Fenris & Mott: A Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure About a Legendary Wolf, Norse Mythology, and Prophecy for Kids

by Greg Van Eekhout

A girl and her puppy face down the end of the world—which the puppy’s partly responsible for—in this middle grade story from acclaimed author Greg van Eekhout, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and J.C. Cervantes.

When Mott finds a puppy abandoned in a recycling bin, she’s ready to do everything she can to protect him. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that this is the legendary wolf Fenris, who’s prophesied to bring about the end of the world by eating the moon.

Now Mott has found herself in charge of making sure the hungry pup—who’s busy munching on lampposts, cars, and water towers—doesn’t see all of California as an appetizer, while also hiding him from the Norse gods who are hot on his trail, determined to see the prophecy come true.

Mott vows to protect Fenris, rescue him from his destiny, and prevent the world from ending. But will she be able to keep her promise? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mythology, Animals, Adventure, Dogs, Childrens

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2022

About the author

Greg van Eekhout writes books. Some are for kids, some are for adults. He lives in San Diego.

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update:

I failed to remember to drop by and actually review this book.

This was the one book on the Cybils contest short list aimed at the younger spectrum of Middle Grade readers and you could tell, which is a good thing, in my opinion. It’s a fairly simple story taking place in a modern day we recognize but strange characters straight out of Norse Mythology start appearing. There are some wonderfully comic moments and great adventure for the young protagonist. While we didn’t vote to give the award to Fenris and Mott, I did put it close to the top of my list and would recommend it highly.

***

I am judging judged the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction division of the 2022 Cybils Awards and this book is one of seven finalists. Announcement of the winners in all divisions will be were made on Feb 14 after which I’ll post full reviews.

https://www.cybils.com/

[Steph ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. I loved the Norse mythology and nod to Marvel and Chris Heavens (Evans). Funny and fast paced. Would recommend.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mott and her mother have moved cities and left everything and everyone she has ever known behind. She is alone and lonely, until she discovers an abandoned puppy inside a recycling bin. However, the adorable ball of fluff might be capable of more than it looks like, if the mysterious figures who keep appearing before Mott are to be believed. The small puppy's name is Fenris, a wolf prophesised to one day end the world by devouring the moon.

I loved how easily mythological figures and stories were interwoven into this contemporary setting. The fantastical intermingled with the everyday, making this both a magical and adventurous, delightful little story.

Mott was a protagonist easy to root for. She had a huge heart and her kindness knew no bounds. There was a lot to love and a lot to admire in her character. And Fenris was too adorable to ever believe he would knowingly cause any harm to the world. I, along with Mott and the other mythological characters who appeared, longed for both his safety and his lengthened stay in this world and with his new caretaker, Mott.

I believe middle grade readers, this book's target audience, would find much to love here. The mythology is introduced slowly and so easy to understand, the moralistic edge is prominent and yet never overtakes the adventures occurring, and the book remains fun and fast-paced throughout.

[Megan Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenris & Mott is a fun adventure which will appeal to all dog and mythology lovers! Mott wants nothing more than to have a dog (who doesn't??) and when she finds an abandoned puppy, it seems like fate....but Mott gets more than she bargained for! Mott's struggle to balance her own choices and wants with the world around her that is so out of her control creates a fast paced, non-stop adventure that will appeal not only to Middle Grade readers, but to anyone. If like to read what your Middle Grader also reads, this one is not to be missed! The integration of Scandinavian mythology is seamless and provides an otherworldly aspect to an urban story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids who love the Marvel universe and Norse mythology will enjoy this story about the wolf of Ragnarok.

