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The Ways of Wyrd #1
A Twist of Wyrd
Alternate cover edition for ISBN: 978-1985696341
For all editions see here
His secrets will destroy their love. Her secrets will get them killed.
Everybody keeps secrets, but Bryn can steal them with a single touch. Her own, though, are locked up tight. If she doesn't play hard to get, she could wind up dead. So, trusting some guy enough to fall in love with him? Impossible.
Trygg is a berserker. He tracks, he kills, and he never forgets a scent, especially hers. One whiff of Bryn causes a split in his psyche no doctor can fix. One side of him wants her dead. The other would kill to keep her safe. So, trusting himself enough to fall in love with her? Never.
When they're thrown together to investigate a brutal murder, they can't deny their desires. The impossible will happen. Never will come. There's not enough magic in the world to stop it.
----NORSE MYTHOLOGY MEETS MODERN-DAY OHIO---
+No damsels were distressed in the creation of this book.
+ NO Cliffhanger!
+ Contains violence, magical mayhem, and smoking hot sex between a sassy PI and a foul-mouthed berserker.
+ HFN ending...with more adventures to come.
For all editions see here
His secrets will destroy their love. Her secrets will get them killed.
Everybody keeps secrets, but Bryn can steal them with a single touch. Her own, though, are locked up tight. If she doesn't play hard to get, she could wind up dead. So, trusting some guy enough to fall in love with him? Impossible.
Trygg is a berserker. He tracks, he kills, and he never forgets a scent, especially hers. One whiff of Bryn causes a split in his psyche no doctor can fix. One side of him wants her dead. The other would kill to keep her safe. So, trusting himself enough to fall in love with her? Never.
When they're thrown together to investigate a brutal murder, they can't deny their desires. The impossible will happen. Never will come. There's not enough magic in the world to stop it.
----NORSE MYTHOLOGY MEETS MODERN-DAY OHIO---
+No damsels were distressed in the creation of this book.
+ NO Cliffhanger!
+ Contains violence, magical mayhem, and smoking hot sex between a sassy PI and a foul-mouthed berserker.
+ HFN ending...with more adventures to come.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2018
14 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Friel
8 books35 followersPJ writes steamy, action-packed paranormal romance novels starring characters from both ends of the Kinsey scale and everything in between. She delves into themes like fate and overcoming the past. Her characters are strong, capable, and complex regardless of gender, and her worldbuilding is a little...intense.
When PJ isn't terrorizing the highways of Ohio in her red, mid-life crisis sports car or crunching numbers in Excel spreadsheets, she's writing or playing with her grandpuppies.
She is currently single and lives with her son and his two dogs, who all think they're the boss of her. They're probably right.
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Website: http://www.pjfriel.com
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pjfriel/
When PJ isn't terrorizing the highways of Ohio in her red, mid-life crisis sports car or crunching numbers in Excel spreadsheets, she's writing or playing with her grandpuppies.
She is currently single and lives with her son and his two dogs, who all think they're the boss of her. They're probably right.
Sign up for my newsletter!
Visit PJ
Website: http://www.pjfriel.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorpjfriel/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PJWyr...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pj_friel
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pjfriel/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 14, 2018
I didn’t know what to expect when opening this book. I have to tell you the blurb does not do this story justice. It’s so much more than I could have ever imagined.
I can’t even pick one element that I loved the best from this first instalment of, The Ways of Wyrd Series.
The main characters, Trygg and Bryn are so well developed in this story. I felt like I had been reading about them for years. They have such a strong presence, I couldn’t and wouldn’t want either to disappear from this series. There is no Trygg without Bryn and vice versa.
Trygg is super strong even though he’s quite old, something like a few hundred years plus. Yeah, and he’s super hot, he is welcome to visit me anytime. I love the older man (inserted winking face here).
Bryn isn’t a weakling either, she has been taught well to defend herself. She’s a beautiful young woman with many secrets, and she suffers like you wouldn’t believe.
Both her and Trygg are hiding who they really are from each other. It’s only a matter of time before everything comes to light. The past can’t stay in the shadows forever unfortunately.
I’m happy to say that there is no cliffhanger, but you will want more. Us readers always want more. If you love romance and all things paranormal with a twist then this book is a must read for you.
I can’t even pick one element that I loved the best from this first instalment of, The Ways of Wyrd Series.
