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Runestone Saga #1
Children of Ragnarok
Ever since Ragnarok—the great war between the gods and the forces of chaos--the human realm of the Midlands has become a dangerous place, bereft of magic, where most lead lives of desperation.
Sixteen-year-old Eiric Halvorsen is among the luckier ones. Between fishing, going vikingr, and working his modir’s farm, the family has remained prosperous. But Eiric stands to lose everything when he’s convicted by a rigged jury of murdering his modir and stepfadir. Also at risk is his half-systir, Liv, whose interest in seidr, or magic, has made her a figure of suspicion. Then a powerful jarl steps in: he will pay the blood price if Eiric will lead a mission to the fabled Temple at the Grove—the rich stronghold of the wyrdspinners, the last practitioners of sorcery.
Spellsinger, musician, and runecaster Reggin Eiklund has spent her life traveling from town to town, performing at alehouses all for the benefit of her master, Asger, the fire demon she is desperate to escape. Then after one performance that amazes even Reggin herself, two wyrdspinners in the audience make her an irresistible offer: return with them to the temple to be trained in seidr, forever free of Asger.
Eiric, Liv, and Reggin’s journeys converge in New Jotunheim, the site of the Temple at the Grove, a paradise fueled by magic. They soon realize that a great evil lurks beneath the dazzling surface, and that old betrayals and long-held grudges may fuel another cataclysmic war. It will require every gift and weapon at their command to prevent it.
Sweeping adventure, breathtaking twists of fate, and immersive worlds based in Norse mythology are woven into this first volume of the Runestone Saga, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms and Shattered Realms series.
Sixteen-year-old Eiric Halvorsen is among the luckier ones. Between fishing, going vikingr, and working his modir’s farm, the family has remained prosperous. But Eiric stands to lose everything when he’s convicted by a rigged jury of murdering his modir and stepfadir. Also at risk is his half-systir, Liv, whose interest in seidr, or magic, has made her a figure of suspicion. Then a powerful jarl steps in: he will pay the blood price if Eiric will lead a mission to the fabled Temple at the Grove—the rich stronghold of the wyrdspinners, the last practitioners of sorcery.
Spellsinger, musician, and runecaster Reggin Eiklund has spent her life traveling from town to town, performing at alehouses all for the benefit of her master, Asger, the fire demon she is desperate to escape. Then after one performance that amazes even Reggin herself, two wyrdspinners in the audience make her an irresistible offer: return with them to the temple to be trained in seidr, forever free of Asger.
Eiric, Liv, and Reggin’s journeys converge in New Jotunheim, the site of the Temple at the Grove, a paradise fueled by magic. They soon realize that a great evil lurks beneath the dazzling surface, and that old betrayals and long-held grudges may fuel another cataclysmic war. It will require every gift and weapon at their command to prevent it.
Sweeping adventure, breathtaking twists of fate, and immersive worlds based in Norse mythology are woven into this first volume of the Runestone Saga, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms and Shattered Realms series.
536 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2022
245 people are currently reading
20953 people want to read
About the author
Cinda Williams Chima
35 books11.6k followersNew York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
July 22, 2023
Would read Cinda Williams Chima's grocery list tbh.
I will read anything Cinda writes. This book again showcases her mastery over the fantasy genre.
Pros:
- I loved Eiric, Liv, and Reginn. Having read The Seven Realms and The Shattered Realms series, I was initially worried about how Cinda was going to write new characters without falling into the "tried and true" mould of her previous characters. Well I am glad to say these characters felt distinct and offered new voices in a brand new series. Sinikae to how I felt about Han, it's impossible not to root for Eiric. Liv and Reginn also shown in their own respects. Liv was especially my favourite with her humour and wit.
- Another strength was the interwoven storylines that I just EAT UP. Multiple POVs are challenging because they can often drag on a story but that was never the case with this book. I love when tidbits of the other characters show up in another characters POV and this book had some great scenes.
- Really fun new Norse setting that was well constructed.
- I was intrigued by the magic system and this book enticed me enough to continue on with the series.
I will read anything Cinda writes. This book again showcases her mastery over the fantasy genre.
Pros:
- I loved Eiric, Liv, and Reginn. Having read The Seven Realms and The Shattered Realms series, I was initially worried about how Cinda was going to write new characters without falling into the "tried and true" mould of her previous characters. Well I am glad to say these characters felt distinct and offered new voices in a brand new series. Sinikae to how I felt about Han, it's impossible not to root for Eiric. Liv and Reginn also shown in their own respects. Liv was especially my favourite with her humour and wit.
- Another strength was the interwoven storylines that I just EAT UP. Multiple POVs are challenging because they can often drag on a story but that was never the case with this book. I love when tidbits of the other characters show up in another characters POV and this book had some great scenes.
- Really fun new Norse setting that was well constructed.
- I was intrigued by the magic system and this book enticed me enough to continue on with the series.
April 29, 2022
I’m ready for the Viking book
June 16, 2024
INJECT IT DIRECTLY INTO MY VEINS. VIKINGS AND MAGIC AND FIRE DEMONS AND RAGNAROK . . . ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
HOW WILL I WAIT THREE MORE MONTHS FOR THE SEQUEL?!
HOW WILL I WAIT THREE MORE MONTHS FOR THE SEQUEL?!
March 17, 2022
Once again Cinda Williams China has written a fantasy that kept me hooked from the first page and never let me go. I was so upset to be reading the ARC months before the book’s release, knowing that I am going to have to wait at least a year before I get my hands on the next book. Definitely getting this one for my middle school library!
