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The Ragnarok Era #9
The Fires of Muspelheim
The world ends in fire.
Odin has vanished and Ragnarok unfolds across Midgard. Hel’s armies swarm across the world to blanket it in her freezing wrath.Draugar, jotunnar, and more terrible monsters run rampant.
Can the broken Aesir stem the tide of destruction?In the south, a fire spreads. A blaze that will consume all creation.Even if Odin returns, will anything be left for him to save?
Odin has vanished and Ragnarok unfolds across Midgard. Hel’s armies swarm across the world to blanket it in her freezing wrath.Draugar, jotunnar, and more terrible monsters run rampant.
Can the broken Aesir stem the tide of destruction?In the south, a fire spreads. A blaze that will consume all creation.Even if Odin returns, will anything be left for him to save?
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2018
15 people are currently reading
121 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 15, 2021
Favourite book of 2021. Hands down. Thank you, Mr. Larkin, for an unparalleled, mythological feast!
February 27, 2022
Since this is the last book in a series (and I binge read it in three days) I will use this review to reflect on the series itself. Matt Larkin had a huge challenge in front of him with this series. You knew from the beginning how it was going to end. He had to somehow make you care about characters you knew were doomed. He also had to create gods who seemed relatable. He did the second by making Odin and the others human beings who ate of the apples of immortality and then defeated the previous gods in battle. Thus the gods were never more than glorified humans. And in spinning their fierce fight to keep their end at bay only to realize with each new installment that they were hopelessly enmeshed in the web of fate (or urd as they call it) and there was no getting around Ragnarok he made them seem very like us today, just kind of ad libbing it as we go along. As a testimony to how well he did this, I literally teared up at Thor's death scene in "The Fires of Muspelheim" even though it had been predicted since Book 2 at least.
This final installment was full of surprises. The battle that claims the earthly lives of the gods happens a little over halfway through. But the story continues because Odin has realized what it is he CAN do to save humanity. Even though this is only one out of endless cycles of world ending disasters (Matt Larkin calls them eschatons), Odin decides the one thing he can do is bring down the goddess of death for good. The world will continue to grow again and meet its end but never again will Hel threaten to overwhelm the world. And half the books is the already-dead armies of Valhalla, bringing back Hermod, Thor, Sif, Baldr, Sigurd and all the narrators we've met over the course of the series in one final action to clear the world of at least one source of evil by fighting her in the underworld. And the series ends on a note of hope.
This is not Pollyanna good vs. evil. The characters are very, very morally gray. Even though Odin pursues his (worthwhile?) goal of saving humanity throughout, he and his followers make very bad choices along the way. But perhaps this is just the message our world today needs. We need people to stand up for what they believe in and fight to the end even when the fight seems hopeless, even when they feel unworthy, because that is the only way life goes on and humanity survives. I give Matt Larkin huge props for bringing this worldview to life in such a compelling way.
This final installment was full of surprises. The battle that claims the earthly lives of the gods happens a little over halfway through. But the story continues because Odin has realized what it is he CAN do to save humanity. Even though this is only one out of endless cycles of world ending disasters (Matt Larkin calls them eschatons), Odin decides the one thing he can do is bring down the goddess of death for good. The world will continue to grow again and meet its end but never again will Hel threaten to overwhelm the world. And half the books is the already-dead armies of Valhalla, bringing back Hermod, Thor, Sif, Baldr, Sigurd and all the narrators we've met over the course of the series in one final action to clear the world of at least one source of evil by fighting her in the underworld. And the series ends on a note of hope.
This is not Pollyanna good vs. evil. The characters are very, very morally gray. Even though Odin pursues his (worthwhile?) goal of saving humanity throughout, he and his followers make very bad choices along the way. But perhaps this is just the message our world today needs. We need people to stand up for what they believe in and fight to the end even when the fight seems hopeless, even when they feel unworthy, because that is the only way life goes on and humanity survives. I give Matt Larkin huge props for bringing this worldview to life in such a compelling way.