The main characters, Trygg and Bryn are so well developed in this story. I felt like I had been reading about them for years. They have such a strong presence, I couldn’t and wouldn’t want either to disappear from this series. There is no Trygg without Bryn and vice versa.
Trygg is super strong even though he’s quite old, something like a few hundred years plus. Yeah, and he’s super hot, he is welcome to visit me anytime. I love the older man (inserted winking face here).
Bryn isn’t a weakling either, she has been taught well to defend herself. She’s a beautiful young woman with many secrets, and she suffers like you wouldn’t believe.
Both her and Trygg are hiding who they really are from each other. It’s only a matter of time before everything comes to light. The past can’t stay in the shadows forever unfortunately.
I’m happy to say that there is no cliffhanger, but you will want more. Us readers always want more. If you love romance and all things paranormal with a twist then this book is a must read for you.
March 20, 2018
To me, this was such a fun book, because it pulled so heavily from Norse mythology, and Friel did extremely well with weaving the mythology into the book. Bryn is a private investigator who often will contribute to the local police force. She uses her ability of retrocognition to piece together crime scenes. She has a past that shapes who she is today. Scared of the dark and set in her rituals, only her best friend understands Bryn's need for control. Enter Trygg, sexy, smart, and endearing. He too has a past. While these two are working together to solve the newest crime, there is a lot of heat sparking between these two. I absolutely loved their connection. A Twyst of Wyrd is well-written, with an engaging storyline steeped in mythology, a fast-paced read that leaves you guessing.
March 20, 2018
This the first book in the ways of the wyrd series, I completely enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put this book down based on Norse mythology set in the present day, a story containing elves, berserkers and a princess. This love story with a mildly erotic undertone I found the storyline to be enthralling and couldn’t put the book down.
Following Bryn as she tries to uncover a murder while trying to keep her own secrets and deal with a romance she never expected the twists and turns keep you wondering throughout the tale.
I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the future and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
This review was written on behalf of Amo’s book corner.
Following Bryn as she tries to uncover a murder while trying to keep her own secrets and deal with a romance she never expected the twists and turns keep you wondering throughout the tale.
I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the future and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
This review was written on behalf of Amo’s book corner.
February 18, 2019
How do I even start this review?! My mind is completely blown... what an absolutely spell binding book! Oh my gosh!!!
At first glance I fell in love with the front cover but what it contains inside is simply enthralling. I absolutely love how Norse Mythology was weaved so beautifully into the story, I couldn’t put it down from the moment I opened the book and read the first page.
Bryn and Trygg are amazing characters and the connection they have is electric. But let’s not forgot the other characters that all hold their own and make you want to know more about the lives they have led.
So to sum it up if you are looking for sass, suspense, sexy, bad ass, action, and a sprinkle of Norse Mythology this is definitely the book to read! I would highly recommend to everyone. Fingers crossed for a book two!!!
At first glance I fell in love with the front cover but what it contains inside is simply enthralling. I absolutely love how Norse Mythology was weaved so beautifully into the story, I couldn’t put it down from the moment I opened the book and read the first page.
Bryn and Trygg are amazing characters and the connection they have is electric. But let’s not forgot the other characters that all hold their own and make you want to know more about the lives they have led.
So to sum it up if you are looking for sass, suspense, sexy, bad ass, action, and a sprinkle of Norse Mythology this is definitely the book to read! I would highly recommend to everyone. Fingers crossed for a book two!!!
May 7, 2018
Odin has shut the doors between Midgard and the other realms. That means those beings from other realms - the Jotun, the Ljosafr, the svartalf, the elementals, are all stranded on Midgard with no way home. And they have been for some time. They’ve slowly integrated themselves into humanity
And Brynn, with her own Outlander heritage, is doing her best to do just that and have as little do with the Outlanders as she can possibly manage; even if it means hiding from the night and the darkness.
But a murder investigation drags her out of that safe light and into the middle of Outlander politics. In particular into the path of Trygg, Berserker servant of Odin who isn’t a fan of the Allfather, security for a Jotun mob-boss. And he knows who she is...
Norse mythology!
I am always here for Norse mythology. Always. And this has so many fascinating ideas based on that mythology - especially since it doesn’t focus exclusively on the gods. I’ve read a fair few books based on Norse Mythology and it’s basically “Norse gods try to stop Loki ruining everything”. Don’t get me wrong, I love a god Norse-gods-trying-to-stop-Loki-AGAIN story, I really do - but to have a story that actually looks at the elves and the Jotun and the Svartalf; all the different races of the nine realms as things other than enemies to Odin et al is interesting and different
So seeing Odin be some distant force with his own agenda is new. Seeing the story from the views of the Jotun with their own political divisions and conflicts, the Swartalf, the Ljorsalf, all with their own abilities and agendas working on Earth, unable to get home so handling things without Odin and Thor dishing out orders or Loki just bringing randomness. It makes for a really fascinating book that I’m really dying to learn more about
And this is well done as well - because I am tempted, I am teased with knowledge and hints of so much more but the author has been excellently balanced in how it was delivered. There were no infodumps, there was a lot of knowledge conveyed
I do think that the “berserkers” would have been better as Einherjar, but that’s just me
I also really like the plot because it works as an investigation - there’s lots of threads of different issues around Brynn and Trygg, not least of which because of the mob boss Trygg works for and Brynn’s own suspicions. But also because it’s handled very well in terms of frustration and scrabbling for leads and dead ends and red herrings that really makes for a very real investigation. At least it would if the investigation didn’t fall to the ROMANCE.
The issue is, as I often find, the romance. Not because there is a romance, but because the romance appears instantly and then sprints off in fast forward in a way that really undermines a lot of the more powerful plot elements.
Like one of the core elements of Bryn’s character is how traumatised she is. She’s terrified of being out after dark, she studies how to defend herself, she assesses every where she visits for safe places, she has weapons everywhere. This underlying terror, especially of Outlanders, defines her. Yet 10 minutes in Trygg’s company and her fears vapourise and she feels “safe” around him. Really? This does so much to
Not as extreme, but we also have Trygg’s bizarrely rapid switch of loyalties to Bryn rather than Malachi, a man he believes he owes so much to. Or how he goes from pretty much loathing the berserkers as Odin’s followers to pretty much settling in with them. Or the fact both of them feel like they’re betraying the other when they’re suspicious
This isn’t just your standard “zomg he is the hottest thing who ever breathed let me derail the story for 10 minutes to talk about that”, insta-romance nuisance (though there is more than enough of that); it actively undermines some core elements of the characters. Throw in a lot of violent jealousy from Trygg (you barely know the woman! You don’t get to fantasise about killing other guys she’s near). There’s also an unpleasant subtheme where Brynn snarls at Trygg for being overly controlling - doing things like guiding her with his hand or lots of touch-based dominance games or sheltering her - and rather than run with it, we turn it into something that BRYN’S wrong about. Because he makes her feel safe. Rather than acknowledging she actually has a point about not wanting a man to guide her round like a puppet.
I’m not saying the romance itself is bad, if overly sex based and full of some very bad tropes, it’s that the speed of it undermines a lot of the characters’ history and development which in turn hurts the overall plot. I think, in some ways, going for a slow burn romance to be followed in later books would create something more real and give Brynn more chance to work through her fears - and more room to explore the complicated feelings she has towards, say, her adoptive parents and her best friend. We don’t have space for that, because we have The Romance
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And Brynn, with her own Outlander heritage, is doing her best to do just that and have as little do with the Outlanders as she can possibly manage; even if it means hiding from the night and the darkness.
But a murder investigation drags her out of that safe light and into the middle of Outlander politics. In particular into the path of Trygg, Berserker servant of Odin who isn’t a fan of the Allfather, security for a Jotun mob-boss. And he knows who she is...
Norse mythology!
I am always here for Norse mythology. Always. And this has so many fascinating ideas based on that mythology - especially since it doesn’t focus exclusively on the gods. I’ve read a fair few books based on Norse Mythology and it’s basically “Norse gods try to stop Loki ruining everything”. Don’t get me wrong, I love a god Norse-gods-trying-to-stop-Loki-AGAIN story, I really do - but to have a story that actually looks at the elves and the Jotun and the Svartalf; all the different races of the nine realms as things other than enemies to Odin et al is interesting and different
So seeing Odin be some distant force with his own agenda is new. Seeing the story from the views of the Jotun with their own political divisions and conflicts, the Swartalf, the Ljorsalf, all with their own abilities and agendas working on Earth, unable to get home so handling things without Odin and Thor dishing out orders or Loki just bringing randomness. It makes for a really fascinating book that I’m really dying to learn more about
And this is well done as well - because I am tempted, I am teased with knowledge and hints of so much more but the author has been excellently balanced in how it was delivered. There were no infodumps, there was a lot of knowledge conveyed
I do think that the “berserkers” would have been better as Einherjar, but that’s just me
I also really like the plot because it works as an investigation - there’s lots of threads of different issues around Brynn and Trygg, not least of which because of the mob boss Trygg works for and Brynn’s own suspicions. But also because it’s handled very well in terms of frustration and scrabbling for leads and dead ends and red herrings that really makes for a very real investigation. At least it would if the investigation didn’t fall to the ROMANCE.
