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The Ragnarok Era #8
The Gates of Hel
Norse mythology retold - The Aesir
No one returns from the gates of Hel.
Hermod aims to change that.
With Baldr’s death, Ragnarok has begun. Now, Odin has one last desperate gambit: to send Hermod to the farthest reaches of creation to bring back his son’s soul.
The son of a valkyrie, Hermod alone can make such a trek. But to do so he must descend into horrors beyond imagination.
Buy it now to enter a dark world of Norse mythology!
No one returns from the gates of Hel.
Hermod aims to change that.
With Baldr’s death, Ragnarok has begun. Now, Odin has one last desperate gambit: to send Hermod to the farthest reaches of creation to bring back his son’s soul.
The son of a valkyrie, Hermod alone can make such a trek. But to do so he must descend into horrors beyond imagination.
Buy it now to enter a dark world of Norse mythology!
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2018
20 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Matt Larkin
99 books174 followersAlong with his wife and daughter, Matt lives as a digital nomad, traveling the world while researching for his novels. He reads approximately a bazillion books a year, loves video games, and relaxes by binge watching Netflix with his wife.
Matt writes retellings of mythology as dark, gritty fantasy. His passions of myths, philosophy, and history inform his series. He strives to combine gut-wrenching action with thought-provoking ideas and culturally resonant stories.
As a child, Matt read The Lord of the Rings with his parents. This sparked a lifelong obsession with fantasy and started him on a path of discovering the roots of fantasy through mythology. In exploration of these ideas, the Eschaton Cycle was born—a universe of dark fantasy where all myths and legends play out.
Matt writes retellings of mythology as dark, gritty fantasy. His passions of myths, philosophy, and history inform his series. He strives to combine gut-wrenching action with thought-provoking ideas and culturally resonant stories.
As a child, Matt read The Lord of the Rings with his parents. This sparked a lifelong obsession with fantasy and started him on a path of discovering the roots of fantasy through mythology. In exploration of these ideas, the Eschaton Cycle was born—a universe of dark fantasy where all myths and legends play out.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 14, 2021
After 2500+ pages I finally got to meet (my favourite) Hel. Matt penned her with perfection. She was grotesque. She was lovely. And I loved her. So, thank you, Mr. Larkin. The finale is going to rock my world! No doubt…
September 19, 2018
One of the finest mythology/fantasy series on the block.
Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/09/...
Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/09/...
September 27, 2018
Odin has schemed and plotted...murdered and betrayed...everything and everyone he must to change the fate of the 9 Realms. He has turned away from his visions and the fates decreed by the Norns in hopes of stopping the destruction of everything. And yet, his son has still died and gone to fill the ranks of Hel, and with his death the key to the battle to end everything must now begin. And yet, Odin has one last desperate gambit to derail the apocalypse. And so, while the battle of Asgard rages, the journey to Hel to regain the soul of Baldur … and of the world … begins.
Author Matt Larkin never fails to weave a story of anguish and joy, hope and despair and this, the final but one chapter in the RAGNAROK ERA only builds upon those that have gone before. Larkin's ability to wrench the deepest emotions from the characters that populate his universe takes the reader through a roller coaster ride of tragic heroes and bold villains.
You will not want to put this story down until the last word on the last page with the accompanying angst of having to wait for the next...and final chapter...in the RAGNAROK ERA.
Author Matt Larkin never fails to weave a story of anguish and joy, hope and despair and this, the final but one chapter in the RAGNAROK ERA only builds upon those that have gone before. Larkin's ability to wrench the deepest emotions from the characters that populate his universe takes the reader through a roller coaster ride of tragic heroes and bold villains.
You will not want to put this story down until the last word on the last page with the accompanying angst of having to wait for the next...and final chapter...in the RAGNAROK ERA.
September 22, 2018
“All you build will turn to ash, your children shall die, and your dreams shall burn.”
The situation grows direr pretty much page by page in this penultimate book in the saga, and everyone is gearing up for the final boss battle.
Odin seeks allies and even takes on the Norns in a last-ditch effort to win Ragnarok, and - since this is mostly Norse mythology we're talking about - there is lots of sacrifice, betrayal, and tragedy.
While this is not quite my favorite book in the series, some of my favorite characters get a lot of "screen-time". Among those favorites are Hermod (with Sleipnir as his trusty sidekick on his way to Hel) and of course egomaniac oaf par excellence, Thor, who provides some much needed comic relief:
“Get over here so I can smite you!”
The situation grows direr pretty much page by page in this penultimate book in the saga, and everyone is gearing up for the final boss battle.
Odin seeks allies and even takes on the Norns in a last-ditch effort to win Ragnarok, and - since this is mostly Norse mythology we're talking about - there is lots of sacrifice, betrayal, and tragedy.
While this is not quite my favorite book in the series, some of my favorite characters get a lot of "screen-time". Among those favorites are Hermod (with Sleipnir as his trusty sidekick on his way to Hel) and of course egomaniac oaf par excellence, Thor, who provides some much needed comic relief:
“Get over here so I can smite you!”
November 2, 2018
ONE ENTHRALLING READ!!!
Man, talk about done and dusted. All the twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs, along with a few glitches here and there make for one incredible experience. As the drama, danger and suspense builds throughout and tension thickens as the story unfolds. Rocking with a fantastic storyline and a strong plot keeps your attention on the sentences and your rear frozen to your seat. The characters are written with such realism and depth it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Matt did a remarkable job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Fantastic job Matt, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Man, talk about done and dusted. All the twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs, along with a few glitches here and there make for one incredible experience. As the drama, danger and suspense builds throughout and tension thickens as the story unfolds. Rocking with a fantastic storyline and a strong plot keeps your attention on the sentences and your rear frozen to your seat. The characters are written with such realism and depth it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Matt did a remarkable job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Fantastic job Matt, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
November 27, 2021
The world falls apart!
Loki's plan comes to fruition with the death of Baldr. But when Hermod avenges his daughter's death on Loki's wife, the goddess Hel escapes the underworld and Ragnarok begins. Odin makes one last desperate play to avert it only to find that the world must end...to save humanity.
Loki's plan comes to fruition with the death of Baldr. But when Hermod avenges his daughter's death on Loki's wife, the goddess Hel escapes the underworld and Ragnarok begins. Odin makes one last desperate play to avert it only to find that the world must end...to save humanity.
November 26, 2022
Excellent
Another excellent read. It’s all finally happening Ragnorak is here and where or how this story ends is anybody’s guess. I can’t help but look for the usual happy ending but I seriously doubt that Is going to happen here so all that is left to do is to read the next book and find out how it ends….
Another excellent read. It’s all finally happening Ragnorak is here and where or how this story ends is anybody’s guess. I can’t help but look for the usual happy ending but I seriously doubt that Is going to happen here so all that is left to do is to read the next book and find out how it ends….
November 22, 2018
Ragnarok has begun. This book, impossible as it seems , is even more intriguing It was impossible to put it down. This series is something every one should be reading. Once you start the series, it’ll be impossible to stop.
December 17, 2024
Wow. The authour did Thor dirty. There is dark comedy in this second last book. The violence, gore and dark fantasy have stepped up several notches as has the weirdness, but it's still very entertaining, even if the premise has been tainted by modern science fiction tropes.
August 31, 2023
Unlike so many other series where the quality falls down by the end, this one is actually getting better. More complex, more original, more interesting.
May 22, 2019
An enjoyable continuation in a great reimagining of the Norse myths
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews