Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda HockingMy 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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