Runes

Runes #1

by Ednah Walters

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Paranormal Romance, Magic

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Her award-winning, International Bestselling YA Paranormal Romance—Runes Series—started with Runes and has a total of 6 books to date. The last one, Witches, released in March 2015, was a Readers Choice Awards winner. Her most recent addition is Demons, A Runes Companion Novel (Eirik Book 1). Demons is the story of Raines best friend and former crush Eirik Seville.
Her international bestselling YA Urban Fantasy series, The Guardian Legacy Series, focuses on the Nephilim, children of the fallen angels. The series started with Awakened and has a total of 4 books to date. The latest Forgotten was released in June 2015.
She also writes Contemporary Romance as E.B. Walters-from The Fitzgerald Family series and Infinitus Billionaires series.

Whether she’s writing about Valkyries, Norns, and Grimnirs, or Guardians, Demons, and Archangels, love, family, and friendship play crucial roles in all her books.

If you enjoyed reading her books, please consider leaving a review. Reviews can make a difference in the ranking of a book.

To be updated on more Runes exclusives, the next book in Eirik's story, giveaways, teasers, and deleted scenes, join her newsletter.

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Reviews

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the series, 'Runes' was good, but failed to leave me wanting more. As far as the story goes, it was okay. I enjoyed the fact that it was different from most of the paranormal romances that I read.

That being said, I never felt a strong connection to the characters. I wanted more emotion and more depth. I kept waiting for some sort of bond to form. It never happened.

Largely, I think this was a result of the fact that I'm not a member of the targeted audience. The story was clearly aimed at a younger audience. Sometimes, I can read a book aimed at a teen audience and enjoy every minute. Other times, the story seems immature and difficult to relate to. Unfortunately, this time was one of the latter.

However, I should say that I can see the appeal of this book for a younger audience. There were several unique elements that captured my attention. I thought the author did a great job of creating something original in a genre where it often seems like everything has been done before.

If I were 20 years younger, this probably would've been a 4-star read for me. As it stands, it was a bit too tame for my tastes. I need a lot more heat and more of an emotional connection to my stories.

If you're in the mood for something on the innocent side, this is a pretty good choice. It definitely has a teen vibe to it, but there is an interesting plot. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has been popping up everywhere... Booktube, UK list, and was even recommended to me several times on Goodreads. However, I'm a little confused as to why this book has so much growing hype surrounding it. I have a lot of issues with Runes. This is a Frankenstein's monster version of Twilight, Lux, and The Mortal Instruments (very heavy on the Twilight). It's this freak creation that shouldn't have been brought to life.This review is going to be messy and unorganized, but I don't feel like putting that much effort into it. Here are some of my issues with this book...

Raine is a very unlikable character. She's suppose to be this reversed, athletic, bookworm, but everything she does contradict this. She's actually this vapid, controlling, irritating, shallow, and annoying shell of a human being with priorities that are so F'ed up. She's was also constantly using her best friend/boyfriend Eirik to make Torin jealous. She would throw herself on her boyfriend-make out with him- then look to make sure Torin saw it. That just shows what kind of person she really is! BARF!

So yeah, as you might have guessed, there is an awful mess of a love triangle going on. Raine the "good girl" would make out with one of them than walk away with the other!! LIKE WTF! Raine treats Eirik like trash, and uses him as a back burner boyfriend in case her and Torin don't end up being a thing. She is a flawed character! A MC being so flawed can make or break a story, and Raine's flaws broke it. My biggest issue with her however is this... You know how in Twilight Bella knows something is up with the Cullens, and starts to look into it and do research, and quickly figures out what is up... Well Raine isn't like that, she can't put two and two together! For someone who is sooooo book smart you think she would of I don't know PICKED UP A BOOK!! On to the guys. Eirik is a sweet boy, but that's where his qualities ends. He is naive, and basically walks around like a lost puppy dog. Torin, the mysterious bad boy with- the wicked grin, wicked eyes, wicked body, wicked hair, wicked wicked wicked. You know all the things Edward does in Twilight that are creepy yet somehow alluring, well Torin has those qualities too, but the author just decides to let them be creepy. She doesn't even try to make them appealing!

Oh and before I get to the plot I just wanna mention how NASTY her best friend is... making videos about the sexy boys in town and calling herself  "a male aficionado" or some BS like that! This happens in the first ten pages or so. I should have known then to put it down, but I keep trying to give this book a shot.

Okay, the plot... wow the plot is all over the place. I think when an author is writing they have to make you believe the unbelievable. This one massive crazy impossible idea is placed, than everything after it has to build up and make you believe that even though you know it can't be true that it still feels real... If that makes sense. Walters failed to make me believe. The ideas and events are so far out there! You can't just info dump, not give anything to back it up, and thinking covering it up with insta love will fix the problem! Let me give you an example that I think wont really ruin the story for you... So around the middle of this story Raine's friends take her to a nightclub (even thought they're underage they still somehow manage to get in- "guess Eirik took care of everything before we came"), then once in the nightclub the whole school manages to be there for a surprise birthday party for Raine. This is where things start really getting out there for me... there's a town blackout which turns into a giant club riot... yeah people start going insane!!! Fighting and trampling- the whole nine yards! One girl get trampled and Eirik "protect her" with his body, but still ends up in a comma or something. I just don't see things going down like this. One time I was shopping in Harris Teeter and the power went out because of a storm, and since the doors are the automatic kind we were all basically stuck in there till the power came back on. While I was there no one started rioting and freaking out. Everyone basically hung out for thirty minutes and chilled. No one started rioting, grabbing canned goods, and throwing flat screens through the glass Jumanji style. So I found it so hard to believe that things escalated that quickly and in that manor. This isn't a World War Z end of the world kind of event, it's just a power outage. I just... I just can't, and this is just one of the many unbelievable acts that happen.

Everything I dislike reading in Ya books is what made up Runes. I didn't like the characters, I couldn't stand the plot, the romance was lacking everything, and I'm just glad I didn't waste any money on purchasing this. I would say instead of picking up Runes to just re-read Twilight.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've noticed that most of the YA series I read are the same....Twilight, Lux, Hush Hush.... girl in high school meets bad boy....heated arguments turn into heated romance....the only thing that changes is the supernatural aspect.

yes this book was just like that....but I quite liked it. .. even though its like all of those other books and is quite cliche. it was well written and I definitely enjoyed the characters and I can definitely see myself falling more in love with the series.

also the ending freaking killed me so I'll be starting the 2nd book as soon as I hit 'save' on this review.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book in general is ok, although there is nothing in it that would make me recommend it.

Runes is a mix of Twilight , the Mortal Instruments and the Soul series. As a result, it seems like a weak copy of other YA series, cliché and unoriginal.

