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The Aesir: Midgaard Cycle Volume 2
In India, a space launch is sabotaged with devastating effect. In New York, hackers shut down the subway system. In England, pirates take over the airwaves to broadcast insurrectionist propaganda. The human uprising against the Vanir is afire...
'The Æsir' is the sequel to the Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize grand prize winning novel 'The Vanirim'. This special release edition includes both volumes 1 (The Vanirim) & 2 (The Æsir).
REVIEWS OF THE VANIRIM: MIDGAARD CYCLE VOLUME 1
"This superb novel has it all -- a gripping and twisty plot, well-developed characters, and excellent writing. The story centers on Tully McIntyre, a "sanctioned" 19-year-old who is accused of killing a Vanir, one of the superior beings who rule Earth. The author skillfully keeps the reader guessing as to Tully's guilt or innocence, all the while creating a complex new world with its own set of laws and systems of justice. Characterization is strong, the story progression logical and original, and while the ending clearly indicates a new installment is to follow, the book stands alone and is complete. Extremely well done. 10/10."
- Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize
"I devoured The Vanirim in a single sitting, pulled in initially by the vision of life on Earth after an interdimensional alien invasion and driven forward by the twisty and mind-bending plot, centered on an enigmatic and compelling main character. This is a book of mysteries and wonders."
- Tim Pratt, best selling author
'The Æsir' is the sequel to the Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize grand prize winning novel 'The Vanirim'. This special release edition includes both volumes 1 (The Vanirim) & 2 (The Æsir).
REVIEWS OF THE VANIRIM: MIDGAARD CYCLE VOLUME 1
"This superb novel has it all -- a gripping and twisty plot, well-developed characters, and excellent writing. The story centers on Tully McIntyre, a "sanctioned" 19-year-old who is accused of killing a Vanir, one of the superior beings who rule Earth. The author skillfully keeps the reader guessing as to Tully's guilt or innocence, all the while creating a complex new world with its own set of laws and systems of justice. Characterization is strong, the story progression logical and original, and while the ending clearly indicates a new installment is to follow, the book stands alone and is complete. Extremely well done. 10/10."
- Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize
"I devoured The Vanirim in a single sitting, pulled in initially by the vision of life on Earth after an interdimensional alien invasion and driven forward by the twisty and mind-bending plot, centered on an enigmatic and compelling main character. This is a book of mysteries and wonders."
- Tim Pratt, best selling author
Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2018
4 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
About the author
Tim Slee
8 books97 followersPRE-ORDER NOW: 'AGGRESSOR - A page turning technothriller from FX Holden (The Aggressor Series Book 1)
Tim Slee's first success was as winner of the Allen & Unwin INK short fiction prize. In 2016 he started independently publishing long fiction, and was the winner in Feb 2017 of the Grand Prize in the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize in Fiction. In 2018 he received the Banjo Prize for unpublished Australian fiction, and his manuscript TAKING TOM MURRAY HOME was published in August 2019 by HarperCollins Australia. It was released by HarperCollins UK in February 2022 and with HarperCollins USA in July 2022.
He writes future fiction under the pen name FX Holden and has been awarded two US Publishers' Weekly Stars (the Michelin Star of publishing) and the US Readers' Favorite award for Best Political Thriller in both 2019 and 2021!
The hard sci-fi Coruscant Series by FX Holden is also available on AMAZON.
Tim Slee's first success was as winner of the Allen & Unwin INK short fiction prize. In 2016 he started independently publishing long fiction, and was the winner in Feb 2017 of the Grand Prize in the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize in Fiction. In 2018 he received the Banjo Prize for unpublished Australian fiction, and his manuscript TAKING TOM MURRAY HOME was published in August 2019 by HarperCollins Australia. It was released by HarperCollins UK in February 2022 and with HarperCollins USA in July 2022.
He writes future fiction under the pen name FX Holden and has been awarded two US Publishers' Weekly Stars (the Michelin Star of publishing) and the US Readers' Favorite award for Best Political Thriller in both 2019 and 2021!
The hard sci-fi Coruscant Series by FX Holden is also available on AMAZON.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 18, 2018
What a fantastic story! This world (one of eight Earths) is eerily like our own. With famine and disease, wars and threats. I can totally see how we need saving from ourselves.
Our heroes took a huge turn in this 2nd novel but were no less intriguing. The action moved at a fast pace and always kept me guessing. Highly recommend!
Thanks to Goodreads and publishers for the Kindle edition of this amazing book!
Our heroes took a huge turn in this 2nd novel but were no less intriguing. The action moved at a fast pace and always kept me guessing. Highly recommend!
Thanks to Goodreads and publishers for the Kindle edition of this amazing book!
June 25, 2018
Hi, this is a not a review as I am the author! But I'll try to give a few insights into the creative process behind this episode of the Midgaard Cycle.
I always conceived the Midgaard Cycle as a trilogy, and that idea was only strengthened when volume 1, The Vanirim, won the grand prize in the Publishers Weekly BookLife awards, the most important result being that the prizemoney enabled me to blow my charity fundraising target for that year out of the water. (All sales of my books go to charity, this year it is Plan International, the #girlsrights organisation).
The three volumes will be The Vaniri, the Æsir and finally, the Jötunn, each featuring a new faction in the universe of Norse deities. The first volume was written in the first person voice of the main protagonist, Tully McIntyre, a man who has had his ability to feel emotion cauterised, and whose psyche is fighting back. It was a unique viewpoint to examine what is essentially a crime story through.
But as I got about a third of the way into volume 2, the Æsir, I realised the storyline would not work if I wrote it in same first person voice. So I changed it to third person and the story is mostly seen through the eyes of another protagonist, Regin Investigator Stella Valiente.
There are many precedents for creatively playing with the POV through a series, not least of which is Lee Childs Jack Reacher series which is sometimes written in first person, other times in third. What drives this decision is often the fact that the protagonist is hiding a secret and it wouldn't be credible for him to keep it from the reader. This wasn't a problem in The Vanirim because although McIntyre had secrets, they weren't even known to himself.
In the Æsir though, McIntyre has a very important hidden agenda and I didn't feel he could narrate the story and keep his secret hidden at the same time.
If that change of PoV disconcerts you as a reader, fear not! McIntyre will be back as first person narrator in Volume 3, The Jötunn!
I always conceived the Midgaard Cycle as a trilogy, and that idea was only strengthened when volume 1, The Vanirim, won the grand prize in the Publishers Weekly BookLife awards, the most important result being that the prizemoney enabled me to blow my charity fundraising target for that year out of the water. (All sales of my books go to charity, this year it is Plan International, the #girlsrights organisation).
The three volumes will be The Vaniri, the Æsir and finally, the Jötunn, each featuring a new faction in the universe of Norse deities. The first volume was written in the first person voice of the main protagonist, Tully McIntyre, a man who has had his ability to feel emotion cauterised, and whose psyche is fighting back. It was a unique viewpoint to examine what is essentially a crime story through.
But as I got about a third of the way into volume 2, the Æsir, I realised the storyline would not work if I wrote it in same first person voice. So I changed it to third person and the story is mostly seen through the eyes of another protagonist, Regin Investigator Stella Valiente.
There are many precedents for creatively playing with the POV through a series, not least of which is Lee Childs Jack Reacher series which is sometimes written in first person, other times in third. What drives this decision is often the fact that the protagonist is hiding a secret and it wouldn't be credible for him to keep it from the reader. This wasn't a problem in The Vanirim because although McIntyre had secrets, they weren't even known to himself.
In the Æsir though, McIntyre has a very important hidden agenda and I didn't feel he could narrate the story and keep his secret hidden at the same time.
If that change of PoV disconcerts you as a reader, fear not! McIntyre will be back as first person narrator in Volume 3, The Jötunn!
September 28, 2018
This book was difficult to put down and so mad that it ended on a cliff hanger! I know I know it’s a series but I’m an impatient person and usually don’t read a series till ALL of them are published bc I’m so impatient!!! Plus I read so much that I usually have to read a summary of previous books in order to remember what the hell happened in the previous book! Anyway this was a great read like I said and if you’re looking for a dystopian yet with some old school folklore (bc the characters are based on actual “gods” that were told to I forget who and all the specifics but kindle app did most of the research for me) This book has plenty of action and great characters that u feel a connection to quite easily. I totally didn’t expect to fall in love with this series but I did and now I’m on pins and needles waiting for the next book to drop! I hate waiting for the end but it better be good one or I’ll be changing my review for sure!
