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Children of Ragnarok

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Sweeping adventure, breathtaking twists of fate, and immersive worlds based in Norse mythology are woven into this first volume of the Runestone Saga, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms and Shattered Realms series.

Since Ragnarokthe great war between the gods and the forces of chaos—the human realm of the Midlands has become a desperate and dangerous place, bereft of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Eiric Halvorsen is among the luckier ones—his family has remained prosperous. But he stands to lose everything when he's wrongly convicted by a rigged jury of murdering his modir and stepfadir. Also at risk is Eiric's half-systir, Liv, who's under suspicion for her interest in seidr, or magic. Then a powerful jarl steps in: He will pay the blood price if Eiric will lead a mission to the fabled Temple at the Grove—the rich stronghold of the wyrdspinners, the last practitioners of sorcery.

Spellsinger, musician, and runecaster Reginn Eiklund has spent her life performing at alehouses for the benefit of her master, Asger, a fire demon she is desperate to escape. After one performance that amazes even herself, two wyrdspinners in the audience make Reginn an irresistible offer: return with them to the Temple to be trained in seidr, forever free of Asger.

Eiric's, Liv's, and Reginn's journeys converge in New Jotunheim, a paradise fueled by magic and the site of the Temple. They soon realize that a great evil lurks beneath the dazzling surface and that old betrayals and long-held grudges may fuel another cataclysmic war. It will require every gift and weapon at their command to prevent it.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from September 19, 2022
      This sweeping, Norse myth–inspired series opener from Chima (the Shattered Realms series) follows Eiric Halvorsen and Reggin Eiklund, two white-cued 16-year-olds desperate for freedom. To avoid their extended family’s wrath after killing their abusive stepfather in self-defense, fisherman and farmer Eiric, a Viking descended from gods, and his half sister Liv strike a deal with regional leader Jarl Karlsen: if the siblings locate a rumored stronghold of witches, or wyrdspinners, Karlsen will pay off the siblings’ persecutors. Elsewhere, Reggin Eiklund, a spellsinging, runecasting foundling indebted to fire demon Asger, plays music, peddles remedies, and runs cons for Asger’s financial gain while leeching her energy to sustain himself. When Reggin performs sorcery one night at an alehouse, two wyrdspinners offer refuge from Asger at the Academy of the Grove, a hidden paradise and training ground. Chima toggles between Eiric’s and Reggin’s equally electrifying
      perspectives, and the tension, stakes, and complications mount as their paths intertwine. The vibrantly characterized, racially diverse cast is replete with courageous, resourceful women, imparting feminist undertones. Despite its scope, length, and complexity, Chima’s epic never outstays its welcome, stoking anticipation for the sequel. Ages 13–up. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Jennifer Jill Araya narrates the viewpoints of teenagers Eiric Halvorsen and Reginn Eiklund in alternating chapters as their separate journeys weave through this story. In the years since Ragnarok, the human realm of the Midlands has struggled from receding magic and fruitless lands. When Reginn finds herself performing a miracle in front of two wyrd spinners, she is offered an escape from enslavement. But is the seeming paradise of New Jotunheim truly a sanctuary? Araya expertly pronounces Norse words, like "modir" and "systir," while lending unique voices to each character. All voices sound appropriately aged, including those of the elders, whose secrets are not given away by the way they sound. The maps included in the print edition are not part of the audiobook, but the story is still enjoyable without them. S.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

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  • English

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