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Valkyrie #2
From the Earth to the Shadows
Malin’s mission to avenge her mother's murder has uncovered dangerous secrets. As a Valkyrie-in-training, Malin must slay immortals who’ve had their time, to maintain balance between humans and immortals. But her quest could destroy earth’s stability – and unleash chaos.
Just when she needs to focus, her friend Asher is in grave danger. He’s been dragged into the underworld, where vengeful immortals plot revolution. Malin believes her feelings mustn’t distract from her goal – but is desperate to rescue him. So she ventures into the darkest of realms, knowing she may not survive. With new allies at her side and new enemies ahead, Malin will face terrible choices. She’ll have to keep her head – or be ruled by her heart.
Just when she needs to focus, her friend Asher is in grave danger. He’s been dragged into the underworld, where vengeful immortals plot revolution. Malin believes her feelings mustn’t distract from her goal – but is desperate to rescue him. So she ventures into the darkest of realms, knowing she may not survive. With new allies at her side and new enemies ahead, Malin will face terrible choices. She’ll have to keep her head – or be ruled by her heart.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
56 people are currently reading
2832 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Hocking
76 books15k followersAMANDA HOCKING is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series, The Hollows, has been adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite. She has published over twenty novels, including The Kanin Chronicles, the Watersong quartet, My Blood Approves series, the Valkyrie duology, and Freeks .
For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:
Website: www.hockingbooks.com
Amazon Author Page: Amanda Hocking
Patreon: Amanda Hocking
Instagram: @amanda_hocking
BlueSky: AmandaHocking.bsky.social
Threads: @amanda_hocking
YouTube: aehocking
Facebook: Amanda Hocking Fans
Etsy: Hocking Books by Amanda
TikTok: @amanda_hocking
Goodreads: Amanda Hocking
Spotify : Amanda Hocking
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series, The Hollows, has been adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite. She has published over twenty novels, including The Kanin Chronicles, the Watersong quartet, My Blood Approves series, the Valkyrie duology, and Freeks .
For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:
Website: www.hockingbooks.com
Amazon Author Page: Amanda Hocking
Patreon: Amanda Hocking
Instagram: @amanda_hocking
BlueSky: AmandaHocking.bsky.social
Threads: @amanda_hocking
YouTube: aehocking
Facebook: Amanda Hocking Fans
Etsy: Hocking Books by Amanda
TikTok: @amanda_hocking
Goodreads: Amanda Hocking
Spotify : Amanda Hocking
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
April 30, 2018
From the Earth to the Shadows Blog Tour Review & Giveaway! (Visit my blog for giveaway details)
About: From the Earth to the Shadows is a young adult fantasy written by Amanda Hocking. It was recently published on 4/24/18 by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, 336 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, mythology, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 12 to 18. There are 2 books to this duology: book 1 is Between the Blade and the Heart and book 2 is From the Earth to the Shadows.
My Experience: I started reading From the Earth to the Shadows on 4/15/18 and finished it on 4/28/18. This book is a great read! I like how it makes me think about being pawns in a chess game and doing what has been set by others. It reminds me about real life, we are to follow the rules set by lawmakers and if we don’t follow, we risk breaking rules. If the lawmakers coming up with the laws in favor of people, it’s excellent, but if the lawmakers making laws in favors of what’s benefiting themselves personally, it can be unfavorable to the general citizens requiring to follow those set of rules. The citizens are in this case helpless, and just pawns in a chess game. I like the plot setting of above ground and below ground and both are a vast space of cities of its own. I like how this book continues where book one left off. I especially love the descriptions of Gods, locations, characters, and weapons when they are brought into the story because it makes the reading easier to understand.
This book continues with Malin (Mal) Krigare, told in the first person point of view, as she works on finding a way to rescue Asher who is currently being held captive by the underworld goddess Ereshkigal. Malin is a Valkyrie in training whose main job is to kill/send immortals to the underworld with her Sigrun, a blade made of dark purple crystal. In book one, Malin’s mom was murdered by a fellow Valkyrie, a rare occurrence. Malin wanted to avenge her mother’s death. The adventures led Malin to the entrance of the underworld called Kurnugia and where she went face off with her mother’s murderer. She learned that her mother’s murderer was only a pawn used by the immortals in the underworld to set the motions going because they are planning an uprising. Now, in book two, with Valeska, a new character and tasks set by Odin, Vanir God and Valkyries’ highest authority, once again Mal finds herself planning a trip to the underworld to find a spear that might be able to prevent the uprising. The problem is that there aren’t enough space above ground for everyone and the immortals that were sent to live underground want to have the freedom to decide where they want to live. It’s a wonder if Malin’s mom has anything to do with everything because she is mysterious and secretive.
A well written story, From the Earth to the Shadows is a read filled with actions and adventures that will leave readers breathless. I like that this book involve more of Odin and why he creates Valkyries. I like the girls adventures. The romance in this book is a bit lacking, but definitely good if you enjoy less romance reads. I like how this book talks about life. I don’t read too many mother daughter relationship so this one is one to caught me off guard. I like the sort of puzzle solving, how Malin go from one task after another to solve a problem. This duology is an excellent read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: actions and adventures, fast paced, mythology,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Amanda Hocking, publisher St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. I appreciate the invitation to host a blog tour with a giveaway for this book! Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
About: From the Earth to the Shadows is a young adult fantasy written by Amanda Hocking. It was recently published on 4/24/18 by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, 336 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, mythology, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 12 to 18. There are 2 books to this duology: book 1 is Between the Blade and the Heart and book 2 is From the Earth to the Shadows.
My Experience: I started reading From the Earth to the Shadows on 4/15/18 and finished it on 4/28/18. This book is a great read! I like how it makes me think about being pawns in a chess game and doing what has been set by others. It reminds me about real life, we are to follow the rules set by lawmakers and if we don’t follow, we risk breaking rules. If the lawmakers coming up with the laws in favor of people, it’s excellent, but if the lawmakers making laws in favors of what’s benefiting themselves personally, it can be unfavorable to the general citizens requiring to follow those set of rules. The citizens are in this case helpless, and just pawns in a chess game. I like the plot setting of above ground and below ground and both are a vast space of cities of its own. I like how this book continues where book one left off. I especially love the descriptions of Gods, locations, characters, and weapons when they are brought into the story because it makes the reading easier to understand.
This book continues with Malin (Mal) Krigare, told in the first person point of view, as she works on finding a way to rescue Asher who is currently being held captive by the underworld goddess Ereshkigal. Malin is a Valkyrie in training whose main job is to kill/send immortals to the underworld with her Sigrun, a blade made of dark purple crystal. In book one, Malin’s mom was murdered by a fellow Valkyrie, a rare occurrence. Malin wanted to avenge her mother’s death. The adventures led Malin to the entrance of the underworld called Kurnugia and where she went face off with her mother’s murderer. She learned that her mother’s murderer was only a pawn used by the immortals in the underworld to set the motions going because they are planning an uprising. Now, in book two, with Valeska, a new character and tasks set by Odin, Vanir God and Valkyries’ highest authority, once again Mal finds herself planning a trip to the underworld to find a spear that might be able to prevent the uprising. The problem is that there aren’t enough space above ground for everyone and the immortals that were sent to live underground want to have the freedom to decide where they want to live. It’s a wonder if Malin’s mom has anything to do with everything because she is mysterious and secretive.
