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The Strange Maid Book 2 of United States of Asgard Tessa Gratton Books

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The Strange Maid Book 2 of United States of Asgard Tessa Gratton Books

These books are both surprisingly good and unusually intense for young adult novels. The Norse twist is entertaining, and I want to see more of her world.


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The Strange Maid Book 2 of United States of Asgard Tessa Gratton Books Reviews

Tessa Gratton has penned her best book yet with Book 2 of her United States of Asgard series, THE STRANGE MAID. I stayed up late into the night, with goosebumps raised on my arms, to finish this book. The story, the writing, and the characterization are all beautiful, deep, and complex. I love a book like this that prioritizes character development over plot, but THE STRANGE MAID still manages to combine the two well. Most of all, though, I love the risks that this book takes with characterization, theme, and source material.

Signy Valborn is a girl on the verge of Odinist glory as a Valkyrie, and she embraces the dark things she believes that should include - blood and death and violence and chaotic, passionate things stirring inside her soul. I love that Gratton was willing to create a wild, out-of-control, and fearsome female character; in doing so, she affirms that madness, desire, and a longing for revenge can be felt by all, not just males. Signy, however, is not a one-note character she also experiences fear, doubt, and love. The other characters who flank and support Signy are also well-developed, from Soren Bearstar of the first book to Ned the truth-teller who hides behind his poetry to the gods and other Valkyries themselves. I also so appreciated the themes conveyed in the story about loss and revenge, the balance between chaos and control, choice versus destiny, and the types of relationships that matter in our lives.

In addition, Gratton skillfully plays with and updates Norse mythology to create a modern tale that pays homage to the violence, strength, and madness that was celebrated in Old English works like BEOWULF. Because of this and the adept way the characters are portrayed, this book felt more mature than most other YA titles I've read. This is a complex and evocative tale that will be best appreciated by readers who aren't afraid to feel uncomfortable from time to time while reading. Reading the first book in the series or having a background in Norse tales isn't necessary to understand and appreciate the story, but it will likely help.

I have always been a fan of Gratton's work, but my appreciation for her craft and the intentionality of her writing has been taken to a new level after my reading of THE STRANGE MAID. I can't wait to see what the next book in the series brings, and I will definitely be recommending this title to my friends and older students alike.

Note This review refers to an advance review copy.
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty A Valkyrie, a mysterious man with an unholy sword, and berserker who serves a different a god are out to claim her destiny.

Opening Sentence “I was born under a frenzied star, so our poets would say.”

The Review

Signy Valborn was given a riddle to solve by Odin when he made her a Valkyrie, and Ned Unferth shows up years later to help her. Signy has been training to be a Valkyrie since she was seven. She ran from the Valkyrie council in order to bring glory to the Valkyries and solve her riddle. Along the way she meets Ned the spiritless who is also a poet. Half of the book takes place before book 1, The Lost Sun, and the other half of the book takes place during and after. Ned teaches Signy how to hunt and fight trolls.

In one massive troll attack Signy believes that Ned is killed and she realizes her quest is tied directly to the mother Troll. Signy ends up meeting the berserker group and Soren in quest to hunt the trolls. Soren and Signy become close friends while trying to figure out her dreams, and her destiny.

I am not going to go into too much more because of spoilers. However, I will say this book is packed with action, another weird love story and tons on Norse mythology. Signy is an interesting main character she is often rash, for example in the troll attack in the first book, you find out in this book she is the woman who charged into the group of trolls with nothing but a sword. I say weird love story because it’s like Astrid and Soren in the first book where they just kind of fall in love. Initially I thought this might be a standalone, I didn’t understand how she tied it in with the first book, but once you get about halfway through the book that becomes clearer. Signy and Soren are tied together because of the mother troll and Signy’s destiny. The gods work in mysterious ways.

I loved this book, although I admit I struggled in the beginning, she really wasn’t mentioned in the first book so I had no clue who she was and what she had to do with the story as whole. But despite that struggle, I really loved the whole Norse culture in the modern world. It’s so interesting and Tessa really incorporates some wonderful aspects of Norse culture and poetry in the book. I have to admit that I am total sucker for the Valkyries, Berserkers and Beowulf. You really can’t ask for more in a book, than that!

Notable Scene

“Again and again it appears against the starry sky, weaving in and out of itself like a message for the entire world.”

“Death Chooser, Strange Maid, the binding rune scare says.”

“The Valkyrie of the tree will prove herself with a stone heart.”

“But a Valkyrie does not balk at death.”

“I make myself a mirror to understand the beast.”

FTC Advisory Random House Books for Young Readers provided me with a copy of The Strange Maid. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Ms. Gratton is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors!
Hell yeah
Fascinating.
Can't wait for more in these series/world!!
These books are both surprisingly good and unusually intense for young adult novels. The Norse twist is entertaining, and I want to see more of her world.