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Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie #1)

by Ingrid Paulson (Goodreads Author)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 2,434 ratings · 383 reviews

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 tr...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by HarperTeen

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

72nd out of 793 books — 4,493 voters

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

October 2012

8th out of 80 books — 260 voters

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Community Reviews

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Sep 04, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mythic-and-fairy-tale-ish, october, 2012-publication, harpercollins, young-adult, read-2012, 2012-favorites, crush-worthy-boys

3.5 stars How could this possibly fail to be anything but entertaining? I mean...valkyries!

Review to come.

But I bet I'm not the only one thinking kill the wabbit , hee hee.

like 43 likes · see review

Nov 22, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-have-superpowers, surprise-surprise, totally-saw-that-coming, ya, reviewed-in-2012

3.5 stars.
I am ashamed to admit how little I know of Norse mythology, but really, what measly knowledge I have comes mostly from Kevin Hearne and his Iron Druid Chronicles. I used to resent Hearne for that teacher mode he tends to slip into in the middle of an action scene, but his never-ending lectures proved to be useful after all. And people say reading urban fantasy is a waste of time. But I digress…

I really didn’t think I’d enjoy Valkyrie Rising as much as I did. It took me completely by su...more 3.5 stars.
I am ashamed to admit how little I know of Norse mythology, but really, what measly knowledge I have comes mostly from Kevin Hearne and his Iron Druid Chronicles. I used to resent Hearne for that teacher mode he tends to slip into in the middle of an action scene, but his never-ending lectures proved to be useful after all. And people say reading urban fantasy is a waste of time. But I digress…

I really didn’t think I’d enjoy Valkyrie Rising as much as I did. It took me completely by surprise. I only realized how much fun I was having when I looked up and saw that five hours had passed since I started reading. The plot is admittedly pretty formulaic, but there were a few things that made Valkyrie Rising stand out. First among them is the quality of Paulson’s writing. While I wouldn’t exactly call it beautiful, it’s pretty clear that Paulson writes with great ease. Her prose flows smoothly and the story itself is relatively fast-paced. Believe me, the Valkyries will barely give you time to breathe.

The romance was incredibly sweet and it certainly kept me on my toes, but I was a bit unhappy with the love interest. Tucker – Graham and Ellie’s best friend and Ellie’s secret crush – was undeniably charming, and yet, sometimes a boy, even a fictional one, can be a bit too perfect. Everything about him was in its place: he was adorable when he needed to be, unflinchingly loyal, sweet, patient, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, smart and extremely brave. But although I enjoy reading about a swoon-worthy boy as much as the next girl, I need him to have at least one defining characteristic, something that sets him apart and makes him unforgettable. I’m pretty sure I’ll forget all about Tucker the second I stop writing this review.

Ellie, on the other hand, won’t be so easy to forget. Her character is built on a cliché or ten, sure, but Paulson did with her what she absolutely failed to do with Tuck – she gave her just enough quirks to make her memorable. Aside from that, we get to witness some serious personal growth, and a few moments of weakness I found very endearing. The most interesting part for me was Ellie’s relationship with her brother Graham. Even though Graham’s overprotectiveness was just a tiny bit exaggerated, it served as a motivator for
Ellie’s growth and her fight for independence. A Valkyrie shouldn’t be bossed around by her older brother, should she?

I glanced down at the image of my grandmother in all her Valkyrie glory. I wished with all my might that she’d appear right then and save the day. But she didn’t. For the first time in my life, there was no one there to fix things but me.

Should you read Valkyrie Rising? Definitely! It’s well-written, fun and very romantic. Plus, there are Norse gods, angry Norwegian people, Valkyrie, Valkyrie hunters and swords. What’s not to like?!

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Apr 27, 2012 Natasa marked it as maybe · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-covers, tumblog

Cover reaction:

Oh, wow. It's just so mystical and beautiful and awesome and paranormal and magical and foggy and mysterious and... and... and WINGS! Those mountains behind the model make her look like she's got WINGS!