The female MC was very unlikable. I really hope no teenager that reads this, thinks Raine’s way of acting is worthy of being imitated. Raine was selfish, immature and quite inconsiderate.

Overall, all the characters lacked appeal.

The romance was terrible.Raine was in love with Torin and yet it took her the whole book to break up with Erick, talk about not being fair for Erick…

All I can say about the plot is that , basically, nothing of import actually happens the whole time we are reading the book.

Audiobook: I hated the audiobook. I found the narrator extremely annoying with her singing voice and more acting than narrating, it sure didn't help Raine’s personality one bit.

As a conclusion, I´ll just say that I won’t be reading any more of this series.

[Alana ~ The Book Pimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like if you take the Lux series, and then marry it with The Mortal Instruments, that's in the same neighborhood as this book. I know that's clear as mud, but it really is like those two books had a love child book, and Runes was it.

I do have to give props- urban fantasy has become a harder genre to write in. It's so saturated, that it becomes difficult for some new books to really stand out. Runes does manage to stand out. Honestly, just the cover alone piqued my interest, the blurb sounded promising, and it left me with a pleasant, satisfied read.

Another aspect Runes nailed, I was surprised. I did NOT expect everything that went down. I understood and anticipated just enough to make me feel 'smart' for having a clue what to expect next; more than enough shock to gasp out loud several times while reading. Again, not always an easy feat to satisfy, so *applause* for pulling that off!

But wait, I only rated it 4♥'s, right? Why, you may ask. While Torin is indeed hot, he's also frustrating on many levels. I also got just the slightest hint of stereotypical characters, I just wish they sparkled just a little bit more. (Not like vampire sparkle *shudder* I may enjoy Twilight, but I don't want it in all my books.) I just wanted a little more... everything. More chemistry. More something (sorry but I just can't quite define this point.)

Also, not exactly a spoiler, but the ending is quite 'cliffy'. It didn't upset me or turn me off, rather just left me lusting for book #2. So, overall, adding the good and the bad, Runes still gets a solid 4 stars for me. For a first book in a series, it's well worth the read!

4♥'s by the hair of it's chinny, chin chin.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Muse-ic ♬ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Edit: Guys, it's with great sadness that I announce the passing of Ednah Walters :( I just found out through a Facebook fan group, and thought I'd pass on the crappy news :(((

It was really good, even though I wasn't as emotionally invested in it as I would have liked.
It's been a while since I've read this but I should have written that dang review ages ago. Now I don't remember anything of significance.
I remember enjoying it well enough. AND it's free on Amazon, so give it a shot, I'd say :)

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Ednah has upted the bar with this new paranormal romance.

Characters that you will surely swoon over and a fantastic new series that will take off with a bang.

The storyline is original, the plot intriguing, and I was eager to find out what was going to happen at every page turn. A few twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of there seat.

A solid plot, and a great paced read, I can guarantee for all those who have read Ednah's Ya series, this one will be your very favourite.. ** or is it the mysterious ** neighbour lol.

The characters breathe a life of their own and the story Ednah has crafted, is so well detailed and indepth, I felt like I was right there inside the book.

I have to say yet again I have another book boyfriend to take home ;) and he rides a Harley.. ** fans oneself** I was definelty tripping over my pages with this hotty within the pages lol.

The mythology entwined throughout the read will certainly have you eager to do a little research of your own. As confused as Raine was Im sure this world will appeal and draw you in.

We are left with a little bit of a cliff hanger, jaw open thinking wt ! Really lol - but also giddy moments in the story where you will certainly be swept along.

The writing style is fluently written I found it to be a fast paced story. Runes is a very engaging ya Paranormal romance with likeable characters and strong plot.


The cover is just luscious .

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To see full review click here.

Welcome to an episode of book diagnosis with the help of a slightly modified version of the scientific method, I....Dr. MJ* will diagnosis what the fuck is wrong with Runes.

Question: What the fuck is wrong with Runes? The summary seems pretty good. Norse gods and YA. Whatever can go wrong with that....okay, I know a lot. But Norse gods. That's pretty bad ass for the most part (at least when Tom Hiddleston and Christ Hemsworth are involved).

Research: Consisted of reading a good portion of Ruins, being exposed to some shiteous YA books, looking at other reviews to see what worked for other readers and what caused them to vomit, and just coming up with my own opinions. Oh, also watching Thor a couple of times too.

Hypothesis: Runes is shiteous because that cover. Seriously, look at it. That girl almost looks like a doll with the amount of makeup they plastered on her face. And if she's supposed to be a Norse goddess shouldn't she be like..pale? And what's with the stupid tattoos. Why does YA have a fascination with stupid tattoos?

Experiment: Read book. Try to rationalize book during brief spurts of hissy fits which cause dog that is pretending to be reader's nurse during their illness to give them death looks. Continue reading. Have reader vomit not because of flu or cover of said book but contents of book. Keep reading until reader wants their money back and hits the return button from Kindle only to find some other cheap book they want. Then reader (Dr. MJ) tries to write up a somewhat coherent analysis. Note during reader make notes of what cliches are used, poor writing techniques, and general crimes against humanity. The more tally marks that reader makes the lower rating book gets and it can help determine what final diagnosis to make.

Analysis:

Honestly, the biggest thing that stuck out to me was that I had seen this before. And in a lot of ways it reminded me of a shitty parody that I recently read (Awoken).

Yeah, it reminded me of a not so funny YA paranormal parody. That's never a good thing.

This book is so formulaic it made me want to puke.

I've said that a lot in my review. It might be because I'm actually sick today, but really this book sort of made whatever I'm suffering from right now even worse. I got so upset that I ended up returning it. I've only done it once before, but I serious did not want to pay to read Twilight! Norse version.

Because that's what this book is with a few alterations.

Coming to a Twi-like diagnosis is sort of easy. I'll just number them out for you right now.

1) Ordinary girl heroine where ordinary should be replaced with annoying.

2) Girl lives in a non-traditional family with incompetent adult who is more interested in their self than their kids.

3) Heroine lives in a small town. Extra points if it's in the Pacific Northwest.

4) There's two boys. One who's dark and mysterious the other a childhood friend.

5) Google is used a research tool since there are no Halliwells or Winchesters present to help figure out what's going on.

6) Boy will sort of allude to what he is our genius of a main character won't figure it out until it's basically has to spell it out for her.

7) Huge info dumps will occur followed by insta love.

Of course there's more than just this, but I stopped reading after that point. I'm just sick of Twilight ripoffs. I really hated how Runes tried to give the reader these huge winks that it was in the same vein as Twilight.

