The lost sun by Tessa Gratton
United States of Asgard, book 1. Random House, 2013. ISBN
9780307977465.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Norse mythology. Fantasy. In the United
States of Asgard, ruled by Norse gods, 17 year old Soren is fighting
his berserker nature. His father had lost control of himself, going
berserk in a shopping mall and killing innocent people. He feels the
battle- frenzy and fever of the berserker, but tries to remain calm.
Isolated at Sanctus Sigurd's Academy he is amazed when the popular
Astrid Glyn, daughter of a famed seeress, tells him that she dreams
of him. When Baldur, son of Odin, fails to bring back the sun and
goes missing, Soren joins Astrid on a road trip across the States to
find him. Together they trace the missing god and find their own
powers and destiny.
This is an intelligent, beautifully crafted story based on the idea
that there is an alternative United States, a country governed not
only by the President, but by the gods. Gratton intertwines Norse
mythology and the fates of Soren and Astrid throughout the book in
such a way that the reader, even one unfamiliar with Norse legends,
is able to gain an understanding of the gods and how they operate.
The road trip across the United States of Asgard is a thrilling one.
What works exceptionally well is the struggle that Soren and Astrid
have with their feelings for each other and what fate and the gods
have determined for them. Soren is determined to fight his berserker
nature, while Astrid has to come to terms with the visions that she
sees. It was engrossing to follow Soren's story and to imagine what
it would have been like to be a berserker and to fear loss of
control and killing innocents. The themes of fatalism, faith, honour
and loyalty are explored in a sensitive, thought provoking way.
This was a compulsive read, which is much more thoughtful and
complex than many young adult novels. Fans of Neil Gaiman and Holly
Black will welcome The lost sun, and teens who liked the Percy
Jackson series by Rick Riordan could well enjoy this too.
Pat Pledger