The Hunger of the Dragon (The Forbidden Runes Series Book 1) - R.M. Schultz

Divine remnants are hoarded, stolen, and killed for.

These items grant powerful magics to those with the strength to wield them.

The war of the gods has passed, leaving Midgard without direction, but vengeance and the battle for control has just begun.

A berserker of the Raven must protect her magical items from those bent on stealing them while a Wolf warrior renounces her clan to pursue the impossible—harnessing the magics of the Dragon. A thief of the Wolf is led astray and will never regain what is taken from him. They protect their own, claim what they can, and rise to power in waves of glory.

But when a mysterious new clan emerges seeking to conquer all, the Ravens and Wolves must safeguard their divine remains or destroy each other.

The resulting war will determine the fate of each clan as they succumb to the hunger of the Dragon and the forbidden runes.

 

What did I think?

It took me a while to get into The Hunger of the Dragon as I'm quite new to fantasy and there are a lot of Norse names of people in various clans to remember.  There is a map at the start and a glossary of Norse words at the back that contains a cast of characters so it's well worth referring to this as you go along. 

The story is told from three different points of view: Märren (a grieving mother who is searching for a dragon scale), Caëtin (a shapeshifting raven and adopted daughter of the jarl) and Belfedrn (a wolf warrior and Märren's cousin).  I liked all characters but I really felt for Märren who lost her daughter and is understandably struggling with her mental health.

Whilst I liked the multiple points of view, I found it a little difficult to follow at times and I was just getting used to the characters in the chapter by the time it ended.  I think anyone used to reading fantasy would cope better than I did.  I loved reading about the various clans and their particular magic skills. 

Filled with Norse mythology and battling clans, The Hunger of the Dragon is like a cross between Vikings and Game of Thrones, so if you love this type of story then it's definitely worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds - Columbkill Noonan

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds, with many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part.

Hold your flying horses!

Barnabas and Wilfred, two earnest but bumbling Victorian detectives, travel through the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology, trying to stave off the impending end of the world, an event which the locals call “Ragnarok”. This time around, however, the intrepid twosome has some help: a brave Viking seer named Brynhild and her flying horse.

Can the two plucky detectives and the fearsome Brynhild outwit those who would bring about Ragnarok? Will they survive the harsh conditions and terrifying creatures of the Norse afterlife? Will they save the world…again? 

What did I think?

I have always been intrigued by myths and legends, but I have never learned about them, and I have to say that Columbkill Noonan has created such a fun and innovative way to learn about Gods and Goddesses of various ancient religions and mythologies.  I already had a keen interest in Egyptian mythology, which drew me to the first book: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab, but, having had no idea about Norse mythology, I have to say that I have learned so much by reading Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds.

Columbkill Noonan is definitely on to a winner with her creation of Barnabus and his trusty sidekick, Wilfred.  Think Bob Mortimer (Wilfred) trying to control Vic Reeves (Barnabas) and you will get the idea.  Barnabus is so hilarious that you have no idea what he might do next and he is one of these people who always claims to have known something before everyone else.  His favourite phrase seems to be: 'that's what I always say' when he never says anything of the sort.

In this book, Barnabas and Wilfred are tasked by Odin to find the thief of a missing bowl; a bowl that Loki's wife holds over him to protect him from the poison dripping from a serpent.  With the bowl missing, the poison is dripping onto Loki and causing him to thrash around, causing earthquakes across the nine worlds.  Will Barnabas and Wilfred be able to find the bowl before Ragnarok, the end of the world, takes place?  

The Barnabas Tew books are so accessible for all ages to learn about myths and legends, in such a fun yet informative way.  In Norse mythology, I had heard of Odin, Thor and Loki but I didn't realise that there is so much more to learn.  Having read Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds, I feel as if I could hold my own in a conversation about Norse mythology.  Without perhaps even realising it, Columbkill Noonan has taken it upon herself to teach us all about mythology in a way we will never forget.

Entertaining, fun, and informative, Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds will teach you more about Norse mythology than you could possibly learn in a lesson or a book about the subject.  Columbkill Noonan's books should definitely be part of the curriculum; making learning fun again.  I can't wait for the next adventure!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

Columbkill Noonan lives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she teaches yoga and Anatomy and Physiology.  Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab” by Crooked Cat Books, was released in 2017, and her latest work, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”, is set to be released in September 2018.

In her spare time, Columbkill enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, aerial yoga, and riding her rescue horse, Mittens. To learn more about Columbkill please feel free to visit her website (www.columbkill.weebly.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan) or on Twitter (@ColumbkillNoon1).

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/columbkillnoon1?lang=en

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