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Between the Blade and the Heart
(Valkyrie #1)
by
Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book in a brilliant new young adult fantasy duology inspired by Norse mythology by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. The balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin ...more
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. The balance of the world rests on her ability to carry out orders. But when Malin ...more
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Start your review of Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie, #1)
That was not the best way to start 2018.
I am familiar with Amanda Hocking's work, since her Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles hold a special place in my heart. That is why it saddens me to no end to admit that Between the Blade and the Heart was a big miss for me.
Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book of a duology based on norse mythology. The world is divided between Mortals and Immortals; Mortals have a short lifespan, but they can determine their own fate, whereas Ιmmortals live ...more
I am familiar with Amanda Hocking's work, since her Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles hold a special place in my heart. That is why it saddens me to no end to admit that Between the Blade and the Heart was a big miss for me.
Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book of a duology based on norse mythology. The world is divided between Mortals and Immortals; Mortals have a short lifespan, but they can determine their own fate, whereas Ιmmortals live ...more
Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series, Valkyrie, which is inspired by Norse Mythology. The series features a main character that is a Valkyrie in training who finds her whole world turned upside down from everything she has ever known.
I will admit to picking this one up half based on the beautiful cover but also the fact that instead of the Vampires and Werewolves that seem to be everywhere in young adult fantasies it was about a ...more
I will admit to picking this one up half based on the beautiful cover but also the fact that instead of the Vampires and Werewolves that seem to be everywhere in young adult fantasies it was about a ...more
BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE HEART REVIEW – BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY
(Giveaway rules: 1 usa winner only, finished paperback copy, ends 1/20/18 midnight – Rt&follow my twitter @howusefulitis to win).
About: Between the Blade and the Heart is a young adult fantasy written by Amanda Hocking. It will be published on 1/2/18 by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, 336 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, mythology, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 12 to 18. This is book ...more
(Giveaway rules: 1 usa winner only, finished paperback copy, ends 1/20/18 midnight – Rt&follow my twitter @howusefulitis to win).
About: Between the Blade and the Heart is a young adult fantasy written by Amanda Hocking. It will be published on 1/2/18 by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, 336 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, mythology, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 12 to 18. This is book ...more
When Amanda was an indie author I remember buying her books like crazy and devouring them. I loved them all and just couldn't get enough. And as much as I loved her writing, for some reason, her past couple of releases have been good, but I haven't felt that frenzied loved for them or her characters like I once did.
Maybe it is me and my tastes have changed or maybe her writing has, either way, as much as I wanted to love this and connect with it, I just didn't. That doesn't mean it was a bad rea ...more
Maybe it is me and my tastes have changed or maybe her writing has, either way, as much as I wanted to love this and connect with it, I just didn't. That doesn't mean it was a bad rea ...more
Between the Blade and the Heart is a brand new series by Amanda Hocking that is based on Norse Mythology and more specifically the training of a young Valkyrie who discovers that her life and all she believed was twisted lies and hidden agendas.
Easy, entertaining a full of potential for another series that will be added to the must pre-order list, I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
I'm a fan of Hocking's novels but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, mostly ...more
Easy, entertaining a full of potential for another series that will be added to the must pre-order list, I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
I'm a fan of Hocking's novels but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, mostly ...more
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟
So while I was checking who the publisher was for the opening line of this review I saw NetGalley's description of this book started with these words: 'Game of Thrones meets Thor: Ragnarok'.
Um, no? I feel like this is a severely misleading description if anything this book is Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Shadowhunters and well, every mythological being out there, apparently. I fou ...more
🌟🌟
So while I was checking who the publisher was for the opening line of this review I saw NetGalley's description of this book started with these words: 'Game of Thrones meets Thor: Ragnarok'.
Um, no? I feel like this is a severely misleading description if anything this book is Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Shadowhunters and well, every mythological being out there, apparently. I fou ...more
One thing can always be said about Amanda Hocking’s writing, it always flows along, the dialogue is spot on, relaxed and natural feeling, as if the characters were right there, feeling exactly what you are feeling.
This time out, we are treated to Norse Mythology and specifically, Valkyries, those amazing women warriors, trained for battle, to carry out the biddings of the gods, to return immortals to the underworld when it is their time, no exceptions. To fail in their duties would cause catastr ...more
This time out, we are treated to Norse Mythology and specifically, Valkyries, those amazing women warriors, trained for battle, to carry out the biddings of the gods, to return immortals to the underworld when it is their time, no exceptions. To fail in their duties would cause catastr ...more
Summary (from the publisher)
When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested.
Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must d ...more
When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested.
Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must d ...more
An easy and fast-paced read! Still maybe a 2 or 2.5 out of 5 though?
