Odin’s Child: A Review

I have always enjoyed fantasy stories, especially those that are grounded in real world mythology. I especially have a special affinity to the Norse pantheon, with their dark symbology and mystical connection to their gods. So, finding a book like Odin’s Child, which takes a rich cultural mythos and weaves a dynamic and compelling world of characters, is a glittering gem of a treasure.

The story is a classic tale of an outsider looking for their place in the world. The protagonist, Hirka, has spent her entire life ridiculed and ostracized for the simple fact that she has no tail. She has few friends, and finds herself facing off against a world order that is built on the foundation that people like her are to be shunned and reviled, lest the infamous “rot” overtake anyone who interacts with a tailless one. And through all of her personal challenges, she must face the looming Rite, the ceremony that every child must go through to determine their affinity for using the Might, the story’s version of magic. Except, there is one problem-Hirka has no Might. She is “unearthed”. A Child of Odin. A monster. Originally told to have lost her tail as a baby, this revelation spurs Hirka to undertake a journey of self discovery, one where she finds herself at the center of political unrest and an ever growing threat from rumors of the monstrous Blind threatening the kingdom.

The characters and their interactions with each other are what truly makes the story memorable. Hirka is particularly compelling, deservedly so seeing as she is the primary protagonist. She is a strong, scrappy character, one who is self-reliant through circumstance and is damn good at finding a way to survive. And, she’s not one to shy away from a fight. Too many times in fantasy, I have had to endure female characters who fit into either the naive damsel who slowly discovers her potential, or the spurned, dangerous girl who wields a sword with terrible, sometimes misguided vengeance. Hirka is a refreshingly simple alternative. She is simply a girl who knows how to take care of herself, yet finds herself up against a seemingly unbeatable enemy. Despite this, she has agency in spades, and takes it upon herself to solve her own problems, even when she has absolutely no idea what she is doing or how she plans to accomplish her goals.

Other characters of import include Rime, Hirka’s friend who is the son of a great house and the grandson of one of the world leaders, though he has renounced his birthright and has chosen the way of the sword, and Urd, the antagonist who has plans to use Hirka’s existence as a Child of Odin for his grand scheme to increase his own standing in the world, while struggling with the price of the actions he took to get where he is.

One of the most intriguing and compelling aspects of the novel is the characters’ differing viewpoints in regards to their world. Their world’s ultimate power is the all powerful Seer, an enigmatic, powerful leader shrouded in mystery and an impenetrable cloak of rumor. Rime is steadfast in his loyalty, despite the fact that he has never even heard the words of the Seer except through the mouthpiece of the Council. Hirka meanwhile, is filled with conflicting emotions, raging from anger to desperation, constantly asking why she doesn’t fit into the Seer’s. It is a beautiful representation on the dangers of blind faith and the price of political and social stability, which is often through suppression and deceit.

Readers will not be disappointed by the many questions they will ask and have answered throughout the book. For anyone who has ever felt as though they don’t belong, they will find a kindred spirit with Odin’s Child.