Helpful Score: 3
Really enjoyed this book! Little bit of everything - mystery, magic, romance, reality... Looking forward to trying another one of hers.
Helpful Score: 1
A romance/horror/fantasy with a reasonable dollop of each. Lyrical and spooky, though I didn't end up feeling very worried about the characters.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow! I will be looking for this author's other work! the depth of folkloric research is amazing- a little less successful on the science/ meteorology side of things which is a relatively minor quibble. I am not hung up on science- but for development of the main character it was hard to buy her as a serious climatology PhD student when she couldn't even express her interest in the topic in a way that felt the least bit coherent/realistic (and I am not a science person by any means- so even just bit of specialized info would have been sufficiently impressive to me!)
But again, minor issue- I got sucked into this book and read it in a day.
But again, minor issue- I got sucked into this book and read it in a day.
Love Ms Wilkins tales that intertwine the "real" world with a mythological world. If you read and liked Autumn Castle, you'll enjoy this one too.
ekpt me interested to the end
Author of the "Autumn Castle"
Great story about two worlds that are connected by a remote Island in the Sea of Norway and of love that has survived over 1000 years...part romance/part sci-fi
Great story about two worlds that are connected by a remote Island in the Sea of Norway and of love that has survived over 1000 years...part romance/part sci-fi
Urban fantasy involving the Norse gods and meteorologists on an island that bridges the gap between earth and Asgard. Entertaining read.
This was a stunning work of romantic fantasy based on elements of reincarnation, mythical Norse Gods, horror and passion. A page turner until the very end. It's definitely a keeper for me.
This book is wonderful! I thought it was just as good as the Autumn Castle although I heard it was slow and hard to get into. That was not true at all! I could not put this book down! This is a wonderful author!
I loved this book, It has it all, romance, mystery, sci fi, mythology, and a wonderful ending.. found myself really caught up in the story and the characters.. I highly recommend this book !!
Great book. Modern story built around some interesting Norse mythology. Ending left the door open for a sequel.
I have had this book to read for quite some time. I first read Kim Wilkins in the Dreaming Again anthology released in 2008. I immediately went out and picked out Giants of the Frost and The Autumn Castle. I thought the Autumn Castle was okay, but not great. Giants of the Frost was also in the "okay but not great" category. It moves pretty slowly. It's advertised as an urban fantasy but really doesn't fit in that genre all that well.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was okay. Some of the characters voices were really well done and some were very annoying. For example the character of Aud had a very scratchy annoying voice. However, the main character's voice was incredibly well done and nice to listen to. So I guess there was some good and some bad here.
Victoria Scott is trying to recover from breaking off her engagement and just wants somewhere quiet to finish her thesis. She takes a job on an isolated island in the Sea of Norway with a small group of weather researchers. Vicki is a logical woman and isn't prepared for the stick like man who haunts her doorstep or the terrifying Hag that tries to suck the life out of her. Unknown to Vicki she has a history with this island, a history from a past life.
Meanwhile in Aesir lands Vidar is waiting for his true love on Midgar to be reborn. Until that time he is living away from the rest of his family (Odin, Loki, etc.) in a simple farmhouse with the slave Aud. Odin wants to keep Vidar close because of the prophecy that Vidar will one day save his life. However, Vidar is determined to be reunited with this true love once she is reborn.
I enjoyed the Norse mythology here and the beautiful writing style. I love the setting of the lonely Norse island in the sea; it's very atmospheric and Wilkins makes it easy to picture. However, this story is very slow. Not a lot happens given how long the book is; midway through the book I was just plain bored.
I really enjoyed the characters on the research island in Midgard; Vicki and her coworkers were doing interesting work and were interesting to read about. However, I thought the portions of the book that took place in Asgard were boring and childish. I really disliked the character of Aud who made numerous poor decisions and then ended up being one of the only characters to get a happy ending. I cannot begin to go into the depths of my dislike for Aud and her childish and selfish decisions.
Overall this was an okay read. There were parts of the book I really liked (the mythology, Vicki's character, writing style) and parts that I absolutely hated (how slow the middle of the book was, Aud's character, the scenes in Asgard). It was just a very uneven read for me. I think from now on I will stick to Wilkins short stories and skip her books; I seem to enjoy her short stories a lot better than any of the books she's written.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was okay. Some of the characters voices were really well done and some were very annoying. For example the character of Aud had a very scratchy annoying voice. However, the main character's voice was incredibly well done and nice to listen to. So I guess there was some good and some bad here.
Victoria Scott is trying to recover from breaking off her engagement and just wants somewhere quiet to finish her thesis. She takes a job on an isolated island in the Sea of Norway with a small group of weather researchers. Vicki is a logical woman and isn't prepared for the stick like man who haunts her doorstep or the terrifying Hag that tries to suck the life out of her. Unknown to Vicki she has a history with this island, a history from a past life.
Meanwhile in Aesir lands Vidar is waiting for his true love on Midgar to be reborn. Until that time he is living away from the rest of his family (Odin, Loki, etc.) in a simple farmhouse with the slave Aud. Odin wants to keep Vidar close because of the prophecy that Vidar will one day save his life. However, Vidar is determined to be reunited with this true love once she is reborn.
I enjoyed the Norse mythology here and the beautiful writing style. I love the setting of the lonely Norse island in the sea; it's very atmospheric and Wilkins makes it easy to picture. However, this story is very slow. Not a lot happens given how long the book is; midway through the book I was just plain bored.
I really enjoyed the characters on the research island in Midgard; Vicki and her coworkers were doing interesting work and were interesting to read about. However, I thought the portions of the book that took place in Asgard were boring and childish. I really disliked the character of Aud who made numerous poor decisions and then ended up being one of the only characters to get a happy ending. I cannot begin to go into the depths of my dislike for Aud and her childish and selfish decisions.
Overall this was an okay read. There were parts of the book I really liked (the mythology, Vicki's character, writing style) and parts that I absolutely hated (how slow the middle of the book was, Aud's character, the scenes in Asgard). It was just a very uneven read for me. I think from now on I will stick to Wilkins short stories and skip her books; I seem to enjoy her short stories a lot better than any of the books she's written.
Stephanie C W. (stephanie13w) reviewed Giants of the Frost (Europa Suite) on + 300 more book reviews
Good story but kinda long.
Taking a job on an isolatd island in the Sea of Norway, scientist Victoria Scott wants a quiet place to finish her doctoral thesis. But Victoria isn't prepared for the strange shadows outside her cabin window, the rumors of a murderous hag who sucks one's soul during sleep, and the tales of mythic monsters lurking in the forest. More frightening than the island's nightmarish mysteries: to Victoria, everything is hauntingly familiar.
When an enigmatic stranger appears on the island, Victoria's sense of foreboding peaks. For she learns that they are connected by a conflict centuries old - one that can end only with her death...
When an enigmatic stranger appears on the island, Victoria's sense of foreboding peaks. For she learns that they are connected by a conflict centuries old - one that can end only with her death...