This wasn't something I'd go out and buy, it just happened to be the cheapest book at the airport that I was most interested in. That being said, I was pretty excited by the idea of Norse mythology being present in this book, and it certainly was interesting throughout the novel.
Nineteen-year-old Malin is a Valkyrie and she returns immortals to the afterlife when the higher ups decide it is time for them to move on. She's not fu ...more
This wasn't something I'd go out and buy, it just happened to be the cheapest book at the airport that I was most interested in. That being said, I was pretty excited by the idea of Norse mythology being present in this book, and it certainly was interesting throughout the novel.
Nineteen-year-old Malin is a Valkyrie and she returns immortals to the afterlife when the higher ups decide it is time for them to move on. She's not fu ...more
*I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This was a rather quick and pleasant read.
The story takes place in an alternate world where humans and immortals (demons, ogres, vampires etc.) co-exist. And there exists another group, the Valkyries, who were chosen by the gods to play grim reaper to the immortals.
The book puts into question the idea of destiny or pre-determined fate versus our free will to choose. If one decision can change the course of history, is ...more
This was a rather quick and pleasant read.
The story takes place in an alternate world where humans and immortals (demons, ogres, vampires etc.) co-exist. And there exists another group, the Valkyries, who were chosen by the gods to play grim reaper to the immortals.
The book puts into question the idea of destiny or pre-determined fate versus our free will to choose. If one decision can change the course of history, is ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1627172939p2/15335689.jpg)
DNF @ pg 90
I really, really wanted to like this book, but after two separate attempts and two DNFs, I'm letting this one go. It's not offensive or anything, and the writing isn't bad, but I can't connect to the story or the characters. I can't seem to get invested in anything that's happening, and when a book has been sitting on my desk, untouched, for a week and I have no desire at all to pick it back up, I know it's not for me. :(
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC ...more
I really, really wanted to like this book, but after two separate attempts and two DNFs, I'm letting this one go. It's not offensive or anything, and the writing isn't bad, but I can't connect to the story or the characters. I can't seem to get invested in anything that's happening, and when a book has been sitting on my desk, untouched, for a week and I have no desire at all to pick it back up, I know it's not for me. :(
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC ...more
I won an ARC of this book in a goodreads drawing.
Sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a Norse Mythology angle. Malin is a Valkyrie, and goes around retiring (killing) supernatural beings for a living. She has a difficult relationship with her mother; an ex girlfriend who still pines for her, and she meets with the usual mysterious, brooding boy, and there's secrets and crises.
Not bad. The Norse stuff keeps the book from being completely cookie cutter. ...more
Sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a Norse Mythology angle. Malin is a Valkyrie, and goes around retiring (killing) supernatural beings for a living. She has a difficult relationship with her mother; an ex girlfriend who still pines for her, and she meets with the usual mysterious, brooding boy, and there's secrets and crises.
Not bad. The Norse stuff keeps the book from being completely cookie cutter. ...more
Aug 01, 2017
Shelby M. (Read and Find Out)
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
mythological-fantasy,
queer-rep
I wish that more time had been given to the world-building and less to the love triangle romance that I didn't think made any sense. I'm still interested in the basic premise of this book... But the romance and sections of the plot didn't work well for me.
I did enjoy the diverse cast of characters though, particularly that the book isn't just centered on the diversity (it's not the focus of the plot). ...more
I did enjoy the diverse cast of characters though, particularly that the book isn't just centered on the diversity (it's not the focus of the plot). ...more
Thank you to Macmillan for sending me a copy. All thoughts are my own.
Just eh. I don’t have a lot of feelings, a mini review may come.
Just eh. I don’t have a lot of feelings, a mini review may come.
1.5 stars
I feel really sorry but no, I didn’t like this book. I have a strange relationship with Amanda Hocking’s books, I hate them or I really love them. There’s no in-between.
I loved to pieces the Trylle and Kanin series but this one had seriously nothing to do with them. The action and intrigue and amazing characters and love triangles of those two amazing series are exactly what is missing in this book. I found it really boring and repetitive, with a weird world building, flat characters an ...more
I feel really sorry but no, I didn’t like this book. I have a strange relationship with Amanda Hocking’s books, I hate them or I really love them. There’s no in-between.
I loved to pieces the Trylle and Kanin series but this one had seriously nothing to do with them. The action and intrigue and amazing characters and love triangles of those two amazing series are exactly what is missing in this book. I found it really boring and repetitive, with a weird world building, flat characters an ...more
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review “Between the Blade and the Heart” by Amanda Hocking. Malin and her mother Marlow lead an interesting life as Valkyries, though it isn’t without moral questions at times. They are assigned to go out and kill those whose time it has been deemed to die. I found the world-building creative and am interested to see what happens next.
