Valkyrie #3: War of the Realms by Kate O'Hearn

Is the day of Ragnorok finally here? Will all of the realms be destroyed when the frost and fire giants unite with the Dark Elves, dwarfs, and trolls to attack Asgard? I feel helpless here in Midgard where the humans live, since Odin closed the bridge leading to home. The giants will surely win the war due to their superior size and strength, but I have an idea that might work. The giants are not known for getting along, so maybe there's a way to fracture their unity. Loki agrees with my idea and says we need to get assistance from the people of Vanaheim. They've hated Odin and Asgard for centuries, but Loki thinks their powerful magic can sway the balance of power in our favor. However, Loki is called a trickster for good reason, so can he be trusted? What if he's leading me into a trap?

You should read the previous two books in the trilogy first. Freya is the main character and youngest of all the Valkyries. She's not a character who follows the rules, so her actions are sometimes unpredictable, but always entertaining. It's okay to question Loki's actions due to his past antics that got Freya into trouble, but Freya still sees something good in him. The majority of the plot deals with the war against Dirian and his Dark Searchers and his Fire and Frost Giant allies. Dirian and Freya have a combative history that began back in the first book, so it's predictable that they'll face off in the series climax. The cast of characters is full of people exhibiting honor and a willingness to sacrifice themselves. This includes humans who have been portrayed as relatively weak characters throughout the series. The author includes plenty of twists and surprises that keep the plot exciting and entertaining. Even Freya and her sister Maya discover they possess hidden powers they didn't know existed. The Vanir add magic to the story, and their feud with Odin and Asgard creates another potential conflict. Overall, I enjoyed the series and highly recommend it for your reading pleasure, especially if you enjoy Norse mythology.