Summary reaction:

I'm on the fence here. At least it doesn't look like the romance subplot will take over half the actual plot (fingers crossed). Another bonus: Norway. How many YA books take place in Norway? How many can you think of off the top of your head? None? Yeah, me too. Hop...more

like 36 likes · see review

Oct 26, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

GRs Rating: I’m thinking this one sits at about 3.5 Stars for me.

description

I often find that writing reviews for books that were just “okay” for me are the hardest ones to write. Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson kind of sits in the middle for me. There was a lot I liked about the book and other things that I thought were simply mediocre. It’s not like the book was poorly written, it’s not. It's just that there were times where I just could not muster up enough emotion to care what was going on. I’m not t...more

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Oct 30, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: covergasm, mythology, 2012-faves, believable-romance, books-i-want-to-marry, creatively-original, deserves-the-hype, faves, its-so-fluffy-im-gonna-die, made-me-smile, owned-ebooks, all-time-faves

This review is also available over at my blog.

______________________

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

Well this was an unexpected treat! Yeah, I do admit the blurb and the concept is very interesting and that it pulled me in, but for some reason my expectations for this book at the start were just... meh. I wasn't expecting anything special. But I'll say now that I was wrong, cause I really enjoyed reading this.

So we have Ellie Overholt, a seemingly shy girl with an uber-popular and a little too over-...more

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Mar 11, 2013 equilibri rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-super-naturally, stupidity-is-a-crime, hour-of-the-eye-roll

I didn't enjoy anything about this book, I'm sorry to say. Everything about it seemed to be wrong for me:

- Whiny, pathetic, weak heroine, who loves acting naive and stupid. She constantly moans about being all insecure while actually turning out to be a super-special snowflake. Unfortunately, there's no character development and she never even grows into her powers.

- Every single character is a complete cliché

- Obvious, predictable plot

- Beyond predictable, eyeroll-inducing 'romance'

- There's no...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Tracey G rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, sf-fantasy, goodreads-giveaway

advance copy of this novel was provided by HarperTeen through Goodreads

when i saw that this book was about valkyries, i was excited. i don't think i have ever read a young adult valkyrie book and it seemed like a breath of fresh air. unfortunately i didn't like this too much. the actual rating i'm giving is 1.5 stars.

Ellie is not a likable character to me. she annoyed me to no end. i could tell the author wanted her to be a true heroine. someone that didn't really have confidence but grows into...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Whitney (Vivid Reads) rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was really excited to read this book. I remember watching an episode of Charmed with Valkyries, which I really loved. So when I saw this book, I was immediately drawn in.

Unfortunately it didn't add up to what I was hoping for. I don't think it was because I had high expectations, though. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. At times I felt there was to much description. Then when it came to the world, I would have liked to see more. I didn't get a feel for the world. The plot, to me, felt...more I was really excited to read this book. I remember watching an episode of Charmed with Valkyries, which I really loved. So when I saw this book, I was immediately drawn in.

Unfortunately it didn't add up to what I was hoping for. I don't think it was because I had high expectations, though. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. At times I felt there was to much description. Then when it came to the world, I would have liked to see more. I didn't get a feel for the world. The plot, to me, felt very predictable and a little dull.

The characters I found a bit under developed. They just didn't do it for me. I found myself not caring what happened to them. Ellie, was not a character I enjoyed reading about. It seemed she didn't really know who she was, therefore I didn't know who she was. Needless to say I found all the characters a bit two-dimensional.

Another thing I didn't like was, one minute Ellie doesn't know what's going on, then all of a sudden, she had all this knowledge. I didn't get to go through that learning curve, sort of speak, with her. She just all of a sudden just knew. Which is why I say I didn't like the writing style, because it was like that through the entire book.

The romance, I didn't like either, lol. I liked Tuck & Ellie as friends, but I didn't think they worked as a couple. There wasn't any chemistry between them. But as friends, they had that back and forth batter that I like. But as a couple, they were sweet, yes, but it was also boring. And VERY cheesy. lol
I found myself rolling my eyes many times, every time Ellie mentioned Tuck. I swear her stomach flipped every time he looked at her. lol.

