Review: The Lost Sun (United States of Asgard #1) by Tessa Gratton
The Lost Sun
by Tessa Gratton
First book in the United States of Asgard series
In the United States of Asgard, the gods walk among us. Every year, the resurrection of Baldur is televised, but this time something has gone terribly wrong. The god has not returned from the realm of the dead, and the world threatens to sink into chaos if he is not found. Two teenagers, a beserker named Soren Bearskin and a seer named Astrid Glyn team up to find Baldur and return him to his father, Odin, gaining a boon from the ruler of the gods to grant their greatest desires.
I find the idea of a "United States of Asgard", in which the Vikings founded America and created a nation built around Norse mythology, instead of Christianity, a fascinating 'what if?' scenario. It's so close to our America, but slightly tweaked place names and terminology help emphasize that this truly is another world. It's interesting that the gods are active and present in this world, and not merely distant figures that characters merely believe in. I really liked the modernized spin on classic “evil” gods like Loki and Fenris Wolf, as well as the updates to Odin, Thor and the other members of the Norse pantheon.
Unfortunately, the two romantic leads are thrown at the reader almost immediately, and they're given little chance to develop. Soren Bearskin is fighting his beserker heritage; when he gets emotional a 'fever' runs over him. He spends most of the book trying to bottle up his powers instead of using them. Meanwhile, Astrid Glyn is the daughter of one of the greatest seers in the United States, and she struggles to live up to that reputation. She and Soren an instant connection the moment they meet, which comes across as forced. Instead of developing into two unique individuals, they simply become two halves of a couple.
If other books in the series - this is the first in a trilogy - had different characters as the leads, I would be tempted to continue because I am really intrigued by this Asgardian America. But the adventures of Astrid and Soren interest me not at all.
2 out of 5 stars
To read more about The Lost Sun, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2012: The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak by Jason Surrell
2011: Rivals in the Tudor Court by D. L. Bogdan
2010: The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson #2) by Rick Riordan
2009: Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
2008: BBAW: Kiva.org Gift Certificate Giveaway Winner
by Tessa Gratton
First book in the United States of Asgard series
In the United States of Asgard, the gods walk among us. Every year, the resurrection of Baldur is televised, but this time something has gone terribly wrong. The god has not returned from the realm of the dead, and the world threatens to sink into chaos if he is not found. Two teenagers, a beserker named Soren Bearskin and a seer named Astrid Glyn team up to find Baldur and return him to his father, Odin, gaining a boon from the ruler of the gods to grant their greatest desires.
I find the idea of a "United States of Asgard", in which the Vikings founded America and created a nation built around Norse mythology, instead of Christianity, a fascinating 'what if?' scenario. It's so close to our America, but slightly tweaked place names and terminology help emphasize that this truly is another world. It's interesting that the gods are active and present in this world, and not merely distant figures that characters merely believe in. I really liked the modernized spin on classic “evil” gods like Loki and Fenris Wolf, as well as the updates to Odin, Thor and the other members of the Norse pantheon.
Unfortunately, the two romantic leads are thrown at the reader almost immediately, and they're given little chance to develop. Soren Bearskin is fighting his beserker heritage; when he gets emotional a 'fever' runs over him. He spends most of the book trying to bottle up his powers instead of using them. Meanwhile, Astrid Glyn is the daughter of one of the greatest seers in the United States, and she struggles to live up to that reputation. She and Soren an instant connection the moment they meet, which comes across as forced. Instead of developing into two unique individuals, they simply become two halves of a couple.
If other books in the series - this is the first in a trilogy - had different characters as the leads, I would be tempted to continue because I am really intrigued by this Asgardian America. But the adventures of Astrid and Soren interest me not at all.
2 out of 5 stars
To read more about The Lost Sun, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2012: The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak by Jason Surrell
2011: Rivals in the Tudor Court by D. L. Bogdan
2010: The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson #2) by Rick Riordan
2009: Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
2008: BBAW: Kiva.org Gift Certificate Giveaway Winner