Between the Blade and the Heart

Valkyrie #1

by Amanda Hocking

Game of Thrones meets Ragnarok in Between the Blade and the Heart, a gripping story of love and revenge from Amanda Hocking, author of the Trylle trilogy and the Kanin Chronicles.

Malin is a Valkyrie-in-training. It’s her responsibility to slay immortals, returning them to the afterlife to maintain balance in the world. She also struggles to maintain balance in her own life – between her studies, her duties as a Valkyrie and her conflicting feelings for her ex-girlfriend. But when a beguiling stranger breaks into her home on a quest for vengeance, Malin’s carefully balanced life falls apart. Asher is hunting the rogue immortal who murdered his mother, and he thinks Malin may have information. Her loyalties are tested, as she uncovers a betrayal that unravels everything she thought she knew. And she must decide if helping the mysterious Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk – to the world, and to her heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2018

About the author

AMANDA 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

Reviews

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was not the best way to start 2018.



I am familiar with Amanda Hocking's work, since her Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles hold a special place in my heart. That is why it saddens me to no end to admit that Between the Blade and the Heart was a big miss for me.

Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book of a duology based on norse mythology. The world is divided between Mortals and Immortals; Mortals have a short lifespan, but they can determine their own fate, whereas Ιmmortals live forever, but their path is set in stone, and fundamental choices about their nature do not belong to them. In order to maintain the balance, the gods created the Valkyries, mortals bestowed with supernatutal strength and abilities, assigned to murder immortals and return them to the Underworld. Malin is a Valkyrie in training, but when she discovers a horrible truth about her mother's past, she becomes a pawn to a conspiracy set into motion hundreds of years ago. In the end, it seems that her mother's choice will cause the end of free will, and humanity.

Perhaps I shouldn't read this one so soon after Norse Mythology. I was mesmerized by Neil Gaiman's storytelling, and the way he preserved an authentic, nostalgic vibe to his narration of nordic myths, and as a result Amanda Hocking's approach did not sit well with me. I was introduced to a world which at first seemed like a cheap imitation of the Mortal Instruments, only to later realize that humans and supernatural beings coexist (for example your car mechanic has horns and it's totally cool, even sexy if you're into those things), and then hovercrafts and flying motorcycles were thrown into the mix and my expectations were scattered to the wind. Amanda Hocking's universe did not lack imagination, but I wanted something more traditional, I guess, and the futuristic element took me by surprise.

To be fair, my not so enthusiastic reaction towards the world-building is something entirely subjective, and I would propably overlook it if that was my only issue. Sadly, the characters and the romance did not help either. The relationships were frustratingly superficial, they didn't evoke any emotions, and their backround was poorly established, they were friends or lovers because the author told you they were, not because she showed you the way their bonds ran deep and true. I didn't care about them at all, I was totally indifferent to their fates, they could live or die, hurt or smile and still I didn't give a damn. And it only gets worse.

Most of you must know by now that there's nothing I hate more than love triangles. So yeah, Between the Blade and the Heart had one of those, too.



There's your girl, Malin, who broke up with her girlfriend for reasons I can't quite comprehend but still pines over her and salivates at her glowing hair and her crooked smile, and then she meets this gorgeous guy who makes her feel safe and warm and gives her palpitations, and she has a thing for them both. And she acts on the thing she has for them both.



The world is literary burning but Malin can't control her hormones. She is overcome with lust at the most inappropriate times, and the heat fogs her brain and she can't make rational decisions. I haven't encountered the need to play savior so far, but I'd rather think that my mind would be on the demons I'm facing next day instead of kissing the one love interest and ten minutes later cuddling with the second. Or maybe it's just me, I don't know.

I skimmed the last chapters because after a while I gave up trying to feel something about these characters except from irritation and exasperation, but I still wanted to learn the conclusion of the story, and that's how I made it to the end. I may sound harsh and bitter, but believe me, my heart is full of sorrow because I know Amanda, I know she is capable of magic and great things, and it kills me to say that Between the Blade and the Heart was not one of her best works. It was still fast-paced and action-packed, and the ideas behind it full of potential, so if you're up for the task, please give it a try. But if you want to truly appreciate her storytelling abilities and swoonworthy romances, I'd say read the Kanin Chronicles instead.

*ARC generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series, Valkyrie, which is inspired by Norse Mythology. The series features a main character that is a Valkyrie in training who finds her whole world turned upside down from everything she has ever known.

I will admit to picking this one up half based on the beautiful cover but also the fact that instead of the Vampires and Werewolves that seem to be everywhere in young adult fantasies it was about a Valkyrie and inspired by mythology. Not a subject you normally find to read about just dealing with that alone gave it a fresher feel than the next Vampire novel would have done.

When starting off reading I found Malin to be somewhat unlikable with a rather brash personality but while getting to know her I thought she was perfectly done to fit a young Valkyrie and the background from which she came. She’s one tough cookie and once getting into the story more I actually did end up liking her. I also quite liked a few of the other characters and all seemed to be well developed.

I would warn with this comes a bit of a love triangle if those are something readers like to avoid. Malin meets a guy named Asher who starts her on her journey in the story but also involved is her ex-girlfriend. There are feelings for both involved but none of this bothered me at all and seemed to fit well in what we know about Malin herself and the journey she takes in self discovery and in her duties as a Valkyrie.