November 27, 2024
I have been a huge fan of Cinda Williams Chima since I took my very first journey though the Seven Realms series. She has a way of building great epic stories that span multiple books and just get stronger as the series progresses. At least in my experience. If that holds true for the Runestone Saga, well we will be in for an epic ride.
Our story is centered around three character PoVs: Eiric a strapping young hero and son to a line of men that seem to be descended from a line of warriors that go back to the times of Ragnarok. Liv, half sister to Eiric, brought to live with them when she was a child. Liv's name was different then and she was made to give up an amulet in order to stay. And finally Reggin, she might be a slave travelling town to town to sing and run small cons, but there is something magical about her too.
Wow...well this story. The cover made it seem like it was going to be a middle grade type book. It is not we are well into new adult territory I believe, completely bypassing YA. There isn't sex or anything like that but there are some truly horrendous moments that are both psychologically and physically brutal.
Eiric and Liv have lived with an abusive stepfather for years. After he is killed they are subject to a land grab as some in the town want to find them guilty of murder and take the family farm. They have a chance to save it if they can come back with an artifact the new Lord of the city is looking for. Off on an adventure they will meet unusual people and end up in New Jotenheim, a land with a lot of secrets and dangers.
Reggin also will find her way to New Jotenheim, where the magical community is hiding. She will make a few friends but find many more dangers. The secrets there abound and Reggin has stumbled into a tumultuous time as the magical community is preparing for war against the rest of Midgard. She will have to tap into her magic and tread very carefully.
This ended with a bang and a slaughter or two. I was so sad to have come to the end of this journey. The worldbuilding was beginning to open up more and the revelations about New Jotunheim were staggering in a lot of ways. Just wow to where the story left off. I couldn't wait to jump into the next book, but alas I have a few more months to wait for it.
I loved this new Norse Mythology Viking Type tale and can't wait to see where our CWC takes our characters in the future and if we get to see any of the other nine-realms.
Narration
Jennifer Jill Araya did so well with this. I loved that I chose to listened to the story. Because of the Norse/Viking mythos used a lot of the names are strange looking. It was great to have a narrator really capture the accent and feel of the story. For me that added to the overall enjoyment as some of the names, places and words could have tripped me up while reading. She embodied the characters and their arcs really well and all PoVs sounded distinct from one another. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Our story is centered around three character PoVs: Eiric a strapping young hero and son to a line of men that seem to be descended from a line of warriors that go back to the times of Ragnarok. Liv, half sister to Eiric, brought to live with them when she was a child. Liv's name was different then and she was made to give up an amulet in order to stay. And finally Reggin, she might be a slave travelling town to town to sing and run small cons, but there is something magical about her too.
“The web is not off the loom yet,” Liv insisted. “What if you could unravel bits of it and reweave it? What if you could add a bit of lace or a new color? What if you could take something drab and make it beautiful? What if you could see the future and avoid trouble that is coming your way?”
Wow...well this story. The cover made it seem like it was going to be a middle grade type book. It is not we are well into new adult territory I believe, completely bypassing YA. There isn't sex or anything like that but there are some truly horrendous moments that are both psychologically and physically brutal.
Eiric and Liv have lived with an abusive stepfather for years. After he is killed they are subject to a land grab as some in the town want to find them guilty of murder and take the family farm. They have a chance to save it if they can come back with an artifact the new Lord of the city is looking for. Off on an adventure they will meet unusual people and end up in New Jotenheim, a land with a lot of secrets and dangers.
Reggin also will find her way to New Jotenheim, where the magical community is hiding. She will make a few friends but find many more dangers. The secrets there abound and Reggin has stumbled into a tumultuous time as the magical community is preparing for war against the rest of Midgard. She will have to tap into her magic and tread very carefully.
This ended with a bang and a slaughter or two. I was so sad to have come to the end of this journey. The worldbuilding was beginning to open up more and the revelations about New Jotunheim were staggering in a lot of ways. Just wow to where the story left off. I couldn't wait to jump into the next book, but alas I have a few more months to wait for it.
I loved this new Norse Mythology Viking Type tale and can't wait to see where our CWC takes our characters in the future and if we get to see any of the other nine-realms.
Narration
Jennifer Jill Araya did so well with this. I loved that I chose to listened to the story. Because of the Norse/Viking mythos used a lot of the names are strange looking. It was great to have a narrator really capture the accent and feel of the story. For me that added to the overall enjoyment as some of the names, places and words could have tripped me up while reading. She embodied the characters and their arcs really well and all PoVs sounded distinct from one another. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
July 1, 2024
4.5⭐️
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[ współpraca barterowa @galeria_ksiazki ]
Książka „Dzieci Ragnaröku” autorstwa Cindy Williams Chimy przedstawia nam historię trójki bohaterów. Eirik, oskarżony o morderstwo matki i ojczyma, zmuszony jest do ucieczki ze swojego domu. Wraz z nim uciekać też musi jego przyrodnia siostra, która z powodu zbytniego interesowania się magią, również znajduje się w niebezpieczeństwie. W zupełnie innej części tej krainy niewolnica Reggin lecząca ludzi i wróżąca z runicznych kamieni pragnie wyrwać się spod opresji rządzącego nią demona ognia Asgera. Całą trójkę czeka ciężka przeprawa ku odzyskaniu własnej wolności.
