Review: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Title: Valkyrie Rising

Author: Ingrid Paulson

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date: 10.9.2012

Pages: 352

Genre: Mythology; Romance

Series: Yes?

Source: ARC from friend

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

Review:

I’ve always been a fan of mythology, but I will admit that I generally gravitated more towards Greek mythology. I knew little to nothing about Norse mythology before I read Valkyrie Rising, and now I am desperate to learn more. Ingrid Paulson knocks it out of the park with her debut.

I don’t think I’ve ever connected to a main character from the jump like I did with Ellie. There’s something (maybe her Valkyrie awesomeness?) that just grabbed me. She started out this mild, somewhat meek, girl with a wicked sarcastic streak who was trying to get out of her god-like older brother’s shadow, and then became this powerful woman who leads an army. And never once did I feel like her transformation was forced or cliché.

If I enjoyed Ellie, I loved Tuck. I feel like my praise of him will be eerily similar to what Jenny @ Supernatural Snark said, but it is so refreshing to read a male lead who isn’t sullen, brooding, and/or tortured. Tuck is fun. He has this energy that lights up a room and jumps off the page. He simultaneously torments and protects Ellie. I think the reason I was so fully on board with their romance was because it wasn’t this instant connection—this had been building for year before the story began since Tuck is her brother’s best friend.

Paulson deftly weaves in few of the bigger names in Nordic myths (and fans of the movie Thor will undoubtedly recognize these names) like Loki and Odin. I’m hoping future books will bring about more characters. Like, Thor, for example.

I haven’t seen whether or not this is a series. I really, really hope so. Paulson definitely leaves it open-ended enough to continue the story, but she wraps up the main plot nicely. This works great as a stand-alone or the launching pad for a new YA series. Regardless, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves mythology and general epic-ness.

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