Review to come! 
 Update 6/28/14: 
 Drop everything and get this book now! I was completely blown away by this novel, and it is a definite must read for any fan of mythology of any kind. It is no secret among people who know me that I am a huge Norse mythology fan, especially Thor. Suffice to say, this book was right up my alley. However, the beauty of this book is that you don't need to know any Norse mythology prior to reading because the stories are woven into the novel so intricately that you don't even realize you're learning. S.T. Bende's writing is incredible, and I couldn't find a single thing wrong with this novel. There is the perfect amount of description and detail to make you feel like the scenes are playing out right in front of you, and enough mystery to keep you reading. 
 The characters were fantastic. Kristia was a wonderful lead character. She is extremely relatable, and she experiences a significant growth over the course of the novel. We see Kristia go from a shy, introverted girl who never experiences adventure to a girl that is independent, strong, and brave. She never backs down, and rises to the challenge when it is called for. Kristia is seriously one of the best female leads I have read about in awhile. Ull was HOT, HOT, HOT! I mean who can resist a guy that is polite, opens doors for a girl, takes her on picnics and other Uber romantic dates, and makes a girl breakfast. Oh, and one other thing, is hell-bent on saving the world from destruction. Definite win in my book ;) Ull was a very nice balance for Kristia, and I loved watching their relationship grow and blossom over the course of the novel. I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the rest of the series between them because I can already tell there will be some steamy moments. The side characters were just as wonderful, and all had great personality and wit. They didn't fade into the background. Instead, they all play a good role in the story, and for me, this is something that is much appreciated. 
 As I said before, the mythology in this novel is expertly done. Ms. Bende works the Norse mythology into the story in intervals, and doesn't just throw it at the reader. We learn the information along with Kristia, and because of this, we are treated to a better flowing, more interactive story in a way. It makes you feel as if you are truly apart of the story, rather than just sitting there reading. I loved learning everything, and what better way to learn more about Norse myths? You can easily tell that Ms. Bende put a great deal of effort into her research for this novel. 
 I am extremely excited for the release of the second book, Endre, and can't wait to see what happens next! I highly recommend checking this book out because it will sweep you off your feet into the world of Thor, Odin, and the Norse gods. This will definitely be going on my re-read list. Happy reading :)