I kid you not.

There were these parts of the book where Walters basically states that its a Twilight ripoff. The main character, Raine, basically as the Edward wannabe if he's a vampire.

You know what's sad I just read this book like thirty minutes ago and am already forgetting the characters names....

But I digress. Yes, there are nods like that to the Twilight Saga. And with all these other things, I was just rolling my eyes at the end of it.

The sad thing is, you'd think this book would be pretty original. It involves Norse mythology which while is sort of a huge trend in YA recently it hasn't been as exposed as Greek mythology. But of course we have to follow the Twilight Saga.

I really don't get it.

Here's the thing, I don't outright hate Twilight. Oh, I get annoyed with Twilight. And I hate the book where Jacob becomes a creepy pervert and Edward tells him to go have puppies with Bella, but it's not a full blown hatred. What I hate about Twilight is that every genius in YA fiction has decided that if they want to write a paranormal YA book they have to stick to the Twilight formula.

Don't.

Just don't.

It ruins what would otherwise be a decent story. Take this book, if it would've deviated a little bit from the formula it might've been okay. But I was yawning throughout the entire thing that I just gave up.

Okay, it was horribly written. The world building really made no sense and the characterization was pretty awful. But still if it didn't follow the Twilight formula, I might've just might've been able to finish it.

Conclusion: This book suffers from Twilight syndrome. Sad to say it's terminal. I, Dr. MJ, could not finish it. And you probably won't either if you have any sense or would rather watch Thor.

*Obviously, I'm not a real doctor.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews from me, go to thisisjustabookblog.tumblr.com They say start the year as you mean to go on, so I guess that means I'll be reading bad books and writing harsh reviews about them.

It's not that I want to be mean. I understand and appreciate that someone has spent a lot of time and effort and energy writing this book. It's just that this book really irritated me, in many ways, and I wouldn't be a very good reviewer if I didn't tell you guys.

So, let's start with problem number 1: Raine, the main character. She could be really horrible. She was the representation of what people who don't like teenage girls think teenage girls are like. She judged everyone harshly. She'd introduce every new character with a big, long paragraph about their background and nicknames and generally be a little bit mean about them. She considered herself above these other people. She wasn't much of a character to be honest; other than being mean, I can't actually think of a defining characteristic for her.

Problem number 2: The information dump at the end. We literally spend 90% of the book having no clue what is going on, other than there is a tenuous link to Norse mythology, and then in the last couple of pages everything happens. It doesn't make me want to read on; it makes me regret reading the other 90% of the book. The mystery surrounding Torin was drawn out for too long, to the point where it got boring and frustrating. Some of the mythology didn't even make that much sense, to be honest. And, I don't know if it's a word taken from Norse mythology or it's made up, or what, but I don't like the word Norns to describe a certain mythological thingie (I wanted to say creature, but they weren't really creatures, as such). Anyway, I just don't think Norn sounds very good, but this is a minor thing really.

Problem number 3: Other than some horrible girls at school and a couple of near-death experiences, nothing actually happens for the majority of this book. It's mostly just Raine swooning over Torin, yet ignoring him at the same time. In fact, the romance factor of this book is quite badly plotted, because it's confusing. There's nothing wrong with having a main character that is confused over two boys, and who she wants to be with. That is fine. That is realistic. But the way this was written meant that Raine just came off as unlikeable. She refused to even be nice to Torin, then got angry when he was with another girl, and was really horrible abut her. It just... wasn't very nice to read.

And, speaking of the romance, I didn't understand Eirik and Raine and their relationship. At the beginning, she talks about them being in an unofficial relationship, and she fancies him, but he pushed Raine away, and I thought he liked Cora. Then all of a sudden, Raine dresses up and Eirik is confessing his love and kissing her and stuff. And saying he's always fancied her. So why didn't he kiss her when she asked? And then she decides she doesn't like her, but he's still declaring all sorts of undying love. And then, at the end, during all the action and info dump, she seems to realise he likes Cora. But all he's done for 80% of the book is talk about loving Raine! So why is one look suddenly evidence for his love for Cora? Where is the consistency?!

Problem number 4: Some of the reactions are just so unrealistic. Raine's dad returns after he's been missing for months? Quick hug, and then she saunters off with her friends. She accepts magic far too easily, but at the same time isn't overly curious. Nothing feels right. She overreacts about some things, and then under reacts about others. I just didn't understand Raine, or any of the other characters, really.

I got this as an ARC from Netgalley, and as such it contained quite a few typos and missed words and wrong tenses and stuff like that. I'm assuming the actual version of the book is not littered with these mistakes, and that they were picked up in a proof-read at some point.

Overall, I thought the idea for the plot was one that had some potential, but it didn't really go far. I actually enjoyed the first chapter or two, but nothing much happened and I began to dislike Raine more and more. It actually came off a bit tired and overused too; I considered it a terrible mix between Twilight, TMI (that rune drawer thing, for example), and the Lux series (mean boy next door? Sounds familiar. I was convinced for a while that Torin would be an alien).

This book was just a lot of things that I didn't want to read; I am tired of dangerous and mean boys with a secret and girls who do nothing but put each other down and confused love triangles. There might be something in this for other people; it has a lot of four star reviews. I can see why people might like this, but too much irritated me about this book, especially Raine.

[Karen Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raine Cooper is a typical teenager. She is on the swim team and she has her two best friends, Cora and Eirik. She’s coping with some stuff (I won’t go into because I don’t want to give much away). Other than that, her life is pretty normal. She’s waiting for Eirik to finally ask her out so they can move beyond friendship.

Enter Torin St. James. Torin moves in next door – into the house her friend Eirik used to live in. He’s hot, arrogant, a bad ass with a faint English accent and riding a motorcycle. Yes, please! He’s kind of rude to Raine when they first meet but she holds her own very well against him. The banter between them was great.

I don’t really care for love triangles but this one wasn’t like the triangles you see in a lot of YA books. Raine loves Eirik, but as a best friend. She’s confused at first about what kind of love she feels for him, but it’s obvious from the moment Torin calls her Freckles, where the real chemistry is. I loved Eirik but Torin is one of those characters who when he isn’t in the scene, you can’t help but wonder when he’s going to show up again. I love it when an author creates a character who draws you in that way.

Stuff happens (see how I avoided the spoilers?) and Torin saves Raine’s life. Suddenly she can see weird symbols everywhere and she doesn’t know what is happening to her. A whole new world opens to Raine, one she thought existed only in myth, and her life is changed forever. Walters does an amazing job of weaving Norse mythology into the story as well as developing a great relationship between Raine and Torin. The books doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but you’ll be so invested in wanting to find out what happens next, you’ll be reaching for the next one immediately.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Raine Cooper’s life has been in turmoil ever since her father was lost during a plane crash. Her mother insists he’s still alive and her best friend Eirik might have to move away. Now a mysterious stranger moves in next door and there is something very different about him...Well he is drop dead gorgeous but how does he always know exactly what she’s thinking???

Raine seems to have some connection to Torin, even though she knows she should keep away from him...something is pulling her to him.

Torin isn’t the only new comer in town, but suddenly Raine begins to see moving tattoos and super abilities not just in Torin but in the new comers as well.

The more Raine discovers, the more she realizes that nothing is as it seems. Somehow Raine is connected to these powerful beings. Can Raine uncover the secrets before it is too late?

What a fantastic young adult, paranormal love story! Rune is a great start to what is to sure to be a wonderful new series I must follow. The beginning did remind me a little of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments Series, they both have the runes/tattoos and a super bad boy with an attitude, of course I was hooked right there. The ending completely shocked me, I didn’t see it coming and it only made me want more! Don't miss Rune it is definitely a book you won't want to miss.

This ARC copy of Runes was given to me by Firetrail Publishing - Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members' Titles in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication May 20, 2013.

[chev! · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly written book, although I had to wait until the last chapters to find out the revelation between the Norse world and Raine's school. (It is left with a cliff hanger:( )
5/5 Chev's picks
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[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read this review and more on my blog:

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for and honest review.

I have had this book downloaded on my Kindle for over a year, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. This was YA paranormal romantic perfection.

Raine was my favorite type of heroine. She was cute, funny, snarky, girly, and strong. Her Life is pretty good when the story begins. Her relationship with her mother was the perfect blend of friendship and respect. She had a wonderful best friend, Cora, who she wasn’t constantly fighting with. And her other best friend and potential boyfriend, Eirik was amazing! The only thing about her life that isn’t perfect is the fact that her father has been missing and presumed dead for months. Even though she is going through a pretty rough time without her dad, she still has a lot of wonderful people in her life to keep her mind off of her problems.

Everything is pretty great until Torin, the tall, dark, and disturbingly handsome new boy in town moves next door. As soon as she meets him, her life shifts and things start to go crazy. Torin isn’t exactly the reason her life goes nuts, but her otherworldly attraction to him is a distraction that Raine does not need. She already has to deal with her missing father, a psycho new girl in school who is literally out for her blood, and on top of that, she is seeing things.

The first installment to this series was shrouded in mystery. I had no clue what Torin and his friends where, and kept playing a guessing game with myself while I was reading. The funny thing is that Raine kept playing the same guessing game herself. I loved the scene where she was grilling Torin about what he was and guessed everything from werewolf to wizard. But I was far off when it came to Torin's true identity, and when I finally did find out what was going on, I was pleasantly surprised. I can’t wait to read and review the next book so I can go into things with more detail, but now, I would just be spoiling the best reveal of the book if I told you more.

However, I can tell you my thoughts on the relationships in this book without spoiling your reading experience. Raine had a great relationship with so many people, and each relationship had a moment to shine.

She and Cora have the sort of friendship where they can read each others mind, but they are also still learning new thing about each other. Raine has known her other best friend, Eirik her whole life, and they are adorable together. He climbs in her window and sleeps on her floor (With her mother;s permission), they make funny little bets, and they love to tease each other. Raine has had a crush on him since she hit puberty, and has decided that she won’t go another year without becoming his girlfriend.

Torin's relationship with Raine was perfect. She felt this intense attraction for him, but she didn’t let it rule her. This wasn’t one of those books where the hero pushes the girl away so he can protect her and then she crawls into her room and cries because he doesn’t love her. Torin makes it clear that he wants Raine, and Raine makes it clear that Torin’s life freaks her out. She likes how she feels around him, but she also wants to be safe, and I really liked that she looked out for herself. Too many female leads in paranormal romances throw caution to the wind and run after guys who are dangerous. Raine was not that type of girl. She wanted Torin, but she didn’t want whatever craziness came with him. Of course all this changed over time. When She realized that the craziness was going to be a part of her life with or without Torin, and when she decided she just could not ignore how she felt about him, the real romance began. But I liked the fact that this girl knew how to protect herself, and didn’t need Torin to do it for her all the time. She was strong and knew what she wanted.

The chemistry between Raine and Torin, was amazing. I have read books that get a lot more descriptive when it comes to kissing, and those books have nothing on the heat between these two. Every single touch means something even if it is just accidental, and when they finally kissed, I think I heard bells. This is a safe and clean read, but I think that fans of steamier romance will enjoy it. They have a fire that I rarely find in YA romance, and it was very entertaining.

I know I just found a new favorite series, and if I didn’t have huge stack of books that I need to read right now, I would be moving on to the next book in this series right now. The cliffhanger at the end was genius, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with Raine, Torin, and their friends. I also hope to be reading more from this author in the future.

I cannot recommend this book enough to fans of paranormal romance!

Because of language, I recommend this book for ages 14 and up.

[Maida»-(¯`v´¯)-» · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 Hearts

I am always looking for original ideas and unique storylines when it comes to YA paranormal romance reads, and every once in a while I do find that one book that takes me completely by surprise. Runes by Ednah Walters is exactly that book. With its every flip of the page, the story is brimming with mythology, romance, and intriguing twists and turns – it definitely made for an addictive read. Aside from a few minor disputes, Runes left a distinct impression on me, and I found myself absorbed into the story from beginning to end. My first book by Ednah Walters was nothing short of enjoyable.

I’m going to start with the very first highlight of this book, the plot. Walters creates a well written and evenly paced story, with a fascinating (and original) introduction to an unexpected mythological lore (I am going to withhold the lore secret and keep the mystery for those who haven’t read it yet). The brilliant world building and Walters’ crafty writing style effectively portray a clear and vivid image of exactly what is happening in the story at all times. Although these aspects are much appreciated, the unexpected turns and the ambiguous atmosphere created by the mystery of the myth make this book far more satisfying. The mystery is a solid focus in the storyline, and the non-stop guessing of who Torin and Raine are and what the runes mean is not only entertaining but made for a compelling read.

Raine, our protagonist, is a contradicting character. Where I thoroughly enjoyed her witty and feisty personality, her ability (or lack of) to not acknowledge the existence of the supernatural after having been informed more than several times or her indecision regarding Torin was quite frankly irritating. That’s not to say she isn’t likeable – she is – her character just could have faired better with more natural flaws and a tweaking of the annoyance factor. Torin St. James, on the other hand, is the definition of swoon worthy. His rough, sexy, bad-boy exterior and cocky personality are few of the reasons to fall in love with him. He isn’t in the least bit perfect, he has definite flaws, but his devotion to Raine (in all the sense) is truly admirable, and that is what makes him all the more plausible and a good character.