Overall, I thought this was a great beginning to this new series and will definitely be interested in continuing on in the next book with an ending that definitely left room for more to come in the story. The series is fast paced and action packed which I always enjoy to keep the pages turning and hints at book two being even more so.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE HEART REVIEW – BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY
(Giveaway rules: 1 usa winner only, finished paperback copy, ends 1/20/18 midnight – Rt&follow my twitter @howusefulitis to win).

About: Between the Blade and the Heart is a young adult fantasy written by Amanda Hocking. It will be published on 1/2/18 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. This is book one to a duology.

My Experience: I started reading Between the Blade and the Heart on 12/9/17 and finished it on 12/18/17. This book is a great read! It’s my second Norse Mythology inspired read after Beyond a Darkened Shore. I’m still not too thrilled with this Norse mythology because there are so many terms for names, places, and things I can’t pronounce and so many demons/gods/in-between I’m not so inclined to get to know. Other than that, I enjoy the story and I like following Malin’s adventures. I like that Malin is independent and in control of herself. I like the way the story is moving, it is like a little puzzle that lead forward from one step to another.

This book is told in the first person point of view, following Malin Krigare, 19, a Valkyrie with the responsibility to execute immortals and return them to the underworld. The reason to kill off the immortals is because there isn’t enough space for everyone on earth. In this new world where immortals and mortals co-exists and if the immortals are left to live forever then the earth will be over capacity. Malin’s mother, Marlow, also is an immortal executioner. As a Valkyrie, she has more strengths than others and the vengeance for her death is even riskier because she’s slaying other’s loved ones. One day, Asher Varja give a surprised visit to Malin and wanted vengeance against Malin’s mom, Marlow. Marlow didn’t kill an immortal, who in turn becomes dangerous and killed Asher’s mom. Now Malin and her mom have to help Asher chase down that immortal to get rid of him so that Asher can find closure, but more happened than what they bargained for.

This book is well written and developed. I enjoy the humor. I actually enjoy the love triangle in this book, especially the awkward moments when the three are together. I like Oona, Malin’s best friend/roommate and her ability with crystals. The romance is a bit quick for my liking, but it’s hot and most definitely with Asher. I like the mentions of how we are only pawns in the games of the gods. I can’t imagine human living among demons and other less humanoids. My goose bumps set itself free just thinking about it. This book is an interesting read and there were hardly any dull moments. I highly recommend everyone to read it.

Pro: humor, diversity, fast paced, love triangle, actions and adventures, a lot going on

Con: probably just me but those places, names, and things are super difficult to pronounce

I rate it 4.5 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

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Amanda was an indie author I remember buying her books like crazy and devouring them. I loved them all and just couldn't get enough. And as much as I loved her writing, for some reason, her past couple of releases have been good, but I haven't felt that frenzied loved for them or her characters like I once did.

Maybe it is me and my tastes have changed or maybe her writing has, either way, as much as I wanted to love this and connect with it, I just didn't. That doesn't mean it was a bad read because it wasn't, in fact I loved the Norse mythology attached to it, it was interesting and something different which was nice but again, with as much as I liked a lot of it, a lot of it also didn't resonate with me. Doesn't mean I will stop trying this author or reading her, maybe I just need to set my expectations on a different level than they once were.

Having said all of that though, I do think a lot of readers, old and new, will like this and enjoy it because it really is a good story overall.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jordanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

🌟🌟

So while I was checking who the publisher was for the opening line of this review I saw NetGalley's description of this book started with these words: 'Game of Thrones meets Thor: Ragnarok'.

Um, no? I feel like this is a severely misleading description if anything this book is Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Shadowhunters and well, every mythological being out there, apparently. I found this book quite disappointing really. It wasn't bad, it was actually alright but it lacks focus on its concept and if you're going into this expecting a Norse-inspired YA fantasy you're going to be disappointed.

So far as I can tell the Valkyries in this book resemble those from mythology only in name, fierceness and weaponry. Their purpose and values are completely unique to this world and that is perfectly fine, they just don't line up with the mythology and I think it might have been better if they had had a different name all their own. The atmosphere and setting of the novel are a very grungey, steampunk, overcrowded city complete with hover crafts, dark, gritty alleyways and underground markets just 'cause. The scene-setting is actually really good, and the world-building as good as it could be with the complete overload of inspirations it had.

The Norse influence is very limited and this book includes all manner of immortal, mythology beings including angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, goblins, cyclopses, ghosts, witches, devas (whatever they are), demigods, real gods, giant spiders, shapeshifters, sorcerers and pretty much everything in between. It's too much, and frankly, I just wish the bad guys had had one overarching theme. On top of this, while a lot of the names used were German-inspired we also had them side by side with things named in different Norse languages, Latin and probably many others I'm too uneducated to recognise. It was just too much.

It's our main character, Malin's (and her fellow elite warriors the Valkyries) job to kill these many, many, many immortal beings when their time is dictated by some other faceless, immortal beings for reasons unbeknownst to us or her, and she is aided by her human-come-sorceress-in-training best friend; her knowledgable father-figure mentor and this other dude she just met - but wait! She has to do all this world-saving andkeep up with school work and exes and mother issues like any other teenager?! However, will she cope with being so awesome? (Do you see where I am getting Buffy from?)

Much like Buffy, I found it hard to keep my attention with this book. I mean it was interesting but, as with Buffy (when my best friend made me watch it, appalled I had missed it in my childhood despite it predating us both) my mind would wander and I'd hit pause to go do something else pretty easily.

Overall the writing was good even if a few sentences kind of felt like a thesaurus had coughed them out:

"Many immortals took umbrage with the idea of being "returned", which was the vernacular the Riks used for killing."

And I feel when you are going to reference literature or mythology as part of your world-building it's important to decide once and for all if it's also canon in your world or not. For instance, there was a place called 'the Ninth Ring' and one of the characters then explains it while referring to Dante's Inferno. It's a place name. Your readers can get that reference themselves and it's clever, when your characters get it too, that it's cheesy. I also didn't understand how the characters could refer to anything as mythology when it all lived right next door to them, quite literally. Or question if the Vanir gods are real when according to their own job description, they work for them. It was confusing as hell.

My final peeve is that I saw yet another example of what I'm tentatively going to refer to as a trope, since I'm not 100% sure it is and I have not heard it discussed before. In the last few YA books I've read with a bisexual main character, I've noticed a trend that every single author seemed compelled to include two romantic rivals, one female, and one male as if it was necessary to validate their character's bisexuality? Which obviously it isn't. It makes sense in some of the books I've read but on most occasions, it feels like the author is just trying to prove their character is bi to the reader. When a character makes it clear they are hetero or gay in a book I don't go looking for proof, I accept it because it's a book, why would it lie? So, why do I need proof for bisexual characters in the form of forced and utterly incompatible love rivalries that add nought to the story except for inner commentary for the main character as they decide who they like better? Please just stop.

I think this book will really appeal to a lot of people, as many people do really like the meshing of different mythologies and legends and overall it isn't horrible, I'm just not one of them and I won't be reading the sequel.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the Blade and the Heart is a brand new series by Amanda Hocking that is based on Norse Mythology and more specifically the training of a young Valkyrie who discovers that her life and all she believed was twisted lies and hidden agendas.

Easy, entertaining a full of potential for another series that will be added to the must pre-order list, I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

I'm a fan of Hocking's novels but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, mostly Malin. I'm chalking this lack of connection up to a newly developing series and hoping that the connection is going to build with the progression of the story/series.

The story is fast paced, action filled, quite unique.

I received this ARC copy of Between the Blade and the Heart from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing can always be said about Amanda Hocking’s writing, it always flows along, the dialogue is spot on, relaxed and natural feeling, as if the characters were right there, feeling exactly what you are feeling.

This time out, we are treated to Norse Mythology and specifically, Valkyries, those amazing women warriors, trained for battle, to carry out the biddings of the gods, to return immortals to the underworld when it is their time, no exceptions. To fail in their duties would cause catastrophic consequences. Welcome to Malin’s world, a world of strict rules, duty and no time for emotional connections, at least Malin was always told by her cold mother that Valkyries couldn’t love, but is Malin discovering that isn’t quite true? Will Malin also discover that the one Valkyrie she thought would never fail at her duty had done just that and now it was up to her to right the wrong that had been done so long ago? Was that one indiscretion really a “wrong” to begin with? A Valkyrie’s duty is to deliver those chosen for death, not to question if it is wrong or right, not to judge for themselves…but one Valkyrie did just that, and the fallout has truly been horrendous.

The balance of the world now lay at Malin’s feet as she prepares to make things right with a ragtag group of friends, an old lover, a possible new lover and one powerful immortal who doesn’t want to go to the underworld.

BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE HEART by Amanda Hocking is fast-paced tale of a young Valkyrie-in-training who discovers her mother and mentor may not be the person she thought she was and the fallout has become a web of tangled lies, lives and loves that could all be gone in an instant. Easy reading, not overly deep, but definitely entertaining!

I received an ARC edition from Wednesday Books/St Martin's Press in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Valkyrie (Book 1)
Publisher: Wednesday Books (January 2, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1250084792
ISBN-13: 978-1250084798
Genre: Fantasy | YA
Paperback: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary (from the publisher)

When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested.

Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk -- the the world and her heart.

As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.

My thoughts:

Amanda Hocking has created a rich, vibrant world based on Norse and other mythologies. Gods, Goddesses, the Valkyrie....it's all in this new young adult series! I loved this book....the world building is rich, the storyline is amazing! Another great book from Amanda Hocking!

I enjoyed Malin as a main character. She is very torn between duty and emotions. She has to deal with self doubt and the pull of relationship ties, as she tries to sift her way through secrets and dangers. For me, the story brought a new facet to the mythologies. I will definitely be reading more of this series as it comes out.

AUTHOR BIO:

Amanda Hocking is the author of more than 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.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Elise (On The Bookshelves) · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy and fast-paced read! Still maybe a 2 or 2.5 out of 5 though?

This wasn't something I'd go out and buy, it just happened to be the cheapest book at the airport that I was most interested in. That being said, I was pretty excited by the idea of Norse mythology being present in this book, and it certainly was interesting throughout the novel.

Nineteen-year-old Malin is a Valkyrie and she returns immortals to the afterlife when the higher ups decide it is time for them to move on. She's not fully qualified so her mentor/mother Marlow oversees her kills, while Malin also attends a school to learn more about immortals, beasts, hierarchy etc. She's bisexual—there's her mostly ex girlfriend Quinn, her occasional bed buddy Jude, and then there's Asher, the son of a Valkyrie who winds up hunting her down as Malin's mother killed his mother.

Essentially the premise of the story is that Malin's mother didn't kill an immortal and that immortal supposedly killed Asher's mother so it's her fault. He doesn't want revenge, but more so answers. However, everyone near Malin becomes involved in trying to right her mother's wrongs.

