The second instalment in Aconyte’s Legends of Asgard range of Marvel novels, this is a classic fantasy adventure where the heroes are properly heroic, the villains genuinely villainous, and the stakes are sky-high. It’s the tale of Tyr, the Asgardian God of War, who sets out to steal the titular sword of the fire giant Surtur in order to protect his father from the prophecy of Ragnarok, and prove his valour to himself and his younger brother, Thor. Accompanied by brave huntsman Bjorn Wolfsbane and enigmatic, manipulative sorceress Lorelei, Tyr braves the many dangers of Muspelheim only to find the real danger is often as not beneath the surface, requiring more than strength of arms to defeat.

I expected this to be a fun, switch-your-brain-off hack and slash adventure, and to a certain extent that’s exactly what it is. There’s lots of battling fire demons and other assorted enemies; Tyr is as badass a warrior as you’d ever want to read about; the pace drops off now and then during the inevitable ‘walking from A to B’ sections. So far, so old-school fantasy, although when the pace is nipping along it’s all actually a lot of fun. What surprised me, though, was how the presence of Lorelei – who’s basically a walking betrayal – and a particularly dangerous enemy (naming no names) really drives the big theme of proving yourself to your family, living up to expectations and trying to step out from the shadow of someone else.

That theme gives all the action and adventure a real purpose, and I thought the combination worked very well. This sort of story is where Werner is at his best, and while it’s not the kind of fantasy novel I read a lot of these days, I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Would read more like this!

Another absolutely fantastic entry from Aconyte books and these Legends Of Asgard books are simply fantastic and very original, mix of the Norse legends with the comic book mythology.

C. L. Werner does a wonderful job with this story of Odin's lesser known son Tyr and I must say he is a Norse Mythology character that I am rather unfamiliar with so I found this tale quite fascinating to read as Tyr ventures into fiery Muspelheim to retrieve the fabled Sword Of Surtur from the fire giant himself.

Its a really creative and original tale and really worth reading if you love your Norse Mythology as much as I do!

The Sword Of Surtur is another great entry by Aconyte Books in the ever expanding Marvel Universe, may there be many, many more in the future, for no other reason that I NEED to read more of these quality novels!!

The Sword of Surtur was not what I expected going into this. For some reason I thought that it was going to be set in the MCU as an extended series. Turns out that I was wrong.

I personally just could not get into this. Going into it with the wrong expectations probably did not help, but I was constantly confused as to what was going on, and more importantly who was who.

We follow Tyr, Bjorn and Lorelai in this adventure, and I was constantly getting Tyr and Bjorn confused. Not only that, the actual storyline was very confusing for me. While I was able to grasp the general idea of what was supposed to be occurring, the actual reason as to why the characters acted the ways that they did is beyond me.

I personally am not interested in following any of the other books that are related to this one.

Aconyte’s newest Marvel novel, The Sword of Surtur, by C.L. Werner, is here, and the main character is none other than Tyr!

Who?

Well, like Heimdall before him, Tyr is best known as a supporting character of Thor, a fact which would no doubt annoy the eldest son of Odin. The god of war, Tyr’s star has been eclipsed in Asgard since he sacrificed a hand to bind the great wolf Fenrir. I’m sure anyone with a favoured sibling can sympathise, that Tyr has had enough of hearing Odin lavish praise upon Thor, and storms out of a feast rather than listen to more tales of Thor’s bravery. In this frame of mind, it doesn’t take much for him to get talked into attempting a truly daring (or reckless, depending on your perspective) mission – a foray into Muspelheim, land of the Fire Giants. His aim there, is to steal Twilight, the eponymous Sword of Surtur: a weapon that, prophecy foretells, will bring about the death of Odin come Ragnarok. If Tyr can successfully complete his mission, not only will he have performed a deed worthy of more songs than Thor’s journey to Jotunheim and back, but he will have moved a step closer to preventing Ragnarok, to preventing the death of his father.

The unlikely instigator of Tyr’s quest is Lorelei, another minor character from Thor / Journey Into Mystery comics. Loralei is the younger sister of more notorious and villainous “Enchantress,” and a large number of her plot-lines seem to revolve around trying to make Thor fall in love with her, a quest in which she never seems to have much success, which is somewhat ironic, given that her main ability as a user of magic is the ability to cham people, men in particular. Together with Tyr’s previously-unknown chum/sidekick Bjorn, this unlikely pair head off into Muspelheim, hoping to accomplish a feat that will be worthy of Thor’s, and Odin’s attention.

