Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Review: Valkyrie Rising

VALKYRIE RISING
Ingrid Paulson
Paranormal Young Adult
352 pages
HarperTeen
Available October 9th
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.


MY THOUGHTS
Valkyrie Rising is a fun and fast-moving debut, introducing us to Norse mythology in the form of valkyries, a group of women equal parts powerful, seductive, and vicious. We are easily captivated by Ms. Paulson’s version of these women, their history neither as familiar to us nor as common in young adult fiction as the women of Greek myth, and so we rapidly flip the pages as Ellie learns about her heritage, taking us with her on a hugely entertaining ride. Accompanying the illumination of a lesser-known paranormal entity is an adorable, grin-inducing romance between Ellie and her brother’s best friend Tuck, the two elements combining to make us forget there is such a thing as a real world as we settle in to pull the laughter and love around us like a blanket of fictional comfort.

Ellie is amusing from the very first page, her feelings for Tuck blatantly obvious to us even as she tries desperately to squelch them before his keen eye picks up on her visual clues, earning herself a loyal friend in us as we immediately want nothing more than her happiness in what she knows to be an unlikely romance. She more than keeps up with Tuck’s sharp wit, lobbing his snarky retorts back at him when he goes in for the kill, and deftly blocking the force of his charm outwardly even as inwardly her stomach is a fluttering swarm of butterflies. As the story progresses and her valkyrie side is revealed, she backs up a strong mind with an extremely strong body, and though she often leaps into danger in full-on valiant protector mode without the skill to back up her honorable intentions, our affection for her never wavers and we just sit back and enjoy the antics, the sarcasm, and the steadfast loyalty.

Tuck is a joy as a young adult hero, a break from the brooding bad-boy and the strange-but-inhumanly-handsome new kid in school with his effervescent personality and potent charisma. He seems to possess an unending reservoir of smart jokes and playful jabs, but he can also be serious when he needs to be, ensuring that we never disregard the emotions he displays as part of a larger game, instead able to accept them for what they are – a different but equally important part of who he is. He’s never threatened by Ellie’s valkyrie strength, instead he delights in the fact that she can defend both herself and him, and he never misses the opportunity to remind her how attractive he finds her warrior side. He’s sweet without being sappy, witty without being irritatingly cocky or arrogant, and believably genuine without any extra drama or fanfare, making him someone we could easily read about over and over again.

Valkyrie Rising will no doubt force many a reader to forgo the plans they have for their day in favor of voraciously devouring Ellie’s story in one sitting, and while it may not contain epic battles or soul-searing romance, it simply doesn’t need to. It entertains on a variety of levels and has us immediately searching Ms. Paulson’s website for any information on what we can expect from her next.

Rating: 4/5

44 comments:

  1. Oh this book! I knew it sounded familiar, I have seen the WoW somewhere, some time ago :)

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    1. I had it as my Wow a little while back. I really had fun reading this one:)

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  2. Can't wait for this!! I seriously am stoked to read it...like, now. Except I don't have this one, and that makes me sad. Release date, come faster!! ;)

    Thanks for the awesome review!

    Sierra @ Yearning to Read

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    1. Not too much longer to wait Sierra! Hope you love it:)

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  3. Oh wow this book sounds amazing Jenny, I really didn't know with this book if it would be for me. But you're lovely review has won me over! I love my mc's like Ellie, ones that have a tough side when needed and can fight their own battles! Tuck sounds adorable! I think I will have to meet him soon! ;)

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    1. I'm in love with Tuck Jasprit. And he's mine. Don't be thinking about getting a crush on him ;-)

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  4. *squeals* I sooo cannot wait for this to come out!! And Jenny, I sooo want to meet Tuck now! "smart jokes and playful jabs" Yes I totally want to meet him!
    Plus, I love Scandinavia! October 9th! please come now!

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    1. I think you'll be a fan of Tuck Danny! He's not our favorite brooding bad-boy type, but I kind of found that refreshing. You must email me after you've read:)

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  5. Awesome review, Jenny. I've had my eye on this book for awhile. I love the sound of it; plus, Tuck sounds like my kind of love interest. :) The idea of valkyries is definitely new-to-me and definitely something I'd want to read about. Has it been done before in young adult literature? Not to my knowledge...such an original storyline!

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    1. I can't think of any YA book where valkyries have been the main supernatural entities - I've read some when they've been secondary characters. I really liked the whole concept:)

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  6. Im totally going to forego an afternoon and get this book, it sounds awesome! At first sight I thought the mountains behind her were huge butt wings....LOL.

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    1. Hahhaah butt wings? I need a pair of those:)

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  7. This sounds simply awesome. I don't know much about Norse mythology except for Odin, Thor, and Loki so I can't wait to learn more about the Valkyrires! Plus a standalone and no cliffie? That's even better. This is definitely going on my tbr pile. :)

    Re: Tina's comment- LOL!

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    1. I really enjoyed it Rummanah! It was just one of those books that was really fun to read - cool mythology and a sweet romance. No real love triangle (there is another boy who's interested - but you know it's Tuck for her from the beginning) and no cliffhanger. Win.

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  8. Great review!! As always, I love your writing. I've been wanting to read this since I heard about it - probably from you! Another - random - comment: I get your stuff via email so don't actually come visit that much, and I've forgotten just how much I love the look/layout/design of your blog!! So clean and soothing and everything in its place...and I especially love your header. OK, I'm done with the compliments now!! :)

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    1. Your comment just completely made my day. I was having a rough week and it's only Tuesday, so thank you:)

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  9. It sounds pretty good!! I love it when the two main characters tease each other !! Tuck sounds like my kind of hero ! Thanks for the great review Jenny, I look forward to read this book.

