Battlestorm

Readers will be so immersed in the detail of Krinard’s third Midgard urban fantasy (after Black Ice) that it may be difficult to find the way out. The battle for Earth rages between Loki and Freya as they search for legendary treasures. Freya’s devious plan to take over the body of her daughter, Mist, is running out of time as the Valkyrie’s powers grow, and Loki may have the upper hand. Under his influence, San Francisco is a wintery, corruption-filled playground, and Dainn is by his side, having left Mist to protect her and to keep safe the son he unknowingly co-fathered with Loki. A third god also seeks the treasures, and as he tries to take command, alliances begin to shift. Krinard’s attempts to tie mythological detail to the narrative don’t always succeed because they overwhelm the story—the parts are so much more than their sum. The ending ties everything up nicely and the unexpected outcome works to the book’s favor. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Apr.)