Rise - by Freya Finch (Hardcover)

About the Book

"For seventeen-year-old Bryn, being the youngest, messiest, most rebellious sister in a family of valkyries isn't easy. Especially considering home is a Renaissance faire in Chicago full of costumed workers who see her as nothing more than a nuisance. When her mother disappears on a mission for Odin, Bryn begins having strange visions about the impending Ragnaörk. Bryn senses their mother is in great danger, but her annoyingly perfect older sisters refuse to take her seriously. Their mother is, after all, captain of the valkyries. Things only take a turn for the worse when a half human, half giant named Juniper crashes the party with a violent zombie in tow, confirming Bryn's worst fears--her visions of Ragnaörk are real. If that wasn't enough, the faire's mysterious new addition, Wyatt the Black Knight, just so happens to have a ferocious secret that threatens everyone around him. Determined to survive Ragnaörk, Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt team up to combat the horde of monsters that keeps appearing throughout the faire. But after Bryn ignores the call to deliver Wyatt to Odin's eternal warriors in Valhalla, choosing to save his life instead, she starts to wonder if she'll ever get this valkyrie thing right. Whispers of divine interference--including sightings of the mischievous Loki--reach Bryn's ears. Soon everyone at the faire becomes a suspect, leaving Bryn, her sisters, and their newfound friends the only ones who can stop the war to end all realms. Whether she's ready or not, Bryn is about to learn how the ties between fate and choice are as interwoven and unbreakable as the bonds between sisters."--

Book Synopsis

The action and adventure of Percy Jackson meets the complex heroines of The Cruel Prince as a family of valkyries fight to stop Ragnarök.

For seventeen-year-old Bryn, being the youngest, messiest, most rebellious sister in a family of valkyries isn't easy. Especially considering home is a Renaissance faire in Chicago full of costumed workers who see her as nothing more than a nuisance. When her mother disappears on a mission for Odin, Bryn begins having strange visions about the impending Ragnarök. Bryn senses their mother is in great danger, but her annoyingly perfect older sisters refuse to take her seriously. Their mother is, after all, captain of the valkyries.

Things only take a turn for the worse when a half human, half giant named Juniper crashes the party with a violent zombie in tow, confirming Bryn's worst fears--her visions of Ragnarök are real. If that wasn't enough, the faire's mysterious new addition, Wyatt the Black Knight, just so happens to have a ferocious secret that threatens everyone around him. Determined to survive Ragnarök, Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt team up to combat the horde of monsters that keeps appearing throughout the faire. But after Bryn ignores the call to deliver Wyatt to Odin's eternal warriors in Valhalla, choosing to save his life instead, she starts to wonder if she'll ever get this valkyrie thing right.

Whispers of divine interference--including sightings of the mischievous Loki--reach Bryn's ears. Soon everyone at the faire becomes a suspect, leaving Bryn, her sisters, and their newfound friends the only ones who can stop the war to end all realms. Whether she's ready or not, Bryn is about to learn how the ties between fate and choice are as interwoven and unbreakable as the bonds between sisters.

Review Quotes

[starred review] A fledgling teen Valkyrie tries to avert Ragnarök in Finch's spirited, Norse mythology-inspired debut. Most assume Bryn Martel, her older sisters Prima and Reagan, and their mother are ordinary people who live and work at Ravenswood Medieval Faire, a Chicago-area tourist attraction. In truth, Bryn's mother is a Valkyrie, charged with ferrying souls to Valhalla and doing Odin's bidding on Earth, and her daughters are training to join her--Bryn less adeptly than her siblings. Prima and Reagan dismiss Bryn's concerns when Mom is late returning from a mission, so Bryn doesn't tell them when she starts having apocalyptic visions; it's not like they'd believe her. Then a half-giant called Juniper appears and drops two bombshells: she's their half sister, and the doomsday war known as Ragnarök is nigh. Prima and Reagan distrust Juniper, prompting her and Bryn to partner with a "very attractive" shape-shifter named Wyatt to find Bryn's mom and forestall the end of all things. The boldly drawn, white-cued cast is feisty and funny. Coupled with Bryn's snarky first-person-present narrative, Finch unveils a rollicking, twist-filled plot, which puts a modern spin on ancient folklore while sensitively exploring issues of identity and fate. Ages 12-up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (July) (Publishers Weekly, April 15, 2024)

About the Author

Freya Finch writes about myths, magic, and mischief-makers. Born and raised in Michigan, she earned her MA in writing and publishing from DePaul University in Chicago. Now she lives in the mountains of Poland, where you can find her hiking with her German shepherd or lounging at home with her husband watching their favorite movies. Rise is her first novel. Find her on Instagram @FreyaFinchAuthor or at her website FreyaFinchBooks.com.