The romance aspect of this book is fairly enjoyable with all the right sexual and romantic tension, and of course the humorous banter, but the more heart-wrenching emotional scenes (especially near the ending) are the true worth of Raine and Torin’s relationship. While, the build up between the two characters is well done, and not rushed, it is a little too slow to reach its climatic point. Where the overall pacing of the story is pleasing, the romance slightly fell short on that count, nevertheless, their relationship is satisfactory and leaves room for improvement.

Now I have to discuss the second highlight of the book, the mind blowing ending. I did not see that coming! The ending is a huge cliffhanger and as frustrating as that is, Walters builds more than enough anticipation and leaves enough intrigue for what is to come in the next book. Although, I do wish the ending had a few more details, but that, in the face of all the good parts of this book, can be overlooked.

All in all, Runes is a very fun and pleasant read. Despite my few issues, I am looking forward to the next installment and diving back into this exciting paranormal world.

This Review is also posted on my blog: Literary Love Affair

[Darian Carter-Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and more at my blog
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series book: Yes
Will I read the next book: Yes

I read the last few paragraphs of Runes like fifty times and then I cussed enough to make my mamma cry. When I first started reading it, the Lux series came to mind. Then I got into the story and there was totally different mythology. But again at the end I was just as frustrated as I was at the end of Opal (Book three of the Lux series). I just wanted to scream. You can't do that! You cannot crush a readers soul at the end of a book like that!! Have I scared you yet? Good. On to the review.

Like I said, this book reminded me of Obsidian from the Lux series. I was pretty reluctant after the first few chapters because of it. Hot neighbor: Check. Single mother: Check. Hot neighbor is some type of supernatural being and stalks you with his fast superpowers:Check. So the similarities obviously bothered me, but overall the plot was pretty good. I've only read one other book with this particular supernatural and this type of mythology. Basically, the plot was very good but without the similarities it would've been amazing.

I liked how there were other characters in the book other than the main girl and the hot guy. Mainly because they weren't together yet and Raine wasn't single. That's what really bothered me. Here she is, this girl who's supposed to be nice and has a perfect boyfriend/bestfriend thing going on, and she's cheating. Or thinking about cheating. While kissing her boyfriend. It's that kind of annoying heroine that bothers me. No but the other characters were pretty cool. I mean, there were real problems. They mourned the loss of a friend and had to deal with bad boyfriends. That seemed pretty real to me, which was refreshing.

Not only was the relationship forbidden because the guy was some supernatural being, but also because Raine was dating Eirik, who seems totally in love with her But at the end we find out Eirik likes Cora? What? Don't get me wrong, I love a good hot guy and he even had a nickname for her ("Freckles"), but I'm not into the whole cheating thing. I feel like if they had just solved that problem earlier, I would have enjoyed it alot more.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW(In case you don't actually feel like reading the review):
Plot: 4 out of 5
Characters: 4 out of 5
Romance: 3 out of 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (I added an extra bonus point because I just liked the book)
Rated G It was just so clean, there were like five kisses in the whole book

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ednah Walters has done it again! Lord I can't get enough of her books and the way she writes. I just love her to pieces and Runes was a FANTASTIC no PHENOMENAL READ! I could not put it down. Once I started reading it I could not put it down and I was so engrossed in Runes that I did not cook or clean or do homework no way it was just me and Raine and Torin!

Raine is having a rough go with things in her life. Her father has disappeared and her mother is acting weird and to make matters worse her boyfriend or not so boyfriend is moving to another country. Raine is like WTF FML because all these things are happening all at once and a person can only take so much stuff before the blow and Raine is there. Then Raine gets a new neighbor who is a little mysterious and gorgeous but had the whole bad boy thing going on and she tries to ignore him.

But Torin will not be ignored and when Raine is in trouble Torin heals her with these weird tattoos on his body. Once Torin heals Raine she starts to want Torin more and more. She needs to be by him but she is not sure what to do about it. Is it the tattoos on his body or is it that she cares for Torin? Raine decides she needs to find out what these tattoos are.

Once Raine starts to dig deeper into the meaning of the tattoos she finds out that she is somehow connected to these tattoos and Torin. What she uncovers will rock her world and cause her to have to make some serious decisions. Will Torin stand by her or will he leave her alone? What has Raine discovered that has rocked her world? Will she be able to accept was is written in the Runes...........

[CeCe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will not be reading book 2. I hate books where the hero or heroine get amnesia. The hero does not know who the heroine is in book 2. That story was told a million times and it is not for me.

I was really enjoying listening to this story, but then the last 20 percent, I just wanted it to end. I loved the banter between Raine and Torin, but I did not like how Raine treated Eirik.

The heroine's mother annoyed me. Her protectiveness felt forced. She just seemed like an absent, airhead mom.

And then Raine's BFF, Cora, could not be more annoying. Then finding out that Raine's boyfriend, Eirik, liked Cora. UGH. Eirik will have his hands full with annoying Cora. Then I see later Cora will have her own story...PASS. I kind of want my money back for the audible.

You may love it, but I did not like it.

[Aneta Bak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish.

After starting this book many times I could not get myself to keep on trying.

Unfortunately it did not interest me, and it couldn't keep me engaged long enough to keep trying to read it.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Runes is one of those books that spent way too long sitting on my Kindle. At the time when I downloaded it, I was intrigued. However, when I finally had the chance to read it the feeling had lessened. Thus, I put the book aside until the feeling of interest returned. Although the interest did return, it was never quite to the original level.

For me, I feel as though Runes is a story made up of far too many young adult tropes. There is a good story to be found, but it is buried under layers of clichés. Thus, my emotions were constantly changing. There were parts of this story that I found to be really interesting, yet there were also parts of this story I did not care for at all. It was a confusing read, in terms of my emotions, hence my three star rating. I wasn’t over the moon about this one, nor did I hate it. It simply was.

As I said, there is a good story to be found within this one. It does provide us something different when we get down to the small details of the story. We finally have a story dealing with Norse mythology. I adore any kind of mythology, yet I feel as though Norse mythology does not get all the attention it could. At least, not as a whole. Certain elements have made it into the mainstream, but there is much more to Norse mythology than most stories will show. I loved how Runes was willing to take more than just the most well-known elements, building a much bigger picture. It was a refreshing change from the seemingly endless Greek mythology books out there, giving us an entirely new mythology to work with.