A well written story, From the Earth to the Shadows is a read filled with actions and adventures that will leave readers breathless. I like that this book involve more of Odin and why he creates Valkyries. I like the girls adventures. The romance in this book is a bit lacking, but definitely good if you enjoy less romance reads. I like how this book talks about life. I don’t read too many mother daughter relationship so this one is one to caught me off guard. I like the sort of puzzle solving, how Malin go from one task after another to solve a problem. This duology is an excellent read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: actions and adventures, fast paced, mythology,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Amanda Hocking, publisher St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. I appreciate the invitation to host a blog tour with a giveaway for this book! Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
April 24, 2018
From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking is the second book of the Valkyrie duology. The series is a young adult fantasy with a touch of romance inspired by Norse Mythology. This second installment picks up the adventure from the end of Between the Blade and the Heart so the series is definitely best read in order and not as a standalone.
The main character of the series, Malin, is a Valkyrie in training who readers discovered in the first book had her world turned upside down. Valkyrie’s are meant to keep a balance in the supernatural world by following their orders and taking the life of an immortal when it is their time to go. Malin’s mother had broken an order and let an immortal live years before and now that one life has caused chaos throughout the years and it’s Malin’s turn to set everything right and save the world.
Starting off the series I found Malin to be a somewhat unlikable character in her brash nature but as the story went on and I learned of her background and relationship with her mother I slowly came to like her. In this second book it felt as if she’s grown even more from the first which was a definite plus to the story.
There was also a love triangle that began in the first book of the series with an ex-girlfriend of Malin’s and a new male love interest. To me the romance was a bit of a back burner in this installment and was left to work itself out in the background of all of the action and adventure so I was glad that didn’t get pushed more.
There certainly was plenty of action in this installment to further the story from going anywhere from a trek into the underworld to Central America. As much as I loved the characters in Belize having been there before myself it was also extremely easy to picture them in the underworld and all the creative creatures along the way with the authors descriptions. The story had a few slower moments here and there but for the most part I really enjoyed this addition and the ending to the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The main character of the series, Malin, is a Valkyrie in training who readers discovered in the first book had her world turned upside down. Valkyrie’s are meant to keep a balance in the supernatural world by following their orders and taking the life of an immortal when it is their time to go. Malin’s mother had broken an order and let an immortal live years before and now that one life has caused chaos throughout the years and it’s Malin’s turn to set everything right and save the world.
Starting off the series I found Malin to be a somewhat unlikable character in her brash nature but as the story went on and I learned of her background and relationship with her mother I slowly came to like her. In this second book it felt as if she’s grown even more from the first which was a definite plus to the story.
There was also a love triangle that began in the first book of the series with an ex-girlfriend of Malin’s and a new male love interest. To me the romance was a bit of a back burner in this installment and was left to work itself out in the background of all of the action and adventure so I was glad that didn’t get pushed more.
There certainly was plenty of action in this installment to further the story from going anywhere from a trek into the underworld to Central America. As much as I loved the characters in Belize having been there before myself it was also extremely easy to picture them in the underworld and all the creative creatures along the way with the authors descriptions. The story had a few slower moments here and there but for the most part I really enjoyed this addition and the ending to the story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 15, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Malin is on a mission to avenge her mother’s death, but as the Underworld threatens to rise and wreak havoc on the world, she must head to Central America in search of the one weapon with the power to save humanity. As she journeys to the depths of darkness, she will encounter both friend and foe, while knowing she may not survive this terrible battle. One thing for sure, she cannot fail, or chaos will rule.
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SHADOWS the latest from Amanda Hocking, known for her high octane, rapid-fire pacing and chaotic atmosphere definitely lives up to her creative talents in those respects. There seemed to be a heavy dose of over-explaining, too much attention to the tiniest of sideline details. Lots of action, lots of angst, and maybe just a little too much happening all at once to do justice to the characters involved followed by “filler” that could get tedious. I couldn’t connect with some of the events and the almost love triangle was just off somehow.
Certainly an entertaining read, but I wasn’t riveted.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Wednesday Books!
Duology: Valkyrie - Book 2
Publisher: Wednesday Books (April 24, 2018)
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Malin is on a mission to avenge her mother’s death, but as the Underworld threatens to rise and wreak havoc on the world, she must head to Central America in search of the one weapon with the power to save humanity. As she journeys to the depths of darkness, she will encounter both friend and foe, while knowing she may not survive this terrible battle. One thing for sure, she cannot fail, or chaos will rule.
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SHADOWS the latest from Amanda Hocking, known for her high octane, rapid-fire pacing and chaotic atmosphere definitely lives up to her creative talents in those respects. There seemed to be a heavy dose of over-explaining, too much attention to the tiniest of sideline details. Lots of action, lots of angst, and maybe just a little too much happening all at once to do justice to the characters involved followed by “filler” that could get tedious. I couldn’t connect with some of the events and the almost love triangle was just off somehow.
Certainly an entertaining read, but I wasn’t riveted.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Wednesday Books!
Duology: Valkyrie - Book 2
Publisher: Wednesday Books (April 24, 2018)
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 3, 2018
In the first book of the Valkerie duology we follow Malin as she tries to right her mothers dangerous mistake not knowing how far reaching the consequences will end up spreading. In this sequel we get to see the devasting consequences in action as the Underworld tries to rise up and Mal scrambles to put a stop to it before its too late. Malin and her group of friends go on a quest to Central America to procure the only weapon that might just help them win this fight. The futuristic world mixed with a variety of creatures and mythology was fun.
After reading the first book and giving it a 3.5 Stars I was hoping this would step it up a notch. I really wanted to love this more than the first book, but the pace was a bit too slow for me. I ended up prefering the first book since my biggest issue with it was how the bi love triangle was handled. I didnt like Mal kissing her ex Quinn while knowing Asher had feelings for her. It just perpetuates the idea that bisexuals cant be happy with just one gender. I would have preferred she just be good friends with Quinn, like she was with Jude.
Besides that I felt like the Malins feelings for Asher developped a little quickly. She would contradict herself by saying she didnt love him yet, but still acting like she did. Thats not to say that I didnt love Asher because I did. He was a sweet love interests I just wish the whole thing would have happened differently. I did love the friendship between Mal and her best friend. Oona was just such a great friend and Im really happy we got to see more of her. She's always trying to keep the peace and taking care of Mal. Im a sucker for animal companions so Mals pet was a great addition.
I eventually started skimming the details and was still able to follow along. I honestly think this book would have benefited from less time spent on descriptions and more time spent on making the plot less convenient. I felt like the pace dragged, but the plot was rushed which makes for a weird combination. Just one example would be how a girl just shows up on Mals doorstep with a key to hell. It was just so convenient that I kept expecting some kind of betrayal. I did like the concept of the plot I just wish it was excuted differently. Im happy the duology is complete and we got a good resolution at the end.
*received for review consideration*
Amazon says this is 432 pages and I think thats the more accurate page number. I wish someone would change it.
After reading the first book and giving it a 3.5 Stars I was hoping this would step it up a notch. I really wanted to love this more than the first book, but the pace was a bit too slow for me. I ended up prefering the first book since my biggest issue with it was how the bi love triangle was handled. I didnt like Mal kissing her ex Quinn while knowing Asher had feelings for her. It just perpetuates the idea that bisexuals cant be happy with just one gender. I would have preferred she just be good friends with Quinn, like she was with Jude.
Besides that I felt like the Malins feelings for Asher developped a little quickly. She would contradict herself by saying she didnt love him yet, but still acting like she did. Thats not to say that I didnt love Asher because I did. He was a sweet love interests I just wish the whole thing would have happened differently. I did love the friendship between Mal and her best friend. Oona was just such a great friend and Im really happy we got to see more of her. She's always trying to keep the peace and taking care of Mal. Im a sucker for animal companions so Mals pet was a great addition.
