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Valkyrie Rising Ingrid Paulson Books

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Valkyrie Rising Ingrid Paulson Books

** This is closer to a 3.5 for me but since we can't do half ratings in Amazon, I'm going for the 3**

I decided to take a chance on this book even though it had a small number of reviews (but the ratings were high). In retrospect, I wonder if I'd have given this book higher ratings had I not just read two really fantastic YAs back to back (Libba Bray's "The Diviners" and Kresley Cole's "Poison Princess"). But it is what it is.

What I Liked:
- With so many fairy tales and myths being mined for story content, I give this author big kudos for finding something fresh and relatively untapped to write about. As far as I'm aware, there just isn't much out there talking about Norse mythology and valkyries in particular. Take note future YA writers....Greek and Roman myths aren't the only ones out there! Why not try on something Northern European for size?
- Once Elsa (Ellie), the lead, hits her stride...she's a great role model. Loyal, honest, courageous....all things any young woman should be proud to emulate. But let's not forget all the other "girl power" (or is that grrrl power? I get so confused....) going on in this novel. There's Hilda, Ellie's grandmother, a woman who clearly didn't get the memo about how senior citizens are supposed to behave...Astrid and her gang...and a young village woman (names hidden to protect the innocent..) who more than shows her mettle when push comes to shove.
- Of all the relationships going on in this book, none struck me as so real as the one between Ellie and her brother, Graham. It was clear they loved each other deeply....and in spite of Graham's overbearing demeanor towards his sister, the reader knew all along he behaved that way out of protectiveness and respect. I like how the relationship was forced to change and how Graham takes it in stride.

Now...for the not-so-great....
- I never really felt that into Ellie. In the beginning, it seems like we're supposed to see her as a wall-flower, caught in her brother's shadow and resenting it. But then based on some early comments from Tucker, we are also left to conclude she's drop-dead gorgeous and alluring. Yet, as with almost 90% of YA heroines....she's totally clueless about her appearance and its effect on guys. Oh, and she does like to read...so I suspect we are supposed to gather she's a smart cookie. BIG SIGH. Just for once, how I'd love to come across a heroine who doesn't seem like a nincompoop when it comes to how she looks. I get this is all part living in Graham's shadow, etc....but girlfriend has a mirror!!! She can't be that oblivious. Also, there were a lot of very obvious hints thrown about Tucker's feelings for her as well as her place in the larger mythology of the book...but again, she comes across as either dense or not terribly engaged with what's happening around her. I did enjoy Ellie a lot more when she was able to embrace her family legacy....but to me, the transition from wallflower Ellie to butt-kicking Ellie wasn't a smooth one and, as a result, it made her seem a bit two-dimensional.
- Without giving anything away, the big reveal about one of the male leads fell flat to me...and a bit too contrived. I was disappointed at how it all unfolded.
- I felt like Ellie and Graham's back story was touched on only very briefly. I eventually figured out the dad had died and from what I can recall, we don't ever really get to meet their mom. It's the same for Tucker's parents (although I actually felt like I had more info about his parents than I did about Ellie's). This seems to be endemic of many YA novels...the parents are barely there, dead, or emotionally/physically distant and only thrown into the story to provide the bare bones about the lead characters. As a parent, I'd sure love to see more involved moms and dads...not these self-centered or preoccupied drips who barely make a dent on the reader's consciousness.
- Things got a bit muddled once the action started to heat up. I felt as if there were almost too many things happening...and too many characters flitting in and out. I found myself skimming a lot and not really feeling as engaged as I would have liked. Truth be told, while the setting and inspiration for the story were definitely unique, the way things unfolded and the characters themselves (aside from grandma and Loki), were pretty predictable and fairly stock for a YA supernatural.

My overall take on this book: It had its moments, especially due to the use of Norse mythology, but overall...it didn't stick with me, nor was able to engage with the book as much as I would have liked. It's clear this is the first in a series and I have noted many series start off with a whimper but end with a bang. My hope is this will be the case with Valkyrie Rising and the author needs some time to hit her stride.