Cinda Williams Chima operuje świetnym światotwórstwem i posługując się staronordyckim słownictwem wprowadza nas w najprawdziwszy klimat wikingów. Przedstawia nam świat, w którym po ostatecznej wojnie między bogami zarówno oni, jak i większość ich magii zniknęła. Ostatnie zalążki zdolności magicznych są chronione przed ich przeciwnikami. Główni bohaterowie, choć są jeszcze młodzi, zostali wychowani w bardzo brutalnym świecie i mimo ich wieku zachowują się nad wyraz dojrzale walcząc z przeciwnościami losu.
„Dzieci Ragnaröku” to dopiero pierwszy tom przygód Eirkia, Liv i Reggin. Choć fabuła rozwija się powoli, nie brakuje tu zwrotów akcji, a całość stanowi bardzo solidny fundament dla całej serii.
Byłam zaskoczona jak błyskawicznie mi się tę powieść czytało, mimo ponda 600 stron tekstu. Jest to jedna z najprzyjemniejszych powieści młodzieżowych jakie do tej pory miałam okazję poznać.
Jeśli macie ochotę na świetną nordycką przygodę i lubicie powieści młodzieżowe zdecydowanie warto spróbować z „Dziećmi Ragnaröku”.
——————————————————
[ współpraca barterowa @galeria_ksiazki ]
Książka „Dzieci Ragnaröku” autorstwa Cindy Williams Chimy przedstawia nam historię trójki bohaterów. Eirik, oskarżony o morderstwo matki i ojczyma, zmuszony jest do ucieczki ze swojego domu. Wraz z nim uciekać też musi jego przyrodnia siostra, która z powodu zbytniego interesowania się magią, również znajduje się w niebezpieczeństwie. W zupełnie innej części tej krainy niewolnica Reggin lecząca ludzi i wróżąca z runicznych kamieni pragnie wyrwać się spod opresji rządzącego nią demona ognia Asgera. Całą trójkę czeka ciężka przeprawa ku odzyskaniu własnej wolności.
Cinda Williams Chima operuje świetnym światotwórstwem i posługując się staronordyckim słownictwem wprowadza nas w najprawdziwszy klimat wikingów. Przedstawia nam świat, w którym po ostatecznej wojnie między bogami zarówno oni, jak i większość ich magii zniknęła. Ostatnie zalążki zdolności magicznych są chronione przed ich przeciwnikami. Główni bohaterowie, choć są jeszcze młodzi, zostali wychowani w bardzo brutalnym świecie i mimo ich wieku zachowują się nad wyraz dojrzale walcząc z przeciwnościami losu.
„Dzieci Ragnaröku” to dopiero pierwszy tom przygód Eirkia, Liv i Reggin. Choć fabuła rozwija się powoli, nie brakuje tu zwrotów akcji, a całość stanowi bardzo solidny fundament dla całej serii.
Byłam zaskoczona jak błyskawicznie mi się tę powieść czytało, mimo ponda 600 stron tekstu. Jest to jedna z najprzyjemniejszych powieści młodzieżowych jakie do tej pory miałam okazję poznać.
Jeśli macie ochotę na świetną nordycką przygodę i lubicie powieści młodzieżowe zdecydowanie warto spróbować z „Dziećmi Ragnaröku”.
April 27, 2022
5 stars – A true adventure fantasy full of fantastic world-building, details, and an epic character arc/journey
This full cast epic adventure fantasy series is steeped in Nordic lore, but full of the creative energy one expects from a seasoned writer like Cinda Williams Chima. It is the kind of fantasy story that I love because its content is appropriate for all ages, but still completely engaging and compelling. Part mystery, part adventure, filled with magic, coming-of-age, secret identities revealed, as the characters assemble for the epic battle at the end of the world.
1000 years after Ragnarok magic is dying out and no one worships the old gods anymore. A mysterious girl is brought home by Eiric’s seafaring father. Where did she come from and why did his mother take her amulet away and change her name? Who is this girl and where did she come from?
Reggin is a thrall (slave) whose master is a magic sucking fire demon from the now destroyed land of Muspelheim. He is stranded in the Midlands and uses Reggin to survive, until Eiric (now a young man) intervenes and aides her in her escape. Where she is able to meet a Spinner (one who uses magic) and is offered a freedom she’s never imagined… passage to New Jotenheim, a haven where she can develop her magic, but not is all what is seems to be.
Life has been tough for Eiric, with his parents dead he and his sister are left with their abusive, alcoholic, and greedy stepfather Sten. Sten thinks that he should inherit the family farm instead of Eiric, but when things go awry Eiric's whole life is changed. His only hope is retrieving a precious artifact for the Jarl from a mysterious island, but Liv won't let him go alone.
I loved it. I loved the epic capturing and imagining of what life might be like for people after Ragnarok and the creative development of the characters. It was beautifully done and I am desperately wanting more.
This full cast epic adventure fantasy series is steeped in Nordic lore, but full of the creative energy one expects from a seasoned writer like Cinda Williams Chima. It is the kind of fantasy story that I love because its content is appropriate for all ages, but still completely engaging and compelling. Part mystery, part adventure, filled with magic, coming-of-age, secret identities revealed, as the characters assemble for the epic battle at the end of the world.
1000 years after Ragnarok magic is dying out and no one worships the old gods anymore. A mysterious girl is brought home by Eiric’s seafaring father. Where did she come from and why did his mother take her amulet away and change her name? Who is this girl and where did she come from?
Reggin is a thrall (slave) whose master is a magic sucking fire demon from the now destroyed land of Muspelheim. He is stranded in the Midlands and uses Reggin to survive, until Eiric (now a young man) intervenes and aides her in her escape. Where she is able to meet a Spinner (one who uses magic) and is offered a freedom she’s never imagined… passage to New Jotenheim, a haven where she can develop her magic, but not is all what is seems to be.
