Publishers Weekly
★ 04/15/2024
A fledgling teen Valkyrie tries to avert Ragnarök in Finch’s spirited, Norse mythology–inspired debut. Most assume Bryn Martel, her older sisters Prima and Reagan, and their mother are ordinary people who live and work at Ravenswood Medieval Faire, a Chicago-area tourist attraction. In truth, Bryn’s mother is a Valkyrie, charged with ferrying souls to Valhalla and doing Odin’s bidding on Earth, and her daughters are training to join her—Bryn less adeptly than her siblings. Prima and Reagan dismiss Bryn’s concerns when Mom is late returning from a mission, so Bryn doesn’t tell them when she starts having apocalyptic visions; it’s not like they’d believe her. Then a half-giant called Juniper appears and drops two bombshells: she’s their half sister, and the doomsday war known as Ragnarök is nigh. Prima and Reagan distrust Juniper, prompting her and Bryn to partner with a “very attractive” shape-shifter named Wyatt to find Bryn’s mom and forestall the end of all things. The boldly drawn, white-cued cast is feisty and funny. Coupled with Bryn’s snarky first-person-present narrative, Finch unveils a rollicking, twist-filled plot, which puts a modern spin on ancient folklore while sensitively exploring issues of identity and fate. Ages 12–up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (July)
Kirkus Reviews
2024-04-05
One modern-day valkyrie can see the signs: “Ragnarök is coming.”
Brynhildr Martel is named after the valkyrie Brunhild, but as the youngest of three sisters, one of whom is “the smart and responsible one” and the other “the talented and lovable one,” she’s never felt like her legendary namesake. At 17, she’s still learning to be a valkyrie, in between her shifts in the gift shop at Chicago’s Ravenswood Medieval Faire, where her family lives. When the faire is besieged by a troll, an undead army, and more creatures straight out of Norse mythology, Bryn knows that Ragnarök (or the end of the world) is nigh. With a half-giant and a berserker by her side, she plans to save the day—but it would help if her sisters ever listened to her. Bryn might be a valkyrie, but in between worrying about Ragnarök and guiding the dead to Valhalla, she has other pressing concerns, like what to say to the cute new boy at the faire and how to deal with all her family drama and the fact that she’s grounded—again. The contemporary setting combined with Norse mythological elements is fresh without being overwhelmed by too much godly interference, leaving room for Bryn to contend with all sorts of magical creatures and make plenty of mistakes along the way. Principal characters are coded white.
A well-balanced story of both teenage and godly dramas. (Fantasy. 13-18)