Overall, this book just wasn't for me. I think part of that is because Ellie spends most of the book looking for her brother. I'm just not a fan of books where the character spends the entire book searching for someone. I liked the idea of Valkyrie Rising, but I didn't like the plot, writing or characters much.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Vivid Reads.(less)

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Nov 07, 2012 Eliza Baum rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-library

Really about a 4.5, but I rounded up out of love. :-)

I found this book sort of at random, and last night I was looking for something a little different to read, so I decided to give it a try. And BOY am I glad I did! I would have zipped through it all in one sitting if it hadn't been relatively late when I started it. So let's see...how to describe my love....

The story was fun, and I loved the concept. In a book market so saturated with vampires, werewolves, and angels, Valkyries were a nice cha...more Really about a 4.5, but I rounded up out of love. :-)

I found this book sort of at random, and last night I was looking for something a little different to read, so I decided to give it a try. And BOY am I glad I did! I would have zipped through it all in one sitting if it hadn't been relatively late when I started it. So let's see...how to describe my love....

The story was fun, and I loved the concept. In a book market so saturated with vampires, werewolves, and angels, Valkyries were a nice change. Being set in Norway was a fun change, even if it made the names of places basically unpronounceable for me. But the best part about this book was the characters. I LOVED them. If they stay consistent the way they were here, I'd read any book the author wants to throw at me about them.

Ellie/Elsa/Ells was the kind of main character I like to read about. She has real insecurities, but she's not a doormat, and she doesn't make her decisions solely based on the boy she likes. She put actual thought into her actions, so even when she wasn't sure who to trust, or she was keeping secrets, it never dragged on and on where I was saying, "Just tell him already!!!" The romance was super believable, had a great build up, and Tucker was just an awesome character. Super swoon-worthy. It was obvious that he had his insecurities, too, which he tried to hide behind verbal sparring and teasing flirting...but ultimately he was honest with Ellie and he treated her well. Even Ellie's brother, Graham, was a great addition to the story, even though he wasn't present as much. He felt very believable, rather than just like a cookie-cutter character who was put there to annoy Ellie and not actually grow and change with the story.

I only had one small qualm, and it's the reason I deducted half a star. It only loses half, because by the time this came around in the story, I was already so addicted to the characters that it almost didn't matter. But it needs a mention, all the same. 3/4 through the story, we learn that (view spoiler). Now, I could see a few spots where there was supposed build-up, so it wasn't that the author wasn't trying, but it still felt a little out of the blue to me. And a little too convenient. It didn't break the story for me, but I did notice it, and it's never a good thing when I get pulled out of a story like that.

All in all, though, I love love loved this book. I'm mostly just sad that it's brand new, which means any theoretical sequels won't be coming out for at least a year. Boo.

PS - Am I the only one who pictured Tom Hiddleston every. single. time. Loki made an appearance, regardless of what he was supposed to look like at the time? Hehe.(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, mythology, owned, romance, tour-stop, young-adult

If you're a fan of siren stories, you will love Valkyrie Rising. I was kept up into the wee hours of the morning on a school night frantically turning the pages of this gripping story. The humor, strength, and mystery of these characters completely drew me in and left me wanting more and more every time.

The highlight of Valkyrie Rising was the characters and how involved every one of them was in the plot. One of my favorite characters, hands down, was Tuck. He was so snarky and funny that his ch...more If you're a fan of siren stories, you will love Valkyrie Rising. I was kept up into the wee hours of the morning on a school night frantically turning the pages of this gripping story. The humor, strength, and mystery of these characters completely drew me in and left me wanting more and more every time.

The highlight of Valkyrie Rising was the characters and how involved every one of them was in the plot. One of my favorite characters, hands down, was Tuck. He was so snarky and funny that his character lightened up the entire plot of this book. Every time he cracked a joke, I was laughing and wanting more of him. He could make the direst of situations into something so hilarious it was hard not to crack a smile while reading. However, Tuck also had his secrets and had his moments where he was serious. Tuck wasn't a court jester but he wasn't so severe his face was forever frozen in an unforgivable scowl. I really liked how his mood shifted from time to time, giving us multiple sides of him and surprising us with how complex his character really was beneath the humor.

