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Marvel Aconyte Novels
The Serpent and The Dead: A Marvel: Legends of Asgard Novel
In The Serpent and the Dead, Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, the fearsome Asgardian warrior entrusted with conveying worthy souls to the heroes’ afterlife, stalks a battlefield finding only empty husks. Yet the souls are not already in Valhalla, or the lesser afterworlds—they have vanished.
She enlists the aid of the valiant Lady Sif, and together they scour Asgard for answers. Rumors abound of towns being attacked by a horde of soldiers who cannot be killed. Someone is building an immortal army and stealing Asgardian souls… A worthy challenge for two of Asgard’s mightiest champions!
The Serpent and the Dead is the third prose novel in the LEGENDS OF ASGARD line, which is set in the legendary realm of Asgard and rich in Norse-inspired mythology, follows The Head of Mimir and The Sword of Surtur. These fantastical stories centering on Thor's daring companions celebrate heroism, adventure, fate, honor, and myth, bringing their stories to the fore. Raise a flagon of ale and enjoy tales of the extraordinary exploits of heroes and heroines from the Ten Realms.
She enlists the aid of the valiant Lady Sif, and together they scour Asgard for answers. Rumors abound of towns being attacked by a horde of soldiers who cannot be killed. Someone is building an immortal army and stealing Asgardian souls… A worthy challenge for two of Asgard’s mightiest champions!
The Serpent and the Dead is the third prose novel in the LEGENDS OF ASGARD line, which is set in the legendary realm of Asgard and rich in Norse-inspired mythology, follows The Head of Mimir and The Sword of Surtur. These fantastical stories centering on Thor's daring companions celebrate heroism, adventure, fate, honor, and myth, bringing their stories to the fore. Raise a flagon of ale and enjoy tales of the extraordinary exploits of heroes and heroines from the Ten Realms.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2021
8 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Anna Stephens
30 books695 followersAnna Stephens is the UK-based author of the Godblind trilogy - Goblind, Darksoul, Bloodchild - and The Songs of the Drowned trilogy - The Stone Knife, The Jaguar Path, The Dark Feather. Anna also writes for Black Library and Marvel Comics.
You can sign up to Anna's newsletter here: https://anna-stephens.com/get-in-touch/
You can sign up to Anna's newsletter here: https://anna-stephens.com/get-in-touch/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 9, 2021
The Serpent and the Dead is Aconyte's latest book in their Legends of Asgard series, taking place in the Marvel universe. Lady Sif and the original Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, take center stage as they work to uncover a mystery of what's happening to Asgardian souls when they die. Normally the Valkyries escort warrior souls to Valhalla, but lately some have just disappeared. Thor sends to two on a quest to find out what is happening and where these lost souls are going.
Accompanying the two is Brunnhilde's girlfriend, Inge, another shield maiden. This is a very LGBTQ+ story, as their relationship is on full display.
The book is packed with action. It's the most action packed of any of the Marvel Aconyte books I've read yet. I liked where this story led and who the villain was. Stephens is a quite capable writer. I'll be checking out some more of her books.
Received a review copy from Aconyte Books and NetGalley
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
Accompanying the two is Brunnhilde's girlfriend, Inge, another shield maiden. This is a very LGBTQ+ story, as their relationship is on full display.
The book is packed with action. It's the most action packed of any of the Marvel Aconyte books I've read yet. I liked where this story led and who the villain was. Stephens is a quite capable writer. I'll be checking out some more of her books.
Received a review copy from Aconyte Books and NetGalley
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
September 15, 2021
The Serpent & The Dead is the latest addition in Aconite’s Legends of Asgard series set in the Marvel Universe written by Anna Stephens.
I have to say that prior to this, I had read Anna Stephen’s The Stone Knife, and with this book she had firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite authors who writes complex and rich narratives, so I was immediately drawn to this book to see what she could produce in the Marvel Universe.
And boy, was I not disappointed!
I am so glad that I read this book as it showcases Anna Stephen’s versatility as a writer and perfectly compounded why I have so much admiration for her writing.
The Serpent and the Dead is a pacey Action/Adventure story featuring Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde in a tale of friendship, mystery, and action.
From the very beginning we are thrown headlong into the story as we join Lady Sif in the middle of a battle sequence. When the book initially opens Lady Sif is engaged with giants in a skirmish in another part of Asgard. However, the giants are not behaving as they normally would and seem to be targeting certain individuals, one of these being Lady Sif’s friend, Gyda. Ultimately, Lady Sif’s comrade and friend is killed. But, for some inexplicable reason, her soul is stolen from her body at the point of death, and is whisked away to somewhere that is not Valhalla.
Obviously, this leaves Lady Sif pretty distressed, as all souls who die in battle are promised eternity in Valhalla and her mate did not transcend to the Hall of the Gods. In a bit of a state, she asks Brunnhilde, the leader of the Valkyries to check out whether her friend is where she should be.
When Brunnhilde discovers that Gyda is not sitting in the halls of Valhalla quaffing ale and mead, she investigate the reasons for this and also finds a deeper mystery. This is not the first time that this has happened, and it seems to be occurring undetected with alarming frequency. As a result, Lady Sif and Brunnhilde are thrown together to unravel the mystery of the missing souls, and the main culprit is obviously our friendly neighbourhood trickster, Loki.
What follows is a journey through Asgard, and subsequently to Jotenheim, to discover who is responsible for stealing the souls of the Asgardians before they die.
Whilst this is set in the Marvel Universe, the settings of the book feel like classical Norse Mythology. We get to see what is outside of Asgard and how the people of that realm live as Sif and Brunnhilde, along with Brunnhilde’s partner Inge follow the breadcrumbs to solve the mystery.
As I said earlier, the book shows Anna Stephen’s versatility as a writer as she comprehensively builds the world outside of Asgard and adds her own flourishes, for instance when the party go to Meadowfall or to the jump gates.
Be prepared, this is an action book, and it never lets up from the beginning, swiftly moving from one battle scene to another without giving you pause for breath. And this is one of the things that stands out in the book. Anna Stephens writes blood pumpingly good action sequences. I had seen many examples of it in previous books, but The Serpent & The Dead shows her skill at this magnificently. There were many a time that I was reading I found that I was holding my breath till I got to the end of the sequence that she was writing.
Add to this her skill of writing characters and relationships with such depth and clarity they virtually walk off the page, everything just clicks together.
And somehow, whilst the book is nonstop action, Anna Stephens manages to fashion a relationship between the three women, getting across the deeply loving relationship between Brunnhilde and Inge and form lasting relationships with the characters without it being contrived or mawkish is absolutely stunning. Throughout the book, the relationship between Sif and Brunnhilde grows and is central to the plot. And let’s not forget, they are all badass.
As the book reaches its climactic plot, you do get some inkling of the fact that things are not what they seem, as Anna Stephen’s does give some hints.
However, I am not one of those people who sit there being all smug, saying that I had figured it out. I didn’t! And I am glad I didn’t as it would have spoilt the cracking ending.
If you want supersonic action and adventure, you won’t go far wrong picking up this little number.
I have to say that prior to this, I had read Anna Stephen’s The Stone Knife, and with this book she had firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite authors who writes complex and rich narratives, so I was immediately drawn to this book to see what she could produce in the Marvel Universe.
And boy, was I not disappointed!
I am so glad that I read this book as it showcases Anna Stephen’s versatility as a writer and perfectly compounded why I have so much admiration for her writing.
The Serpent and the Dead is a pacey Action/Adventure story featuring Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde in a tale of friendship, mystery, and action.
From the very beginning we are thrown headlong into the story as we join Lady Sif in the middle of a battle sequence. When the book initially opens Lady Sif is engaged with giants in a skirmish in another part of Asgard. However, the giants are not behaving as they normally would and seem to be targeting certain individuals, one of these being Lady Sif’s friend, Gyda. Ultimately, Lady Sif’s comrade and friend is killed. But, for some inexplicable reason, her soul is stolen from her body at the point of death, and is whisked away to somewhere that is not Valhalla.
Obviously, this leaves Lady Sif pretty distressed, as all souls who die in battle are promised eternity in Valhalla and her mate did not transcend to the Hall of the Gods. In a bit of a state, she asks Brunnhilde, the leader of the Valkyries to check out whether her friend is where she should be.
When Brunnhilde discovers that Gyda is not sitting in the halls of Valhalla quaffing ale and mead, she investigate the reasons for this and also finds a deeper mystery. This is not the first time that this has happened, and it seems to be occurring undetected with alarming frequency. As a result, Lady Sif and Brunnhilde are thrown together to unravel the mystery of the missing souls, and the main culprit is obviously our friendly neighbourhood trickster, Loki.
What follows is a journey through Asgard, and subsequently to Jotenheim, to discover who is responsible for stealing the souls of the Asgardians before they die.
Whilst this is set in the Marvel Universe, the settings of the book feel like classical Norse Mythology. We get to see what is outside of Asgard and how the people of that realm live as Sif and Brunnhilde, along with Brunnhilde’s partner Inge follow the breadcrumbs to solve the mystery.
As I said earlier, the book shows Anna Stephen’s versatility as a writer as she comprehensively builds the world outside of Asgard and adds her own flourishes, for instance when the party go to Meadowfall or to the jump gates.
Be prepared, this is an action book, and it never lets up from the beginning, swiftly moving from one battle scene to another without giving you pause for breath. And this is one of the things that stands out in the book. Anna Stephens writes blood pumpingly good action sequences. I had seen many examples of it in previous books, but The Serpent & The Dead shows her skill at this magnificently. There were many a time that I was reading I found that I was holding my breath till I got to the end of the sequence that she was writing.
Add to this her skill of writing characters and relationships with such depth and clarity they virtually walk off the page, everything just clicks together.
And somehow, whilst the book is nonstop action, Anna Stephens manages to fashion a relationship between the three women, getting across the deeply loving relationship between Brunnhilde and Inge and form lasting relationships with the characters without it being contrived or mawkish is absolutely stunning. Throughout the book, the relationship between Sif and Brunnhilde grows and is central to the plot. And let’s not forget, they are all badass.
As the book reaches its climactic plot, you do get some inkling of the fact that things are not what they seem, as Anna Stephen’s does give some hints.
However, I am not one of those people who sit there being all smug, saying that I had figured it out. I didn’t! And I am glad I didn’t as it would have spoilt the cracking ending.
If you want supersonic action and adventure, you won’t go far wrong picking up this little number.
August 3, 2021
Anna Stephens has become an insta-read author me, which has led to me venturing into the Black Library collection for the first and had me leaping at the chance to read The Serpent and the Dead (that it was Marvel, and Asgard was just added bonuses as anyone who follows the blog knows I like my Norse fantasy) and this book did not disappoint!
In fact, it is safe to say I loved this book.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed was even though this book fits into the Marvel Universe, it didn’t feel like a Superhero book, but instead embraced the feeling of mythological fantasy. Part of that was through the worldbuilding, which seamlessly blends together material from Marvel with Norse myth, which created a much more grounded world and story – and I loved the little details that were threaded throughout that drew from this.
However, I have to say my favourite thing about this book was the characters. I had no worries about Stephen’s ability to create beautifully realised characters, she has created some of my favourite fictional characters, so I went in knowing that I would love these characters. I underestimated just how much though. The fact that The Serpent & The Dead focused on the female characters was one of the huge draws of this book for me, and I enjoyed how you can see the ‘traditional’ traits of the characters and their link to their universe, while Stephens has added her own spin on them, to make them shine bright. The camaraderie between these characters is absolutely fantastic, and as much as I enjoyed the action in this book, it was the quieter character moments, the conversations and the relationships that made this book for me. These are strong characters, who are able to lean on one another, confront their weaknesses alone and together, and that ability to address their emotions, and work together, turns out to be one of their greatest weapons against what they’re fighting, and it never feels forced or unnatural, these women are friends – and in the case of Inge and Brunnhilde lovers – and that is just part of who they are.
‘Brunnhilde’s stomach dropped into her boots at the implication and at the naked worry in her lover’s face. “I’m fine, my heart,” she reassured automatically.’
The relationship between Brunnhilde and Inge was beautiful and never commented on. It was just part of the world and story – which is lovely to see. I want more of this. I want more of how Stephens writes her characters and their relationships (although my heart always fears for what she might do to them!).
The plot was an interesting blend of a mystery and quest – the latter of which fed into the worldbuilding, because it opened the world up, and I also liked how both aspects fed into the characters histories, roles and ties with the world and the people in it. Everything felt interconnected, and there is a very real sense of stakes both on the personal level of the characters, to the world as a whole, and the threat and the enemy behind it were thrillingly threatening and horrifying. This was combined with a fast pace that kept you hooked into what was happening and unable to put the book down, and gripping, hold on to your pants and pray your favourites will survive fight scenes.
‘The shield-maiden groaned, straining against her enemy’s strength. The knife wavered between them but the wound in Sif’s left shoulder had weakened her arm and slowly – and yet all too fast – the blade inched its way towards her face.’
I had so much fun with this book, and it really ticked all the boxes for me – action and emotion, fast-paced and gripping, but still taking those essential moments just for the characters. This book should be on your TBR, especially if you’re a fan of Marvel, Norse Fantasy and stories where the female characters SHINE.
In fact, it is safe to say I loved this book.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed was even though this book fits into the Marvel Universe, it didn’t feel like a Superhero book, but instead embraced the feeling of mythological fantasy. Part of that was through the worldbuilding, which seamlessly blends together material from Marvel with Norse myth, which created a much more grounded world and story – and I loved the little details that were threaded throughout that drew from this.
However, I have to say my favourite thing about this book was the characters. I had no worries about Stephen’s ability to create beautifully realised characters, she has created some of my favourite fictional characters, so I went in knowing that I would love these characters. I underestimated just how much though. The fact that The Serpent & The Dead focused on the female characters was one of the huge draws of this book for me, and I enjoyed how you can see the ‘traditional’ traits of the characters and their link to their universe, while Stephens has added her own spin on them, to make them shine bright. The camaraderie between these characters is absolutely fantastic, and as much as I enjoyed the action in this book, it was the quieter character moments, the conversations and the relationships that made this book for me. These are strong characters, who are able to lean on one another, confront their weaknesses alone and together, and that ability to address their emotions, and work together, turns out to be one of their greatest weapons against what they’re fighting, and it never feels forced or unnatural, these women are friends – and in the case of Inge and Brunnhilde lovers – and that is just part of who they are.
‘Brunnhilde’s stomach dropped into her boots at the implication and at the naked worry in her lover’s face. “I’m fine, my heart,” she reassured automatically.’
The relationship between Brunnhilde and Inge was beautiful and never commented on. It was just part of the world and story – which is lovely to see. I want more of this. I want more of how Stephens writes her characters and their relationships (although my heart always fears for what she might do to them!).
The plot was an interesting blend of a mystery and quest – the latter of which fed into the worldbuilding, because it opened the world up, and I also liked how both aspects fed into the characters histories, roles and ties with the world and the people in it. Everything felt interconnected, and there is a very real sense of stakes both on the personal level of the characters, to the world as a whole, and the threat and the enemy behind it were thrillingly threatening and horrifying. This was combined with a fast pace that kept you hooked into what was happening and unable to put the book down, and gripping, hold on to your pants and pray your favourites will survive fight scenes.
‘The shield-maiden groaned, straining against her enemy’s strength. The knife wavered between them but the wound in Sif’s left shoulder had weakened her arm and slowly – and yet all too fast – the blade inched its way towards her face.’
I had so much fun with this book, and it really ticked all the boxes for me – action and emotion, fast-paced and gripping, but still taking those essential moments just for the characters. This book should be on your TBR, especially if you’re a fan of Marvel, Norse Fantasy and stories where the female characters SHINE.
September 11, 2021
Please note this is my first experience with a Marvel novel, and I don't have any comic experience with these two particular characters. So yes, I'm picturing Brunnehilde as Tessa Thompson the whole time, no matter how often you tell me she's blonde....
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's very heavy on the action scenes, which are well written and easy to follow. The dialog flows smoothly, and the characters are fleshed out. It was refreshing to hear so much frank discussion about emotions (and how said discussions might go if certain male characters were involved instead), and Brunnehilde's girlfriend is adorable and terrifying.
If you're looking to get a head start on your spooky reading, I can definitely rec this for all your undead warrior needs.
This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's very heavy on the action scenes, which are well written and easy to follow. The dialog flows smoothly, and the characters are fleshed out. It was refreshing to hear so much frank discussion about emotions (and how said discussions might go if certain male characters were involved instead), and Brunnehilde's girlfriend is adorable and terrifying.
If you're looking to get a head start on your spooky reading, I can definitely rec this for all your undead warrior needs.
This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
August 2, 2021
I was granted a digital ARC of this book by the publishers, Aconyte Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
I have heard great things about Anna Stephens books and have been meaning to read them, so when I saw that she had written a novel for the Marvel Legends of Asgard series I had to read it. I am a fan of Norse fantasy so this would be a perfect combination…and I am so glad I did. I have not yet read the other books in this series but they have now been added to my To Be Read List. I hope they are as good as The Serpent and the Dead!
The Serpent and the Dead starts with an exciting action packed battle scene with shieldmaidens Sif and Gyda fighting the Vanir. A mystery develops when Gyda falls to one of the giants and her soul is not collected by a Valkyrie to help her get to Valhalla. Sif and Brunnhilde, the leader of the Valkyrior, suspect Loki’s involvement.
Sif vows to find Gyda wherever she has been hidden and to get her revenge, and Thor decides to send Sif and Brunnhilde along with Brunnhilde’s warrior girlfriend, Inge, on a mission to find out who is behind this outrage and bring them to justice. Thor gives Sif a Quellstone with the power to both destroy and heal – an invention of his mother’s – to help protect them.
These are badass female warriors from Norse myth and legend. I really enjoyed the female camaraderie between these ladies and their characterisation was done very well. They care deeply for one another and treat each other with love and respect as they make their way to solve the mystery of what exactly is going on and who is to blame.
Sif is a fearsome warrior, but has a tendency towards anger and recklessness. Her existing hatred of Loki dates back to when he cut off her beautiful blonde hair and replaced it with black hair. Brunnhilde suspects that this hatred is probably clouding her vision.
Inge is painted as a natural diplomat. She is tremendously brave, but not fearless. She is scared for her family in her hometown of Meadowfall and what she might discover when they arrive there on their way to find a portal which will let them jump to the realm of the ice giants, where they expect to find Loki. Inge is terrified by the thought of deathless warriors and the glorious dead not making it to Valhalla.
Brunnhilde is a leader, the manager of the trio, very capable and driven by her duty as a Valkyrie to help souls of warriors to safely make it to Valhalla. All of them are supportive of each other and when Sif and Brunnhilde realise their emotions and fears are being manipulated, they come up with ways to ensure neither of them succumbs to this manipulation.
More warriors have been soul-snatched than they at first believed which is a horrifying prospect.
A new deadly enemy has also been appearing recently, warriors who refuse to die unless their limbs and head are cut off and burned. Otherwise they knit themselves back together and come back to life. They have a familiar look to them which makes them even scarier. The enemy behind these abominations wants nothing apart from annihilation and to snatch souls where possible.
There were many exciting action sequences in this fast-paced novel with plenty of well-choreographed fight scenes. I would recommend this book to fans of Marvel, Norse fantasy and action hero movies with female protagonists.
I have heard great things about Anna Stephens books and have been meaning to read them, so when I saw that she had written a novel for the Marvel Legends of Asgard series I had to read it. I am a fan of Norse fantasy so this would be a perfect combination…and I am so glad I did. I have not yet read the other books in this series but they have now been added to my To Be Read List. I hope they are as good as The Serpent and the Dead!
The Serpent and the Dead starts with an exciting action packed battle scene with shieldmaidens Sif and Gyda fighting the Vanir. A mystery develops when Gyda falls to one of the giants and her soul is not collected by a Valkyrie to help her get to Valhalla. Sif and Brunnhilde, the leader of the Valkyrior, suspect Loki’s involvement.
Sif vows to find Gyda wherever she has been hidden and to get her revenge, and Thor decides to send Sif and Brunnhilde along with Brunnhilde’s warrior girlfriend, Inge, on a mission to find out who is behind this outrage and bring them to justice. Thor gives Sif a Quellstone with the power to both destroy and heal – an invention of his mother’s – to help protect them.
These are badass female warriors from Norse myth and legend. I really enjoyed the female camaraderie between these ladies and their characterisation was done very well. They care deeply for one another and treat each other with love and respect as they make their way to solve the mystery of what exactly is going on and who is to blame.
Sif is a fearsome warrior, but has a tendency towards anger and recklessness. Her existing hatred of Loki dates back to when he cut off her beautiful blonde hair and replaced it with black hair. Brunnhilde suspects that this hatred is probably clouding her vision.
Inge is painted as a natural diplomat. She is tremendously brave, but not fearless. She is scared for her family in her hometown of Meadowfall and what she might discover when they arrive there on their way to find a portal which will let them jump to the realm of the ice giants, where they expect to find Loki. Inge is terrified by the thought of deathless warriors and the glorious dead not making it to Valhalla.
Brunnhilde is a leader, the manager of the trio, very capable and driven by her duty as a Valkyrie to help souls of warriors to safely make it to Valhalla. All of them are supportive of each other and when Sif and Brunnhilde realise their emotions and fears are being manipulated, they come up with ways to ensure neither of them succumbs to this manipulation.
More warriors have been soul-snatched than they at first believed which is a horrifying prospect.
A new deadly enemy has also been appearing recently, warriors who refuse to die unless their limbs and head are cut off and burned. Otherwise they knit themselves back together and come back to life. They have a familiar look to them which makes them even scarier. The enemy behind these abominations wants nothing apart from annihilation and to snatch souls where possible.
There were many exciting action sequences in this fast-paced novel with plenty of well-choreographed fight scenes. I would recommend this book to fans of Marvel, Norse fantasy and action hero movies with female protagonists.
February 14, 2023
The Serpent and the Dead is a fun and fast paced fantasy tale that follows Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde as they embark on a quest to discover why some souls on the battlefield are disappearing before they can be escorted to Valhalla. When they two arrive at a small town they hear about attacks taking place from fearsome creatures that cannot be killed. Determined to uncover what is going on and rescue the missing souls, Lady Sif and Brunnhilde must use every ounce of their strength to uncover this evil enemy.
I must preface this review by saying I know next to nothing about the Marvel universe. I’ve seen the movies and that’s about as far as my knowledge goes. I picked this one up because Anna Stephens is one of my favourite authors and I will read anything she writes. For me, I was able to enjoy the story and get to know the characters without having much prior knowledge. This feels so different to the books I have come to expect from Stephens, but I nonetheless had an excellent time reading it. The book is well plotted, full of action with a really engaging story.
One of the things I enjoyed most about The Serpent and the Dead is the relationships. Lady Sif and Brunnhilde are really strong, complex characters and I loved seeing their friendship continue to grow even under such difficult circumstances, and when there were times they weren’t sure they could trust each other. There’s also an established couple in the story – Brunnhilde and Inge and it was interesting to see them attempt to protect and look after each other on such a perilous journey.
Overall The Serpent and the Dead is an engaging, action-packed read. Anna Stephens writes incredible battle scenes and there are lots of really epic moments in this story. If you’re a Marvel fan or you’re looking for a gripping fantasy tale steeped in Norse mythology, definitely check this one out.
I must preface this review by saying I know next to nothing about the Marvel universe. I’ve seen the movies and that’s about as far as my knowledge goes. I picked this one up because Anna Stephens is one of my favourite authors and I will read anything she writes. For me, I was able to enjoy the story and get to know the characters without having much prior knowledge. This feels so different to the books I have come to expect from Stephens, but I nonetheless had an excellent time reading it. The book is well plotted, full of action with a really engaging story.
One of the things I enjoyed most about The Serpent and the Dead is the relationships. Lady Sif and Brunnhilde are really strong, complex characters and I loved seeing their friendship continue to grow even under such difficult circumstances, and when there were times they weren’t sure they could trust each other. There’s also an established couple in the story – Brunnhilde and Inge and it was interesting to see them attempt to protect and look after each other on such a perilous journey.
Overall The Serpent and the Dead is an engaging, action-packed read. Anna Stephens writes incredible battle scenes and there are lots of really epic moments in this story. If you’re a Marvel fan or you’re looking for a gripping fantasy tale steeped in Norse mythology, definitely check this one out.
July 6, 2021
I really liked the LGBTQ inclusion here, but I didn't enjoy the book overall. I found it too angsty.
May 6, 2022
This was a fun book to read; I have always enjoyed it when Lady Sif appeared in the comics and was disappointed that I missed out on her stories that were taking place in Journey Into Mystery (as I had stopped collecting comics at the time and found out afterwards). Overall, it was an interesting story; it held my interest throughout most of the book. I thought the interactions between Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie were well written and believable; they made a good team, I felt. I also thought the author was able to introduce good character development for both characters in terms of this story; the sad thing is that any character development that takes place in books and even in the comics tends to be ignored or retconned for the sake of telling stories, so I enjoyed the development that took place in this story.
