I was so excited for this book I loved the first book and couldn't wait to get back jnto this world and find out what happens next. It did not disappoint.

Book 2 in The Hanged God trilogy picks up immediately where book 1 leaves off and further expands the tale. Loki, the trickster, breaks free from his shackles as Ragnarok approaches.

Shackled Fates was better than Northern Wrath in certain ways, and I adored it. Shackled Fates is a tale about friendship and grief. We had the Norse culture in Northern Wrath, but Shackled Fates take on the mythological component of their society.

The pacing is excellent, with plenty of action, and the characters are fleshed out and multi-layered.

This book's cast of characters is immensely diverse, and each of them is embarking on a trip into the depths of The Nine Worlds.

The complexity that comes with each plotline is that each individual has strong motivations: whether they are seeking a loved one, in search of a place where they belong, or are striving to save the world from Ragnarok. The stakes are high, the quests are intense, and the entire book morphs into one massive emotional roller coaster.

Holdt excels at descriptive narrative, which is great for those of us who aren't experts in Norse mythology.

The pacing was perfect, with ups and downs thrown in for good measure. It wasn't a continual action, but there was always something to look forward to, something to keep things moving.

More at: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews/shackled-fates-by-thilde-kold-holdt-book-review

Shackled Fates is the second book in The Hanged God Trilogy and picks up from where the first book Northern Wrath ends.

I have to be honest I was a little worried that about picking up this sequel as I find the second books in the series tend to be a lot slower and disappointing but that wasn’t the case with this one.

This was another brilliantly written book. It was fast paced with lots of actions that left me wanting more with every page I read. Like with Northern Wrath this one is told through multiple POVs. I continue to love the diverse and well written characters, and loved discovering more about the nine worlds and how exactly they are connected.

I’m absolutely loving the series so far and can’t wait to pick up the final book Slaughtered Gods.

If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy with plenty of twists I can’t recommend this one enough!!

I would like to thank Dave @The_WriteReads/@WriteReadsTours and the publishers Solaris for my digital review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. I was sent a copy of the series through NetGalley for a blog tour but was unable to fit the books in time!!

If you're not yet impressed by Thilde's story-making abilities, by this book you might come to think, as I did, that she must be a skald or a norn walking among us short-lived.

The story hasn't lost pace since Northern Wrath — it continues in Shackled Fates like it's just another chapter, so while the approach is unconventional, it's in fact fitting that the second book doesn't restart and go back to having a chapter 1. The saga simply continues. More than that, however, the story just builds and builds. Keeping track of all the intertwined storylines must be daunting, but Thilde has done a fantastic job, and it's translated just as well into the pages. I didn't have a hard time following the story despite the multiple characters and perspectives we've been (and continue to be) introduced to, although I'm still at the edge of my seat even as I'm done with the book as I still don't have quite the answers to my questions.

But that's the beauty of it, I think. Those familiar with Norse mythology know Ragnarok, or at least the basics: a long winter, gods dying, a giant wolf devouring the king of the gods, et cetera. History has taught us a thing or two about the Vikings; if not history, then TV or pop culture. But Thilde has taken what we know from mythology and history and everything in between and skillfully weaved them into a story of her own. The plot and the characters are dazzlingly complex and I just love being surprised at nearly every turn.

I really can't wait for the conclusion!

RECOMMENDED LISTENING: "Vigja" by Danheim

Shackled Fates, book 2 of The Hanged God trilogy, picks up immediately where Northern Wrath ends.

Again, shoutout to the narrator, Candida Gubbins.

I blasted through this book, thanks to the audiobook (again, shout out to the narrator, Candida Gubbins!). I was listening to it while I was playing video games and in the first few chapters I had to stop and give it my full attention. Because this book starts where Northern Wrath, it opens with an absolute sucker punch.

Midgard is less of the focal point in this book. Asgard has a more prominent place in this book and so too do characters of lore. We meet giants and fates and Gods (ps everytime Heimdall shows up, you may picture Idris Elba and only Idris Elba.)

Hope is a major theme in this book and it’s a beautiful contrast in the harshness and chaos of the coming Ragnorok, and the stark beginning and ending of the book.

SHACKLED FATES takes the characters and worlds towards Ragnarok, each trying to protect the loved one - or the worlds - while fate and the gods meddle.

The cast are scattered, each on their own journey now, narrowly missing one another or occasionally crossing paths as they travel between worlds. Through Tyra, we get a glimpse at some of the real history woven into the book, grounding the story in our world, while the rest (bar one) go all over the nine worlds.

SHACKLED FATES definitely made me move my definition/categorisation of the series from historical fantasy into epic. It is so expansive, full of action and intricate threads that are weaving together into something. I can't see the form yet, but I am eager to see how it ends up being shaped.

I really liked seeing more of the world and getting to dive into the mythology. I'm interested to see how this version of Ragnarok is going to play out in the final instalment as the books so far have had an interesting take on it all.