The writing style felt quite simple and I know I am nit-picking but this book was also riddled with errors when it came to sentence structure, grammar and spelling. I'm not miss perfect when it comes to writing, but it's super distracting when there's something every few pages. The chapters are also incredibly short and in a way, it makes you feel like you're flying through the book because there's like 60 chapters in a book that's only 400 pages long.

The characters were quite one-dimensional causing me to have difficulty to connect with them and it seemed we were given the minimum background for each character. It was also annoying that Malin carries this idea around that Valkyrie's can't love because that's what her mother told her, so she often jumps around between the three love interests.

There were a lot of things that didn't get brought up again such as Marlow going on about how Malin should have been able to withstand some kind of poison because of Valkyrie heritage. I thought perhaps we might find out that there's something different about her towards the end of the book as a big reveal, but nada.

The big battle was pretty sub-par as I love an epic showdown, but this one was like two pages. The ending was quite obvious as we had a crow flying around throughout the book and if you know Norse mythology, you know what that means. However, it may still interest me enough to see what happens in the next book. Perhaps if I don't have to pay for the book though.

Lastly, I know YA is quite broad and this book isn't overly risque, but there's some steamy scenes so I'm not entirely sure if it'd be suitable for younger readers. But then again, I would have totally read it at the age of 12 because nobody screened my books.

Anyway, if you're looking for something to quickly read, or something with loads of romance but still fantasy, this book is for you!

P.S - Everyone has different views on books so just because I didn't enjoy it enough to give it five stars doesn't mean you won't!

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a rather quick and pleasant read.

The story takes place in an alternate world where humans and immortals (demons, ogres, vampires etc.) co-exist. And there exists another group, the Valkyries, who were chosen by the gods to play grim reaper to the immortals.

The book puts into question the idea of destiny or pre-determined fate versus our free will to choose. If one decision can change the course of history, is that because it was always meant to happen or because that very action went against the greater plan? Thus altering its course. A rather interesting question really. And one that we continue to question from beginning to end.

Overall, the book was well-paced and overall decently written, though with this being an ARC there were some obvious errors here and there. But I am certain those will all be fixed in the final edition. I do wish there was a little more world-building, however, there was certainly enough for me to grasp the overall setting of the story.

The Cast
Malin is a smart, stubborn, kick-ass Valkyrie, with some rather serious emotional issues. Her childhood was not a normal one, growing up with her mother, a fellow Valkyrie, who taught her daughter survival, but rarely showed her love.

Asher is the son of a fallen Valkyrie out to avenge his mother. He is strong, kind, patient and honestly just a precious cinnamon roll.

Quinn is Malin's ex-girlfriend and a fellow Valkyrie. She is beautiful, relentless, caring and overall a sweetheart. And unlike what the synopsis might lead to believe she fighting for the same side as Malin and Asher, even if there may a conflict in terms of their relationships with Malin.

Oona, Malin's best friend and a witch in training, is intelligent, hardworking, caring and loveable. She is honestly, the sort of ride-or-die best friend everyone needs.

The Relationships
So I guess I should warn those with an aversion to love triangles that there is somewhat of a love triangle in play here.

Quinn & Malin
These two dated a while back, and as we're told it is hot, intense and consuming until of course, Malin breaks it off. Malin admits that Quinn made her feel great, she also knowledges that Quinn, at many times, was too much. Demanded too much of her, wanted more than she was willing to give and that often times after being with Quinn she felt drained. While they do share a few intense moments and a few kisses throughout the book, it honestly felt that this relationship belonged in the past. And though Malin wasn't fully aware of her feelings, for the most part, I believe she felt the same way.

Asher & Malin
Their first meeting was, of course, a little rocky, given that Asher broke into Malin's apartment in search of her mother, who was indirectly responsible for the murder of his mother. But after coming to an understanding, these two become fast friends. And then, they develop into something more. Malin is someone who always seems ready to run, to hightail it out of a complicated situation and push people away. But with Asher, it is different, because, in addition to being kind, he is always very patient with Malin. He doesn't ask anything of her that she herself isn't willing to give. He is always there, to support and protect her if she needs it. Even though he knows Malin is fully capable of taking care of herself. With Asher, it seems Malin is willing to lay down her armor, if only a little, and at her most vulnerable, he makes her feel safe.

*More detailed review to come*

[destiny ♡ howling libraries]

DNF @ pg 90

I really, really wanted to like this book, but after two separate attempts and two DNFs, I'm letting this one go. It's not offensive or anything, and the writing isn't bad, but I can't connect to the story or the characters. I can't seem to get invested in anything that's happening, and when a book has been sitting on my desk, untouched, for a week and I have no desire at all to pick it back up, I know it's not for me. :(

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won an ARC of this book in a goodreads drawing.

Sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a Norse Mythology angle. Malin is a Valkyrie, and goes around retiring (killing) supernatural beings for a living. She has a difficult relationship with her mother; an ex girlfriend who still pines for her, and she meets with the usual mysterious, brooding boy, and there's secrets and crises.

Not bad. The Norse stuff keeps the book from being completely cookie cutter.

[Shelby M. (Read and Find Out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that more time had been given to the world-building and less to the love triangle romance that I didn't think made any sense. I'm still interested in the basic premise of this book... But the romance and sections of the plot didn't work well for me.

I did enjoy the diverse cast of characters though, particularly that the book isn't just centered on the diversity (it's not the focus of the plot).

[ambsreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan for sending me a copy. All thoughts are my own.

Just eh. I don’t have a lot of feelings, a mini review may come.

[hillary · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I feel really sorry but no, I didn’t like this book. I have a strange relationship with Amanda Hocking’s books, I hate them or I really love them. There’s no in-between.
I loved to pieces the Trylle and Kanin series but this one had seriously nothing to do with them. The action and intrigue and amazing characters and love triangles of those two amazing series are exactly what is missing in this book. I found it really boring and repetitive, with a weird world building, flat characters and an underdeveloped love triangle which I didn’t enjoy at all.
I was on chapter one when I first thought that I didn’t like what I was reading, but I was full of hope so I read on. Some books prove you wrong and you end up loving them, but with this one it was the case of “first impressions are everything”.
I've always loved her writing style because it’s simple and fast, and the one in this book was no exception. However I guess that is the only positive I have to say.

[Kat]

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review “Between the Blade and the Heart” by Amanda Hocking. Malin and her mother Marlow lead an interesting life as Valkyries, though it isn’t without moral questions at times. They are assigned to go out and kill those whose time it has been deemed to die. I found the world-building creative and am interested to see what happens next.

[Zitong Ren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Provided by the State Library Victoria as part of the Inky Awards.

This is a rant, all thoughts are my own and I mean no offence to anyone.

I’m really questioning what the actually heck I just read, and I don’t mean it in a good way either. The good thing is that not everything was that bad, hence the two stars instead of one, so I’ll start with the spoiler free good stuff, before we get onto the non spoiler free of all the things that I didn’t like, and all are my own unbiased opinions.

First off, the cover. I like it and it suits the book(not in a bad way, I promise), in that there is a blade and if you weren’t aware, the book focuses on Norse mythology in an urban setting, so urban fantasy as well, which is also kinda cool. Some parts of the writing was also done well, there’s a love triangle, consistent plotting and it is not all that boring at times of a read. All positives. There’s plenty of action, weird mythical creatures, a dosage of class, and a fair bit of romance, things that reflect well on modern YA, so the appeal is certainly there. However, exactly none of that was was executed to a good degree and while the author tried to incorporate many good things, they all fell flat. Furthermore, it has one of the lowest ratings on Goodreads that I have yet seen for a fairly popular book, and it all goes downhill from there and as such, major spoilers from here, so is you haven’t read the book, maybe it is time to go.

The New York Times dubbed it, “Generated an excitement not felt in the industry since Stephanie Meyer or perhaps even J.K Rowling.” *Scoffs loudly.* One of my biggest issues is that this book does not feel original in any way or form. Instead it felt like Hocking read a lot of the big popular YA urban fantasy books, and then smushed them into one book. It’s based heavily around Norse Mythology which instantly reminded me of Magnus Chase and there’s also a fair share of walking around and meeting up with strange creatures which also screams works of Riordan. The whole killing immortals, seems very similar to killing demons from the Shadowhunters Chronicles and there’s even training places and schools. I simply felt that the book didn’t really bring anything all that new and exciting to the table of YA.

“I’d just learned everything I believed was a lie.”

What a load of nonsense. One thing she believed turned out to be a lie, which is nowhere as the lies that Eve went through in Lifel1k3 which is another Inky longlisted book. As it is told from first person perspective, some of the narrative, like that quote above really ended up bothering me. Another major pet peeve in this book. A character threatens another character, goes into an argument of about two words, and the character who was previously so adamant, immediately gives up and this happens about four to five times throughout this book, and guess, what? They all reply with the same word, “fine.” EVERYONE SINGLE TIME! That either means every character has the personality of a piece of grass, and they all use exactly the very same word, or that it was lazy writing on the author’s part, and I’m willing to believe both.

Which brings me to say, I couldn’t not care for any of the characters… like, at all. When Marlow, who is the main character’s mum dies, I didn’t not even blink an eye, why, because Marlow was an annoying character who did absolutely nothing and I hated her with my soul. She was cruel and the whole problem in this book happened because of her being stupid. I could not ship any of the characters and the romance, dare I say it, felt really forced and rushed, and way too much instalove. Oh look, your mum just died, this guy ambushed me in my own apartment, but hey, who cares, let me hook up with him because he looks nice. Can you not? Also, that ending was the worst piece of bull I have actually read. Malin walks up to the hated enemy, stabs him, he laughs and then proceeds to drop dead. The grand finale that I was looking for was actually a hundred page tale of them taking a train and getting lost in a maze, and while an epic battle scene was expected, she just goes stab and then he pops dead. No plot twists no nothing, unless you count ending which ends on a cliffhanger which is something that is way to prevalent in YA books, but is also one of the most annoying things to find from a book.

Everything feels too much like a copy of other books, the characters are all dead inside and the cover looks pretty. That’s about it. 2.5/10

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That's the funny thing about love. It doesn't wait for perfection."

This is some of the best world-building I have ever seen. For me, the setting isn't usually that important, plot and characters are more likley to make me love a book but this was something else, the world drew me in before anything else had been set up. A modern, sci-fi/dystopian type city but still traditional fantasy in such that the demons are fought with blades. The world was so thought out with specific things like lufts (hover-motorbikes) and Malin's pet wolpertinger ( a type of dragon, rabbit pet). I felt truly immersed in the world from the first page. The way the small links to the current climate and environmental crisis we are in were made too was brilliant.