October 31, 2018
Review is here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/10/...
November 10, 2018
Time has run out. Baldur is dead and can not be saved, the Deathless are performing their own brand of terror and slaughter and might only be stopped by breaking upon the shores of the sea of undead warriors that make up the armies of Hel who are sweeping through the North Realms unabated, Odin is nowhere to be found and is lost in the mists of time, Fenris stalks the world and can not be stopped. RAGNAROK has begun and the worlds are destined to meet their dooms. It is only through their own struggles and ultimate sacrifices that they are able to face and hope to defeat the Queen of Hel and her ever growing army. An army that grows larger for every death of those who face them.
In what may be the best - and final book - of the 14 Norse Branch of the Eschaton Cycle, Matt Larkin grabs you by the imagination and pulls you into the depths of his insanely wild creation as the heroes and villains of the lost age fight their way from the dying earth to the very gates of Hel and beyond. Larkin writes his story by ripping open the thoughts and emotions of each of his beings and shoves them directly into your heart and soul. As he brings the many threads he has thrown out into the universe back to weave his final tapestry of time and story, you can't help but feel the victories and the tragic losses personally. The last half of the book is a non-stop thrill ride that builds and builds until the final thread of fate is revealed.
This may be the best conclusion to any heroic series of mythic legend and straightforward adventure I can remember reading.
The good news is that Matt is now planning his next chapter in the Eschaton Cycle.,,AND...if its as thrilling as this, the fun has only just begun.
In what may be the best - and final book - of the 14 Norse Branch of the Eschaton Cycle, Matt Larkin grabs you by the imagination and pulls you into the depths of his insanely wild creation as the heroes and villains of the lost age fight their way from the dying earth to the very gates of Hel and beyond. Larkin writes his story by ripping open the thoughts and emotions of each of his beings and shoves them directly into your heart and soul. As he brings the many threads he has thrown out into the universe back to weave his final tapestry of time and story, you can't help but feel the victories and the tragic losses personally. The last half of the book is a non-stop thrill ride that builds and builds until the final thread of fate is revealed.
This may be the best conclusion to any heroic series of mythic legend and straightforward adventure I can remember reading.
The good news is that Matt is now planning his next chapter in the Eschaton Cycle.,,AND...if its as thrilling as this, the fun has only just begun.
November 15, 2018
ONE INCREDIBLE THRILL RIDE!!!
Man, talk about fast, furious and deadly. This is one action packed, fast paced, hard hitting, nailbiting, spine tingling, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning thriller that's as riveting as it is captivating. All the twists and turns, unpredictable surprises and unexpected circumstances make for one sharp edge experience. As the drama, fear, dread, loss, danger and suspense build along with rising tension in this intense storyline as the plot thickens. Matt wields his words as skillfully and precise as a surgeon with his scalpel. No holds barred, no pulling punches and taking no prisoners this is one series that will keep you on a razors edge the entire read. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Matt did a phenomenal job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Awesome job Matt, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Man, talk about fast, furious and deadly. This is one action packed, fast paced, hard hitting, nailbiting, spine tingling, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning thriller that's as riveting as it is captivating. All the twists and turns, unpredictable surprises and unexpected circumstances make for one sharp edge experience. As the drama, fear, dread, loss, danger and suspense build along with rising tension in this intense storyline as the plot thickens. Matt wields his words as skillfully and precise as a surgeon with his scalpel. No holds barred, no pulling punches and taking no prisoners this is one series that will keep you on a razors edge the entire read. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Matt did a phenomenal job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Awesome job Matt, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
November 30, 2018
“It’s going to end, regardless,” Odin said. “This time, it ends on my terms.”
If you are reading reviews for this final book in the series, I guess you are already at least somewhat familiar with the series itself, or interested in the Norse stories. It shouldn't come as a surprise that things are bound to look grim. For everyone.
