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Freya #2
Slay
Her fight for freedom is over,
but the fight for power is just beginning.
After Freya escapes from the power-controlling Finemdi Corporation, her quest to defeat her new enemy takes her to Hollywood. The ancient Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death disguises herself once again as Sara Vanadi, now an up-and-coming star on a scandalous television series. Freya knows that today’s modern gods live on the screen, and Los Angeles offers her both fame and believers.
And she desperately needs strength from her believers.With sinister forces at her heels, an ancient enemy returned, and an unknown threat lurking in the shadows, Freya must walk a dangerous line between mortal and goddess. Because if she loses her humanity, who will save the world?
Blending fantasy and science fiction in a contemporary Hollywood setting, Slay: A Freya Novel is the second book in Matthew Laurence’s action-packed series about an ancient goddess in a modern world.
but the fight for power is just beginning.
After Freya escapes from the power-controlling Finemdi Corporation, her quest to defeat her new enemy takes her to Hollywood. The ancient Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death disguises herself once again as Sara Vanadi, now an up-and-coming star on a scandalous television series. Freya knows that today’s modern gods live on the screen, and Los Angeles offers her both fame and believers.
And she desperately needs strength from her believers.With sinister forces at her heels, an ancient enemy returned, and an unknown threat lurking in the shadows, Freya must walk a dangerous line between mortal and goddess. Because if she loses her humanity, who will save the world?
Blending fantasy and science fiction in a contemporary Hollywood setting, Slay: A Freya Novel is the second book in Matthew Laurence’s action-packed series about an ancient goddess in a modern world.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2018
9 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Laurence
5 books53 followersA designer and writer for over fifteen years, Matthew is consistently delighted that people actually pay him to make games. His career has taken him from Orlando and San Francisco all the way to Helsinki, Munich, Abu Dhabi, and now Stockholm, Sweden! Besides playing games of all kinds, Matthew writes and cooks for fun, travels whenever (and wherever) possible, and maintains an unhealthy relationship with Netflix.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 9, 2021
Wait, there isn't another book? WHAT????? Okay, I want to curse, but I won't. Thank me later.
So, they are back. With another A-MAZING cover. BUT, cliff-hanger! SRSLY? AND THIS WAS CREATED IN 2018!!!!!!! 3 yrs ago!!!!!
I am gonna cry.
The snarky comments, the sarcasm, the friendship, the destruction... gone?
I can't even. PLEASE SOMEONE LMK IF THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK ANYWHERE.... PLEASE!!!!
CONTENT: You already know it's clean. Well, maybe not... but it is. There is a few pushy moments, and mentions of romantic content, as well as there is a bit of touching, and implication that something happens. But it's off screen. Violence includes, death, stabbing, people coming back to life, getting impaled and rehealing with blood explained, and falling off a building, and crashing to the cement from a vehicle floating upside down in the air.
So, they are back. With another A-MAZING cover. BUT, cliff-hanger! SRSLY? AND THIS WAS CREATED IN 2018!!!!!!! 3 yrs ago!!!!!
I am gonna cry.
The snarky comments, the sarcasm, the friendship, the destruction... gone?
I can't even. PLEASE SOMEONE LMK IF THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK ANYWHERE.... PLEASE!!!!
CONTENT: You already know it's clean. Well, maybe not... but it is. There is a few pushy moments, and mentions of romantic content, as well as there is a bit of touching, and implication that something happens. But it's off screen. Violence includes, death, stabbing, people coming back to life, getting impaled and rehealing with blood explained, and falling off a building, and crashing to the cement from a vehicle floating upside down in the air.
October 2, 2019
I have no clue about why I waited so long to pick this up. What a delight, this book.
I read the first one in this series as an ambassador for a Dutch publisher (who sadly didn't translate this wonderful book) in like december 2016. I real A LOT of books, so it is very common for me to forget a lot about a story and the characters between a first one and a sequel. Not this one. I could recite everything I enjoyed about this book at any given time.
If you can explain me not reading this sequel sooner, please enlighten me. Maybe because it felt safe, having a book you know you are going to love sit unread on your shelves?
Anyway, reading this was a blast again. I love the writing style. I love the characters. I love everything that happens, the twists and turns the plot makes. I was surprised so many times!
I really like that sometimes people react reasonable, and sometimes emotions take over. I was gonna say it makes them humans, but they're gods, but you get the point. It makes them feel real. And it makes the storyline really unpredictable, which I love. And however they respond, both responses fit in the setting so that is really well done. And I love how different the outcome could have been f they did or didn't do something..
I also really like the idea Matthew came up with, how the strengths of the gods are related to the amount of believers. And the little systemhacks in it, and how the system grew and is used (and misused) and all that stuff. Very well done!
Long story short: lovely YA books that I highly recommend. Please buy and read those!
Cannot wait for book 3! The story, but also really curious for the cover, I bet it is going to be drop-dead gorgeous as well!
I read the first one in this series as an ambassador for a Dutch publisher (who sadly didn't translate this wonderful book) in like december 2016. I real A LOT of books, so it is very common for me to forget a lot about a story and the characters between a first one and a sequel. Not this one. I could recite everything I enjoyed about this book at any given time.
If you can explain me not reading this sequel sooner, please enlighten me. Maybe because it felt safe, having a book you know you are going to love sit unread on your shelves?
Anyway, reading this was a blast again. I love the writing style. I love the characters. I love everything that happens, the twists and turns the plot makes. I was surprised so many times!
I really like that sometimes people react reasonable, and sometimes emotions take over. I was gonna say it makes them humans, but they're gods, but you get the point. It makes them feel real. And it makes the storyline really unpredictable, which I love. And however they respond, both responses fit in the setting so that is really well done. And I love how different the outcome could have been f they did or didn't do something..
I also really like the idea Matthew came up with, how the strengths of the gods are related to the amount of believers. And the little systemhacks in it, and how the system grew and is used (and misused) and all that stuff. Very well done!
Long story short: lovely YA books that I highly recommend. Please buy and read those!
Cannot wait for book 3! The story, but also really curious for the cover, I bet it is going to be drop-dead gorgeous as well!
April 11, 2018
Why am I the first reviewer? Why don't more people read this series? It's fantastic! You all are really missing out.
First things first, the most important thing: each main character gets some ;).
Second, it's darker than the first book. Deeper, too.
Third: I, like the Kirkus reviewer, thought that Laurence's depiction of Hollywood was rather over-the-top, and the cover model a little thinner than Freya should be, but everything else? Perfect.
First things first, the most important thing: each main character gets some ;).
Second, it's darker than the first book. Deeper, too.
Third: I, like the Kirkus reviewer, thought that Laurence's depiction of Hollywood was rather over-the-top, and the cover model a little thinner than Freya should be, but everything else? Perfect.
July 6, 2018
When's the third book being released? Cause I kinda needed right now.
That cliffhanger. Is Garen talking about Apep or something else?
And that acknowledgement? 'I love this world and these characters (yes, even the ones I crush with rocks)-'
Was it really necessary? Did you have to hurt me more???
Most of the action was in the last 100 pages but I still enjoyed the book (not much that one part that crushed me... hahaha) ... now I'm waiting for the next book though.
That cliffhanger. Is Garen talking about Apep or something else?
And that acknowledgement? 'I love this world and these characters (yes, even the ones I crush with rocks)-'
Was it really necessary? Did you have to hurt me more???
Most of the action was in the last 100 pages but I still enjoyed the book (not much that one part that crushed me... hahaha) ... now I'm waiting for the next book though.
April 28, 2018
This book was sent to me by the publishers as a part of the teenreads.com Teen Board.
The Freya series by Matthew Laurence is an urban-fantasy book series following our main character, Freya. After years in hiding, Freya, Norse goddess of love and beauty, is finally hunted down by the secret organization Finemdi, an organization that is tracking down all gods and abusing them for power. Freya has lost all of her powers in the past millennia, making her an easy target to be captured by Finemdi. While Freya does eventually escape from Finemdi with the help of her newest high-priest and a few Hawaiian goddesses, Finemdi is still out loose and is even more dangerous than before.
Now, in the second novel, SLAY, Freya decides that the only way she and her allies will ever be able to defeat Finemdi is through gaining power. With this new goal in mind, Freya goes to Hollywood, attempting to get worship from people by working as an actor. But before Freya is able to receive all the power she needs to defeat Finemdi, they end up finding her and Freya has to fight them off once again.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from SLAY; when I first read FREYA, I strongly enjoyed it, even with the issues I had with the plot. The Freya series is different when compared to other novels like it since it attempts to balance both contemporary and fantasy themes by using its strange magic system (gods gain more power by the number of people who believe in them, so Freya gains her belief by becoming an actor). SLAY deserves praise simply for its uniqueness; while there are countless of books that use mythology as a base for the plot, SLAY has a story you won’t see coming, along with fun, charming, and well fleshed-out characters.
When it comes to the contemporary moments of SLAY, it often has to do with depictions of Hollywood and romance. When Freya first gets to Hollywood, she is forced to find her own way towards fame. Obviously, she uses the little amounts of magic she has to do this and ends up making a few enemies in the acting scene as well. Matthew Laurence’s depictions of Hollywood are entertaining and enjoyable, even when it could be a tad overdramatic at times. I loved seeing the rivalry Freya had by becoming an actor and hope on seeing more of it in the sequel.
The fantasy elements, on the other hand, are a bit lacking at times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if readers are okay with that. There was always those fantasy elements even in the contemporary parts of the novel, but they don’t really show up much until the last third of the novel. In fact, the last third of SLAY was stunning; it had a major character death readers won’t see coming, intense fight scenes, and an ending that only leave you in anticipation for the final book in the series.
Matthew Laurence’s Freya series are fun, lighthearted reads that question your own morals as well as keep you engaged with its uniqueness. It’s a series I would recommend to those who are looking for a fantasy with more contemporary themes, or if you’re looking for a fun read that has darker themes hidden under the surface.
The Freya series by Matthew Laurence is an urban-fantasy book series following our main character, Freya. After years in hiding, Freya, Norse goddess of love and beauty, is finally hunted down by the secret organization Finemdi, an organization that is tracking down all gods and abusing them for power. Freya has lost all of her powers in the past millennia, making her an easy target to be captured by Finemdi. While Freya does eventually escape from Finemdi with the help of her newest high-priest and a few Hawaiian goddesses, Finemdi is still out loose and is even more dangerous than before.
Now, in the second novel, SLAY, Freya decides that the only way she and her allies will ever be able to defeat Finemdi is through gaining power. With this new goal in mind, Freya goes to Hollywood, attempting to get worship from people by working as an actor. But before Freya is able to receive all the power she needs to defeat Finemdi, they end up finding her and Freya has to fight them off once again.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from SLAY; when I first read FREYA, I strongly enjoyed it, even with the issues I had with the plot. The Freya series is different when compared to other novels like it since it attempts to balance both contemporary and fantasy themes by using its strange magic system (gods gain more power by the number of people who believe in them, so Freya gains her belief by becoming an actor). SLAY deserves praise simply for its uniqueness; while there are countless of books that use mythology as a base for the plot, SLAY has a story you won’t see coming, along with fun, charming, and well fleshed-out characters.
When it comes to the contemporary moments of SLAY, it often has to do with depictions of Hollywood and romance. When Freya first gets to Hollywood, she is forced to find her own way towards fame. Obviously, she uses the little amounts of magic she has to do this and ends up making a few enemies in the acting scene as well. Matthew Laurence’s depictions of Hollywood are entertaining and enjoyable, even when it could be a tad overdramatic at times. I loved seeing the rivalry Freya had by becoming an actor and hope on seeing more of it in the sequel.
The fantasy elements, on the other hand, are a bit lacking at times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if readers are okay with that. There was always those fantasy elements even in the contemporary parts of the novel, but they don’t really show up much until the last third of the novel. In fact, the last third of SLAY was stunning; it had a major character death readers won’t see coming, intense fight scenes, and an ending that only leave you in anticipation for the final book in the series.
Matthew Laurence’s Freya series are fun, lighthearted reads that question your own morals as well as keep you engaged with its uniqueness. It’s a series I would recommend to those who are looking for a fantasy with more contemporary themes, or if you’re looking for a fun read that has darker themes hidden under the surface.
May 18, 2022
Slay what you wanna slay and let the slay slout... slay soul sister slay that mister mister 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
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2018
Slay (Freya #2) by Matthew Laurence, 372 pgs., Imprint, $18.99 Language: PG(7 swears, 0 “F”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL
When Freya and her small band destroyed the Finemdi base in Florida, they thought they could take a small break. But when Samantha Drass sends Freya evidence that her centuries old enemy is alive and working for Finemdi, she swings right back into action, becoming a movie star to gather believers. As she gathers believer and things become complicated between her high priest Nathan and fellow goddess Sekhmet, things come to a head in a violent outbreak.
This book was amazing. I had read Freya earlier for review and was extremely excited when I saw this book was the sequel and available to read. I loved it and would definitely recommend this series to all. Mature Content is PG because there is romance involved in the plot. Violence is PG because there are a couple major battles in the book.
Student Reviewer: JM(9th grade)
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL
When Freya and her small band destroyed the Finemdi base in Florida, they thought they could take a small break. But when Samantha Drass sends Freya evidence that her centuries old enemy is alive and working for Finemdi, she swings right back into action, becoming a movie star to gather believers. As she gathers believer and things become complicated between her high priest Nathan and fellow goddess Sekhmet, things come to a head in a violent outbreak.
This book was amazing. I had read Freya earlier for review and was extremely excited when I saw this book was the sequel and available to read. I loved it and would definitely recommend this series to all. Mature Content is PG because there is romance involved in the plot. Violence is PG because there are a couple major battles in the book.
Student Reviewer: JM(9th grade)
August 27, 2018
The first book in this series bowled me over. I mean, it was sassy and action-packed, absurd and so much fun.
This book really isn't any different in those respects, but I struggled with it. Part of it probably had nothing to do with the book. It was a book hangover from finishing a different series and while I thought I wanted something completely different from what I had just finished, apparently that was not the case.
But part of it, I think, was the book. It's hard to put my finger on what exactly it was, but I'm going to try.
Ok, so Freya/Sara is still as sarcastic and kick-butt as ever. She will grind you into dust and examine her nails as she does so and it's awesome. But I think part of what was weird about this book was that Sara was so unsure about herself. And I get that it's not a bad thing to have flaws (she has plenty in other respects, like being pretty impulsive and morally iffy in some of her actions), but the self-consciousness was odd. I mean, we pretty much never saw her question herself in any respect in the first book and then about a quarter into this one, she suddenly starts feeling unsure about a lot. It was an odd tone for her to take.
I will say that one of my complaints about the first book was fixed this time around. I thought Nathan felt like a flat character last time, but that was definitely not the case this time around. I appreciated that. And getting to know other characters, like Sekhmet. She's an interesting one.
The action's also not as fast as it was in the last one. Last time, we were getting introduced to Norse mythology (if you weren't well-versed in it anyway), figuring out just what exactly Finemdi wanted, and discovering Freya's character. This time, it just felt slower. Sara decides she's going to be a movie star for all the idolization, but every step of her journey was mentioned. Her spa days, her shopping sprees, her magicking her way to the top. In the reality TV-soaked world that we live in, I thought we may not have needed all of the details. I saw in a way why they were there, but it slowed the pace.
I will say that the end was quite adventurous. It took a very huge risk and I thought it paid off. That was gutsy and I respected that. I'm interested to see where that goes from there.
It's so not a bad story. I'm still very invested in the story. Just the wrong book at the wrong time, I think.
This book really isn't any different in those respects, but I struggled with it. Part of it probably had nothing to do with the book. It was a book hangover from finishing a different series and while I thought I wanted something completely different from what I had just finished, apparently that was not the case.
But part of it, I think, was the book. It's hard to put my finger on what exactly it was, but I'm going to try.
Ok, so Freya/Sara is still as sarcastic and kick-butt as ever. She will grind you into dust and examine her nails as she does so and it's awesome. But I think part of what was weird about this book was that Sara was so unsure about herself. And I get that it's not a bad thing to have flaws (she has plenty in other respects, like being pretty impulsive and morally iffy in some of her actions), but the self-consciousness was odd. I mean, we pretty much never saw her question herself in any respect in the first book and then about a quarter into this one, she suddenly starts feeling unsure about a lot. It was an odd tone for her to take.
I will say that one of my complaints about the first book was fixed this time around. I thought Nathan felt like a flat character last time, but that was definitely not the case this time around. I appreciated that. And getting to know other characters, like Sekhmet. She's an interesting one.
The action's also not as fast as it was in the last one. Last time, we were getting introduced to Norse mythology (if you weren't well-versed in it anyway), figuring out just what exactly Finemdi wanted, and discovering Freya's character. This time, it just felt slower. Sara decides she's going to be a movie star for all the idolization, but every step of her journey was mentioned. Her spa days, her shopping sprees, her magicking her way to the top. In the reality TV-soaked world that we live in, I thought we may not have needed all of the details. I saw in a way why they were there, but it slowed the pace.
I will say that the end was quite adventurous. It took a very huge risk and I thought it paid off. That was gutsy and I respected that. I'm interested to see where that goes from there.
It's so not a bad story. I'm still very invested in the story. Just the wrong book at the wrong time, I think.
May 31, 2018
The Freya series by Matthew Laurence is an urban-fantasy book series following our main character, Freya. After years in hiding, Freya, the Norse goddess of love and beauty, is finally hunted down by the secret organization Finemdi, an organization that is tracking down all gods and abusing them for power. Freya has lost all of her powers in the past millennia, making her an easy target to be captured by Finemdi. While Freya does eventually escape from Finemdi with the help of her newest high-priest and a few Hawaiian goddesses, Finemdi is still out loose and is even more dangerous than before.
Now, in the second novel, SLAY, Freya decides that the only way she and her allies will ever be able to defeat Finemdi is through gaining power. With this new goal in mind, Freya goes to Hollywood, attempting to get worship from people by working as an actress. But before Freya is able to receive all the power she needs to defeat Finemdi, they end up finding her and Freya has to fight them off once again.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from SLAY; when I first read FREYA, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even with the issues I had with the plot. The Freya series is different when compared to other novels like it since it attempts to balance both contemporary and fantasy themes by using its strange magic system (gods gain more power by the number of people who believe in them, so Freya gains her belief by becoming an actor). SLAY deserves praise simply for its uniqueness; while there are countless of books that use mythology as a base for the plot, SLAY has a story you won’t see coming, along with fun, charming and well fleshed-out characters.