The plot was great, there was never a dull moment, everything flowed and there was all the elements of a good fantasy: secrets, battles, demons, death and training. I would have liked a little more action in the final battle if I'm honest though. Also, be warned this ends on a real cliffhanger, you'll want book 2 on hand like I have here!

There are a lot of supernatural creatures mentioned and I didn't know what all of them were, and they weren't explained unless it was a character of significance. Whilst this didn't detract from reading it, it is worth mentioning. The Valkyrie in this book are different to the usual kind. Whilst they are still strong and all-female, their main job is to kill immortals under instructions of Vanir, to maintain order. This was an interesting concept, and again shows how well-developed the world was.

The characters are all interesting. Marlow isn't the usual mother-figure, nor is Samael the typical mentor. There is a love triangle, but it's more of Malin dealing with feelings for her ex-girlfriend, but also a new guy being on the scene. Yes - we have a bisexual fantasy heroine! Oona is such a cool friend too. I want to know more about Jude, hoping he features more in the next book.

Overall, this is a very fresh feeling fantasy read. All the usual ingredients, but presented in a unique way. I would highly recommend it!

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Between the Blade and the Heart we follow Mal, a Valkyrie who returns immortals to the afterlife by slaying them to keep the balance of the world from being thrown into chaos. After Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die she struggles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought. Now she has to figure out how to fix her mothers mistake before the immortal sends the world crashing down around them.

Mal is a strong and determined character, but she definitely has some issues because of the way her mother raised her. The family dynamics between the two of them was heartbreaking. The female friendship between Mal and her human roommate, best friend and sorceress in training, Oona was fantastic. Shes caring, but not afraid of calling Mal out on her shit. I hope we get to see more of Atlas in the next book. I totally wanted more of that scene where Oona and Atlas try to pick up the same guy at the bar.

I also liked Asher and Quinn. They both have distinct personalities and qualities that made them likeable, but Im not sure how I feel about the love triangle. I loved all the diversity and reading about bi character, but we dont all have feelings for both guys and girls at the same time. Im not saying it doesnt happen, but spreading that stereotype does us a huge disservice. Enough people seem to think that as it is. Also it was kind of weird how Mal completely ignored the creepy thing her mom said and all the other signs she was given.

I thought this was going to be your traditional urban fantasy, but it didnt really feel like one because the world had some futuristic elements to it, which I loved. I also loved all the different creatures and Norse mythology. I would have liked a bit more information about the world, but this is the first book in a series and I understand the author didnt want to slow down the pace by adding all the world building at the same time. The story gripped me from the start, but then the pace slowed down and the story slowly started losing my interest.

*received for review consideration*

[JenacideByBibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley for an honest review.
Opinion:

A slaying female heroine, naughty immortals hell-bent (haha, pun) on staying alive, and long walks into the underworld. Suh-Woon.

Kind of.

A Valkyrie has the sole duty of returning immortals to the afterlife once their lives are up. As one of the feared and sometimes hated Valkyrie, Malin dedicates her life to her job. When given a target, Malin knows not to ask questions and to complete her task as quick and efficiently as possible; when your time is up, your time is up. As Malin trains alongside her mother and learns her ways, she proves that she is almost ready to go out on her own. But when a boy named Asher attacks Malin in her apartment, she learns that her mother may have let one of her targets go in the past…and the repercussions involve the death of an innocent and the fate of their existence.

Sounds like a killer fantasy tale of badass female fighters and demons, right? Well, it is. It’s packed with action, has an INCREDIBLY strong female lead, a little romance, a little betrayal, and the ever-loving descent into the underworld. Though the author, Amanda Hocking, has laced this book with everything I love in a story, I still wasn’t completely blown away. I was intrigued with the direction that it took, and it successfully pulled me in. I just didn’t feel like I HAD to keep reading it. It didn’t seem to flow as easily and naturally as the other works from Amanda, and it left me a little disappointed.

Do not let that discourage you, because I am still giving this book a semi-positive review. I can honestly report that I did find enjoyment out of Between the Blade and the Heart, and I am still impressed with the idea and plot. I think my main concern was that I felt a lack of connection to the story and the characters. Malin is a fierce and insanely awesome main character, but I don’t feel like I know her as well as I would have liked. For me, the character and world development didn’t translate properly into something relatable. Obviously, it’s hard to do that in a Fantasy story about creatures that don’t exist. But making the reader feel like they could fall into this world with just a touch to the page is what makes a Fantasy story relatable, and I just wasn’t feeling it with this one.

I think my final opinion on Between the Blade and the Heart is “Eh okay, good...but not my favorite”. Since this is a series, I probably won’t go on to read book 2. BUT, there have been many a series to turn my opinions around in the second installment, so I will have to wait and see. Honestly guys, Amanda Hocking is one of my favorite authors, so I am a bit bummed out to be writing a not so stellar review for one of her works. I know this story really worked for a lot of other readers, but it just wasn’t all the way there for me.

[Hristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read an excerpt from this book on my blog illbefinealone reads.

This was an interesting read. This is the second Amanda Hocking book I've read, and it's also the second time that I'm disappointed with the romance aspect of the story in her books (in case you wonder why I'm mentioning it first it's because I really like romance). The main character was a bisexual girl, and I was all for it until she was involved in one of the weirdest love triangles I've ever read, and it made me dislike all characters involved.
The book feels a little slow, but the story is still great, and the writing is decent. However, some decisions made about the characters and the world it's set in made it a little messy.
Whether this book is for you or not depends on how big of a fan of fantasy YA you are.