Focusing on the supporting characters, they also proved to be vital to the plot of Valkyrie Rising. Ellie, our main character, was driven by all of the supporting characters, ranging from her brother to the girl next door who has it out for her. Without their precision and flawless execution, the story would not have been as entertaining.

Also, Valkyrie Rising brought the setting to a foreign place, putting us into the country of Norway. If you appreciate novels being set in exotic countries, then Valkyrie Rising is the book for you. Of course, the setting wasn't elaborated on extensively like you might find in a dystopian novel, but I did get the vibe that I wasn't in Kansas anymore, which was a definite plus.

The only thing I have to pick with Valkyrie Rising was the fact that it dragged at parts. Most of the plot included the characters talking amongst themselves and planning what their next move would be, rather than actually acting. I would have liked Ellie to be a little more spontaneous, rather than all her moves charted out for her, where all she had to do was follow through with the extremely detailed step-by-step process we got to read through earlier. I do appreciate the fact that most of the characters weren't reckless, but I would have liked more spontaneity.

Fun, teeming with romantic tension, and full of suspense and intrigue, Valkyrie Rising will inevitably leave you with a desire to continue this series. Fans of Amanda Hocking's Watersong series will love this new series, as will anybody who enjoys reading mythology books.

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Oct 10, 2012 Pixie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, arc, tours

You can also find my review on my blog The Bookaholic as part of the VALKYRIE RISING Blog Tour!

I’ve always been big into mythology stories. Just adore them. There’s something special about how you can take these amazing legends and stories that have been passed down through the centuries and twist them around in so many different ways. Valkyrie Rising isn’t any different there, and it’s refreshing and beautiful.

Now, I do admit that I’ve never been real into the Norse mythology area. Normally, I...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Another amazing new book. This takes a new look on Valkyries and myths. I was a little sketchy about this book but am so glad I picked it up to read. It was amazing, and you never knew what was going to happen, if the good guys were bad or vice versa.

Ellie another new female to start kicking butt first and asking questions after. She is going to Norway for a few weeks, and when she gets there boys start to go missing. She meets a new boy and his friends are kind...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Deea (Andreea) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked it, but sometimes it kind of irritated me, so it took me longer than usual to get through it. I'll get on the details in a bit.

The premise might sound familiar for Young Adult Paranormal books: main characters find out about the existence of a supernatural world and their connection to the supernatural creatures living among them, they get pulled into that world, bad things happen, villain shows up, more dangerous things happen, villain is...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, arc, favorites, norse-mythology, read-in-2012, paranormal, young-adult

Review Posted on Reading Lark 9/12/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I discovered how much I loved novels using Norse mythology when I fell in love with Wendy Delsol's Stork trilogy. I was so excited to see this title pop up on Goodreads awhile back and I knew I had to give it a try. This book is absolutely fabulous and one of my 2012 favorites. I loved every single moment.

Ingrid Paulson's debut novel delivers a powerful punch of action, romance, and Norse goodness. Readers are transpo...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012debut, challenge-dac2012, released-wishlist

Review originally posted on my blog http://hobbitsies.net/2012/10/valkyri...

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson is an awesome debut full of awesome Norse mythology, kickass females, and swoon-worthy guys.

While a few parts of Valkyrie Rising did seem to drag a bit, for the most part I read Valkyrie Rising in one sitting. It was action-packed and I was sucked in to the story. The stakes just kept getting higher and higher in Valkyrie Rising and I was definitely rooting for Ellie to kick everyone's a...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Alexa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, first-reads, 2012-reads, debut, young-adult, gave-away

4.5 stars

I enjoyed a lot of things about Valkyrie Rising. The rich and refreshing setting of Norway. The way the mythology was woven nicely into the story and the fact that it was filled with badass female warriors known as the Valkyries.

Ellie, the main character, was likeable and brave, and her brother's best friend and the love interest Tucker was my favorite because of his awesome personality and protectiveness of Ellie. All the characters were great and believable, and I loved how the romanc...more

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May 11, 2013 Uma Elena rated it 1 of 5 stars

Okay actually it´s 1.5 stars but...
Seriously? ReallY? I had really high hopes for this book, considering it took place in Norway(where I live. Sorry for my english btw.) and norse mythology. But it just turned out to be a mega cliche. And don´t even get me started on the Norse mythology. First of all: VALKYRIES.DON´T.FALL.IN.LOVE. Secondly evil Valkyries that kidnap people for fun or whatever they did: NOPE. Sorry but that´s just not how Valkyries work. They choose people who have died in battl...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Gillysegal added it

This was a highly anticipated title for me – as much for the location as the mythology and the hype of a kick-ass heroine.

Valkyrie Rising is an entertaining read. The story is fun, the Norwegian mythology a nice change for those who love paranormals but are tiring of the shapeshifter/vampire/mermaid fare.

But the book just lacked a certain oomph. I wouldn’t describe it as the strongest title I’ve read recently Though I didn’t want a travel novel, I wished there had been more description of the l...more This was a highly anticipated title for me – as much for the location as the mythology and the hype of a kick-ass heroine.

Valkyrie Rising is an entertaining read. The story is fun, the Norwegian mythology a nice change for those who love paranormals but are tiring of the shapeshifter/vampire/mermaid fare.

But the book just lacked a certain oomph. I wouldn’t describe it as the strongest title I’ve read recently Though I didn’t want a travel novel, I wished there had been more description of the location. The Norwegian fishing village atmosphere was present, but it was one of those stories that just begged for the setting to be a character of its own and it didn’t quite manage that.

Ellie certainly ends up being a kick-ass heroine – how could she not, she’s a Valkyrie, after all? And there’s a very nice storyline about striving to be your own master that I quite enjoyed. But some of her insecurities (particularly about her relationship with love interest Tuck) were belabored. There’s certainly a lot of snarky tension between the two, but for me, it wasn’t particularly romantic. Their relationship never quite grabbed me. I was also frustrated by the relationship with Ellie’s Valkyrie grandmother – too much secret keeping. Given the characters’ personalities in these books, good old fashioned forthight honest would have seemed to fit better. The book gets there with some characters and events, but not others and the choice felt like a device rather than justified.

Finally, sadly, this novel fell prey to a vice I have struggled with frequently in my recent reads – pacing and timing. The action all supposedly occurs within a few days, which I just hate. Why oh why can’t authors just let time pass? They don’t have to describe dead days/weeks/months – but making events occur within days feels like such a ploy to ratchet up the tension. It just doesn’t work for me.

This wasn’t a bad read, and if there was another one, I’d probably pick it up. But it was kind of a take it or leave it title for me.

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Feb 19, 2013 Savannah Ma rated it 4 of 5 stars

I gave this book 4 stars. I absolutely adored all of the characters! Especially Tucker, how can you not love him?

Overall the plot line of this book was pretty good. Everything was planned out very well. I liked it.

The only reason why I knocked off a star was because I felt like there wasn't enough of a build up to the main important parts. It wasn't like one of those books that would keep me glued to my spot until I finished the book.

The reason why I gave this book 4 stars was because Ellie se...more

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Feb 18, 2013 BAYA Librarian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Norse mythology is explored in modern times when a sixteen-year-old girl, Ellie, visits her grandmother in Norway. She discovers that both she and her grandmother are Valkyries and possess supernatural powers including strength, speed and mind control. Odin, from Norse mythology, is assembling an army of living warriors. He has commanded his Valkyries to kidnap boys for his army. When Ellie’s brother is one of the kidnapped boys she because involved in a journey to save him. While all this drama...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Step Into Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jessica

I really really enjoyed this book. I didn't love it but it was still oh so good and oh so addicting. (It would be a 4.5 rating if we did half stars) I would like to thank Shane from Itching to Read for allowing me to be part of the blog tour and also, HarperTeen and Ingrid Paulson for sending us an e-arc to read and review.

