Valkyrie
Book 1
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3.5 • 4 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Freya is dreading turning fourteen - that marks the official end of her childhood and when she takes up full duties of a Valkyrie - a collector of souls from humanity's battlefields.
But Freya is unlike any other Valkyrie. She doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of the legends before her. As she observes from Asgard, she tries to understand what it is to be human: to make friends with girls her own age and laugh with boys, without the fear of causing their death with one touch.
Little does she know that her dreams will soon be realized: on her first battlefield mission, Freya reaps the soul of a soldier with unfinished business that will send her to the human world on a deadly quest. And there she must battle both ordinary and extraordinary enemies to create a new VALKYRIE legend.
'Kate O'Hearn serves up a winning mix of modern adventure and classic fantasy.' Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Freya has just sworn her oath as a Valkyrie, but she isn't looking forward to the duties that come with the role. Disgusted by war and disenchanted by humanity, Freya brings back a reluctant war hero from her first "reaping," and breaks her oath when she visits his family on Earth to ensure their safety. On Earth, Freya meets many people who need her help, and she finds a way to channel her restless energy into good as she works to address gentrification, school bullying, and child neglect in present-day Chicago. Trading the Greek myths of her Pegasus series for Norse themes, O'Hearn offers a strong balance of action-packed fantasy and contemporary realism that doesn't shy from real issues. The stakes are always high capture and death stalk Freya and those she grows to care for, making for an engrossing, fast-paced read. Whether on the battlefield or city streets, Freya confronts what it means to do one's duty and be a true hero, in a smart, sharply written, and empathic story. Ages 9 13.