Without wanting to be rude to any of them, thee three main characters here are hardly Marvel’s A-listers: if you look at the transfer from comic to screen, Thor has 3 films and a string of Avengers appearances, whilst Tyr had a supporting role in Thor 2: The Dark World (apparently, I’m certainly not re-watching it to check) and Loralei got 1-and-a-bit episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Both Tyr and Loralei have clocked up a reasonable number of comic-book appearances over the years, and Tyr in particular was a relatively recent fixture in the War of the Realms series, but I doubt that there were many folk out there desperately hoping for a series about them.

Successful novels don’t have to lean on headliners – my last Marvel review: The Harrowing of Doom got a lot of mileage out of a pair of completely new characters, quickly establishing strong hooks for them both. Here though, something about it doesn’t quite click, and for the first half of the book, I found very little that would really make me care about this trio of adventurers. The entire story is told in first-person from the perspective of Tyr, and as his narration is increasingly shown to be unreliable, it becomes difficult to get much of a sense of who the characters really are, beyond their increasingly acrimonious interactions with each other.

Likewise, the structure for the first part of the book feels relatively pedestrian: encounter a problem, think up a solution, fight some baddies, continue. Admittedly, this could be set of a lot of stories, but somehow here it takes a while to really rise above the basic structure.


One thing that The Sword of Surtur has got right, is the fact that the best comic-book stories are the ones with the best villains, and the antagonist that Tyr and company eventually face does a good job here: in fact, for me, the point at which The Sword of Surtur really came alive was when the heroes found themselves coming up against a foe more tangible than the inhospitable climate of Muspelheim and some generic henchmen patrols. Surtur himself remains mostly an off-stage presence, but the threat from his daughter Sindr is a very real one. Sindr is a very recent arrival in the comics – only debuting in the 2019 War of the Realms arc, but she has already proven a formidable for to various Thors, and certainly causes headaches for Tyr during his foray into Muspelheim. I don’t want to spoil any of the details, but with a villain who proves herself to be a true threat to Tyr not only physically but also strategically, the book really comes alive.

One of the author’s biggest themes in The Sword of Surtur is family. What will we do to earn the praise and respect of our families? how does it feel to live a life burdened by comparisons to more famous relatives, or simply to have expectations placed upon us because of who our family are? Tyr and Lorelei both spend much of their lives eclipsed by their better-known siblings, and the desire to be remembered in their own right is clearly a major factor in driving them. More surprising perhaps, is the extent to which Sindr is driven by her need to prove herself to Surtr. Famously, she is the only one of his children to have passed the diabolical test he puts to all his offspring, the only one raised up to an influential lieutenancy, rather than cast out and disowned: however with achievement comes insecurity, and the desperate insecurity of this elevated position spurs her on, and will ultimately drive villainy into the heart of Asgard, both with the aid of unwitting allies, and by sheer force of will.

The overall feel of The Sword of Surtur is an unusual one. A lot of the structure and pacing feel very comic-book inspired: the heavy reliance on action sequences, and the attempted cliff-hangers at the end of chapters that would probably work a bit better if you had to wait a week or 2 for resolution rather than glancing at the page opposite. The fight scenes are all very competently depicted, but the durability of Asgardian royalty takes the edge off of any sense of jeopardy, and without the visual spectacle of a comic-book punch-up, it starts to feel like the move to novel-format would have benefitted from a bit more story and a little less action.

Overall, despite a fairly pedestrian, linear start, I think the second half of Sword of Surtur makes the book worth a read. After the first “twist” which is visible a mile off, the plot starts to genuinely twist and surprise, ultimately leading to a satisfying climax and aftermath. I still can’t say I’m desperate to find out what these characters get up to next, but I’m glad to have stuck with this story.


This review was based on an advance digital copy of the book, given to me by Aconyte for the purposes of reviewing.

About Marvel Entertainment Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legends of Asgard book The Sword of Surtur by CL Werner, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

I am also friends with Clint on Facebook, but I suspect that’s more about him connecting with fans rather than being a big fan of mine!

Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.

What is Marvel

Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!

The Legends of Asgard novels specially focus on the Norse mythology influenced Asgard with characters like Thor, Odin and Loki.

The Story

This story focuses on Tyr the God of War and brother to Thor as he decides to try and outdo his sibling, by stealing Twilight, the sword of the Fire Giant Surtur.

He is joined by Bjorn Wolfsbane, a young hunter, and sister to the Encantress Amora, Lorelei. This team up is really interesting, you have two characters there who have been eclipsed by their more well known and successful sibling and there is a massive amount of envy and jealousy on display.