Life has been tough for Eiric, with his parents dead he and his sister are left with their abusive, alcoholic, and greedy stepfather Sten. Sten thinks that he should inherit the family farm instead of Eiric, but when things go awry Eiric's whole life is changed. His only hope is retrieving a precious artifact for the Jarl from a mysterious island, but Liv won't let him go alone.
I loved it. I loved the epic capturing and imagining of what life might be like for people after Ragnarok and the creative development of the characters. It was beautifully done and I am desperately wanting more.
October 30, 2024
I absolutely loved this YA viking story full of action, norse mythology and hidden corruption. This is not a light and fluffy story, which I felt was ok because well..VIKINGS.
This is my first book by Chima but now I only want MORE. This book has a solid premise and really takes its time setting the history and the backstory of these characters. I love how immersive it felt and even though this is a chunk of a book, I never felt bored or felt that any of the given information/interactions was unwarranted.
This book centers around a young man who is sentenced for murdering his step father and a slave girl who is on the run trying to find answers. The magic system has only just skimmed the surface im sure so I can't wait to uncover more about these characters. They have a connected history but this book slowly unravels clues at what it could be. I loved both of their POV's loved the short time they were brought together.
The plot lines of these characters overlap very briefly but I don't think that hurts the story. It makes me even more excited for how the story could be once they are brought together (HOPEFULLY we get all of that in book 2)
The amount of research to craft this book must have been immense. I appreciated all the attention to detail making this a solid YA but I believe this is also a book for ALL ages. It is a bit more dense and complex and there is not a romance plot line (which I know is important to some) but for me it didn't affect my enjoyment in the least.
I will be anxiously awaiting book 2!
4.5 stars
This is my first book by Chima but now I only want MORE. This book has a solid premise and really takes its time setting the history and the backstory of these characters. I love how immersive it felt and even though this is a chunk of a book, I never felt bored or felt that any of the given information/interactions was unwarranted.
This book centers around a young man who is sentenced for murdering his step father and a slave girl who is on the run trying to find answers. The magic system has only just skimmed the surface im sure so I can't wait to uncover more about these characters. They have a connected history but this book slowly unravels clues at what it could be. I loved both of their POV's loved the short time they were brought together.
The plot lines of these characters overlap very briefly but I don't think that hurts the story. It makes me even more excited for how the story could be once they are brought together (HOPEFULLY we get all of that in book 2)
The amount of research to craft this book must have been immense. I appreciated all the attention to detail making this a solid YA but I believe this is also a book for ALL ages. It is a bit more dense and complex and there is not a romance plot line (which I know is important to some) but for me it didn't affect my enjoyment in the least.
I will be anxiously awaiting book 2!
4.5 stars
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4
Eiric Halvorsen has grown up in his family’s farm Sundgard, along with his mysterious half-sister Liv brought from overseas by his father with promises of secrecy.
Reginn Eklund was a foundling who was sold into thralldom to Asger, a fire demon who abuses her for his own gain.
Their stories are brought together as they struggle to survive a world the gods have abandoned, a dying world, an those that want to use them for their own ambitions.
I loved Chima’s Seven Realms series and, similar to that, this was filled with brilliant characterisations, strong, funny and bold personalities, and immersive descriptions plunging you into the Norse history and world.
Bookstagram
Eiric Halvorsen has grown up in his family’s farm Sundgard, along with his mysterious half-sister Liv brought from overseas by his father with promises of secrecy.
Reginn Eklund was a foundling who was sold into thralldom to Asger, a fire demon who abuses her for his own gain.
Their stories are brought together as they struggle to survive a world the gods have abandoned, a dying world, an those that want to use them for their own ambitions.
I loved Chima’s Seven Realms series and, similar to that, this was filled with brilliant characterisations, strong, funny and bold personalities, and immersive descriptions plunging you into the Norse history and world.
”It's human nature to take credit for good fortune and to blame misfortune on the fates and the gods.”
Bookstagram
July 29, 2022
I liked the start of this book, but quickly lost interest. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I liked the author's writing and the characters were ok, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the story.
October 28, 2024
2024:
A reread to prepare for the next in the series that just came out.
2023:
What an enjoyable start of a new series. Just what I needed to read after the busy holiday. Of course now I have to wait for the next one to come out.
A reread to prepare for the next in the series that just came out.
2023:
What an enjoyable start of a new series. Just what I needed to read after the busy holiday. Of course now I have to wait for the next one to come out.
November 16, 2022
I read Children of Ragnarok in 15 hours. and let me tell you…i should not have
Don’t let the title or the book cover bait you, Children of Ragnarok is not a kid’s novel. It’s not a juvenile fiction novel. It’s serious, heavy, and steeped in what I deem as true norse mythology. You have the nine realms, you have references to the gods, you have the language, and you have the magic…sorta
The cast of characters here are interesting, but I didn’t find them super compelling as compared to other characters Cinda Williams Chima has written. Eiric is your usual do good muscle head with some brains, but mostly brawn. Liv is your sly, very confident loud mouth with real talent in magic. Reginn is your “i’m just trying to find my place in the world” character with a real knack for all things dead and alive.
Some notable tier 2 characters were Eldr Asger, Reginn’s slave master; after killing his father to become Jarl, Rikhard,; and Modir Tyra, the headmaster of the Academy in the Grove. My favorite so far is Rikhard but that’s neither here nor there, I’m sure they’ll all become significant at some point.