I also enjoyed the way we were slowly given the information regarding the mythology. If you have the knowledge, certain aspects will give you clues. You can make educated guessed, you can see what is hidden behind the details. Even with my rudimentary knowledge, I’m unable to work out all of the specifics. I guessed some of the big elements of this one, but there is a lot of mystery waiting to be found in the future. It is nice to be working with a mythology that is lesser known, a mythology that will leave people curious as to what is coming next.

However, it felt like a bit of a battle to reach these interesting elements. A lot of this story felt as though it was pulled out of a bag marked ‘typical young adult fantasy moments’. It was a case of ‘scenes we have seen before’ altered ever so slightly to fit this situation. The new guy at school with the bad attitude, the one that seems interested in our main character for no apparent reason. Our main character having some hidden special snowflake element, something that sets them apart. The clearly supernatural creatures that have it out for our main character, providing those heroic moments where our female can become even more confused about the male character’s intentions. I could continue, but a lot of the details felt as though they’ve been done too many times before. I was losing interesting as I read through the details of teenage life that have been done a thousand times over. It’s due to this that I’m so picky when it comes to my young adult reads – for me, those set within the confines of high school are too alike for me to truly enjoy.

Overall, this one had potential. There were some enjoyable elements, enough to leave me intrigued, but I wasn’t crazy about it. I may go on to read the second book, but I’m unsure – there is some interest there but whether it is enough for me to purchase book two remains to be seen.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

What's the cardinal rule for bibliophiles? Don't judge a book by it's cover.
I know that! I do. It's just...well, I do it all the time. An awesome cover draws me in, and a cheesy cover repels me.
I can't tell you how many times I passed Runes over in favor of another book, simply because the cover made me think I would be reading the equivalent of a B movie.
I mean, what is up with that dude's bangs?! Are they feathered or something?
*shudder*
Let me tell you something, when I fantasize about a sexy bad-ass, I imagine a guy who looks like he just rolled out of bed and ran his fingers thorough his hair. I don't imagine a guy who looks like he just spent 30 minutes in front of his mom's mirror with a bottle of Aquanet. Ever.
Needless to say, I was expecting the worst when I finally decided to start reading this one. So, imagine my surprise when it didn't suck! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, I was once again fooled by a bad cover! However, I've learned my lesson, and promise to never ever think bad thoughts about ugly covers...maybe.

The story did have some things about it that kept my rating from going any higher, though. While I loved Torin and Raine, the attraction they felt for each other seemed a bit over-the-top. Kind of reminded me of one of those weirdo couples that sit around sniffing each other, because they can't seem to get enough. Know what I mean? I didn't feel like things were realistic when it came to her missing father, either. To me, that whole plotline felt undercooked. There were also a few times when I thought the way Raine spoke was sort of out of character for a normal teenager.
"He straightened his body, the smile disappearing from his face. Aye, he was intimidating when he stopped smiling. Antagonizing him would get me nowhere."
Um, I'm pretty sure kids nowadays don't use the term, 'aye'...unless they've been raised by pirates. Just sayin'.
I also thought that toward the end things seemed a little rushed. There were quite a few things I would have liked to have seen explained in greater detail. I did, however, like the actual ending of the book. It sets itself up with a nice cliffhanger that made me want to see what was going to happen next.

With all the complaints I've listed, it might seem like I didn't like the book very much, but the truth is, I didn't want to put it down. It bumped along at a nice pace, and kept me engaged in the story until it was over. I've seen some other reviews that complained about it being a rip-off of The Mortal Instruments series, and I'm guessing it's because in both stories they draw runes on their bodies for strength, healing, speed, etc.. While it may be a big deal to some, I don't think Cassandra Claire is the only author allowed to use runes in her books. This book deals with Norse mythology, which is pretty different from TMI's more paranormal plotline. If you want to get picky, you can say that Runes has a girl who is unaware of her supernatural heritage, and that aspect totally mirrors City of Bones. Except, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a young adult book that has that very same plot. Sorry, I'm not buying that Walters tried to copy Claire.

So. What have we learned today, kids?
Don't be a cover snob, because you never know what little gem you might be missing, and swinging dead cats* is a great way to choose your next series!

*No animals were harmed during the making of this review...

This review can also be seen on http://www.addicted2heroines.com/2013...

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Review also on the blog)

Let me start this review by honestly saying that I normally skip paranormal books. There was something about Runes that really drew me in though, a combination of the title and the (minor) mention of mythology. The book wasn’t a hit with me, nor was it especially memorable. But there is something special in Runes and the potential it has as a YA series. It was a lukewarm novel, at least up until it reached the last third where it became slightly more interesting to me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to leave me feeling strongly invested in this series.

Raine Cooper felt like a typical heroine. She’s independent, a homebody and graced with the gift of athleticism that she uses as a member of the swim team at her school. She was intelligent, but she often did reckless, impulsive things. I do understand that her reactions are all predicated on the fact that she’s dealing with the disappearance of her father, as well as the mystery of her new next door neighbor and her attraction to him, and the regular teenager stuff (like love, friendship and academics). But she was forgettable, blending into the crowd of other YA heroines that I’ve encountered.

Torin St. James, Raine’s mysterious new neighbor, falls into the stereotypical love interest mold. He’s good-looking and dangerous, extra strong and mysterious, which is your basic formula for the bad boy alpha male. He is constantly near Raine in order to protect her, and despite the odds, he is, at his core, a good guy. While I questioned the believability of their relationship, I didn’t question the fact that Raine would be attracted to him – I know I was!

While I was reading Runes, it kind of felt like nothing was happening and so much was happening all at once. The story was told in fits and starts, which just didn’t work for me. There were times when I felt like nothing significant was going on, and ended up skimming the page. And then there were times when Raine (and the reader) are practically tossed into the action-packed scenes (which were intense and fantastical and pretty entertaining to read), which I actually liked best. My reading experience was fitful, and definitely influenced my overall enjoyment of the novel.

One thing I did appreciate, however, was the fact that Walters chose to integrate Norse mythology into the story. This mythology seems to be a rarity in YA fiction (in my experience, anyway), so it was refreshing to encounter something a bit different from the typical, beloved Greek or Roman mythology.

Runes is a book that just didn’t live up to the potential I saw in it. The author’s strengths lay in the type of mythology she used, and in writing action scenes that really stood out. But the story and characters pretty much fell flat otherwise, and left me feeling let down.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts after reading:

WOW. This is a first. I totally LOVE the cliff-hanger! Seriously, that ending is GENIUS! I started to get bored towards the end and thought it would go down the same way, but then. BAM. Walters hit me with THAT. Truly brilliant! It will make the second book SO. MUCH. MORE. INTERESTING! What an amazing twist. I still can't believe that happened! I never would have guessed that! I need Immortals ASAP!

