Author: Ingrid Paulson
Genre: YA - Fantasy - Mythology
Release date: October 9th, 2012
"Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.
What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.
Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age." ~See it on Goodreads
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Valkyrie Rising… Where oh where to begin?! I’ve always been
a big mythology lover, there’s just something so unique and special about the
legends and stories. They’ve been around for centuries and are still passed
down through the generations today. That being said, I’m not extremely familiar
with Norse mythology. I’ve heard bits and pieces of it here and there but I’ve
never really delved deep into it, (I usually read mostly Irish/Celtic and Greek
mythology) but now I’m kind of kicking myself for not getting more into it and
I will most definitely be changing that asap!
The writing was wonderful, from the very first page it
pulled me in and I didn’t come up for air until the end. The descriptions were
so vivid and beautiful, and the setting of Norway couldn’t have been more
perfect (I want to visit there someday for sure). I was completely and utterly
intrigued by the Valkyries, they’re amazingly beautiful, extremely strong,
fast, and lethal. To put it simply, they’re just totally bad-ass!
I really loved Ellie’s character, she was confident, strong,
and she stepped up to the plate and became a great leader. She’s smart and doesn’t
just plunge ahead without thinking things through, which was nice to see. All
that said, she still wasn’t perfect, I mean who is? Yes, she had some flaws,
but that’s what made her seem real. Even though there were times when she was
scared or when she felt like giving up because things seemed pretty much
impossible, she kept going anyways and pushed herself. Ellie and her brother
Graham had such a strong bond, I can definitely relate to that having siblings
of my own and I would do anything to protect them if need be. In fact I have
two older brothers so I could understand the feeling of having your older
brother always looking out for you (whether you prefer it or not lol), but once
the tables were turned Ellie didn’t hesitate to take action and protect her
brother. And Ellie’s grandmother was absolutely awesome! I really liked her
personality, she seemed odd to the people in the town but in reality she was a fierce
protector, as well as being kind and loving.
Now as for Tuck… I adored him! He was perfectly swoon-worthy
and every girls dream crush. He’s Grahams best friend so of course he gets to
tag along on their trip to Norway. I really loved him and Ellie together, and I
liked how their relationship built up slowly as they started to see each other
differently and realize what they really felt for one another. They’ve known
each other forever because they grew up together; and you can see from the very
first interaction between them, that Tuck really cares about her and is willing
to protect her at any cost (the same way he is with Graham). It was such a sweet
romance, and I loved every bit of it.
I read this book much faster than I thought I would because
it was too good to put down! The only thing that bothered me was that I wish it
had been longer! I wanted there to be more!! But since it’s a stand-alone
there most likely won’t be. Although, the ending was left a bit open
(everything was nicely resolved though) so it could move on into a series
maybe? *hint hint*hehe.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book since I
finished reading it; I was just blown away by it. I loved the romance, the
action/suspense, the characters, and the main storyline itself. It’s hands down
one for the favorites list and a definite must read! I’ll be on the lookout for
any and all future work by Ms. Paulson, which I’m sure I’ll love!
4.5 Stars!
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About The Author:
Ingrid Paulson lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter and enjoys long-distance running, eavesdropping, and watching science documentaries. She has always loved books and writing short stories, but was surprised one day to discover the story she was working on wasn't so short any more. Valkyrie Rising is Ingrid's first novel.
Ingrid's grandmother might actually be a Valkyrie; she's still waiting for her to come clean.
Official links:
Ingrid's grandmother might actually be a Valkyrie; she's still waiting for her to come clean.
Official links:
Website: http://www.ingridepaulson.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/IngridPaulson
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Impressive review. Thrilled you liked it.
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