Magic has its place in the realm but not in the hearts of its inhabitants. After Ragnarok, when Midgard was left to fend for itself, magicians were cast out. There’s now a growing resentment between those with magic, and those without. I like to draw the comparison between the magician/non-magician racism in Children of Ragnarok to the magician racism in Magnostadt in Magi. Magi the Labyrinth of Magic is a manga centered around the adventures of Alibaba and Aladdin, but honestly I just want to draw the parallel to Magnostadt. Magnostadt was founded by magicians long ago when magicians were looked down upon by the rest of society and were treated like garbage, trash, straight DOG. Fast forward to the present day, the headmaster of Magnostadt’s magic academy sees all nonmagical people as garbage, vermin, and utter trash, creating a war between the two. That exact thing is what I see happening in Children of Ragnarok. To me, it’s a cool comparison
There are many kinds of magic in this world. Old magic, that relies on the power of magic runes, a language lost over time, New magic, that relies on the lesser runes made by someone i don’t know and techniques watered down through the generations. New magic is weaker than old magic, of course it is. You also have your magical affinities, healing, fighting, herbology, musicality, etc. The power system in Children of Ragnarok is at the core of it’s conflict.
Children of Ragnarok takes place in Midgard, one of the nine realms, but the other realms have been referenced at times in throughout the novel, mostly Muspelheim. The world building isn’t as grand in book 1, but towards the later half of the book, you definitely see the world open up and it’s gets exciting. There’s a really fun adventure scene with Eiric that made me fee like I was reading an RPG. I’m hoping Chima is able to take us through some of the other realms in the following novels, because what’s the use of having nine realms if you can’t use them.
The pacing in the novel isn’t bad, but it can feel slow at times. I think my main issue was that I tried to treat this book like a one off story and pushed to read it as fast as possible, which I should not have done and do not recommend you do. With the way the story progresses, there are a lot of scenes that seem small, yet after say 5 small scenes, you look up from the page and think “wait what?” and you gather the overarching plot point resulting from those 5 small scenes. For that reason, there aren’t a ton of “BOOM” in your face climactic events, but rather a continuous unraveling of the story thread, which I would have enjoyed more if I have paced myself.
Another thing I wished for was more comedy or light heartedness throughout the novel, but I think that’s moreso me comparing this book to Warrior Heir and Demon King. Like I said earlier this book is serious. All in all, I quite enjoyed my time in the book but I read it the wrong way. I’m not reading book two in 24 hours. I highly recommend if you’re a fan of norse mythology, Chima novels, or just a fantasy fan in general, you will enjoy your time in Children of Ragnarok, even if it’s not your favorite novel.
Don’t let the title or the book cover bait you, Children of Ragnarok is not a kid’s novel. It’s not a juvenile fiction novel. It’s serious, heavy, and steeped in what I deem as true norse mythology. You have the nine realms, you have references to the gods, you have the language, and you have the magic…sorta
The cast of characters here are interesting, but I didn’t find them super compelling as compared to other characters Cinda Williams Chima has written. Eiric is your usual do good muscle head with some brains, but mostly brawn. Liv is your sly, very confident loud mouth with real talent in magic. Reginn is your “i’m just trying to find my place in the world” character with a real knack for all things dead and alive.
Some notable tier 2 characters were Eldr Asger, Reginn’s slave master; after killing his father to become Jarl, Rikhard,; and Modir Tyra, the headmaster of the Academy in the Grove. My favorite so far is Rikhard but that’s neither here nor there, I’m sure they’ll all become significant at some point.
Magic has its place in the realm but not in the hearts of its inhabitants. After Ragnarok, when Midgard was left to fend for itself, magicians were cast out. There’s now a growing resentment between those with magic, and those without. I like to draw the comparison between the magician/non-magician racism in Children of Ragnarok to the magician racism in Magnostadt in Magi. Magi the Labyrinth of Magic is a manga centered around the adventures of Alibaba and Aladdin, but honestly I just want to draw the parallel to Magnostadt. Magnostadt was founded by magicians long ago when magicians were looked down upon by the rest of society and were treated like garbage, trash, straight DOG. Fast forward to the present day, the headmaster of Magnostadt’s magic academy sees all nonmagical people as garbage, vermin, and utter trash, creating a war between the two. That exact thing is what I see happening in Children of Ragnarok. To me, it’s a cool comparison
There are many kinds of magic in this world. Old magic, that relies on the power of magic runes, a language lost over time, New magic, that relies on the lesser runes made by someone i don’t know and techniques watered down through the generations. New magic is weaker than old magic, of course it is. You also have your magical affinities, healing, fighting, herbology, musicality, etc. The power system in Children of Ragnarok is at the core of it’s conflict.
Children of Ragnarok takes place in Midgard, one of the nine realms, but the other realms have been referenced at times in throughout the novel, mostly Muspelheim. The world building isn’t as grand in book 1, but towards the later half of the book, you definitely see the world open up and it’s gets exciting. There’s a really fun adventure scene with Eiric that made me fee like I was reading an RPG. I’m hoping Chima is able to take us through some of the other realms in the following novels, because what’s the use of having nine realms if you can’t use them.
The pacing in the novel isn’t bad, but it can feel slow at times. I think my main issue was that I tried to treat this book like a one off story and pushed to read it as fast as possible, which I should not have done and do not recommend you do. With the way the story progresses, there are a lot of scenes that seem small, yet after say 5 small scenes, you look up from the page and think “wait what?” and you gather the overarching plot point resulting from those 5 small scenes. For that reason, there aren’t a ton of “BOOM” in your face climactic events, but rather a continuous unraveling of the story thread, which I would have enjoyed more if I have paced myself.