I eventually started skimming the details and was still able to follow along. I honestly think this book would have benefited from less time spent on descriptions and more time spent on making the plot less convenient. I felt like the pace dragged, but the plot was rushed which makes for a weird combination. Just one example would be how a girl just shows up on Mals doorstep with a key to hell. It was just so convenient that I kept expecting some kind of betrayal. I did like the concept of the plot I just wish it was excuted differently. Im happy the duology is complete and we got a good resolution at the end.
*received for review consideration*
Amazon says this is 432 pages and I think thats the more accurate page number. I wish someone would change it.
April 1, 2018
I really wanted to like this book, but it was just so...meh...and I found myself skimming a lot of parts.
In terms of the writing, as a mentioned it a status update I am not sure if the writing got worse or I just did not pay enough attention to the first book. But I did not like the way this was written. I am not sure if it was the over-simplicity of it or what but I could not get into it.
The plot felt really predictable and solutions ever the more convenient. And because of that nothing ever felt dire, like, "Oh no, something terrible is going to happen to the world." But then they come up with a plan so quick it's a wonder they were ever stressed, to begin with.
World building is still mostly kept to a minimum and I cared for almost none of the characters. And even with Malin and Asher, who I did somewhat care about, I don't think I'd have been all that sad even if they had died. I'd just consider it another plot device to move the story along, which is what every setback felt like. A little bump in the road to make us think things were not going to go exactly like we expected, only for it to go exactly like we expected.
Overall feeling:
In terms of the writing, as a mentioned it a status update I am not sure if the writing got worse or I just did not pay enough attention to the first book. But I did not like the way this was written. I am not sure if it was the over-simplicity of it or what but I could not get into it.
The plot felt really predictable and solutions ever the more convenient. And because of that nothing ever felt dire, like, "Oh no, something terrible is going to happen to the world." But then they come up with a plan so quick it's a wonder they were ever stressed, to begin with.
World building is still mostly kept to a minimum and I cared for almost none of the characters. And even with Malin and Asher, who I did somewhat care about, I don't think I'd have been all that sad even if they had died. I'd just consider it another plot device to move the story along, which is what every setback felt like. A little bump in the road to make us think things were not going to go exactly like we expected, only for it to go exactly like we expected.
Overall feeling:
June 7, 2019
4.5 stars!
I have conflicting feelings about this book, however the last hundred pages or so truly picked up, and especially the last few chapters and epilogue were fairly satisfying to me. The reveals and twists here felt very interesting and the overall concept, looking back at it, is so ambitious, from the concept itself to the setting and journey. I did find the final confrontations rushed and anticlimactic; we built up to a giant war that was over so quickly, and the villains we'd been teased about forever, including a powerful evil queen, showed up only for them to play such a small role and be dispatched quickly. But I was so pleased to be gaining answers that I just didn't care.
While it is still very much an Amanda Hocking book with her typical voice and tropes, it has also got some new flairs and experimentation from her which is nice and shows she clearly continues to grow with each title she releases. She's trying new things and also tackling very big concepts such as whether free will exists or not while still attempting to keep the narrative light and flowing, with short chapters that make it a page turner. She's a very smart businesswoman, in that regard.
Still, it felt the narrative was lacking at times. In large part, it's because this shouldn't be a duology.
A world as large as this with so many complex characters is more suited to a longer series. I could honestly handle four or five more books within the world to explore Asher, Oona, Valeska, and Jude and Samael. This feels like the first ARC in a much grander story, so while I'm happy with the final resolution for now, I'd love to see Hocking tackle another ARC or two with these characters, who all felt they'd had more to offer than just this initial story.
The Valkyrie Duology is set in a world with hi-tech sci-fi aesthetics and technology, as well as magic and mythical beings mainly drawn from Norse mythology. The combination of neon lights, flying bikes, healing crystals and potions, and gorgons with a taste for interior design, all combine to create a very interesting effect that reminds me of an anime or video game in the best way. This series would shine as an animated Netflix show in my honest opinion.
The South American adventures and settings were so interesting, the clash of various mythologies and cultures (though mostly Norse) was rich, and Malin and her relationship with herself and her mother were very interesting. Malin's relationship with her mother Marlow was so interesting; Marlow is an absent-minded and narcissistic doomsday prepper who treats her daughter like a burden and raised her with complicated ideas of love and human connection which still cause Malin to struggle connecting to others. For me this was easily the heart of the book and was Malin's most compelling plot, where it finally felt like I understood where she was coming from and her actual character manages to shine through.
To be fair I have a doomsday prepper father who I have a very complicated relationship with, so I connected to this plot in particular. That said, it also highlighted how little the other characters got to do; Quinn and Asher in particular as the love interests deserved more time to shine and show who they were beyond vague cutouts of typical love interests, Quinn being the bad boy/girl with a dangerous edge and lots of passion, Asher being the nice, safe choice, who makes her feel light and gives her butterflies. It was nice to see a bisexual love triangle in YA and a bisexual heroine who gets to be a badass, but Quinn and Asher deserved more development.
I think my main problem with Hocking's books as of late is the lack of heart or raw hunger to capture an emotion. She's telling a story, and it's a fun one, but it hits like a blockbuster movie, like a Marvel film. There's action and things are happening, but sometimes you want them to dig into the real emotions of these characters they only hint at. Here and there they strike gold, but for the most part it's a lot of "just okay" titles.
Amanda Hocking may not be about to win any literary awards, sure, but whatever you want to say about her work, her early books had more heart and a certain raw perspective or emotion. My Blood Approves, the Trylle books, there's a kind of emotional thread there that is largely absent from her books the last few years and only pops up here and there. It came out during a few scenes, mostly those concerning Malin and her mother, but mostly, it feels like Hocking is holding back and sacrificing her own unique vantage point and emotional truth in order to convey a more commercial story, and I wish I could shake her by the shoulders and make her understand you can have both! She clearly has the skill to pull it off and has before, so...
I do wonder if that emotional thread was in part due to her writing in a vacuum and feeling more pressure now to prove herself as there are more eyes on her and the expectation to continually top her past endeavors.
All in all though, this was a fun two-book romp! Book one should've been longer and utilized the room for more material and scenes for side characters to develop, or show Malin's personality more, but it was fun enough as it was that I feel confident giving it a generous rating for ambition alone.
Overall I'm just hoping we see a spinoff of some kind set in this world one day, as I would love to see her revisit it and I know I'll be rereading the Valkyrie Duology at some point!
I have conflicting feelings about this book, however the last hundred pages or so truly picked up, and especially the last few chapters and epilogue were fairly satisfying to me. The reveals and twists here felt very interesting and the overall concept, looking back at it, is so ambitious, from the concept itself to the setting and journey. I did find the final confrontations rushed and anticlimactic; we built up to a giant war that was over so quickly, and the villains we'd been teased about forever, including a powerful evil queen, showed up only for them to play such a small role and be dispatched quickly. But I was so pleased to be gaining answers that I just didn't care.
While it is still very much an Amanda Hocking book with her typical voice and tropes, it has also got some new flairs and experimentation from her which is nice and shows she clearly continues to grow with each title she releases. She's trying new things and also tackling very big concepts such as whether free will exists or not while still attempting to keep the narrative light and flowing, with short chapters that make it a page turner. She's a very smart businesswoman, in that regard.
Still, it felt the narrative was lacking at times. In large part, it's because this shouldn't be a duology.
A world as large as this with so many complex characters is more suited to a longer series. I could honestly handle four or five more books within the world to explore Asher, Oona, Valeska, and Jude and Samael. This feels like the first ARC in a much grander story, so while I'm happy with the final resolution for now, I'd love to see Hocking tackle another ARC or two with these characters, who all felt they'd had more to offer than just this initial story.
