Review by Booklist Review
Rath takes a break from her hockey-themed Jacksonville Rays romance series (Pucking Around, 2023) with a historical fantasy inspired by the Finnish epic poetry collected in The Kalevala. The Finns believe that their gods have abandoned them when merciless foreigners invade their land, bringing a lone, uncompromising god with them. They face another threat when young women start being kidnapped by an unknown specter, never to be seen again. The chapters switch between the points of view of devoted best friends Siiri and Aina. When the girls are attacked by a powerful witch, Aina lets herself be taken to save Siiri. Siiri, determined to rescue Aina, takes on a quest to find the greatest shaman of the age, who most believe died centuries ago. While Siiri travels north, Aina finds herself as a pawn in a battle between the Queen and King of Death. The girls' newly awakened love, combined with their belief in the Finnish gods, may return hope to their desperate people. The first book of the Tuonela Duet is a unique, action-packed romantasy that will delight readers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Set during Sweden's occupation of Finland in the Middle Ages, this haunting fantasy duology launch from Rath (the Jacksonville Rays series) draws inspiration from Finnish folklore. It centers a pair of young friends, Siiri and Aina, who are drawn into a battle to save their homeland, their gods, and themselves. Kalma, the death goddess, captures several unmarried women, including Aina, and sends them to Tuonela, the kingdom of death. Siiri, refusing to accept both Aina's fate and the incursion of a malicious Swedish priest into her village, sets off on a perilous trek to seek the guidance of a legendary shaman, Väinämöinen. Siiri hopes he will share his knowledge on how to travel to and rescue Aina from Tuonela and also return home to bring new hope to the Finnish people. Meanwhile, kind Aina faces her own ghastly battle for survival among the cruel deities of Tuonela. Though the tone is bleak, the robust worldbuilding and juicy conflict will draw readers in, and the love between the courageous heroines adds some necessary heart. Rath's exhilarating tale of faith, bravery, and determination is sure to win her new fans. Agent: Susan Velazquez, Jabberwocky Literary. (Dec.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two young women are torn apart by fickle gods and have to fight their way back to each other in Rath's epic historical fantasy. Siiri and Aina are best friends, having grown up together in pre-Christian Finland. Despite the looming prospects of marriage and motherhood, the recent disappearances of other girls, and Swedish invaders from the south, they are able to cling to each other for happiness and companionship. But one day, while they're at the lake catching fish to prepare food stores for the coming winter, a 15-foot monster and a shadowy wolf-like figure appear, chasing the girls and kidnapping Aina. Aina wakes up a captive in the terrifying realm of the dead, forced to endure the tortures of Tuonetar, the goddess of violent death. Meanwhile, back in the realm of the living, Siiri decides that she must find the legendary shaman Väinämöinen, who will be able to help her find Aina and bring her home. But as Aina learns the secrets of the land of the dead, she's driven to make choices that might compromise Siiri's ability to rescue her. Rath says in a note at the beginning of the book that it "should be read as a fantasy," and that she took some creative liberties with "certain aspects of Finnish shamanism and paganism," but it is nonetheless a welcome change of pace to read a European historical fantasy that is culturally specific. Rath takes an almost formal tone that is meant to mimic the style of ancient folklore, but it can sometimes come off as stiff. A fun, female-led fantasy adventure based on Finnish paganism. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