Another thing I wished for was more comedy or light heartedness throughout the novel, but I think that’s moreso me comparing this book to Warrior Heir and Demon King. Like I said earlier this book is serious. All in all, I quite enjoyed my time in the book but I read it the wrong way. I’m not reading book two in 24 hours. I highly recommend if you’re a fan of norse mythology, Chima novels, or just a fantasy fan in general, you will enjoy your time in Children of Ragnarok, even if it’s not your favorite novel.
November 2, 2024
As a self-professed Cinda Williams Chima superfan, I was BEYOND excited for this book! For the first time since 2009, she would be inviting us to a wholly new world with one of her books. As someone who can answer questions about the geopolitics of the Seven Realms better than the real-world equivalent, and who was excited to go to Ohio purely because of the Warrior Heir, I was here for it! So with the burden of sky-high anticipation, how was it?
It was pretty good.
Fourteen books into her career, Chima excels at many things, and they’re on display here. Creating compelling characters, with an immediate spark of romantic attraction that is small enough to avoid the pitfalls of insta-love. Making ride-or-die families with complex dynamics and secrets. Creating tangled conspiracies and big twists, and writing thrilling action scenes where secrets are revealed and lives are at stake.
Chima also has some signature elements in her work now, which readers will feel a pleasant pang of recognition for. A big dramatic fire, the work of malicious arsonists who hound our protagonists… check. A mysterious and demanding mentor who turns out to be dead, and is foundational to the mythos of the convoluted political situation? Check. Fancy talismans with cool powers and intricate histories? Check. It’s kind of nice, seeing how Chima can combine these signatures in such different ways in different series.
Regrettably, some of the less laudable aspects of Chima’s writing are also on display here. She inundates the reader with so many names and titles, it can be really difficult to keep up. I think a big climactic betrayal would have been so much clearer if I actually understood what “kennari” and “spinner” and “elder” all meant and referred to. When it came to the jotun, the magic-users, the descendants of the gods, the nine realms and demons and so forth… I was completely lost. And Chima is duly proud of all the research she’s done, and gets somewhat carried away with stuff like sailing boats properly.
Worst of all are the foreign words. For reasons that cannot be justified, all familial relationship are written phonetically in old Norse: “brodir,” “modir,” “fadir,” “systir.” Why? What on earth is the point? To prove Chima has learned these words? To make it seem “authentic” despite the rest of the text being in English? I’ll be honest, if this was any author but one I’m blindly devoted to, I would’ve put the book down immediately upon seeing this nonsense.
Worse, Chima does this for all words. And so clumsily, too – it’s done in dialogue! “These men must be vagragrzxy – outlaws!” Now, why would a character feel the need to define this word for another character? Presumably they are all speaking the same language, and all know that the jumbled word means “outlaw”? I remember this type of thing being so much more elegantly done in her older books, where foreign words were just organically part of the text. It really served to yank me out of the story again and again with annoyance.
If one can get past the language – and it’s hard to get past! – the story is actually very compelling. I will say that it ends very abruptly. I recall Chima’s earlier books, even those in a series, ending on a note of finality when a part of the story had very clearly concluded. This book feels more like she hit her allotted pagecount, and abruptly wrote mid-scene, “But remember to watch out for poisons! The End.” This will be less frustrating when readers can immediately pick up Book 2, but the ending was so abrupt as to be jarring.
So on the whole, the book isn’t quite up to Chima’s high standards, but it was still an enjoyable read! I think I might like it more on a reread, when I’ll know what to pay attention to, or when there is a sequel out to continue the story.
ETA: Upon a reread, my initial impression stuck. I got a slightly better grasp of the elders and some of the political structure of New Jotunheim, though the mythology of nine realms and jotun was still too dense for me to parse. I think it actually held my attention better upon a reread since I knew which characters to pay attention to. But the Norse language inserted here really is infuriating.
It was pretty good.
Fourteen books into her career, Chima excels at many things, and they’re on display here. Creating compelling characters, with an immediate spark of romantic attraction that is small enough to avoid the pitfalls of insta-love. Making ride-or-die families with complex dynamics and secrets. Creating tangled conspiracies and big twists, and writing thrilling action scenes where secrets are revealed and lives are at stake.
Chima also has some signature elements in her work now, which readers will feel a pleasant pang of recognition for. A big dramatic fire, the work of malicious arsonists who hound our protagonists… check. A mysterious and demanding mentor who turns out to be dead, and is foundational to the mythos of the convoluted political situation? Check. Fancy talismans with cool powers and intricate histories? Check. It’s kind of nice, seeing how Chima can combine these signatures in such different ways in different series.
Regrettably, some of the less laudable aspects of Chima’s writing are also on display here. She inundates the reader with so many names and titles, it can be really difficult to keep up. I think a big climactic betrayal would have been so much clearer if I actually understood what “kennari” and “spinner” and “elder” all meant and referred to. When it came to the jotun, the magic-users, the descendants of the gods, the nine realms and demons and so forth… I was completely lost. And Chima is duly proud of all the research she’s done, and gets somewhat carried away with stuff like sailing boats properly.
Worst of all are the foreign words. For reasons that cannot be justified, all familial relationship are written phonetically in old Norse: “brodir,” “modir,” “fadir,” “systir.” Why? What on earth is the point? To prove Chima has learned these words? To make it seem “authentic” despite the rest of the text being in English? I’ll be honest, if this was any author but one I’m blindly devoted to, I would’ve put the book down immediately upon seeing this nonsense.