Granted, I knew the end was inevitable. That didn't make it any easier, though, to see all these characters I'd gotten to know so well face their final battles.
The series finale pulls out all the stops: it starts off in the prologue with a bang, and it doesn't let up until the very end.
Odin, Thor, and the rest of the gang versus Hel and her undead armies. And Fenrir and his varulfur. And the Deathless legions from Miklagard. And the fire jotunnar from Muspelheim...
Sounds like the end of the world as you know it? You betcha!
"Time to smite some more." ;)
If you are reading reviews for this final book in the series, I guess you are already at least somewhat familiar with the series itself, or interested in the Norse stories. It shouldn't come as a surprise that things are bound to look grim. For everyone.
Granted, I knew the end was inevitable. That didn't make it any easier, though, to see all these characters I'd gotten to know so well face their final battles.
The series finale pulls out all the stops: it starts off in the prologue with a bang, and it doesn't let up until the very end.
Odin, Thor, and the rest of the gang versus Hel and her undead armies. And Fenrir and his varulfur. And the Deathless legions from Miklagard. And the fire jotunnar from Muspelheim...
Sounds like the end of the world as you know it? You betcha!
"Time to smite some more." ;)
December 9, 2022
hmm
Well what to say it’s been a long ride some of it excellent some not. Finally finished and can’t help but feel disappointed. The ending just seemed thrown together last minute and more more than somewhat lax.
Unfortunately I am in two mind about the entire series just felt unjustifiably long . Maybe if the author had gone for a shorter series it would of been far better. Will I read any more of his books probably not..
Well what to say it’s been a long ride some of it excellent some not. Finally finished and can’t help but feel disappointed. The ending just seemed thrown together last minute and more more than somewhat lax.
Unfortunately I am in two mind about the entire series just felt unjustifiably long . Maybe if the author had gone for a shorter series it would of been far better. Will I read any more of his books probably not..
November 4, 2018
Unbelievable how a story can pull you in and not let go until the end. All the characters are superb in their roles. I see a movie like the Hobbit in the future. No one should miss out once it’s released and definitely read the other books in the series.
June 21, 2024
A great ending to an excellent series of books, though I felt like a lot of individual stories got left a little too open. I get that the author wanted to leave these open to stress the reincarnation aspect of the story, but nicely tying it up would have made for a more satisfying read.
December 17, 2024
This book marks the end of the series and doesn't do so in a way that you would necessarily expect. the horror and foreboding is far deeper than any book I have ever read before and as such, is a fantastic piece of dark literature. It is well worth the read.
October 8, 2023
The ending to the saga is quite awesome! Brutal as all hell. Lots of cool fighting scenes, cool moments throughout. I am left a bit baffled regarding the semantics of killing/destroying versus liberating Hel, but that scene was cool. Everybody - EVERYBODY! - gets killed, dies, continues to fight in the land of the dead, and some even in the land of the deader. That almost felt like a trick, but ok, them's the worlds. In the land of the deader, everybody kills everybody else and now FINALLY can die for real. All but poor Loki. The role and character of Loki in these series is singularly peculiar. He is one cool character, for sure.
Minor gripe - Odin the God would be an equivalent to Zeus, not his half mortal son Hercules. But OK, the role required a warrior.
Minor gripe - Odin the God would be an equivalent to Zeus, not his half mortal son Hercules. But OK, the role required a warrior.
December 2, 2018
What a ride! What a story!
I don't want to believe it's over. What an amazing series this has been, I've laughed and I've cried. I've been angry with the characters whenever they did something wrong and proud yet terrified for them when they fought so hard to do right.
Larkin has brought Norse mythology to life in an unforgettable way in a series you'll want to return to over and over.
I don't want to believe it's over. What an amazing series this has been, I've laughed and I've cried. I've been angry with the characters whenever they did something wrong and proud yet terrified for them when they fought so hard to do right.
Larkin has brought Norse mythology to life in an unforgettable way in a series you'll want to return to over and over.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews