Title: Found (The Will of Yggdrasil #5)

Author: Sara C. Roethle

Pub. Date: February 6, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The old gods have returned, and there will be hell to pay.

Previously the Bitter Ashes Series.

Now that Yggdrasil has been regrown, Madeline must face the old gods’ judgment. She shouldn’t exist, and they know it. The world has been irreparably changed, and perhaps the Vaettir no longer have a place in it. Madeline had thought that once she destroyed her rival she would be safe. Now she knows just how wrong she was.

Madeline will face the ultimate trial, outwitting the All Father himself. Will she survive to see her daughter grow up, or will time and fate be irreparably damaged, throwing not just earth, but all worlds into chaos?

This will be a spoiler free review.

I can’t believe I’ve read the last book in this series.

I can’t believe that I got so sucked in and invested all because of Elise Kova.

Remind me to thank her.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I thought that this was a pretty good ending to Maddie’s story. Pretty much everything is tied up, and what isn’t is minor and probably left open for you to imagine what comes next. A lot happens in this book, and while that’s not a bad thing overall, I do have some issues.

The first issue being that it felt like two books mashed into one. It felt like the first 50% was one book, with a lot of the fluff missing, and then the second 50% was another book with fluff missing. There were basically two arcs in this book, and they felt rushed.

Okay, yes, they ultimately tie into each other, and make sense (which isn’t surprising since it’s a series) but I wouldn’t have been mad if there had been a sixth book.

Stuff was just so rushed in this book.

My second issue is, can Maddie just choose both Alaric and Mikael…I mean jfc. I feel like this series very much makes you choose Team Alaric or Team Mikael, and honestly, I’m team Mikael. I don’t know what it is, or if I just have a soft spot for Vikings, but I just like him so much more. Maddie has pretty deep connections with everyone in her life, and she is one of those female characters, who guys just want to flock around and protect. That’s great and all, but they’re all so snarky, and sarcastic and just giant dorks, that I end up liking them all. I’m still totally Team Mikael, but honestly, there are practically so many guys to choose from. It’s a little ridiculous.

And my final issue, the very ending, how it all goes down. Like, wtf. As the ending to the whole series and everything that has happened, it’s pretty good and justified…mostly. But again, I think my main issue with the ending was the pacing. Everything happened too fast, too quickly for me to really feel the emotional weight and consequences.

I just needed this whole book to slow the hell down or be longer. I don’t know. I just needed more time.

I’m kind of sad to now be done with this series, these characters. I’m definitely going to miss them. On a happier note, I’m really excited to give the author’s other books a go! I’m excited to dive into Tree of Ages, which would most likely be the next one I read. If you’re looking for a urban fantasy (I guess that’s what I’d call it) with some more mature themes, hot men, Gods, magics and battles for humanity all while learning to accept yourself and not fear who you are, and finding your family, you might want to check out this series. It pretty much has everything, so you can’t go wrong.

Title: Forged (The Will of Yggdrasil #4)

Author: Sara C. Roethle

Pub. Date: February 5, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Lovers torn apart by time. A tree regrown from the beginning.

Previously the Bitter Ashes Series.

What do the Morrigan, a necromancer, and an ancient Viking have in common? Nothing, except for a common goal: Defeat Estus once and for all, and rescue their loved ones trapped in the past.

New alliances are formed, old friends may be lost, but will balance be restored once and for all?

This will be a short, spoiler free review.

To be honest, I don’t know what to say at this point that would inadvertently be a spoiler.

I’m still annoyed about a certain thing that Maddie is dealing with, and ultimately, it’s just going to make things harder.

I’m such a Mikael fan. Like, I like him more than I like Alaric. Why can’t he be the love interest? I guess I have a thing for big tough on the outside, soft on the inside Vikings. I do love his and Maddie’s friendship. So, that’s a plus.

Things are starting to pick up and fall into place. Battles are getting ready to be fought and potentially won. Maddie and Alaric are tested, and new alliances and friendships are forged. Actually, quite a lot happens in this book, and I can’t talk about any of it without spoilers.

I definitely liked this book better than book 3, and I’ve already bought the final book in this series. I’ll get to find out how it all ends very soon.

I’m still really glad that I got into this series, because it’s low pressure, I can just lay in my bed at night, reading and get lost in a story. I love that. I love that I really don’t have to think too critically, and I can just enjoy these books.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out Fated, book 1 in The Will of Yggdrasil series!

Title: Fury (The Will of Yggdrasil #3)

Author: Sara C. Roethle

Pub. Date: February 5, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you play with gods, you get burned.

Madeline is willing to take the risk, though gods can be finicky, and if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that no one does anything for free.

This will be a spoiler free review.

This book suffered from middle book syndrome. Basically, nothing happens during the first 45% of this book. At least nothing of major consequence. War is looming, and Maddie and Co. have been on the run and hiding out.

Hiding is the main focus of the first half of the novel.

It gets a little boring after a while.

Even when things pick up during the second half of the novel, I felt like the world building was being altered to fit a new narrative. I just felt a disconnect with the characters and the plot, and suddenly people were seemingly acting out of character.

Again, I think the biggest issue with this book is just suffers from middle book syndrome. It’s just a filler book to get us to the next one. There was also no real progression with any of the character relationships, despite the new information that gets revealed about certain characters. And aspects of Maddie’s power are revealed or hinted at that just seemed strange?