Rating:

Okay, this was really hard. I loved the first 70 or so percent of it, but then it slowed down too much. I got slightly bored. And a bit later slightly irritated as well. I'm talking bout Raine and Torin. First of all, I am a huge fan of Torin and I also like Raine. I really enjoyed their love story, but towards the end Raine suddenly started talking of Torin as her true love. Seriously? They kissed like once at that point and the whole time she knew him, she was with somebody else! And she's only seventeen! So that was WAY TOO FAST in my opinion. So because of that I decided to give it 4 instead of 5 stars. But then Walters dumped that totally awesome ending on me, so I'll go with 5. That genius twist and hotty Torin St. James deserve even more! Oh, and bonus points for the Norse Mythology too! It was definitely something new for me to read about.

Oh and another thing: I feel like I still have no clue what Torin IS and DOES. I don't know anything really about that whole world. So that's kinda weird. Hoping for some answers in the second book.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, I enjoyed it, though not as much as I thought I would. Oh, well!

Full Review from Blog:
When I first started reading Runes, I thought that I'd really enjoy these books, because Raine was a lot like me, a bookish person! But as it went on, it got pretty dark, darker then I like, so while I enjoyed these books, and like them, I didn't love love love them. Which is too bad!

I enjoyed the whole mythology with the Norns, which sound vague familiar from other books with Norse mythology, and having them the bad guys, yeah, that was pretty interesting and I liked that a lot! Even though they were hardly in these books. More the threat of them then having them being there, most of the time!

I didn't really like Torin too much, which makes this sound like a negative review, but I did enjoy these books. I just want to complain about the negatives right now! He was just so stand-offish in their first meeting, and she was a little too star-struck, and it annoyed me!

I enjoyed him having his memory gone-it was a challenge to their relationship, one that since I didn't like him, meant that I didn't really like it. But, alas, love wins out, for now. There are 2 or 3 more books left in the series for them to break up in!

Yeah. These were good books, and I enjoyed them, but they weren't to my style. Something about them got on my nerves, and made all the little annoyances much larger then they usually are to me! If it doesn't hit your annoyance button, I think you would enjoy it!

[Chie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Received a free copy via netgalley.


I've been busy reading lots of new adult and adult genre books for the past few months, I forgot how refreshing and fun it is to read a Y.A book. I immensely enjoyed reading Runes, it brings out the girly girl in me lol. The moment Raine met Torin *swoon, I knew that I'm going to absolutely add Torin to my book boyfriends list, gawd I don't even care about Eirik lol, team Torin all the way..if and if there is even a competition.

Torin was the new guy next door, and oh! what a guy-next-door he is, I am totally wishing I am Raine..so yeah, the new guy next door story is not really original but the author manage to make it awesome. I was constanly excited while reading Runes, Torin and the weird trio were all mysterious, there is so much to discover about the Runes and Raine's birth but more than that I keep on looking forward for Torin and Raine's moment(and damn, those moments are pretty hot).

I was surprise about how the book ended, it was totally unexpected.. even the answers about Torin's Identity is not what I expected. And now I'm dying to know what happens next..gahh I am so ready for the next book!

I loved loved this book and it kills me to know that it will be a pretty long wait for the next book in the series, but I know that it'll be worth the wait.

I think the lux series and daemon fans will love this book.

This review can also be found at Talking Sushi Monster Blog/Book Review

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Line “Make my sacrifice mean something.”

Man I want myself a Torin PLEASE!! That being said I can honestly say I have never read a story like this!
Valkyrie (OMG my favorites), Runes, and of course immortals that are just amazing. Well some are jerks but you can't have a good story with out them!

Raine is your every day teenager, she's a swimmer, has her friends, her first boyfriend Eirick, and her best friend Cora. The only thing that is wrong with her life is her father has disappeared!
Life goes on day by day UNTIL this sexy new neighbor moves in Torin and everything in her world turns upside down! She gets introduced to magic,crazy jealous immortals, Runes, and finds out about her real family history!
I still have shivers and am a little heart broken but believe me if you want a new type of story to fall in love with THEN THIS IS FOR YOU!!!
I'm recommending this to EVERYONE!

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (As You Wish Tours)

FIVE RUNE FAIRIES

[Eccentric Editions · Rating 5 out of 5]

After begging; asking Author for a copy of Runes, as the synopsis intrigued me and I've to read it, I got it.
* This is my honest review *
I LOVED IT!!!! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I'm excited!!!!

The story had suspense and the writing intrigued me and kept me going but towards the end I didn't want it to end at all!
The banter between Raine with silent E and Torin St James (I love his full name) was funny, made me laugh and love them. There is Cora, I just love her quirks and made me laugh from first chapter.
Andris and the twin sisters, they are bad and good both but most on bad side till now, will see in future books in the series.
I couldn't complete it early, there was some things happening not letting me read :( but I completed yes!! Better late than never.
I'm so going to read all the books in the series.
A must read!!!

[AK Mama Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well wasn't this just a nice little surprise. I really wanted to dislike this book, given the over-saturated paranormal YA fantasy market, but I simply couldn't. The beginning was slightly clumsy, but very quickly the kinks were ironed out and I was drawn into the story. I highly recommend Ms. Walters for fans of Julie Kagawa, PC and Kristin Cast, and the tv series Lost Girl. You'll enjoy the plot driven fantasy and cliff hanger ending.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read, but first I want to thank Edna for sending me this book. Which I won in a giveaway contest on Instagram.

This books took me by surprise, it was captivating from the very biggining.
An easy, fun and catchy read. I couldn't stop reading it until the very end.
It had a good plot, with gray characters...
Torin is perfect...
That ending was omg...
I need to know what happens ASAP...

Thanks so much for introducing me to this cool series Edna...

[Emmeline (The Book Herald) · Rating 1 out of 5]

"My life didn't just suck. It has taken a left turn into Crap Town."

And to be perfectly honest, so did my life after reading this book!

I usually don't like to hate on books. Really, its not my thing, but for this one...I'll make an exception.

WARNING- This will have spoilers- read at your own risk!

Okay, let's get started shall we? Where to begin...Oh right, Raine Or Lorraine *shudder*.

This character has made me want to throw my beloved tablet at a wall in anger repeatedly, It made me hate my own gender- because if that is a depiction of a teenage girl, who prefers reading and doesn't really go out that much, then please kill me now. because that is a description of me in real life- So if I'm like her, I'm fully okay with obliterating my own existence!

#1- Raine is a manipulative, controlling, irritating and selfish kjsajkfnbajkfbdskjfbweajk (I'm not into swearing so that is open to your interpretation!)