I will say this about Thor - I appreciated that the author wrote Thor as actually having some level of intelligence in the occasional cameos he has throughout the book (three at the max). Usually Thor is written as being less intelligent than he ought to be, and this author actually gave him a brain that he used. I appreciated that aspect of the book.
I liked how Sif and Brunnhilde grew as friends. They start the book out as friends, but there is still a tenseness and mistrust (distrust?) between them because of Brunnhilde's position as leader of the Valkyries (I don't remember what they are called in the book, but it's a variation of "Valkyries"). They have some solid moments in the book, some good "heart-to-hearts" that help them bond. And then there are a couple of moments that cause each of them to momentarily lose heart (and trust), but they are able to overcome these moments and be reconciled to each other so that their bond of friendship and bond as warriors is stronger than when they started their mission. Overall, it was well-done, but there were moments I was feeling "get over it and move on!" while reading as they seemed to rehash some of the same "stuff/issues" too many times. But then what person hasn't done that (rehashed the past to the point of exhaustion)?
There is one moment that was "hard-core" and shocked me to no end - I did not see it coming at all.
Some thoughts/issues with the story:
The book does have humor scattered throughout, which I enjoyed. .
On a side note, I cannot quite decide if the title is a play on "The Quick and the Dead" or not; it feels like it is.
I have enjoyed these "lost tales of Asgard" and how they focus on heroes who get less of the spotlight than other Asgardian heroes do. This is the third book I have read involving the Lady Sif and her adventures (the first one being Marvel Sif: Even Dragons Have Their Endings by Keith DeCandido of the Tales of Asgard trilogy, and then her "teaming up" with her brother Heimdall in The Head of Mimir: A Marvel Legends of Asgard Novel by Richard Lee Byers). Hopefully more are written about her in the future.
I will say this about Thor - I appreciated that the author wrote Thor as actually having some level of intelligence in the occasional cameos he has throughout the book (three at the max). Usually Thor is written as being less intelligent than he ought to be, and this author actually gave him a brain that he used. I appreciated that aspect of the book.
I liked how Sif and Brunnhilde grew as friends. They start the book out as friends, but there is still a tenseness and mistrust (distrust?) between them because of Brunnhilde's position as leader of the Valkyries (I don't remember what they are called in the book, but it's a variation of "Valkyries"). They have some solid moments in the book, some good "heart-to-hearts" that help them bond. And then there are a couple of moments that cause each of them to momentarily lose heart (and trust), but they are able to overcome these moments and be reconciled to each other so that their bond of friendship and bond as warriors is stronger than when they started their mission. Overall, it was well-done, but there were moments I was feeling "get over it and move on!" while reading as they seemed to rehash some of the same "stuff/issues" too many times. But then what person hasn't done that (rehashed the past to the point of exhaustion)?
There is one moment that was "hard-core" and shocked me to no end - I did not see it coming at all.
Some thoughts/issues with the story:
The book does have humor scattered throughout, which I enjoyed. .
On a side note, I cannot quite decide if the title is a play on "The Quick and the Dead" or not; it feels like it is.
I have enjoyed these "lost tales of Asgard" and how they focus on heroes who get less of the spotlight than other Asgardian heroes do. This is the third book I have read involving the Lady Sif and her adventures (the first one being Marvel Sif: Even Dragons Have Their Endings by Keith DeCandido of the Tales of Asgard trilogy, and then her "teaming up" with her brother Heimdall in The Head of Mimir: A Marvel Legends of Asgard Novel by Richard Lee Byers). Hopefully more are written about her in the future.
September 8, 2021
I want to start by thanking Aconyte and Netgallery for kindly approving me for an Advanced Reader Copy of this title via in exchange for an honest review. I want to add that only four chapters in I ordered a physical copy as well. Anna Stephens has worked wonders at weaving together source material from the Marvel mythos and actually Norse Myth, tied perfectly together with her amazing knack for storytelling. I found the story engaging and enjoyable, so much so that I could hardly put it down!
I don’t want to spoil the plot but I will say the characterisation was fantastic, Stephens makes the characters her own while keeping true to some of their main “standard" traits. The relationships, platonic and romantic, felt to build genuinely and never seemed forced or there just because. Each character was given chance to shine throughout as well with no one seeming to take favour. In short this book contains everything I love; strong female characters, an adorable relationship, friendship, magic, and battles.
I would highly recommend for any fan of marvel, norse mythology or just a good fantasy with a strong female cast!
I don’t want to spoil the plot but I will say the characterisation was fantastic, Stephens makes the characters her own while keeping true to some of their main “standard" traits. The relationships, platonic and romantic, felt to build genuinely and never seemed forced or there just because. Each character was given chance to shine throughout as well with no one seeming to take favour. In short this book contains everything I love; strong female characters, an adorable relationship, friendship, magic, and battles.
I would highly recommend for any fan of marvel, norse mythology or just a good fantasy with a strong female cast!
September 6, 2021
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legends of Asgard book The Serpent and The Dead by Anna Stephens, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
What is Marvel
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!
The Legends of Asgard novels specially focus on the Norse mythology influenced Asgard with characters like Thor, Odin and Loki.
The Story
This story focuses on Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde as they investigate why the souls of slain warriors, including Sifs friend Gyda.
Travelling across Asgard, to try and get to the bottom of why worthy warriors are not reaching the promised afterlife and confront the dark forces behind this.
While they say its a story with a team of two, Brunnhildes girlfriend, Inge, also plays a pivotal part. And this story is a story of friendship and trust, with the relationship between the three protagonists being deep and very interesting, as the three characters all have their own distinct personality and role. Sif is the warrior, bold and brash, Brunnhilde is more thoughtful and wants a plan rather than rushing in, and then Inge is the diplomat who bridges the gulf between these two.
Of course Sif is convinced that Loki, the Trickster god, is behind the horror, and so they start a journey to find him and confront him.
Conclusion
This is a really good story, it is, at its heart an action book that quickly moves from battle to battle with little time in between, and the action itself is very well written.
That said the moments of the book I enjoyed the most, were the quieter more insightful moments in which we got a better idea of the motivations behind why the characters have chosen to undertake this quest.
There is a deep appreciation for Norse mythology in this book and it feels very well researched and whilst its identifiable a Marvel book, its not so deeply Marvel, that you need to be too familiar with that fandom to appreciate this book.
Its an interesting mixture of action adventure, epic quest, Norse mythology and a little bit of superhero mixed together, which means I think it will really appeal to a lot of people.
The thing I really loved about this book though is the characters, they were at once very identifiable as the characters from the comics, with a nice twist from the author to make them her own, and the comradery and relationships, both platonic and romantic, between these three strong female characters made this a real joy to read.
The only thing I would have liked different, would be more of those quiet character building moments, but I hope to see Anna write more Legends of Asgard novels.
4 out of 5 stars!
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
What is Marvel
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!
The Legends of Asgard novels specially focus on the Norse mythology influenced Asgard with characters like Thor, Odin and Loki.
The Story
This story focuses on Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde as they investigate why the souls of slain warriors, including Sifs friend Gyda.
Travelling across Asgard, to try and get to the bottom of why worthy warriors are not reaching the promised afterlife and confront the dark forces behind this.
While they say its a story with a team of two, Brunnhildes girlfriend, Inge, also plays a pivotal part. And this story is a story of friendship and trust, with the relationship between the three protagonists being deep and very interesting, as the three characters all have their own distinct personality and role. Sif is the warrior, bold and brash, Brunnhilde is more thoughtful and wants a plan rather than rushing in, and then Inge is the diplomat who bridges the gulf between these two.
Of course Sif is convinced that Loki, the Trickster god, is behind the horror, and so they start a journey to find him and confront him.
Conclusion
This is a really good story, it is, at its heart an action book that quickly moves from battle to battle with little time in between, and the action itself is very well written.
That said the moments of the book I enjoyed the most, were the quieter more insightful moments in which we got a better idea of the motivations behind why the characters have chosen to undertake this quest.
There is a deep appreciation for Norse mythology in this book and it feels very well researched and whilst its identifiable a Marvel book, its not so deeply Marvel, that you need to be too familiar with that fandom to appreciate this book.
