Book Review: Molten Dusk (The Norse Chronicles Book 3) by Karissa Laurel

Molten Dusk (The Norse Chronicles Book 3)

by Karissa Laurel
August 23, 2017
While recovering from a devastating betrayal, Solina becomes increasingly drawn to Thorin as he helps her hunt down Skoll, the mythical wolf who vowed to kill her. If she can find and destroy the beast, she’ll bring a swift and brutal end to her enemies’ schemes. But nothing ever goes as planned in Solina’s strange new world.

During her search for Skoll, Solina uncovers a plot to unleash a battalion of legendary soldiers and launch an apocalyptic war. Before she and her allies can locate the fabled army, several ghosts from her past return to haunt her. Solina must fight for life and the fate of the world or her hopes for love and a peaceful future will go up in flames.

After Val betrays Solina she is devastated and needs time to recover. As she is recovering she can’t stop thinking about Thorin. Her one goal is to hunt down Skoll and kill him. At every turn, Helen is three steps ahead with a trap to try to distract or destroy Solina and her friends.

Laurel has done a magnificent job of creating characters that represent Norse mythology. Many authors write characters based on Greek or Roman mythology and I do not come across many based-on Norse and it is a welcome change. She paints a very vivid image of each of her characters and who they represent as a god and as a person. When I read her books, it doesn’t remind me of other stories or authors which allow my imagination to run wild.

Solina and Thorin’s relationship has always been complicated. Thorin can’t keep her out of his head and has almost become unbearable in his protectiveness. Solina is drawn to him but is unsure of herself. The chemistry between these two characters is fantastic and I look forward to seeing where things will go from here.

Double Sheep Review: Midnight Burning: (The Norse Chronicles – Book 1)
Bianca's Review: Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2)

Review: Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2)

Five sheep

Denise B

About the Author:

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Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and super heroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you'll find her on the slopes.

Find out more about Karissa and keep up to date with new releases, including the sequel to Midnight Burning, coming in 2016.

Book Review: Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2) by Karissa Laurel

Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2)

by Karissa Laurel
July 5th 2016

Paperback, 276 pages

Alone and exhausted after her month-long sojourn as a shooting star, Solina Mundy flees to southern California to lie low, recuperate, and plot a survival strategy. The one person she trusts to watch her back is her best friend, Skyla Ramirez. But Skyla has been missing for weeks.

The arrival of a dangerous stranger and the discovery of a legendary weapon of mass destruction forces Solina out of hiding and back into the fight for her life. Solina knows she won’t last long on her own. She must find out what happened to Skyla and unite her contentious allies if she hopes to track down this devastating weapon before her enemies use it to burn the world to ash.

Solina runs to southern California to hide out and heal while searching for her missing friend, Skyla. Solina needs to plot a plan to survive and needs backup or she won’t survive. As Solina tries to track down a devastating weapon that will destroy the world she must figure out who she can trust and who has their own interests at heart.

This was a great continuation of the series. The story line didn’t duplicate and did a good job of taking us forward. There were big surprises that kept the story fresh and moving. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, it is worth the time to invest in The Norse Chronicles with Midnight Burning. I look forward to what comes next.

Double Sheep Review: Midnight Burning: (The Norse Chronicles – Book 1)
Bianca's Review: Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2)

Five sheep

Denise B

About the Author:

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Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and super heroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you'll find her on the slopes.

Find out more about Karissa and keep up to date with new releases, including the sequel to Midnight Burning, coming in 2016.

Book Review: Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2) by Karissa Laurel

Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles #2)

by Karissa Laurel

July 5th 2016

Paperback, 276 pages

Alone and exhausted after her month-long sojourn as a shooting star, Solina Mundy flees to southern California to lie low, recuperate, and plot a survival strategy. The one person she trusts to watch her back is her best friend, Skyla Ramirez. But Skyla has been missing for weeks.

The arrival of a dangerous stranger and the discovery of a legendary weapon of mass destruction forces Solina out of hiding and back into the fight for her life. Solina knows she won’t last long on her own. She must find out what happened to Skyla and unite her contentious allies if she hopes to track down this devastating weapon before her enemies use it to burn the world to ash.

Solina has built a precarious new life in San Diego. Hiding out from her would-be assassins, she’s trying to stay alive by constantly looking over her shoulder. When a mysterious stranger threatens to blow her cover, Solina reaches out to Thorin for protection. The two renew their shaky partnership in the interest of keeping Solina safe from the malevolent Helen Locke and her wolf-at-arms Skoll.

So. At the risk of sounding gushy: I adored this book from start to finish. Book one, Midnight Burning, was excellent, but Arctic Dawn surpasses its predecessor. Devoid of any awkward set up, Arctic Dawn is a fast-paced, action-packed read right from the start. The book maintains an enthralling pace throughout and provides a conclusion that’s satisfying but compelling.

As a character, Solina has become a force. Learning to harness her power, she has developed an admirable sense of self-preservation and resourcefulness. She’s sassier, smarter, and stronger. Solina and Thorin’s relationship is definitely evolving. The glacial pace of this union is frustrating, however, lends more authenticity to the story.

No doubt, The Norse Chronicles tops my favourite new paranormal series of the year. Arctic Dawn is rich with plot and character development, but has definitely made way for so much more to come. I look forward to another installment in this fantastic set.

Double Sheep Review: Midnight Burning: (The Norse Chronicles – Book 1)

Five sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:

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Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and super heroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you'll find her on the slopes.

Find out more about Karissa and keep up to date with new releases, including the sequel to Midnight Burning, coming in 2016.

Double Book Review: Midnight Burning: (The Norse Chronicles – Book 1) by Karissa Laurel

Midnight Burning: (The Norse Chronicles – Book 1)
by Karissa Laurel
July 7, 2015
Pages: 278
Solina Mundy lives a quiet life, running the family bakery in her small North Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Driven to learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to help her.

As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

Bianca Greenwood's Review

4 ½ sheep

Solina Mundy travels to Alaska to close out the affairs of her murdered brother Chapman. When Solina’s search for closure turns into a personal murder investigation, she quickly finds herself out of her depth. She soon discovers that Mani’s friends and co-workers aren’t what they seem and her immersion in this enigmatic Alaskan town and its cast of characters activates her dormant powers.

Like other reviewers, I found the novel’s opening to be a bit slow and slightly awkward, however, the action and interest picks up quickly and extends throughout the book. I enjoyed the Norse Mythology elements and how plot details fell into place. I must admit, this book became a bit of an obsession for me; I found it hard to put down. When I want to read on my lunch break, I know I’m hooked.

Amidst the action a love triangle develops between Solina, Val (Mani’s best friend) and Thornin (Mani’s boss). Personally, I found that the author makes it abundantly clear who Solina will end up with. I like, however, that Solina will first have to develop her own independence before that relationship will come to fruition. I am partial to assured female characters.

I highly recommend this book, with one caveat; wait. It ends with a lot unresolved and I was largely unsatisfied. Happily ever after can be too saccharine for me, but cliff hangers are the worst. While I wouldn’t characterize this ending as a cliff-hanger per se, it’s pretty abrupt and rather frustrating. Judging from the author’s website, book two Arctic Dawn isn’t out until summer. I’d say it’s a good indication that I can’t wait, I just hope book two is released before my enthusiasm burns out.

Denise B's Review

Getting 4 1/2 sheep

Solina’s brother Mani was murdered in an unusual way and when the police have no leads Solina decides to head to Alaska to pack up her brother’s stuff and get some closure. As Solina starts packing up Mani’s life she finds that his friend’s no a lot more than they let on but only one is willing to help her solve the mystery. The beginning was a little slow for me because it took some time to get to the supernatural aspects of the book but the wait was well worth it. Don’t give up if you find the beginning a little slow. Once the story got to the good stuff it moved right along. Very imaginative and original story line filled with the Norse pantheon and those that surround it that kept my imagination going. The love triangle between Val, Thornin and Solina was magnetic. I could not decide from one minute to the next who I wanted to see win the fight for Solina. Both men had something to be desired and it didn’t help that I couldn’t decide who to trust.

About the Author:

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Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and super heroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you'll find her on the slopes.

Find out more about Karissa and keep up to date with new releases, including the sequel to Midnight Burning, coming in 2016.