The Valkyrie Duology is set in a world with hi-tech sci-fi aesthetics and technology, as well as magic and mythical beings mainly drawn from Norse mythology. The combination of neon lights, flying bikes, healing crystals and potions, and gorgons with a taste for interior design, all combine to create a very interesting effect that reminds me of an anime or video game in the best way. This series would shine as an animated Netflix show in my honest opinion.
The South American adventures and settings were so interesting, the clash of various mythologies and cultures (though mostly Norse) was rich, and Malin and her relationship with herself and her mother were very interesting. Malin's relationship with her mother Marlow was so interesting; Marlow is an absent-minded and narcissistic doomsday prepper who treats her daughter like a burden and raised her with complicated ideas of love and human connection which still cause Malin to struggle connecting to others. For me this was easily the heart of the book and was Malin's most compelling plot, where it finally felt like I understood where she was coming from and her actual character manages to shine through.
To be fair I have a doomsday prepper father who I have a very complicated relationship with, so I connected to this plot in particular. That said, it also highlighted how little the other characters got to do; Quinn and Asher in particular as the love interests deserved more time to shine and show who they were beyond vague cutouts of typical love interests, Quinn being the bad boy/girl with a dangerous edge and lots of passion, Asher being the nice, safe choice, who makes her feel light and gives her butterflies. It was nice to see a bisexual love triangle in YA and a bisexual heroine who gets to be a badass, but Quinn and Asher deserved more development.
I think my main problem with Hocking's books as of late is the lack of heart or raw hunger to capture an emotion. She's telling a story, and it's a fun one, but it hits like a blockbuster movie, like a Marvel film. There's action and things are happening, but sometimes you want them to dig into the real emotions of these characters they only hint at. Here and there they strike gold, but for the most part it's a lot of "just okay" titles.
Amanda Hocking may not be about to win any literary awards, sure, but whatever you want to say about her work, her early books had more heart and a certain raw perspective or emotion. My Blood Approves, the Trylle books, there's a kind of emotional thread there that is largely absent from her books the last few years and only pops up here and there. It came out during a few scenes, mostly those concerning Malin and her mother, but mostly, it feels like Hocking is holding back and sacrificing her own unique vantage point and emotional truth in order to convey a more commercial story, and I wish I could shake her by the shoulders and make her understand you can have both! She clearly has the skill to pull it off and has before, so...
I do wonder if that emotional thread was in part due to her writing in a vacuum and feeling more pressure now to prove herself as there are more eyes on her and the expectation to continually top her past endeavors.
All in all though, this was a fun two-book romp! Book one should've been longer and utilized the room for more material and scenes for side characters to develop, or show Malin's personality more, but it was fun enough as it was that I feel confident giving it a generous rating for ambition alone.
Overall I'm just hoping we see a spinoff of some kind set in this world one day, as I would love to see her revisit it and I know I'll be rereading the Valkyrie Duology at some point!
September 27, 2019
Ho hum. It was okay. The short chapters allowed me to read and put it down easily. The ending was too pat, and tied together much too quickly.
June 1, 2018
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This has been one of my most anticipated reads ever due to the way that book one ended and it's taken me a long time to wrap my head around all my feelings in order to write my review.
This novel picked up almost immediately after the last one but it continued at a super slow pace for a while after. I felt like the entire book was paced in a similar way and it took a long time for things to pick up. Once they actually picked up, obstacles seemed to be resolved way too easily.
I think my downfall was falling for a character who had less scenes than other side characters did. I was rapidly devouring the story for the next sighting of said character but it almost never came so it really left a lot to be desired. It would've been fine if I had taken a similar liking to any of the other characters but I struggled in that department.
Although, my heart did go out to Malin in a few occasions, it wasn't enough for her to make a huge impact on me. I really liked seeing her character develop a little bit more than in the first book. It wasn't a lot but it was noticeable to say the least. Something kept me from fully connecting to her and I think it's due to the lack of development. I really wanted to see more of her personality but I didn't get it.
I really loved that we got introduced to even more creatures and I devoured every scene detailing their characteristics. Learning about every one became one of my favorite parts of reading this duology. I also enjoyed meeting new characters and it was nice seeing how all of their lives wove together.
I massively enjoyed the fact that Egyptian mythology was added to the mix. If you didn't know, I've been in love with Egyptian mythology ever since I could remember. I would make any excuse at school to make projects based on Egyptian mythology and it was a plus to revisit those times in this book.
Another thing I wasn't a fan of were the chapter breaks. It was a weird experience for a chapter to end in the middle of a fast-paced scene only to start in a completely different scene/atmosphere than the last page. Some really important scenes seemed to be skipped over, never to be mentioned again and it had me questioning their role in the story.
A lot of situations were pretty predictable and I was never really blown out of my mind like I felt in the first book. All in all, I am glad I gave this a try and I'm happy for the characters in the end.
3.5/5 stars
This has been one of my most anticipated reads ever due to the way that book one ended and it's taken me a long time to wrap my head around all my feelings in order to write my review.
This novel picked up almost immediately after the last one but it continued at a super slow pace for a while after. I felt like the entire book was paced in a similar way and it took a long time for things to pick up. Once they actually picked up, obstacles seemed to be resolved way too easily.
I think my downfall was falling for a character who had less scenes than other side characters did. I was rapidly devouring the story for the next sighting of said character but it almost never came so it really left a lot to be desired. It would've been fine if I had taken a similar liking to any of the other characters but I struggled in that department.
Although, my heart did go out to Malin in a few occasions, it wasn't enough for her to make a huge impact on me. I really liked seeing her character develop a little bit more than in the first book. It wasn't a lot but it was noticeable to say the least. Something kept me from fully connecting to her and I think it's due to the lack of development. I really wanted to see more of her personality but I didn't get it.
I really loved that we got introduced to even more creatures and I devoured every scene detailing their characteristics. Learning about every one became one of my favorite parts of reading this duology. I also enjoyed meeting new characters and it was nice seeing how all of their lives wove together.
I massively enjoyed the fact that Egyptian mythology was added to the mix. If you didn't know, I've been in love with Egyptian mythology ever since I could remember. I would make any excuse at school to make projects based on Egyptian mythology and it was a plus to revisit those times in this book.
Another thing I wasn't a fan of were the chapter breaks. It was a weird experience for a chapter to end in the middle of a fast-paced scene only to start in a completely different scene/atmosphere than the last page. Some really important scenes seemed to be skipped over, never to be mentioned again and it had me questioning their role in the story.
A lot of situations were pretty predictable and I was never really blown out of my mind like I felt in the first book. All in all, I am glad I gave this a try and I'm happy for the characters in the end.
3.5/5 stars
March 21, 2020
4 out of 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this, as in devoured it over the course of - roughly - a week. (I'm a slow reader so, for me, that's pretty quick). Without getting in to any particulars or "spoilers", the book was completely enjoyable, kept me engaged and wanting to continue reading. This is book 2 of a 2-book story, however the way it ended, I could easily see the possibility of more (and I hope I'm right!). There is a good mix of supernatural events and beings, well written characters with descriptive locations, a very well developed story-line with a good smattering of love/romance without it taking over the entirety of the book -- and the romance wasn't "sappy". The main character, female, is strong and ready/willing to jump in to battle, to do what is necessary. For those who like YA stories of a supernatural nature (without people being shape-shifters, or vampires or werewolves) with "just enough" romance as a background story, this might be the book(s) for you.
In closing, I'd like to thank the author and publisher the opportunity to read this entertaining book. While this was a book won through a giveaway on GoodReads last year, the review was not a requirement, and I give an honest one of my own free will.