Maybe I’m just woefully ignorant on Irish folklore and mythology (the series pulls inspiration from it) – I’m not discounting that. I don’t know really anything about it, so this could all be quite common knowledge. But as for a reading experience, this book just left me feeling a little bored and a little skeptical.

Did I already buy book 4, because I’m too invested at this point?

Yes. I did.

It’s already loaded onto my Kindle. I’m too deep into this story to give up now.

I talked in the last review for this series about an element that I’m not a fan of, and I’m still not a fan. I think it’s going to cause problems. Also, there is a death in this book that felt incredibly cheap and so unnecessary. Like, I’m actually kind of annoyed that this character dies. It served no purpose, at all. Just thinking about it is actually making me angry. I didn’t have such a strong reaction when I read it, but now, thinking about it…what the fuck. I’m angry.

The uselessness of the death reminds me of Beth’s death seasons ago in The Walking Dead. It served absolutely no purpose.

Anyways, I digress.

I’m also starting to root for a different love interest other than Alaric. I don’t know, I’m just not sold on him. I don’t find him irresistible or even really interesting. Which is crazy, because I didn’t feel this way for book 1&2. Sure, he’s your typic fantastical alpha male, who’s super-hot and willing to do whatever it takes to protect those he cares about. While the latter is still true, it’s like his character has been watered down.

It’s hard to explain without spoilers, but maybe the author was trying to make him more sentimental and occupy the “traditional woman role” of pining, of needing to be protected. But to me, it felt more like his character had been watered down. Like the spark or something was gone.

But yeah, there’s another guy that I’d totally be on board with Maddie being with…if not for that stupid freaking plot element I hate.

I don’t think this book is the strongest in the series. Granted, that could change, I have 2 more books to read. But based on what I read, this was my least favorite. When I finished book 1, I couldn’t wait to read book 2, and same when I finished book 2, I couldn’t wait for book 3. Right now, my feelings are ‘I’m too invested now to not finish this series’, but I don’t feel this pressing need to start it right away.

Overall, I’m still a fan of this series, the world, the characters, and I’m interested in finding out what’s coming next. Once again, the stakes are higher, new powers have been unleashed and it’s up to Maddie and Co. to basically save the world. If you’re interested, you can check out my reviews for Fated and Fallen.

Title: Fated (The Will of Yggdrasil #1)

Author: Sara C. Roethle

Pub Date: February 5, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The monster at the door can be ignored. The monster in the mirror however…

A normal person would run screaming into the night, but there’s something about dark and alluring Alaric that’s giving Madeline pause, and it’s not the fact that he turns a little feline from time to time. Together they must search for an elusive magical charm, a remnant of the gods themselves. Madeline’s life depends on finding it first . . . and so does the entire fate of humanity.

This will be a spoiler free review.

I don’t think this would have been on my radar if Elise Kova hadn’t posted about it in her Facebook group. I’m part of the group, so I saw the post with the book asking if any of her readers would be willing to read and post a review of the book. It sounded interesting and like something I could quickly get through.

I’m a huge fan of Elise’s, so I trust her opinion when it comes to books. So, if she’s promoting one, or an author in general, I’m likely to check the book or the author out.

I downloaded the book and practically inhaled it in one sitting. I enjoyed this book, the world, the characters. I will say that as I was getting into it, I was a little confused. But not for the reasons you may think.

You’d think as an avid reader, my reading comprehension would be stellar. Well, in this instance, not so much. For whatever reason, I struggled with this line in the synopsis:

Previously the Bitter Ashes Series.

 Except, I didn’t read it that way. There was a disconnect or something in my brain and I read this:

Previously ON the Bitter Ashes Series.

I have nothing. I don’t know why I read it that way, but because I did, I spent a good 40 minutes trying to figure out why this series sounded exactly like the author’ Bitter Ashes Series, and how many damn times could this girl be stolen from her bed and not remember it.

40 minutes later and I felt like a damn fool and dove into the book with no more concerns or confusion. I promptly read it in one sitting and then promptly bought book 2 and started it.

Fated is a pretty quick and easy read that allows you to turn your mind off and just get lost in it. It’s cliché and full of tropes, and therefore you kind of know what’s going to happen. It has a bit of insta attraction and insta love, but I found myself not minding. It’s a paranormal? fantasy, and I’m always more forgiving of the insta love in those kinds of stories.

Also, sometimes I get tired of reading about the proper progression of healthy relationships, and I just want the unrealistic automatic attraction and love that really makes no sense. It just means I don’t have to wait for the buildup between the two love interests.

This is definitely Upper YA or New Adult – I’m not really sure what it’s classified under. The characters are older, so I’m assuming YA, but if a teen were to read this, there’s nothing too graphic. There is sex on the page, and if you know, you know, and if you don’t, then you probably shouldn’t be reading the book. Again, nothing graphic, and a lot of fade to black.

I would have liked a little more world description and character description. I struggled just a little bit to picture some of the places and some of the characters. Character wise, it’s like I can picture their overall physique, but I can’t quite picture their faces. As for the world, I get general images, with a few specific details, and then I’m kind of lost. I don’t think either of these things break this book, just a personal preference. I love the cast of characters, and their personalities and I love the feel of the world.

I’m glad I went into this book with not very high expectations. I received a free copy to review, and I’ve bought the next two in the series, so I think that speaks to how much I enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to finish the series. I’m definitely looking forward to reading other books by Sara, Tree of Ages has been on my TBR for probably forever, so maybe that will be next.

If you’re looking for a quick read with some magic, romance, hot guys, and high stakes, maybe check this series out.