Why did it take me so long to pick this up? It took a few chapters to get to my vikings part, but once they came, it was so good! I could picture everything, especially after watching vikings/vikings Valhalla/last kingdom. It was fantasy, with time travel but also historical fiction with Vikings.

I need more of Domari and Shelbie and Hadriel! I loved their story, and did not want it to end! Aimmee did such a great job of setting the stage for this series.

This was an easy to read book with an interesting premise. I love viking books and books with older MFC are far more interesting. My only issue with this book was that it was slow. The true plot of the book doesn't start until a decent way in so while it is a breeze to read I had to keep stoping and coming back when I got a bit bored with the fun part of the book not happening yet. Once you get past the beginning and she actually goes on her trip things picked up. If you are looking for a book with a MFC who you can relate to as an older adult this is definitely it. Fans of Midlife Bounty Hunter and A Forty Something Fury will love giving this a read.

This was a nice paced book about time travel! The author knows how to build characters for sure. Heroin is not the whining leading lady. I might have done fist pump when the main character states she hates that! But the story doesn't end here. I like the dialogue and the clean cut writing. Definitely downloading the second. Probably subscribing!

This was such a fun book! Really enjoyed seeing an FMC in her 30s having a crazy adventure. It was just so much fun, swoony and witty.

I had read this book back when it was originally published and it only improved upon a reread - the writing style and characters fit perfectly in the time travel/fantasy romance genre and I /still/ can’t believe I didn’t understand how a viking home was laid out until reading this book. Every moment of research time was well-spent, 100%

I started this book but did not finish it on NetGalley before it was archived again. I did promptly go buy it so I could finish the story. Thank you for getting me hooked on the series, I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeves Aimee Vance! I am glad I knew this book would be part of at least a trilogy before I got started, so hopefully I can pace myself until June. Thank you to Revel Books for the chance to read this book to get me hyped for the rest of the series!

Hopeful start to a series, and I like the setting. FMC is a tad whiney and immature and you live in Colorado with a giant dog, how is she not outside all the time? Pacing is a little on the slow side, but again, first in a series so its part of the package. Overall, I think I'll continue on with the series

This was a fun little time-travel fantasy romance adventure! Shelbie gifts herself a trip to Sweden for her 31st birthday even though the trip is outside of her comfort zone. However, she never really gets to experience her journey because she falls into a time warp and spends some time with some hot vikings instead.

Overall, I really enjoyed elements of this book, but it felt too much like it was setting up a series than standing on it's own. I didn't really need all the prep Shelbie does for her trip, even though it does some good to establish her home life and gives her something to go back to. The parts where she is with the vikings are so enjoyable! I loved the relationship development and all of the side characters in this world. What I really wanted was more of the magic! I hope the future books will give us more of that.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title and thank you to Revel Books for providing me with an eARC, however I am prioritizing other books on my list at this time. I will amend my review to reflect my thoughts, should I read this book in the future.

I love this book so much. This was a reread for me - but I enjoyed it just as much (if not more) this time through. It's a perfect mix of romance and fantasy. It's lighthearted but also emotional. I love the world that is created and the characters are incredible. This is one of my favorite series and I cannot wait until the third book is released.

It took me awhile to get in to this one and that might be because it started off pretty slow. Almost half the book was set in modern day, which was alot more than I was expecting. The first half also kind of felt like a training montage which I found kind of boring and unnecessary. Once we got to the Viking times I enjoyed the characters but I didn't feel very convinced by the relationship - I feel like they didn't build enough before getting together. I would have liked to get more of the lore and world-building as well. I don't think I will be continuing the rest of the series. I just wasn't invested enough by the end.

This was about half and half modern times and Viking times and it was the right combo for the story.

She’s at a standstill in her life and a horse sees fit to kick her back in time to the hottest Vikings she could find. What a pal.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Fates Illuminated by Aimee Vance
-Call of the Norns Book 1-

3.5/5⭐️
1.5/3🌶️ (spice)
2/3🦋 (swoon)

•My Thoughts•
Have I mentioned I am immediately summoned by Vikings? This book also promised time travel and dragons and I RAN! I was so excited to read this one and while it was cute, I found myself a bit…bored. The world building was very minimal and easy to grasp but I thought there would be more action and story tension (hello, they’re Vikings!!). I did like all the characters but had some trouble connecting to them or feeling invested in the relationships. The romance was pretty instant and left me wanting a bit more depth. There were definitely some moments and side character that made me chuckle (looking at you, Charlene) but everything felt a little too easy up until the last bit. That last portion was pretty interesting, if even a bit confusing with some reveals. The cliffhanger does intrigue me and considering this book was only 300ish pages, I’d consider reading book 2. Definitely a cozier vibe for this one which would absolutely appeal to many!