I really enjoyed this, as in devoured it over the course of - roughly - a week. (I'm a slow reader so, for me, that's pretty quick). Without getting in to any particulars or "spoilers", the book was completely enjoyable, kept me engaged and wanting to continue reading. This is book 2 of a 2-book story, however the way it ended, I could easily see the possibility of more (and I hope I'm right!). There is a good mix of supernatural events and beings, well written characters with descriptive locations, a very well developed story-line with a good smattering of love/romance without it taking over the entirety of the book -- and the romance wasn't "sappy". The main character, female, is strong and ready/willing to jump in to battle, to do what is necessary. For those who like YA stories of a supernatural nature (without people being shape-shifters, or vampires or werewolves) with "just enough" romance as a background story, this might be the book(s) for you.
In closing, I'd like to thank the author and publisher the opportunity to read this entertaining book. While this was a book won through a giveaway on GoodReads last year, the review was not a requirement, and I give an honest one of my own free will.
April 3, 2018
I received copy through NetGalley for review.
When I had read the first book in this series, Between The Blade and The Heart, I struggled. It felt slow and messy and so unbelievably heavy on the info dumping, I forgave it thinking it would get better because it felt like it was all a set up for the next book, and I thought the next one would get lighter and easier to get though.
It didn't. It suffered from the same issues as the first. It's going to be a series problem, since this second book set up almost exactly the same way.
It's not that I didn't like the storyline or the characters or even where they story when itself. But it's just the slough to get to where I was going, it took me a week! A week to read this. It should have taken 3 days maximum.
I love Amanda Hocking's other books. But the lightness, the flow is simply not present in this series, it has none of the lightness or hook. It's descriptive styling just does not work for me. And I really, truly wish it did.
I can already tell there's going to be a third book or possibly a spin off, into the altered world and meddling gods, but honestly I don't think I want to stay for the rest of the ride.
I'm so disappointed.
I just can't override my enjoyment of the story for the styling of this one. This was such a miss.
When I had read the first book in this series, Between The Blade and The Heart, I struggled. It felt slow and messy and so unbelievably heavy on the info dumping, I forgave it thinking it would get better because it felt like it was all a set up for the next book, and I thought the next one would get lighter and easier to get though.
It didn't. It suffered from the same issues as the first. It's going to be a series problem, since this second book set up almost exactly the same way.
It's not that I didn't like the storyline or the characters or even where they story when itself. But it's just the slough to get to where I was going, it took me a week! A week to read this. It should have taken 3 days maximum.
I love Amanda Hocking's other books. But the lightness, the flow is simply not present in this series, it has none of the lightness or hook. It's descriptive styling just does not work for me. And I really, truly wish it did.
I can already tell there's going to be a third book or possibly a spin off, into the altered world and meddling gods, but honestly I don't think I want to stay for the rest of the ride.
I'm so disappointed.
I just can't override my enjoyment of the story for the styling of this one. This was such a miss.
April 26, 2018
I wasn't a huge fan of Between the Blade and the Heart but wanted to wanted read the follow-up because of my adoration for the author. Sadly, I was left feeling disappointed. There is too much information overload in this installment, especially considering it's a duology. I found myself skimming chapters not pertinent to the the storyline. The plot is predictable and uneventful. I never warmed to Malin and the endless love triangle didn't help matters. It was obvious who would be chosen, and it seemed tiresome to drag the other character along.
I would not discourage anyone from trying these books, but I can't recommend them either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my advanced review copy.
I would not discourage anyone from trying these books, but I can't recommend them either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my advanced review copy.
May 8, 2018
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
"Either everybody has free will, or nobody has free will."
From the Earth to the Shadows is the second and final installment in author Amanda Hocking's Valkyrie duology. Picking up right where the previous installment left off, Malin Krigare, Valkyrie-in-Training, is on a mission to avenge her mother's death. Valkyries are meant to keep the balance in the supernatural world by eliminating immortals when their number comes up. Years before, Malin's mother made a huge mistake in letting an immortal live which has led to disorder of epic proportions.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
"Either everybody has free will, or nobody has free will."
From the Earth to the Shadows is the second and final installment in author Amanda Hocking's Valkyrie duology. Picking up right where the previous installment left off, Malin Krigare, Valkyrie-in-Training, is on a mission to avenge her mother's death. Valkyries are meant to keep the balance in the supernatural world by eliminating immortals when their number comes up. Years before, Malin's mother made a huge mistake in letting an immortal live which has led to disorder of epic proportions.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
April 8, 2018
Book: From the Earth to the Shadows
Author: Amanda Hocking
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with this ARC.
This is probably the lowest rating I have even given an Amanda Hocking book. I loved the first book, but I did find this one to be lacking. I don’t know what it was, but there was a lot missing. I thought the plot was slow to build up with a rather rushed ending. Don’t get me wrong, I still love this world, but this one was just not up to Amanda’s normal standards.
I view this book as being kind of messy and not in a good way. The writing and plot just seemed really, really forced. I don’t know if there was pressure to meet a due date or what, but it just wasn’t up to Amanda’s normal standards. Whereas the first book seemed to be a bit more complex in terms of writing and plot, From the Earth to the Shadows just did not have that magic touch.
The plot was very simple and by simple, I mean simple. The situations the characters found themselves in were just convenient with very convenient outcomes. Nothing was ever very urgent because there was always a solution and one that was reached very carefully. Nothing felt like it was ever urgent. I guess to put it simply: there was really no extension to the world.
With all of this messiness, I found it really hard to connect with Malin. I loved her and the rest of the gang, but in this second book, I really did find myself not caring about them. I did find Asher’s story to be interesting, but even it kind of fell flat at the end. Like the world building, there was just really not character growth here either.
I did expect more from this book than what I got. While it is not a bad book, I do think there is still some work to be done before publication day, which is April 24, 2018. I do feel that my three star rating is fitting.
Author: Amanda Hocking
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with this ARC.
This is probably the lowest rating I have even given an Amanda Hocking book. I loved the first book, but I did find this one to be lacking. I don’t know what it was, but there was a lot missing. I thought the plot was slow to build up with a rather rushed ending. Don’t get me wrong, I still love this world, but this one was just not up to Amanda’s normal standards.
I view this book as being kind of messy and not in a good way. The writing and plot just seemed really, really forced. I don’t know if there was pressure to meet a due date or what, but it just wasn’t up to Amanda’s normal standards. Whereas the first book seemed to be a bit more complex in terms of writing and plot, From the Earth to the Shadows just did not have that magic touch.
The plot was very simple and by simple, I mean simple. The situations the characters found themselves in were just convenient with very convenient outcomes. Nothing was ever very urgent because there was always a solution and one that was reached very carefully. Nothing felt like it was ever urgent. I guess to put it simply: there was really no extension to the world.
With all of this messiness, I found it really hard to connect with Malin. I loved her and the rest of the gang, but in this second book, I really did find myself not caring about them. I did find Asher’s story to be interesting, but even it kind of fell flat at the end. Like the world building, there was just really not character growth here either.
I did expect more from this book than what I got. While it is not a bad book, I do think there is still some work to be done before publication day, which is April 24, 2018. I do feel that my three star rating is fitting.
April 21, 2018
From the Earth to the Shadows continues Malin’s journey in her quest to avenge her mother’s death. Only this time the stakes are a little higher as the Underworld is in a state of unrest, threatening the mortal world, and Malin has much more to lose. She and her ex have formed a tenuous truce, Asher has managed to burrow into her heart, and both are just part of the small group that Malin has grown to care for. Protecting the mortals is one side of the fight, protecting those around her is a whole different battle, and she has to somehow try and save everyone while also protecting her heart. The previous installment showed just how tough Malin is, but this installment showed that underneath all the gruff, there’s a vulnerability, and certainly one that could lead to impulsiveness.
