Monster Ridge

The authors very kindly offered me an audible code to continue my The Prophecies of Ragnarok journey, and I’m glad to say this new narrator (Jennifer Pratt) was pretty great.

While the first book meshed atmospheric horror, a single location, and a romance plot, I found book two to build much more into the action adventure side of the storyline. Victor and Silje are star-crossed lovers, fated to love each other and struggle through the ages. And due to Victor’s godly lineage, they are constantly hunted, each big bad just a little worse than the last as the climax grows.

This makes for a pretty fast paced novel, but the authors still manage to keep a somewhat comedic air to the story with the inclusion of Victor’s British best friend. It’s also funny how as an urban fantasy, the authors were not afraid to infuse the story with misconceptions from the way the MCU presents the Norse gods.

This installment definitely worked better for me, especially with the separation of Victor and Silje, which really allowed for the latter to grow into her own character, with strength and a personality that stands on its own. Even against the biggest bad in the story, Thor.

I particularly liked the use of the Philippines for a location, as seeing authors infuse stories with their cultures or histories is always a nice turn. And this trilogy definitely has a nice diverse cast of characters.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy, Norse mythology, and unique takes on meshing those worlds, this should work really well for you.