*Copy received through NetGalley, thanks to St. Martin's Press for generously providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review
*Rating: 3/5 stars

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Words: Valkyrie, loyalty, secrets, consequences, duty.

I started this on the evening and had finished it by the early hours. A very quick read that I couldn't put down!

Review to come.

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow -- This new story by Amanda Hocking is an interesting combination of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mythology.  Malin is attending the Ravenwood Academy in a dystopian United States where she is training to be a Valkyrie like her mother.  All she wants in life is to slay creatures as ordered by the gods.  For all of Malin's strengths, she is most stubborn and won't be a full-fledged Valkyrie unless she graduates and her grades are not what they should be.  Her ex, Quinn, and Archer, both children of Valkyries and already where Malin wants to be, she finds out that her mother isn't all she is cracked up to be. There is also Oona, a sorceress in training that rounds out the group.  There could seriously be a love quadrangle at some point between these four.  Oh yeah, there is a lot of romance so this is best suited for older teens.  

There is a lot of action and adventure as we follow Malin (love that name!), to the gates of the underworld as she tries to right a wrong and all because of her mother.  That internal struggle of Malin's is the core of the story since she thinks her mother is perfect and when she finds that her mother actually has a slip of compassion, it tilts her worlds a bit.  

The world building is quick and to the point and contains all sorts of multi-ethnic and magical creatures.  It hits a lot of marks when it comes to being inclusive with a bisexual main character and I wish that the world was given a bit more definition but then the book would have been a hundred pages longer.  The story was full of action and turned out to be a fast read for me!  I can't wait for the conclusion because this left me hanging a bit.

[Shealea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quick thoughts:
- Norse mythology! Valkyries!
- Sloppy world-building & messy plot
- 🇵🇭 folklore (e.g. aswang, manananggal)
- Skewed love triangle
- Cheap cliffhanger ending???
- NO 🤦🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️
- I won’t pick up the sequel 🤢

🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the vast emptiness of space, the gods grew restless, and so they created the heavens above and the worlds below. They filled the earth with every creature imaginable, from the smallest fish in the sea to the largest dragon in the sky.

A fast-paced adventure that pulls heavily from Norse Mythology, Between the Blade and the Heart centers mostly around a 19 year-old Valkyrie named Malin and her struggle with not only finding her place in the world of mortals and immortals, but also her realization that it’s possible to both love and hate at the same time, specifically when it comes to an emotionally unavailable mother who happens to be the only family Malin has. Marlow, Malin’s mother, is Malin’s only parent and she’s never given any clues as to who Malin’s father may be. Add to that, Malin is slowly but surely realizing that everything Marlow taught her may not have been entirely true, or even based on facts for that matter. Malin learns a dire secret pertaining to her mother and after the shock and the sting of betrayal wears off, she understands that what Marlow did may result in something akin to an apocalypse, leaving Malin and her few friends and allies to sort through her mother’s mess. But it also begs the question: who is ultimately pulling the strings, and is everything actually shaped by preordained fate and destiny?

I had been born with an urge to kill, a calling inside me that intensified as I became a teenager. Getting rid of immortals brought me immense pleasure, and I couldn’t imagine ever giving it up.
It was a strange, cold thing to realize I was born to be a murderer.

Hocking created such a unique and interesting world in this first installment of her new Valkyrie duology, blending fantasy and mythology and a little sci-fi into one super-interesting tale led by fierce and fabulous female warriors. Not only that, but she also managed to create a main character that’s both incredibly strong and vulnerable all at once. And while I know the two aren’t mutually exclusive, adding in a hefty dose of vulnerability made Malin a much more relatable character and showed that without weakness, strength is entirely useless. The secondary characters were also dimensional and well-balanced, and I loved the variety of obscure mythological creatures involved and the gods and goddesses that make a brief appearance. Although judging by the cliffhanger of an ending, I have a feeling that the gods will definitely be far more involved in the sequel.

I’m sure I’ve said it before, but it’s bears repeating — I’ve grown to adore love triangles and yes, this book has one. Only instead of the typical ‘two hot guys vying for one girl’, Malin is torn between one hot guy and one hot girl, who happens to be her ex-girlfriend. There are also plenty of conflicted feelings involved concerning these potential relationships, but it certainly doesn’t pertain to Malin’s sexuality. Malin is self-assured and incredibly certain and with her bisexuality, which I loved, and the feelings of conflict are instead coming from her mother’s repeated words that Valkyrie’s don’t need to love, they relish and thrive on being alone, and as Malin is slowly realizing, everything Marlow taught her may not necessarily be true or even right. Malin has plenty of internal conflict and the majority is a direct result of her often emotionally unavailable mother and upbringing.

”I don’t think I know how to have feelings, real ones like passion and anger and sadness and all that. Marlow always taught me that real Valkyries don’t feel like that. That those emotions are just for humans. But I do feel them, and I always have, even when I tried not to.”

Reminiscent of some of my favorite urban fantasy series and books, Between the Blade and the Heart definitely has a more mature feel to it, which will certainly appeal to both readers of YA and adult and everything in between. Highly recommend and I can’t wait to see what Hocking brings readers in the next installment of this fast-paced and fierce series.