And jealously also has a nice role to play in the story too, as both Tyr and Bjorn find themselves drawn to the bewitching Lorelei, which has rather big consequences for Asgard.

Mostly taking place in Surturs realm of Muspelheim this book draws very heavily on Norse mythology, probably more so than the comics. In a way a lot of it reads as a love letter between Clint and Norse culture, as he really brings it to life, in a Marvel way of course.

Tyr is a character than in Marvel, should be one of the greatest and most powerful heroes, but has always taken a back seat, and that’s the same for the books primary antagonist, which makes for an interesting dynamic.

The feelings of self-doubt and envy that Tyr feels throughout the book, really make you connect with him, in a way that I never have been able to in the comics.

Frankly this is the best story featuring Tyr that I have ever read, and I have read quite a few of the comics in which he features. You really feel like he has so much potential if only he had gotten the right writer, something I think has now been corrected.

There are pacing issues, which is the only downside, some sections of the book seem to drag a little, whilst other move at a pace so brisk that I had to go back and reread to see if I missed something.

But given that’s my only complaint, I think that’s pretty good.

Conclusion

This is a an extremely good book, not because it’s an epic tale of a sons quest to prove himself to his father, but because it actually makes you sympathise and actually identify with a Norse god.

The two big twists in the book, well one was obvious, but well executed, the other, well that one was a big surprise and really good.

You can buy the eBook now and the paperback gets a release on the 18th March

I HAVE TO WRITE THIS REVIEW IN ALL CAPS. WHY, YOU ASK? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO SCREAM HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS STORY. MAGIC. WHO DOESN'T ENJOY A STORY WITH MAGIC? I FOUND THE CHARACTERIZATIONS REALISTIC AND RELATABLE. THE PLOT HELD ME THE ENTIRE TIME. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT TO LOVERS OF YA.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book, as I've never read anything like it, and it's not my typical read. I'm happy to report that I found it a fun, engaging read with ample action. Sure, it's a bit of a fluff read, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I appreciate some books I can just read and enjoy without it being a heavy read. Pre-teens and adults alike will likely enjoy this book.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

'The Sword of Surtur' is the latest entry in the Marvel Legends of Asgard. This book tells the story of Tyr, who driven by a feeling of inadequacy and loyalty, tries to prevent Ragnarok by stealing the Sword of Surtur. Tyr is Odin's eldest son, and his heroic deeds are in the past. Thor's deeds surpass his, which makes Tyr envious and eager to be seen as a hero again.

This book mixes the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the original Norse legends to give us a unique and disorienting experience. I wasn't sure whether to use the movies (or comics) as a baseline or the mythology. But I soon got used to it after I started treating this like a new continuity.

The theme is quite clear - the main characters - antagonists and protagonists - feel overshadowed and want to prove their loyalty and heroism. Tyr, Lorelei, Bjorn and, even, XXX are driven by this need to act the way they do. But, in each of their cases, their unique personalities make them behave differently. Tyr is inherently noble & a hero - so his envy wars with the need to do something good for his people. Lorelei is selfish but a better person than her sister, Amora. So, her actions swing both ways. This behaviour makes the characters believable and empathetic. Also, I found this book similar to the first Thor movie, where Thor has to prove his worthiness & Loki wants to be treated the same as Thor.

The writing is decent, but the pacing is a bit spotty. There are places where the story drags - especially when the team stumbles from one dicey situation to another. After a while, it got boring. I think the book needs to be tightened up more to more it snappier.

But, that said, I enjoyed the characters as well as the world-building. Most of the story is set in Muspelheim - the land of the Fire Giants. Also, the land where Thor: Ragnarok starts.

The action is similar to the comics and movies. There is plenty of it, and the plot determines the strength and courage of the heroes. I am ok with this since it makes sense given the source material. After all, Tyr is the God of War. But, on the flip side, there aren't that many moments where Tyr gets to show his divine powers like Thor does in Thor: Ragnarok. That would be have been kick-ass.

Overall, I liked 'The Sword of Surtur' despite its flaws.

I absolutely love Norse mythology, and I have loved what Marvel has produced in the Legends of Asgard series. So I was so excited to see Tyr, the God of War and older brother to Thor, get featured in "The Sword of Surtur". The book really feels like an epic fantasy, instead of how you would think the story would go with the Marvel movies or the comic books.

