Children bookcover

Children

4.9/5.0
21,000+ Reviews
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Description

Defy the Gods. Forge your destiny.


Maya, fostered by the Gods and sent away to fend for herself, is fed up with a life of servitude and deception. To find and assemble the pieces of her real identity, she must embark on a perilous quest. Her only weapon is magic she doesn't understand; her shield - defiance.


Magni, son of Thor, wants the quiet life of a blacksmith. But destiny has other plans. When his world is shattered, he's thrust into a realm of chaos and conflict. With a heart that yearns for peace, Magni is forced to wield his hammer as a weapon to battle those who use him as a tool.


Bound by circumstance, Maya and Magni form an unlikely alliance. Forced to confront their pasts, they must forge a future where they hold the reins of their own destinies. Love and loyalty will be tested as they fight to change the Universe, challenge the Gods... and survive their wrath.


2020 Stabby Nominee - Best Self-Published/Independent Novel

2022 Queer Indie Lit Award

2022 Picky Bookworm Award - Best Worldbuilding


"The main thing which struck me was how different it was. Completely unlike the mainstream trad published fantasy. Then I went off and had a little cry." - Tim Hardie, author of Hall of Bones and A Quiet Vengeance


"A haunting, brutal, and emotional coming of age story, steeped in Norse mythology and written in spare but lyrical prose, Children is a book that demands to be felt rather than read. Its hard-hitting story and dark humor combine to make this a grim book with lots of heart, a book that will stick with me for a long time." - Angela Boord, author of Fortune's Fool


"Faced with gods who are interested only in their own goals, happy to use their own children to further their ambition in the face of a foretold end, Children can be read as allegory or fantasy. Drawing on established Norse myths but adding a unique interpretation, Larssen's tale made me wince with witnessed pain, and cry, and, once or twice, snort with laughter. His evocative prose will linger in my mind for a long time. Not a book easily forgotten." - Marian L Thorpe, author of Empress & Soldier and Empire's Daughter


"This dark retelling of Asgard's pantheon is no rosy Marvel Universe depiction, the violence and savagery of the deities and their contemporaries being on full display. [...] Children is as actually less of a coming-of-age tale as it is a study of trauma, a commentary on classism and privilege, an observation on the expectations placed on each other by child and parent, and a questioning of what it says about us when one group of people can dehumanize another." - Grimdark Magazine


Note:


British English conventions, spelling, and grammar were used in this book.


The book includes strong language, depictions of sexual, physical, and emotional violence. For full list of triggers, which may contain spoilers, see: https: //www.bjornlarssen.com/children-tw

Product Details

PublisherJosephtailor
Publish DateOctober 03, 2020
Pages444
LanguageEnglish
TypeBook iconPaperback / softback
EAN/UPC9789082998542
Dimensions9.0 X 6.0 X 1.0 inches | 1.4 pounds

Reviews

"This dark retelling of Asgard's pantheon is no rosy Marvel Universe depiction, the violence and savagery of the deities and their contemporaries being on full display. [...] Children is as actually less of a coming-of-age tale as it is a study of trauma, a commentary on classism and privilege, an observation on the expectations placed on each other by child and parent, and a questioning of what it says about us when one group of people can dehumanize another." - Grimdark Magazine


"Children is a fearsome kaleidoscope of genres, it has shades of fantasy, historical fiction; it feels in parts profoundly personal and perhaps even to a degree biographical. Being primarily an SFF blogger, it would be remiss of me not to say that it is also a re-telling of Norse myths. No disrespect to authors such as Neil Gaiman or Joanne Harris, but for me, the bulk of re-tellings are more paraphrasing, in that the myths are for the most part unchanged. Mild creative liberties are taken, and there is perhaps a slight warp to the grain, but they are at heart the same stories. With Children, you get a re-telling. Bjørn Larssen retells the s--t out of it." - Bookends and Bagends


"This book is about as raw and brutal a read as you can come by but it is also incredibly moving and never makes you feel like there's not something worth salvaging in the end. I was really blown away by Children and am here to say that if you don't read this book, you are seriously missing out on a rare talent right now by the name of Bjørn Larssen. He will not hold your hand and tell you everything that you need to know explicitly, but he will ask you to work a little for what is a phenomenal payoff if you just invest a little time and attention. The true testament to how this book moved me is that I couldn't get it out of my head for the entire day after finishing it. In fact I even went back and read the final chapter again because I wanted to experience it fully just one more time." - Out of This World SFF Reviews


"Bjørn is a master at dialogue, writing and setting. I felt so immersed in this world, it was so wonderful to come in and out and not just because of the spectacular cover that awaits the reader."It was such a well told story, it really was a page turner. It will appeal heavily to those who love Norse Mythology or historical fantasy perhaps, but also those who enjoy a really well told tale. I have never been so invested in a set of characters, dealing primarily with two descendants Maya and Magni, their internal struggle dealing with their legendary counterparts was really quite moving, particularly Magni."This is a brutal book it does not hold back and in keeping with Norse Mythology (which in itself can violent, brutal and nasty) but also was very moving and yet again I say what a wonderful story Bjørn has in store for you. I would urge you to read this, you are missing out on a rare talent if you don't." - The Swordsmith

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