The Power Club by Greg Gildersleeve

The Power Club by Greg Gildersleeve
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a while since I last read a middle grade school story and I was surprised by the amount of details and depth of fantasy this one contained.
Personally, I found that the characters, more than anything else in this story maintained the reader’s interest. They were well thought out and highly developed, not only for a book geared to a younger audience, but one that belongs in the fantasy genre in general.
The plot was good and straight forward, with the added mystery of bad guys having evil, secret plans and a group of children trying to find their role in life as well as society.
The writing is what got to me a little bit. I found there were too many details, at times it felt too long winded and wordy, which kept me from being able to completely commit to the story.
Overall, it was a nice story for a younger audience with lots of fantasy, friends and fiends. I would suggest it to anyone, who is looking for a shorter story of the fantasy genre.

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Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie, #1) by Amanda Hocking

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A few months ago, the museum in my hometown began their run of a special exhibition about Vikings and Norse mythology and since then I have visited it three times. One can only imagine my excitement when I found this little gem of a story on NetGalley, which combines futuristic elements with Norse mythology.

I must confess that recently I took a small step back from reading Young Adult fiction, because of the overused stock characters that came to dominate this genre. The reader always gets introduced to a special snowflake that wasn’t aware of some talent/gift, but is able to overcome whatever peril is thrown in her way with minimum character development. This is not the case in Between the Blade and the Heart. The main character, struggling to establish herself not only in her profession, but also as a person, while dealing with family issues, primarily a lack of maternal love and affection, is interesting enough to carry the story and keep the readers’ attention. The secondary characters are in their own way just as strong as the protagonist, which makes for a great collection of personalities as they embark on their adventure.

The plot with its many references to Norse mythology (and here I have to admit, I wish I knew more about this fascinating subject) is catching and intriguing, explores the importance of mother-daughter relationships, sexual orientation and includes a lot of fantasy.

The writing has a natural flow that transports the reader into the story, unfolding in the reader’s imagination and stays there long after the book is finished. The author takes her time setting up the story and introducing the characters. It is a slowly unfolding story that shows the author’s love and commitment.

Overall, I am extremely glad that I stumbled upon this story and cannot wait for the second installment. The rougher setting of the world the author has built combined with the ruggedness and internal conflict of the protagonist makes for a great read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Norse mythology, fantasy and unconventional characters that breathe some fresh life into the Young Adult fantasy genre.

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Announcement: Blog Tour for Amanda Hocking's "Between the Blade and the Heart

I will be participating in the blog tour. Stay tuned for my review, coming later today.