Secrets of Valhalla

"Readers will clamor for more, especially those who loved Rick Riordan’s Norse-themed The Sword of Summer.” --ALA Booklist

Two friends awaken a world of myth and magic in this epic middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Anne Ursu.

It’s not every day that you find a famous weatherwoman bound by magic to a tree deep in the woods. Or discover that the weatherwoman is in fact Sunna, the Norse Goddess of the Sun, and one of the seven day guardians who keep time in order. But that’s just what happens to new friends Buzz and Mary—and it’s only the start of their adventure.

Now, as the people of Earth are forced to repeat the same Saturday over and over again, Buzz and Mary must journey to collect the Runes of Valhalla and awaken the other day guardians, before vengeful god Loki can get to them first.

• Norse Mythology Reimagined: Forget what you think you know. In this world, the days of the week are real guardians, and when the goddess of the sun is kidnapped, Saturday gets stuck on a loop.
• An Epic Quest: To save the world, Buzz and Mary must journey to find the legendary Runes of Valhalla before the trickster god Loki can claim their power for himself.
• Mythical Creatures and Hidden Worlds: Their adventure will take them beyond the woods of Crowmarsh into hidden realms filled with talking squirrels, fearsome dragons, and other magical beasts.
• Gods, Goddesses, and Family Secrets: Buzz discovers his own family has a mysterious connection to the ancient gods, linking his destiny to the fate of the world.

“The combination of adventure, appealing characters, and high stakes should satisfy middle-grade fantasy fans.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Richards excels at weaving stories that mesh the real, modern world and classic mythologies. Readers will clamor for more, especially those who loved Rick Riordan’s Norse-themed The Sword of Summer.” - Booklist

“A worthy addition to the recent Norse mythology kick, particularly as it includes some aspects and figures that have been underrepresented to date.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books