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A review by iam
A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner
4.0
3.5 stars
On the one hand I had a great time reading this, I was excited to read about this interpretation of Norse gods and I like the big cast of characters. On the other hand the plot felt scattered in the way it both advanced the overall series arc and had it's own closed story. It didn't really manage to marry those two aspects in a smooth way.
Content warnings include: violence and graphic injury, death, abduction, organised crime.
The interpretation of the Norse Pantheon was definitely rather MCU-Thor-esque, but it was still fine and fun to read.
As mentioned above, I struggled a bit with the plot aspects that were specific to this book in combination with the ones that advanced the plot spanning the entire series. They felt very disconnected. It definitely did advance the overall storyarc(s), but the steps, while monumental, felt too small for me. I'm very impatient to see the god pack plot really come to frutition, and have been impatient about it since book 2, so this might be more of a personal problem.
Aside from the Norse Gods, I liked the inclusion of other deities, like the ever-present Greek ones and especially the Haudenosaunee. Yet I also couldn't really figure out the role of the latter in the events of the story. Maybe a teaser? *eye emoji*
While the action and plot was definitely the focus, on a more interpersonal level there was quite a bit of angst between Jono and Patrick. However their reconconciliation was so abrupt it really threw me. Meanwhile anything and everything with Wade delighted me. I said it before and I'll say it again: I love the way he is both written and treated by the book and by the other characters as the only teenager in a cast of adults. Just because he's 18 doesn't change that he is a teen, who, while deserving and needing independence and respect, also isn't an adult in the same way the other, older characters are. It's a surprisingly delicate balance, but this series continues to do it perfectly.
Overall it was an extremely enjoyable read. I was engaged the entire time regardless of the few flaws, I love and am invested in the characters and plot and I'm, as always, looking forward to the next sequel.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
On the one hand I had a great time reading this, I was excited to read about this interpretation of Norse gods and I like the big cast of characters. On the other hand the plot felt scattered in the way it both advanced the overall series arc and had it's own closed story. It didn't really manage to marry those two aspects in a smooth way.
Content warnings include: violence and graphic injury, death, abduction, organised crime.
The interpretation of the Norse Pantheon was definitely rather MCU-Thor-esque, but it was still fine and fun to read.
As mentioned above, I struggled a bit with the plot aspects that were specific to this book in combination with the ones that advanced the plot spanning the entire series. They felt very disconnected. It definitely did advance the overall storyarc(s), but the steps, while monumental, felt too small for me. I'm very impatient to see the god pack plot really come to frutition, and have been impatient about it since book 2, so this might be more of a personal problem.
Aside from the Norse Gods, I liked the inclusion of other deities, like the ever-present Greek ones and especially the Haudenosaunee. Yet I also couldn't really figure out the role of the latter in the events of the story. Maybe a teaser? *eye emoji*
While the action and plot was definitely the focus, on a more interpersonal level there was quite a bit of angst between Jono and Patrick. However their reconconciliation was so abrupt it really threw me. Meanwhile anything and everything with Wade delighted me. I said it before and I'll say it again: I love the way he is both written and treated by the book and by the other characters as the only teenager in a cast of adults. Just because he's 18 doesn't change that he is a teen, who, while deserving and needing independence and respect, also isn't an adult in the same way the other, older characters are. It's a surprisingly delicate balance, but this series continues to do it perfectly.
Overall it was an extremely enjoyable read. I was engaged the entire time regardless of the few flaws, I love and am invested in the characters and plot and I'm, as always, looking forward to the next sequel.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.