Lady Berserk: A Novella of Dragons, Trickster Gods, and Reality TV

The United States of Asgard

by Tessa Gratton

Vider Bearskin used to be in love with Loki, the Norse god of mischief and orphans. And Loki loved her, too, or that’s what she believed, until the day she called his name and he did not come, not even to save the lives of her mother and baby sister. So when Vider helps rescue Baldur the Beautiful and the Alfather offers her a boon, she asks to be made into his first female berserker warrior in generations.

Now she doesn’t need Loki. She doesn’t need any god, because Vider has power inside herself and she knows how to use it.

When she’s asked to be one of six celebrity dragon slayers in a televised dragon hunt on the Kansa Prairie, Vider never considers declining—even if Loki is also invited.

But Loki seems determined to insert himself into Vider’s life once again and she quickly realizes not all is as it seems. There’s more than one dragon for Vider to battle: the ancient creatures sleeping under the hills, the tempting god of tricks, and the dragon inside her own heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Fiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2014

About the author

Tessa Gratton is the author of adult and YA SFF novels and short stories that have been translated into twenty-two languages, nominated twice for the Otherwise Award, and several have been Junior Library Guild Selections. Her most recent novels are the dark queer fairy tales Strange Grace and Night Shine, and queer the Shakespeare retelling Lady Hotspur. Her upcoming work includes the YA fantasy Chaos and Flame (2023), and novels of Star Wars: The High Republic. Though she has lived all over the world, she currently resides at the edge of the Kansas prairie with her wife. Queer, nonbinary, she/any.

Reviews

[Carly222 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This shouldn't have taken me so long to finish, because like everything else Tessa writes, this was brilliant and beautiful. I absolutely love her writing.

[Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are planning to read this short story, I would advise that you wait until you finished you the trilogy as it gives some big reveals away. I absolutely loved this short and would love to recommend it to all but fear if you have not read any of Gratton's previous books in the series you might be quite lost in the world. If you are a fan of The United States of Asgard then you must check this out.

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25/5

Review coming soon!

[Jordyn Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5/5 ✨. Loki' awesome.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella had everything I wanted in a story, plus things I didn't know I wanted until I read them and realized.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing! I'm really happy to have been able to see more of Vider's story!

[Miyanomori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS A LOT AND DIDNT EXPECT I THINK I HAVE A NEW OTP AND THEY ARE ADORABLE

[Amy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violently poetic

I always love Tessa's language that manages to balance tight pacing and lush, vivid description. It's a love song to Loki. How can I be anything but smitten?

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vider may well be my favorite protagonist in this entire story-world.