This book ticked all my boxes and absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. I love how the author stayed true to the Norse Mythology Tyr but still twisted him into aMarvel Universe version of Tyr absolutely perfectly without losing Tyr's struggles with feeling overlooked and jealous of his brother. It was an absolutely thrilling read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing an ARC of this book. in exchange for an honest review.

#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel[dot]com. © 2020 MARVEL

When I received my advance copy of Marvel's new book "The Sword Of Surtur", out today Januray 5th 2021, I was expecting a graphic novel of some kind, and I was surprised and curious to find it was traditional prose. I hadn't read or even heard of The Head Of Mimir, the first book in the new Legends Of Asgard line that Marvel was publishing with Aconyte Books, but I probably will go back and read it now.

The Sword Of Surtur tells a story of Tyr the Norse God Of War. He is Thor's older brother, and sets off on a quest to prove himself after growing jealous of his brother's recent victories. Spurned into action by the Enchantresses younger sister Lorelei, and joined by his closest ally Bjorn Wolfhunter, he heads into Muspelheim to steal Twilight, the Sword Of Surtur. How you feel after that sentence might be the indicator on whether or not this book is for you.

I personally love Norse mythology. Just in the last few months I've played Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, replayed the latest God Of War, and was sponsored by Rune 2. I've read Neil Gaiman, seen every Thor movie time and again, and most importantly I've read Thor comics. I was able to really enjoy this book, while at the same time wondering how accessible it would be to someone who was less familiar with these characters and mythology.

Early chapters of the book do their utmost to give a basic understanding of the world of Asgard and the Nine Realms, but much of the emotional arc hangs on Tyr and Lorelei's relationships to the reputations of their respective siblings. While the MCU has made Thor a household name, the Enchantress has not yet had her moment in the wider culture, and so Lorelei is a character who depends greatly on the readers own personal knowledge.

On the other side of that cultural awareness is a novel with an unending barrage of action, and author CL Werner did a tremendous job keeping it clear and exciting. The balancing act of that is no small feat in the first half of the book, where it does occasionally feel like a video game. In fact if someone wanted to make a Demon Souls style game out of this book I would be a very happy Nerd. The pay off in the second half from all of that action is where the book really shines.

I was about 40% of the way through the book when I became worried that it was going to be a very simple novel that existed merely as another Norse power fantasy. The back half is far from simple though, and as the character's relationships become more complex, so too does the message about how our familial relationships affect our decision making. With each passing chapter the book dives further inward, rather than trying to grow the action outward.

It was an unexpected move, but welcome and refreshing. The action of the first half would have been equally as good in a traditional Marvel comic, but the inner story of Tyr in this novel justifies the medium used to tell this particular story, and does so without losing the fun and majesty of Marvel's Asgardian characters.

Overall I would definitely recommend the book. It has more depth than I expected and a fantastic final action sequence. It explores jealousy and brotherhood, magic and destiny, and does so while telling a story accessible to all ages. 15 year old me would have loved this, and that's always my most important metric for a new Marvel property.

The Sword Of Surtur is available now wherever books are purchased! ISBN 9781839080371

A Legends of Asgard novel

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

When Thor's half-brother Tyr becomes jealous of the thunder god's celebrated achievement, it doesn't take much for the sorceress Lorelei to lure him into her scheme to steal a fragment of Surtur's sword from Muspelheim.


If you decide to read The Sword of Surtur, you should be prepared for a high level of immersion in Norse mythology - I say this because some of my early efforts to read Thor comics were less than satisfying because of this. However, since that time I have read Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series and a picture book (T is for Thor) that I recently won from another blog, I actually already knew a lot of the mythological elements in the book and was able to enjoy it quite a bit.

I gave The Sword of Surtur five stars. Initially I thought the writing style was going to be too literary for my taste, but that feeling faded as I kept reading. I was also concerned that the journey through Muspelheim went on for a bit too long, but that feeling also faded as Tyr and his allies neared Surtur's forge.

#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL

On one hand this is the story of a man trying to prove his value to his family. On the other hand it's a story about a man trying to prove that his pride did not put him in a position that he cannot handle. And then there's his half brother who goaded him into the whole situation in the first place just to start a fight between himself and his younger brother. Tyr going through the realm of fire all for a sword was a good story. I'm familiar with the Marvel comics Thor stories and Tyr rarely shows up. Having the spot light on him actually expanded on the realm of Asgard more then Thors comics have done. The story is simple enough for a young comic reader but also good enough for someone who has read comic books for decades.

