Kristin Jacques

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ragnarok Unwound is a fun romp of a story that blends Norse mythology into an urban fantasy setting. It follows Ikepela Ives, a human girl with the superhuman ability to see and change fates. One day, she is confronted by a Valkyrie, who needs Ives for the one thing she has been trying to avoid: her powers. But Ives quickly realizes she can’t avoid this situation, for something terrible has been set into motion - Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse. Only Ives has the power to keep the world from ending.

This was a fast-paced, lighthearted, and fun read. Ives’s mission is to stop the apocalypse, yet this was not a serious or heavy story. After Ives meets the Valkyrie - Hildr - she finds out she must locate the god Loki and his children Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungand because they are directly tied to the success of the apocalypse. In her quest, she finds that there is more to this Ragnarok story than meets the eye.

This is very much an urban fantasy - there are gods, goddesses, and other fantastical beings - but most of the action plays out in recognizable places. From Hawaii to Las Vegas and New York. One complaint I had was that it wasn’t immediately clear what the setting was in the beginning - it took me almost half the novel to realize that Ives was from Hawaii.

Despite these qualms, the locations were lush and beautifully described - I could feel myself in these places. I especially loved the descriptions of Vegas, which I thought perfectly captured the place:

“... Vegas was the city where the party never stopped. The air was constantly aglow from the flashing lights of the casinos, beckoning the tourists with the scent of stale smoke, sweet perfumed sweat, and the lulling laughter of women with lipstick-stained teeth.”

Writing is definitely not one of the flaws of this book, in fact I was continually impressed by it.

I thought the use of Norse mythology was unique and entertaining - I liked that the author used some of the lesser-known Norse gods. There is also the inclusion of Hawaiian mythology, which made for an interesting mix. I did wonder why exactly Norse and Hawaiian gods were chosen, of all combinations? Do the other pantheons exist in this world?

The characters were equally as fun as the story. I enjoyed the majority, but there are also a lot of characters - some we get to know better than others. Ives, Jules, and Hel are the most well-developed, and we get to know their motivations the best. But I really loved the characters - even the ones that weren't as developed as others. I hope that if there are sequels, some of these characters are explored more.

Overall though, I thought this book was a delightful surprise! It wasn’t perfect, but I had a lot of fun reading it. I was excited following Ives’s story, and all that she discovers about herself and her powers along the way. The story is set up for a sequel, and honestly I am excited for that possibility. There is so much that I still want to explore in this world. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a lighthearted, well-written fantasy read.

Review also posted on my blog.… (más)

Rating: 4.5 stars (well-balanced mystery/gay/supernatural novel)

TW: slightly violent and gory

Meet Johnathan. He's a novice hunter who hates vampires, and was sent to finish this "typical" (nope it is not typical at all) assignment of dealing with a vampire in Cress Haven. Now meet Vic, a handsome, enigmatic, maybe trustworthy bachelor with some secrets of his own, annnnd---- he turns out to a vampire (I smell a enemies to lovers trope coming). As they try to solve Cress Haven's supernatural mystery (and deal with unsolved attraction between them which of coUrse is of secondary importance to solving the mystery), they uncover buried secrets of their own and of Cress Haven, which threaten to end them all.

Let's start with the world-building: Truth be told, some of the supernatural terms and explanations went over my head, but it was still fascinating to read about the world of Cress Haven and the concept of the supernatural characters there. Of course it includes the usual fare -- like vampires -- but I love how the author included detailed characteristics and the unique origin stories of each being. The mystery and the solving of it was very addictive; I never knew where or how it was heading until the last few chapters when it was clear (mostly) in how it was going to end. The plot twists were truly unexpected, and I never knew they were coming till it was too late, or it had already happened (which I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing). The characterisations of Vic, John and Alyse were perfect, and I enjoyed getting to uncover and better understand each of the characters. (I love Alyse, she gives off a fierce-and-protective-friend vibe, and I am still very curious as to how she got to know Vic so well... maybe I'll never know)

Then why did I give 4.5 stars, if it was such a great read? To be honest, I love Vic and John, and their dynamics and growth in their relationship was well-paced. it's just that although the attraction and development of their relationship was great, I felt that it took a backseat as compared to the mystery they were trying to solve. I felt more entranced and hooked by the intensity of the mystery than how their relationship was progressing (maybe it is because I am used to reading the very intense enemies-to-lovers trope, and this was not as all-consuming as I had expected it to be).

But let's be clear: their relationship is definitely not lack-luster, and if you are looking for a well-balanced, well-written and addictive supernatural-mystery-gay-romance, A Bargain of Blood and Gold is still highly recommended.



*An ARC received via NetGalley (thank you City Owl Press) in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.*… (más)