Absolutely, hands down, the best thing about this book is a guy named Tucker 'Tuck' Holloway. Oh my... *fans self* He is absolutely perfect. To be honest, he reminds me a lot...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Izzah Sanox rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Valkyrie Rising is an awesome story about Norse Mythology. Since this is my first time reading about Norse Myth, it really made me curious to read more books regarding it^^

(view spoiler)...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Gillyb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Valkyrie Rising was so totally enjoyable, I’m glad it swallowed my weekend whole. I wanted to travel to gorgeous Norway, which is so fully realized in the book, and dive into a world full of salty sea villages, sod roofs, and epic mythology. I happen to be a mythology fiend, though I don’t know much about Norse myths. But because of Valkyrie Rising, I’ll definitely take a more active interest in them.

It was refreshing to read a book set in Norway, a place not often visited by YA protagonists. E...more Valkyrie Rising was so totally enjoyable, I’m glad it swallowed my weekend whole. I wanted to travel to gorgeous Norway, which is so fully realized in the book, and dive into a world full of salty sea villages, sod roofs, and epic mythology. I happen to be a mythology fiend, though I don’t know much about Norse myths. But because of Valkyrie Rising, I’ll definitely take a more active interest in them.

It was refreshing to read a book set in Norway, a place not often visited by YA protagonists. Ellie’s a city girl totally dominated by her perfect, overly-protective, but ultimately well-meaning older brother Graham. She has a love/hate relationship with the utterly wonderful Tuck Halloway, Graham’s best friend, that looks like it could turn into something more. She’s already got problems. The last thing she needs is a whole bunch of Valkyries stirring sh*t up.

Ellie is a great protagonist. She’s strong and fierce and it was wonderful to read about her coming into her Valkyrie own. I figured things out way before she did, but that didn’t ruin the read for me. The plot doesn’t invent the wheel, but it’s got enough twists and turns and fun action scenes to keep the reader speeding right along. The mythology is awesome, and not too complex, which is great. But the best part is the Valkyries themselves.

This is such a girl power book. The Vals are tall, icily beautiful, and totally willing to crush you beneath their awesome fur-covered boots. You want to be one of them. They’re bad, but they’re so good, and it’s awesome.

The girl power extends to Ellie and the human girl Margit. I adored their female-driven friendship, plus the ultra-fierce bond between Ellie and her tough as nails Grandmother.

But of course, the central relationships are between Ellie and her boys- Tuck and Graham. Ellie and Graham have some problems to work out. In some ways they’re the most important people in the world to each other, and it’s really lovely. I loved the path of their relationship.

And then there’s Tuck. Ah, Tuck. He could be my favorite love interest this year. That’s a tall order, but he’s delightful. His bickering with Ellie is fantastic, and I loved the way you never quite knew what he was thinking. He was magnetic and oh-so-hot. I didn’t particularly love the twist surrounding him– it felt awfully convenient, and I didn’t like the way it was uncovered– but it led to a kickass hero moment for kickass Ellie, so I didn’t mind so much.

If you love sexy, sarcastic, heart-of-gold guys, read this book. If you love girl power, or mythology, or sibling relationships, or foreign countries, read Valkyrie Rising. You won’t regret it.

Originally posted at Writer of Wrongs (less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Sel rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Bookcase to Heaven™ review.

*

I walked into this book having not the slightest inkling of what a Valkyrie was. And I walked out knowing not much better. But, strangely enough, I was contented because Ingrid Paulson sure can write novels that blow your mind away.

When Ellie heads to Norway to visit her grandmother, the town that greets her is filled with hostility. There are rumours in the air about Ellie's grandmother and a gradually permeating fear about a group of mesmerizing but powerful girl...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Louise rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teens 14-17

***WARNING: SPOILERS MAY BE BELOW***

It wasn't a badly written book, but being the nerd that I am about Norse mythology - I had some trouble grasping the idea of some of the things that were being said in the story.
For a start: Valkyries are immortal warrior women. Their name literally translates to 'chooser of the slain.' You will not find a single Valkyrie in the existence of Norse mythology who ever had any desire for romance. In fact, most stories tell of Valkyries executing the men who fell...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Faye (The Social Potato) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mythological, romance, supernatural, young-adult

