Harness the power that has awakened within.
–from the back cover of Awakening (Book One of the Berserker Chronicles)
A megalomaniac god is pursuing a millennia-old vendetta, and Leif must learn to wrangle a newly awakened power to either become a hero or a villain. He will leave his old life and run from creatures he believed were reserved for myth and legend. He travels across the realms while struggling to tame the blinding rage that comes with his new demi-god-like power. Will Leif survive the intra-realm quest and prevent Ragnarok or will he fail to control his awakening?
Thank you so much to Kevin D. Miller for providing me with a copy of this book to review!
Today, I’m super excited to share with you my review for Awakening by Kevin D. Miller! When I first learned about this book, I was immediately hooked. I mean, let’s be honest. You say, “Norse mythology,” I say, “Awesome.” That’s all there is to it.
But in all seriousness, this book definitely lived up to my expectations. Let me tell you a little bit more about why it did, though.
Review
First of all, Leif? Amazing. Seriously, god-like abilities and powers aside, I related to him a lot. Miller just wrote him so believably. He’s a guy who gets thrust into a world filled with fantastical things, and he acts appropriately for that situation. He struggles to accept his new reality, he panics at times, and he has to work for his skills.
Plus, he makes comments here and there that are just great. That’s something I appreciated about this book in general, to be honest; the subtle humor. Just like with Leif’s character, Miller wrote the humor realistically; it doesn’t feel forced or unnatural. The crème de la crème of this humor is the back-and-forth between Leif and Arias. I absolutely loved those moments; the rapport between those two was just amazing.
Of course, I enjoyed the basic plot of Awakening, too. I liked the direction Miller took the story in, and I can easily say it went off the beaten trail. Obviously, Ragnarok isn’t a new idea, but I loved his interpretation of the end of the world. Plus, I really enjoyed that the story focused on the berserker stories of Norse mythology. I haven’t read any other book that centers around those legends, and I loved Miller’s take.
Honestly, I’m always in awe of authors who are able to take myths and legends that have been used in fiction time and time again, and they still create an amazing and unique story of their own.
Building off that point, I also loved Miller’s envisioning of the Nine Realms. I particularly liked the picture he painted of the natural splendor of Alfheim and the city of Karcoa, but just in general, his talent for creating beautiful mental images with his words is amazing.
TL,DR Recommendation
All things considered, I loved this book! It’s sure to satisfy anyone who enjoys books based on mythology; but readers who aren’t necessarily history or myth buffs will love this one, too. From great, realistic characters to a gripping plot, Awakening delivers in pretty much every department. It’s a modern take on Norse mythology that is guaranteed to leave you desperate for more.
If you do decide to pick up a copy and try it out, let me know your thoughts; I’d love to hear them! And if you enjoyed this review or want to find some more awesome books, check out the rest of my reviews here.
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