Its an interesting mixture of action adventure, epic quest, Norse mythology and a little bit of superhero mixed together, which means I think it will really appeal to a lot of people.
The thing I really loved about this book though is the characters, they were at once very identifiable as the characters from the comics, with a nice twist from the author to make them her own, and the comradery and relationships, both platonic and romantic, between these three strong female characters made this a real joy to read.
The only thing I would have liked different, would be more of those quiet character building moments, but I hope to see Anna write more Legends of Asgard novels.
4 out of 5 stars!
June 9, 2021
You had me at Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie. As Stan Lee would say,”‘Nuff said!”
In case you’re not so easily convinced, The Serpent and the Dead is an epic story of Lady Sif and Brunnhilde fighting Asgardian zombies. They’re not really zombies, but that’s a technicality left for the book to explain.
As a fan of Sif, and someone still upset that the Journey Into Mystery series was canceled after the turn in focus on Sif, I had to read this book.
As I started reading the book, I became pretty excited, because it was a blend of the old Norse myths with Marvel versions of the characters in a way Marvel doesn’t usually adhere to. Marvel tends to play fast and loose with the source material (Norse mythology, of course), and that’s fair, given how long Thor comics have been around, and I’m perfectly fine with that. I love a good Thor comic-especially the Walter Simonson run from the 80s.
I do enjoy the Norse myths as well, having done much reading on the subject. The Serpent and the Dead gives a very grounded version of the characters. It has a lot of reference to parts of the myths, instead of being straight up Marvel fanfare. It’s great for someone who isn’t very familiar with the myths, and that basis for these Marvel characters. That being said, since these characters are Marvel characters in this book, I’m rather disappointed that the Valkyrie of this novel wasn’t the Valkyrie of the Thor: Ragnarok movie. I think it’s a missed opportunity, in my opinion.
I thought the story was quite interesting and good, though parts of the story dragged on a bit for me. Again, this is a great story for someone who isn’t familiar with the stories, either the myths or the Marvel comics. There’s a lot of groundwork that the book lays out, but as someone who already knows the stories, I couldn’t help but be eager to get to the heart of the action.
I did like that the novel subverted expectations a bit with the villain of the story. I was pleasantly surprised with the decision on that one, and that made the last 20% of the book extra interesting to me.
I was also glad there was no men to save the day at the end. The book stayed Sif and Brunnhilde-centric, and I appreciate that. It would have been so easy to have Thor show up and save the day, but the story didn’t do that.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Serpent and the Dead, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an epic female-led fantasy adventure, even if you’ve never read a Marvel comic before.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
In case you’re not so easily convinced, The Serpent and the Dead is an epic story of Lady Sif and Brunnhilde fighting Asgardian zombies. They’re not really zombies, but that’s a technicality left for the book to explain.
As a fan of Sif, and someone still upset that the Journey Into Mystery series was canceled after the turn in focus on Sif, I had to read this book.
As I started reading the book, I became pretty excited, because it was a blend of the old Norse myths with Marvel versions of the characters in a way Marvel doesn’t usually adhere to. Marvel tends to play fast and loose with the source material (Norse mythology, of course), and that’s fair, given how long Thor comics have been around, and I’m perfectly fine with that. I love a good Thor comic-especially the Walter Simonson run from the 80s.
I do enjoy the Norse myths as well, having done much reading on the subject. The Serpent and the Dead gives a very grounded version of the characters. It has a lot of reference to parts of the myths, instead of being straight up Marvel fanfare. It’s great for someone who isn’t very familiar with the myths, and that basis for these Marvel characters. That being said, since these characters are Marvel characters in this book, I’m rather disappointed that the Valkyrie of this novel wasn’t the Valkyrie of the Thor: Ragnarok movie. I think it’s a missed opportunity, in my opinion.
I thought the story was quite interesting and good, though parts of the story dragged on a bit for me. Again, this is a great story for someone who isn’t familiar with the stories, either the myths or the Marvel comics. There’s a lot of groundwork that the book lays out, but as someone who already knows the stories, I couldn’t help but be eager to get to the heart of the action.
I did like that the novel subverted expectations a bit with the villain of the story. I was pleasantly surprised with the decision on that one, and that made the last 20% of the book extra interesting to me.
I was also glad there was no men to save the day at the end. The book stayed Sif and Brunnhilde-centric, and I appreciate that. It would have been so easy to have Thor show up and save the day, but the story didn’t do that.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Serpent and the Dead, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an epic female-led fantasy adventure, even if you’ve never read a Marvel comic before.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
December 31, 2021
The Serpent and the Dead is one of the newest Marvel novels and part of the Legends of Asgard series. Written by Anna Stephens, this novel follows Brunnhilde and Lady Sif – two of my favorites.
The warriors of Asgard are always attending to one battle or another. That is not unusual. However, when Lady Sif witnessed a friend's death, she knew something was wrong. A Valkyrie did not escort her friend's soul to her eternal resting place.
This sets both Brunnhilde and Lady Sif on a quest to discover what is happening to the missing spirits of the dead, a pursuit that will inevitably get darker before they put an end to this horror. The real question is, will they be able to save the souls of those who have already been lost?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love the Marvel: Legends of Asgard series. This series gives my favorite Asgardians a chance to shine in their own novels, and I couldn't be happier for it. Now it's time for The Serpent and the Dead, highlighting Brunnhilde and Lady Sif – two unforgettable heroines that deserve the attention.
The Serpent and the Dead was a blast and a half to read, but it was also a surprisingly emotional read. I suppose the latter shouldn't be that much of a surprise since we're talking about lost spirits and Sif/Brunnhilde's need to recover them.
The early parts of this book hit hard, giving readers all the reason in the world(s) to care about the success of this mission. To be fair, it isn't hard to convince me to root for these ladies, because duh. But I still appreciated the effort.
All things said and done, The Serpent and the Dead was a well-written story, one that I didn't want to end. I would love to see this story take place in the MCU, even if realistically, I know that this will never happen (hey, a girl can hope!).
Thanks to Aconyte and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
DISCLAIMER:
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The warriors of Asgard are always attending to one battle or another. That is not unusual. However, when Lady Sif witnessed a friend's death, she knew something was wrong. A Valkyrie did not escort her friend's soul to her eternal resting place.
This sets both Brunnhilde and Lady Sif on a quest to discover what is happening to the missing spirits of the dead, a pursuit that will inevitably get darker before they put an end to this horror. The real question is, will they be able to save the souls of those who have already been lost?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love the Marvel: Legends of Asgard series. This series gives my favorite Asgardians a chance to shine in their own novels, and I couldn't be happier for it. Now it's time for The Serpent and the Dead, highlighting Brunnhilde and Lady Sif – two unforgettable heroines that deserve the attention.
The Serpent and the Dead was a blast and a half to read, but it was also a surprisingly emotional read. I suppose the latter shouldn't be that much of a surprise since we're talking about lost spirits and Sif/Brunnhilde's need to recover them.
The early parts of this book hit hard, giving readers all the reason in the world(s) to care about the success of this mission. To be fair, it isn't hard to convince me to root for these ladies, because duh. But I still appreciated the effort.
All things said and done, The Serpent and the Dead was a well-written story, one that I didn't want to end. I would love to see this story take place in the MCU, even if realistically, I know that this will never happen (hey, a girl can hope!).
Thanks to Aconyte and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
DISCLAIMER:
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
October 6, 2022
This was a fantastic read. From the very start I just knew I was going to love it. It was such an thrilling story that I was right. As soon as sif appeared it was like yes finally a character I know lol. I just love these female power marvel stories and sif and her girlfriend certainly pack a punch. There is no messing with this pair of Asgardian warriors. This was a brilliant action packed story. I was so engrossed I lost tract of time and nearly forgot to make tea lol. It was so well wrote and flowed so well. I really got into this story and despite its fast pace I really kept track of everything. Which is sometimes difficult as I have ever read any comics and rubbish with remembering names especially if they are unusual like those Asgardian characters. I became emotionally invested in the characters and love the fact there were characters I loved to hate. I got over excited at one point and was shouting die die at looking and snake lol. Sad I know! I accidentally read the books out of order no wonder I didn't fully understand three swords. It actually makes more sense now. You can read this book as a standalone but this story does follow on into three swords. I really can't recommend this book and series enough. If you love marvel and Asgardians then this series is a perfect fit. I really feel like I am starting to know the Asgardians so much better now. It had a fantastic pace keeping the action coming, building up a wonderful sense of atmosphere and tension. There were plenty of unexpected twists and turns and some shocking events. You will definitely be in for a roller coaster ride if you read this book.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such an amazing and so very interesting story that I couldn't put down. I will definitely looking for more books in this series and also other books this amazing author has wrote.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such an amazing and so very interesting story that I couldn't put down. I will definitely looking for more books in this series and also other books this amazing author has wrote.