Tags : Amazon.com: Valkyrie Rising (9780062025722): Ingrid Paulson: Books,Ingrid Paulson,Valkyrie Rising,HarperTeen,0062025724,Girls & Women,Legends, Myths, Fables - General,Romance - General,Kidnapping,Loki (Norse deity),Norway,Odin (Norse deity),Supernatural,Supernatural;Fiction.,Valkyries (Norse mythology),Valkyries (Norse mythology);Fiction.,Valkyries (Norse mythology);Juvenile fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & magical realism (Children's Teenage),Fiction,Juvenile fiction,Legends, Myths, & Fables - Norse,Love & Romance,Paranormal,Young Adult Fiction,Young Adult Fiction Girls & Women,Young Adult Fiction Legends, Myths, Fables General,Young Adult Fiction Romance General,Young Adult FictionGirls & Women,Young Adult FictionRomance - General

Valkyrie Rising Ingrid Paulson Books Reviews

Hmmm...I've been in a mixed feelings mood (Just saying, I schedule these posts so even if I LOVED the a book in a review yesterday, that doesn't mean I wasn't in a mixed feeling mood while writing this!), and Valkyrie Rising definitely left me with mixed feelings! While I pretty much LOVED everything, the pacing in the beginning...well, it was pretty slow. And Ellie? Sigh. Girl, (wo)man up already...

So the first half of the book was pretty slow--we spend a few pages for the introduction where we learn about the characters and their personalities, we're moved to Norway, and creepy things start happening. LOVED that, and I expected the plot to progress quickly after that. But...well, it didn't. Ellie spends about a hundred or so pages learning about being a Valkyrie, trying to defeat Astrid (a fellow Valkyrie) and failing. Ever. Damn. Time.
And when the book did start to pick up, I was surprised to see about 200 pages had passed and I was still looking for that rising action/climax. Of course, the last hundred pages were definitely amazing and filled with action! If the entire book was like that ending, trust me, this would've been one of my rare 10 stars!

Characters? We only really got to see two fully developed characters--Tuck and Ellie. Me? Loved the former, not so much the latter. Tuck was basically the one thing that made this book absolutely hilarious! He was just so...Tuck. He was always making fun of things, which was more endearing than annoying, trust me! He was just so fun to read about and I loved his banter with Ellie! I loved their interactions and wanted to strangle Ellie sometimes with err...what's-his-name. Kjell?
Ellie was definitely another story. Like I said, I wanted to strangle her when she was with Kjell, just for her brother's disapproval then breaking plans with Tuck for him. URGH. And then Tuck would be all...all...I don't want to talk about it. But she was also sort of naive at some parts, believing she could beat Astrid...then trusting Loki...then not believing her grandmother about the sudden disappearances, even when she'd witnessed something abnormal (and she KNOWS it) just the night before. I just...just...ugh, ugh!

But the rest? Loved. Ingrid Paulson cleverly delivers the legends of North mythology, and I loved the worldbuilding, even if we didn't get to see that much of it (although I'm betting my bookcase we'll see more in book 2!) and I loved the Valkyries, even (especially), Astrid! They were described wonderfully and they were written perfectly as how I've always imagined Valkyries to be (hey, I've loved Norse mythology since I was little!). So loved that!

The romance? Well, I've always been a fan of those older-brother's-best-friend-is-a-jerk-turns-out-he's-super-sweet type of romances! They're just so cute and adorable to me and I want to squish them all up! It's just adorable how the guy tries to hide his feelings for the sake of the older brother--and because the main character wouldn't exactly believe the guy. ;D (LOOK. My first emoticon in a review...) SO I definitely adored this romance! And it was developed nicely, I think. There's no real surprise that he chooses now to reveal his feelings--before Kjell, no one really went after Ellie because of Graham...but now, the boy's got competition!