*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the worst book but I don't think I could recommend it either. I loved Hocking's Trylle trilogy but this one left me feeling blah. I don't think the world building was that great, all the things about mortals and immortals, and valkyrie's,,,,,,soon after I read some it didn't take long before I forgot what I read. The thing I disliked the most was, the whole love triangle part of the story. I don't think it was necessary and it felt forced. I didn't really believe that there was love between any of them. I think it would have been better if Hocking spent more time on the world and avenging someone's death angle, it would have been a lot better. Or just take more time on the characters because I hardly feel like I got to know them. This is supposed to be a duology, so I will probably pick up the next book just to see how the story ends. My curiosity always wins.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather (The Sassy Book Geek) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek

*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review***

This ended up being such a quick and entertaining read! Everything just flowed so well and I absolutely devoured this!


The story is an urban fantasy that mixes together many different mythologies but the main one mostly being Norse since the story revolves around Valkyries who were created to kill immortals. However, there are so many different supernatural creatures portrayed including your basic vampires, demons, and angels but we also get to see some more unique ones such as gorgons, aswangs, and jorogumos! I thought the world building, in this case, was fantastic it was fun seeing such a blend of supernatural beings! I did want a little more information and details on the world but I’m sure I’ll get more in the sequel.

Apart from the world building, another aspect I really enjoyed was the pacing. This was an incredibly fast paced book, I was hooked right off the bat and all the way up until the end. The writing and dialogue flowed well and kept my interest, I’ll definitely be checking out more of Hocking’s books!

There also wasn’t any lack of action and twists, and be forewarned the book ends off with a pretty brutal cliffhanger!

I also really enjoyed all of the characters and while I think they could have used a bit more development and complexity I still thought they were all a lot of fun.

Malin, our MC, is a badass Valkyrie who is also smart and stubborn at times. I liked how feisty she is, however, at times I felt she could be a little….fickle since she seems to not really know what it is that she wants.

Then there’s Quinn, the ex-lover, and Asher the new guy and both are love interests. I liked both characters and I could easily see how Malin fell for both of them. Basically Quinn and Asher are both badasses as well.

Speaking of badass….Malin’s mother, Marlow, was also really badass. She’s a fellow Valkyrie and is incredibly focused on her job and doesn’t really open up ever, even with her own daughter. I kind of had a love/hate relationship with Marlow.

There was also a strew of many other side characters that I loved as well such as Malin’s best friend who is also a witch and her pet Wolpertinger (which is the most adorable thing ever).

I wouldn’t say I loved the romance in this book but I also didn’t hate it either but there is a bisexual love triangle so there is that. There is a bit of insta love and there definitely is a love triangle, but as I mentioned I didn’t mind it too much. Malin’s attraction to both Quinn and Asher was believable as both characters could offer her something different, however, I don’t think Quinn treated Malin the best though. I’m here for Malin x Asher!

What I Loved:

World building
Fast paced, action packed plot
Unique supernatural/mythological creatures

What I Didn’t Love:

Characters could have used a bit more development
Romance was “meh”

I highly recommend checking this book out! Especially if you love urban fantasy, mythology, or just a fun, action-packed read!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for books about badass females, so I jumped on the opportunity to read a book about the Valkyrie warriors from Norse mythology! I was so happy that this book DELIVERED on the mythology and the powerful women!

The Norse mythology in the novel was so interesting! It was obvious the author did a lot of research into the mythology, especially in regards to the female warriors called the Valkyrie. I know of the Valkyrie from some characters in other books and movies, but I felt like I didn't really KNOW much about the Valkyrie. This story really delved into the world of the Valkyrie women, and I loved every moment of it. Some of the other plotlines in this book were a bit weaker and slower in comparison to the Norse mythology. I would have like to have a stronger focus on just the mythology and world building in this book.

Malin was the main character, and I will admit that she was a bit hard to warm up to at first. She felt brash, unfiltered, and unapologetic. Those strong personality traits were a lot to handle all at once when first being introduced to the character. However, I learned to really enjoy and admire her strong personality. Malin was a girl who could not be pushed around or told what to do. I liked that she was a girl who wasn't afraid to speak up and be just as dominant as any male character. #FemalePower. Malin also did have some growth throughout the story, and I liked how she became more mature and understanding as the story progressed.

Malin was a bi-sexual character, which I ADORED. I love seeing different sexualities represented in YA novels, so I was over the moon excited that the main character was bi-sexual. There was some romance in this novel and it involved a bit of a love triangle. I notoriously hate love triangles, so it was a bit disappointing to see it presented at first. However, it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would!

Overall, Between the Blade and the Heart was a fascinating and high stakes novel! If you are intrigued by the concept of Norse female warriors, then I would definitely check this book out!



4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

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[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly thought BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE HEART was a fun read.

I'm not denying that there are fairly typical tropes in this story, which made it a little bit predictable. I'm also not such a big fan of the romantic bits that Hocking included. Plus, the world is a very lightly done blend of a variety of cultures and mythologies, which might prove to be either confusing or lacking to some readers.

But it was enjoyable. I instantly warmed to the main character Malin, and a few of the secondary characters. Even though I could essentially see things coming (except for one or two), I was content to allow the story to unfold the way the author meant it to and be along for the ride. If you're looking for a new paranormal/urban fantasy read that has a similar vibe to JLA books, well, this might be a good one to add to your TBR.

[rachel, x · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot of fun but nothing to rave about.

🌻 Trigger warnings for recreational drug use, blood/physical injury, death, and graphic violence.

🍂 Rep: Malin (mc) is bisexual; Quinn (li) is a lesbian; multiple poc and queer scs.

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