4.5 stars, 8.57 on CAWPILE

OHHHH my goodness. Okay.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing me an e-arc for review!

This book HOOKED ME. Right from the get go, the atmosphere and setting drew me in. I do love a viking sort of setting but do not read very much of it and clearly I need to read more of it, because I was sucked in immediately. 

The plot of the story was fantastic too. Well-crafted, fast-paced, yet it never felt rushed along. We moved from event to event yet still had plenty of those small character moments where you get to know who you are on this journey with. And let me tell you, I loved these characters.

Freya is incredible. A strong-willed woman in a world where that is not necessarily what is expected, Freya never backed down and I loved that. Not only did she not back down to those trying to control her, but she didn't back down to herself either and the darker side that she harbors. 

Bjorn is <3 <3 <3 beautiful, amazing, supportive, I love him. He has a complicated past that may or may not come back to bite us in the butt! But he supports Freya, teaches her to fight, and gives her the space to choose for herself rather than to just follow the path others set out for her.

THE TWIST! WHAT. I did not see that coming! I was obviously suspecting something, but to just whip it out like that at the end had my jaw on the floor!

Highly recommend this book!