Dead Radiance (Valkyrie, #1)

Aug 24, 2012 Tana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer

Dead Radiance is a Mythology adventure, this is something I don’t normally read but to be honest I loved the cover and decided I should read it. T.G. Ayer writing is good, the story flowed well, character descriptions were well written well and I felt like I got to know and understand the main characters.

We meet Bryn Halbrook, her mother deserted her and when her father died she was placed into foster care. Bryn knows she is different and feels as she has never really...more Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer

Dead Radiance is a Mythology adventure, this is something I don’t normally read but to be honest I loved the cover and decided I should read it. T.G. Ayer writing is good, the story flowed well, character descriptions were well written well and I felt like I got to know and understand the main characters.

We meet Bryn Halbrook, her mother deserted her and when her father died she was placed into foster care. Bryn knows she is different and feels as she has never really fit in. Figuring out that she sees a person’s aura and when it lights up they usually end up dying. She of course tells no one. When a young man comes to live in her foster home things start to unravel for her. Finding out more about her father work and where she came from is very confusing, trying to piece everything together and realizing she is in danger she must leave her home to keep her foster family safe. The next part of this story then takes place Asgard, the city of Odin. Bryn learns she is a Valkyrie and a very powerful one. We meet some new characters and some old ones return. This story is faced paced, has some mystery/suspense and if full of some very interesting Mythology.

This book takes you on a Mythology ride and I quite enjoyed it.

I have rated Dead Radiance 4 stars and I cannot wait to read Dead Embers (Valkyrie, #2).

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
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Mar 20, 2012 Book Chatter-Cath rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, favourites

After reading the first chapters online I had high hopes for a great book, and Dead Radiance did not disappoint.

I can quite happily report that I thoroughly and enthusiastically LOVED this book.

I LOVED the story.
Norse mythology threaded into an intricately woven teenage tale of loss and hardship, mystery and intrigue, first love, deceit, self discovery and more.

I LOVED the characters.
Bryn is a typically normal kid dealing with the heavy burden of being in the foster system and never quite fitti...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-goal-50-books, books-i-have, freebie-at-one-time, favorite-indie-arthors, top-favorites

I grabbed this one awhile back when it was a freebie. I'm always a fan of a great mythology read. It took me awhile to get into it but once it did it had me hooked. If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan I recommend this book. Instead of a male lead you have a female heroine.

Meet Bryn Halbrook, a normal teenager placed in foster care after her father died. Her mother disappeared. After a short time Bryn meets Aidan. Aidan turns out not to be the person Byrn thought was and he m...more

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May 08, 2013 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ebook: Dead Radiance A Valkerie Novel
Author: T.G. Ayers
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this by the author for an honest review
Summary: “That day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge, mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing beats as I tried to remember to breathe. I finally knew what the glow meant. I was a freak and Joshua was going to die.” Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is on...more Ebook: Dead Radiance A Valkerie Novel
Author: T.G. Ayers
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this by the author for an honest review
Summary: “That day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge, mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing beats as I tried to remember to breathe. I finally knew what the glow meant. I was a freak and Joshua was going to die.” Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras - Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead. The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human. Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?

The Review
I absolutely loved this one, so much so I have dived straight into book 2 in the series, Dead Ember’s, This author’s writing had me hooked, it was abit slow at first, but it soon livened up, I will definitely be looking into reading more from this author, Bryn held me captivated, so much trauma in such a short life, yet she still kicked ass when it was required, that girl rocks, I thought the author described her perfectly, I could see her in my head, making each move in the book, it played out just like a movie, which was fantastic, The cover picture is perfect for this book, I thought the love interest Aiden was a dream, They seemed to have been soul mates from the first time they meet, which I love, I want my daughter to read this one, I think she will love it, I wish it had not ended when it did, but like I said, I have dived straight into book 2, I would give this book 4.5/5
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May 02, 2013 Tariel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews

*NOT PART OF REVIEW*
I wrote my whole review and then I have no idea what happened, so I hope I don't miss out too much :(

*START OF REVIEW*

I showed my grandmother my bingo board, as she is a very avid reader and has worked at Whitcoulls for fifteen years. She gave me a list of books that she thought might fit the criteria of each section. I chose this book from the list of “New Zealand Authors” because the blurb interested me. It was interesting because it is a fantasy-fiction. This is a genre I...more *NOT PART OF REVIEW*
I wrote my whole review and then I have no idea what happened, so I hope I don't miss out too much :(

*START OF REVIEW*

I showed my grandmother my bingo board, as she is a very avid reader and has worked at Whitcoulls for fifteen years. She gave me a list of books that she thought might fit the criteria of each section. I chose this book from the list of “New Zealand Authors” because the blurb interested me. It was interesting because it is a fantasy-fiction. This is a genre I am interested in and it also based around Norse Mythology which I find intriguing, as I know very little about Norse Mythology.

