn't rate over 3.5 stars but slowly SL wound her magic all around me and as the plot progressed the more engrossed and bewitched I became.
Our Nine Clans finally unite, not without grumbling, to defeat their enemy and stop Ragnarok. Gullveig is determined to squish humanity under her gold Prada booties. (She is a Vanir Goddess of healing obsessed with gold.) She is unstoppable and so far no God or human has managed to kill her and make it stick. Our Clans are desperately searching for something to help them defeat her. But with Gullveig teaming up with Hel (Loki's daughter), it doesn't look that great for anyone in our world.
With the situation coming to a head Erin is left with no choice but to go to extremes.
This was definitely another fantastic addition to the series. I cannot wait to see where Shelly Laurenston will take this next.
Counting down the months!
Nope, still too far away!
June 27, 2017
"All right. Who fucked up and started Ragnarok again?"
I've developed a love for Norse Mythology in the last couple of years. It is crazy, super complicated, bloody, and very funny. Much like this series. It is the bloodiest, and yet funniest, smutty romance I have ever read. I absolutely love the insanity.
And, every single character is insane. It's refreshing,really.
Yes, there IS a crazy squirrel who keeps starting shit.
This is book three in the series, and I have to warn anyone coming in that you will be totally lost if you haven't read the first two. It was even a little tough to remember enough details to not be confused at first when I did read them all. The author doesn't do any recapping. And, honestly, I appreciate that. There are certain series that do so much recapping in their later books that I feel like I want to stab someone in the eyeball to make it stop. Remember that vampire series about Ethan and Merit (Merrick?... whatever)? By the end, more than 75% of each book was recapping. If someone hasn't read any of the books, are they really going to start the series at book 10? If so, they deserve to be lost.
It's like when my hubs tells me not to bother hitting the pause button while he pops into the kitchen, but then cooks a ten-course meal or something and misses an hour of the movie, and comes back and says "what happened?" Who is that guy?" Why is she mad?"
I have them on speed-dial.
And speaking of gouging out eyeballs.. there seems to be an inordinate number of eyeball-stabbings in this book. I have to say, I approve of this. There aren't nearly enough eyeball-related injuries in your average book, and from what my parents always told me, it's very easy to lose an eye. I guess with Odin being their god and all, they understand the eyeball vulnerability problem better than most.
"No, really. I can't tell at all. It looks totally natural!"
So, Ragnarok is coming (that's the end of the world/apocalypse - Norse Style), and the only way to stop it is to send a crazy girl out to another world to defeat a dragon to get the enchanted sword to kill the angry goddess. No problem.
Erin is our girl. She is one of those girls who makes trouble and then laughs her ass off at the results. She takes nothing seriously and has the ability to piss people off to the point of wanting to kill her soon after she meets them. I like her. She's my spirit-animal.
She also has a tendency to get shot in the head a lot. It's lucky for her that it doesn't kill her.
It's just a flesh wound.
Stieg is our guy who is lucky enough to get Erin as his love-interest. She annoys the crap out of him.
"It amazes me that more people haven't shot you in the head."
"That's mean! People love me."
"Imaginary people?"
Erin is a hard-core smartass, so she should have a love-interest who loves to laugh and who cracks up at her jokes, right?
Um, no. Here is Erin's friends describing Steig:
"He always looks like he's working the customer service desk at the DMV."
"I always thought he looked like a postal worker who's about one write-up away from losing it completely."
That's some serious Resting Bitch Face! On a man!
But, they make an adorable couple who are heading out to their own certain deaths to try and stop a coming apocalypse that is totally unstoppable.
This series is great fun and I'm really glad that the author was able to put a little tease at the end to show us that even if this storyline is over, there is more to come.
I've developed a love for Norse Mythology in the last couple of years. It is crazy, super complicated, bloody, and very funny. Much like this series. It is the bloodiest, and yet funniest, smutty romance I have ever read. I absolutely love the insanity.
And, every single character is insane. It's refreshing,really.
Yes, there IS a crazy squirrel who keeps starting shit.
This is book three in the series, and I have to warn anyone coming in that you will be totally lost if you haven't read the first two. It was even a little tough to remember enough details to not be confused at first when I did read them all. The author doesn't do any recapping. And, honestly, I appreciate that. There are certain series that do so much recapping in their later books that I feel like I want to stab someone in the eyeball to make it stop. Remember that vampire series about Ethan and Merit (Merrick?... whatever)? By the end, more than 75% of each book was recapping. If someone hasn't read any of the books, are they really going to start the series at book 10? If so, they deserve to be lost.
It's like when my hubs tells me not to bother hitting the pause button while he pops into the kitchen, but then cooks a ten-course meal or something and misses an hour of the movie, and comes back and says "what happened?" Who is that guy?" Why is she mad?"
I have them on speed-dial.
And speaking of gouging out eyeballs.. there seems to be an inordinate number of eyeball-stabbings in this book. I have to say, I approve of this. There aren't nearly enough eyeball-related injuries in your average book, and from what my parents always told me, it's very easy to lose an eye. I guess with Odin being their god and all, they understand the eyeball vulnerability problem better than most.
"No, really. I can't tell at all. It looks totally natural!"
So, Ragnarok is coming (that's the end of the world/apocalypse - Norse Style), and the only way to stop it is to send a crazy girl out to another world to defeat a dragon to get the enchanted sword to kill the angry goddess. No problem.
Erin is our girl. She is one of those girls who makes trouble and then laughs her ass off at the results. She takes nothing seriously and has the ability to piss people off to the point of wanting to kill her soon after she meets them. I like her. She's my spirit-animal.
She also has a tendency to get shot in the head a lot. It's lucky for her that it doesn't kill her.
It's just a flesh wound.
Stieg is our guy who is lucky enough to get Erin as his love-interest. She annoys the crap out of him.
"It amazes me that more people haven't shot you in the head."
"That's mean! People love me."
"Imaginary people?"
Erin is a hard-core smartass, so she should have a love-interest who loves to laugh and who cracks up at her jokes, right?
Um, no. Here is Erin's friends describing Steig:
"He always looks like he's working the customer service desk at the DMV."
"I always thought he looked like a postal worker who's about one write-up away from losing it completely."
That's some serious Resting Bitch Face! On a man!
But, they make an adorable couple who are heading out to their own certain deaths to try and stop a coming apocalypse that is totally unstoppable.
This series is great fun and I'm really glad that the author was able to put a little tease at the end to show us that even if this storyline is over, there is more to come.
December 24, 2018
This is the story of Erin and Stieg, Jackie the Man, the stripper, rotting corpses, naughty elves, upperclass dragons, snobby shifters and most importantly Ragnarök. Filled with non stop action, humor, horrific things, guffawing moments, adventure, chunky love and distant shores.
Erin is the gentle, giving, quiet redhead crow that everyone loves and adores. She has charmed the world with her wit and kindness. hahahahahahahahaha, Okay she is the most disliked, CURVY, untrusted crow, the snarliest, snarky foul mouthed, in your face, thorn twisting in your side, crazy flaming, man using, spiky, infuriating, nut job you’ll meet and you’ll love her. I adore her, I’m sorry about throwing curvy in there. Read the book you’ll understand.
Stieg, the Raven, is quiet, serene, a babe in the woods, until Erin. Okay he’s a big Viking, a big grumpy, ah angry beast of a man. He is also loyal, sexy, strong, and laugh out loud funny in that quiet honest way that makes my knees wobble.
There where two beasties that were brought front and center in the story that I loved. Who doesn’t love a goat ? Hilda, will charm the goat hater out of you. I think she may be the funniest goat character I’ve read. I may want a goat now.
Nidhogg, was my favorite new beastie. He is the big bad horrible nasty stinky dragon who made me want to get a "I love Nidhogg" T-shirt and fan button from the Norse bookstore. The twist the author gave him when he spoke had me chuckling and hearing a TV personality in my head. No, I don’t want a Nidhogg.
This is the third book in the series and I think the best so far. Each new book just seems to one up the fun factor for this reader. I loved every page, every chapter I highlighted like crazy. I will re-read it in audiobook format along with the first 2 while I wait for book 4 !
Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for the ARC
"http://i.giphy.com/IinTOC3WIDjDW.gif&...
Erin is the gentle, giving, quiet redhead crow that everyone loves and adores. She has charmed the world with her wit and kindness. hahahahahahahahaha, Okay she is the most disliked, CURVY, untrusted crow, the snarliest, snarky foul mouthed, in your face, thorn twisting in your side, crazy flaming, man using, spiky, infuriating, nut job you’ll meet and you’ll love her. I adore her, I’m sorry about throwing curvy in there. Read the book you’ll understand.
Stieg, the Raven, is quiet, serene, a babe in the woods, until Erin. Okay he’s a big Viking, a big grumpy, ah angry beast of a man. He is also loyal, sexy, strong, and laugh out loud funny in that quiet honest way that makes my knees wobble.
There where two beasties that were brought front and center in the story that I loved. Who doesn’t love a goat ? Hilda, will charm the goat hater out of you. I think she may be the funniest goat character I’ve read. I may want a goat now.
Nidhogg, was my favorite new beastie. He is the big bad horrible nasty stinky dragon who made me want to get a "I love Nidhogg" T-shirt and fan button from the Norse bookstore. The twist the author gave him when he spoke had me chuckling and hearing a TV personality in my head. No, I don’t want a Nidhogg.
This is the third book in the series and I think the best so far. Each new book just seems to one up the fun factor for this reader. I loved every page, every chapter I highlighted like crazy. I will re-read it in audiobook format along with the first 2 while I wait for book 4 !
Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for the ARC
"http://i.giphy.com/IinTOC3WIDjDW.gif&...
May 26, 2020
Shelly Laurenston is known for her witty dialogues, diverse characters, and hilarious and funny situations. I’ve loved her Pride series and Dragon Kin series under her pseudonym G.A. Aiken.
When she announced that she was done with her Pride series I was crushed!!!
But I shouldn’t have worried.
Call of Crows was born.
This series is COMPLEX!!!
So many characters from different mythologies are all wrapped up in one book.
Norse mythology has many different gods. Add their followers and the end result is complex and layered. Some of those followers had special powers, other were shifters. Norse Gods loved to cause trouble as entertainment. Groups of supporters like the Crows and the Ravens served different gods but were friendly enough not to kill each other on sight.
The series had a continuous arc, so jumping in by picking up this book might not be a good idea. Grab book 1 instead and enjoy the ride from the beginning!!!
At the beginning of the book Erin and Stieg had nothing in common. Erin was a Crow and Stieg a viking, part of the Raven clan. When it all started out, hundreds of years ago, their groups killed each other, maybe not that long ago, because they were all still very much interested in killing people. But at that time long ago everyone pretty much killed everyone else. And since many of the Norse Gods followers were immortal in this realm, they came back to do it again – YAY!!!
That’s what Erin found out first hand, she was killed with a bullet to the head. Since that didn’t kill her, the guy who did the shooting in the first place was now after her to finish the job.
Unbeknownst to her she was the only one that could safe the world.
But Erin, was known for being in the middle of chaos, not only that – she often instigated chaos. To keep her alive poor Stieg had to play babysitter – which of course didn’t go down smoothly.
Even so Erin was a thorn in Stieg’s life, he decided that with all the chaos she attracted it might be better if he kept an eye one her. Erin a snarky and witty spitfire of a women turned Stieg’s orderly life upside down.
It was very funny to see those two interact.
Erin and Stieg were quite the opposites, but the saying ‘opposites attract’ pretty much was coined for this couple. Chaos loving Erin and the more shy and quite Stieg were drawn to each other if they liked it or not.
All the other characters from book 1 and 2 were present as well. The story unfolded in quick succession, with interludes from gods, and other leaders that kept my head spinning.
Erin and Stieg didn’t seem to have chemistry at all at the beginning, instead it slowly and steady grew throughout the book. Somehow those two made it work.
The Unyielding was highly entertaining, with a complex cast and intriguing plot.
I would say it was a great addition to an already great series.
4 stars
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram.
When she announced that she was done with her Pride series I was crushed!!!
But I shouldn’t have worried.
Call of Crows was born.
This series is COMPLEX!!!
So many characters from different mythologies are all wrapped up in one book.
Norse mythology has many different gods. Add their followers and the end result is complex and layered. Some of those followers had special powers, other were shifters. Norse Gods loved to cause trouble as entertainment. Groups of supporters like the Crows and the Ravens served different gods but were friendly enough not to kill each other on sight.
The series had a continuous arc, so jumping in by picking up this book might not be a good idea. Grab book 1 instead and enjoy the ride from the beginning!!!
At the beginning of the book Erin and Stieg had nothing in common. Erin was a Crow and Stieg a viking, part of the Raven clan. When it all started out, hundreds of years ago, their groups killed each other, maybe not that long ago, because they were all still very much interested in killing people. But at that time long ago everyone pretty much killed everyone else. And since many of the Norse Gods followers were immortal in this realm, they came back to do it again – YAY!!!
That’s what Erin found out first hand, she was killed with a bullet to the head. Since that didn’t kill her, the guy who did the shooting in the first place was now after her to finish the job.
Unbeknownst to her she was the only one that could safe the world.
But Erin, was known for being in the middle of chaos, not only that – she often instigated chaos. To keep her alive poor Stieg had to play babysitter – which of course didn’t go down smoothly.
Even so Erin was a thorn in Stieg’s life, he decided that with all the chaos she attracted it might be better if he kept an eye one her. Erin a snarky and witty spitfire of a women turned Stieg’s orderly life upside down.
It was very funny to see those two interact.
Erin and Stieg were quite the opposites, but the saying ‘opposites attract’ pretty much was coined for this couple. Chaos loving Erin and the more shy and quite Stieg were drawn to each other if they liked it or not.
All the other characters from book 1 and 2 were present as well. The story unfolded in quick succession, with interludes from gods, and other leaders that kept my head spinning.
Erin and Stieg didn’t seem to have chemistry at all at the beginning, instead it slowly and steady grew throughout the book. Somehow those two made it work.
The Unyielding was highly entertaining, with a complex cast and intriguing plot.
I would say it was a great addition to an already great series.
4 stars
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram.
March 15, 2017
Four and a half
This book finally closes the arc that sees a Goddess trying to start Ragnarok and finish off the world as we know it. Now you just know that this has to be the ending to surpass all expectations and with the heroine chosen here it's a glorious, inspired and yes ever so slightly insane choice. The most irritating, snarky and downright infuriating Erin is about to show everyone just why she loves being a Crow so much. Previously we've seen her vexing and bothering just about everyone but her almost manic desire for trouble simply knows no bounds and yet her loyalty is never in question.
Stig isn't sure what it is about Erin that grabs him but she clearly needs watching, hmm maybe a bodyguard wouldn't be such a bad idea or then again perhaps a psychiatrist is what she needs? Still the more time he spends around her the more he starts to almost understand what drives her. So when it's clear that only someone with Erin's special talents can retrieve something that just might help solve the problem of Gullveig he's alpha enough to step back and let Erin do what she does best and that's definitely raise hell ! But oops in the world of the Nine Clans there's always going to be someone who likes to meddle!
Ok I sincerely hope that I've expressed just how maddening Erin is because SHE IS! Totally unapologetic about it and yet she just gets things done. The romance with Stig is there but it's not exactly front and centre but a slow build as they each get under each other's skin. Now I did enjoy their interactions but for this reader the quest was the highlight of the book and I'm sorry but it was far to short ! So much action and adventure takes place with amazing descriptions and wow the creatures introduced were simply fantastic but yep you just know Erin hasn't finished grating on everyone and there's a rather large foe who learns just how annoying she can be!
If you love over the top and downright crazy characters then this series has them in spades. The humour is pretty near the knuckle at times too with outrageous comments that are anything but PC so you have been warned. This author goes were few others would dare and frankly I was shocked a couple of times with references to a society that changed our history but then again these characters don't take any prisoners . What impresses me the most though is the authors ability to take a character who most want to punch ( really hard!) and make her so likeable . If my reference to closing the arc about Gullveig worries you fear not because at the very end there's a new player in town and I'm guessing that person won't go quietly . Let battle commence !
A copy of this was provided for me with no requirement for a review and I have voluntarily read it and these comments are my honest opinion
This book finally closes the arc that sees a Goddess trying to start Ragnarok and finish off the world as we know it. Now you just know that this has to be the ending to surpass all expectations and with the heroine chosen here it's a glorious, inspired and yes ever so slightly insane choice. The most irritating, snarky and downright infuriating Erin is about to show everyone just why she loves being a Crow so much. Previously we've seen her vexing and bothering just about everyone but her almost manic desire for trouble simply knows no bounds and yet her loyalty is never in question.
Stig isn't sure what it is about Erin that grabs him but she clearly needs watching, hmm maybe a bodyguard wouldn't be such a bad idea or then again perhaps a psychiatrist is what she needs? Still the more time he spends around her the more he starts to almost understand what drives her. So when it's clear that only someone with Erin's special talents can retrieve something that just might help solve the problem of Gullveig he's alpha enough to step back and let Erin do what she does best and that's definitely raise hell ! But oops in the world of the Nine Clans there's always going to be someone who likes to meddle!
Ok I sincerely hope that I've expressed just how maddening Erin is because SHE IS! Totally unapologetic about it and yet she just gets things done. The romance with Stig is there but it's not exactly front and centre but a slow build as they each get under each other's skin. Now I did enjoy their interactions but for this reader the quest was the highlight of the book and I'm sorry but it was far to short ! So much action and adventure takes place with amazing descriptions and wow the creatures introduced were simply fantastic but yep you just know Erin hasn't finished grating on everyone and there's a rather large foe who learns just how annoying she can be!
If you love over the top and downright crazy characters then this series has them in spades. The humour is pretty near the knuckle at times too with outrageous comments that are anything but PC so you have been warned. This author goes were few others would dare and frankly I was shocked a couple of times with references to a society that changed our history but then again these characters don't take any prisoners . What impresses me the most though is the authors ability to take a character who most want to punch ( really hard!) and make her so likeable . If my reference to closing the arc about Gullveig worries you fear not because at the very end there's a new player in town and I'm guessing that person won't go quietly . Let battle commence !
A copy of this was provided for me with no requirement for a review and I have voluntarily read it and these comments are my honest opinion
February 24, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I don't say this often because frankly it usually doesn't end up going well but god I wish they would make this series into a TV show. The world Shelly Laurenston has created it just so detailed and her writing is amazing, especially the battle scenes. You get such a clear picture about what is happening and it is truly a pleasure to read anything she writes. You'll get nonstop action with hilarious unique characters and to top it all off some steamy love action.
