Loki's Wolves

March 11, 2013
Bestselling urban fantasists Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr combine forces to produce a solid fantasy about contemporary descendants of the Norse gods. Thirteen-year-old Matt Thorsen lives in a South Dakota town dominated by Thor’s distant family, and he has always been somewhat smug about his superhuman heritage. However, Loki’s descendants, including cousins Fen and Laurie Brekke, resent the Thorsens’ domination. Then the three learn that Ragnarök is coming and that Matt is to reenact Thor’s battle with the Midgard Serpent. Matt, Laurie, and Fen, who is a shape-changer like Loki, seek out other descendants of the gods, aided by the Norns and the Valkyries, but opposed by various werewolves and trolls. Arm-strong and Marr have fun seeding their characters with the strengths and foibles the gods are known for (Fen and Laurie divvy up the best and worst parts of the trickster god Loki). This rousing, fast-paced adventure, first in the Blackwell Pages trilogy, will please readers who loved John Stephens’s Books of Beginning and Rick Riordan’s modern-day twists on ancient myth. Ages 8–12. Agent: (for Armstrong) Sarah Heller, Helen Heller Agency; (for Marr) Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House.

The Norse gods may be dead, but their legends still live--or so the descendants of Thor and Loki find out in LOKI'S WOLVES. This audiobook, like the story itself, switches narrators with each chapter. Pat Young and Joe Worranga narrate the male characters Matt and Fen, the descendants of Thor and Loki respectively. Laurie, Fen's cousin, is narrated by Casey Holloway. The well-matched pacing and pitch of the three narrators make the transitions--often a stumbling block with multiple narrators--smooth and natural as these 13-year-olds fight for their lives and the world. A.M.P. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

September 1, 2013
Gr 4-8-For the inhabitants of Blackwell, South Dakota, signs of the impending apocalypse mean that it is time to choose a champion from the descendants of the Norse gods to lead the others in battle against the Midgard Serpent. The chosen one is Matt Thorsen, a 13-year-old boxer, wrestler, and representative of Thor. Matt is not expected to live through the fight, but with the aid of Norns and Valkyries, he learns that history need not repeat itself, and he may just have a chance to defeat trolls, wolves, nightmares, and even the Serpent-and live. Though Loki the shape-shifter fought against Thor in the legends, Loki's descendants Fen and Laurie Brekke turn their backs on their wolf pack to join forces with Matt, discovering inherited magic powers as they search for other descendants. Each main character, voiced by Casey Holloway, Jon Wierenga, and Pat Young, narrates a few chapters of the novel (Little, Brown, 2013). At times, the excitement is slowed by careful pronunciation; the danger always draws listeners back, however, until the cliffhanger conclusion. Fans of Rick Riordan's mythological tales will enjoy the Norse stories, and can learn more about them on the "Blackwell Pages" website (wwww.blackwellpages.com). Since this volume ends before the real confrontation begins, listeners will be awaiting the release of "Odin's Ravens" and "Thor's Serpent".-"MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY"

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