Review: Good Reading
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 4, 2013
Victoria Storm is both a Valkyrie, priestess to the Goddess Freya, and a werewolf, the alpha leader of a very small wolf pack. The pack had been attacked by hunters who killed her parents and most of the rest of the pack. Victoria has obligations to both her decimated pack and the Goddess which results in many complications. The Goddess tells Victoria to head to Sierra Pines, California, where she will meet a suitable alpha male to help her rebuild the pack. She knows she must do this on a number of levels, but she doesn't find it at all easy because she is fiercely independent, not to mention stubborn.Melissa Snark has written a wonderful fantasy novel which bridges the worlds of the Norse gods and modern day California. It also bridges the worlds of gods and werewolves, giving real depth to both. Snark makes the merging of these very different cultures not only work, but work in a most believable manner.I like Victoria. She is a wonderfully conflicted heroine, feeling guilty over the deaths of her parents and a large part of the pack, feeling badly that she hasn't been able to protect the remaining pack members as well as she'd like, but also determined to do whatever it takes to protect her pack and ensure its survival. She meets her match in Arik Koenig, a powerful, dominant male wolf. But she also realizes that he and his son, Logan, have a dark history. Some of that history is twenty years old, but some of it is very recent. Victoria needs to learn more about Arik and Logan before she can be sure it is a good idea to bring them into her pack.The story is fast-paced and filled with action and suspense. There is a mystery to solve; things are not what they seem to be. It takes all of Victoria's skills as both a werewolf and a Valkyrie to keep her pack safe.This is a fantasy novel which is sure to capture the hearts of many readers. Well-developed characters and an intricate plot are just the start. The strongest aspect of this novel is, I believe, the merging of two very different worlds into a complete and exciting whole.Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews