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loz_reads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Victor and Silje have a place in my heart for life now.
Took me a few pages to get into it but now very excited for the rest of this trilogy.
A fun Norse Retelling
Took me a few pages to get into it but now very excited for the rest of this trilogy.
A fun Norse Retelling
connorjdaley's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I won an audible code for this, I believe from the narrator, so I gave it a listen.
This book meshes hotel horror with Norse mythology. It starts with Victor arriving at the hotel after receiving a free trip from a radio show he can’t seem to remember participating in. When he meets Silje, the woman staying in the room next to him, he can’t help but feel as if he’s known her for a long time. It is from there that things get a little… strange.
It mixes magic, eternal and fated lovers, action, suspense, and expansive knowledge of Norse mythology. It handles the pacing pretty well while only feature a handful of characters. But it does miss the mark of atmospheric horror for me, which I believe had to do with length. The blurb mentions The Shining, but this has a shorter opening, so I didn’t get that eerie back-of-the-neck creeping feeling.
Personally a 4/5* for me. I look forward to checking out more by the authors.
stephnm26's review
3.0
More like a 3.5! I was excited to read this because I love Norse myth and just overall loved Victors winning a trip then meeting a woman who also won a trip (love that coincidence). I was worried about how Norse mythology would be explained and wondering if it would all be written well (?) if that makes sense just because of the topic itself.
I did enjoy how both main characters probably thought it was nice to win a free trip but not one that you literally have to survive! Everything was well written and described, plus enjoyed the character development! It is definitely a book I will recommend and looking forward to the next book.
I do want to thank the author for sending me this ebook and note that all opinions/thoughts above are my own!
I did enjoy how both main characters probably thought it was nice to win a free trip but not one that you literally have to survive! Everything was well written and described, plus enjoyed the character development! It is definitely a book I will recommend and looking forward to the next book.
I do want to thank the author for sending me this ebook and note that all opinions/thoughts above are my own!
aiden_e_messer's review
4.0
This was a wild ride. Some romance, some horror, a cute cat, and lots of Nordic mythology! I really enjoyed this book
maeclair's review
4.0
An intriguing story that blends present and past in a story heavily flavored with Norse myth and folklore. Victor, an American professor of Norse mythology wins a trip to Hotel Fen, a vintage resort tucked into the Scandinavian Mountains. Shortly after arrival he meets Silje, a woman of Norwegian descent, who has also been gifted with an all-expense paid stay. It isn’t long before the two realize the hotel is nothing as it seems, and that surviving their stay involves facing not only danger but understanding a shared and complicated past.
As someone who loves Norse myth, I was thoroughly immersed in this story. From the snowy isolated setting to the creepy old hotel with its wolf carvings and door handles, to the tight weave of folklore interlaced with whispers of past lives and reincarnation, the plot kept me flipping pages well into the night. Victor and Silje are both intriguing characters, and the myth elements are vividly imagined. There is a fair amount of head hopping that takes place, particularly early on, but it did not distract from the story for me. The writing is otherwise polished and pace is spot on. If you enjoy Norse myth, you’re sure to love this book!
As someone who loves Norse myth, I was thoroughly immersed in this story. From the snowy isolated setting to the creepy old hotel with its wolf carvings and door handles, to the tight weave of folklore interlaced with whispers of past lives and reincarnation, the plot kept me flipping pages well into the night. Victor and Silje are both intriguing characters, and the myth elements are vividly imagined. There is a fair amount of head hopping that takes place, particularly early on, but it did not distract from the story for me. The writing is otherwise polished and pace is spot on. If you enjoy Norse myth, you’re sure to love this book!
cbramblings's review
5.0
Are you a fan of creepy Hotels that are not what they seem? Of Mythology perfectly intertwined with present life? and Characters that will intrigue the heck out of you?
Then this is the perfect read for you, It's a story that manages to mesh up Norse mythology with current daily life... and it does it so well. adding bits of reincarnation along the way. I confess to be a little biased because I adore reading about deities that are humanized and not all mighty powerful all the time... Norse mythos are so rich on their own...and this books blends everything so well.
The descriptive narrative works great to create an intriguing and creepy as hell atmosphere in the Hotel... that when mixed with the pacing of the story will keep you hooked and trying to guess which is friend or foe and what is really going on because nothing is what it seems.. It's a hell of a ride.
The characters are fun, interesting and relatable... And to my utter delight there's a star-crossed lovers romance that just feels like the cherry on great reading cake..
As a fan of Urban fantasy I would recommend this book to anyone that loves the genre and isn't afraid of a bit of horror to spice it up.. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Then this is the perfect read for you, It's a story that manages to mesh up Norse mythology with current daily life... and it does it so well. adding bits of reincarnation along the way. I confess to be a little biased because I adore reading about deities that are humanized and not all mighty powerful all the time... Norse mythos are so rich on their own...and this books blends everything so well.
The descriptive narrative works great to create an intriguing and creepy as hell atmosphere in the Hotel... that when mixed with the pacing of the story will keep you hooked and trying to guess which is friend or foe and what is really going on because nothing is what it seems.. It's a hell of a ride.
The characters are fun, interesting and relatable... And to my utter delight there's a star-crossed lovers romance that just feels like the cherry on great reading cake..
As a fan of Urban fantasy I would recommend this book to anyone that loves the genre and isn't afraid of a bit of horror to spice it up.. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
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