Jul 31, 2019
Zitong Ren
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
action,
ewwwwww,
young-adult,
2019,
contains-romance,
lgbtqi,
fantasy,
adventure,
diverse,
inky-awards-2019
Provided by the State Library Victoria as part of the Inky Awards.
This is a rant, all thoughts are my own and I mean no offence to anyone.
I’m really questioning what the actually heck I just read, and I don’t mean it in a good way either. The good thing is that not everything was that bad, hence the two stars instead of one, so I’ll start with the spoiler free good stuff, before we get onto the non spoiler free of all the things that I didn’t like, and all are my own unbiased opinions.
First off ...more
This is a rant, all thoughts are my own and I mean no offence to anyone.
I’m really questioning what the actually heck I just read, and I don’t mean it in a good way either. The good thing is that not everything was that bad, hence the two stars instead of one, so I’ll start with the spoiler free good stuff, before we get onto the non spoiler free of all the things that I didn’t like, and all are my own unbiased opinions.
First off ...more
"That's the funny thing about love. It doesn't wait for perfection."
This is some of the best world-building I have ever seen. For me, the setting isn't usually that important, plot and characters are more likley to make me love a book but this was something else, the world drew me in before anything else had been set up. A modern, sci-fi/dystopian type city but still traditional fantasy in such that the demons are fought with blades. The world was so thought out with specific things like lufts ...more
This is some of the best world-building I have ever seen. For me, the setting isn't usually that important, plot and characters are more likley to make me love a book but this was something else, the world drew me in before anything else had been set up. A modern, sci-fi/dystopian type city but still traditional fantasy in such that the demons are fought with blades. The world was so thought out with specific things like lufts ...more
In Between the Blade and the Heart we follow Mal, a Valkyrie who returns immortals to the afterlife by slaying them to keep the balance of the world from being thrown into chaos. After Malin discovers that her mother spared the life of an immortal who was destined to die she struggles with the knowledge that her mother might not be who she thought. Now she has to figure out how to fix her mothers mistake before the immortal sends the world crashing down around them.
Mal is a strong and determined ...more
Mal is a strong and determined ...more
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley for an honest review.
Opinion:
A slaying female heroine, naughty immortals hell-bent (haha, pun) on staying alive, and long walks into the underworld. Suh-Woon.
Kind of.
A Valkyrie has the sole duty of returning immortals to the afterlife once their lives are up. As one of the feared and sometimes hated Valkyrie, Malin dedicates her life to her job. When given a target, Malin knows not to ask questions and to ...more
Opinion:
A slaying female heroine, naughty immortals hell-bent (haha, pun) on staying alive, and long walks into the underworld. Suh-Woon.
Kind of.
A Valkyrie has the sole duty of returning immortals to the afterlife once their lives are up. As one of the feared and sometimes hated Valkyrie, Malin dedicates her life to her job. When given a target, Malin knows not to ask questions and to ...more
Read an excerpt from this book on my blog illbefinealone reads.
This was an interesting read. This is the second Amanda Hocking book I've read, and it's also the second time that I'm disappointed with the romance aspect of the story in her books (in case you wonder why I'm mentioning it first it's because I really like romance). The main character was a bisexual girl, and I was all for it until she was involved in one of the weirdest love triangles I've ever read, and it made me dislike all chara ...more
This was an interesting read. This is the second Amanda Hocking book I've read, and it's also the second time that I'm disappointed with the romance aspect of the story in her books (in case you wonder why I'm mentioning it first it's because I really like romance). The main character was a bisexual girl, and I was all for it until she was involved in one of the weirdest love triangles I've ever read, and it made me dislike all chara ...more
5 Words: Valkyrie, loyalty, secrets, consequences, duty.
I started this on the evening and had finished it by the early hours. A very quick read that I couldn't put down!
Review to come. ...more
I started this on the evening and had finished it by the early hours. A very quick read that I couldn't put down!
Review to come. ...more
Checkout my full review on my blog! http://omgbooksandmorebooks.blogspot....
I haven't read many Nordic Mythology retellings. But after this book, I need to read more because I am clearly missing out. There are many things that I liked about Between the Blade and the Heart. The world building was unique, set in a world where mortals and immortals live together. However, the immortals are sent to the Afterlife to prevent population. There are supernatural and paranormal creatures that you don't no ...more
I haven't read many Nordic Mythology retellings. But after this book, I need to read more because I am clearly missing out. There are many things that I liked about Between the Blade and the Heart. The world building was unique, set in a world where mortals and immortals live together. However, the immortals are sent to the Afterlife to prevent population. There are supernatural and paranormal creatures that you don't no ...more
Jun 30, 2018
Shealea
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arc-review,
5-not-recommended
Quick thoughts:
- Norse mythology! Valkyries!