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    1. Me too! I love stories where a girl is in love with someone she grew up with - especially when there's a little of the forbidden mixed in like when it's a brother's best friend. SO GOOD!

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  10. I'm already in love with Tuck. How is that even possible?

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    1. This is me give you the death stare. *glares* Tuck is mine. MINE!

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  11. I LOVE Norse myth and I wish that there was more of it in YA books! I am so glad you enjoyed this one because I've read some reviews that said it was okay. Oh, thank goodness: it is NOT A BAD BOY!!! Tuck sounds like the perfect non-bad-boy love interest! Great review Jenny!

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    1. I had so much fun reading it, and that was enough for me without any profound emotional drama. I read it all in one sitting:)

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  12. YAY JENNY! OMG! I totally love this book as well. The character is awesome plus you know I love myths. Greek myths, Norse myth, etc. Plus Valkyris have this badass spot in my heart cause of Kresley Cole series where her chararacters are Valkries :) Awesome review

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    1. Wasn't it so great? It's definitely one I'll be rereading in the near future!

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  13. This sounds like such a good tale. Plus, Tuck? Oh yea... needs to meet him. :) Love norse mythology (okay, all mythology...) so I knows I needs it. NEEDS EET! *breathes* Sorry...

    Oh and Tina's comment... uh, can I use that excuse? It's not big... they are butt wings.. ;D

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    1. Tuck is delicious. Totaly harem-worthy:) And I think I need a t-shirt made with Tina's comment:)

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  14. I am totally for a day spent foregoing plans to read a soul seering romance and epic battles and learning all about Norse mythology and add in a hot guy! Good thing this is coming up on my blog in two weeks! Looking forward to it!

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  15. I think you won me over with your description of Tuck. I'm over the brooding bad boy and he sounds like a nice change of pace and Ellie sounds wonderful.

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  16. Since I was a little kid, I've been intrested in mythology, Gods, afterlife etc. I'm not a religious person (religion in Estonia is kind of frowned upon even.. I mean.. people here believe in their own strength, will and that they can change their own fate and that there isn't someone Almighty watching over them and monitoring their moves, giving points and deciding whether or not one should be punished or praised etc), but Greek gods, for instance, and different myths about Scandinavian Gods like about Thor, Odin etc have always fascinated me. Also, I live in Europe and it's great, because there are so many beautiful, breath taking countries here. Since I've travelled all over Europe, I've been to almost half of them and I can say that Switzerland and Norway are definitely at the top of my list. Norway is so stunning, mystical and absolutely gorgeous, easy to be inspired and we had to read a few books by different Norwegian authors in highschool about two years ago and I pretty much loved all of these books. So.. excited is definitely underrated when it comes to this book. I'm looking forward to reading it and your review definitely made me more eager to read it. Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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  17. Yesss! I am SO glad you enjoyed this one, Jenny! I can't wait to read it and meet Tucker! ;) I also love Vikings, so I'll be rushing out to pick this one up ASAP! Fantastic review, dear! :D

    ~Keertana
    Ivy Book Bindings

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  18. kyaaa! Cant wait for this one! Im a sucker for Norse Mythology oh yeah! Im intrigued how Ingrid Paulson did such a great job without the typical epic battles and "soul-searing romance". Need to ahve this one soon!! aaaah!
    great review sweetheart <3

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  19. BOOKPUSHER! Dang it, now I've got yet another book to add to my list. Granted, this one was already on my list because of the Norse mythology (anything mythology from anywhere floats my boat) but now that I know the characters are awesome, too, means this must come home with me. YAY!

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  20. Yes! I've got this one on the way and I cannot wait! I keep thinking of Kressly Cole's Valkyries and that's all I know of them. I know I'll have as much fun as you did with this one! Thanks for such a great review. I am so looking forward to something now.

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  21. Wow I love your character descriptions! I hadn't paid this much attention but I'm rethinking that now!

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  22. This sounds great. I've heard of valkyrie's but didn't know what they were. Glad the story was really interesting.

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  23. "He’s never threatened by Ellie’s valkyrie strength, instead he delights in the fact that she can defend both herself and him, and he never misses the opportunity to remind her how attractive he finds her warrior side. He’s sweet without being sappy, witty without being irritatingly cocky or arrogant, and believably genuine without any extra drama or fanfare ..." *swoon* I love Tuck already!

    Valkyries haven't really been dealt with so I know the topic will at least be refreshing :)

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  24. Yup, it's the Norse mythology that I am most interested about with this one as I have never read a story with those kinds of elements before. But this Tuck guy you mention, who sounds almost too good to be true, he is now also an interest of mine in this book... So, thanks for that, Jenny :)

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  25. Stunning review! I cannot wait to read this! It is so refreshingly different than the usual premise. I could use something new and unique. And I also want to read about Tuck! :D

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  26. I'd choose Alice to fight on my side against zombies because of her fearlessness!

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  27. This book didn't appeal to me Jenny but your review is making me re-think my decision. I just read another review that was making me think I was right not to pick this up but, now, I'm sure. Mythology stories are hit and miss with me so that's the main reason I was holding back, but your description of the characters has me pulled back in. Great review. :)

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  28. I'm really interested in this one, just because I've always liked the vakyrie when I've come across them in other books. (They make a brief appearance in Carrie Jones Need series, I think in the second book.)

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  29. Happy to hear this one is good! I'm looking forward to reading it because of the Norse mythology. Happy to hear there isn't a bad boy romantic character either. I don't mind those kinds of characters, but it's great to have someone who is brooding all the time!

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  30. I've had this ARC on my shelf forever and your review makes me wish I was home (not at work) so I could grab it and start. I love mythology, so I'm really excited for a Norse spin instead of the usual Greek.

    And a guy who isn't tortured/brooding/dark? YES, PLEASE!

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