A review by allisonwonderlandreads
The Valkyrie's Daughter by Tiana Warner
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is that particular brand of ya book that gives us the MOST misunderstood teenager with the MOST fabulous chosen one destiny and the MOST secret, sparkly identity that even she doesn't yet know. I was looking forward to the Norse mythology aspects, but the plot fell into generic rhythms of storytelling that failed to capture my attention. The writing was a big issue for me. There wasn't anything spectacular in the way settings, feelings, or actions were described to ground me in what was happening. As my attention drifted, I failed to form a bond with characters or take much interest in what they got up to.
A band of misfits should have captured my undying devotion, but flat personalities and basic, surface-level banter prevented me. Even a sapphic romance could not save this story for me because it was so bland; it largely features Sigrid's circular inner dialogue trying to figure out if she's experiencing a crush and isn't Mariam so pretty, etc. There isn't much excitement or joy or humor or really any emotion to flavor the experience and make it tangible.
At 50%, I was ready to quit and futilely shake my fist at the continuation of my reading slump. At 58%, our main character had a meltdown about A) not being trusted by her friends whom she does not trust, either, and B) not being the only one entrusted with her crush's most traumatic memory because it implies Sigrid's not special. And that's when I caved and called it a day. It's a rare DNF for me, folks. I sincerely hope Sigrid does some soul-searching and experiences vast character growth in the latter half of the book, but I was tired of plodding along, waiting for it to happen.
A band of misfits should have captured my undying devotion, but flat personalities and basic, surface-level banter prevented me. Even a sapphic romance could not save this story for me because it was so bland; it largely features Sigrid's circular inner dialogue trying to figure out if she's experiencing a crush and isn't Mariam so pretty, etc. There isn't much excitement or joy or humor or really any emotion to flavor the experience and make it tangible.
At 50%, I was ready to quit and futilely shake my fist at the continuation of my reading slump. At 58%, our main character had a meltdown about A) not being trusted by her friends whom she does not trust, either, and B) not being the only one entrusted with her crush's most traumatic memory because it implies Sigrid's not special. And that's when I caved and called it a day. It's a rare DNF for me, folks. I sincerely hope Sigrid does some soul-searching and experiences vast character growth in the latter half of the book, but I was tired of plodding along, waiting for it to happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Abandonment