This is the first book in a trilogy, it is set in a fictional small town called Craven, in America. Bryn, the main character is a foster-child and main character in the book. Becoming more important to the world as the book develops.

The book had so many interesting characters, most of the characters in the book all have important parts to play in the story of Bryn’s transformation. The main protagonist is Bryn or Brynhildr. Bryn is an orphan living in foster care, she has always been different and more so now she is a teenager. She could see auras of people, a golden glow, as it was described in the book. She soon found out that when she saw a person surrounded by a golden glow it meant they would soon be dead and she couldn't do anything about it. But this was just the start of all the changes that would happen to Bryn. As the story develops the reader finds out why Bryn has feelings of being different and goes on an incredible journey with her and all the others she meets along the way. I like that the way the author slowly builds the character of Bryn, using teenage angst as a starting point, as I think many teenagers feel like they don’t know who they are and the unknown of what is to come is scary for many.

You could never expect anything in this book and if you did it was wrong, it made it so much more exciting, wanting to turn the page and find out what was going to happen, everything was a mystery, you never knew if it was going to go Bryn’s way or another way and it was never clichéd, even to the ending. This gave you a chance to predict what could happen, make you want to keep reading, along the way finding out if your predictions were true or false, this helped the book to stay in your hands for as long as it takes to read.

If you like the hunger games, then you will definitely like this book, it has such strong plots that go through the entire book, your imagination will run wild, making you think you were actually there. The way this book is written, made you imagine what Bryn and the other main characters visually looked like, you’d stop reading and think about it, pausing just to imagine the scene you have just read about. It may not be a book full of action, but the interesting events that keep happening keep it in your hands.

The author(T.G Ayer)had researched her subject matter, because after reading or during parts I went and looked up what a Valkyrie could be, Norse Mythology, Odin, Brynhildr and more and everything mentioned in the book I was able to get more information on, this made it more than just something to fantasize about, but also allowed you to think above and beyond this novel.

I like how it had a little bit of romance between Bryn and Aidan, it added excitement to the book although this wasn’t a love story. I liked how everyone thought Bryn was special, such a humble person, not thinking anything more of herself than any other person. Odin, the largest and most powerful god provoked in the book handed Bryn help whenever needed, seemed to always think of her as a gift, one in need of great care to succeed, same with many people who were sent to serve Bryn, they would do anything to fulfil what Bryn had in mind, especially Sigrun, who slowly became best friends with Bryn. My favorite moment which showed just how special Bryn really is, was when she watched a golden leaf float downward to lay on her shoulder, the leaf wasn't any leaf as Bryn's friend and witness of the scene Sigrun said "This Rowan is special. No season affects it. No leaves fall from it unless Glasir wishes it. We believe that Glasir will only give you a leaf if you are important or special" After Sigrun informs Bryn with that information she then explains that everyone knew Bryn was special, but the blessing from Glasir clarified it.

The book was a fantastic read, it made me think more than any other book has. I would recommend this book to teenagers who like adventure, fantasy and with a historical theme, that creates further subjects to learn about.

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Jan 04, 2013 Stephanie Dagg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dead Radiance (A Valkyrie Novel) by T G Ayer is definitely different YA paranormal. Brynhildr Halbrook is an orphan, currently being foster-mothered by Mrs Custer in Craven. Bryn isn’t particularly happy. She’s not the same as other kids and doesn’t socialise a great deal or make many friends. And on top of that she now discovers she has a gift she hates - she can tell when people are going to die, and there isn’t a thing she can do about it.
She considers herself a head case.
Then the mysterious...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Bex 'n' Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kati-s-reviews

There is no secret, I am a huge Mythology Geek and when I found out that I would be able to review this book, Dead Radiance by TG Ayer, and it had a lot do do with Norse Mythology, I got excited.

It started off very slow and some times I just wanted to push the book away and not come back to it... The problem? I didn't love the character Bryn at the beginning of the book. She tended to be kind of annoying. But that being said I continued through and am glad I did!

