Fehu

Fehu suffers from “middle book in the trilogy” syndrome but is still a great deal of fun. It opens with protagonist Anna journeying to another world in an effort to stop both her own murder and the apocalypse, so, you know, the stakes are pretty low. 😝

The other world is intriguing and I wish Sølvsten had been able to flesh it out further; it often feels like she barely scratched the surface. Several interesting new characters are introduced, compensating for the fact that most of the original gang from Ansuz are stuck on Earth and don’t get much page time in the sequel. Anna’s genius for getting herself into hairy situations also continues unabated.

My main gripe with this book is that Sølvsten takes shortcuts to easily show more advance the plot. One of Anna’s most intriguing attributes—the martial prowess she spent much of the previous book training to acquire—is very much an informed attribute in Fehu: if Sølvsten needs one enemy to overwhelm Anna, then one enemy overwhelms Anna, never mind the fact that she's easily taken out five times as many foes in the first volume. And Sølvsten seems to speed through some pivotal scenes that are very suspenseful, but could have been even more so if she'd spent more time building them.

All that said, there's still plenty of the things I loved about the first book here--adolescent drama, cliffhangers, plot twists, action, mythology--and I'm really looking forward to the third. show less

So far, I love this series! It’s based on Norse mythology but it’s not a tired retelling. Whisper of the Ravens incorporates Norse mythology to create a new story featuring a perfectly imperfect band of misfits. Anna is a curmudgeonly orphaned teen stuck in the foster care system for a few more months. She picks up (against her will, at first) her loyal crew but otherwise just wants to be left alone.
However, Anna’s still stuck trying to prevent Ragnarok. This time she’s on her way to Hrafnheim to find and save her sister. I love that Anna is not nice. She’s kind and always tries to do the right thing, but she’s not nice. She isn’t always pleasant and she won’t fake a smile.
This book was a wild ride! When are they show more translating the rest of the series?! Because I don’t speak Danish but I NEED the rest of the series!
I received a free ARC and my review is given freely and honestly. show less

“Fehu” by Malene Solvsten is a compelling novel that explores identity, heritage, and self-discovery through the lens of the ancient runic alphabet. The story blends modern life with ancient traditions, offering a rich, immersive setting. The protagonist's journey is emotionally resonant, capturing the complexities of personal growth and belonging.

While the book’s atmospheric world-building and character development are strong, the pacing can feel slow, particularly in the middle. Some readers might find the introspective journey a bit drawn out.

Overall, “Fehu” is a thought-provoking read for those interested in mythology and personal growth, though its slower pace may not appeal to everyone.

First, let me say I got this book as an Early Reviewer. Since this was a second part of a trilogy, the publisher kindly sent me both volumes. As with the first volume, I can't say enough how much I liked this book. At over 600 pages, it is a little daunting but when you start to read you can't put it down.
The characters, those from the previous book and new ones, are so well written you come to feel you know them and the weaving in of Nordic myth with modern day was done so well that it was believable (at least in book form). The writing is both easy to read and complex. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and/or Norse mythology. I'm looking forward to publication of the third book later in 2025.

Fehu - Whisper Of The Ravens #2
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I won an ARC copy of Fehu - #2 in the Whisper Of The Ravens series by Malene Solvsten. I was surprised and grateful that Arctis Books USA/Simon and Schuster sent me both books #1 and #2 to read and review.

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If you like crazy, fun adventures, mythology (any mythology, but this series is focused on Norse mythology) and fantasy that is thrilling and suspenseful, then this is absolutely a story that you will love. Be prepared to be swept away and dropped into different worlds and realms, where you will not be able to put these books down. This series is amazingly written, with so much in-depth detail, through such creative writing, is putting you right there and feeling as though you’re actually right there show more experiencing everything happening right in front of you.
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In Fehu, the second book in this series continues with our female protagonist Anna and starts with her going on her mission and entering into another realm. She is always fearless and has a fierce tenacity that moves her to do a lot of hard with some being reckless things. She is defiant, does exactly what she wants, and in a lot of cases, with no regard to her own safety. She is not only incredibly strong but also very strong willed to succeed in what she sets out to do.
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In her long travels in the different realms, she will meet, befriend and fight many. There are no cars, planes or any of the modern conveniences that she is accustomed to, but she pushes through and makes her way. She finds a man who is in uniform as one of the Realms military force and not only befriends him but gets him to go with her. Rorik not only accompanies her but helps her fight along the way. Anna is trying desperately to prevent Ragnarok or the end of the world from happening. She is against the heavy forces of Ragnara, the ruler who Anna refers to as now being a goddess, who rules all the realms and is trying to become a god. It is forbidden to speak certain ways, worship the old gods or do anything of the like as Ragnara rules and makes all the new ways and laws they are all required to live by. She is the only one who is to be worshipped. Through many close calls and even being captured, Anna will have to fight against incredible obstacles to not only stop the what seems like inevitable Ragnarok, save someone, bring someone back and more but also fight to get back to our modern time.
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This book is packed with adventure, fantasy and action all the way through. There weren’t any slow moments and it was hard to put this book down. I am so glad I was introduced to Malene Solvsten and her writing, it is what I love to read and I am really looking forward to when the Whisper Of The Ravens #3 book comes out later this year. show less

What?
First let's start with, Monster, Finn, Author, and Hakim. You know what you did, and it doesn't hurt any less now that some are back. It still hurts. I still cried.
The prince, Rorik, or Sverre. I like him a lot. He's actually an interesting and amazing character. And I really have high hopes for him and Anna. They were absolutely perfect.
I still am mad at Varnar. Screw him.
And Elias, now I'm conflicted on what is going on with him. Because I understand he is in serious pain, but seriously? He had to go and do that? With Loki?
I have even more questions, I cannot wait until book three comes out because I need to know how this ends. I just need to!!

I loved both this book and the first one. I was so fascinated by the use of runes and the meanings of them playing a part in the books. I couldn't put down the first book and the second is really amazing. I have learned things about the characters and about myself that I find exhilarating. I liked the mythology and mystical side of the book and how they weaved in between the lives of modern times and modern people with ancient times. Reading this book was very eye-opening. I half expected it to go a little extra mile with Anne and Varner in the first book but was happy with their character development in the second.
While this was a very good book, I wouldn't recommend it to readers who do not like mythology mixing with modern times or show more do not have a vague knowledge of Norse mythology as it pertains highly in these books. I know many people who would love to read these books and will be giving them a chance to read them soon. 4.5/5.0 Rating show less