So all in all, I liked Valkyrie Rising pretty well, although it was pretty slow, and Ellie did get on my nerves at times! Everything else was wonderful; Romance, TUCK, World building, writing, anything but Ellie and plot...yep. DEFINITELY pick this up if you get the chance! Valkyries and Norse mythology? What's not to love?
** This is closer to a 3.5 for me but since we can't do half ratings in , I'm going for the 3**

I decided to take a chance on this book even though it had a small number of reviews (but the ratings were high). In retrospect, I wonder if I'd have given this book higher ratings had I not just read two really fantastic YAs back to back (Libba Bray's "The Diviners" and Kresley Cole's "Poison Princess"). But it is what it is.

What I Liked
- With so many fairy tales and myths being mined for story content, I give this author big kudos for finding something fresh and relatively untapped to write about. As far as I'm aware, there just isn't much out there talking about Norse mythology and valkyries in particular. Take note future YA writers....Greek and Roman myths aren't the only ones out there! Why not try on something Northern European for size?
- Once Elsa (Ellie), the lead, hits her stride...she's a great role model. Loyal, honest, courageous....all things any young woman should be proud to emulate. But let's not forget all the other "girl power" (or is that grrrl power? I get so confused....) going on in this novel. There's Hilda, Ellie's grandmother, a woman who clearly didn't get the memo about how senior citizens are supposed to behave...Astrid and her gang...and a young village woman (names hidden to protect the innocent..) who more than shows her mettle when push comes to shove.
- Of all the relationships going on in this book, none struck me as so real as the one between Ellie and her brother, Graham. It was clear they loved each other deeply....and in spite of Graham's overbearing demeanor towards his sister, the reader knew all along he behaved that way out of protectiveness and respect. I like how the relationship was forced to change and how Graham takes it in stride.

Now...for the not-so-great....
- I never really felt that into Ellie. In the beginning, it seems like we're supposed to see her as a wall-flower, caught in her brother's shadow and resenting it. But then based on some early comments from Tucker, we are also left to conclude she's drop-dead gorgeous and alluring. Yet, as with almost 90% of YA heroines....she's totally clueless about her appearance and its effect on guys. Oh, and she does like to read...so I suspect we are supposed to gather she's a smart cookie. BIG SIGH. Just for once, how I'd love to come across a heroine who doesn't seem like a nincompoop when it comes to how she looks. I get this is all part living in Graham's shadow, etc....but girlfriend has a mirror!!! She can't be that oblivious. Also, there were a lot of very obvious hints thrown about Tucker's feelings for her as well as her place in the larger mythology of the book...but again, she comes across as either dense or not terribly engaged with what's happening around her. I did enjoy Ellie a lot more when she was able to embrace her family legacy....but to me, the transition from wallflower Ellie to butt-kicking Ellie wasn't a smooth one and, as a result, it made her seem a bit two-dimensional.
- Without giving anything away, the big reveal about one of the male leads fell flat to me...and a bit too contrived. I was disappointed at how it all unfolded.
- I felt like Ellie and Graham's back story was touched on only very briefly. I eventually figured out the dad had died and from what I can recall, we don't ever really get to meet their mom. It's the same for Tucker's parents (although I actually felt like I had more info about his parents than I did about Ellie's). This seems to be endemic of many YA novels...the parents are barely there, dead, or emotionally/physically distant and only thrown into the story to provide the bare bones about the lead characters. As a parent, I'd sure love to see more involved moms and dads...not these self-centered or preoccupied drips who barely make a dent on the reader's consciousness.
- Things got a bit muddled once the action started to heat up. I felt as if there were almost too many things happening...and too many characters flitting in and out. I found myself skimming a lot and not really feeling as engaged as I would have liked. Truth be told, while the setting and inspiration for the story were definitely unique, the way things unfolded and the characters themselves (aside from grandma and Loki), were pretty predictable and fairly stock for a YA supernatural.

My overall take on this book It had its moments, especially due to the use of Norse mythology, but overall...it didn't stick with me, nor was able to engage with the book as much as I would have liked. It's clear this is the first in a series and I have noted many series start off with a whimper but end with a bang. My hope is this will be the case with Valkyrie Rising and the author needs some time to hit her stride.