My rating: 3.5

A story about Valkyries! God knows how much I follow and adore Norse mythology, especially after playing the PlayStation game "Valkyrie Profile", so I thought this particular book would satisfy that craving of mine for some action with hot, female, armour-clad warriors! Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

Don't get me wrong - this isn't a bad book. In fact, it's far from that - the writing was good, the flow was okay, and the plot, although a bit scattered to me, w...more My rating: 3.5

A story about Valkyries! God knows how much I follow and adore Norse mythology, especially after playing the PlayStation game "Valkyrie Profile", so I thought this particular book would satisfy that craving of mine for some action with hot, female, armour-clad warriors! Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

Don't get me wrong - this isn't a bad book. In fact, it's far from that - the writing was good, the flow was okay, and the plot, although a bit scattered to me, was at least interesting. Unfortunately, I just didn't like it enough to care for it. I felt the characters were a bit too shallow for me to invest in, and because of that, there was little to no attachment at all. An example would be grandmother Hilda - we are told she's extremely beautiful, and that even with old age, she still looks young with invisible wrinkles or something. But we don't really get to know enough about her, and that was extremely disappointing. We don't even know why she did what she did, or her reasons for having chosen the decisions she made (sorry, that's pretty vague, but I'm trying to make this as spoiler-free as possible). We were just told it was like that, and no explanations of any kind after.

Elsa, on the other hand... sigh. I think she could have been developed more, but I have this tendency to absolutely dislike heroines who act before they think. I've read enough of girls like her that I've grown sick of it. She's depicted as brave, strong, and clever, but from what I've read, she fell short and only became stupid and impulsive to me. Second, I really don't understand the concept of keeping vital information from others/lying about what's truly going on... they tend to think doing so "protects" the people they love, but that's totally bullshit. Awareness IS protection. If you know what you're up against, you're better equipped to face it, so Elsa's tendency to keep stuff from her brother or Tuck was just weird to me. I couldn't help rolling my eyes multiple times throughout the book every time she narrates that it was for her brother's good to avoid telling him the reality regarding what was happening in town, and especially when she was so surprised and hurt when Tucker kept something from her, too. Hypocrite much?

I wish I can say more about this book, but it unfortunately ends here especially since I skimmed a lot of parts because they were boring me to tears... the cover is pretty? That counts as something.(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Jen Meegan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I decided to take a chance on this book even though it had a small number of reviews (but the ratings were high). In retrospect, I wonder if I'd have given this book higher ratings had I not just read two really fantastic YAs back to back (Libba Bray's "The Diviners" and Kresley Cole's "Poison Princess"). But it is what it is.

What I Liked:
- With so many fairy tales and myths being mined for story content, I give this author big kudos for finding something fresh and relatively untapped to write a...more I decided to take a chance on this book even though it had a small number of reviews (but the ratings were high). In retrospect, I wonder if I'd have given this book higher ratings had I not just read two really fantastic YAs back to back (Libba Bray's "The Diviners" and Kresley Cole's "Poison Princess"). But it is what it is.

What I Liked:
- With so many fairy tales and myths being mined for story content, I give this author big kudos for finding something fresh and relatively untapped to write about. As far as I'm aware, there just isn't much out there talking about Norse mythology and valkyries in particular. Take note future YA writers....Greek and Roman myths aren't the only ones out there! Why not try on something Northern European for size?
- Once Elsa (Ellie), the lead, hits her stride...she's a great role model. Loyal, honest, courageous....all things any young woman should be proud to emulate. But let's not forget all the other "girl power" (or is that grrrl power? I get so confused....) going on in this novel. There's Hilda, Ellie's grandmother, a woman who clearly didn't get the memo about how senior citizens are supposed to behave...Astrid and her gang...and a young village woman (names hidden to protect the innocent..) who more than shows her mettle when push comes to shove.
- Of all the relationships going on in this book, none struck me as so real as the one between Ellie and her brother, Graham. It was clear they loved each other deeply....and in spite of Graham's overbearing demeanor towards his sister, the reader knew all along he behaved that way out of protectiveness and respect. I like how the relationship was forced to change and how Graham takes it in stride.

