Nord

by Roxie Voorhees

NORƉ, a Yule horror novella, presents two distinct narratives set underneath The Wild Hunt. Both steeped in Norse mythology, you follow the ghostly procession as it travels from the northernmost point to the southern coast of Norway. In Geiranger, Astrid—on the cusp of womanhood, grapples with matters of the heart in her tiny village. Meanwhile, in Tunsberg, two brothers clash in a Balder and Loki retelling after the demise of the king.
Complete with glossary and translations.

Genres: Horror

146 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2023

About the author

Roxie Voorhees (she/he/they) is a tangled threesome of Gag me with a Spoon, Welcome to the Darkside, and Catch me Outside. When she isn’t writing, she is hyperfocusing on whichever of the many hobbies her ADHD demands.
A California native, he resides with his service dog, Bellatrix, in Little Rock, where he refuses to use the word fixin’, battles pollen, and fantasizes of using a public bathroom without it being a political stance.

Instagram: @the.book.slayer
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/rvthebookslayer
Website: www.roxievoorhees.gay

Roxie has come out as gender fluid! She prefers any pronouns and doesn't mind being included in women specific lists, but he asks you please note their fluidity.

Reviews

[Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A knifeless man is a lifeless man."

Happy release day!

Thanks to the author for a copy to review. This haunting bit of Norse horror is out on Krampusnacht, December 5th.

Nord was filled with striking imagery from the start, opening with a reindeer hunt and slaying in a the frozen woodlands of the far north. Kings, seers and sorceresses line its pages, their stories told in beautiful prose. Norð reads like the old stories in the Prose Edda in the best way, with grave lessons told in intricate but readable language.

I loved how this read like a fever dream you'd have after bingeing a documentary about vikings. The narrative is pretty disjointed, intentionally. The story flits between scenes of Norse lore, young love, and human cruelty with a pace that builds tension, even if you're familiar with the myths. Astrid's story ends beautifully, in the way only tragic romance can.

I really loved this! The dedication to the mythology was clear in its pages, and the glossary and dictionary at the end were super helpful. At the same time, much of the Nordic terminology used was inserted into the text in a way that you could gather the meaning on your own. So well done.

Part tragic romance, part epic battle between brothers, and part Nordic mysticism, NORÐ was a full-blooded portrayal of Norse mythos in novella form.

[Alannah Cossey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly given an ARC version of this book, all opinions are my own.

A fantastic combination of Norse Mythology and horror. It was raw and reading felt like a fever dream, but paired with gorgeously human and tender moments. The prose really sucks you in and you feel the winter chill in your bones.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nord is a Yule horror novella with two distinct narratives about the Wild Hunt of Norse Mythology. The first centers on Astrid, a young woman in the village of Geiranger, while the second, involves two brothers in a Balder and Loki retelling. The story is disjointed, but that is intentional. This is a thrilling combination of Norse lore and horror. The author even includes a glossary and translations for those like me who aren't well versed in the lore. This novella is ahunting in more ways than one, and sho9uld be returned to every holiday season for renewed enjoyment.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.