Once you hit about half way, the...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

T.G. Ayer’s Dead Radiance (A Valkyrie Novel) is a riveting story from Norse mythology, lead by a young modern woman. All of her life, Bryn has been burdened moving from foster home to foster home and never really had a place she can call home. It is this lifestyle that makes her cautious when it comes to relationships. When the handsome Aiden comes to live at her foster home, she is afraid to open up to him yet she builds enough trust that she shares a personal secret. The secret leads them to a...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Erin Maurer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dead Radiance centers around Bryn, a teenaged foster child who has always been a little different. Since childhood, she has be able to see things that other people couldn't. She knows when someone is going to die, specifically by the golden halo that surrounds them.

When her foster mom brings in the handsome Aidan, Bryn's world tilts even more upside down. She not only finds herself falling head over heels, she also finds out that Aidan believes she might be a decendant of the great Valkyrie, Bru...more
Dead Radiance centers around Bryn, a teenaged foster child who has always been a little different. Since childhood, she has be able to see things that other people couldn't. She knows when someone is going to die, specifically by the golden halo that surrounds them.

When her foster mom brings in the handsome Aidan, Bryn's world tilts even more upside down. She not only finds herself falling head over heels, she also finds out that Aidan believes she might be a decendant of the great Valkyrie, Brunhildr. Valkyries, according to Norse Mythology, are winged, warrior women designed with collecting the dead from Earth and bringing them to train as Odin's warriors.

Could Bryn's abilities really be linked to these amazing, ancient women? Is she destined for something greater than being Craven's high school outcast? Aidan certainly thinks so. His abrupt disappearance thrusts Bryn into a world she thought only existed in mythology.

Everything Bryn thought she knew, her entire reality shifts as she begins to realize there is a lot more to life than what we experienced here on Earth.

What makes this book so remarkable is Ayer's abilty to weave together some heavy mythology and difficult concepts into a story that is so easy to read. Bryn is wonderfully well-rounded and far from perfect, which makes readers like me cheer for her over and over.

Ayer does not shy away from pain, from death, from grief, instead she uses those less-than-pleasant emotions to fuel passion, to lead her characters to destiny. She uses life's hardtimes to reveal someone's true character. After all, don't we learn the most about ourselves when life gets tough?

The story comes across as real, human and beautiful, despite dealing with alternate realities that we've only read about. It's action-packed and wonderfully crafted, making it the perfect read for just about anyone. Bryn will have young teen girls jumping for joy, while the action and battles will attract the boys. Us adults will find the story so wonderfully crafted we will be itching for book two.
re.Disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of this book for review, however all opinons are my own. (less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Valerie Mcqueen rated it 5 of 5 stars

My review of Dead Radiance : A Valkyrie Novel by T. G. Ayer

Rating 5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Bryn has spent years dragged though the trenches in the foster care system. Her mother took off at around age five, and het father died in a suspect automobile crash several years ago. Reeling from the loss of her only friend in a car accident as well, Bryn finds herself truly alone.
Suddenly a new foster kid comes into the house and he is a...more My review of Dead Radiance : A Valkyrie Novel by T. G. Ayer

Rating 5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Bryn has spent years dragged though the trenches in the foster care system. Her mother took off at around age five, and het father died in a suspect automobile crash several years ago. Reeling from the loss of her only friend in a car accident as well, Bryn finds herself truly alone.
Suddenly a new foster kid comes into the house and he is a dreamboat on two legs. A bad boy meets scholar, Aiden produces large amounts of electricity in her veins with a single look. His kiss leaves her in a pile of drool on the floor. Bryn knows he feels the animal attraction between the two, but why is he trying to kill her?
After her house was ramsacked by Aiden's family and henchmen Bryn is whisked away by a stranger. Upon awakening, she learns the reason people are after her.....she is a Valkyrie, a race long thought lost to the world. Now she must learn the ways of her kind for her own protection and to survive. In order to fulfill her destiny she must not only face the events of her past but also embrace her future. Somewhere along the line she has to decide at what cost is love????
Bryn's story is out on this world amazing. This is a paranormal fiction story far from the usual rounds of vamps, weres, and fey. Here we are introduced to handsome Gods with over the top power, Valkyrie warriors with beauty and fierceness, as well a myriad of other creatures. The plot is suspenseful and very well paced. I can relate to Bryn's feelings of awkwardness and just not fitting in. I was much the same as a teen. Plus she was left with so many questions from her past. Finding answers to each is painful but helps her define herself and her place in this world. This book is not predictable or normal. I was surprised multiple times with plot twists and turns, but somehow it just fit this unique story as it went on. I fell in love with each of the characters ( even got angry with a couple as well ) which makes this book a winner. The author truly leaves you wanting to follow Bryn's journey. No overdone cliches here ....pure talent! Great well rounded novel!