I LOVED Erin she is literally the best. Such a huge freaking dick and so unapologetic about it. Something that I truthfully love in a character. She was also just straight up funny and really really brave. I have to say though the surprise for me was Stieg, there was a lot more to him then I first assumed. Yes he is very much an angry, grouchy Raven but he was also really sweet and devoted. He accepted Erin for who she was without trying to change her. He had her back from the start and I was impressed with how even though he would at times protect Erin (even from herself) he always trusted her and never got in the way of her mission. He is basically an alpha male who knows how to take care of his alpha female without crushing her spirit and I loved that.
Now anyone thinking about reading this book I'll give you the lowdown here. This is not a standalone series, please read them in order otherwise you'll miss stuff even though each book is about different MC's. Also these books are very story heavy, meaning yes they are romances but that is woven into the main story and not so much the focus of the book. Like this one had I think four steamy scenes and they aren't horribly long (to be fair they are trying to stop the end of the world so they don't have a lot of time to be fooling around lol) But I don't feel like the romantic story suffers simply because of how good a writer Shelly Laurenston is, she connects you to these characters from page one and doesn't let you go. And lastly, these books are heavy, and I mean HEAVY on POV changes. In the first book I found it a bit jarring and wasn't sure about it, but now I'm used to it. I think for the action packed story it works best because there is so much going on. And I pretty much love all of the characters in this series so I don't mind hanging out with them for a few pages or a chapter, but I know some people don't like changing POV's so just giving you a heads up this one probably won't be for you.
I do highly recommend this one to everyone really. The writing is great, the storyline is super interesting and you'll be laughing out loud from start to finish.
Now bring on LOKI!!!!
ARC Provided By NetGalley For An Honest Review
I LOVED Erin she is literally the best. Such a huge freaking dick and so unapologetic about it. Something that I truthfully love in a character. She was also just straight up funny and really really brave. I have to say though the surprise for me was Stieg, there was a lot more to him then I first assumed. Yes he is very much an angry, grouchy Raven but he was also really sweet and devoted. He accepted Erin for who she was without trying to change her. He had her back from the start and I was impressed with how even though he would at times protect Erin (even from herself) he always trusted her and never got in the way of her mission. He is basically an alpha male who knows how to take care of his alpha female without crushing her spirit and I loved that.
Now anyone thinking about reading this book I'll give you the lowdown here. This is not a standalone series, please read them in order otherwise you'll miss stuff even though each book is about different MC's. Also these books are very story heavy, meaning yes they are romances but that is woven into the main story and not so much the focus of the book. Like this one had I think four steamy scenes and they aren't horribly long (to be fair they are trying to stop the end of the world so they don't have a lot of time to be fooling around lol) But I don't feel like the romantic story suffers simply because of how good a writer Shelly Laurenston is, she connects you to these characters from page one and doesn't let you go. And lastly, these books are heavy, and I mean HEAVY on POV changes. In the first book I found it a bit jarring and wasn't sure about it, but now I'm used to it. I think for the action packed story it works best because there is so much going on. And I pretty much love all of the characters in this series so I don't mind hanging out with them for a few pages or a chapter, but I know some people don't like changing POV's so just giving you a heads up this one probably won't be for you.
I do highly recommend this one to everyone really. The writing is great, the storyline is super interesting and you'll be laughing out loud from start to finish.
Now bring on LOKI!!!!
ARC Provided By NetGalley For An Honest Review
February 18, 2017
I was totally unprepared for this book. I’ve been reading Shelly Laurenston for years and feel like I’ve come to expect what her books are going to be like but I feel like Laurenston has taken her writing and has amped everything up a thousand degrees in this book. Most of the complex worldbuilding is in her Dragonkin series under her G.A. Aiken series so I was pleasantly surprised to see this method of storytelling in this series.
In addition to the better worldbuilding, Laurenston also has these two outrageous characters that completely took me by surprise. Now I’ve heard pretty much all of Laurenston’s books so I’m familiar with her crazy-ass characters but the heroine in particular is a definite woot. Erin is so funny that I really want to become her friend now. Not only is she crazy but she almost has this sadistic side to her as well. I think if you’re easily offended or rely on logic a lot then you probably won’t like this book but that’s also what I love about this series. Laurenston doesn’t play by the rules. In fact, there are no rules at all. These characters do what they want whenever they want and Erin is completely unapologetic about her actions. It was refreshing and I have to say, very entertaining.
I think the biggest complaint that this series has from its readers is that there isn’t actually much Romance. There’s the hero and heroine and they spend a lot of time bantering but some people have said that they want more concrete romance that builds like every other book. Yeah. I can see their point, but at the same time, I kind of like that this book is so different to other PNR out there. I LIKE the emphasis on the jokes and the humor because that is Shelly Laurenston! That’s what she’s known for. So if you’re expecting an emotional romance that will bring tears to your eyes, this series isn’t for you. But I have cried from laughing too much while reading these books and I think that’s just as good.
A definite favorite of mine this year, THE UNYIELDING doesn’t hold anything back and Shelly Laurenston has completely impressed me by this book.
In addition to the better worldbuilding, Laurenston also has these two outrageous characters that completely took me by surprise. Now I’ve heard pretty much all of Laurenston’s books so I’m familiar with her crazy-ass characters but the heroine in particular is a definite woot. Erin is so funny that I really want to become her friend now. Not only is she crazy but she almost has this sadistic side to her as well. I think if you’re easily offended or rely on logic a lot then you probably won’t like this book but that’s also what I love about this series. Laurenston doesn’t play by the rules. In fact, there are no rules at all. These characters do what they want whenever they want and Erin is completely unapologetic about her actions. It was refreshing and I have to say, very entertaining.
I think the biggest complaint that this series has from its readers is that there isn’t actually much Romance. There’s the hero and heroine and they spend a lot of time bantering but some people have said that they want more concrete romance that builds like every other book. Yeah. I can see their point, but at the same time, I kind of like that this book is so different to other PNR out there. I LIKE the emphasis on the jokes and the humor because that is Shelly Laurenston! That’s what she’s known for. So if you’re expecting an emotional romance that will bring tears to your eyes, this series isn’t for you. But I have cried from laughing too much while reading these books and I think that’s just as good.
A definite favorite of mine this year, THE UNYIELDING doesn’t hold anything back and Shelly Laurenston has completely impressed me by this book.
November 2, 2025
"A copy of this ARC has been provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review"
I have to start off by saying that the dialogue in this book is so incredibly sarcastic and funny.
So many times I was laughing out loud because of how outrageous the dialogue was.
Erin is a dick.
She goes out of her way to irritate and piss people off.
It's just who she is, and she does it because "they usually start it."
I really liked Stieg's character as well.
He's only one "mean" enough (He is a Viking Warrior) to handle Erin.
Great story, wonderful writing, and colorful characters. Combine all of these elements and you get an entertaining and engaging story.
I highly recommend this story!
I have to start off by saying that the dialogue in this book is so incredibly sarcastic and funny.
So many times I was laughing out loud because of how outrageous the dialogue was.
Erin is a dick.
She goes out of her way to irritate and piss people off.
It's just who she is, and she does it because "they usually start it."
I really liked Stieg's character as well.
He's only one "mean" enough (He is a Viking Warrior) to handle Erin.
Great story, wonderful writing, and colorful characters. Combine all of these elements and you get an entertaining and engaging story.
I highly recommend this story!
September 27, 2020
Four stars again, but a little weaker than for the first two books in this series. I did really like it, though, which is what four stars is supposed to mean. Warning: this is most definitely NOT a standalone--it depends utterly on the reader's having read #1 The Unleashing and #2 The Undoing before tackling this one. There's very little recapping, just flashbacks and historical asides to add new background to what you've learned in #1 and #2.
Another warning--the covers for all three are grossly misleading. (In answer to a question on her website's FAQ, the author has said she doesn't control them.) These are stories centered on three of the Crows, #1 Kera, #2 Jace, and now #3 Erin, all female. So why the beefcake photos? Presumably they're supposed to be Kera's, Jace's, and Erin's hookups (Vig, Ski, and Stieg respectively), and all three males are well developed characters but definitely secondary to the female leads in each novel. Romance? Slow burn here between Erin and Stieg if you could even call it that--occasional spontaneous sex but their baseline seems to be that they deeply annoy each other, and their romance can be measured in depth of annoyance. Till close to the end anyway. Then it's, oh, awww.
The key to it all is that Stieg is introduced as the angriest Viking ever and Erin's chief emotion is anger, plus delight in creating chaos and messing other people up. Like Vig, Stieg belongs to the Ravens, a band of winged Viking warriors under Odin. The Ravens are one of eight Norse clans, each under a different Norse god. The Crows, also winged and death-dealing, are multiethnic (they began as slaves the Vikings brought to Norway from other lands)--a minor goddess called Skuld gave a second life and a gift to certain selected women who suffered a violent death, like Kera, Jace, and Erin in modern times.
Erin was shot in the head by a guy, and her gift is to shoot fire from her hand, but early in this story the same guy shows up again and repeats the murder, whereupon Erin gets up off the ground and pulls the bullet out of her head. So maybe Erin got two gifts? There's even talk about how often Erin's been shot in the head.
Anyhow, the delightful interactions among these combative female warriors continue well into this third installment, along with action scenes that have cinematic clarity and a pace that never stops. The focus on Erin and Stieg, however, reduces the fun a little, partly because all that anger in Erin dims the otherwise uproarious comedy and partly because these two go off on their own into the Nine Worlds on an Impossible Quest to Prevent the End of Life on Earth, you know, the usual fantasy adventure, and I started to miss the other Crows.