The pacing this time around was just as quick and energized as the previous installment, and I’m happy to report there’s quite a bit more action involved. Which is a given, actually, considering all that’s at stake. There’s also a whole lot of character growth as each character slowly but surely acknowledges circumstances and finally manages to rein in all of the emotions and past hurts they’ve been grappling with. The inventive storyline of this duology is certainly my favorite part with its blend of fantasy, sci-fi elements, and mythology, but it’s truly the characters and their relationships that make it shine.
From The Earth to the Shadows brings Malin’s journey to a close and while I’m sad to see it it end, the ending was a satisfying one. Tough women warriors in a futuristic setting, a bisexual MC, a little romance, and a whole lot of action with a little Norse mythology thrown in for good measure all blended together for a truly interesting tale, and certainly one that I’ll recommend in the future.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
The pacing this time around was just as quick and energized as the previous installment, and I’m happy to report there’s quite a bit more action involved. Which is a given, actually, considering all that’s at stake. There’s also a whole lot of character growth as each character slowly but surely acknowledges circumstances and finally manages to rein in all of the emotions and past hurts they’ve been grappling with. The inventive storyline of this duology is certainly my favorite part with its blend of fantasy, sci-fi elements, and mythology, but it’s truly the characters and their relationships that make it shine.
From The Earth to the Shadows brings Malin’s journey to a close and while I’m sad to see it it end, the ending was a satisfying one. Tough women warriors in a futuristic setting, a bisexual MC, a little romance, and a whole lot of action with a little Norse mythology thrown in for good measure all blended together for a truly interesting tale, and certainly one that I’ll recommend in the future.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
March 6, 2021
Although this is a fantasy book, there are also very strong sci-fi and dystopian vibes so if you are a fan of those genres and want to try something different, check out this duology.
In this book, there is a lot more traveling. Which I loved, as Hocking excels at world building, so to be able to experience new places with these characters was great.
The main theme was all to do with fate and destiny, and how much control we have over what we do. This really got me thinking. I like how even with all of the unexpected plot twists, everything finally all ties together.
The glossary at the end fooled me! It took up 30 pages, so I thought I still had a lot to read and then turned a page to discover I had finished which was a surprise!
There a few things I would have liked more of. More action in the fight scenes .
Overall it was a really enjoyable duology with likeable characters, a constant and interesting theme and brilliant worlds.
In this book, there is a lot more traveling. Which I loved, as Hocking excels at world building, so to be able to experience new places with these characters was great.
The main theme was all to do with fate and destiny, and how much control we have over what we do. This really got me thinking. I like how even with all of the unexpected plot twists, everything finally all ties together.
The glossary at the end fooled me! It took up 30 pages, so I thought I still had a lot to read and then turned a page to discover I had finished which was a surprise!
There a few things I would have liked more of. More action in the fight scenes .
Overall it was a really enjoyable duology with likeable characters, a constant and interesting theme and brilliant worlds.
April 22, 2018
The conclusion to the thrilling Valkyrie duology. The first book I struggled with, so I was surprised to have been gifted a copy of the conclusion to review. I thought maybe after reading the first story that this one would have won me over a wee more. but unfortunately that didn't happen. It was too slow, I do NOT like love triangles, this trope is done, like we have to move on from this trope that literally just gets used so damn much, I have read so many ya book with triangles and then recently I have read some with NONE and ya know what they are the best bloody books. I much prefer Adult books, this book just Nailed that last nail of mine into the coffin! I found myself skimming, not interested in the characters and that alone says it all.
March 10, 2021
This book was okay. I REALLY enjoyed the first in the series and I was looking forward to this one. Although it was a decent wrap up of the story, it didn't incite the same excitement the first one did. I realize I may be treating this book a bit harshly because of how much I liked its predecessor but such comparisons are natural to make. The writing was lacklustre and the over-reliance on deus ex machina (sometimes quite literally) made it difficult to get too invested in the story. I liked it none the less. It could've been better but I was not dissatisfied.
March 26, 2018
Review:
Review coming soon.
Review coming soon.
Read
July 15, 2018DNF :(
April 30, 2018
3.5 stars
I was very excited to get a chance to read this book. It's no secret that I'm a fan of Amanda Hocking's work. Plus, I had read book one in this series - Between the Blade and the Heart - earlier on in the year and I enjoyed it very much.
From the Earth to the Shadows contains the same lovable cast that were in book one. I appreciated the characters in this book as well, since even the ones that I didn't care for, I understood why I didn't care for them. Not all people in life are likable, so why would fictional people? I feel like I liked Malin a bit more this time around, she seemed more approachable. Maybe I'd just gotten used to her. Either way, it worked.
There is a lot of action packed into this book, as is true with the first one. There's a lot to take in, and a lot to follow. On the one hand, this is great because it feels like it could be an action movie. It keeps the pace quick, and it feels like you're flying through the story. I appreciate that- one of my least favorite feelings is when a book d r a a a a a a g s on forever.
But on the other hand, it is a lot to take in. There's a lot of characters to remember, and background/plot information to keep straight. Some times it felt a bit rushed, like it moved along too quickly, or like some plot steps were a bit too convenient.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed this book. It felt very similar to the first in tone and pace, and I loved a chance to go into the world that Hocking created. I definitely recommend reading book one before you read this one, though. If you've read book one and enjoyed it, then I'll think you'll like the second part of the duology as well. It mixes romance, mythology, and a kick butt heroine into one fast paced adventure through the underworld.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was very excited to get a chance to read this book. It's no secret that I'm a fan of Amanda Hocking's work. Plus, I had read book one in this series - Between the Blade and the Heart - earlier on in the year and I enjoyed it very much.
From the Earth to the Shadows contains the same lovable cast that were in book one. I appreciated the characters in this book as well, since even the ones that I didn't care for, I understood why I didn't care for them. Not all people in life are likable, so why would fictional people? I feel like I liked Malin a bit more this time around, she seemed more approachable. Maybe I'd just gotten used to her. Either way, it worked.
There is a lot of action packed into this book, as is true with the first one. There's a lot to take in, and a lot to follow. On the one hand, this is great because it feels like it could be an action movie. It keeps the pace quick, and it feels like you're flying through the story. I appreciate that- one of my least favorite feelings is when a book d r a a a a a a g s on forever.
But on the other hand, it is a lot to take in. There's a lot of characters to remember, and background/plot information to keep straight. Some times it felt a bit rushed, like it moved along too quickly, or like some plot steps were a bit too convenient.
Ultimately though, I enjoyed this book. It felt very similar to the first in tone and pace, and I loved a chance to go into the world that Hocking created. I definitely recommend reading book one before you read this one, though. If you've read book one and enjoyed it, then I'll think you'll like the second part of the duology as well. It mixes romance, mythology, and a kick butt heroine into one fast paced adventure through the underworld.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2018
THIS REVIEW & MORE → Paws and Paperbacks
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
2.5 stars ✨
Between the Blade and the Heart was not what I had been expecting, so I was really hoping I would like From the Earth to the Shadows better since I was already prepared for the setting and world. Unfortunately, some of the issues from the first book were not improved upon and the story continued to fall flat for me.
From the Earth to the Shadows picks up right where the first book ends. One of the things I did enjoy was that there was a lot more action and fight scenes. I continued to struggle to connect with Malin and the story. I felt myself skimming some portions of the book. I was hoping for more development in regards to her relationship with Asher, but it still felt shallow and undeveloped. There was also no character growth; the characters continued to be flat and one-dimensional. A lot of the tension and obstacles Malin and the other characters faced were resolved too conveniently to be believable, and the ending was very anti-climatic. I really wanted to love this series, because – hello, valkyries – but it just wasn’t the series for me.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
2.5 stars ✨
Between the Blade and the Heart was not what I had been expecting, so I was really hoping I would like From the Earth to the Shadows better since I was already prepared for the setting and world. Unfortunately, some of the issues from the first book were not improved upon and the story continued to fall flat for me.