September 12, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Serpent and The Dead: A Marvel: Legends of Asgard Novel by Anna Stephens. I've voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In The Serpent and The Dead we follow Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie on their quest to find the missing souls of warriors from the battlefield. Their journey starts when Sif watches a close friend die in battle but their soul is not taken to Vanhalla. To uncover who's behind this heinous crime, Sif and Brunnhilde travel to Jotunheim for answers.
The Serpent and The Dead is an action-packed novel told from the perspective of two amazing fierce female warriors. Lady Sif is a strong-willed and brave warrior who will to anything to find out who's behind this crime. Brunnhilde feels incredibly responsible for the souls that are taken without the Valkyries notice and will do anything to return the stolen souls to Valhalla. An epic team-up and adventure that deals with fear, trust and perseverance.
This is the second Legends of Asgard novel that I've read and I must say that it's amazing to discover these adventurous stories and lesser known heroes. I can't wait to read more novels in this universe. Anna Stephens has crafted an amazing tale of bravery and has definitely compelled me to read more of her work.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
In The Serpent and The Dead we follow Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie on their quest to find the missing souls of warriors from the battlefield. Their journey starts when Sif watches a close friend die in battle but their soul is not taken to Vanhalla. To uncover who's behind this heinous crime, Sif and Brunnhilde travel to Jotunheim for answers.
The Serpent and The Dead is an action-packed novel told from the perspective of two amazing fierce female warriors. Lady Sif is a strong-willed and brave warrior who will to anything to find out who's behind this crime. Brunnhilde feels incredibly responsible for the souls that are taken without the Valkyries notice and will do anything to return the stolen souls to Valhalla. An epic team-up and adventure that deals with fear, trust and perseverance.
This is the second Legends of Asgard novel that I've read and I must say that it's amazing to discover these adventurous stories and lesser known heroes. I can't wait to read more novels in this universe. Anna Stephens has crafted an amazing tale of bravery and has definitely compelled me to read more of her work.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
August 7, 2021
Coming in September from Aconyte Books is The Serpent and the Dead, the latest in the Marvel: Legends of Asgard series, by author Anna Stephens. I had the pleasure of reading an advanced digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This adventure is a high-stakes mission for Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie as they must discover why the souls of fallen warriors are not making their way to Valhalla as they should. Soon, these women find themselves in the midst of intense battles with armies of deadly enemies.
Anna Stephens, an acclaimed British fantasy author, seems right at home with the rich mythology of Asgard and the choreographing of combat sequences throughout the book. She delivers an engaging adventure that shines a spotlight on one of Marvel's lesser known heroines. I, myself, only had a passing familiarity with Sif - from the few runs of Thor comics I have read and her appearances in recent MCU films and TV shows. As such, I was very eager to learn more about the character - especially as she interacted with other female characters. Thor, of course, makes appearances in the story, but the focus is firmly fixed on the female protagonists of the piece.
Fans of both fantasy and mythology will enjoy this read.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
This adventure is a high-stakes mission for Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie as they must discover why the souls of fallen warriors are not making their way to Valhalla as they should. Soon, these women find themselves in the midst of intense battles with armies of deadly enemies.
Anna Stephens, an acclaimed British fantasy author, seems right at home with the rich mythology of Asgard and the choreographing of combat sequences throughout the book. She delivers an engaging adventure that shines a spotlight on one of Marvel's lesser known heroines. I, myself, only had a passing familiarity with Sif - from the few runs of Thor comics I have read and her appearances in recent MCU films and TV shows. As such, I was very eager to learn more about the character - especially as she interacted with other female characters. Thor, of course, makes appearances in the story, but the focus is firmly fixed on the female protagonists of the piece.
Fans of both fantasy and mythology will enjoy this read.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
August 13, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of this superhero fantasy novel.
Anna Stephens in The Serpent & The Dead: A Marvel: Legends of Asgard Novel has written a tale of Asgard, as set in the Marvel Universe, that is less superhero more supernatural fantasy. Featuring the Lady Sif Companion of the Warriors Three and the God of Thunder Thor, and Brunnhilde, the Valkyrie. These two are characters unite to stop a horrible theft, the souls of Asgardians who have passed in battle are not being taken to Valhalla as promised, but torn away, stolen by and unknown force. Together they must fight giants, and dark elves and their own dark thoughts as the future of their world is in the balance.
As stated the story is more fantasy than superhero, but it is one rollicking adventure. There is so much fighting, so much swordplay so much derring-do that the book screams for a tv or animation treatment. And not too much Thor, which was good. The story moves well, and you can tell Ms. Stephens knows her fighting, tactics and Asgardian Mythos well. I think Lady Sif is far more developed here than in the comics, probably since Walter Simonson was writing her. The Valkyrie I know from her old and new Defenders run, but I never really has a sense of who she was. Here her character is given a lot to do, and a lot more development than I expected.
A really good fantasy story, perfect for comic fans, but also for fans of really good stories featuring female empowerment and representation. I look forward to more books in the Marvel series and even more books by Anna Stephens.
Anna Stephens in The Serpent & The Dead: A Marvel: Legends of Asgard Novel has written a tale of Asgard, as set in the Marvel Universe, that is less superhero more supernatural fantasy. Featuring the Lady Sif Companion of the Warriors Three and the God of Thunder Thor, and Brunnhilde, the Valkyrie. These two are characters unite to stop a horrible theft, the souls of Asgardians who have passed in battle are not being taken to Valhalla as promised, but torn away, stolen by and unknown force. Together they must fight giants, and dark elves and their own dark thoughts as the future of their world is in the balance.
As stated the story is more fantasy than superhero, but it is one rollicking adventure. There is so much fighting, so much swordplay so much derring-do that the book screams for a tv or animation treatment. And not too much Thor, which was good. The story moves well, and you can tell Ms. Stephens knows her fighting, tactics and Asgardian Mythos well. I think Lady Sif is far more developed here than in the comics, probably since Walter Simonson was writing her. The Valkyrie I know from her old and new Defenders run, but I never really has a sense of who she was. Here her character is given a lot to do, and a lot more development than I expected.
A really good fantasy story, perfect for comic fans, but also for fans of really good stories featuring female empowerment and representation. I look forward to more books in the Marvel series and even more books by Anna Stephens.
September 12, 2021
Lady Sif watches a close friend die in battle, but their soul doesn't go to Valhalla. This runs counter to everything she ever knew about the afterlife for Asgardians, and enlists the help of the Valkyrie Brunnhilde to discover why this is happening. As they scour Asgard, they hear rumors of warriors that can't be killed and souls that are stolen. This is a mystery worthy of these two valiant warriors.
The Serpent & The Dead follows the Sif and Brunnhilde of the comics, not Jamie Alexander's Sif or Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. Sif still automatically assumes the worst of Loki, that he would cast some kind of spell to steal souls and plague Asgardia. Sif is a hothead, and Brunnhilde's girlfriend Inge is a good balance between her and Brunnhilde's stoic nature. I liked the look into the workings of the Valkyrior, how they sense the deaths, and their relationship with the rest of Asgard. As much as Brunnhilde is calm, she still has great understanding of other's feelings, as well as really fun conversations with her girlfriend. It makes for great quiet moments in between battles.
I was fully drawn into the story, especially when the trio of warriors found the deathless and had to battle for the souls. The trust between them and their friendship is well written and had me rooting for them until the very last page. A great and exciting read.
The Serpent & The Dead follows the Sif and Brunnhilde of the comics, not Jamie Alexander's Sif or Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. Sif still automatically assumes the worst of Loki, that he would cast some kind of spell to steal souls and plague Asgardia. Sif is a hothead, and Brunnhilde's girlfriend Inge is a good balance between her and Brunnhilde's stoic nature. I liked the look into the workings of the Valkyrior, how they sense the deaths, and their relationship with the rest of Asgard. As much as Brunnhilde is calm, she still has great understanding of other's feelings, as well as really fun conversations with her girlfriend. It makes for great quiet moments in between battles.
