Dead Radiance (A Valkyrie Novel - Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

T.G. Ayer (Author)

Book Description

Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras--Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.

The new foster kid, Aidan, isn't helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible, actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.

Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she'd never belonged?

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Evolved Publishing brings you a Norse Mythology adventure, "Dead Radiance (a Valkyrie Novel - Book 1)," by T.G. Ayer. (YA Paranormal Fantasy)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"With a new twist on Norse mythology, Dead Radiance is an exciting adventure filled with characters you'll love!" Maria V. Snyder (New York Times Best-selling Author)

"T.G.'s writing style executes a beautiful mixture of mythology, fantasy, and adventure and gives readers a magical view of her amazing story." Jeanbooknerd

"This is a great read for mythology lovers and those looking for a book with a gripping story line! Meg - A Bookish Affair

"Ayer has done a great job introducing us to this new Norse world and all of the characters."

Jennifer - readitreviewit.wordpress.com/

"T.G. Ayer has written this book in a real and believable teenage voice that I literally could not put down. ... Dead Radiance had me completely engrossed, I lost myself amongst its pages and I was enraptured with Bryn and her story. ... A beautifully written and endearing tale, Dead Radiance is a definite 5 Star read ~<;] -  Book Chatter-Cath
 "The plot was also excellent. ... This is one of those books where you can tell the author has put a huge amount of effort and research into combining all the elements that have gone into making this story believable and educating the reader in Norse mythology backing it up with evidence all the way. ...  It takes you through times of happiness, hope, love, sorrow, faith, despair, determination - a real emotional rollercoaster that had mine all over the place and my heart beating in time to theirs as if I was going through it with them, I was that involved. . ." -  Melanie-bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com

About the Author

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully… My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain crosseyed.

Product Details

• File Size: 515 KB
• Print Length: 376 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1469998165
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Evolved Publishing (February 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007D35J8A
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,722 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost for words! March 3, 2012

By Book Passion for Life

Format:Paperback

Bryn Halbrook is alone. Has been really since her father died in suspicious circumstances and her mother rejected her. She is passed around the foster care system and lands in Craven and finally gains a friend in Joshua. That is, until he starts to glow, brighter and brighter. Soon Bryn comes to realise that this glow means death, Joshua is going to die and there is nothing she can do about it but watch as he brightens day by day and when he does die, she is alone again. Trying to wade through the turmoil of emotions and the towns' rejection of her, she starts to despair. . . . Until she hears the rumble of a motorbike, announcing the arrival of her new foster brother - Aiden Lee.
She is inexplicably drawn to this mysterious young man and him to her, she opens up about her `gift' but soon after he leaves and she is alone again. What he really leaves though are answers to why he was really there and who he really is and it rocks Bryn's world to the foundations as she finds out that she could be a Valkyrie, a beautiful, winged warrior of Norse mythology. He is not the only one to think so either and when her life is put in danger she is whisked away to somewhere she never dreamed of , thrust into a different way of life and sent on a quest with a huge stake - if she fails, Aiden will die!

Well, what can I say except this book was brilliant! I couldn't put it down and loved everything about it. The characters - Bryn, poor Bryn, all alone in the world after the death of her father at 13 years old. Her mother had left when she needed psychiatric help for her `glow vision' and never returned, nor did she want her when her father died so Bryn has that lonely, rejected feel to her. It seems like she always will wherever she goes, she never fits in and people are always willing to see her in a bad light. She clings to first Joshua and then Aiden who actually show her some friendship, craving them. It's quite sad how she is for the first part of the book but that all changes as the discoveries are made and she finally feels like she belongs somewhere. There are always going to be people who have it in for her but she starts to feel enabled and brave and in the end she has something to fight for and will stop at nothing - quite the transformation. She is of course the stand out character, so well written that it was so easy to empathise with her, feel everything she was going through and all the other characters compliment her effortlessly. Aiden is an excellent pairing for her, just as tragic, with parental issues and an expert where she is concerned. The connection between them was just lovely.

The plot was also excellent. The story line, how it came about, what she learned about herself, there was always something going on, finding out new things and facing challenges, I was never bored - the pacing was great and it was jam packed with information on the mythology involved. This is one of those books where you can tell the author has put a huge amount of effort and research into combining all the elements that have gone into making this story believable and educating the reader in Norse mythology backing it up with evidence all the way. It was great to read something other than Greek mythology and the Norse has really got me curious. I had known only of Thor, Odin and Loki so it is all new to me and really piqued my interest so I did a little research and you would not believe how factual this book really is, down to the names and owners of property. Bryn's namesake is even known as the chief Valkyrie in Robert Wagner's works, I'm really blown away by it all. I loved that we have a modern day Valkyrie and how it came about, very plausible and it's a shame we can't meet her father and get answers. This has been an amazing read that has kept me on my toes as we follow them on their journey, learning about the new world they've become a part of, Bryn learning about herself, what she may be capable of, trying to save lives, doing the right thing and finally feeling as if she belongs somewhere. It takes you through times of happiness, hope, love, sorrow, faith, despair, determination - a real emotional rollercoaster that had mine all over the place and my heart beating in time to theirs as if I was going through it with them, I was that involved. I could gush on and on about my love of this book, but I won't. . . . I'll leave it for you to discover for yourself. Just know that this is an awesome first book in a series that is fresh and new, using Norse mythology as a backdrop with both modern day and old world characters that will captivate you as you search for the answers to the puzzle of who is Bryn Holbrook & just what is she capable of? Oh, did I fail to mention the most heinous of cliff-hangers? Well yeah, there's one of those too.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead Radiance March 1, 2012

By Michelle@Book Briefs

Format:Paperback

This book was so awesome! I have not read a Valkyeri book before and this was such a great one to start with. The book just flows along at a great pace. It's never boring, never slow. Dead Radiance is a great adventure that kept me riveted from start to finish.

Bryn is awesome! She is kick butt, kind, and all around awesome! I started out feeling so bad for her. She had no friends and she was bounced from foster home to foster home. It must have been tough on her. I certainly couldn't imagine it. And then there is the glow that she sees around people. I just wanted to hug her! But once she started figuring out who she really was, things started turning around. It was at this point that I became super engrossed in her story. And then there is Aiden.

Boy oh boy did I like Aiden. First of all he is super smart and resourceful. I have a thing for smart guys. Kind of a big thing. And man did Aiden and Bryn have chemistry! Honestly I found myself impatiently
waiting for the next encounter between the two of them as I was reading. I wanted to see even more of them. And that ending! It killed me! I thought a little bit more could have been developed in the relationship front for the two of them. But all in all I liked the pace and I loved that it was believable. Too many times, I read a story where people fall victim to insta-love. Not here, and it was so refreshing.

Overall, Dead radiance is an awesome start to a series! I loved it!! One of my favorite books that I have read this year so far. It is well written, and the plot is great! I cannot wait to find out what will happen next! I need to read the next book asap.

more at bookbriefs.blogspot.com

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead Radiance (a Valkyrie Novel - Book 1) (Kindle Edition) March 6, 2012

By Nancy Lanni

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

T. G. Ayer has expertly woven a story from Norse mythology using a modern young woman as the main character. The orphan Bryn has had her heart broken too many times, and it has made her wary of relationships. She is afraid it will happen again when the attractive Aidan comes to live at her foster home, yet she trusts him enough to share with him her own personal secret, one that will lead them to adventures beyond what either of them could imagine.

I was most impressed with this imaginative novel. It has all the romance and adventure that young adults crave in their reading. I'm looking forward to the next of the series.

More About the Author

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes... I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves - it works wonderfully...

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands - I shall forever remain crosseyed.