Tessa Gratton's THE APPLE THRONE is an excellent example of how to end a trilogy. It's a book that ties all of the books together, but does so by adding to their stores without repeating. Soren Bearstar, everyone's favourite berserker and best friend, is the central thread connecting the first two novels and novellas, but in THE APPLE THRONE we learn it's Astrid who holds the world together.This novel explores power, strength, and the different forms they take. It is about how people who believe...

*4.9 stars*I have loved Tessa Gratton's whole United States of Asgard series, with its fantastic worldbuilding, wonderful writing and compelling characters. The Apple Throne is a beautiful, powerful ending to the series that made me want to re-read all the earlier stories. I don't think it could stand alone - it pulls together all the themes and characters from the first two books and their linked novellas (from her US of Asgard collection THE WEIGHT OF STARS), and you certainly ought to have re...

I remember very little about this book (other than the messy gays, and I WISH I remembered more about them because they are SO GOOD), but I do know that this entire series wasn't quite what I wanted it to be, and I WAS disappointed that we didn't get full ot3 with Soren, Astrid, and Baldur, and I might have liked this book better than the others in the series? (So we'll say a strong three stars, even 3.25, but not quite 3.5, I think.) But overall, as a unit, this series is underwhelming; I proba...

The heartstopping conclusion to the underrated United States of Asgard trilogy. When Astrid's boyfriend Soren doesn't show up for their romantic rendez-vous she defies the gods and sets out on an epic quest to rescue him. Unlike the two previous narrators, Astrid utilizes her wits and reawakened foresight more than her fists to solve her problems which makes for an intruiging change of pace. We also get to see some of the consequences of actions taken by characters in previous books. The ending

I always find it hard to talk about books I really, really loved, because I find myself just saying how great everything was with very little in the way of actual critical thought. But I loved The Apple Throne in a way that I haven't loved a book in a long time, and I think the book deserves as many kind words as I have to give.I didn't like Astrid in The Lost Sun, because Astrid is the exact kind of person I find difficult in real life—her convictions seemed unshakeable, and I found her comfort...

3.5 or maybe even 3.75 😋I really like this world Tessa Grafton has created. This book is good, just not great. 🙂

Why is this over? *cries profusely*I love this World and these characters. The final installment of the trilogy wraps all the Asgard stories together. Gratton makes this alternative world feel so real. This entire series was so creative and original and smart. These characters are full of passion and personality and strike chords in my mind and soul. Astrid's story was compelling and beautiful. I love how Gratton combines the mundane with the magic in this world. I love how the divine within mix...

Wow! Lost Sun was Sorens tale. Strange Maid was Signys. And Astrid aka Idunn finally has hers. And what an adventure. It was also exciting with several new key characters as well as meeting Signy and Soren again. We also go even deeper into the wonderful world Tessa has created. Like every good storyteller you may think you know how it all works from book one and book two but book three is always expected to blow the other two out of the water and it did. So much so I finished half of this book

These books are really amazing. They give a glimpse into a world where gods are real, and passion and poetry are much more important to daily life than logic and machinery. It's hard to put them down, and I really hope there will be more!

Finished “The Apple Throne”, the last in Tessa Gratton’s “United States of Asgard” series and loved it!!! :D Such a great way to tie all the books & novellas together and finish Astrid, Soren, Signy, and Ned’s stories while also trying in Amon, Sune, and Eirfinna from the 1st novella. I loved this world Tessa created with the Norse gods living in our world and how it would be if that was the main religion & they were involved in our political systems too. This one featured Thor, Loki, and Freya

Is it hyperbolic to open by declaring that THE UNITED STATES OF ASGARD might be the best books I've ever read? I don't care: they are, and THE APPLE THRONE continues this tradition with more style and grace than I would have thought possible.I think my favourite part about it was that the book dealt majorly with characters I didn't think I would ever get to see again. Gratton took the people I met (and loved) in GOLD RUNNER and wove them in with Astrid and Soren and Signy, and I really could not...

"It is by touching gods and godlings, elves and trolls and men and women, by starting a new story for ourselves and our names, that we reach into the future. "That is how we thrive."Astrid Glynn traded her life as a talented prophet and seethkona to save the person she loves. Soren Bearstar struck a bargain in turn so that he would remember Astrid even as the rest of the world forgot her.It has been two years since Astrid gave up her name, her prophetic dreams, and her life to become Idun the Y

Rating: 3.5/5Review coming soon!

Sometimes you read a book, and the only difficult part about it is writing the review. The temptation even comes up to skip the review, and just rate it; that would be easier. But when a book is as good as Tessa Gratton's last entry into her United States of Asgard series, you just have to let people know about it.Set in an alternative (way cooler) world where Odin and Thor steer national policy, The United States of Asgard series has a ton of awesome going for it. Creatively interwoven into our...

The United States of Asgard series is the most underrated series in YA Fantasy - fight me. In this final novel Gratton manages to pull together threads she's been weaving throughout The Lost Sun, The Strange Maid and even the collection of short stories, The Weight of Stars. If you haven't read those yet, immediately go out and do it! They are amazing, also spoilers for those books will follow, lol. This book focuses on Astrid, our seether-turned-goddess Idun from the first book. It goes back a

Book: 3 stars. Series over all 4 stars. The Apple Throne didn't connect to me as well as the last one, The Strange Maid, did but I could finally empathize with Astrid and her faith and struggle with the Gods and her role as Idun The Young, while being forgotten by the world and having no fate. I wasn't much into the elves plot, except when it all connected to my favorite (!!) valkyrie Signy Valborn and what she did with the heart of the Troll Mother she killed. The plot with Soren's kidnapping a...

New tales of Norse mythology for the modern worldI have loved all the Gods of New Asgard books, and pray that there will be more. For me, they capture the essence of the Norse mythology, while giving it a modern, and human, twist.

Gratton does a good job of tying up story lines from the first two books in this third book that finally brings together Astrid the seether and Signy the valkyrie. Soren the Berserker is off camera for most of the book, although Astrid's continued memories of him make his presence felt.This is Astrid as Idun's book. Here she has to reconcile her desire to serve the gods with the loss of her ability to change fate and act on the world. Luckily, one of Thor's half-mortal sons, Amon, and a young Hu...

It has been about a week since I read The Apple Throne, and I have yet to come up with anything coherent to say. So let me get the incoherent stuff out of my system first: FLAIL FLAIL FIST PUMP LAUGHTER AND CRYING AND MORE FLAILING.Ahem.*smooths hair and straightens clothes*So. There are only a few authors whose books I will bravely buy before reading, and Tessa Gratton is definitely on the list. And The Apple Throne did not disappoint. Here's my top three reasons for falling in love with this b...

What a spectacular ending to an incredible trilogy!! I absolutely loved this book. And as I've said before, this series is wonderfully magical. The imagery Tessa Gratton conjures in her writing makes me feel feelings, and the characters instantly become beloved favorites. I loved seeing all of the events from the first two books, however seemingly unrelated at the time, come together through prophecy or sheer determination. I also loved seeing the story unfold from Astrid's perspective and watch...