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fenris & Mott
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 5.71/10 overall

Characters - 6

Atmosphere - 7

Writing - 5

Plot - 6

Intrigue - 6

Logic - 5

Enjoyment - 5

[JMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl finds a puppy…who turns out to be Fenris, the wolf of Norse myth who is prophesied to participate in the destruction of the world. And as puppies go, he is a little out-of-hand. This leads to a fun, funny, and engaging plot in which Mott, who has promised to save the puppy, tries to keep that promise and to save the world, too.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Mott (short for Martha) is trying to settle in to Culver City, California after her mother has moved her there from Pennsylvania. She misses her best friend Amanda, with whom she hosted a root beer review internet show. Outside her new apartment, she puts a bottle into the recycling bin and hears a "mweep". This turns out to be an absolutely adorable dog, and Mott is incensed that someone would dump an animal. She's also sad that she had to give up her newly adopted dog when her mom lost her job and they had to move to a smaller apartment, so wants to take care of the dog. When she takes him to a shelter and finds out that the animal is actually a wolf, she realizes that he will have to go back to the wild. When the animal makes a break for it, things start to get weird. A guy in a costume claiming to be Gorm the Vicious informs her that the wolf is actually Fenris, "The moon-eater. The Odin-slayer. The world-ender." Gorm, of course, wants to destroy Fenris, and Mott becomes defensive. Mott makes some notes about Ragnarok. It's rather alarming, but since she promised to take care of him, she takes him home, since she is not going to break her promises the way her dad breaks his. While walking in the park, the two meet Thrudi, who is dressed oddly and carrying a sword, and get more information about Fenriss. She claims to be Fenris' guard. Since Fenris has eaten the Rune of Annihilation, it's just a matter of time before all of the prophecies surrounding Ragnarok come true and the world hurtles towards its end. Many of these are evident; humans have just been attributing them to climate change and other causes. Together with Trudi, Mott travels to a nursery to meet Fenris' mother; thanks to the way the World Tree works, most locations to which they need to travel are very close. The mother, Angrboda, isn't a lot of help, but does give Mott some mistletoe, which could be used to kill Fenris, who has been leaving a path of destruction in his wake. There are a lot of other beings from Norse mythology whom the group meets, and Mott wants more than anything to be able to save Fenris. Will she be able to?
Strengths: Puppies. It's hard to go wrong when you start right in with a puppy. There was no time lost in getting right into this story, but we still found out everything we needed to know. This is not easy to do. The world building also is introduced briskly and is free of info dumps. Thrudi is a great sidekick, and Mott navigates her new California world with a world-ending puppy very well. The different Norse characters they meet are funny and interesting, and Mott works hard to try to save the world. I enjoyed the environmental undercurrents in the book as well. The ending left room for a sequel, but this could also be a stand alone story. Very enjoyable!
Weaknesses: I'm not well versed in Norse mythology, so it would have helped to have notes in the back of the book, or D'Aulaire's Norse Myths or Napoli's Treasury of Norse Mythology by my side as I read this.
What I really think: This was a short, fast-paced, action-packed fantasy book, and perfect for fans who want Norse mythology but don't necessarily want to read all three books of Armstrong's Loki's Wolves, Harris' Runemarks series, or Riordan's Magnus Chase chronicles. It's more dog focused than Subity's The Last Shadow Warrior, and I think I can convince one of my readers who ONLY wants to read dog books to pick this one up! Certainly fans of Van Eekhout's Kid vs. Squid, Cog, Voyage of the Dogs, and Weird Kid will be glad to see another book by this author.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mott has just moved from Pennsylvania to California and has been having a difficult time. Her best friend, Amanda is on vacation in Germany, and they haven't been able to shoot any videos together lately, and now with the move she isn't even sure if they'll be able to again. While attempting to shoot a video solo in an alley, Mott finds the most adorable white, fluffy puppy in a recycle bin. Mott is very angry that someone could abandon something so cute and makes a promise to take care of the puppy. Making a promise is a big deal to Mott, she's had people who've broken their promise to her and so she doesn't take giving her promise to the pup lightly. Her father was always good about making promises, but now that he has a new family, he hasn't kept up with them. Mott knows the no puppy rule at the apartment her and her mom live at will be a huge problem, but a promise is a promise. Hoping to gather information about the puppy, Mott takes him to an animal shelter and finds out that she actually found a wolf pup, and the shelter suggests sending him to a wolf sanctuary. Just as the guy from the shelter tries to put a leash on the wolf, it takes off and a chase on foot ensues.

Eventually Mott catches up to the wolf pup and finds him being held by a man claiming to be Gorm the Vicious. The man explains that the wolf is called Fenris, and he is the destructor of worlds, Odin's slayer. He tries to take Fenris from her and is unsuccessful but cautions her that eventually Fenris will need to be destroyed before he can swallow the moon and end the world. Soon after the encounter with Gorm, Mott meets Thrudi, who is a Valkyrie, charged with guarding Fenris, before he escaped from her. Thrudi fills her in on the prophecy surrounding Fenris and his ties to Ragnarok. They band up to search for answers on how to save Fenris and the world.

If Fenris and Mott taught me anything, it's that I don't know my mythology as much as I'd like. I knew Fenris' is one of Loki's sons but somehow missed that he was prophesized to end the world. Starting him off as a wolf pup and not the huge beast that he becomes was a wonderful change. It brought about the predicament of Mott not wanting any harm to come to him and the choice of whether to save him or the world. I also enjoyed the emphasis on promises, that they shouldn't be given out too easily. That to break a promise is breaking an oath. Thrudi is an absolutely fun character, it's humorous watching her learn about root beer and hot cocoa while swinging a sword and calling Mott a sorcerer because she can search information on her phone. What really won me over about her though is the way she tells Mott that she can become one of her Valkyrie sisters who have a bond based on trust, a found family. Fenris & Mott is a fast-paced action story that would appeal to readers who like the California setting, lots of stops around LA that were entertaining, or readers who enjoy Greek mythology, focused on a destructive wolf pup. Or just read it for the humorous bits like when they had to chase a dead man's hand through the city streets, which really made me laugh. **A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media and Harper Collins for the ARC hardcover.**

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mott has always wanted a dog, and her mom promised she would get one after their move to California. But when her mom's new job fell through they had to give up the nice apartment and the dog they had adopted. So she feels like it is destiny/torture when she finds a puppy in the trash in the alley behind a convenience store. He turns out to be wolf pup with a VERY strong aversion to leashes (he runs through the glass door at the animal rescue center the moment someone comes at him with one). Mott is allowed to look after him until the wolf rescue comes to get him in a few days. But in that time Mott starts to discover Fenris isn't just any normal wolf; he's THE Fenris, the one from Norse mythology, and he's about to unleash Ragnarok on California (and the rest of the world) unless Mott and her new friend, Thrudi, can find a way to avert prophecy.

This was a lot of fun. I didn't know much going in and found it delightful fun. I devoured it in one sitting. It was a very creative twist on Norse mythology (and featured others from the myths beyond Thor or Loki). Fenris is a cute, if incredibly destructive, puppy. The things he eats gets more and more ludicrous as the book goes on helping you increasingly believe he just might eat the moon and sun if given the chance. Thrudi is a great new friend to Mott and helps up the comic relief as she learns about Earth things from Mott. The adventure also helps Mott process the disappointments she's faced in her recent move and the way her father treats her. Highly recommended to mythological fiction fans, dog lovers, and zany adventure fans.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Fenris does swallow a few people but Mott gets him to cough them up in the end and they are fine, just in need of some therapy. There's a magical creepy severed hand that "helps" for a while during the adventure. Mott's father has a new family and Mott feels like he ignores her for them.

[Thomas Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe how much fun this was to read! The Norse mythology was so beautifully incorporated with the rest of the story and world it felt very "real." Like, maybe, just maybe this could happen. The Main Character is what I think should be looked for when you want a strong, powerful female, and this is because the author did the one thing most don't when they try to write a female like that: they treated them like a person, not something different or "special." They wrote a human female. This is a must read for anyone who wants to introduce their children to a wonderful world of God's and Bard life decisions!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between root beer reviews, Mott finds and protects the wolf pup Fenris who is more than he appears.

This was a sweet, fun kids book where hope and trying hard result in good things. Mott is a girl after my own heart. I liked the author's "Voyage of the Dogs" a bit more than this but I'll keep an eye out for his books.

[AStar Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tea and Spite · Rating 2 out of 5]

First three pages of the book: amazing, awesome, Mott is the most entertaining character in ages

Rest of the book: where did all the fun go?

I'm honestly a little surprised that this isn't Van Eekhout's first book because it makes a lot of pretty basic mistakes. There's no oomph, no emotional tug. Things happen without any real investment or payoff. Most of that is due less to the story itself than the way it's written. Way too much passive voice, not enough description, and questionable dialogue from everyone except Mott. Just because a book is written for children doesn't mean it has to lack style or skill. Fenris & Mott reads as the draft of a good book rather than a polished work.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The book opens with Mott finding a cute, cuddly puppy in a recycling dumpster. The conflict is introduced when she discovers it’s actually a wolf and that it’s a supernatural monster prophesized to destroy the world. She promises to protect Fenris and keeping her word becomes a big deal, and it may offer a valuable lesson to young readers. The vow becomes more difficult to keep when she realizes the potential destructive powers contained within this adorable puppy. Her attachment is accentuated since she has no friends after moving across the country to California. Her father has remarried and has new kids, so Mott has trouble handling his lies and a feeling of abandonment.
The story is based on Norse mythology and the foretelling of Ragnarök, a final battle that kills everything on Earth. A couple of major characters are included that aren’t often found in these tales. The antagonist is Tew, god of war, who wants to use Fenris as his weapon. The story that Tew causes Fenris to become the destroyer of Earth is new to me but it presents a potential solution to the problem. The Valkyrie are Odin’s female warriors, but this story describes Thrudi as being the protector of Fenris. Her interactions in Midgard, or Earth, add humor to the plot, as she doesn’t understand the customs of humans. She wonders why it’s inappropriate to threaten someone with her shining sword, and her idea of fun might include human sacrifice. Root beer is an unexpected pleasure!
Fenris is the highlight of the story due to the contradictions in his character. He’s playful and delightful, but he’s going to destroy the planet. His “comments” vary from sweet, soft mweeps to ferocious growls and roars. If he’s not cuddled in Mott’s arms he might be eating a car or a water tower. The urgency of his inevitable destruction is the fact that his appetite is growing, his level of devastation is amplified, and the signs of a looming Ragnarök are checked off Mott’s list. Ragnarök is a prophecy of what will happen, not what might happen, so how can Mott stop an inescapable future? How can she stop Mott while still upholding her oath to protect him?
What didn’t work as well:
The plot and conflict are simple to follow, so readers shouldn’t expect a seriously developed story. However, the simplicity, humor, and action make this an easy adventure to enjoy. It includes battles, emotions, and an insurmountable problem, so the story creates nice momentum and energy.
The Final Verdict:
Can a kind heart save the world from annihilation? The author creates a fast-paced, action-filled adventure that’s sure to entertain lovers of mythology and dogs. Mott, Fenris, and Thrudi are compelling characters, and it appears there’s an opening for them to reappear in a sequel. I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 4 out of 5]

trigger warning
cruelty towards animals, child neglect

One day, Mott finds a puppy who apparently has been thrown away like trash.
Plot-twist 1: The puppy is a wolf.
Plost twist 2: The wolf is Fenris and will destroy the world come ragnarök.

Adorable. Mott tries to do the right thing, regardless of what may happen. And that includes keeping promises, even if it is a hard thing to do.

Additionally, it's short and can be read in one go if you're an older reader, so I'd say it's pretty great for a younger reader who is just getting into the world of chapter books. You learn something about Norse mythology in a fun way, and I really liked the depiction of Nordic culture.

The only point I don't really agree with is the actor Chris Hevans, because the stupid actor who only cares about his good looks is getting old, and in a book with three dimensional characters, this stereotypical depiction felt grating.

Would read more by the same author. Want to pet a wolf now.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

[Michelle Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.

If there is a more charming presentation of Norse mythology out there, I have yet to find it. I mean, come on, Fenris as a cute and cuddly chubby little wolf puppy? What’s not to IMMEDIATELY love about that?

Other things to love about this book are the sweet, sympathetic, and sassy main character who spends her free time rating root beer on her YouTube channel (that is, when she’s not trying to prevent Norse gods from stealing away her new puppy friend and ensuring he brings about the end of the world), a Valkyrie who rides a scooter named Scooty, and tons of very subtle pop culture references that you might miss if you’re reading too fast (I laughed especially hard at an actor named Chris who acts in superhero movies). Mix all those things in with big doses of Norse mythology, and you get this wonderful little book that I absolutely have to add to my own bookshelf at home as soon as it’s available. I think I inwardly squealed in delight dozens of times while reading (Odin eating ice cream and riding rollercoasters? a dead man’s hand that acted much like a mummified version of Thing from the Addam’s Family reaching into a bowl of popcorn? Cue me cackling), and any book that fills me with that much glee just has to come home with me.

What a treat. What a delight. As Mott would rate it, it was five out of five bubbles for me.

[jess (bibliophilicjester) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was SUCH a fun read!! i loved following mott through her sudden adventures, and thrudi was a delightful surprise of a character. it's pretty fast paced, but never felt rushed. i know stories for younger readers typically ARE shorter. but this is one of those books that gave me the (wonderful and way too rare) feeling of being exactly as long as it needed to be to tell a complete story. and now i really want to check out this author's previous work!

some things were genuinely laugh out loud funny! and i appreciated all the wording and things appropriate for lovers of floofs. every dog is a puppy. even a wolf can be a pup. lol and i loved seeing "blep" hahaha it's such a perfect description. also not surprising the author has dogs (like how it made sense the author of lightfall has cats). you can tell when people just get it because they've spent lots of time around floofs.

fenris is sweet and a little scary, and i'm glad to have found another book i love with norse mythology! although i'm a sucker for any mythology, really. prophecy is one of my favorite things to read about, and i loved it here. the discussion about inevitability was really well done, and i feel the same about the word promise and how strong it can be. maybe i just click with this author's writing style? must find out with other books. yes.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.


Description from NetGalley:
When Mott finds a puppy abandoned in a recycling bin, she’s ready to do everything she can to protect him. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that this is the legendary wolf Fenris, who’s prophesied to bring about the end of the world by eating the moon.

Now Mott has found herself in charge of making sure the hungry pup—who’s busy munching on lampposts, cars, and water towers—doesn’t see all of California as an appetizer, while also hiding him from the Norse gods who are hot on his trail, determined to see the prophecy come true.

Mott vows to protect Fenris, rescue him from his destiny, and prevent the world from ending. But will she be able to keep her promise? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

This is super cute. The story starts from the first few pages and doesn’t slow down. The characters that they meet along the way to try and stop Ragnarock are varied and some are downright hilarious. Mott is definitely not going to let anyone hurt Fenris despite what all the prophecies say. I wish it was a bit longer, but am not sold 100% on that because I also wouldn't want to slow the pacing down. Overall the book is cute and fun.

Overall: 4/5

[Myarn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenris & Mott by Greg van Eekhout 4.5 stars

Mott finds an abandoned puppy in a recycle bin and wants to take care of him. Only the puppy in not a puppy; it's a wolf pup and needs special care. Events take a weird turn, when she finds strange looking people calling the wolf pup, Fenris. Wikipedia and Google help when she finds out that Fenris is the name of the wolf that will bring on Ragnarok. Can a cute little wolf pup actually be the moon eating monster prophesied in Norse mythology? If its true, can Mott protect Fenris and save the world?

An engaging tale that combines a tale of love between a child and a pet with commentary on climate change and the environment. The author's clever use of Norse mythology illustrates and teaches on more than one front. However, I would not use this as an introduction to Norse mythology; there are better books out there.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this ARC.

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Liked:
-The root beer love was a unique quirk for Mott to have and added a fun layer to the characters

-While the "popular" characters of Norse mythology do appear in the story, the main Norse characters are ones that appear less often in books, which was neat.

What I Struggled With:
-The ending felt a little too simple in light of something that happened at the climax. I know that's super vague, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. I just felt that the author should have had some more repercussions happen.

-I was expecting more to happen with the mistletoe. Again, I won't say any more because of spoilers.

Other:
-While it didn't distract me too much from the story, Mott's ability to travel around LA by herself felt a little unrealistic to me.

Final Thoughts:
Fenris and Mott will appeal to MG readers who love dogs and fantasy!

Cautions: two blasphemies; brief rude humor

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Super cute middle grade read with animals, root beer, and Norse Mythology.

Fun read aloud for kids moving to a new place, who love animals, and wanting a fun adventure story.

TBH tho, disappointed I’ve found multiple typos as I read.

Fun quotes:

Pg11-“She could be a girl w a wolf, like some kind of cool fantasy character. Maybe she’d get a sword. Maybe she’d start a new video channel. Really, she didn’t know what she should do, but being a girl w a wolf was definitely going to be her thing. It was even better than root beer.”

Pg25-“It might have worked, too, if only her mom didn’t have more brains than a potted fern.”

Pg28-“The root beer was some big mass-produced brand and tasted like corn syrup, worth maybe two bubbles at most, but Mott was scoring it a four, bc lunches with Dad were rare, and the rareness gave the root beer extra value.”

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mott and her mother have moved across the country to California for her mother’s new job that didn’t quite pan out. Mott now has a lot of free time since her best friend and fellow root beer vlogger is in Germany for the summer. When she finds a white, fluffy puppy in a recycling bin, nothing remains the same. What she found is not actually a puppy but a wolf pup also known as Fenris, the Norse mythological wolf who will bring about Ragnarök, aka, the end of the world. When Mott makes a promise to keep Fenris safe, she underestimated what would happen next – visits from Norse gods and a Valkyrie for a start. Will Mott be able to fulfill her promise to Fenris and keep him from ending the world?

[A. Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, adventurous, and engaging, this is the story of 11 year old Mott (aka Martha) who discovers an abandoned puppy, Fenris (aka the bringer of Ragnarok aka the Norse end of the world). The book is a delightful read about friendship, keeping promises, and your power to make a change - no matter how small you may feel.

Special props to the author for not attempting to over-justify or rationalize a lot of the mayhem and drama - as with all the best children's books, suspension of disbelief is key. I only wish we knew more of how Mott feels at the ending, and how her friendships work out long term... Hopefully there'll be a book 2! I'd definitely read it :)

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilariously charming end of the world book that isa perfect book for kids. The constant presence of adults who kept doing nothing to stop the Ragnorok simply because “well it can’t be stopped” rang so true for the multitude of times kids today will great alls claim we shouldn’t even bother to combat climate change because “why bother? The world is ending anyways.” A powerful pinch compacted in a perfect195 pages. I can’t imagine a better book for kids to read.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful, Norse mythology based tale about Mott & Fenris. I love how optimistic Mott is and that she questions everything and how all of the old people say that Ragnarok is happening and they must play their parts as they have been destined. I would highly recommend this read to anyone that likes Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson, Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr's The Blackwell Pages, or any other fictional retelling of mythology.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but the humor and relationship dynamics all felt a bit forced. Like each character who wasn’t Mott or Thrundi was an archetype and nothing more. I get that this is kid lit but I think we can hold ourselves to a higher standard.

Ultimately, liked the interpretation Fenris, didnt like the interpretation of Loki, and felt the whole thing could have done with a layer of polish.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book after loving this author's previous books for middle graders and was delighted by the humor, fast-paced plot, well-developed and unique characters, as well as PUPPY! I loved the friendship between Thrudi and Mott and would enjoy seeing more books featuring these two.

I'd recommend this book to all middle graders who enjoy fantasy, mythology, puppies, friendship stories, and laughing out loud while reading.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, cute, and fast-paced read. The relationship between Mott, a dog-loving root beer enthusiast, and Thrudi, a shield-maiden, was really sweet. I liked the consistent theme of updating situations for a modern world--the roots of Yggdrasil grow closer and Fenris is a fuzzy puppy. I did wish for a little more on the character-focused stuff, like maybe one more scene with Mott and her mom, an explanation for why she's called Mott, that sort of thing, but overall it was a solid book!

[Critter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty cute and fun. It took me longer than expected to read, but it was well worth it. The characters are fun and great for young readers. I think young readers would love the main character and her story. It felt like a very rewarding read. I loved the different themes if this book, especially with keeping true to your convictions and doing what you can to see through your promises to do the right thing even when that is difficult or others say it is impossible.