- Sloppy world-building & messy plot
- 🇵🇭 folklore (e.g. aswang, manananggal)
- Skewed love triangle
- Cheap cliffhanger ending???
- NO 🤦🏻♀️🙅🏻♀️
- I won’t pick up the sequel 🤢
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter ...more
- Norse mythology! Valkyries!
- Sloppy world-building & messy plot
- 🇵🇭 folklore (e.g. aswang, manananggal)
- Skewed love triangle
- Cheap cliffhanger ending???
- NO 🤦🏻♀️🙅🏻♀️
- I won’t pick up the sequel 🤢
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter ...more
Apr 01, 2016
Iving
marked it as to-read
NORDIC MYTHOLOGY?
SIGN ME IN
SIGN ME IN
In the vast emptiness of space, the gods grew restless, and so they created the heavens above and the worlds below. They filled the earth with every creature imaginable, from the smallest fish in the sea to the largest dragon in the sky.
A fast-paced adventure that pulls heavily from Norse Mythology, Between the Blade and the Heart centers mostly around a 19 year-old Valkyrie named Malin and her struggle with not only finding her place in the world of mortals and immortals, but also her reali ...more
A fast-paced adventure that pulls heavily from Norse Mythology, Between the Blade and the Heart centers mostly around a 19 year-old Valkyrie named Malin and her struggle with not only finding her place in the world of mortals and immortals, but also her reali ...more
Wow -- This new story by Amanda Hocking is an interesting combination of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mythology. Malin is attending the Ravenwood Academy in a dystopian United States where she is training to be a Valkyrie like her mother. All she wants in life is to slay creatures as ordered by the gods. For all of Malin's strengths, she is most stubborn and won't be a full-fledged Valkyrie unless she graduates and her grades are not what they should be. Her ex, Quinn, and Archer, both chil
...more
This wasn't the worst book but I don't think I could recommend it either. I loved Hocking's Trylle trilogy but this one left me feeling blah. I don't think the world building was that great, all the things about mortals and immortals, and valkyrie's,,,,,,soon after I read some it didn't take long before I forgot what I read. The thing I disliked the most was, the whole love triangle part of the story. I don't think it was necessary and it felt forced. I didn't really believe that there was love
...more
Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek
*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review***
This ended up being such a quick and entertaining read! Everything just flowed so well and I absolutely devoured this!
The story is an urban fantasy that mixes together many different mythologies but the main one mostly being Norse since the story revolves around Valkyries who were created to kill immortals. However, there are so many different supernatural cr ...more
*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review***
This ended up being such a quick and entertaining read! Everything just flowed so well and I absolutely devoured this!
The story is an urban fantasy that mixes together many different mythologies but the main one mostly being Norse since the story revolves around Valkyries who were created to kill immortals. However, there are so many different supernatural cr ...more
I am a sucker for books about badass females, so I jumped on the opportunity to read a book about the Valkyrie warriors from Norse mythology! I was so happy that this book DELIVERED on the mythology and the powerful women!
The Norse mythology in the novel was so interesting! It was obvious the author did a lot of research into the mythology, especially in regards to the female warriors called the Valkyrie. I know of the Valkyrie from some characters in other books and movies, but I felt like I d ...more
The Norse mythology in the novel was so interesting! It was obvious the author did a lot of research into the mythology, especially in regards to the female warriors called the Valkyrie. I know of the Valkyrie from some characters in other books and movies, but I felt like I d ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie #1) by Amanda Hocking - Starting April 2nd 2018 | 7 | 6 | Apr 02, 2018 03:21AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 8: Last Resort | 1 | 14 | Dec 12, 2017 10:41AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 7—Part III: An Unwelcome Visitor | 1 | 4 | Dec 12, 2017 07:36AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 7—Part I: Senioritis | 1 | 2 | Dec 12, 2017 07:25AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 6—Part II: Intro to Divinity and Immortality | 1 | 7 | Dec 04, 2017 07:54AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 6—Part I: Rough Morning | 1 | 5 | Dec 04, 2017 07:43AM | |
| The Official Aman...: Ch. 5: The Ex | 1 | 9 | Dec 01, 2017 05:48AM |
Readers also enjoyed
AMANDA HOCKING is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series ...more
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series ...more
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“That’s the funny thing about love,” he said. “It doesn’t wait for perfection – the heart loves who it loves, exactly as they are, faults and all.”
—
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“You show me an angel that breaks bad, and I’ll show you a devil in disguise.”
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