Now...for the not-so-great....
- I never really felt that into Ellie. In the beginning, it seems like we're supposed to see her as a wall-flower, caught in her brother's shadow and resenting it. But then based on some early comments from Tucker, we are also left to conclude she's drop-dead gorgeous and alluring. Yet, as with almost 90% of YA heroines....she's totally clueless about her appearance and its effect on guys. Oh, and she does like to read...so I suspect we are supposed to gather she's a smart cookie. BIG SIGH. Just for once, how I'd love to come across a heroine who doesn't seem like a nincompoop when it comes to how she looks. I get this is all part living in Graham's shadow, etc....but girlfriend has a mirror!!! She can't be that oblivious. Also, there were a lot of very obvious hints thrown about Tucker's feelings for her as well as her place in the larger mythology of the book...but again, she comes across as either dense or not terribly engaged with what's happening around her. I did enjoy Ellie a lot more when she was able to embrace her family legacy....but to me, the transition from wallflower Ellie to butt-kicking Ellie wasn't a smooth one and, as a result, it made her seem a bit two-dimensional.
- Without giving anything away, the big reveal about one of the male leads fell flat to me...and a bit too contrived. I was disappointed at how it all unfolded.
- I felt like Ellie and Graham's back story was touched on only very briefly. I eventually figured out the dad had died and from what I can recall, we don't ever really get to meet their mom. It's the same for Tucker's parents (although I actually felt like I had more info about his parents than I did about Ellie's). This seems to be endemic of many YA novels...the parents are barely there, dead, or emotionally/physically distant and only thrown into the story to provide the bare bones about the lead characters. As a parent, I'd sure love to see more involved moms and dads...not these self-centered or preoccupied drips who barely make a dent on the reader's consciousness.
- Things got a bit muddled once the action started to heat up. I felt as if there were almost too many things happening...and too many characters flitting in and out. I found myself skimming a lot and not really feeling as engaged as I would have liked. Truth be told, while the setting and inspiration for the story were definitely unique, the way things unfolded and the characters themselves (aside from grandma and Loki), were pretty predictable and fairly stock for a YA supernatural.

My overall take on this book: It had its moments, especially due to the use of Norse mythology, but overall...it didn't stick with me, nor was able to engage with the book as much as I would have liked. It's clear this is the first in a series and I have noted many series start off with a whimper but end with a bang. My hope is this will be the case with Valkyrie Rising and the author needs some time to hit her stride.(less)

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Oct 26, 2012 Bayan Basri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, female-pov-only, heros-or-heroins-i-adored, no-love-triangle-thank-god, stand-alone, strong-heroin, ya-paranormal, myths-and-legends, my-book-boyfriends

Can I start by saying that this book is totally awesome? The plot was very unique, this is the first time ever I've heard of Valkyries, they're kind of like sirens but also kind of different. I've never read a siren book so I guess I can't be a really good judge of that. Anyway, the characters were awesome. Ellie-the main heroine-was a shy girl but only her brother and his best friend Tucker knew her well. What I liked about her most are two things: 1-The balance of her personality, she was shy...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars: A book that takes us to Norway and introduces us to the mythological Valkyries and Odin.
Ellie at sixteen has spent the majority of her young life in her brother's golden shadow. Graham is successful in almost everything. He is the perfect older brother, despite the fact that he is fiercely protective of Ellie. If any boy even looks in her direction he is there to fend them off. Ellie and Graham are headed to Norway for the summer to spend some time with their Grandma Hild...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Jeannette rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5
I've said this before and I'll say it again...I LOVE that the old myths are getting new stories! I love the fresh elements that are being added. Valkyrie Rising is no exception. First you have the strong heroine, Elsa (Ellie). She doesn't start out that way but watching her evolution into the kick-butt, action girl is fantastic! She doesn't just get there over night either, which I appreciated. There's not much in the story about Elsa's father, but the way her mother is described I w...more

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About Ingrid Paulson

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 sti...more

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