I was fully drawn into the story, especially when the trio of warriors found the deathless and had to battle for the souls. The trust between them and their friendship is well written and had me rooting for them until the very last page. A great and exciting read.
September 26, 2021
This is a fantastic story that gives the women warriors of Asgard a chance to shine in an adventure that pushes them to their limits. Lady Sif is familiar if you've watched any of the first two MCU Thor movies and the Valkyrie Brunhilde is a staple of the Thor comics, both are great warriors with strong personalities that will do anything to fulfill their mission, bring honor to Asgard, and make their loved ones proud. That's basically all you need to know to enjoy this great adventure into the forests of Asgard and the frozen mountains of Jotunheim.
My one complaint would be that Stephens tends to get wordy in her explanations and descriptions. A great thing when describing battles because you can practically feel the hits of steel on steel and the movements of the characters. A bit of a slog when it's just the characters traveling along a road. Not a major dealbreaker, but it makes the pacing feel like it slows down way too much in between the action.
On an important side not, it could honestly work as something completely unrelated to Marvel and just a good story based on Nordic mythology that has two very powerful goddess warriors in the lead. Don't let a lack of comic book or superhero movie knowledge keep you away from this one, it's definitely worth delving into.
Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the early read!
My one complaint would be that Stephens tends to get wordy in her explanations and descriptions. A great thing when describing battles because you can practically feel the hits of steel on steel and the movements of the characters. A bit of a slog when it's just the characters traveling along a road. Not a major dealbreaker, but it makes the pacing feel like it slows down way too much in between the action.
On an important side not, it could honestly work as something completely unrelated to Marvel and just a good story based on Nordic mythology that has two very powerful goddess warriors in the lead. Don't let a lack of comic book or superhero movie knowledge keep you away from this one, it's definitely worth delving into.
Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the early read!
October 4, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Aconyte Books via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Someone is stealing the souls of dying Asgardian warriors before the Valkyries can escort them to Valhalla, and using them to power undead bodies in attacks against Asgard’s citizens. With Odin away on a peace mission, Thor assigns his friend Lady Sif and Brunnhilde, leader of the Valkyries, to find out who is responsible and stop them.
As the pair gets closer to finding the answers they seek, their feelings and fears are used against them, and they begin to doubt not only themselves, but each other as well. At times, this grew a little tedious due to the repetitious self-doubt and seemingly unending battles with the undead.
I gave The Serpent and the Dead five stars. It features three strong women characters and deepened my knowledge of Norse mythology.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
© 2020 MARVEL
Someone is stealing the souls of dying Asgardian warriors before the Valkyries can escort them to Valhalla, and using them to power undead bodies in attacks against Asgard’s citizens. With Odin away on a peace mission, Thor assigns his friend Lady Sif and Brunnhilde, leader of the Valkyries, to find out who is responsible and stop them.
As the pair gets closer to finding the answers they seek, their feelings and fears are used against them, and they begin to doubt not only themselves, but each other as well. At times, this grew a little tedious due to the repetitious self-doubt and seemingly unending battles with the undead.
I gave The Serpent and the Dead five stars. It features three strong women characters and deepened my knowledge of Norse mythology.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
© 2020 MARVEL
July 28, 2021
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
Wowee wow wow! I loved this book!! "The Serpent and The Dead" is jammed with action, all wrapped up in an absolutely fantastic story that revolves around Brunnhilde the Valkyrie and Lady Sif (other characters are available, but these two take the spotlight - with good reason). Anna Stephens's writing is superb, and she had me dodging to the side to avoid fictional blades at several points! More, please!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel[dot]com. © 2021 MARVEL
Wowee wow wow! I loved this book!! "The Serpent and The Dead" is jammed with action, all wrapped up in an absolutely fantastic story that revolves around Brunnhilde the Valkyrie and Lady Sif (other characters are available, but these two take the spotlight - with good reason). Anna Stephens's writing is superb, and she had me dodging to the side to avoid fictional blades at several points! More, please!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel[dot]com. © 2021 MARVEL
August 27, 2021
Thank you Aconyte Books and Netgalley for a free ebook copy in exchange for a review!
"The Serpent and the Dead" had me hooked from start to finish! I loved getting to dive into the mystery and to learn more of the lore behind the Valkyrie. The characters had great depth and we're very well-written, and jumping from action scene to action scene one after another really kept me on my toes. I loved this book and would recommend it to fans of Marvel and Norse Mythology.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
"The Serpent and the Dead" had me hooked from start to finish! I loved getting to dive into the mystery and to learn more of the lore behind the Valkyrie. The characters had great depth and we're very well-written, and jumping from action scene to action scene one after another really kept me on my toes. I loved this book and would recommend it to fans of Marvel and Norse Mythology.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
July 3, 2021
I enjoyed this book as a separate entity. There was no explanation of how it fit into the MCU or if it is part of the MCU. I did enjoy the feminist vibe, Lady Sif and The Valkyrie didn’t need help from any man and that was great to read.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review this book was given to me for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review this book was given to me for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
September 22, 2021
A book about Lady Sif and Brunnhilde the Valkyrie? I'm in! I eagerly looked forward to reading this book and was not disappointed. If anything, it's even better than I'd hoped.
Lady Sif sees her friend fall in battle and is shocked to discover that someone, or something, has stolen her soul. Sif's grief has to be put on hold while she and Brunhilde work to find an explanation. Sif strongly suspects Loki of being behind the nefarious plot, so she, Brunhilde and Inge travel to the portal to Jotunheim. Along the way, they run into battle and find themselves faced with undying foes as well as giants and elves.
Once they make it to Jotunheim they are in for tests they can't imagine and must trust each other implicitly if they want to survive!
Lady Sif sees her friend fall in battle and is shocked to discover that someone, or something, has stolen her soul. Sif's grief has to be put on hold while she and Brunhilde work to find an explanation. Sif strongly suspects Loki of being behind the nefarious plot, so she, Brunhilde and Inge travel to the portal to Jotunheim. Along the way, they run into battle and find themselves faced with undying foes as well as giants and elves.
Once they make it to Jotunheim they are in for tests they can't imagine and must trust each other implicitly if they want to survive!
September 22, 2021
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book
this was my first foray into this genre and author and i have to say it wont be the last...i was hooked and loved every minute i spent reading this one...
i am a big fan of the marvel films and never thought that they would bring books out but i am glad that i have now found out and will be keeping an eye out for more...
this one doesnt disappoint with the fighting and magic and everything that we know and love from this series whether it is a film or a book...plenty for everyone to get their teeth into and to be entertained...
this was my first foray into this genre and author and i have to say it wont be the last...i was hooked and loved every minute i spent reading this one...
i am a big fan of the marvel films and never thought that they would bring books out but i am glad that i have now found out and will be keeping an eye out for more...
this one doesnt disappoint with the fighting and magic and everything that we know and love from this series whether it is a film or a book...plenty for everyone to get their teeth into and to be entertained...
June 1, 2021
This is my very first Marvel novel even though I've been a massive fan since I was a teenager. I get the feeling that I have aged out of the demographic because I just found the writing far too clunky. I was really interested in a female driven story with LGBT+ representation since Disney seems a little hesitant to include this canon in the films. I did also enjoy the surprise of a troll having they/them pronouns which made perfect sense. The red herring was a little obvious from the outset so I just never managed to get excited. Younger readers will probably love it.
July 12, 2021
Asgardians. Valkyries. Formidable ladies. Action packed. I'm sold.
I enjoyed this book a lot! The plot is intriguing and we got to see more Sif, who is only appear for limited time in any Marvel Thor movies. I also love how this book explored more of the Asgardian world and lore! The fighting scenes keep me up on my toes. Such delightful, fast-pacing read!
<< Review copy received from Aconyte Books via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you! >>
I enjoyed this book a lot! The plot is intriguing and we got to see more Sif, who is only appear for limited time in any Marvel Thor movies. I also love how this book explored more of the Asgardian world and lore! The fighting scenes keep me up on my toes. Such delightful, fast-pacing read!
<< Review copy received from Aconyte Books via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you! >>
September 7, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Aconyte books for an advanced review copy of this book.
I absolutely love Thor and the people of Asgard, so this book was a must read for me!
Focusing on the Valkyries and Lady Sif, it’s great to see more of the ladies of Asgard and how much they kick butt and don’t need Thor to save the day.
These aren’t from the MCU, but this book is fantastic for any Marvel fan who wants more!
I absolutely love Thor and the people of Asgard, so this book was a must read for me!