The issue is, as I often find, the romance. Not because there is a romance, but because the romance appears instantly and then sprints off in fast forward in a way that really undermines a lot of the more powerful plot elements.
Like one of the core elements of Bryn’s character is how traumatised she is. She’s terrified of being out after dark, she studies how to defend herself, she assesses every where she visits for safe places, she has weapons everywhere. This underlying terror, especially of Outlanders, defines her. Yet 10 minutes in Trygg’s company and her fears vapourise and she feels “safe” around him. Really? This does so much to
Not as extreme, but we also have Trygg’s bizarrely rapid switch of loyalties to Bryn rather than Malachi, a man he believes he owes so much to. Or how he goes from pretty much loathing the berserkers as Odin’s followers to pretty much settling in with them. Or the fact both of them feel like they’re betraying the other when they’re suspicious
This isn’t just your standard “zomg he is the hottest thing who ever breathed let me derail the story for 10 minutes to talk about that”, insta-romance nuisance (though there is more than enough of that); it actively undermines some core elements of the characters. Throw in a lot of violent jealousy from Trygg (you barely know the woman! You don’t get to fantasise about killing other guys she’s near). There’s also an unpleasant subtheme where Brynn snarls at Trygg for being overly controlling - doing things like guiding her with his hand or lots of touch-based dominance games or sheltering her - and rather than run with it, we turn it into something that BRYN’S wrong about. Because he makes her feel safe. Rather than acknowledging she actually has a point about not wanting a man to guide her round like a puppet.
I’m not saying the romance itself is bad, if overly sex based and full of some very bad tropes, it’s that the speed of it undermines a lot of the characters’ history and development which in turn hurts the overall plot. I think, in some ways, going for a slow burn romance to be followed in later books would create something more real and give Brynn more chance to work through her fears - and more room to explore the complicated feelings she has towards, say, her adoptive parents and her best friend. We don’t have space for that, because we have The Romance
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February 18, 2019
How do I even start to review this book...It was utterly spell binding!!!
I first fell in love with this book from just the cover, as I am sure everyone would agree its beautiful.
But what is hidden behind that beautiful cover is nothing short of enthralling. I literally couldn't put the book down. And the Norse Mythology that has been so cleverly weaved into the story quite simply Is amazing.
Bryn and Trygg have the most electric connection and it's mesmerizing watching the pair come into their own and as a team. Their romance is complicated, steamy, strong, and passionate what more do you need?! And lets not forget the other characters who play crucial parts throughout the story and not to mention make you want to know their live stories...hint hint for a book two
I truly have fallen in love with this book and would recommend to everyone!
If you are looking for sassy, sexy, suspense, action and a sprinkle of Norse Mythology this is definitely a winner... And if it's not your usual genre I would still recommend, this could be the book that could open you up to a whole new world.
I first fell in love with this book from just the cover, as I am sure everyone would agree its beautiful.
But what is hidden behind that beautiful cover is nothing short of enthralling. I literally couldn't put the book down. And the Norse Mythology that has been so cleverly weaved into the story quite simply Is amazing.
Bryn and Trygg have the most electric connection and it's mesmerizing watching the pair come into their own and as a team. Their romance is complicated, steamy, strong, and passionate what more do you need?! And lets not forget the other characters who play crucial parts throughout the story and not to mention make you want to know their live stories...hint hint for a book two
I truly have fallen in love with this book and would recommend to everyone!
If you are looking for sassy, sexy, suspense, action and a sprinkle of Norse Mythology this is definitely a winner... And if it's not your usual genre I would still recommend, this could be the book that could open you up to a whole new world.
March 14, 2018
I love this book.
Bryn and Trygg are fantastic characters and the romance is sizzling hot.
Love the Norse mythology setting. Brings something unique to the PNR genre.
Bryn and Trygg are fantastic characters and the romance is sizzling hot.