When it comes to the contemporary moments of SLAY, it often has to do with depictions of Hollywood and romance. When Freya first gets to Hollywood, she is forced to find her own way towards fame. Obviously, she uses the little amounts of magic she has to do this and ends up making a few enemies in the acting scene, as well. Matthew Laurence’s depictions of Hollywood are entertaining and enjoyable, even when they could be a tad over-dramatic at times. I loved seeing the rivalry Freya had by becoming an actor and hope on seeing more of it in the next book.
The fantasy elements, on the other hand, are a bit lacking at times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if readers are okay with that. There were always those fantasy elements even in the contemporary parts of the novel, but they don’t really show up much until the last third of the novel. In fact, the last third of SLAY was stunning; it had a major character death readers won’t see coming, intense fight scenes and an ending that only leave you in anticipation for the final book in the series.
Matthew Laurence’s Freya series is full of fun, lighthearted reads that question your own morals as well as keep you engaged with its uniqueness. It’s a series I would recommend to those who are looking for a fantasy with more contemporary themes, or if you’re looking for a fun read that has darker themes hidden under the surface.
Reviewed by Marco M., Teen Board Member
Now, in the second novel, SLAY, Freya decides that the only way she and her allies will ever be able to defeat Finemdi is through gaining power. With this new goal in mind, Freya goes to Hollywood, attempting to get worship from people by working as an actress. But before Freya is able to receive all the power she needs to defeat Finemdi, they end up finding her and Freya has to fight them off once again.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from SLAY; when I first read FREYA, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even with the issues I had with the plot. The Freya series is different when compared to other novels like it since it attempts to balance both contemporary and fantasy themes by using its strange magic system (gods gain more power by the number of people who believe in them, so Freya gains her belief by becoming an actor). SLAY deserves praise simply for its uniqueness; while there are countless of books that use mythology as a base for the plot, SLAY has a story you won’t see coming, along with fun, charming and well fleshed-out characters.
When it comes to the contemporary moments of SLAY, it often has to do with depictions of Hollywood and romance. When Freya first gets to Hollywood, she is forced to find her own way towards fame. Obviously, she uses the little amounts of magic she has to do this and ends up making a few enemies in the acting scene, as well. Matthew Laurence’s depictions of Hollywood are entertaining and enjoyable, even when they could be a tad over-dramatic at times. I loved seeing the rivalry Freya had by becoming an actor and hope on seeing more of it in the next book.
The fantasy elements, on the other hand, are a bit lacking at times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if readers are okay with that. There were always those fantasy elements even in the contemporary parts of the novel, but they don’t really show up much until the last third of the novel. In fact, the last third of SLAY was stunning; it had a major character death readers won’t see coming, intense fight scenes and an ending that only leave you in anticipation for the final book in the series.
Matthew Laurence’s Freya series is full of fun, lighthearted reads that question your own morals as well as keep you engaged with its uniqueness. It’s a series I would recommend to those who are looking for a fantasy with more contemporary themes, or if you’re looking for a fun read that has darker themes hidden under the surface.
Reviewed by Marco M., Teen Board Member
July 11, 2019
I am finding this series very cheeky and fun. With my burgeoning love of urban fantasy, throwing in mythological pantheons is making this a match made in Valhalla.
Story picks up not long after the events of the first book, Freya and co are still looking to submarine the Finemdi corp for rounding up gods after trashing the Orlando facility. When she learns from their friend from the inside they have hired Ares, the god of war. Freya has had history with Ares, so to fast track her return to power so she can take fight back Ares is to..... become a TV/Film celebrity??? Whoakie Dokey.
Silliness of the premise aside, these are incredibly fun characters and the interactions are entertaining. I never cease to find the whole fish out of water antics of deities trying to find their place in a world that doesn't believe in them anymore to be incredibly hilarious. We do actually get to delve into Freya's history a bit to find out why she has become so depowered (and man is it brutal). And it caps off with a pretty exciting finish to top off to book 3.
My only complaint about the book, and this is a minor spoiler at best, is that they whole premise is that Freya is going to be a star to get more followers and regain her strength, then what feels like midway through the book Laurence just says "Eh, fuck it. Let's just get right to the conflict" and completely fast tracks to the next showdown with Finemdi. It felt incredibly rushed and resolved a bit too quickly, but I suppose it was done this way to frame the new threats for book three.
All that being said, I enjoy this series and look forward to book 3. I only wonder how mad Freya would be if she know how bad she kept getting nerfed in smite?
Story picks up not long after the events of the first book, Freya and co are still looking to submarine the Finemdi corp for rounding up gods after trashing the Orlando facility. When she learns from their friend from the inside they have hired Ares, the god of war. Freya has had history with Ares, so to fast track her return to power so she can take fight back Ares is to..... become a TV/Film celebrity??? Whoakie Dokey.
Silliness of the premise aside, these are incredibly fun characters and the interactions are entertaining. I never cease to find the whole fish out of water antics of deities trying to find their place in a world that doesn't believe in them anymore to be incredibly hilarious. We do actually get to delve into Freya's history a bit to find out why she has become so depowered (and man is it brutal). And it caps off with a pretty exciting finish to top off to book 3.
My only complaint about the book, and this is a minor spoiler at best, is that they whole premise is that Freya is going to be a star to get more followers and regain her strength, then what feels like midway through the book Laurence just says "Eh, fuck it. Let's just get right to the conflict" and completely fast tracks to the next showdown with Finemdi. It felt incredibly rushed and resolved a bit too quickly, but I suppose it was done this way to frame the new threats for book three.
All that being said, I enjoy this series and look forward to book 3. I only wonder how mad Freya would be if she know how bad she kept getting nerfed in smite?
April 17, 2018
2.5, rounding down cause I'm a disappointed grump.
So... This one... This one fell pretty flat for me... Which, considering how much I loved the first, is rather surprising. However, I didn't find the clever and thoughtful book masquerading as YA I was hoping to find.
Where was the philosophy? The big ideas and questions that got me thinking? There's a few little bits here and there but they're touched upon then tossed aside... There's was a fair amount of this the first go round; it was perfection!
And Freya... she pretty much turned into that simpering pretty girl that she's normally depicted as and just... No. I loved that we got that warrior goddess int he first book but now... Its gone. Or when it is present, its a shown as a bad thing. I don't mind the super-star plot; it makes sense and I like it. But that role overshadows so much more.
Now, here is humor here. Honestly the Sekhmet bits are priceless. But... they don't last...
Which bring us to pacing... This book has some pacing problems. I don't mind slow. I don't mind fast. But don't jerk from one to the other so brutally. Most of the book takes place over months. And then BAM100PAGESFORAFEWHOURS.
Also. Gonna be petty. I hate this cover art. The colors are pretty. But the model and her pose and dress are dreadful.
So... This one... This one fell pretty flat for me... Which, considering how much I loved the first, is rather surprising. However, I didn't find the clever and thoughtful book masquerading as YA I was hoping to find.
Where was the philosophy? The big ideas and questions that got me thinking? There's a few little bits here and there but they're touched upon then tossed aside... There's was a fair amount of this the first go round; it was perfection!
And Freya... she pretty much turned into that simpering pretty girl that she's normally depicted as and just... No. I loved that we got that warrior goddess int he first book but now... Its gone. Or when it is present, its a shown as a bad thing. I don't mind the super-star plot; it makes sense and I like it. But that role overshadows so much more.
Now, here is humor here. Honestly the Sekhmet bits are priceless. But... they don't last...
Which bring us to pacing... This book has some pacing problems. I don't mind slow. I don't mind fast. But don't jerk from one to the other so brutally. Most of the book takes place over months. And then BAM100PAGESFORAFEWHOURS.
Also. Gonna be petty. I hate this cover art. The colors are pretty. But the model and her pose and dress are dreadful.
March 17, 2019
Following up on its predecessor, Freya, this book follows the ancient Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death as she continues to seek vengeance against her powerful enemies. Having grown slightly stronger as the result of the adoration of some of the young visitors to a theme park where she works, she hatches a plot to soak even more of it by moving west to Hollywood where the stars sign so brightly. There, she gains plenty of notice as she maneuvers her way into a role on a television series while her allies, Nathan, her high priest, and Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of righteous wrath. start falling in love. Freya's plans to grow stronger as she garners more fans as the result of her identity as Sara Vanadi--love that name!--are working, but she's not patient enough to wait the amount of time that she'll need in order to be strong enough to go up against Ares. Once again, she learns that almost no one can be trusted, and that vengeance comes at a high price. Fans of the first book will love this, packed as it is with battle scenes and almost-never-stopping action and hints of decadent pleasures. It won't be hard to figure out what's going on even if you missed the first book, but be prepared for an overdose of villains, some unexpected twists, and for Freya to be humbled once more.
August 21, 2023
Urban fantasy is definitely how I would classify this.
It definitely brought me back to my Percy Jackson days, but I hate to say that Percy Jackson executed this concept better....
let me explain.
The adventures of Percy Jackson were tumultuous with moving parts and actions. With Freya, the first third of the book feels like not much happens and then there'll be amazing scenes seeded in the middle and end of the book that have lots of tension and witty banter, and then...nothing.
It's a double-edged sword to read from (mostly) Freya's POV. As a powerful (or semi-powerful) goddess, she is extremely fun to read from. The catch is that she is also meant to be an extremely old deity and sometimes she feels more akin to a 2010 teenager. This is not meant in a bad way, just that narratively, it doesn't feel like the right voice even if it's mostly consistent (crutching on the word "Valkyrie"). With Percy, he is a modern teenager so it's not as odd that his voice sounds fresh and young.
Overall though, I did enjoy this, particularly the scenes with . I also love how many different gods from around the world were incorporated in (definitely more refreshing than always using Greek gods).
It definitely brought me back to my Percy Jackson days, but I hate to say that Percy Jackson executed this concept better....
let me explain.
The adventures of Percy Jackson were tumultuous with moving parts and actions. With Freya, the first third of the book feels like not much happens and then there'll be amazing scenes seeded in the middle and end of the book that have lots of tension and witty banter, and then...nothing.
It's a double-edged sword to read from (mostly) Freya's POV. As a powerful (or semi-powerful) goddess, she is extremely fun to read from. The catch is that she is also meant to be an extremely old deity and sometimes she feels more akin to a 2010 teenager. This is not meant in a bad way, just that narratively, it doesn't feel like the right voice even if it's mostly consistent (crutching on the word "Valkyrie"). With Percy, he is a modern teenager so it's not as odd that his voice sounds fresh and young.
Overall though, I did enjoy this, particularly the scenes with . I also love how many different gods from around the world were incorporated in (definitely more refreshing than always using Greek gods).
January 26, 2019
While I found this story engaging enough for a single read, I'm not likely to pick up the others. Though the characters were believable as simply people, they were difficult to buy as gods, especially such ancient gods. It seemed like the attributes of gods came and went as was convenient to accomplish the story goals and the relationship between 'god' and 'high priest' was completely contrived. Freya's depletion of strength didn't explain how she was keyed in to things one minute but oblivious to them the next. The plot line followed a very predictable course and as the action moved from one venue to another it felt stitched together with crucial bits missing. I could picture where things were and what was happening but more in a hazy cloud rather than in sharp focus. Not exactly poorly written; when the author wants to create a rich experience he's clearly capable of doing so. It's more like editorial decisions were made to achieve wordcount or the author was just lazy in some places.
May 6, 2018
In this second Freya novel, we find our lovely and conflicted heroine ceding to her vindictive Valkyrie nature on another quest for revenge. I love Freya's inner desire to be more than her nature makes her and her quest to find who she really is and could be.
Mr Laurence has written another fast-paced page turner. We continue to learn about this world he's created, how it works, but never why. I hope he's leaving that tidbit for the last book of the series.
As the author of a YA series myself, (The Coventry Ghosts), I see the meticulous building of this world where all the gods are real but not created equal. Freya is an underdog and I find myself rooting for her on her journey, even when I know it's a bad idea.
Mr Laurence's writing is that of a straight forward storyteller and drags you along on an emotional roller coaster. A fun, well-written, easy read and wonderful escape.
Mr Laurence has written another fast-paced page turner. We continue to learn about this world he's created, how it works, but never why. I hope he's leaving that tidbit for the last book of the series.
As the author of a YA series myself, (The Coventry Ghosts), I see the meticulous building of this world where all the gods are real but not created equal. Freya is an underdog and I find myself rooting for her on her journey, even when I know it's a bad idea.
Mr Laurence's writing is that of a straight forward storyteller and drags you along on an emotional roller coaster. A fun, well-written, easy read and wonderful escape.
June 21, 2021
There better be a third book, Laurence can't give us that ending and expect us to be content with that. There wasn't as many gods/goddess mentioned in this book as the first so there is less extra reading/research for me to do which is kinda sad. But I love the development of the characters we had, especially Sekhmet opening herself up. Sara/Freya battled with a lot of self-doubt part way through which gave her a more human tone to her but also made her a little hard to read after, after everything that she screwed up with her impulsive nature and tunnel-vision she was dealing with some of the consequences of her actions, which included the death of a dear friend.
I was hoping for some more action scenes, it was a let down as most of it was speeches and talking.
There better be a third installment, and in the next one I hope to see Sara/Freya at full or near full power so we can see what this Valkyrie warrior can do.
I was hoping for some more action scenes, it was a let down as most of it was speeches and talking.
There better be a third installment, and in the next one I hope to see Sara/Freya at full or near full power so we can see what this Valkyrie warrior can do.
July 12, 2021
Freya is back as the goddess of Love, War, and being her wonderful divine self. In order to continue her fight against those who would try to control the gods she decides she must go to Hollywood to become a movie star, adored by many, to build her powers. She finds an agent who tells her the best way to build her fandom is to create a feud with another star. She doesn't have far to look! She makes new friends and new enemies. The adventure ensues!
I probably could have read Slay as a stand-alone, (but I'm glad I read the Freya first). I really enjoyed it. It was a quick ride, especially since I knew who the characters were, either from the first book or by the descriptions Matthew crafted.
I finished the book way too quickly, I know there are only two books right now, I hope Freya continues her story. Although it ended well, I think there are several paths she and her friends could travel. I was surprised by the betrayal and the loss in this book.
I probably could have read Slay as a stand-alone, (but I'm glad I read the Freya first). I really enjoyed it. It was a quick ride, especially since I knew who the characters were, either from the first book or by the descriptions Matthew crafted.
I finished the book way too quickly, I know there are only two books right now, I hope Freya continues her story. Although it ended well, I think there are several paths she and her friends could travel. I was surprised by the betrayal and the loss in this book.
July 21, 2019
Gorgeous cover! Lots learned. I just love when Freya talks about the nature of gods and all of that - it's really interesting! I also love how distinct Freya's voice is. It's really nice to see as a reader. I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait for the next one! I think it'll be a trilogy. 5 stars! I read it in one sitting.
April 23, 2018
I found this one a bit slow to get into, but once Sara arrived in Hollywood I enjoyed it a lot more. As with the first book, however, something is just... missing. It was a fun story with lots of action, and a heartbreaking part at the end, but as much as I liked these books I didn't love them. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I just can't give them higher than 3 stars because of that.
That being said, I'd still love another book, especially after that ending!
That being said, I'd still love another book, especially after that ending!
February 24, 2019
An excellent adventure with Freya as she embarks upon a new scheme to revuild her power and face her greatest enemies. This was action-packed from start to finish, and the ending leaves open space for a sequel (I hope!). Very enjoyable read.
May 28, 2020
I enjoyed this book. I hope there is a 3rd one in the works.
May 30, 2021
Reading these books are kind of like watching Vampire Diaries. Ridiculous but fun. I'm wondering if they sold well enough for us to get a sequel. I like the mythology & the gods representation a lot.
June 14, 2021
Is there going to be another book? I hope so because it is a great story!
July 17, 2024
I love the storyline but a cliffhanger!? Bruhhhhh, I'm hoping theres another book soon!
August 17, 2025
Another fun read, though a bit darkee than the first.
July 31, 2018
This a stunning sequel to the first book. It starts off not long after a volcanoe destroyed the secret base Freya escaped from. Immediately Her sassy attitude comes through and as a reader you can't help be reconnect and support her.
Now Freya may have escaped the clutches from the god manipulating agency but pretty quick a new enemy and source of danger emerged and this time it is very very very personal. For this person is the cause of Freya's fall from heavenly grace and power for over 600 years.
So Freya decides to launch her quest for overdue revenge with the Egyptian cat goddess and her friend and high priest. They set off for LA in order to make Freya a TV celebrity which will give her enough belief to become strong enough to match her enemy.
It is a real rollercoaster of action, drama, love, vengeance, secrets and surprises and the ending is a really powerful finale for both readers and characters.
I really hope we get a sequel. For Freya's story is far from finished.
Now Freya may have escaped the clutches from the god manipulating agency but pretty quick a new enemy and source of danger emerged and this time it is very very very personal. For this person is the cause of Freya's fall from heavenly grace and power for over 600 years.
So Freya decides to launch her quest for overdue revenge with the Egyptian cat goddess and her friend and high priest. They set off for LA in order to make Freya a TV celebrity which will give her enough belief to become strong enough to match her enemy.
It is a real rollercoaster of action, drama, love, vengeance, secrets and surprises and the ending is a really powerful finale for both readers and characters.
I really hope we get a sequel. For Freya's story is far from finished.
Read
March 26, 2019a Solid second entry,
Freya is such a fun character and so are all the supporting ones as well,
I am still going under the header of "Teen PG/PG13 American Gods" Storytelling
I love our current villain - Apep (concept of darkness)
They all end leading up to the next book, but with enough of an ending that we can wait without wanting to kill the author.
Freya is such a fun character and so are all the supporting ones as well,
I am still going under the header of "Teen PG/PG13 American Gods" Storytelling
I love our current villain - Apep (concept of darkness)
They all end leading up to the next book, but with enough of an ending that we can wait without wanting to kill the author.
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