Focusing on the Valkyries and Lady Sif, it’s great to see more of the ladies of Asgard and how much they kick butt and don’t need Thor to save the day.
These aren’t from the MCU, but this book is fantastic for any Marvel fan who wants more!
September 30, 2021
The Legends of Asgard novels have been a ton of fun; focusing on the more fantastical element of the Marvel Universe, where gods fight monsters and travel to different realms, they've read more as mythological fantasy than super hero books, and as such have really stood out against other Marvel prose novels. The third entry in this series sees the return of Lady Sif, who we followed in The Head of Mimir, who teams up with the Valkyrie Brunnhilde to find out who's been stealing the souls of the honoured dead of Asgard.
Whilst battling forces encroaching on the borders of Asgard Sif sees one of her friends fall in battle. This is something that causes her grief, but she also knows that her friend will receive a heroes place in the afterlife, getting to go to Valhalla, so when the Valkyrie Brunnhilde tells her that her soul was snatched away before it could be escorted to the afterlife Sif in enraged.
Determined to discover who is behind this awful crime, Sif asks Thor to allow her to investigate. He agrees, but insists that Brunnhilde must accompany her on her quest. Together with Inge, Brunnhilde's lover, they head to the very borders of Asgard, prepared to travel into the realms beyond in their search for answers. However, upon reaching one of the border towns they discover their task might be even more complicated than they first thought, as the three women learn that creatures called Deathless, hulking, unkillable monstrosities, have been invading the realm.
Now Sif and Brunnhilde must fight through this army of monsters into the frozen wastes of Jotunheim in order to find out who's behind it. Are Sif's suspicions correct, is this the latest plot by the trickers god Loki? Or is there something much darker at play behind the scenes?
One of the things that immediately felt different about this book to the other entries in the Legends of Asgard series is that the nature of the quest felt very different. In the first book, The Head of Mimir, Sif and Heimdal were setting out to clear their name after it looked like they'd betrayed their kingdom; and in The Sword of Surtur Tyr was engaging in his own quest to make himself a hero. Both of these stories saw our heroes working outside their regular bounds, one with them being fugitives, the other with is being a secret, unsanctioned mission. This time Sif and Brunnhilde are sent out on their quest by the rulers of Asgard, in a mission that is for the benefit of the entire realm.
This simple change alters the entire feel of the story, and whilst the two of them do do a lot of sneaking around, like in the other books, this is only a small part of the story. It opens the scope of the book somewhat, and feels more like the stories we hear of knights and brave warriors being sent out on quests by their kings.
The other big change that this book sees over the other two in the series is that the core cast is all female. Whilst this doesn't make too much of a difference on a surface inspection, the women of Asgard being just as brave and capable warriors as the men, it's in the small moments where we get to see how this plays out differently. There are moments where Sif and Bunnhilde's minds are being manipulated by their enemy, where they're being made to feel emotions that aren't their own. Instead of being stoic and keeping their feelings beneath the surface they admit to each other that they're frightened, that their emotions are all over the place. They discuss how their feelings aren't right, and this helps the two of them to watch each other's backs and overcome this magic. They admit that the men they know wouldn't be so open, and this shows how in this case an all female team actually ends up being the best thing for this situation.
The story also has some great queer representation as Brunnhilde's partner is another woman, a shield maiden names Inge, and it's never once commented upon. Nothing is made of this same sex relationship by any of the other characters. There's no scene of them being looked down upon for loving another woman, and none of the issues or worries that queer people in the real world face are present here. Their relationship is treated as no different from a heterosexual one, and it's wonderful. This is how all relationships should be treated, but it's especially delightful to see it for a queer one.
The Serpent and The Dead is also a comic book novel too, so it is of course packed with action sequences as our two warrior leads battle against hordes of enemies in their quest to bring this evil to an end. These moments are spaced throughout the book pretty well, and there's a good balance between the quiet, character driven scenes and the moments where Sif and Bunnhilde are battling for their lives.
Overall this proves to be a great addition to the ever expanding roster of Marvel prose novels that Aconyte Books are producing, and might be my favourite of the Legends of Asgard line so far. The story is interesting and grand in scope, yet manages to stay focused on these two warriors and keeps the focus on their journey and the trials that they go through. An ideal read for any Marvel fan, and anyone who likes stories with powerful female leads.
Whilst battling forces encroaching on the borders of Asgard Sif sees one of her friends fall in battle. This is something that causes her grief, but she also knows that her friend will receive a heroes place in the afterlife, getting to go to Valhalla, so when the Valkyrie Brunnhilde tells her that her soul was snatched away before it could be escorted to the afterlife Sif in enraged.
Determined to discover who is behind this awful crime, Sif asks Thor to allow her to investigate. He agrees, but insists that Brunnhilde must accompany her on her quest. Together with Inge, Brunnhilde's lover, they head to the very borders of Asgard, prepared to travel into the realms beyond in their search for answers. However, upon reaching one of the border towns they discover their task might be even more complicated than they first thought, as the three women learn that creatures called Deathless, hulking, unkillable monstrosities, have been invading the realm.
Now Sif and Brunnhilde must fight through this army of monsters into the frozen wastes of Jotunheim in order to find out who's behind it. Are Sif's suspicions correct, is this the latest plot by the trickers god Loki? Or is there something much darker at play behind the scenes?
One of the things that immediately felt different about this book to the other entries in the Legends of Asgard series is that the nature of the quest felt very different. In the first book, The Head of Mimir, Sif and Heimdal were setting out to clear their name after it looked like they'd betrayed their kingdom; and in The Sword of Surtur Tyr was engaging in his own quest to make himself a hero. Both of these stories saw our heroes working outside their regular bounds, one with them being fugitives, the other with is being a secret, unsanctioned mission. This time Sif and Brunnhilde are sent out on their quest by the rulers of Asgard, in a mission that is for the benefit of the entire realm.
This simple change alters the entire feel of the story, and whilst the two of them do do a lot of sneaking around, like in the other books, this is only a small part of the story. It opens the scope of the book somewhat, and feels more like the stories we hear of knights and brave warriors being sent out on quests by their kings.
The other big change that this book sees over the other two in the series is that the core cast is all female. Whilst this doesn't make too much of a difference on a surface inspection, the women of Asgard being just as brave and capable warriors as the men, it's in the small moments where we get to see how this plays out differently. There are moments where Sif and Bunnhilde's minds are being manipulated by their enemy, where they're being made to feel emotions that aren't their own. Instead of being stoic and keeping their feelings beneath the surface they admit to each other that they're frightened, that their emotions are all over the place. They discuss how their feelings aren't right, and this helps the two of them to watch each other's backs and overcome this magic. They admit that the men they know wouldn't be so open, and this shows how in this case an all female team actually ends up being the best thing for this situation.
The story also has some great queer representation as Brunnhilde's partner is another woman, a shield maiden names Inge, and it's never once commented upon. Nothing is made of this same sex relationship by any of the other characters. There's no scene of them being looked down upon for loving another woman, and none of the issues or worries that queer people in the real world face are present here. Their relationship is treated as no different from a heterosexual one, and it's wonderful. This is how all relationships should be treated, but it's especially delightful to see it for a queer one.
The Serpent and The Dead is also a comic book novel too, so it is of course packed with action sequences as our two warrior leads battle against hordes of enemies in their quest to bring this evil to an end. These moments are spaced throughout the book pretty well, and there's a good balance between the quiet, character driven scenes and the moments where Sif and Bunnhilde are battling for their lives.
Overall this proves to be a great addition to the ever expanding roster of Marvel prose novels that Aconyte Books are producing, and might be my favourite of the Legends of Asgard line so far. The story is interesting and grand in scope, yet manages to stay focused on these two warriors and keeps the focus on their journey and the trials that they go through. An ideal read for any Marvel fan, and anyone who likes stories with powerful female leads.
February 4, 2022
I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review
Lady Sif was always my favorite in Norse mythology and of course the MCU, so it was obviously going to be a great book, not to mention that Valkyrie's are kickass women and I adore the whole lot of them in any format!
Lady Sif was always my favorite in Norse mythology and of course the MCU, so it was obviously going to be a great book, not to mention that Valkyrie's are kickass women and I adore the whole lot of them in any format!
June 22, 2022
This was a lot of fun! Sif and Brunnhilde fighting together, what a combination!! Also Brunnhilde being openly queer is just perfect! A little bit too much fighting at points but such a fantastic story, loved it!
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