Anyone in the mood for an epic adventure into Muspelheim should consider trying The Sword of Surtur. Tyr, the eldest son of Odin, risks everything to stop the lethal danger threatening his father. And the only way to do it is to steal the weapon fated to slay the King of Asgard – the sword of the fire giant Surtur.

The story takes place both in Asgard and Muspelheim. While the story doesn't feature any other parts of the Nine Realms, Rainbow Bridge plays an important role in it.

The Marvel version of Tyr has quite a few differences from the god in Norse cosmology. He’s the eldest son of Odin, but everyone cheers his younger brother Thor. As a result, Tyr does succumb to feelings of jealousy and self-doubt. He's conflicted, and it makes him more nuanced and compelling.

Besides Tyr's adventures and a strong cast of supporting characters, I need to mention thrilling battles against giant monsters. Cool stuff, people.

The pacing is gripping and the story is entertaining. I'd love to see more novels focusing on Tyr and Asgardian parts of the Marvel Universe.

ts and pretty much all the TV shows I’ve watched, too. So I was really excited to get the chance to check out one of their novels. I was looking forward to seeing a wider world, the sort we don’t really get a glimpse of in the films, and the characters in this were ones I was unfamiliar with, so I was keen to ‘meet’ them.

The Sword of Surtur is about Tyr, the God of War and Thor’s elder brother. Along with his friend Bjorn and the mysterious Lorelai, Tyr travels into Surtur’s realm, looking for the sword destined to kill his father and bring about Ragnarok.

The book is okay. It’s a fun adventure romp through another land, as Tyr and Bjorn compete for Lorelai’s affection and respect. There are some exciting moments as they battle against fire demons and the like, but the strongest bit, to me, was Tyr’s backstory, a flashback where we see how he lost his hand. I liked the focus on these three characters, and the way the novel blended the world of Marvel with Norse mythology.

However, the book got repetitive, as the heroes go to one spot, fight, then go to another spot, and fight, and end up facing the same powerful demon something like three or four times. It got to the point where I couldn’t understand why the demon didn’t just kill them all. Most of it felt too convenient or convoluted. Especially when at one point they discuss letting the others – such as Odin and Thor – know what’s happening, but say it’ll waste too much time. This is Asgard, but there’s not a single way to send a message to someone?

It just felt convoluted how the well-known more MCU type characters were kept off-page. It was good to focus outside them, but the writing made that aspect feel forced. And if I’m being honest, the female characters were…flat. The motivations for Lorelai being, well, Lorelai, felt muddled and unclear, except for being in love with one of the male characters, and the only other strong women character we get has Daddy Issues.

Again, the book was okay with some fun moments. But overall it lacked in places where it really could have been stronger. Essentially, rather than feeling like its own book, it felt more like a graphic novel written as a book, without fully adapting to a more prose style.

I didn’t dislike the book, but towards the end I did feel like I was slogging through it a little. Some parts were interesting, but I do think the book as a whole could have been a lot stronger. But if you like fun adventure romps, and like Marvel and Norse Mythology, this might be a decent one for you.

Thank you to Aconyte for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Epic Fantasy is not my usual read, but I enjoy Thor type movies. I was actually looking for books to get for my friends pre-teen age children because I am way out of touch with that realm of new type of reading!

I have to say that this book at first had me skeptical, but after about the third chapter I was hooked! I even read aloud snippets to my husband who is a fan of anything Marvel! He can’t wait to see if this comes out in audio form.

Tyr, the God of War does so much for his people and family,but feels overlooked and of course is exploited by others because of those emotions. He decides with the help of his loyal sidekick, Bjorn Wolfbane and the feisty, alluring, Lorelei to try and alter the prophecy of Asgard their world being destroyed by the Twilight Sword. Stealing this sword from the mighty giant of Surtur will be no easy feat and there will be consequences along the way!

The author does a marvelous undertaking in showing the human side of emotions in the Gods and the aftereffects of one’s actions regardless of what your intentions were! He also demonstrated the importance of love between siblings and family dynamics.

I definitely would recommend this book to pre-teen and adults!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review

I enjoy Norse mythology. A lot. Maybe too much? Nah! No such thing! "The Sword of Surtur" is a brilliantly written novel focusing on Tyr (you might have only heard of him as Thor's big brother, but he's also the God of War). It's adventurous, exciting, and very easy to read. I loved it and want more books like this - especially if they are written by C L Werner!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel[dot]com. © 2020 MARVEL

The Marvel Legends of Asgard range is one of the more interesting series that Aconyte Books is producing, due in large part to the fact that I have to keep reminding myself when reading them that these stories are actually taking place in the Marvel Universe. The Sword of Surtur, and the previous book in the series the Head of Mimir, feel like more than simple super hero stories, stories about larger than life costumed heroes fighting criminals; these books are huge, sweeping fantasy epics that stand out from the rest of the Marvel novels the company are producing, and are ideal for anyone unsure if they'd get on with a comic novel.