Mind you, not a very romantic adventure. Erin was picked as the only one who could possibly do it and with great misgivings by everybody concerned, and Stieg had already been assigned against his will to protect her and, you know, if he couldn't keep her alive on this quest he'd be partly responsible for Ragnarok (the Norse apocalypse). So between them they slaughter dozens of strange foes on world after world. I have to admit, though, that the giant dragon Nidhogg at the bottom of the Worlds was a welcome new character.
Then back to the 405 freeway in L.A. for a very satisfying climactic battle and a set-up for a new installment--will it see the light of day or will Call of Crows be a trilogy that ends on a cliff-hanger?
Another warning--the covers for all three are grossly misleading. (In answer to a question on her website's FAQ, the author has said she doesn't control them.) These are stories centered on three of the Crows, #1 Kera, #2 Jace, and now #3 Erin, all female. So why the beefcake photos? Presumably they're supposed to be Kera's, Jace's, and Erin's hookups (Vig, Ski, and Stieg respectively), and all three males are well developed characters but definitely secondary to the female leads in each novel. Romance? Slow burn here between Erin and Stieg if you could even call it that--occasional spontaneous sex but their baseline seems to be that they deeply annoy each other, and their romance can be measured in depth of annoyance. Till close to the end anyway. Then it's, oh, awww.
The key to it all is that Stieg is introduced as the angriest Viking ever and Erin's chief emotion is anger, plus delight in creating chaos and messing other people up. Like Vig, Stieg belongs to the Ravens, a band of winged Viking warriors under Odin. The Ravens are one of eight Norse clans, each under a different Norse god. The Crows, also winged and death-dealing, are multiethnic (they began as slaves the Vikings brought to Norway from other lands)--a minor goddess called Skuld gave a second life and a gift to certain selected women who suffered a violent death, like Kera, Jace, and Erin in modern times.
Erin was shot in the head by a guy, and her gift is to shoot fire from her hand, but early in this story the same guy shows up again and repeats the murder, whereupon Erin gets up off the ground and pulls the bullet out of her head. So maybe Erin got two gifts? There's even talk about how often Erin's been shot in the head.
Anyhow, the delightful interactions among these combative female warriors continue well into this third installment, along with action scenes that have cinematic clarity and a pace that never stops. The focus on Erin and Stieg, however, reduces the fun a little, partly because all that anger in Erin dims the otherwise uproarious comedy and partly because these two go off on their own into the Nine Worlds on an Impossible Quest to Prevent the End of Life on Earth, you know, the usual fantasy adventure, and I started to miss the other Crows.
Mind you, not a very romantic adventure. Erin was picked as the only one who could possibly do it and with great misgivings by everybody concerned, and Stieg had already been assigned against his will to protect her and, you know, if he couldn't keep her alive on this quest he'd be partly responsible for Ragnarok (the Norse apocalypse). So between them they slaughter dozens of strange foes on world after world. I have to admit, though, that the giant dragon Nidhogg at the bottom of the Worlds was a welcome new character.
Then back to the 405 freeway in L.A. for a very satisfying climactic battle and a set-up for a new installment--will it see the light of day or will Call of Crows be a trilogy that ends on a cliff-hanger?
April 16, 2017
4.25 stars!
March 15, 2017
What can you say about these books? They are pure insanity with a plot that is equally insane but pulls you in for a engaging story that requires you to give up any semblance of reality.
Erin and Stieg make a great couple since they can't decide if they hate each other or just can't stand to be away from each other for the majority of this book which leads to some really great dialog and some really weird situations (like the goat).
I can keep this short , if you enjoy the DragonKin books you will love it, if you can be entertained by insanity taken to the extreme, this is your book. If anything resembling normal and reality is a requirement, then you might want to move on. As for myself I was loving it and it gave me a very enjoyable couple of days reading.
4 Stars
Erin and Stieg make a great couple since they can't decide if they hate each other or just can't stand to be away from each other for the majority of this book which leads to some really great dialog and some really weird situations (like the goat).
I can keep this short , if you enjoy the DragonKin books you will love it, if you can be entertained by insanity taken to the extreme, this is your book. If anything resembling normal and reality is a requirement, then you might want to move on. As for myself I was loving it and it gave me a very enjoyable couple of days reading.
4 Stars
March 28, 2017
I wanna be Erin when I grow up, she is totally my hero. Stieg and his goat, awww!
This was fall down laughing hysterical. I love this series, there hasn't been a bad one yet. Hurray!
This was fall down laughing hysterical. I love this series, there hasn't been a bad one yet. Hurray!
April 19, 2017
I like this series, but I'm not sure if it's the content or the narrator that keeps it from 'love it' territory. I think it's a little of both, so a 3 it is.
The narrator's voice continues to grate on me, YMMV.
As far as content. I don't feel like there is a great depth of emotion going on here, which is important for me in a romance. The books are fun and imaginative, the heroes are adorable, but the angst factor is pretty non-existent.
The narrator's voice continues to grate on me, YMMV.
As far as content. I don't feel like there is a great depth of emotion going on here, which is important for me in a romance. The books are fun and imaginative, the heroes are adorable, but the angst factor is pretty non-existent.
March 3, 2017
Yes, it’s not releasing until end of March and yes I have already read it because I couldn’t wait another second for my Crow fix. I’m an unapologetic book whore.
-My happy (Viking) place. The story arc finally comes to a head...heh. It’s been building and it’s finally here - the Nine Clans vs Gullveig, the crazy golden goddess who basically wants to shred our reality into confetti and bring about Ragnarok. You know, the usual apocalypse type thing. Only Erin Amsel, our resident Crow most likely to die by GSW to the head while saying “she/he/they started it,” can save the world. Her straight man, er I mean, companion on this journey is Stieg Engstrom, a Raven with a hard scrabble past and a deep affection for goats. Yep, it’s that kind of story. *blinks* I don’t mean he *loves* goats, he just sleeps with them. In a friend... *frowns* you know what, screw it, it’s not that pervy, get your heads out of the gutter, people! Anyway, there are alot of scenes showcasing many of the characters that we’ve met throughout this series, so pay attention because there are ALOT. Full enjoyment is had if you read from the beginning.
-The humor. This paranormal/urban fantasy series has been a hoot from beginning to end, with a big dependence on Norse mythology and alot of smartass banter. The interaction between Erin and pretty much everyone had me snort-laughing like a madwoman. I could pull quote after quote, but in the interest of keeping as spoiler-free as possible, I’ll just say that the humor can be gleefully raunchy and pulls as few punches as the Crows do. If this isn’t your gig, well, it’s definitely mine.
-Romance is secondary to Ragnarok. While Erin is a woman after my smartass heart and Stieg can handle her brand of insanity, but I have to say that this series in general hasn’t been about the individual romances. Now, I’m a total romance geek, so of course I want more. Yes, I’m hella-greedy. But I can’t always get what I want. Instead, Shelly gave me what I need, which is a great story that entertains the hell out of me. The romances still anchor each book and give the reader a nice sense of completion with each entry, but it’s about these characters working, fighting, fucking, laughing, (sometimes through blood sweat and tears) and serving their gods while protecting the Unknowing (that would be us regular folk without powers or cool wings).
-That last paragraph. That last bit where things are about to go HAM, would aggravate me if this was a true cliffy but it’s not. There’s a good resolution to all, and I’m not anxious and annoyed. I’m here for it.
I looooved it. If you like paranormal/urban fantasy (and perhaps are into the TV series Vikings), I encourage you to check out these books. Based on the same Norse mythology but set in modern day LA, it's got a solid overarching storyline, very funny dialogue, action-packed and with a standalone romance for each entry. I want more Crows, and Ravens and Protectors, oh my.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
For more reviews, visit
-My happy (Viking) place. The story arc finally comes to a head...heh. It’s been building and it’s finally here - the Nine Clans vs Gullveig, the crazy golden goddess who basically wants to shred our reality into confetti and bring about Ragnarok. You know, the usual apocalypse type thing. Only Erin Amsel, our resident Crow most likely to die by GSW to the head while saying “she/he/they started it,” can save the world. Her straight man, er I mean, companion on this journey is Stieg Engstrom, a Raven with a hard scrabble past and a deep affection for goats. Yep, it’s that kind of story. *blinks* I don’t mean he *loves* goats, he just sleeps with them. In a friend... *frowns* you know what, screw it, it’s not that pervy, get your heads out of the gutter, people! Anyway, there are alot of scenes showcasing many of the characters that we’ve met throughout this series, so pay attention because there are ALOT. Full enjoyment is had if you read from the beginning.
-The humor. This paranormal/urban fantasy series has been a hoot from beginning to end, with a big dependence on Norse mythology and alot of smartass banter. The interaction between Erin and pretty much everyone had me snort-laughing like a madwoman. I could pull quote after quote, but in the interest of keeping as spoiler-free as possible, I’ll just say that the humor can be gleefully raunchy and pulls as few punches as the Crows do. If this isn’t your gig, well, it’s definitely mine.
-Romance is secondary to Ragnarok. While Erin is a woman after my smartass heart and Stieg can handle her brand of insanity, but I have to say that this series in general hasn’t been about the individual romances. Now, I’m a total romance geek, so of course I want more. Yes, I’m hella-greedy. But I can’t always get what I want. Instead, Shelly gave me what I need, which is a great story that entertains the hell out of me. The romances still anchor each book and give the reader a nice sense of completion with each entry, but it’s about these characters working, fighting, fucking, laughing, (sometimes through blood sweat and tears) and serving their gods while protecting the Unknowing (that would be us regular folk without powers or cool wings).
-That last paragraph. That last bit where things are about to go HAM, would aggravate me if this was a true cliffy but it’s not. There’s a good resolution to all, and I’m not anxious and annoyed. I’m here for it.