September 11, 2018
Ummmm....what?
This is not anything i would ever read yet i continued because i want to know who is working and conspiring with who. In both volume 1 & 2, the endings are just so..... Blah.... All this build up & then really very little of what you think & expect & out just in a blink changes direction. But.... I enjoyed the writing, well written & although very out there topic & image of a world within many worlds, it was written well that it did capture you even in the most confusing parts. I'll definitely read vol 3 to find out if ragnarok will be stopped.
This is not anything i would ever read yet i continued because i want to know who is working and conspiring with who. In both volume 1 & 2, the endings are just so..... Blah.... All this build up & then really very little of what you think & expect & out just in a blink changes direction. But.... I enjoyed the writing, well written & although very out there topic & image of a world within many worlds, it was written well that it did capture you even in the most confusing parts. I'll definitely read vol 3 to find out if ragnarok will be stopped.
August 20, 2018
Great story
A mix of quantum physics and pegan/viking lore. How much of the pegan beliefs that are featured here are accurately depicted? I have no idea, but damn if they don't make a great story. Ive read the first two of the three books in a couple of days. Can't wait for the last book! Side note, I'm not into Tolkien, because its just too much for me to wrap my head around. But I think people who do like his work will also enjoy this. Giveaway win
A mix of quantum physics and pegan/viking lore. How much of the pegan beliefs that are featured here are accurately depicted? I have no idea, but damn if they don't make a great story. Ive read the first two of the three books in a couple of days. Can't wait for the last book! Side note, I'm not into Tolkien, because its just too much for me to wrap my head around. But I think people who do like his work will also enjoy this. Giveaway win
August 5, 2018
I won a copy of this book on goodreads giveaways.
I found the whole plot of this book, and the previous in the cycle, quite original. It keeps you guessing, not predictable and overall an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to read the next book.
I found the whole plot of this book, and the previous in the cycle, quite original. It keeps you guessing, not predictable and overall an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to read the next book.
January 26, 2019
A Highly Original Sci-Fi Thriller
A highly original, first-rate novel. In this special two-volume set of "The Vanirim" and "The Aesir," Tim Slee interweaves elements of Norse Mythology into an exciting, futuristic sci-fi thriller. Having seized control of the earth, the Vanir rule with their own laws and mechanisms of justice. Seemingly indestructible, the Vanir maintain dominance through their abilities to read the thoughts and feelings of humankind. However, their own psyches are jolted when one of their own is brutally killed. Murder of one of their own was believed to be impossible. Focusing on Tully McIntyre, a "sanctioned" nineteen-year-old man, the plot twists and turns, as the reader is kept guessing as to who Tully is and whether he is guilty of the crime. In Volume 2 ("The Aesir,"), the seeds of rebellion have been sown, and the human insurgency is spreading. Lines between good and evil blur, character relationships become more complex, and layers cloaking individual psyches peel away. As the plot intensifies, the reader is left wondering not only who Tully McIntyre is but his motivations and ultimate intentions as well. An exceptional read.
A highly original, first-rate novel. In this special two-volume set of "The Vanirim" and "The Aesir," Tim Slee interweaves elements of Norse Mythology into an exciting, futuristic sci-fi thriller. Having seized control of the earth, the Vanir rule with their own laws and mechanisms of justice. Seemingly indestructible, the Vanir maintain dominance through their abilities to read the thoughts and feelings of humankind. However, their own psyches are jolted when one of their own is brutally killed. Murder of one of their own was believed to be impossible. Focusing on Tully McIntyre, a "sanctioned" nineteen-year-old man, the plot twists and turns, as the reader is kept guessing as to who Tully is and whether he is guilty of the crime. In Volume 2 ("The Aesir,"), the seeds of rebellion have been sown, and the human insurgency is spreading. Lines between good and evil blur, character relationships become more complex, and layers cloaking individual psyches peel away. As the plot intensifies, the reader is left wondering not only who Tully McIntyre is but his motivations and ultimate intentions as well. An exceptional read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews