Norsevember Wrap- up

On Nov 30, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Historical, Norsevember 2020, Review, Sci-Fi4 Comments

Hello!

I can’t believe that we’re already at the end of November! It comes with bittersweet feelings, because on one hand I can now thoroughly embrace the festive spirit – Christmas music is going on at work tomorrow!! – on the other, today is St Andrews Day and were it not the year of Covid I would be attending a Street Ceilidh, torch-lit procession and fireworks. I will however, be indulging in haggis, neeps and tatties and blast some Ceilidh music while I do so.

Tomorrow, I will be sharing my November wrap-up post and looking at what’s on for December. Today however is all about Norsevember, and will actually be my main post for the month as life (and my blasted knees) have got in the way and derailed most of my November plans.

Firstly a massive shoutout to Alex at Spells and Spaceships for organising this event, and for all his amazing posts over the month which have been a much needed bright spot. Also, thank you again for this lovely bookmark that I won from one of the giveaways.

Secondly, I managed to read all but one of the books from my Norsevember TBR, but hadn’t managed to review them yet, so below you will find those reviews (hence the fact that this is a veeeery long post). They turned out to be a mixed bag, with some that I absolutely adored and others I absolutely hated, and some snuck in that weren’t even on the TBR to start with (as is always the way, right?)

Posts:

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#Norsevember Tag!!

On Nov 27, 2020Nov 27, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Assorted, Challenges, Norsevember 20202 Comments

Hello!

Currently playing catch up with life in general, but reviews and challenges in particular – unfortunately the shift to winter brought a bad arthritis flare up so I have been out of action, and while I have been reading a lot, I didn’t have the focus for writing. However, I am now remedying that and today I am catching up with both the #Norsevember tag and Sunshine Blogger nomination posts (that will be up later in a separate post).

Firstly I would like to thank PaperbackBex for nominating me to participate in the #Norsevember tag, and then although its late in the month and I have no idea who has and hasn’t been tagged I would like to tag the following (please check out their blogs as they are all amazing)

Sam | The Book in Hand

Twitter: @thebookinhand_ |Blog:https://thebookinhand.com/

Peter | The Swordsmith

Twitter: @Eldrazi56 | Blog: https://theswordsmith36.wordpress.com/

Traveling Cloak

Twitter: @CloakTraveling |

Blog: https://fanfiaddict.com/traveling-cloaks-reviews/

*** ***

These are all books I have read, and I have commented briefly beneath each one and either linked them to an existing review or marked them with a ** which means the review is forthcoming and I will link them later.

Traditional wooden Viking boat in aged village

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Animanga: Norsevember Edition

On Nov 13, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Animanga Fridays, Norsevember 20202 Comments

Hello!

Today I am belatedly kicking off #Norsevember on the blog with a look at the admittedly small amount of Norse-themed or inspired anime, and there are a couple on this list that are stretching that definition. I was surprised when looking at ones that I had watched, and talking with the Anime Society I am a member of to realise just how few there are, as I would have thought that (and would argue that) there is so much material to cover between the mythology and history.

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October Wrap-Up and What’s On for November

On Nov 2, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Assorted, Challenges, Norsevember 2020, Sci-Fi Month 2020, Writing Updates1 Comment

Hello!

So October has come and gone, in a somewhat different way than I had planned as I ended up spending two weeks in quarantine after coming into contact with colleagues who tested positive for covid. I didn’t have it or at least had no symptoms, I was just very bored for two weeks – and read a lot more because of it. I also had my birthday and was blessed with some lovely books and Final Fantasy VII remake which I have wanted for ages, and is currently driving me up the wall as I am stuck on a battle.

(Birthday books)

October also saw a little bit of rebranding, because as my blog nears it’s first birthday I decided a revamp was needed. So I changed up the background and created a new banner:

I also decided that come the New Year, I will be doing away with the star-rating system (apart from on netgalley and goodreads etc where it is required) and I will be replacing it with badges. I am still working on the design and details of these, so watch this space, but they are coming.

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Book Review: Northern Wrath (The Hanged God Trilogy #1) – Thilde Kold Holdt

On Oct 27, 2020Nov 1, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Norsevember 2020, Review, Traditionally-Published6 Comments

Hello!
Today I am delighted to be reviewing ‘Northern Wrath’ by Thilde Kold Holdt which is released today, and is the perfect book to get you in the mood for #Norsevember and a must add for your TBR.

Disclaimer – I received an e-arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Book Summary:

A dead man, walking between the worlds, foresees the end of the gods.

A survivor searching for a weapon releases a demon from fiery Muspelheim.

A village is slaughtered by Christians, and revenge must be taken.

The bonds between the gods and Midgard are weakening. It is up to Hilda, Ragnar, their tribesmen Einer and Finn, the chief’s wife Siv and Tyra, her adopted daughter, to fight to save the old ways from dying out, and to save their gods in the process.

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Blog Tour (Book Review) – Children (The Ten Worlds #1) – Bjørn Larssen

On Oct 7, 2020Oct 7, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Norsevember 2020, Review, Self-Published6 Comments

Hello!

Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘Children’ by Bjørn Larssenorganised by Storytellers on Tour. I hope that you will check out the book and the author, and enjoy the rest of the tour with the schedule in the banner below or (HERE).

Disclaimer: ‘I was given a copy this book in exchange for an honest review.’

Book Summary:

Magni never wanted to be like his father, a murderous, absent, cheating alcoholic: Thor – the feared and beloved God of thunder. When Thor destroys everything and everyone his son knows and loves, Magni vows to stop the violence. His dream is to bring peace and prosperity to the Nine Worlds, then settle down with the man he loves. But is it possible to remain good in a place this bad? How do you escape cruelty in a universe built on it, or the shadow of your father when everyone calls you by his name?

Maya knows she’s a failure and a disappointment to her foster-parents. How could a child raised by Freya and Freyr – Goddess of love and God of sex – have no interest in the greatest of pleasures? Obviously, it couldn’t be the torture they subjected her to, or treating her as a tool that might someday be useful. Maya, her rage at their games more powerful than she knows, wants freedom to pursue her own destiny. But how do you forge your own life away from your God-parents when you’re nothing more than human?

A retelling of the Norse myths unlike any other, Children will answer all the questions you never knew you had about the heathen Nine Worlds… before leading you into the Tenth.

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Norsevember TBR

On Aug 24, 2020 By Rowena AndrewsIn Assorted, Challenges, Norsevember 20207 Comments

Hello,

So I am stoked to be participating in the #Norsevember event arranged by Alex at Spells and Spaceships and there is still time to sign up if you want an excuse to dive into some Norse inspired books this November. This is my TBR although I may squeeze in some other books here and there, and I am actually just finishing up ‘Northern Wrath’ by Thilde Kold Holdt, which I would highly recommend, with a full review to follow once I’m done. For anyone searching for more recommendations for Norse inspired fiction, check out this POST by David S at Fanfiaddict.

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