I looooved it. If you like paranormal/urban fantasy (and perhaps are into the TV series Vikings), I encourage you to check out these books. Based on the same Norse mythology but set in modern day LA, it's got a solid overarching storyline, very funny dialogue, action-packed and with a standalone romance for each entry. I want more Crows, and Ravens and Protectors, oh my.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
For more reviews, visit
July 31, 2019
2nd Read
This is my second read of this book done. When I first read it, I had not read books one or two so I went back and listened to all three audible books in a row this time. I loved the whole series. Each book is a standalone that leads up to this final big battle. While you can read them out of order, you do get more of a reaction to the characters if read in order since you see each and every couple in all three books. Out of the three, this one is my favorite but it has more to do with that big battle and well, Erin. To use a safe word, she is such an ornery character. She's the type that annoys the crap out of you but you can't help but laugh at all her antics. A lot of the characters had this characteristic and it made for a very entertaining series to read/listen too.
First Read
This is one of the top most entertaining books I've read to date and Shelly Laurenston has just gained a new fan! I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. I adored this book. It had such a crazy and wonderfully, entertaining storyline with so many characters. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up and learn who was who but I think I was just so drawn into the characters it really wasn't an issue.
The balance of creating a serious storyline and being able to mix humor throughout can't be an easy accomplishment, yet it was spot on. I can't tell you how many times this book had me laughing out loud. The humor was great and I never felt it was over the top. I can't do this story justice if I tried to explain it. Just know there are the 9 clans, humans, Gods, shifters, a dragon and even a goat plays a part. It's bloody and full of gore while they are all trying to save the world but I can guarantee you laugh just as much as there is fighting. I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in the series.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
This is my second read of this book done. When I first read it, I had not read books one or two so I went back and listened to all three audible books in a row this time. I loved the whole series. Each book is a standalone that leads up to this final big battle. While you can read them out of order, you do get more of a reaction to the characters if read in order since you see each and every couple in all three books. Out of the three, this one is my favorite but it has more to do with that big battle and well, Erin. To use a safe word, she is such an ornery character. She's the type that annoys the crap out of you but you can't help but laugh at all her antics. A lot of the characters had this characteristic and it made for a very entertaining series to read/listen too.
First Read
This is one of the top most entertaining books I've read to date and Shelly Laurenston has just gained a new fan! I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. I adored this book. It had such a crazy and wonderfully, entertaining storyline with so many characters. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up and learn who was who but I think I was just so drawn into the characters it really wasn't an issue.
The balance of creating a serious storyline and being able to mix humor throughout can't be an easy accomplishment, yet it was spot on. I can't tell you how many times this book had me laughing out loud. The humor was great and I never felt it was over the top. I can't do this story justice if I tried to explain it. Just know there are the 9 clans, humans, Gods, shifters, a dragon and even a goat plays a part. It's bloody and full of gore while they are all trying to save the world but I can guarantee you laugh just as much as there is fighting. I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in the series.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
March 28, 2017
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2017/03/review-...
Favorite Quote: “I can’t believe I’m about to walk a goat. Is this my life now? Goat walking?”
The Unyielding opens up in the past, giving readers an unfiltered history lesson on the sheer hatred the Crows have for all the other clans. We then flash forward into the present and learn that the world is still coming to an end if all the clans don’t start working together and stop Loki from getting free and therefore starting Ragnarök. And it all rests on the back of a single Crow. The most annoying, irritating, pain the arse woman to ever be brought back to life to walk the earth as a Crow.
Erin Amsel.
Helping her is the most unlikely of people-Stieg Engstrom. Steig is a Viking and part of the Raven clan. He’s also an exceptionally angry, anti-social man who avoids most people because they annoy him. And Erin REALLY annoys him.
When Steig happens upon Erin getting shot in the head yet again, he takes her home to recover and ends up getting caught up in the never-ending circus that is Erin’s life.
“You need to tell me what you did,” Stieg ordered.
“And you’ll need to be way more specific than that.”
“You’ve got the Vatican keeping an eye on you. The priests don’t normally do that because they know better. So you need to talk to me.”
“Actually,” Erin said, “I don’t. That is the beauty of being me.”
“You’re hiding something.”
“Probably.”
Stieg leaned in closer, their faces nearly touching. “Tell me,” he ordered.
Erin couldn’t help but smirk a little. “Make me.”
Stieg’s frown deepened and she thought for sure that he was going to kiss her.
“Come on, Amsel,” he abruptly whined, eyes rolling in his head. “I don’t want to fight you.” He glanced at Hilda. “Not in front of the goat.”
“Not in front of the…”
As Erin and Stieg fight, fuss, and eventually snuggle their way towards their destiny, the rest of the world waits in awe and horror. Because if this odd couple fails…everyone’s a goner.
Shelly Laurenston is once again leading her readers happily back into the fray of gods, goddesses, warriors, and the occasional pet with the latest installment in her Call of Crows series. Jam-packed with humor, sex, action, snark, outrageous characters, and sheer insanity, Laurenston has created another paranormal world that just screams F.U.N.
Set in present day L.A., this rather complex world is easy to navigate once you learn the basics. Almost every mythology and religion is represented in here, each with its own group of obnoxious, arrogant, loud, petty, narcissistic, men and women who like to bash, stab, beat, and smash their way to victory against their enemies. And none of them get along. Especially with the Crows. The Crows dislike just about everyone and with good reason. Hundreds of years ago the other nine Norse clans kept them enslaved and they haven’t gotten over it yet.
“We don’t forget, Raven. We never forget.”
Erin Amsel is probably one of Laurenston’s best characters to date. She is a delightful combination of every strong, loyal, intelligent, rude, and annoying female Laurenston has ever written. She was killed by an ex and offered a second life by Skuld. In return, all she has to do is fight with the Crows in Skuld’s honor. No problem. Her general unapologetic attitude towards everyone keeps you in stitches. There is a delightful sense of truthfulness and honor in her as she plows through the world, leaving chaos and mayhem in her wake. And the beauty of it is…she knows how annoying she is. She just doesn’t care. Yet for all her issues, you will never have to fear anything when she has your back. She will fight to the death beside you and die to protect you. And she has a very special gift that can do just that.
“You could, however, be a little less cheery. You did just disfigure a man.”
“He started it. “
I loved Erin and Steig. From Steig’s general grumpiness to Erin’s constant irritation of…well everyone, these two will keep you howling as Steig is co-opted into the partnership from hell to help Erin with her mission while trying not to kill her or fall too hard for her. All the while they are both trying to avoid their fellow clan members who attempt to interfere with unwanted advice and their normal general craziness. Watching Steig and Erin try to understand each other is like piecing together a 5000 piece puzzle while blindfolded. They are so obviously wrong for one another that they’re perfect together.
What I truly enjoy about this series and Laurenston’s writing is her skills in creating unforgettable characters and such incredibly off the wall plotlines that you can’t help but get sucked into whatever she has in store for her readers. I love the strong inclusion of multiple personalities who merge seamlessly into the storyline with fantastic results. I’ve noticed and appreciated that each new installment seems to be getting stronger in detail; with more humor, deeper elements, and a better balance between the arc and the subplots.
All the clans are featured heavily in here and are as unpredictable as usual. The snippets of violence between the various clans and each other only add to the overall appeal. They are predestined to mess with each other and it only continues to get worse the more they interact.
“Calm down.”
“I hate you.”
“Calm. Down. Think of Texas.”
“Texas? The line is ‘think of England,’”
“Why would I think of England?”
“Why would you think of Texas?”
Some may complain that the romance isn’t as prevalent as in most PNRs but I find it balances perfectly with the characterization in general. We get some delightful smexy times but aren’t forced to deal with any heavy emotional angst or work through past traumas. That alone keeps this series delightfully fresh in a sub-genre that tends to take itself a little too seriously at times.
The ending is an explosive finale that shows us Laurenston always has a few tricks up her sleeve. The main conflict is resolved while advancing the arc in a way that guarantees no one will want to miss book four. Some loose ends are tied up, new characters are introduced, and we are given a few clues to who may be the next heroine and hero of the series. The shifter storyline is an interesting development and I look forward to seeing where that goes.
If you enjoy outrageous storylines, no holds barred characters, and comedic narrative then Shelly Laurenston’s Call of Crows series is definitely for you. I guarantee you won’t regret it. Word of warning, the series is ongoing arc wise and not meant to read out-of-order.
Grade: A
Favorite Quote: “I can’t believe I’m about to walk a goat. Is this my life now? Goat walking?”
The Unyielding opens up in the past, giving readers an unfiltered history lesson on the sheer hatred the Crows have for all the other clans. We then flash forward into the present and learn that the world is still coming to an end if all the clans don’t start working together and stop Loki from getting free and therefore starting Ragnarök. And it all rests on the back of a single Crow. The most annoying, irritating, pain the arse woman to ever be brought back to life to walk the earth as a Crow.
Erin Amsel.
Helping her is the most unlikely of people-Stieg Engstrom. Steig is a Viking and part of the Raven clan. He’s also an exceptionally angry, anti-social man who avoids most people because they annoy him. And Erin REALLY annoys him.
When Steig happens upon Erin getting shot in the head yet again, he takes her home to recover and ends up getting caught up in the never-ending circus that is Erin’s life.
“You need to tell me what you did,” Stieg ordered.
“And you’ll need to be way more specific than that.”
“You’ve got the Vatican keeping an eye on you. The priests don’t normally do that because they know better. So you need to talk to me.”
“Actually,” Erin said, “I don’t. That is the beauty of being me.”
“You’re hiding something.”
“Probably.”
Stieg leaned in closer, their faces nearly touching. “Tell me,” he ordered.
Erin couldn’t help but smirk a little. “Make me.”
Stieg’s frown deepened and she thought for sure that he was going to kiss her.
“Come on, Amsel,” he abruptly whined, eyes rolling in his head. “I don’t want to fight you.” He glanced at Hilda. “Not in front of the goat.”
“Not in front of the…”
As Erin and Stieg fight, fuss, and eventually snuggle their way towards their destiny, the rest of the world waits in awe and horror. Because if this odd couple fails…everyone’s a goner.
Shelly Laurenston is once again leading her readers happily back into the fray of gods, goddesses, warriors, and the occasional pet with the latest installment in her Call of Crows series. Jam-packed with humor, sex, action, snark, outrageous characters, and sheer insanity, Laurenston has created another paranormal world that just screams F.U.N.
Set in present day L.A., this rather complex world is easy to navigate once you learn the basics. Almost every mythology and religion is represented in here, each with its own group of obnoxious, arrogant, loud, petty, narcissistic, men and women who like to bash, stab, beat, and smash their way to victory against their enemies. And none of them get along. Especially with the Crows. The Crows dislike just about everyone and with good reason. Hundreds of years ago the other nine Norse clans kept them enslaved and they haven’t gotten over it yet.
“We don’t forget, Raven. We never forget.”
Erin Amsel is probably one of Laurenston’s best characters to date. She is a delightful combination of every strong, loyal, intelligent, rude, and annoying female Laurenston has ever written. She was killed by an ex and offered a second life by Skuld. In return, all she has to do is fight with the Crows in Skuld’s honor. No problem. Her general unapologetic attitude towards everyone keeps you in stitches. There is a delightful sense of truthfulness and honor in her as she plows through the world, leaving chaos and mayhem in her wake. And the beauty of it is…she knows how annoying she is. She just doesn’t care. Yet for all her issues, you will never have to fear anything when she has your back. She will fight to the death beside you and die to protect you. And she has a very special gift that can do just that.
“You could, however, be a little less cheery. You did just disfigure a man.”
“He started it. “
I loved Erin and Steig. From Steig’s general grumpiness to Erin’s constant irritation of…well everyone, these two will keep you howling as Steig is co-opted into the partnership from hell to help Erin with her mission while trying not to kill her or fall too hard for her. All the while they are both trying to avoid their fellow clan members who attempt to interfere with unwanted advice and their normal general craziness. Watching Steig and Erin try to understand each other is like piecing together a 5000 piece puzzle while blindfolded. They are so obviously wrong for one another that they’re perfect together.
What I truly enjoy about this series and Laurenston’s writing is her skills in creating unforgettable characters and such incredibly off the wall plotlines that you can’t help but get sucked into whatever she has in store for her readers. I love the strong inclusion of multiple personalities who merge seamlessly into the storyline with fantastic results. I’ve noticed and appreciated that each new installment seems to be getting stronger in detail; with more humor, deeper elements, and a better balance between the arc and the subplots.
All the clans are featured heavily in here and are as unpredictable as usual. The snippets of violence between the various clans and each other only add to the overall appeal. They are predestined to mess with each other and it only continues to get worse the more they interact.
“Calm down.”
“I hate you.”
“Calm. Down. Think of Texas.”
“Texas? The line is ‘think of England,’”
“Why would I think of England?”
“Why would you think of Texas?”
Some may complain that the romance isn’t as prevalent as in most PNRs but I find it balances perfectly with the characterization in general. We get some delightful smexy times but aren’t forced to deal with any heavy emotional angst or work through past traumas. That alone keeps this series delightfully fresh in a sub-genre that tends to take itself a little too seriously at times.
The ending is an explosive finale that shows us Laurenston always has a few tricks up her sleeve. The main conflict is resolved while advancing the arc in a way that guarantees no one will want to miss book four. Some loose ends are tied up, new characters are introduced, and we are given a few clues to who may be the next heroine and hero of the series. The shifter storyline is an interesting development and I look forward to seeing where that goes.
If you enjoy outrageous storylines, no holds barred characters, and comedic narrative then Shelly Laurenston’s Call of Crows series is definitely for you. I guarantee you won’t regret it. Word of warning, the series is ongoing arc wise and not meant to read out-of-order.
Grade: A
April 10, 2017
Shelly Laurenston is my go-to-author when it comes to wanting to read wacky humour and alpha females because no-one does it better than her. This is her third entry in the series and it is all connected so you can't dive in the middle.
The heroine is crazy-pants literally and unapologetic about it. She likes stirring up trouble and this time she may be the only one that can save her friends. Scary thought right? All the Crows seem to agree. As is the norm with this series, it is totally female driven, with the men just scattered in. But that totally works for me, when in almost all romances the book seem to revolve around the men. The romance in these books is not in your face but creeps in, but it is not the heart and rose variety where the tough female undergoes a total mind body transplant to transform into someone else.
I know I am being totally cryptic but the book is awesome and I can't wait for the next one.
ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
The heroine is crazy-pants literally and unapologetic about it. She likes stirring up trouble and this time she may be the only one that can save her friends. Scary thought right? All the Crows seem to agree. As is the norm with this series, it is totally female driven, with the men just scattered in. But that totally works for me, when in almost all romances the book seem to revolve around the men. The romance in these books is not in your face but creeps in, but it is not the heart and rose variety where the tough female undergoes a total mind body transplant to transform into someone else.
I know I am being totally cryptic but the book is awesome and I can't wait for the next one.
ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
March 26, 2017
When my bookish Facebook friends ask the question of which “book world” I’d like to live in, Call of Crows immediately comes to mind. These women are snarky, mean, and completely batshit crazy, and they know how to have fun. It’s all about living, fighting, and fucking for them with their sisterhood as their constant anchor, knowing that no matter what they face, they will always have each other’s back. I highly recommend starting this series from the beginning, that way you won’t miss any of the fun.
The Crows are known to be the craziest and most unpredictable of the Nine Human Viking Clans. Unfortunately for all, they just figured out that the fate of the world rests on the most insane crow’s shoulders, Erin Amsel. I cannot tell you how excited the geek side of me was when I realized that the craziest most unpredictable Crow of them all was being sent on a quest to prevent Ragnarok (the end of the world) from coming.
I freaking adored Erin. She was such a huge asshole, it was almost endearing. You never knew what she was going to say or do, you just knew it was going to be the most dick-ish thing possible. Her favorite thing was to torment people, even those she loved. It sounds horrid, but let me tell you I found myself laughing my head off. Underneath all the sarcasm and lack of filters, though, was a loyal woman willing to do or risk anything to save the world, even if the task given was a long shot that was bound to end in failure and a probably horrific death.The Unyielding
Stieg Engstrom, aka the angriest Viking ever, suddenly finds himself stalking protecting the Crow that drives him absolutely up the wall, but someone has to keep her in one piece so she can save the world. He’s rude, stubborn, short-tempered, and has no use for stupid people. He also has a strange attachment to a goat named Hilda (not a pervy one… it just seems that way at first). He’s clueless as to why he needs to protect Erin so it was fun to watch him fumble his way through.
The romance between Stieg and Erin is the underpinning of the story, a slow burn type deal more than insta-love. But the true meat of the story is found in the quest. Erin is the only one among all nine clans who has a snowball’s chance of obtaining the item needed to permanently take care of Gullvieg, the goddess who wants to usher in the apocalypse. We not only get to spend time with beloved characters from the first two books, we get to meet all sorts of different characters, including various gods, dark elves, giants, dwarves, a dragon, but the weirdest of all were the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
The Unyielding was my dream fantasy book—a Lord of the Rings-type book with lots of snark, laughter, gratuitous violence and sexy shenanigans. I was in my mythological fantasy happy place. I only had two complaints, the first being it got a bit slow in the middle before Erin set out on her quest. The second one was the last paragraph of the epilogue. That was just plain cruel on Ms. Laurenston’s part. I was on such a book high, I decided to forgive her for that and bask in the glory of a spectacular and unexpected ending to a rollicking good quest. The fact that I’m already jonesing for the next book now has nothing to do with that last paragraph at all.
Rating: 5 Fantasy Happy Place Stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
The Crows are known to be the craziest and most unpredictable of the Nine Human Viking Clans. Unfortunately for all, they just figured out that the fate of the world rests on the most insane crow’s shoulders, Erin Amsel. I cannot tell you how excited the geek side of me was when I realized that the craziest most unpredictable Crow of them all was being sent on a quest to prevent Ragnarok (the end of the world) from coming.
I freaking adored Erin. She was such a huge asshole, it was almost endearing. You never knew what she was going to say or do, you just knew it was going to be the most dick-ish thing possible. Her favorite thing was to torment people, even those she loved. It sounds horrid, but let me tell you I found myself laughing my head off. Underneath all the sarcasm and lack of filters, though, was a loyal woman willing to do or risk anything to save the world, even if the task given was a long shot that was bound to end in failure and a probably horrific death.The Unyielding
Stieg Engstrom, aka the angriest Viking ever, suddenly finds himself stalking protecting the Crow that drives him absolutely up the wall, but someone has to keep her in one piece so she can save the world. He’s rude, stubborn, short-tempered, and has no use for stupid people. He also has a strange attachment to a goat named Hilda (not a pervy one… it just seems that way at first). He’s clueless as to why he needs to protect Erin so it was fun to watch him fumble his way through.
