These stories take place in a modern world, similar to ours where cars, mobile phones, and reality TV exist, where religion is pervasive and broadcast to the masses, where the troll war is a recent memory, and where Norse gods and their children live among us.

I'd read the three novellas prior to reading the main trilogy, which meant that in places (in books 1 and 2) I was spoiled for characters or events. I found that actually heightened my excitement, especially with characters. (Glory fangirl forever.)

[b: The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362068810s/13021366.jpg|18183974] is Soren Bearskin's story, his, Astrid Glyn's, and Baldur's. On Baldur's Day, the sun god who dies for half the year, doesn't rise. Fear and confusion grip the people, and Odin Alfather promises a boon to whomever finds the missing god. Both Soren the Berserker and Astrid the Seether want that boon. It's about making your destiny your own.

[b: The Strange Maid|18301603|The Strange Maid (The United States of Asgard, #2)|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396739924s/18301603.jpg|25790139] is Signy Valborn's tale. She's the Valkyrie of the Tree, some say Odin's favorite, and for two years she's been unable to solve the riddle that keeps her from claiming her power and place among her sisters. Ned Unferth offers her a solution, one that will shake everything she knows about her sisters and the gods. It's about learning who you are and why, and about the choices you make that shape your fate.

[b: The Apple Throne|24602702|The Apple Throne (The United States of Asgard, #3)|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421792891s/24602702.jpg|44211965] is the story of Idun of the Apples and the missing human man she loves. More than almost any other story it's about love, about defying your fate in favor of loving who you will, and about being a bridge between worlds.

The United States of Asgard series is marvelous, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys meddling gods, amazing heroes, tales of destiny and defying that destiny, and love of all kinds. ( )