The Sword of Surtur follows one of the less features sons of Odin, one of the brothers that never gets as much time in the spotlight as the heroic Thor, or the duplicitous Loki; this book centres of Tyr, the God of War. I'd only seen Tyr in the Marvel comics once of twice, and then not for very long, and whilst the character did feature in one of the Marvel movies it's not made clear exactly who he is, as such, I honestly didn't know that he was one of Odin's sons before I started to read this book, believing him to just be another one of the gods.

This familial connection, and the fact that Tyr is often overlooked and forgotten in the place of Thor is one of the main themes of the book, and is a major driving force for everything that happens here. Thor is being celebrated for his brave feats, even though what he did was foolish and reckless, whilst Tyr is left feeling forgotten. He was the god who bravely gave up his hand to bound Fenrir, the giant wolf who would play a part in Ragnarok, who allowed the great beast to bite off his hand in order to secure Asgard's safety; yet here is Thor being called a hero for needlessly putting his life at risk for glory.

It's a situation that I think we can all identify with, though I hope none of us have had to let a wolf eat our hand. It's the kind of scenario we've all been a part of before. We've done something because it was the right thing to do, or because it helped people and we've had to watch others who have done a whole lot less get heaped with praise. It's the kind of jealousy that we've all experienced, and that apparently even gods are susceptible to.

Rather than wallow in his jealousy Tyr decides that he needs to do something that will eclipse Thor's deeds, something that is not only brave and daring, but will benefit people. As such, he sets out to travel to the fiery land of Muspelheim in order to steal the sword of the fire giant Surtur. Not only is this a task that will put Tyr against almost insurmountable odds and foes worthy of song, but if he succeeds he will be able to steal the weapon meant to play a part in Ragnarok, therefore ensuring the end of times can't come to pass. It's a mission he'll need help with, however, so he's joined by the brave warrior Bjorn Wolfsbane, and the enchantress Lorelai.

The trio proves to be an interesting team, especially thanks to Lorelai's abilities to bewitch men and make them fall in love with her, which creates some tense moments when the two men begin to fall victim to her enchantments and their friendship is put to the test. Despite having seen Lorelai played as a villain in the past, thanks to an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I enjoyed seeing her played as something of a hero, though one you never trust one hundred percent. She gives the team a different kind of energy, especially as she brings magic and spells to a group that would otherwise rely on brute force to achieve their goals.

I also really enjoyed how The Sword of Surtur felt in relation to the other Marvel Legends of Asgard book that Aconyte have released, and how the two novels work well together. At first glance they're both pretty similar, following a small group of heroes travelling to another realm to get their hands on a mystical artefact and bring it to Asgard. However, they're quite different, and can act as mirrors of each other. The Head of Mimir follows a couple of people of who aren't lauded heroes, who no one will listen to, as they travel to a realm of ice and snow to retrieve something stolen from Asgard that's being used to put the kingdom in peril; meanwhile The Sword of Surtur sees characters who are well know, celebrated heroes in Asgard travelling to a realm of fire in order to steal something that doesn't belong to them to prevent a future attack on Asgard. The two books seem to be flipped scenarios of each other, but instead of feeling similar they're both so different, and show different sides to the world of Asgard, and the heroes that live their.

The Sword of Surtur is, at its heart, a fantasy novel. It's a book about brave heroes clashing with forces of evil, fighting against monsters and devils, with swords and sorcery being used as weapons. It's the kind of fantasy you don't see get the limelight much anymore, where things don't have to feel too grounded, where the fantastical isn't hidden away or explained as something else, but is embraced. This is a story that doesn't just take inspiration from the myths and legends that inspired the Marvel books, but celebrates it. If you've never picked up a comic before, if you're not sure you'd like heroes fighting costumed villains with over the top plots, this is the kind of book that can show you that there's more to comics than that, and that those universes can easily make the jump to prose without losing any of their magic.

Curious and a bit worried to read this one. A marvel novel... will it delivers or just play on its brand to sell? I have to say it delivers quite well. Yes it's a bit lighter than my average fantasy read, but it was fun, entertaining and with a good bunch of action. Exactly what you would expect and want from a Marvel novel! I'm glad I try it!