#2- There is a gag-worthy love triangle

#3- the descriptions sucked!

Don't believe me? I'll give you proof!

First of all we meet Raine and Cora who fancies herself as a "Male Connoisseur...aficionado..." or whatever.

Then we get to meet the male protagonist "TORIN", remember how i said the description sucked in this book? Well, he's exhibit A:

Torin- Black hair, Blue eyed stud with a

1. Wicked twinkle in his eyes- pg 126
2. Wicked Grin- Pg 127
3. Wicked Smirk- p171
4. Wicked hair
5. Wicked body
6. A smile so slow and wicked
7. Wicked gleam

IT WAS EVERYWHERE! WE GET IT HE'S GOT WICKED EVERYTHING!

Sorry for the quotes with no numbers, i gave up highlighting them after a while.

I'm guessing the author was aiming for us to imagine Torin to look like this:


But All I could see at those description was this:



Every time Raine would fantasize about Torin WHILE SHE HAD A STEADY BOYFRIEND WHO WAS HER BEST FRIEND!
She'd describe his 'Wicked looks'

OKAY, lets get to the other issue shall we?

A LOVE TRIANGLE!?

One of the most painful things I've ever read in my life! Raine I have absolutely no respect for you.

This love triangle went something like this:

Raine:- "OH MY GOSH..." *drools*
"Look at Torin, I want him so bad, I- No, no I don't I don't like him at all do I?"
*Looks at Torin and imagines herself making out with him.*
"No, I don't!" Torin walks in and caresses her arm,
"I'll show him i don't love him!!" Walks up to Eirik (Who happens to be her best friend and new boyfriend!)
"Let's make out!"
Eirik:- "AWESOME!" *Kisses...or eat each other's face*
Raine- "Is Torin looking?"
Torin:- "Isn't she just...awesome?
Raine:- "Just LEAVE me alone okay, I don't like you!"
Torin:- "Okay... but I don't want to."
Next Minute Jess walks in and clings to Torin
Raine:- "HOW COULD HE ALLOW HER TO CARESS HIM!?"

Yea Raine it's not like you make out with your boyfriend every opportunity you get in front of Torin to break his heart you hussy!

"...I would condemn myself to hel than harm a single strand of your hair."
"Tears rushed to my eyes at his vow, yet he'd hurt me without him knowing it. Seeing him with Jess had felt like someone had reached inside my chest and yanked out my heart..."


MIND YOU THIS HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER AN INTENSE MAKE OUT SESSION WITH EIRIK!

"At least He hadn't taken her to his place. That would kill me."

Yet Eirik climbs your window every night and sleeps in your bedroom.

So,

TORIN I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOU EITHER! Its kind of sad, because he was the only character i could remotely stand!

So more quote that made my blood boil:-

"Wrong and Right ceased to matter. The twig of guilt at leaving Eirik (Still her boyfriend) disappeared. We moved closer, my cheek resting on Torin's chest.

"Let's get out of here," He (Torin) said, his voice husky, I didn't say yes. but neither did I say no."

CHEATER!

He watched me with a naughty gleam in his eyes.

After making out with Torin and she walks yet again, away with Eirik

I knew his (Torin's) display of jealousy shouldn't please me. but it did anyway.

I dislike you even more! Those poor boys are like puppies and you're kicking them repeatedly! OH and this character is supposed to be 'a good girl'

Eirik- "You know that I love you." Torin growled. I shot him a warning look, but answered Eirik, "I know."
*mentally raine says- but i really love Torin, I don't want to break up with you Eirik in case Torin and I can't be together...so you're technically back up.*

The minute one of the characters finally told Raine how stuck up she was, I almost clapped in delight!

RAINE IS SHALLOW! She gets injured right- Brain hemorrhage or something, this is what she says:-

"Apparently, they had to shave an area near my ear for the surgery, but my chopped off hair was the least of my problems. The Hospital food, when it finally arrived, was awful."

OH MY GOODNESS! REALLY?! YOU NEARLY DIED!

TORIN BECAUSE OF RAINE get in trouble and is taken away, Raine's reaction:-

I miss Torin! I want him back but....Eirik has been so nice,

"Part of me wanted to finish things with him, but part of me was reluctant to let him go. I needed him more that ever. He became my anchor"

WAIT IT GETS BETTER!

"Maybe I was holding on to Eirik and his love in case Torin didn't come back. What did that make me? Selfish?

YOU THINK!?

feelklnaflejfbqkfn4ltjrlkrnflkflkerngklrengkrne!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Taking a deep breath*

This book....the only decent thing about it was the Norse Mythology.

Now i need to go get counselling after reading this!

The End.

- The Book Herald

Find me on twitter- @Thebookherald

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 5 Cranky Stars *****



If I could give Runes more than five stars, I would. Recommended for young readers (around the seventh grade level based on vocabulary and content), the characters are well developed and the main character, Raine, has to deal with many changes in her life, including magical events.



Raine shows a strength of character at seventeen that many adults don't.



It also delves into the Norse mythology, which might be a great introduction to a person’s heritage. It has action and romance, lots of twists and turns to keep even the most reluctant reader turning pages.



Raine, the main character, must deal with the disappearance of her father, her mother’s weirdness, her friends possibly moving away and the mysterious handsome boy next door, who seems to know more about her than she does herself.



If his handsome good looks and motorcycle aren’t enough to turn a girl’s head, Torin, the hottie next door, saves her life using strange markings which intrigues and frightens her.



Raine and Torin share a heritage filled with gods and warriors and runes that can heal, predict the future, etc. He drives a motorcycle and speaks more like a sage than a handsome teenager.



Torin’s past is not really developed in this book but I am hoping that is part of the plan for future stores. We do learn he is definitely not seventeen. I found myself in love with this character even though at first I thought he was going to be the villain that leads Raine astray.



Raine’s other friends Erik and Cora are will developed characters not just thrown in to move the story along, which is a challenge in a young adult book. The author maintains a great balance of developing characters, settings, and plot development without being too wordy. Raine and Eirk seemed to have that fickle young girl and male friend relationship going on (you're my brother, Erik who? And do I want him as a boyfriend). It made Raine real to me.



I enjoyed the romance which was steamy without being smutting. Love triangles always make for great conflict in a story and this is no expectation.



The story’s plot is so wonderfully rich with snippets of information about Valkyries, and other such discovers that to do more than exclaim “read this book” would give it all away.



I will say for a young girl bent on revenge she is very logical in her allies. The story is filled with page turning action and mystery. Raine must choose a side and fight for this way of life she was flung into head first when Torin moved next door.



The series seems to hold a lot of potential and I think once I read the next book I will understand even more about the characters and the mythology as well.