The romance between Stieg and Erin is the underpinning of the story, a slow burn type deal more than insta-love. But the true meat of the story is found in the quest. Erin is the only one among all nine clans who has a snowball’s chance of obtaining the item needed to permanently take care of Gullvieg, the goddess who wants to usher in the apocalypse. We not only get to spend time with beloved characters from the first two books, we get to meet all sorts of different characters, including various gods, dark elves, giants, dwarves, a dragon, but the weirdest of all were the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
The Unyielding was my dream fantasy book—a Lord of the Rings-type book with lots of snark, laughter, gratuitous violence and sexy shenanigans. I was in my mythological fantasy happy place. I only had two complaints, the first being it got a bit slow in the middle before Erin set out on her quest. The second one was the last paragraph of the epilogue. That was just plain cruel on Ms. Laurenston’s part. I was on such a book high, I decided to forgive her for that and bask in the glory of a spectacular and unexpected ending to a rollicking good quest. The fact that I’m already jonesing for the next book now has nothing to do with that last paragraph at all.
Rating: 5 Fantasy Happy Place Stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 30, 2017
4 stars
This was a very good story and addition to the series. Surprisingly, I liked Erin a lot more in this story than I did in previous books. Stieg was a likable character as well and I liked their story and seeing how things turned out (both for them and for the overall series storyline).
Erin is a Crow...Crows are human women that (at the point of death) are offered a choice by Skuld (a Norse goddess) to have a second life as one of her warriors. Erin was killed by mobsters when she saw too much and that's how she became a Crow. Her parents are still alive but she's had to distance herself from them now that she's not really human anymore.
Stieg is a Raven, one of a group of warriors in service to Odin. When he was growing up, Stieg's home life wasn't the best. When his mother died from cancer, Stieg couldn't deal with his abusive father so he ended up out on the streets. After some time on the streets, Odin offered Stieg the chance to become a Raven.
Erin and Stieg have never gotten along...but then Erin doesn't really get along with much of anyone due to her extreme attitude/sarcasm. Stieg had actually been interested in Erin when she first turned into a Crow but her offensive attitude scared Stieg and pretty much all the other males away from her. Erin and Stieg end up being thrown together when someone from Erin's past comes after her and Stieg comes to her assistance. The time they spend together isn't easy at first but the more time they spend together, the more their mutual attraction shows and grows. Erin's abrasive attitude is a constant but it does calm towards Stieg, the longer he's around.
Due to some problems in the previous books, the nine Viking clans are scrambling to find a way to stop the upcoming Ragnarok (aka end of the world). Many are trying to figure out a way to head it off and the solution they find isn't widely liked. Erin gained the ability to control fire when she was turned into a Crow and that made her the key to getting something that would enable the clans to stop the coming catastrophic. Erin is willing to take on the quest given to her but it's not an easy task and many are betting she wont make it back alive. Stieg wants to help Erin with her quest and (although it wasn't exactly planned) he does get that opportunity. Things aren't easy for Erin and Stieg but they do get through their quest and end the story starting on a HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. Erin was a witch (w=b) in the previous books so I wasn't sure how I'd like her as the heroine in this book. Thankfully, I did end up liking her as the heroine despite her attitude (and maybe sometimes because of it). I liked Stieg as the hero...he seemed a bit grumpy at first but outside of that, I didn't see any problems with him (and I loved the whole situation with Hilda). The story was fun and interesting and kept me engaged throughout so I'd recommend it. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a very good job.
This was a very good story and addition to the series. Surprisingly, I liked Erin a lot more in this story than I did in previous books. Stieg was a likable character as well and I liked their story and seeing how things turned out (both for them and for the overall series storyline).
Erin is a Crow...Crows are human women that (at the point of death) are offered a choice by Skuld (a Norse goddess) to have a second life as one of her warriors. Erin was killed by mobsters when she saw too much and that's how she became a Crow. Her parents are still alive but she's had to distance herself from them now that she's not really human anymore.
Stieg is a Raven, one of a group of warriors in service to Odin. When he was growing up, Stieg's home life wasn't the best. When his mother died from cancer, Stieg couldn't deal with his abusive father so he ended up out on the streets. After some time on the streets, Odin offered Stieg the chance to become a Raven.
Erin and Stieg have never gotten along...but then Erin doesn't really get along with much of anyone due to her extreme attitude/sarcasm. Stieg had actually been interested in Erin when she first turned into a Crow but her offensive attitude scared Stieg and pretty much all the other males away from her. Erin and Stieg end up being thrown together when someone from Erin's past comes after her and Stieg comes to her assistance. The time they spend together isn't easy at first but the more time they spend together, the more their mutual attraction shows and grows. Erin's abrasive attitude is a constant but it does calm towards Stieg, the longer he's around.
Due to some problems in the previous books, the nine Viking clans are scrambling to find a way to stop the upcoming Ragnarok (aka end of the world). Many are trying to figure out a way to head it off and the solution they find isn't widely liked. Erin gained the ability to control fire when she was turned into a Crow and that made her the key to getting something that would enable the clans to stop the coming catastrophic. Erin is willing to take on the quest given to her but it's not an easy task and many are betting she wont make it back alive. Stieg wants to help Erin with her quest and (although it wasn't exactly planned) he does get that opportunity. Things aren't easy for Erin and Stieg but they do get through their quest and end the story starting on a HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. Erin was a witch (w=b) in the previous books so I wasn't sure how I'd like her as the heroine in this book. Thankfully, I did end up liking her as the heroine despite her attitude (and maybe sometimes because of it). I liked Stieg as the hero...he seemed a bit grumpy at first but outside of that, I didn't see any problems with him (and I loved the whole situation with Hilda). The story was fun and interesting and kept me engaged throughout so I'd recommend it. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a very good job.
March 19, 2017
The only way to describe any Shelly Laurenston book is madness, mayhem, and a bad ass heroine driving the crazy train. Her books always have those qualities yet every single one of them is vastly different from all of the rest.
This third installment in her Call of Crows series features the crazy known as Erin Amsel. She is thoroughly enjoying her second life. What’s not to love about being a Crow. She gets to fight evil and kick ass in the name of Skuld. She loves her sister-Crows. She loves antagonizing everyone and just being an all-around dick in general.
Follow Amsel. It’s not the most bizarre thing that Stieg has been tasked with as a Raven. It will probably be the thing that gets him killed though. He knows how crazy she is. He has experienced first-hand how violent she can be. He’s watched others suffer at her annoying personality. He still does it though. And that is how he gets to see the other side of Erin. The side he falls in love with.
The Unyielding is more crazy flight through a paranormal read than it is romantic paranormal romance. There is romance and a happily ever after but that’s not why you read this book. You read this book for the insanity that is involved with saving the world from power hungry goddess. You keep reading because while Erin is attempting to save the world from Ragnarok there is crazy cults, thug mobsters, and a mythological squirrel that would all like to see her dead. You’re also going to want to know how the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come to the pages to eat yogurt at someone’s grandmothers house. The crazy is non-stop and simply a must read.
Stopping one goddess is bound to set of another god or goddess. This will of course keep a target on at least one of The Nine’s backs. I’m looking forward to reading more of the insanity that Laurenston creates.
This third installment in her Call of Crows series features the crazy known as Erin Amsel. She is thoroughly enjoying her second life. What’s not to love about being a Crow. She gets to fight evil and kick ass in the name of Skuld. She loves her sister-Crows. She loves antagonizing everyone and just being an all-around dick in general.
Follow Amsel. It’s not the most bizarre thing that Stieg has been tasked with as a Raven. It will probably be the thing that gets him killed though. He knows how crazy she is. He has experienced first-hand how violent she can be. He’s watched others suffer at her annoying personality. He still does it though. And that is how he gets to see the other side of Erin. The side he falls in love with.
The Unyielding is more crazy flight through a paranormal read than it is romantic paranormal romance. There is romance and a happily ever after but that’s not why you read this book. You read this book for the insanity that is involved with saving the world from power hungry goddess. You keep reading because while Erin is attempting to save the world from Ragnarok there is crazy cults, thug mobsters, and a mythological squirrel that would all like to see her dead. You’re also going to want to know how the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come to the pages to eat yogurt at someone’s grandmothers house. The crazy is non-stop and simply a must read.
Stopping one goddess is bound to set of another god or goddess. This will of course keep a target on at least one of The Nine’s backs. I’m looking forward to reading more of the insanity that Laurenston creates.
March 10, 2017
AMAZEBALLS.
By now, I'm starting to feel like a broken record. I have used up all the adjectives in expressing how much I love Shelly Laurenston and her work. Obviously, this book is no exception. Just look at my shelves. If that doesn't scream fangirl right there, I don't know what else could.
Fangirling aside, The Unyielding really is amazing. The story is so full of pure action, ruthless warriors, hilarious dialogues, Stieg and Erin being just so damn cute, there is never really a boring second.
Some spoilers ahead. Beware.
The story can be divided into to two parts, pre-quest and the quest. The pre-quest part felt quite like the two prequels, sort of everyday life of Crows and the Clans, still trying to find a way to defeat Gullveig, following clues, being bitchy and trolling people. Even though I enjoyed reading this part, I wish it had been a little bit shorter and the quest part a little bit longer. Especially once they arrived at Baraldur and Arnora's, aka, the dwarf world (there was actually a name for the dwarf world, but hell if I can remember it). Their stay there and journey to the Corpse Shore seemed glossed over and I wish there was an adventure, or something more, like how it had been in the giant world or elf world.