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Jul 23, 2012 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, norse, mythology

I really love Norse mythology, but this book was a disappointment. It was too hodgepodge to be taken seriously. Here is why I didn't really like this book:

1. Bryn and Aidan. She hates him, but then they kiss passionately and apparently they are dating. The whole book is based on this premise. They seriously have about 2 conversations and then the author acts like they have this deep relationship. I know that teens are always falling madly in love in young adult novels, especially in this genre,...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Shae Carcar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall Thoughts:
This book was the epitome of abnormal, which is completely refreshing.

Dead Radiance is about a teenage girl named Brynhildr "Bryn" Halbrook, who's always felt like the black sheep in life. Her father, Geoffrey Halbrook, was a well-known genetic scientist who died when she was only thirteen years old and her mother abandoned her when she was five so she's been forced into the foster care system.

Ever since Bryn was young she knew she was different than every one else because she...more

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May 14, 2012 Hmr28 marked it as to-read

I am not sure why authors' don't take advantage of every single avenue of publication open to them. I know that if I come across a recommendation from goodreads or a friend I check the book out right away, if it is available and is interesting to me, I buy it. If it is not available for me to buy on the Nook, I don't and then...I forget about it. Essentially the author has lost the chance at a sale, because I am not going to remember that I wanted a particular book 1 week from now much less 3 mo...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Eh, another book I had a hard time getting into - really, really not for guys, though there's some cool mythology and with some creative editing here and there, deleting a lot of the first third of the book and then a few paragraphs every chapter or so in the second third, I might actually have really liked it. As it is, this book kind of suffers from somewhat overwritten, angsty prose (the prologue and first chapter are really bad offenders) and a cliched start (plus the Aidan character), thoug...more Eh, another book I had a hard time getting into - really, really not for guys, though there's some cool mythology and with some creative editing here and there, deleting a lot of the first third of the book and then a few paragraphs every chapter or so in the second third, I might actually have really liked it. As it is, this book kind of suffers from somewhat overwritten, angsty prose (the prologue and first chapter are really bad offenders) and a cliched start (plus the Aidan character), though after the bad first third the plot does get better ... and more interesting.

Still, it's not what I was expecting from a book about Valkyries, I guess I expected there'd be more fighting and action and there really isn't any until the last third. Before that, the writing makes Bryn seem really mopey and down all the time, alot of talk about death, so she ended up really annoying me - at least until she got out of dodge. I liked her a lot better after that, when she stopped being so morbidly depressing and actually loosened up abit. I think all of her good quotes come in the final third when she's finally written with some spunk.

The mythology (sort of) impressed me. From a lot of the details and descriptions, I think it's pretty clear that Ayer did more than just copy and repeat the basic Wikipedia entries about the Norse gods (as some authors are wont to do, not naming names). I wanted to see more though, the first third was really overwritten and I was kind of disappointed that the second third in Asgard felt in comparison underwritten; I guess all the fancy writing was used up on the funeral at the beginning so going through Odin's palace didn't feel as epic in comparison.

The final third's the best part, with the sort of action and plot development I'd been expecting (though Aidan's still written badly, too passive and really out of character with what happened in the first third), and I would've happily given this book another star had I not had to slog through the first third. For the future, I'd just skip down to the Valhalla part, the characters will repeat the previous plot points anyway, and then this book won't be as bad. Too bad the entire book's not written like the last third, but based on the preview the next book seems to be, so there's that. Two and a half starts (rounded up).(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bryn is a character who grabs hold of you from the first page. TG Ayer has created an unforgettable heroine in the young Bryn, a heroine that girls can look up to, women can respect, boys can think her kick-ass and men can want a woman that strong at their side. This is no fragile young girl. This is a warrior. But there is not only Bryn to love in this book. TG Ayer has created a cast of acutely drawn characters that will continue to live in your mind long after finishing their story. Greek myt...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, g-fantasy-paranormal, a-young-adult

At first, I struggled with liking this book. At some point, the author won me over. I was about 60% of the way through the book last night and couldn't decide if I should call it quits or push through and finish it.

It is hard to write this review because while I finished the book and I can't wait to pick up the next one to see what happens with the story, there was a lot working against it.