Love the Norse mythology setting. Brings something unique to the PNR genre.
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March 23, 20185 Cranky Stars
Living amongst humans are Outlanders who have integrated themselves into human life. Set in present day Ohio, where Norse Mythology is still strong and evident, Private Investigator Bryn Ullman uses her abilities of recognition to piece together crime scenes and solve nearly impossible to figure out crimes. Hiding her demons, she lives daily as a regular human. She only trusts her best friend, but because of the darkness in her past she is unsure of even that trust.
Then comes Trygg Mackenzie. He's a tough guy who works as an inforcer for the mob, and just so happens to be a Berserker who has a dark past of his own. Bryn sets her sites on proving Trygg's boss is guilty of murder, while Trygg sets his sites on her. Both reluctant to trust, they have a chemistry of unimaginable measure. Will their romance be magical, or will it enable their dark pasts to catch up to them?
This book is a wonderful combination of Norse Mythology, adventure, danger, romance, and sex. There are no impossible to imagine sex scenes and the romance is steamy with a bit of risk. The overall story is complex and the combination of everyday life with Norse Mythology is perfectly intertwined. There is enough adventure and danger to make the story complete and keeps the pages turning. The main characters are complex and well portrayed. The supporting characters are complete and necessary to the storyline. There are no real typos or grammatical errors. Overall this is a quick read that keeps interest throughout the entire story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
Living amongst humans are Outlanders who have integrated themselves into human life. Set in present day Ohio, where Norse Mythology is still strong and evident, Private Investigator Bryn Ullman uses her abilities of recognition to piece together crime scenes and solve nearly impossible to figure out crimes. Hiding her demons, she lives daily as a regular human. She only trusts her best friend, but because of the darkness in her past she is unsure of even that trust.
Then comes Trygg Mackenzie. He's a tough guy who works as an inforcer for the mob, and just so happens to be a Berserker who has a dark past of his own. Bryn sets her sites on proving Trygg's boss is guilty of murder, while Trygg sets his sites on her. Both reluctant to trust, they have a chemistry of unimaginable measure. Will their romance be magical, or will it enable their dark pasts to catch up to them?
This book is a wonderful combination of Norse Mythology, adventure, danger, romance, and sex. There are no impossible to imagine sex scenes and the romance is steamy with a bit of risk. The overall story is complex and the combination of everyday life with Norse Mythology is perfectly intertwined. There is enough adventure and danger to make the story complete and keeps the pages turning. The main characters are complex and well portrayed. The supporting characters are complete and necessary to the storyline. There are no real typos or grammatical errors. Overall this is a quick read that keeps interest throughout the entire story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
July 25, 2020
Great book!
The book description caught my attention and I'm so glad it did. What a well written story by a great new author. Excellent characters I could really feel. Super interesting story line and romance too. My fav authors are J. R. Ward and Kresley Cole and this author is just as good!!
The book description caught my attention and I'm so glad it did. What a well written story by a great new author. Excellent characters I could really feel. Super interesting story line and romance too. My fav authors are J. R. Ward and Kresley Cole and this author is just as good!!
December 28, 2019
Sassy, sexy, suspense what more could you possibly want?!?!
A kick-a$$ heroine and the ultimate bad boy in a story 300 years in the making. I’m a big fan of fantasy and Norse mythology, but this was an amazing twist on the stories. Such intricate world building, weaving a huge mythology into nowhere Ohio.
So many interesting well developed characters. Brynn was a bada$$ with a sarcastic wit but flawed and vulnerable too. Trygg was so hot, his inner conflict resonated so much with me, fighting your own demons. Lots of fun side characters, that I hope have the potential for starring roles later on.
The storytelling was on point, easy to read and understand, with perfect pacing to keep you on the edge of your seat. All at once you could be scared to turn the page, afraid of what might happen next, and desperate to turn and find out. This is an amazing debut book, and I can’t wait for more!!
A kick-a$$ heroine and the ultimate bad boy in a story 300 years in the making. I’m a big fan of fantasy and Norse mythology, but this was an amazing twist on the stories. Such intricate world building, weaving a huge mythology into nowhere Ohio.
So many interesting well developed characters. Brynn was a bada$$ with a sarcastic wit but flawed and vulnerable too. Trygg was so hot, his inner conflict resonated so much with me, fighting your own demons. Lots of fun side characters, that I hope have the potential for starring roles later on.
