Bane of Asgard

Gr 8 Up–Eiric, Reginn, and Liv have been reunited in New Jotunheim after the events of Children of Ragnarok where Eiric killed the counsel and has provided Tyra, a wyrdspinner and Liv’s mother, the perfect excuse to go to war with Asgard. Reginn has become an advisor to Tyra, while Liv, who is also Eiric’s half-sister, has been raised to godhood with dangerous consequences. Reginn helps Eiric escape and head back to Asgard to warn the jarl, but upon arriving he discovers that the months he spent in New Jotunheim were nearly 10 years in Asgard. After all her work crossing between the worlds of the living and the dead, her fire demon makes it clear: Reginn must choose between her love for Eiric and her queen, because only she can stop Ragnarok. Chima crafts a propulsive narrative primarily in Eiric and Reginn’s points of view, with some input from other characters to raise the stakes. The twists and turns will leave readers breathless as the characters edge ever closer to the apocalypse. Despite the multidimensional cast of flawed and inspiring characters, some of the interpersonal relationships falter as the plot drives relentlessly forward. Many of Eiric’s relationships, in particular his romance with Reginn, don’t have the emotional resonance readers might expect. Main cast is cued white, with additional diversity in secondary characters.