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missprint_'s review
2.0
In her heyday, Sara Vanadi was Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death. But it turns out gods get their power from belief and in the twenty-first century there aren't a lot of true believers left.
Sara Vanadi has spent the last twenty-seven fairly comfortable years living in a mental hospital. Sure the clothing options are limited, and maybe it's not the most happening place. But it turns out it's a great option for a former goddess who needs to keep a low profile.
Sara's twilight years are ruined when a representative from the shady Finemdi corporation tracks her down to make an offer: join the corporation and receive new believers or die. Sara chooses option three and goes on the run with her unwitting accomplice (and first worshiper in decades) Nathan in Freya (2017) by Matthew Laurence.
Freya is Laurence's debut novel and the first book in a series.
This book is narrated by Sara/Freya who thanks to her unique position as a god offers an interesting perspective on the modern world. She is also unapolgetically curvy and comfortable negotiating traditional feminine roles (she loves fashion and food) while also taking on the role of hero as she fights bad guys. These flipped gender roles are expanded further with Nathan who is comfortable taking on domestic roles and acting as sidekick while he and Freya try to take on the megalithic Finemdi corporation.
Laurence begins this novel with a clever premise that is expanded thoughtfully as the book progresses. Freya explains her own origins and the internal logic of gods from her pantheon and beyond surviving into modern times (this includes fellow Norse gods, Hawaiian goddesses, some figures from Egyptian and Hindu mythology, and Jesus among others).
Despite the presence of larger-than-life gods and the high action beginning, Freya starts slow with Sara and Nathan going on the run and then literally standing still as Sara explains her position as Freya (something she chooses to withhold from both readers and Nathan for the first chapters of the novel despite the title eliminating any chances of a big reveal) and gathering the pieces they will need to go into hiding with new identities. Freya uses her some of her remaining powers as a god to gather the resources she and Nathan will need but even for a goddess things come together a bit too easily.
Freya is a novel that is fun and filled with action. Although the execution is interesting, the story is poorly paced with little time spent on characterization for anyone except the titular narrator. This novel will have the most appeal for readers (especially reluctant ones) who enjoy mythology and action. An obvious stepping stone for fans of Rick Riordan's novels looking for something new.
Possible Pairings: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake, Temping Fate by Esther Friesner, The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton, Wildefire by Karsten Knight, Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Sara Vanadi has spent the last twenty-seven fairly comfortable years living in a mental hospital. Sure the clothing options are limited, and maybe it's not the most happening place. But it turns out it's a great option for a former goddess who needs to keep a low profile.
Sara's twilight years are ruined when a representative from the shady Finemdi corporation tracks her down to make an offer: join the corporation and receive new believers or die. Sara chooses option three and goes on the run with her unwitting accomplice (and first worshiper in decades) Nathan in Freya (2017) by Matthew Laurence.
Freya is Laurence's debut novel and the first book in a series.
This book is narrated by Sara/Freya who thanks to her unique position as a god offers an interesting perspective on the modern world. She is also unapolgetically curvy and comfortable negotiating traditional feminine roles (she loves fashion and food) while also taking on the role of hero as she fights bad guys. These flipped gender roles are expanded further with Nathan who is comfortable taking on domestic roles and acting as sidekick while he and Freya try to take on the megalithic Finemdi corporation.
Laurence begins this novel with a clever premise that is expanded thoughtfully as the book progresses. Freya explains her own origins and the internal logic of gods from her pantheon and beyond surviving into modern times (this includes fellow Norse gods, Hawaiian goddesses, some figures from Egyptian and Hindu mythology, and Jesus among others).
Despite the presence of larger-than-life gods and the high action beginning, Freya starts slow with Sara and Nathan going on the run and then literally standing still as Sara explains her position as Freya (something she chooses to withhold from both readers and Nathan for the first chapters of the novel despite the title eliminating any chances of a big reveal) and gathering the pieces they will need to go into hiding with new identities. Freya uses her some of her remaining powers as a god to gather the resources she and Nathan will need but even for a goddess things come together a bit too easily.