The storytelling was on point, easy to read and understand, with perfect pacing to keep you on the edge of your seat. All at once you could be scared to turn the page, afraid of what might happen next, and desperate to turn and find out. This is an amazing debut book, and I can’t wait for more!!
July 25, 2018
This is one of those books that sucks you into the story from the start. You know the author has thought long and hard about the tale she is going to tell.
The heroine, Bryn is no simpering flower, but the kind of kick ass female who takes no nonsense. And Trygg is the hero who is more complex than your run of the mill stereotypical alpha male.
The two race their way through an exciting, dangerous adventure with new foes around every corner, leaving the reader breathless for more.
As a debut novel this book has a layer of sophistication that is often missing in the world of self publishing and I really do look forward to reading more from PJ Friel in the future.
The heroine, Bryn is no simpering flower, but the kind of kick ass female who takes no nonsense. And Trygg is the hero who is more complex than your run of the mill stereotypical alpha male.
The two race their way through an exciting, dangerous adventure with new foes around every corner, leaving the reader breathless for more.
As a debut novel this book has a layer of sophistication that is often missing in the world of self publishing and I really do look forward to reading more from PJ Friel in the future.
September 5, 2020
I really loved to read this book. I love norse mithology and this one hit all the rigth boxes. Bryn and Trygg really did it for me. Bryn is so strong and does all she can for the ones she loves even if it means to chalenge her worst nightmares. Trygg is so sexy and strong, all you want in an alfa male. Great book!
February 21, 2020
Easy Read. Great story line.
This was a great book. The story line was complete, no cliff hangers, and a solid ending. I would have loved to get a little more background in a few areas of the characters. All in all I’ll be on lookout for more books.
This was a great book. The story line was complete, no cliff hangers, and a solid ending. I would have loved to get a little more background in a few areas of the characters. All in all I’ll be on lookout for more books.
June 12, 2020
I loved it
I really liked this book. A fresh take on old Norse myth in modern day life. The writing was enjoyable and the pace was very good.
Not a dull moment in the book.
Really looking forward to reading more in this universe.
I really liked this book. A fresh take on old Norse myth in modern day life. The writing was enjoyable and the pace was very good.
Not a dull moment in the book.
Really looking forward to reading more in this universe.
August 2, 2018
Norse mythology intertwined with NE Ohio and a strong woman protagonist. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
March 27, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can see for yourself how honest I was…
This review is also on my blog: http://www.loveserially.wordpress.com
Overall Rating: 3.5
Quick & Dirty summary: Bryn Ullman can take care of herself. She’s trained to deal with anything that may come her way, man or beast. But she can’t help but still be afraid of the dark. After all, she knows better than anyone who lurks in the shadows. When she meets Trygg Mackenzie she’s attracted to him despite who he is and who he works for. But as they work together to figure out why people are dying, they’ll have to decide if what they have goes deeper than just attraction.
This is an action packed book and I love the suspense aspect of it. Not really knowing everyone’s motivations made it a quick read, although the ending wasn’t a surprise for me. I also enjoyed the touch of myth involved with the book, especially in regards to berserkers, wyrd, and Odin. I’m not especially knowledgeable about Norse myth, but I enjoyed the references.
There are parts of the book that didn’t read as smoothly to me as I’d wish. I don’t mean that PJ Friel is a bad writer. On the contrary, her dialogue and characters are well written. Rather, it’s that sometimes the characters’ reactions to events seemed odd. It caused me to pause and think about it, rather than continuing to read the book and be engrossed in this new world.
Is it worth buying? (Kindle $3.99)
I don’t think I’d pay $4 for this book, but it is a part of Kindle Unlimited and I’d definitely recommend reading it through the KU program. If you really like paranormal romance that’s based off of myths, then recommend it to your library for purchase. It’s a great way to read the book for free and it benefits your entire community!
Something else you might enjoy:
Try Still, which is a brand new book out by Camilla Monk. It takes on some of the ancient myths, but with less sex and more humor.
This review is also on my blog: http://www.loveserially.wordpress.com
Overall Rating: 3.5
Quick & Dirty summary: Bryn Ullman can take care of herself. She’s trained to deal with anything that may come her way, man or beast. But she can’t help but still be afraid of the dark. After all, she knows better than anyone who lurks in the shadows. When she meets Trygg Mackenzie she’s attracted to him despite who he is and who he works for. But as they work together to figure out why people are dying, they’ll have to decide if what they have goes deeper than just attraction.