From the Earth to the Shadows picks up right where the first book ends. One of the things I did enjoy was that there was a lot more action and fight scenes. I continued to struggle to connect with Malin and the story. I felt myself skimming some portions of the book. I was hoping for more development in regards to her relationship with Asher, but it still felt shallow and undeveloped. There was also no character growth; the characters continued to be flat and one-dimensional. A lot of the tension and obstacles Malin and the other characters faced were resolved too conveniently to be believable, and the ending was very anti-climatic. I really wanted to love this series, because – hello, valkyries – but it just wasn’t the series for me.
August 24, 2018
Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this novel. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one was so hard to follow along with. It was uncaptivating and vastly boring, in my opinion.
April 24, 2018
From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking is Valkyrie #2. It continues the story of Malin, now on a mission to avenge her mother's murder. There have been consequences from the events we learned about in the first book, when her mother didn't return an immortal she was supposed to, and the world they live in is starting to come apart at the seams. Her boyfriend Asher getting pulled into the underworld and the growing revolution there is part of it. Malin and her other friends go on a quest to find a weapon that will save humanity and those she loves.
The world that Ms. Hocking creates is as complex and intriguing as I remembered from the first book. Malin's choices have complex repercussions and her relationships with her friends and lovers creates a dynamic all itself. During both books I felt that the world was very grey and murky, seeming to represent a futuristic place that is dirty and cluttered and the characters have to navigate the complicated places they find. Malin is a tough character, as you would expect from a Valkyrie, but also more than just her heritage and job.
Overall, I liked the return to this world that Amanda Hocking gives us in From the Earth to the Shadows. I enjoyed digging deeper into the shadows and the underworld as well as more details about these complex and intriguing characters.
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
The world that Ms. Hocking creates is as complex and intriguing as I remembered from the first book. Malin's choices have complex repercussions and her relationships with her friends and lovers creates a dynamic all itself. During both books I felt that the world was very grey and murky, seeming to represent a futuristic place that is dirty and cluttered and the characters have to navigate the complicated places they find. Malin is a tough character, as you would expect from a Valkyrie, but also more than just her heritage and job.
Overall, I liked the return to this world that Amanda Hocking gives us in From the Earth to the Shadows. I enjoyed digging deeper into the shadows and the underworld as well as more details about these complex and intriguing characters.
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
April 24, 2018
See more reviews on my blog Novels and Necklaces
From the Earth to the Shadows was an exciting finale in the Valkyrie duology! The story picks up right where the previous book leaves off, and we dive right into the story. Amanda Hocking has crafted yet another imaginative, wondrous story that sucks you right in. Her continued world-building was fantastic and the characters experience a lot of growth over the course of the story.
The stakes are much higher this time around for not only Malin, but the entire world. The Underworld is in a state of unrest, which means the threat is looming for the Underworld to rise up and cause chaos on Earth. And it's all up to Malin and her friends to stop that from happening. Meanwhile, Malin's heart is not only torn with Asher being missing/possibly dead, she now has formed a fragile bond with her ex. Now, Malin is not only trying to protect the world but also those she cares about the most. I loved that we saw a different side of Malin throughout this story. She became more vulnerable and open. We already know that she's tough as nails, but this was a refreshing addition to her character. She realized that she didn't need to keep everything all bottled up inside.
The pacing was a little all over the place in this book, which was a little frustrating. There were times when the book was incredibly fast-paced and non-stop excitement. However, there would be these extended periods of time where the story would lag a bit. Even though the story was still interesting, given the urgency of the plot, these scenes just didn't fit with the story as a whole. I kept waiting for them to remember they had a world to save, but they just took their grand ol' time in certain parts. Overall though, there was a lot more action and excitement in this novel than the first book. The action scenes were brilliantly written and were seriously epic.
My only other complaint with the novel was the ending. Everything felt a little rushed and a bit anti-climactic. The resolution to everything almost was a "blink-and-you-miss-it" type thing which upset me. The whole book had been leading toward this epic conclusion and then it just ended. I wanted a little more from this. However, this being said, I did love how much the characters grew over the course of the novel and how much more mature they were by the end. Additionally, I absolutely adore the world that Amanda Hocking has created and it's such an excellent mix of sci-fi, Norse mythology, and fantasy.
I definitely would recommend checking out this sequel/finale in the Valkyrie series. It was a great conclusion to the series, and while I wanted a bit more out of the ending, I was still happy with how the book turned out. If you are a fan of Amanda Hocking, you do not want to miss this one!! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Happy reading :)
From the Earth to the Shadows was an exciting finale in the Valkyrie duology! The story picks up right where the previous book leaves off, and we dive right into the story. Amanda Hocking has crafted yet another imaginative, wondrous story that sucks you right in. Her continued world-building was fantastic and the characters experience a lot of growth over the course of the story.
The stakes are much higher this time around for not only Malin, but the entire world. The Underworld is in a state of unrest, which means the threat is looming for the Underworld to rise up and cause chaos on Earth. And it's all up to Malin and her friends to stop that from happening. Meanwhile, Malin's heart is not only torn with Asher being missing/possibly dead, she now has formed a fragile bond with her ex. Now, Malin is not only trying to protect the world but also those she cares about the most. I loved that we saw a different side of Malin throughout this story. She became more vulnerable and open. We already know that she's tough as nails, but this was a refreshing addition to her character. She realized that she didn't need to keep everything all bottled up inside.
The pacing was a little all over the place in this book, which was a little frustrating. There were times when the book was incredibly fast-paced and non-stop excitement. However, there would be these extended periods of time where the story would lag a bit. Even though the story was still interesting, given the urgency of the plot, these scenes just didn't fit with the story as a whole. I kept waiting for them to remember they had a world to save, but they just took their grand ol' time in certain parts. Overall though, there was a lot more action and excitement in this novel than the first book. The action scenes were brilliantly written and were seriously epic.
My only other complaint with the novel was the ending. Everything felt a little rushed and a bit anti-climactic. The resolution to everything almost was a "blink-and-you-miss-it" type thing which upset me. The whole book had been leading toward this epic conclusion and then it just ended. I wanted a little more from this. However, this being said, I did love how much the characters grew over the course of the novel and how much more mature they were by the end. Additionally, I absolutely adore the world that Amanda Hocking has created and it's such an excellent mix of sci-fi, Norse mythology, and fantasy.
I definitely would recommend checking out this sequel/finale in the Valkyrie series. It was a great conclusion to the series, and while I wanted a bit more out of the ending, I was still happy with how the book turned out. If you are a fan of Amanda Hocking, you do not want to miss this one!! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Happy reading :)
April 4, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is book 2 in the Valkyrie duology and a continuation from Between the Blade and the Heart. Malin is tasked by Odin to return to the underworld to retrieve his sword in order to restore balance between humans and the immortals. She is also on a personal task to rescue Asher from the underworld from the immortals who are plotting to take over the world.
I really liked this book for several reasons. I thought that Malin was more likable in this book and had really matured since book 1. There was less time spent on her personal relationships or her feelings toward her ex, mother and Asher. It seemed like she could move forward once she could see where they fit in her life. I liked that there was a lot more action in this book than the first. The plot moved pretty quickly and kept you wanting to know what would happen next. I think what I liked the most is that she was able to overcome her struggle of not knowing if she had free will or was predestined to the life she was given. In the end that choice ended up being hers, which weighed heavily on Malin. That choice would change the future of all immortals.