I really like how Shelly Laurenston gave each mythical creature in the story a personality, how she gave them life and made them silly and petty and just funny, sometimes making them relatable and sometimes not.
There was just the right amount of romance, and it didn't take away from the main story. The progress from being annoyed at each other to caring deeply seemed natural and basically inevitable. By the end it was really sweet and very aww.
The Unyielding is most definitely my favorite book in this series so far and I am really excited to see what Shelly Laurenston has in store next for Crows and the Clans. The epilogue seems promising.
A big thank you to Kensigton for providing an ARC via NetGalley.
By now, I'm starting to feel like a broken record. I have used up all the adjectives in expressing how much I love Shelly Laurenston and her work. Obviously, this book is no exception. Just look at my shelves. If that doesn't scream fangirl right there, I don't know what else could.
Fangirling aside, The Unyielding really is amazing. The story is so full of pure action, ruthless warriors, hilarious dialogues, Stieg and Erin being just so damn cute, there is never really a boring second.
Some spoilers ahead. Beware.
The story can be divided into to two parts, pre-quest and the quest. The pre-quest part felt quite like the two prequels, sort of everyday life of Crows and the Clans, still trying to find a way to defeat Gullveig, following clues, being bitchy and trolling people. Even though I enjoyed reading this part, I wish it had been a little bit shorter and the quest part a little bit longer. Especially once they arrived at Baraldur and Arnora's, aka, the dwarf world (there was actually a name for the dwarf world, but hell if I can remember it). Their stay there and journey to the Corpse Shore seemed glossed over and I wish there was an adventure, or something more, like how it had been in the giant world or elf world.
I really like how Shelly Laurenston gave each mythical creature in the story a personality, how she gave them life and made them silly and petty and just funny, sometimes making them relatable and sometimes not.
There was just the right amount of romance, and it didn't take away from the main story. The progress from being annoyed at each other to caring deeply seemed natural and basically inevitable. By the end it was really sweet and very aww.
The Unyielding is most definitely my favorite book in this series so far and I am really excited to see what Shelly Laurenston has in store next for Crows and the Clans. The epilogue seems promising.
A big thank you to Kensigton for providing an ARC via NetGalley.
May 28, 2018
The heroine rapes the hero but it's okay because nobody calls it rape and he comes. Really awful. Will not be reading more books by this author.
Here's the scene:
Here's the scene:
April 2, 2017
3.5 Stars
In the third book of the Call of Crows series we have the final battle with the unstoppable goddess trying to bring forth Ragnarok aka the end of the world. But, there may still be a chance for the clans to prevent it, and kill the unkillable. It all relies on Erin Amsel, which is almost as terrifying as Ragnarok itself. Erin is a troublemaker, there isn’t a single deity she’s met who she hasn’t pissed off in some way. Yet her fearlessness and cunning is exactly what they need, especially when paired up with the perpetually angry Stieg Engstrom. What could go wrong?
I am writing this review with a tonne of bias weighing me down, I have been reading Laurenston for years. I first picked her up when she released the Magnus Pack series, which was a breath of fresh air in the Paranormal Romance genre. However, that was decade ago (quite literally!) and her writing and characters have become less fresh with each regurgitation. When I read The Unyielding I felt like I could anticipate the jokes, the characters and the general storyline after the first chapter, and I was right. This is why I am bias, if this was another author I would have liked this book more as perhaps I wouldn’t have found it quite so boringly predicable. But for me it was the same jokes and same type of characters that I have been reading from Laurenston for years.
But, I still gave this a respectable 3.5 stars because as much as I found it a little predicable this is still Laurenston, and does know how to write an engaging book. This book is fairly light on romance, although it is an element, instead this concentrates on the story line and getting the sword from the magical realm to destroy the big bad goddess. Yes, it sounds trite but it’s actually quite exciting when you are reading it. Erin and Steig make the adventure a lot of fun; Steig’s stoic nature is a perfect foil for Erin’s wildness, both in their romance and how it ties in with the quest.
If you like your romance heavy on adventure and humour this book is for you, despite my earlier whinging Laurenston is a quality author who produces some great books. If you haven’t read Laurenston before, I recommend you try the Magnus Pack series I mentioned earlier first. It doesn’t really tie in with this series, but it’s just a great paranormal romance!
November 1, 2025
Magic, Mayhem and Anarchy rule but what else would you expect when Laurenston gives us Erin’s story.
Erin is the crazy, off the wall and completely unapologetic, Crow that we’ve come to love and she is coming up against their biggest foe by far, the goddess who is dead set on starting Ragnarok.
Don’t worry she won’t be doing it alone. When the poop hits the fan, everyone is surprised to see Stieg standing by her side…as well as all the other nine clans all come into play.
All I can say is, Laurenston wears her crown well, as the queen of satire, in The Unyielding. Off the wall funny, outrageous characters, exaggerated vice’s and quirks, we get it all and I ate up every morsel of it!
Let us not forget the action, romance and urban fantasy portion of the tale which perfectly balances out the rest. The romance between Stieg and Erin is slow building and more of a friendship that evolves…the perfect kind of romance in my opinion. The action is a roller coaster that flowed throughout the tale, providing that pulse pounding excitement. While Laurenston masterfully twists myths, gods and goddess into this marvelous contemporary urban fantasy you can’t help but devourer.
I received this ARC copy of The Unyielding from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Unyielding is set for publication March 28, 2017.
Erin is the crazy, off the wall and completely unapologetic, Crow that we’ve come to love and she is coming up against their biggest foe by far, the goddess who is dead set on starting Ragnarok.
Don’t worry she won’t be doing it alone. When the poop hits the fan, everyone is surprised to see Stieg standing by her side…as well as all the other nine clans all come into play.
All I can say is, Laurenston wears her crown well, as the queen of satire, in The Unyielding. Off the wall funny, outrageous characters, exaggerated vice’s and quirks, we get it all and I ate up every morsel of it!
Let us not forget the action, romance and urban fantasy portion of the tale which perfectly balances out the rest. The romance between Stieg and Erin is slow building and more of a friendship that evolves…the perfect kind of romance in my opinion. The action is a roller coaster that flowed throughout the tale, providing that pulse pounding excitement. While Laurenston masterfully twists myths, gods and goddess into this marvelous contemporary urban fantasy you can’t help but devourer.
I received this ARC copy of The Unyielding from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Unyielding is set for publication March 28, 2017.
December 24, 2017
Fun read. The second in this series is thus far my favorite, but reading The Unyielding was an enjoyable way to spend the winter afternoon. :)
March 29, 2017
I really like this series and author, however Erin, one of the main characters of this book, I can't stand. In fact it seems like none of the other characters like her with the exception of Steig, who didn't like her at the start either. That made it really hard to like the book. So many times Erin is described as a raging bitch or a dick, both are apt descriptions. Seeing that I didn't mind that she was going to be sacrificed, if any character has to die, why not one everyone seems to loath.
It was sort of interesting to see how Erin got some big wigs of the Norse world on her side, by throwing a lot of attitude and berating them. Not sure that is a good way to get someone to help you, but it seemed to work.
The romance between Erin and Steig was luke warm at best. Part of that is because Steig didn't like her at the start.
Overall I'm glad this book is done, mostly because now we can move on from Erin and get to others that hopefully will be more fun.
It was sort of interesting to see how Erin got some big wigs of the Norse world on her side, by throwing a lot of attitude and berating them. Not sure that is a good way to get someone to help you, but it seemed to work.
The romance between Erin and Steig was luke warm at best. Part of that is because Steig didn't like her at the start.
Overall I'm glad this book is done, mostly because now we can move on from Erin and get to others that hopefully will be more fun.
February 22, 2017
This is a wonderful action packed addition to the series. It does a great job closing one plot arc of the Crows and opening up another even more epic one.
We get the whole cast, lots of action, and a goat. It is funny. I love the hero and I love the heroine.
Mean fierce heroines and taciturn heroes are grand. We even get some shifters in this one.
As much as I loved it, it is short on romance in some ways. We get an epic quest so in that way we have lots of couple time but the falling in love intensity isn't there. This is okay. The romance still works as an off to the side. I mean it is the end of the world after all and I believe and love this couple.
However, there is a down to the soul thing we sometimes get with Laureston that I miss but this is really good stay up all night reading sexy to the max fun.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it!
We get the whole cast, lots of action, and a goat. It is funny. I love the hero and I love the heroine.
Mean fierce heroines and taciturn heroes are grand. We even get some shifters in this one.
As much as I loved it, it is short on romance in some ways. We get an epic quest so in that way we have lots of couple time but the falling in love intensity isn't there. This is okay. The romance still works as an off to the side. I mean it is the end of the world after all and I believe and love this couple.
However, there is a down to the soul thing we sometimes get with Laureston that I miss but this is really good stay up all night reading sexy to the max fun.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it!
April 4, 2017
I want to give this book 7 out of 5 stars.
I can't even being to describe how much I loved and adored this book. If you've never read a Shelly Laurenston book, then you can't possibly imagine the delicious insanity contained within these pages. I giggled like a damn maniac through most of this book and at several spots, I reread passages simply so I could laugh at them again. I wish I'd highlighted the funnier moments, but out of context, they aren't as funny. You need to experience the characters to appreciate the humour.
I can't even being to describe how much I loved and adored this book. If you've never read a Shelly Laurenston book, then you can't possibly imagine the delicious insanity contained within these pages. I giggled like a damn maniac through most of this book and at several spots, I reread passages simply so I could laugh at them again. I wish I'd highlighted the funnier moments, but out of context, they aren't as funny. You need to experience the characters to appreciate the humour.
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