Freya is a novel that is fun and filled with action. Although the execution is interesting, the story is poorly paced with little time spent on characterization for anyone except the titular narrator. This novel will have the most appeal for readers (especially reluctant ones) who enjoy mythology and action. An obvious stepping stone for fans of Rick Riordan's novels looking for something new.
Possible Pairings: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake, Temping Fate by Esther Friesner, The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton, Wildefire by Karsten Knight, Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
andreacaro's review
4.5 stars.
This book had some pacing issues, but man, was it a fun story. Seeing deities from different cultures was amazing. Immediately after finishing I went and preordered the second book on Amazon. GOOD STUFF.
This book had some pacing issues, but man, was it a fun story. Seeing deities from different cultures was amazing. Immediately after finishing I went and preordered the second book on Amazon. GOOD STUFF.
lavendermarch's review
4.0
Awesomesauce! I loved how Freya was so good at heart with some things, and was so frank about her faults as well. I thought it was really interesting how gods knew their faults, and the paths of right and wrong, but had to follow their natures. On a side note, that thing with Samantha at the end...well, I don't know what to think now. Also, I feel like Nate is going to snap one of these days. I really liked Pele, Nāmaka, Hi'iaka, and Sekhmet. I hope Freya lets out her inner Valkyrie one of these days! 4.5 stars
pantsreads's review
3.0
Although I liked—a lot—Laurence's inclusion of a variety of gods and goddesses from disparate locations and cultures, the main story about Sara (Freya) didn't really grab me.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
amyjoy's review
3.0
This was a fine. It wasn't anything super exciting or innovative, but it was fun. I stand by my wish that it was just "Goddess posing as a Disney Princess" rather than "Goddess trying to take down Evil Corporation," and I wish we had gotten more of the Hawaiian goddesses.
celebrationofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First things first – Freya is a debut novel by a cool dude about a badass woman. I always check out reviews of books before reading them, but this time, I was the first to post a “review” of sorts on Goodreads and in going back to read the new reviews since the book was released in March (I read it in November), I have to say, I understand the complaints, but the pros outweigh the cons and the promise of more outweighs what the first book may have lacked.
Freya is the perfect book for young adults who spent their childhood reading Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and are looking for a mythology book that is a touch more grown up. The pacing is quick, the plot moves along at a steady pace, and the supporting cast of characters is richly described. While they may not yet be full realized, there is a lot of opportunity for them to grow and for the readers to get to know the various deities and mythologies better.
Sara/Freya is a fabulous narrator – in a debut, first in a series, YA fantasy, the most essential part of ensuring readership is to have a fully realized main character and Sara/Freya is such a character. And while some may complain about a pretty big structural point, that Freya is in first person, and there are certain things about Freya, what she is thinking, her background, and such that we as readers are not privy to, I personally enjoy the suspense and delight in the “not-knowing” aspect of the final plan to take down the big bad corporation. Freya marries the best parts of first and third person narration spectacularly.
I have only two complaints, and one is a silly one at that. The first, if Nate is going to be our main supporting actor, he needs a bit more of a role than simply “worshipper of Freya.” And the second, the silly one, the name Sarah, my own name, should always have an “H” at the end.
mekachudrago's review
1.0
I admit that I am a bit of a cover snob. The cover alone made me want to run away from this book, but I persisted because the idea of the book seemed great! I’m all for mythology, and I will admit that the idea of the gods still living based on how much belief their supporters have and that their physical forms change based on that belief, is a super super cool idea. But this book falls short with a really boring plot. I was trying to enjoy it as much as I could, but once Sara got to Disneyland and did all the trickery to get in it seemed unreasonably unrealistic. I understand that this book is meant to be fiction. It’s not real. I get that, but any time a book makes me think “there is literally no way” I can’t keep reading. DNF
foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Photo Op
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Modern Theology
Bonus Factors: Gods and Goddesses (+ Diversity)
Factor: Open-Ended
Relationship Status: Agnostic
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Photo Op
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Modern Theology
Bonus Factors: Gods and Goddesses (+ Diversity)
Factor: Open-Ended
Relationship Status: Agnostic
Read the full book report here.
kaiouelios's review
5.0
This was a very entertaining book. It really felt like freya wrote it so we would believe in her again. There were a roller coaster of emotions where I honestly thought she wouldn't win. I would read more books by this author.