Bryn! I liked her character, but I greatly disliked her character. Clear as mud right? I will admit fully...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog

The YA genre has had it's fair share of vampires, ghosts, angels, demons etc ... It's difficult to find something new and refreshing. When I saw that Dead Radiance was about Valkyries, I immediately signed up for the blog tour because I liked the sound of the book.

Bryn Halbrook sees golden auras around certain people. Up until her best friend, Josh, dies she doesn't realize that these auras mean that these people's deaths are approaching. Soon after, Ai...more
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog

The YA genre has had it's fair share of vampires, ghosts, angels, demons etc ... It's difficult to find something new and refreshing. When I saw that Dead Radiance was about Valkyries, I immediately signed up for the blog tour because I liked the sound of the book.

Bryn Halbrook sees golden auras around certain people. Up until her best friend, Josh, dies she doesn't realize that these auras mean that these people's deaths are approaching. Soon after, Aidan, a mysterious and gorgeous guy comes to live with her foster mom. When Aidan suddenly disappears, Bryn is taken away to a secret location known as Asgar, where she comes to the realization that she's the re-incarnation of a powerful Valkyrie.

I liked Bryn as a character. She started off as an insecure loner, but throughout the story she grew and became a lot more stronger. I thought that by the end of the book she had overcome all her previous obstacles regarding her personal self. I really like reading about characters maturing since it's always very enjoyable to develop a liking to characters gradually. I liked the fact that Bryn accepted the fact that she was a Valkyrie in a brave way and didn't act all panicked because she thought she was a freak. Although she came across a few issues, she actually embraced her new life. Moreover, she was the kind of character who was naturally inquisitive and tried to find answers to the countless questions she had all by herself. She didn't wait for everything to be revealed to her magically. Overall, I thought Bryn was a character who was easy to root for.

There was a serious case of instant-love in Dead Radiance and I honestly couldn't stand it. In a way, this very immediate love dampened by full enjoyment of the book. I didn't understand the attraction between Bryn and Aidan. To be honest, I felt like the barely spent time together and knew next to nothing about each other. If it had been mentioned as lust or attraction, I would have been able to forgive the book, but towards the middle of the book, Bryn called Aidan the man that she loved and that annoyed me infinitely because they never even had a proper conversation. All they had ever done was make out. I've never been a fan of instant romance, so there's no way I could have enjoyed it in this book.

What I loved most about Dead Radiance was the fantastic world-building. The author went to great lengths to explain and thoroughly describe her setting, so that the reader can feel that he/she is present along with the characters. T.G Ayer did her research and I was absolutely enthralled by the myths and legends in the book. I don't know much about Norse Mythology, but I did learn quite a bit from Dead Radiance. The Gods, the different creatures and the lifestyles fascinated me. According to me, the prologue was smashing since it really set the tone of the book, but I was slightly disappointed with the first quarter of the book. In my opinion, it was slow and quite dreary. As soon as Bryn found herself in Asgar, things got so much better. Along with Bryn, I loved discovering this new world that she had come to. From that point onward, the plot became a lot more tense and my interest was piqued even further. T.G Ayer is a fantastic author. She has a beautiful and very descriptive writing style that brings her words to life. Because of the way she wrote, it was easy to vividly picture the setting of the book. Furthermore, the book ended in a cliffhanger, so there's no doubt that I'll be checking out the next installment.

If you're looking for a unique and not yet explored theme in YA paranormal books then I suggest you read Dead Radiance since despite its slight flaws it ended up being a highly entertaining read! (less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, kindle, review-on-blog, favorites, dac-2012

This book was so awesome! I have not read a Valkyeri book before and this was such a great one to start with. The book just flows along at a great pace. It's never boring, never slow. Dead Radiance is a great adventure that kept me riveted from start to finish.

Bryn is awesome! She is kick butt, kind, and all around awesome! I started out feeling so bad for her. She had no friends and she was bounced from foster home to foster home. It must have been tough on her. I certainly couldn't imagine it...more

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May 06, 2013 Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

Move aside Vampires and Werewolves… Valkyries are here and they are her to stay. When I found this book on tour, I knew I had to be a part of it because I have been practically itching to try out something new. While, Vampires and werewolves make for an entertaining read, and I am always up for a good murder story, but every now and then something new feels refreshing.

