Between the Blade and the Heart
Valkyrie Book One
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book in a brilliant new YA fantasy duology inspired by Norse Mythology by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hocking (the Kanin Chronicles) sets this entertaining fantasy in a near-future alternate world where humans and immortals occupy crowded megacities. Eighteen-year-old Malin can't wait to become an official Valkyrie like her mother, responsible for slaying certain immortal creatures at the behest of the gods, until she learns that one of her mother's mistakes has upset the balance between good and evil. With the help of Quinn, her Valkyrie ex-girlfriend, and Asher, the vengeance-driven son of a Valkyrie, Malin journeys to the gates of the underworld to confront a long-forgotten evil. There's quite a bit for readers to enjoy in this series opener, including an openly bisexual protagonist, the diversity of characters and mythological source material Hocking draws on, and the intriguing blend of fantasy and science fiction elements. It's fast-paced and stocked with action, though aspects of the worldbuilding can be somewhat vague. Still, Hocking nicely sets up subsequent books in the Valkyrie series, which may flesh out the setting and history more than this initial installment does. Ages 12 up.