Worse, Chima does this for all words. And so clumsily, too – it’s done in dialogue! “These men must be vagragrzxy – outlaws!” Now, why would a character feel the need to define this word for another character? Presumably they are all speaking the same language, and all know that the jumbled word means “outlaw”? I remember this type of thing being so much more elegantly done in her older books, where foreign words were just organically part of the text. It really served to yank me out of the story again and again with annoyance.
If one can get past the language – and it’s hard to get past! – the story is actually very compelling. I will say that it ends very abruptly. I recall Chima’s earlier books, even those in a series, ending on a note of finality when a part of the story had very clearly concluded. This book feels more like she hit her allotted pagecount, and abruptly wrote mid-scene, “But remember to watch out for poisons! The End.” This will be less frustrating when readers can immediately pick up Book 2, but the ending was so abrupt as to be jarring.
So on the whole, the book isn’t quite up to Chima’s high standards, but it was still an enjoyable read! I think I might like it more on a reread, when I’ll know what to pay attention to, or when there is a sequel out to continue the story.
ETA: Upon a reread, my initial impression stuck. I got a slightly better grasp of the elders and some of the political structure of New Jotunheim, though the mythology of nine realms and jotun was still too dense for me to parse. I think it actually held my attention better upon a reread since I knew which characters to pay attention to. But the Norse language inserted here really is infuriating.
November 14, 2022
Chima’s Children of Ragnarok took me completely by surprise. Traditional YA fare of late has been less than enticing for me, but this book is more like the YA of yesterday, with substance and plot and character, more interested in telling a story than going with the flow. It’s YA appropriate as well, though I would recommend it for older teens, possible 15 or 16 and up, as it’s quite violent. It’s bound to be if it’s about Vikings, though, right?
See my full review on my blog!
Blog / Instagram / Literal / BookBub
See my full review on my blog!
Blog / Instagram / Literal / BookBub
January 8, 2023
my 1st finished book at 2023 and my 1st Cinda William-Chima’s book and it didn’t disappointed me at ALL!! 😍🤗
This is such a fun Norse Mythology inspired tale, filled with adventure, magic and unexpected turns
Woven with easy to read writing style and loveable characters, Cinda took me to Midlands .. a land where human live after Ragnarok - war between gods, there are 2 POVS in this book Reginn a healer and somehow own a rare magical ability and Eiric a farmer, sailor but also have the fighting skill and strenght, together they told their story in tandem and connected each other through the events
I really need to try other books from this author cause i’m truely feel impressed!
This is such a fun Norse Mythology inspired tale, filled with adventure, magic and unexpected turns
Woven with easy to read writing style and loveable characters, Cinda took me to Midlands .. a land where human live after Ragnarok - war between gods, there are 2 POVS in this book Reginn a healer and somehow own a rare magical ability and Eiric a farmer, sailor but also have the fighting skill and strenght, together they told their story in tandem and connected each other through the events
I really need to try other books from this author cause i’m truely feel impressed!
July 14, 2023
DNF’d unfortunately :/ Read the first 1/4 and skimmed the rest. It was a really solid premise, and I can definitely say I’ve never read something like it before (solid Norse mythology/fantasy), but it was SO slow and I didn’t really like it 😔
June 16, 2024
Since Ragnarok, the human realm of the Midlands has been empty of magic and it shows, famine and violence are at the order of the day. Eiric and his family runs a strangely prosperous farm, but when his father returns from a bout of Vikingr with a strange girl he claims he fathered, his family has to accept a girl who claims to be the goddess Heidin. When his mother and stepfather are murdered, Eiric and Liv are implicated, but due to intervention from the Jarl puts them on a quest. To find the hidden sanctuary of The Grove and bring magic back to the normal world.
Pro's:
+ The world- and story building are so good, I did not expect this. So many added layers and when you think you have it figured out, it turns out to be completely different. But this is done through these little hints that our characters get, making this for some really awesome reading.
+ I really liked the pacing and writing of this book. The balance between action and story scenes is great and that balance is really well kept between both character POV's.
+ The setting of this story really appeals to me, with the Norse lore. That this story is after Ragnarok and after the death of the gods is a bit different for me and I could really appreciate how this was handled in this story.
Con's:
- The ending of this story is a bit rushed, there is so much happening at the same time that I lost sight of the story for a bit. Also, the ending is such a cliffhanger that it is almost cruel. The story just cuts off in the middle ( at least it feels that way to me).
This was a real fun adventure, from two completely different perspectives. The viking vibe was real and there is some dark and gritt to this story that made it felt like I was present in the story at times. The fighting scenes are fairly detailed, which I can appreciate, but is not everyone's cup of tea. The world and story are very expertly build and it was a delight to dive into this, but I missed the attention to detail from the beginning in the ending of this story. That one cut-off kinda mid-story and now I'm still missing some story I think? At least I'm curious about the next book, let's see where this goes.
Pro's:
+ The world- and story building are so good, I did not expect this. So many added layers and when you think you have it figured out, it turns out to be completely different. But this is done through these little hints that our characters get, making this for some really awesome reading.
+ I really liked the pacing and writing of this book. The balance between action and story scenes is great and that balance is really well kept between both character POV's.
+ The setting of this story really appeals to me, with the Norse lore. That this story is after Ragnarok and after the death of the gods is a bit different for me and I could really appreciate how this was handled in this story.
Con's:
- The ending of this story is a bit rushed, there is so much happening at the same time that I lost sight of the story for a bit. Also, the ending is such a cliffhanger that it is almost cruel. The story just cuts off in the middle ( at least it feels that way to me).
This was a real fun adventure, from two completely different perspectives. The viking vibe was real and there is some dark and gritt to this story that made it felt like I was present in the story at times. The fighting scenes are fairly detailed, which I can appreciate, but is not everyone's cup of tea. The world and story are very expertly build and it was a delight to dive into this, but I missed the attention to detail from the beginning in the ending of this story. That one cut-off kinda mid-story and now I'm still missing some story I think? At least I'm curious about the next book, let's see where this goes.
June 7, 2024
Decent. I liked the first half better than the second. It was bloodier than I expected.
March 27, 2023
I just didn't latch on to this the way I did the Seven Realms series and its sequels. Things move really fast and the world building is kinda bare bones. Would still read the next volume, though. 💛
September 13, 2022
This book was a perfect start to a new Norse mythology inspired series! I loved all the lore and myths that Cinda Chima was able to pack into one book, while giving us a unique plot. All of the characters are in some way connected the gods or magic, whether they want to be or not. We mainly follow Reggin's journey in this novel, but Eiric and Liv's story was woven into it, leading to an explosive cliffhanger when they all finally come to the same moment. The pacing at times felt too fast or too slow, but that did not take away from my overall enjoyment of this book.
August 19, 2024
This was an exceptional fantasy read, I could tell a lot of research went into this. This is also my first novel by Cinda Williams Chima.
It was rich with Norse mythology. Digging deeper into the lore, the deities - it wasn't like Magnus Chase of Rick Riordan - this went deep . . . very deep.
The characters are well-developed - there was so much growth between the pages.
My only pet peeve is the very slow pacing, and I almost fell asleep a few times😅
Overall it was intriguing to delve deeper into this world.
It was rich with Norse mythology. Digging deeper into the lore, the deities - it wasn't like Magnus Chase of Rick Riordan - this went deep . . . very deep.
The characters are well-developed - there was so much growth between the pages.
My only pet peeve is the very slow pacing, and I almost fell asleep a few times😅
Overall it was intriguing to delve deeper into this world.
January 20, 2024
This book has been the best part of my January. I could have used an ending that was an ending (even if another book is coming) but otherwise this was an adventure of the best sort. The world building was just right, and I loved Reigann's practicality throughout.
November 22, 2022
I did not vibe with this, and part of that is I keep expecting her books to be as good as the Seven Realms series.
January 8, 2023
A beautifully written book with plenty of adventure leading into book two. It did move a bit slow at times, but I think that was because so much needed to happen in this book so that book two could pick up and move the story into the true beginning of the end. I loved the characters. Reggin grows so much in book one that I can't wait to see what she does in the upcoming book. And the ending brings the story around in a way that leaves you desperate for the next book.
As someone who loves mythology, I was intrigued by the way the author weaves mythology into the setting, the characters, and their own history. Definitely going to need the next book asap.
As someone who loves mythology, I was intrigued by the way the author weaves mythology into the setting, the characters, and their own history. Definitely going to need the next book asap.
February 1, 2025
I found the last 15% of this book a little stilted and the descriptions not as in depth as the rest of the book. I really enjoyed the world building and other aspects of this book and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series!
June 20, 2023
what am i supposed to do until the next book comes out????????? hello?????????
July 21, 2025
Very well written and I could tell the author did a lot of research to get all of the details right. I enjoyed the storyline but in all honesty found the plot boring and uneventful at times. Don't know if I'll get around to reading the second book, but if I do hopefully it's more enjoyable. The cover art is beautiful, I'll give it that!
November 21, 2022
Check out the video I made for this book on TikTok @katherinebichler. Here is the link:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRQg6rds/
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 STARS
This was my first book by Cinda Williams Chima and I loved it!It is the first book in a YA fantasy series that is all about Vikings and Norse mythology.
It follows three story lines. Eiric, a poor farmer Viking descendent down on his luck when he is convicted of murdering his step father. Livia, his half sister, who was born with magic in her blood. And Reggin, a spell caster who is enslaved to a fire demon. Their journeys collide in unexpected ways as they realize that their Viking history is not what it seems.
I enjoyed all the Norse mythology mixed into the characters and their backgrounds. It is a fast paced, action packed fantasy that was hard to put down.
I would recommend it to all YA fantasy lovers. I can’t wait for Book 2!
Thank you to Epic Reads for the gifted copy! 🗡️🛡️
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRQg6rds/
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 STARS
This was my first book by Cinda Williams Chima and I loved it!It is the first book in a YA fantasy series that is all about Vikings and Norse mythology.
It follows three story lines. Eiric, a poor farmer Viking descendent down on his luck when he is convicted of murdering his step father. Livia, his half sister, who was born with magic in her blood. And Reggin, a spell caster who is enslaved to a fire demon. Their journeys collide in unexpected ways as they realize that their Viking history is not what it seems.
I enjoyed all the Norse mythology mixed into the characters and their backgrounds. It is a fast paced, action packed fantasy that was hard to put down.
I would recommend it to all YA fantasy lovers. I can’t wait for Book 2!
Thank you to Epic Reads for the gifted copy! 🗡️🛡️
July 23, 2024
"Sweeping adventure, breathtaking twists of fate, and immersive worlds based in Norse mythology are woven into this first volume of the Runestone Saga, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms and Shattered Realms series." from the Goodreads summary.
Love Cinda Williams Chima! This novel didn't feel as fleshed out as her other series' (mentioned in the summary above) but I have hope going forward.
Love Cinda Williams Chima! This novel didn't feel as fleshed out as her other series' (mentioned in the summary above) but I have hope going forward.
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