Bryn Halbrook is lost in the foster care system ever since her father died he stay mother walked out of her life. She often feels...more Move aside Vampires and Werewolves… Valkyries are here and they are her to stay. When I found this book on tour, I knew I had to be a part of it because I have been practically itching to try out something new. While, Vampires and werewolves make for an entertaining read, and I am always up for a good murder story, but every now and then something new feels refreshing.

Bryn Halbrook is lost in the foster care system ever since her father died he stay mother walked out of her life. She often feels lonely as she feels that she is different from those around her. For instance nobody around her can see the auras and nobody else has had to realise that the ‘gift’ that she has helps her know who is going to die only by losing their best friend. Then Aiden turns up and everything seems to shift in her life. She is attracted to Aiden, the brooding new kid in the foster family. But just as sudden as his appearance in her life Aiden disappears from their lives. Now Bryn is left alone to work out her inherited legacy.

As the protagonist, Bryn Halbrook is certainly an interesting character. True to her teenage years, she is having trouble in ‘finding herself’ and things are bit dramatic. But what’s teenage life without a bit of angst and drama? Her character grows over the story and she grows into someone I can like – quite practical (well most of the times) and strong. Aiden, with his brooding nature and good looks is intriguing. I always have a hard time believing in the love at first sight thing and so the ‘love’ between Bryn and Aiden was a bit too much for me to accept. I mean, they hardly knew each other before Bryn’s self admission of her one and only love.

The plot as such was quite interesting to me. I love Mythology even though I have very little knowledge of foreign mythology, I enjoy reading and learning more. Valkyrie was a new concept for me and I liked it. The novel is fast paced and the author has hardly wasted any time with unnecessary details or situations.

Overall I liked quite a lot.
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Jul 18, 2012 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good story to read. There is so much to this book; a lot of background information, and new things to learn, especially for Bryn. She, herself seems at first a loner, as others around her see her as trouble, due to an unfortunate car accident that killed Joshua, Bryn's new friend in school, and a very popular guy. There are interesting qualities that Bryn possesses, such as the ability to look at someone's aura before they are going to die. She tries to seek help from Aiden, a...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Krystal (at) Krystal's Enchanting Reads rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dead Radiance has been one of the best books I have read all year. It is about a girl named Brynhilder (Bryn) Halbrook who has had it rough, to say the least, being moved around from foster home to foster home because her mother abandoned her when she was just a young child and her father dying in an accident. Bryn is different from everyone else because she is able to see a golden light around certain people and has been able to see this light since she was a child. What she found out later is...more Dead Radiance has been one of the best books I have read all year. It is about a girl named Brynhilder (Bryn) Halbrook who has had it rough, to say the least, being moved around from foster home to foster home because her mother abandoned her when she was just a young child and her father dying in an accident. Bryn is different from everyone else because she is able to see a golden light around certain people and has been able to see this light since she was a child. What she found out later is that when she sees this light it means that person is going to die.

Where Bryn lives now is awesome and her foster mom really loves her and everything. She even has a great friend named Joshua. Things change when a horrible accident happens and her best friend dies and everyone blames her for what happened. The incomes Aidan, the hot bad-boy type with a heart of gold, or so it seems. After some tragic things happen, Aiden leaves suddenly and Bryn is left wondering who she is and what has really happened. Everything changes as lies are uncovered and her heart is broken even more. Her whole life is turned upside down in a matter of moments and when she wakes up in a land known as Asgard and the stories that everyone spoke of actually being true. She learns that she is a Valkyrie and the reincarnation of a great warrior named Brunhilde.

I honestly didn't really know how much I was going to like this book. It sounded interesting but I really had no idea that I would love it as much as I do. The characters are true to life and very believable and I love how the story of Odin is changed around and women are put into the best roles. This book is really about finding out who you are, how to love and how to know what a true friend is. Now, about the world that is cast in this book. Seriously, T knows how to describe something in amazing detail. Every word about Odin’s castle and every other part of this amazing land is described so perfectly that if ever made into a movie could never do it justice. I could picture everything that was described including how things smelled. This book blew me away with the details alone.

I am enthralled with this series and cannot wait to start the second book. I am on the edge of my seat to see what happens next.

*Disclosure Notice*
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Natasja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer is the first novel in her Valkyrie Series and it was great. I knew I had to read the book when I read the book description and I can tell you the story didn’t disappoint me. It pulled me right in from the start and I couldn’t put it down.

Bryn Halbrook has been in the foster system since her father died a couple of years ago. As long as she can remember she sees a gold glow around some people, but she always kept her strange gift to herself. It is until now in her new f...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I have been reading a few books involving Mythology lately and have enjoyed every single one! Each time I read one, they seem to get better! So it comes as no surprise that I really enjoyed this one too. Although when you first begin reading Dead Radiance, it doesn’t have the mythology connection from the very start; it grows into it as the story evolves. T.G. Ayer has done a beautiful job at writing Bryn’s story and I was able to connect with the characters easily.

Bryn hasn’t had the greatest u...more I have been reading a few books involving Mythology lately and have enjoyed every single one! Each time I read one, they seem to get better! So it comes as no surprise that I really enjoyed this one too. Although when you first begin reading Dead Radiance, it doesn’t have the mythology connection from the very start; it grows into it as the story evolves. T.G. Ayer has done a beautiful job at writing Bryn’s story and I was able to connect with the characters easily.

Bryn hasn’t had the greatest upbringing, her father died when she was 13 and has been shuffled around foster homes for the past 4 years. She has finally settled in a nice home and has been able to connect with her new foster mother and the other three foster kids that live there too. She has never had friends as she has always been the freak girl, but at her new school she meets Joshua and they kick it off straight away. There are no ulterior motives behind their friendship, just bonding at its best.

Bryn is struggling with her own emotions when the new foster kid Aidan rocks in on his Ducati. Not only does he fit in at home, but he hits it off at the school and isn’t labelled a freak like her. He doesn’t seem to fit the ‘foster kid’ mould. But there is something about him that Bryn finds attractive but she tries her best to dislike him. Biker dude is mysterious, smart, hot and looks like he has money to burn.

I didn’t even get a quarter of the way into the book and my heart shattered twice, along with Bryn’s. She has to deal with some traumatic issues and she has no support other than her foster mother. As if her life hasn’t been hard enough. But she has to move on and continue as normal, the best she can.

She returns home from school one day and that is when her life changes forever and the fun begins!! There are many twists within the storyline...again, and my heart shattered one more time!! It was fantastic to watch Bryn grow and become a more confident person/valkyrie, especially after she is sent out on a mission of her own.

Dead Radiance was a marvellous story. The characters were fantastic and I was able to imagine the surroundings as it was detailed perfectly. However, the story is not over and it will be interesting to see how Bryn deals with everything. It is only the beginning and I think bigger things will be install for us in the future!!(less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, ya-children

4.5 To me, the perfect summer book needs to have a couple features. First, there must be good characters. Second, there must be a great story line. Third, it should be light but entertaining. Fourth, it should have fast-paced story line that will keep me reading. Fifth, it should be a book that you keep saying that you'll only read one more page and then you end up reading a bunch more. Dead Radiance checks all of those boxes for me. I read this book in two sittings. It was a little slow startin...more

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May 13, 2013 Tonya rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about this book besides you have to read it. I mean WOW what a great story this was and I can’t wait to get into book two. I loved the characters in this book from loner (in the beginning) Bryn to her foster mom Ms. Carver to the ever sexy biker boy Aidan. I mean OMG really, leather, motorcycle, cute butt, sexy eyes, what girl wouldn’t swoon over that, I know I was. When he first shows up in the story I was like rushing to get past Bryn and get him for myself – YEAH!!!! And lets n...more What can I say about this book besides you have to read it. I mean WOW what a great story this was and I can’t wait to get into book two. I loved the characters in this book from loner (in the beginning) Bryn to her foster mom Ms. Carver to the ever sexy biker boy Aidan. I mean OMG really, leather, motorcycle, cute butt, sexy eyes, what girl wouldn’t swoon over that, I know I was. When he first shows up in the story I was like rushing to get past Bryn and get him for myself – YEAH!!!! And lets not forget about the God Odin and Godess Freya I mean hello perfectly done in here.

I have always loved the old Greek and Norse mythological stories. I have always believed that there has to be something to it – there are way to many stories out there for it to all just be made up. Some of my favorites were about Valhalla, Asgard, Odin and the dead who are brought back to Asgard by the Valkyrie. Imagine fighting for what you believe in, for good, having courage and dying for that cause. And in honor of that the amazing Odin and Freya wanting you in one of their armies to fight in what is the greatest battle of all time for them. To be brought back by the beautiful and mythological Valkyrie. I mean hello YES!!!!!

And I love when an author researches their stories before they write them and use real facts not changing stuff to make their story “BETTER”. To me it is better when the real stuff is used not twisting the story with different places, names, etc. That takes away from it. I give huge cudo’s to the author for staying the path on this story.

The detail which the author used to describe Bryn’s (Brynhilda) transformation from the alone and lonely foster child to an amazing Valkyrie was so amazing it was like I was in the room watching this unfold. Like you could feel what was going on inside Bryn’s head and body. As well as her heart when she is suddenly face to face with the one she fell in love with who broke her heart. To the fight between her and another Valkyrie who holds a grudge. Ever nail biting moment, ever sweet tender kiss scene, every sad and heart breaking loss was felt. My emotions hit ever range reading this book.

Now to go buy another box of Kleenex so I can start reading book 2.
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Oct 05, 2012 Anjie Kendall rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was drawn in by the fact this wasn't just another vampire or werewolf story. However, the insta-romance was a huge turn off. Aidan kissed Bryn like three times and suddenly she's thinking of him as her boyfriend. One of my biggest problems with YA novels/stories is how fast the characters fall in love and are dating. This one takes "break-neck speed" to a new level. Once they are together there's no relationship building. Did they spend no time talking in the car? Did Aidan just know everythin...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Becket Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, own, ya-fiction

Ayer's Dead Radiance is filled with well-developed characters including a strong female protagonist - always an ideal combination for me as a reader. Ayer also delves into some ancient myths and twists them into a fascinating retelling.

There are some places of the book that could benefit from more development, particularly in the section where Bryn is first learning to embrace her new powers. Based on the possible enhancement of this section in particular, Ayer could easily have made Dead Radia...more

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Feb 24, 2012 J.C. Hart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sick of vampires and angels? Why not try Dead Radiance with VALKYRIES, and Norse mythology - a nice change from your standard YA paranormal fare.

Meet Bryn, the kick ass leading lady in this debut novel from NZ/South African writer T.G Ayer. Bryn has been in the foster system for years and struggles to trust others, so fearful about appearing crazy that she has to hide the things she sees from everyone else. Until she meets Aidan, that is, and finds it impossible to stop him from getting under h...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Brenda Demko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off I really like this cover! It definitely catches the eye. It really portraits Bryn the main character. The book begins with Bryn being a somewhat normal teenager. If it is normal to be a foster child who shares a home with three other foster children and a loving, understanding mother. Bryn's had an unusual ability since she was five. She can see a glow around some people and lately it's been shining around her best friend Joshua, so much so that she's been avoiding him. She doesn't kno...more First off I really like this cover! It definitely catches the eye. It really portraits Bryn the main character. The book begins with Bryn being a somewhat normal teenager. If it is normal to be a foster child who shares a home with three other foster children and a loving, understanding mother. Bryn's had an unusual ability since she was five. She can see a glow around some people and lately it's been shining around her best friend Joshua, so much so that she's been avoiding him. She doesn't know for sure what it means and she can't tell him or anyone else that she sees things that no one else is seeing. Can you say loony bin?

After an accident claims Joshua's life but leaves her alive, she becomes a pariah. Everyone thinks she's a freak that took one of their best away from them. They feel that it should have been her instead. Not long after, Aidan, a new foster kid moves in. They have a love/hate relationship from the beginning.

Bryn starts to depend on Aidan and he leaves. Not long after that goons come looking for her and things really get interesting when she gets whisked away to a place that she thought was only make believe.

I have to say that the characters have personalities that are very believable. We do find out what the glow means and so much more! This book has some Gods and Goddesses, ulfrs which are shapeshifters, valkyries, and a story that has you entranced from the beginning till end.

T.G. has such a wonderful imagination! She is so descriptive that you can almost visualize being there with Bryn. Dead Radiance was completely different. There was not one moment that was reminiscent of other books! :D

Dead Radiance had intrigue, action galore (look at the cover, that sword's not just a decoration!), and a touch of romance. I could go on and on I enjoyed it so much! I recommend this book to everyone who's looking for a great paranormal story to read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I honestly loved it! I can't wait to read her next book Dead Embers.
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Apr 06, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

First, how about that cover?? Beautiful!! Okay, on to my thoughts. I really don't know much about mytholgy so I loved the fact that Dead Radiance is full of Valkyrie's, Warriors, and Norse Gods.
It all began with an archaeology dig, a strange find, and a man with his own agenda for the DNA taken from the find.
When foster-child Bryn's best friend dies in a car accident, while she is with him, Bryn becomes more of an outsider than she was before. While the snide remarks and dirty looks continue af...more

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Dead Radiance (Valkyrie #1)

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