Becky Bookworm Double Book Review: Norse Code and Beserker - Overdose on vikings and norse mythology

Norse Code by Greg Van Eekhout

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This books is a brilliant portrayal of the world of the old Norse Gods clashing and interacting with our modern secular one and it cleverly brings you into this mix of realms with the  character who only became deceased and turned Valkyrie 3 months ago. It also focuses not on the greater known gods like Odin, Thor and Loki although they are involved in the overall adventure but on the more minor and genuinely more interesting characters of this pantheon of Hermod, a small wandering God and of course my all time favourite - Valkyries.
The story revolves around the impending doom of Ragnarok, Hermod's bitter luck after failing to bring Baldur back from the dead clutches of Hel and Mist (formermly human deceased) a relatively new and modern valkyrie who actually resists the role she has been given in exitsence to try and rescue her sister also from Hel's domain.
The characters are brilliant to relate to and the rising chaos in the world (set in America) really helps invision what Ragnarok would be like if it occured in our modern world.
The ending of the over all book is very unique and although it goes against the very mythology involved it actually suits it for the Gods like the viking people who worshipped them are anything if not survivors.
It is a great novel (albeit it small) to read for fans of vikings, norse mythology and urban/paranormal fantasy.

As a writer trying to write a story using the same range of characters (not exactly the same characters in this one) and also setting such an old faith in a modern world I was pleasently impressed to see how well it would actually work and how easy the reader would except if it makes a good story that grips you from chapter to chapter. Hopefully one day there will be room in the literary world for Valkyries and these great old gods, characters of legends and myths to overcome the firm base of Vampires and the growing presence of Angels in young adult novels.
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Berserker by William Meikle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a suprisingly short novel (e-novel) but is action packed from the start. You don't even get chance to catch your breath once these raiding bands of vikings come across a strange new land in a storm before you meet what is best described by Miekle himself as a Yeti but these are Yeti's that are cruel and bloodthirsty and after the accidental murder of a female with young the Vikings incurr their beastial wrath and rage and fear fueld chaos ensues.
The adventure over all revolves around the characters of Tor and Skald, the first being a typical honourable and strong viking young man, the second being his wyrd seeing, beserk-fighting friend and their lives and fates become entwined in the gory mess created by the Yeti or Alma attacks as old legends come true and they must use all their strength and wisdom to survive a legend that does not have a happy ending.
I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and not dramatised enough but with the excitement of the rest of the novel with its short punchy chapters pushing you along with the characters struggle it doesn't make too much of a disappointment.
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