I would recommend this book to those that like urban fantasy. If you are a fan of Amanda Hocking you will enjoy this.
This is book 2 in the Valkyrie duology and a continuation from Between the Blade and the Heart. Malin is tasked by Odin to return to the underworld to retrieve his sword in order to restore balance between humans and the immortals. She is also on a personal task to rescue Asher from the underworld from the immortals who are plotting to take over the world.
I really liked this book for several reasons. I thought that Malin was more likable in this book and had really matured since book 1. There was less time spent on her personal relationships or her feelings toward her ex, mother and Asher. It seemed like she could move forward once she could see where they fit in her life. I liked that there was a lot more action in this book than the first. The plot moved pretty quickly and kept you wanting to know what would happen next. I think what I liked the most is that she was able to overcome her struggle of not knowing if she had free will or was predestined to the life she was given. In the end that choice ended up being hers, which weighed heavily on Malin. That choice would change the future of all immortals.
I would recommend this book to those that like urban fantasy. If you are a fan of Amanda Hocking you will enjoy this.
October 5, 2021
Phew. That was intense. A smidge better than the first book, which was good in itself. Malin and her friends travel to Kurnugia and back in the first half and a battle ensues in the second half of the book. All the chapters were short (much like in the first book), which I liked and made for a quick read, and each ended in small cliffhangers (not so small for certain ones). I like books that have those.
I mentioned it already in my review for the first book, but I really loved how Amanda Hocking included creatures from diverse cultures from all around the world. A myriad of new creatures were introduced in the second book and I had lots of fun searching up their pictures online.
A thing I particularly enjoyed reading was the unconventional relationship between Malin and her mother.
I still stand by my favourite character, which is Oona. I love Asher and Malin's relationship too. Though the scenes between them were generic to ya, it didn't make it any less sweet.
4.5
I mentioned it already in my review for the first book, but I really loved how Amanda Hocking included creatures from diverse cultures from all around the world. A myriad of new creatures were introduced in the second book and I had lots of fun searching up their pictures online.
A thing I particularly enjoyed reading was the unconventional relationship between Malin and her mother.
I still stand by my favourite character, which is Oona. I love Asher and Malin's relationship too. Though the scenes between them were generic to ya, it didn't make it any less sweet.
4.5
April 24, 2018
Title: From The Earth To The Shadows
Author: Amanda Hocking
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Mythological
Format: Ebook - NetGalley
Pages: 336
Rating: 4
Heat: 2
Thoughts: What an unexpected ending, not at all what I thought was going to happen. I knew the good would win but there were so many twists that I did not see coming. I’m bummed that it’s over, I was really enjoying the characters along with the world. It’s hard to call this fantasy since it takes place in Chicago but most everything else was very much fantasy with a bit of sci-fi. It’s definitely a must read!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work and chose to write a review.
Author: Amanda Hocking
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Mythological
Format: Ebook - NetGalley
Pages: 336
Rating: 4
Heat: 2
Thoughts: What an unexpected ending, not at all what I thought was going to happen. I knew the good would win but there were so many twists that I did not see coming. I’m bummed that it’s over, I was really enjoying the characters along with the world. It’s hard to call this fantasy since it takes place in Chicago but most everything else was very much fantasy with a bit of sci-fi. It’s definitely a must read!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work and chose to write a review.
April 20, 2018
My blog doesn’t give half stars so I’m rounding this up to 4.
I was so excited to receive this book for early review. I had read the first one and absolutely loved it! I had to know what happened with Malin and her gang. I wish I could say I was just as excited when I finished reading but I’m not.
I really don’t know what happened. I don’t know why this one fell short. I’m still sitting here wondering if maybe it was just me.
First let’s start with what I loved. I love reading about Mari and what she accomplished throughout the book. I love the love story between her and Asher. I love that it was action packed and even though at times I felt myself skimming over the pages then it would pick up and I was just as engrossed as I was when I started reading it. The new characters and the old kept my interest peeked.
I didn’t love how descriptive it was at times. How some of the scenes felt like fillers to make the book longer. How I kept losing interest. A great book draws you in from the first page and doesn’t let you go until the end. This book was good but not great.
Now saying all that I still liked it. It kept my interest not to dnf it and I was able to finish it feeling somewhat satisfied. Amanda Hocking is a very talented author and because this one fell flat doesn’t make me less of a fan.
I encourage everyone to read it and judge the book by your experience. I’ve had a lot going on this week and that could’ve affected my reading style. It really is a good book and I’m going to revisit it later when things calm down.
I was so excited to receive this book for early review. I had read the first one and absolutely loved it! I had to know what happened with Malin and her gang. I wish I could say I was just as excited when I finished reading but I’m not.
I really don’t know what happened. I don’t know why this one fell short. I’m still sitting here wondering if maybe it was just me.
First let’s start with what I loved. I love reading about Mari and what she accomplished throughout the book. I love the love story between her and Asher. I love that it was action packed and even though at times I felt myself skimming over the pages then it would pick up and I was just as engrossed as I was when I started reading it. The new characters and the old kept my interest peeked.
I didn’t love how descriptive it was at times. How some of the scenes felt like fillers to make the book longer. How I kept losing interest. A great book draws you in from the first page and doesn’t let you go until the end. This book was good but not great.
Now saying all that I still liked it. It kept my interest not to dnf it and I was able to finish it feeling somewhat satisfied. Amanda Hocking is a very talented author and because this one fell flat doesn’t make me less of a fan.
I encourage everyone to read it and judge the book by your experience. I’ve had a lot going on this week and that could’ve affected my reading style. It really is a good book and I’m going to revisit it later when things calm down.
May 9, 2019
I have read Trylle and Kanin by Amanda Hocking and compared to that, this book was a total disappointment. Being a compulsive list-maker, I am going to make one now:
Good things:
1. Mal goes to the Underworld and comes back.
2. Mal is a pretty badass fighter and courageous and all that.
3. Oona
4. Mal's pet Bunny Bo
What doesnt work:
1. Setting of the book feels absurd and not explained properly.
2. Too many characters in it, I mean all the species. Difficult to keep track of them.
3. Did not feel very original
4. Odin and Zeus in same book????
Something just felt a little off about this book.
Good things:
1. Mal goes to the Underworld and comes back.
2. Mal is a pretty badass fighter and courageous and all that.
3. Oona
4. Mal's pet Bunny Bo
What doesnt work:
1. Setting of the book feels absurd and not explained properly.
2. Too many characters in it, I mean all the species. Difficult to keep track of them.
3. Did not feel very original
4. Odin and Zeus in same book????
Something just felt a little off about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2018
Thank you netgalley and st. Martins for giving me an e arc of this amazing book!
The first book was amazing to me and while the main character makes the same mistakes her mother made, she has to deal with the as ftermath and BOY WAS THERE A MESS TO CLEAN UP! I know a lot of people complain about the a amount of info being thrown at you but it is nothing compared to Outlander where it was literally like a historical text book. This is about VALKYRIES! WHO DOESN'T WANT TO READ ABOUT THEM?! Amanda hocking did a great job on this book. Like she does with all of her books!
The first book was amazing to me and while the main character makes the same mistakes her mother made, she has to deal with the as ftermath and BOY WAS THERE A MESS TO CLEAN UP! I know a lot of people complain about the a amount of info being thrown at you but it is nothing compared to Outlander where it was literally like a historical text book. This is about VALKYRIES! WHO DOESN'T WANT TO READ ABOUT THEM?! Amanda hocking did a great job on this book. Like she does with all of her books!
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