Monday 5 February 2018

Book Review: Struck (Phoebe Meadows #1) by Amanda Carlson

Title: Struck (Phoebe Meadows #1)
Author: Amanda Carlson
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 248
Format: eBook - EPUB
Genre: Fantasy/Mythology
Source: Free on Kobo



When Phoebe Meadows gets struck by a strange light in the stock room of Macy’s, life as she knows it flies out the window. As if being hit by lightning isn’t bad enough, she’s accosted in the subway by a man with a missing hand, arrives home to find a raven on her kitchen counter, and her neighbor Ingrid shows up dressed like a gladiator, hell-bent on protecting her.

Before Ingrid can shuttle her off to safety, Phoebe is kidnapped and tossed into one of the Nine Worlds, where she’s quickly forced to come to terms with what she is: a Valkyrie. The only problem is, she has no idea what that means. 

After a narrow escape, she finds an unlikely ally in Loki’s son, Fenrir. Together, the Valkyrie and the wolf must battle their way back to New York City and reach the Valkyrie stronghold where Ingrid is waiting for her. But with danger and obstacles at every turn, Phoebe might not live long enough to learn the full truth about who and what she really is… (Goodreads Synopsis)


Struck appealed to me when I saw it on Kobo's free eBook list because of its use of Norse myth. On the whole, I thought these tales were incorporated well into the narrative. I liked Carlson's treatment of Fenrir and Jörmungandr. However, I wasn't as impressed with her take on Loki. To be fair, though, he's only mentioned a few times in this first book, so maybe he gets a more just portrayal in later parts of the trilogy. The idea of the nornir being villains I found tough to imagine at first; however, I did get into that later in the story. Overall the book is pretty well written and enjoyable, except for the end, when I felt the narrative got a little stuck. For the last few chapters it was simply a repetition of villain arrives, villain defeated. Just once would have been enough, but it happened three times in quick succession. Aside from that issue, though, I had fun with this book and would give it 4 stars. I'd not rush out to buy books two and three at present, but given the opportunity in the future, I would definitely read them.

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