Thank you to NetGalley & Aimee for the ARC! Fates Illuminated follows the story of Shelbie as she goes on a journey of self discovery & manages to get sent back to Viking era times. Shelbie's story is full of Nordic lore, pining, chemistry, found family, small town/village charm, humor, and witty banter. I loved reading about an older FMC & the fantasy elements introduced towards the end of the book. I can't wait for the nest installment in the series! This book is perfect for anyone who loves Outlander, Vikings the TV show, or Vikings: Valhalla.

Oh wow, this was not it. I had high hopes going into this one, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was painfully slow at the start, and I couldn’t connect with the FMC—she just came off as really naive and frustrating. Her decisions, especially early on, were borderline annoying, and it took a lot of patience to get through. The premise had so much potential, but I just couldn’t get into the story. The time travel and paranormal aspects had promise, but they felt underdeveloped. Overall, a big disappointment.

Time travel, Vikings, and a romance? What more could I need?

Shelbie was a great character. Over 30 and still figuring out what she wants in life. She gets drunk and books a trip to Sweden. One fall down a hill and she’s time traveled to the past. I adored the Viking clan. Every single person, especially broody Domari. I enjoyed the romance, the found family, and yes there is a dragon.
I highly recommend for anyone who ever wondered what fate had in store for them.

Fates Illuminated is Book 1 of the Call of the Norns triology.

I thought it was very entertaining and adventurous . I was intrigued for the entire book to find out how the timelines fit together. I loved the FMC, Shelbie and how she followed through with her drunken trip booking even though it was way out of her element. It was a good reminder that sometimes we just need a little push to get what we need/want out of life.

The side characters are all great..especially Thor (Shelbie’s dog) and the Viking community that Shelbie found during her travels. And of course you can’t forget Charlene who I hope I can become when I grow up.

I’ll definitely be picking you up the rest of the series!

Grab Fates Illuminated if you like:
💜 Vikings
💜 Time Traveling
💜 Dragons
💜 One Bed
💜 Grumpy X Sunshine

Thanks to Netgalley and Revel Books for a copy of Fates Illuminated in exchange of an honest review.

This book was so much fun, I loved Shelbie and thought that she was a wonderfully written character. I really enjoyed that she was in her thirties, and lived a normal simple life. Her character growth throughout the book was really good and I enjoyed seeing her grow into a badass. I absolutely loved all of the Viking characters and their laugh out loud banter. Signe was absolutely my favorite. The romance was, well it was hot and I am pretty sure I have added a new book boyfriend to my team. Over all this is a fast paced fun and sexy adventure and I cannot wait to dive into book two!

3.5 Stars. Thank you NetGalley, Aimee Vance, and Victory Editing for my gifted ARC.

An Outlander-ish vibe with Vikings!

Shelbie turns 31 and overindulges in birthday wine, only to discover the next morning that she's booked a trip to Sweeden for an outdoor horseback riding and camping adventure. As they embark on the trip Shelbie's horse gets spooked and it somehow sends her back in time. Shelbie wakes to find herself in a strange area with a Viking Clan.

What I liked:
I LOVED the Viking clan!! They're passionate people who love deeply and the story depicted that well. Shelbie was accepted into the clan like family and seemed to find herself while living in their village. The three sisters of fate appear to the clan and tell Shelbie she must return home and they tell Shelbie she is the last of her kind. There's also a dragon and the implications in the story hold a lot of potential!

What I struggled with:
Shelbie's trip preparations felt a little long. When she met Domari, the single Viking warrior he immediately despised her but then it fell into instant love. I could have used a little more banter and building into the relationship.

I was entertained by the story and I see a lot of potential with the series. I'll be reading the next book!

Romance Content: 2 Open-door scenes (easy to skip)

Fates Illuminated is a delightful, slow-burn fantasy romance that feels like a contemporary romance but with dragons. I wish I could explain it, but my ramblings tell me I can't. So, maybe a list of why I enjoyed this is the right way to go.

1. The feel of the story. Again, I don't know if I can explain what I mean by this, but it is perfect for romance readers who don't typically like fantasy books. It is also great for readers who want to dive into fantasy slowly. Yet, at the same time, I think fantasy romance readers will love this as well. It was both dark and light.

2. Vikings. I mean, what else is there to say?

3. Dragons. Again, what else do I need to say?

4. Time Travel. Playing with time (travel, loops, etc.) is one of my favorite tropes.

5. Found Family & Side Characters: The side characters and the found family they created bring this story to life. It is more than just a romance. There are genuine friendships and bonds. I thought it was lovely.

6. Older Characters: I love characters in their 30s and older.

7. The Dark Bits: I especially liked the darker bits with The Norns. I am dying to see more of them as the series progresses.

8. Domari and Shelbie. I love a grumpy man who is secretly down-bad. Shelbie reminded me a lot of my younger self. Flying to another country to find myself is something I have done a few times. Highly recommend by the way. Although, I didn't fall in love with a Viking. So, maybe I did it wrong. All I know is I am excited to see what happens in book two, and the third and final book comes out in Spring 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Vance for a review copy.