Valkyrie Landing — A.J. Flowers (2018)

📖 Book Information

Title: Valkyrie Landing (Valkyrie Allegiance #1)

Author: A. J. Flowers

Year: 2018

Publisher: Independent

ASIN: B07J43G83V

Pages: 314

Version: E-book

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When the Nordic mythology meets the futuristic realm, but it's just the beginning of all. 

65/100

Synopsis

First Law of the Valkyrie… Don't Fall in Love.

I failed my sisters and fell in love with William Johnson. I've watched him for three lifetimes and a little piece of me broke every time I had to let him die.

I paid the price for breaking the first law of the Valkyrie. I lost all the memories I had of Will. That's why Sam is keeping tabs on me. She's an ever-present shadow during my time at Mattsfield High. Sam is the perfect Valkyrie. Tall. Beautiful. Heartless.

I may not remember Will, but my heart does. If Freya thinks I’m going to be a good little Valkyrie this time around… she’s wrong.

Review

Mythology Meets Sci-fi

Combining Norse mythology with sci-fi should be something fascinating. Valkyries, Odin as a cyborg, and space armadas—it all sounds like a solid foundation for a modern fantasy tale. However, Valkyrie Landing demonstrates that a big idea isn't enough without equivalent execution.

Stretched Out Story

Broadly speaking, the story is simple: a valkyrie falls in love with the human who was supposed to be her target. This conflict actually has strong emotional potential, but unfortunately, it is stretched out without a clear direction. Instead of building tension, the plot feels winded and loses momentum.

The main character, Val, doesn't feel like she truly develops. The conflicts she faces are often oversimplified by plot armor, especially through the figure of Freya, who grants leniency without any significant consequences. As a result, the story's stakes—which should feel heavy—end up feeling light.

Don't Expect Too High

For readers expecting epic action or battles, this novel will likely be a disappointment. The story's focus lies mostly on drama and internal conflict, but the exploration isn't deep enough to leave a lasting impression. Even the twists feel mediocre and fail to deliver a significant impact.

Little Errors

From a technical standpoint, the writing is neat and contains minimal errors. However, that tidiness isn't enough to cover the primary weaknesses in the story's structure and conflict development.

Conclusion

Valkyrie Landing has an interesting concept, but its execution feels average. As a series opener, this novel resembles a long prologue for something that might be better in the sequels. Unfortunately, as a first book, it isn't strong enough to stand on its own.