This is an action packed book and I love the suspense aspect of it. Not really knowing everyone’s motivations made it a quick read, although the ending wasn’t a surprise for me. I also enjoyed the touch of myth involved with the book, especially in regards to berserkers, wyrd, and Odin. I’m not especially knowledgeable about Norse myth, but I enjoyed the references.
There are parts of the book that didn’t read as smoothly to me as I’d wish. I don’t mean that PJ Friel is a bad writer. On the contrary, her dialogue and characters are well written. Rather, it’s that sometimes the characters’ reactions to events seemed odd. It caused me to pause and think about it, rather than continuing to read the book and be engrossed in this new world.
Is it worth buying? (Kindle $3.99)
I don’t think I’d pay $4 for this book, but it is a part of Kindle Unlimited and I’d definitely recommend reading it through the KU program. If you really like paranormal romance that’s based off of myths, then recommend it to your library for purchase. It’s a great way to read the book for free and it benefits your entire community!
Something else you might enjoy:
Try Still, which is a brand new book out by Camilla Monk. It takes on some of the ancient myths, but with less sex and more humor.
July 17, 2018
Strong, complex characters, intricate storytelling plus superb world-building
A debut work by this author, I had no idea what to expect, but I was just blown away from beginning to end. I adored the smart and sarcastic Bryn: "a woman who would kick a$$ and not bother taking names" but who has so many secrets and demons. I loved Trygg as well, who has his own brand of honor, in addition to his own secrets and monster to fight. Plenty of great supporting characters as well as a plot that had so many turns my head was spinning.
There was so much going on here, I just couldn't read fast enough to unravel all the mysteries. It reminded me a bit of Robin McKinley or Patricia Briggs (two of my all-time favorite fantasy authors), with layered world-building based off of Norse mythology. The glossary in the back was a nice touch, though I'm pretty sure even with the pronunciation help, I'm saying the names in my head wrong, lol.
Strong, complex characters, intricate storytelling plus that superb world-building all made for an amazing read. If this is what her debut work is like, I can't wait to see what's next. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
A debut work by this author, I had no idea what to expect, but I was just blown away from beginning to end. I adored the smart and sarcastic Bryn: "a woman who would kick a$$ and not bother taking names" but who has so many secrets and demons. I loved Trygg as well, who has his own brand of honor, in addition to his own secrets and monster to fight. Plenty of great supporting characters as well as a plot that had so many turns my head was spinning.
There was so much going on here, I just couldn't read fast enough to unravel all the mysteries. It reminded me a bit of Robin McKinley or Patricia Briggs (two of my all-time favorite fantasy authors), with layered world-building based off of Norse mythology. The glossary in the back was a nice touch, though I'm pretty sure even with the pronunciation help, I'm saying the names in my head wrong, lol.
Strong, complex characters, intricate storytelling plus that superb world-building all made for an amazing read. If this is what her debut work is like, I can't wait to see what's next. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
October 1, 2018
This is a paranormal romance with a lot of mystery thrown in. It uses Norse mythology as its paranormal framework, and the first person point of view shifts between the heroine and the hero. It was well written, but didn't grab me. I have a feeling I'm going to forget these characters pretty quickly. I understand why others would score this higher than "I liked it" 3 stars, it just wasn't impressively interesting to me.
The premise is a bad-ass PI heroine has crazy royal heritage, a PTSD-inspiring childhood, and is in deep hiding. Her BFF is a real estate agent. The BFF Dezi is showing a warehouse to a client in a bad neighborhood, so she tags along. A berserker who once saved her life happens to be the bodyguard of the client, and he recognizes her. Instant mega attraction. Eventually, the heroine is drawn into a murder investigation of the death of a police officer's son. Then it gets weird. A ton of pages are devoted to the budding relationship between the hero and heroine.
The premise is a bad-ass PI heroine has crazy royal heritage, a PTSD-inspiring childhood, and is in deep hiding. Her BFF is a real estate agent. The BFF Dezi is showing a warehouse to a client in a bad neighborhood, so she tags along. A berserker who once saved her life happens to be the bodyguard of the client, and he recognizes her. Instant mega attraction. Eventually, the heroine is drawn into a murder investigation of the death of a police officer's son. Then it gets weird. A ton of pages are devoted to the budding relationship between the hero and heroine.
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