Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn
Synopsis:
Valkyrie: Norse Goddess. Reaper of Souls. Defender of the Weak. Not someone you want to mess with…
Freya is dreading her upcoming birthday when she’ll officially have to take up her duties as a Valkyrie. She doesn’t want to follow in the footsteps of the legends before her—legends including her mother and sisters. And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with humans!
Freya thinks humans are cruel, hate-filled creatures, but as she observes their world, she begins to wonder what it would be like to make friends with the girls or laugh with the boys she sees. And what would it be like to live without the fear that she could cause someone’s death with a single touch?
Then when she’s sent on her first mission, she reaps the soul of a fallen soldier with unfinished business…business that sends her on an epic quest to the mortal world. Will Freya find the true meaning of being a human, or will she finally accept the legend she is destined to become?
Review:
Freya is a troubled young girl. She isn’t content with her job as a valkyrie and risks her life to do and experience more. She’s a very sympathetic character, even if most readers wouldn’t take the same big risk. But she’s young and impetuous and puts other’s needs before her own.
Valkyrie is an exciting and dramatic fantasy novel for young readers. Full of vibrant characters and a heart-warming story, this was a hard book to put down. The author even modeled her Loki after Tom Hiddleston’s character. The book works well as a standalone novel, but I’d love to see it as a series. I really enjoyed this take on Norse mythology in modern day.