There is a scene with Finn and teeth that was so horribly graphic. It's a really interesting titbit included but I was shuddering through it because I felt like it was happening to me and nope, it was so unsettling. I kept running my tongue over my teeth through the next several chapters to check that it hadn't happened.

One book to go - I can't wait to see how Ragnarok plays out!

Another brilliant book in this series that had me transfixed the entire time. All three of these have been excellent, brutal, unforgiving, and masterful stories. Highly recommended for those who love the books of John Gwynne and Bernard Cornwell.

Shackled Fates at a glance:
✨ multiple POV’s
❄️ Norse mythology
🗡 Vikings
🍂 Fates
🔥 Rune magic
⚡️ Fate

A beautiful, epic sequel with the old whisperings of the Norse gods and brutal Viking warriors. We got some more answers in this second instalment, and I loved how we got to explore more of the gods and goddesses of Asgard, and the secrets of their existences. We explore the nine worlds in more detail, and see just how strong the shackles of fate can be. In book one we saw Viking culture and beliefs. In book two, those beliefs come to life.

Holdt has such a way with words that just mesmerise the mind. The writing isn’t lyrical or flowery, yet it seems to give the same effect. Each character is so well fleshed out and I enjoyed following them on their individual quests. The pacing is perfect, with a good amount of action, as well as those quiet, mysterious chapters that make you want to keep reading.

Beyond excited for the final instalment in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.




Trigger warnings: lots of death and violence including of children.

Bend me over and call me Sally. Shackled Fates was somehow better than Northern Wrath and I LOVED it. Close your eyes and imagine waking up in another time, a time for brutality, a time for pain, a time of the gods. Holdt as always transports me into the rugged Norse landscape and has me instantly picking up a shield ready to defend both honour and family. You are walking through the blood-soaked plains, weapons are discarded, the ravens are flying overhead and the sound of metal upon metal can be heard in the distance. That’s why Holdt’s books are a special kind of magic.

Shackled Fates is a story about loss and friendship. If you have read any Norse fiction or TV show, you’ll know there is very rarely a happy ending. The author knows exactly what the reader needs at any given point. Do you want action? She’s got your back, need to believe in humanity again? She explores the nuances of what exactly makes up the human condition. In Northern Wrath, we had the Norse culture, but Shackled Fates take on the mythological aspect of their culture and I swallowed it up like a kid in a sweetie shop.

We are no longer solely having the story told in Midgard, we are now traveling between the worlds and became in love with the imagery that Holdt spun when the reader was introduced to Asgard. It was everything I had imagined and yet nothing like I imagined. The characters are focused and determined in their goals whether that’s saving the world from Ragnarök (my favourite of all the stories in Norse mythology) or searching for a loved one. I was rooting for some and hoping others would fail it was an emotional rollercoaster that had me pulling out my hair and crying at the same time – hot mess central.

Although Shackled Fates is a fiction story, I enjoyed the fact that the author kept the ideas unchangeable, it felt like historical fiction. The fates have been spun. Some of the fates are incredibly unkind and others seem to have been favoured by the gods. The characters must live their lives deemed by how the fates have been spun – the end game has been determined but the side quests are an open playing field.

“Asgard will stand even after the end, even if we will not. In red blood, it shall stand. Flooded in corpses. There are worse in the nine worlds than Ragnarök.”

I can foresee Holdt becoming an informative and inspirational influence in both fantasy and Norse fiction. I would compare her to other big name fantasy authors but really, I can’t – it would be a disservice to her talent because Thilde Koldt Holdt is in a league that is all her own.

I loved this follow-up installment for The Hanged it's an amazing sequel carrying out the events right after the first one. great pacing amazing character development and exciting plot. and Thilde's prose is just fascinating

Firstly I would like to thank Rebellion Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! How good does this book look alongside Northern Wrath?! I can't stop looking at them both on my bookshelf! I was so excited to carry on the story, mainly to find out what was going to happen to Hilda, and would she be found by Einer.
With Ragnarok looming, what roles would the Gods play, and what was the scheming Loki planning?!
I cannot fault the world building or characters in this book. We follow on directly from Northern Wrath, following POV's of the main characters, many of who are now searching the nine realms for each other. As we travel through these realms, including Asgard and Valhalla, we meet many of the Norse Gods, Freya, Frigg, Thor, but the highlight was definitely spending time in glorious Valhalla with Odin!
Each of the Nine Realms are beautifully written, Thilde manages to perfectly set each scene so I really can imagine that I am there. And her knowledge of the Norse Gods and their roles in mythology is outstanding. Anyone interested in Norse myths should definitely read this book!
Unfortunately that's not me... I personally fell in love with Northern Wrath due to the bloody battles with a hint of mythology and fantasy. This book is a lot heavier on the mythology, with only one fight. We spend almost the entire book in the Nine Realms with the Gods, and our Characters trying to find each other, and trying to make sense of what had happened and what's going to happen.
But although this made for a much slower paced book, its clearly done on purpose to set the characters on their journey into book 3.....which surely has to be Ragnarok?!!

3.5/5

The Hanged God trilogy is going from strength to strength. I was absolutely blown away by Northern Wrath when I read it last year, and I came into this one with sky high hopes - and I was not disappointed. The world-building is simply fantastic, and the author has such skill with imagery that the world becomes a living, breathing thing and I loved it. While the character work has gone up a notch, the dialogue is fantastic, and the sheer emotion in this book was both wonderful and gut-punching. A stunning sequel, and I both can't wait for the next book and don't want the series to end.

Often, the second book of a trilogy might fail to delivery the goods. Not so with Shackled Fates of The Hanged God trilogy! If anything it ups the entire story to a new level. I was mad for Northern Wrath and am even more in love with this very worthy follow-on installment. As much as I look forward to book three, I really don't want this saga to end. It is transformative and magical in a way I cannot describe. But, for those of you who aren't heavily knowledgable in Norse mythology I can assure you that is not a prerequisite to enjoying these books. Much of it is explained along the way making it easy for those who know nothing of the Norse Gods and Ragnarok (the ultimate battle that ends the world and the gods).

I should end my review there as I would hate to give anything away. But I do want to add that where the first book contained lots of violence and fighting, this book has a wider scope in the story with plenty of heartbreak for the reader. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me. My poor husband, I could not stop talking about it. Shackled Fates was wholly spellbinding and easily my favourite book of 2021.

Holdt set an impossible precedent with Northern Wrath: A giant epic Viking fantasy with over 600 pages that I couldn't help tearing through, a full cast of interesting and complex characters, a thought-provoking take on the Norse pantheon (especially in book two), and no shortage of blood, guts, and glory.

Shackled Fates was considerably slower by comparison, as we moved away from the short and brutal lives of mortals and more into the realms of gods and other non-humans, as we plucked or snipped or burned the threads that had been so carefully strung up in book one, and as we put poor Hilda through hell. Again.

We don't get nearly as many bloody battles as we had in book one. Indeed, we get one. Instead it's mostly scheming and talks of fate and drawing lines in the sand between sides at Ragnarok (which is imminent!). And, of course, torturing Hilda. Because that's a must.

I cannot wait for book three and all of the answers and promises of bloody battles. And hopefully happiness or at least fulfillment for Hilda.

I was granted eARC access to Shackled Fates by the publisher via NetGalley after absolutely loving the first installment, Northern Wrath. Thank you for the access! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Shackled Fates picks up right where Northern Wrath ended, so new readers are absolutely advised to read in order. There's absolutely no back-tracking and summarizing (which I greatly appreciate as someone who reads sequels ASAP and doesn't need the reminder) so knowing what happened in the previous book is imperative to having any idea what's going on.

I do like the fact that these books are written as one long, continuous book and not as three (two, soon to be three) contained stories that form a trilogy, right down to chapter numbers that don't reset to 1 at the beginning of a new book. With that said, since I was reading digitally and didn't have a physical book in my hand to see where I was, this chapter numbering system meant I had no idea how far into the book I was at any given time. This book is only about 40 pages longer than the previous one but it really felt a lot longer, and I think that's a big part of why.

My favourite POV was once again Hilda's. She's such a unique, interesting heroin, and the fox is a big bonus! Beyond that, though, Hilda's sections of the story crossed paths with the most interesting gods, and it really felt like her journey alone was driving the plot at points while everyone else was just dealing with the fallout of her actions, for better or worse, in one way or another. I read this with a group of fellow enthusiasts on a Discord group and I know not everyone agrees on that point, some readers think the other POVs felt more independently important this time around, but I feel the opposite. Okay maybe not Siv, she's a very interesting plot driver in her own right as well. Ladies for the win?

On the topic of those interesting gods, though. Loki? Yes! Yes!!! No offence to the amazing Tom Hiddleston but THIS is Norse mythology's Loki. I have so enjoyed reading an action-packed fantasy full of accurate characters from my favourite half of my own heritage. I grew up listening to fireside stories told by Norwegian natives, some of whom would slip into Sami as they did so. I'm the one who annoys all the Marvel fans by pronouncing Thor correctly. This trilogy makes me very happy!

I also really love the attention given to the plight of proud old-ways pagan versus the new Christian wave sweeping through the Nordic region at this period. To this day, paganism vs Christianity is a huge dividing point in Scandinavian culture and among my Norwegian relatives. This period, the issues presented in these books, is where the real world divide comes from. I applaud Thilde for giving it the attention it is due. It also conveniently makes for great drama and motives in an epic trilogy full of very well-written battles.

Thank you very much to Rebellion for access to this book, to my bookish Discord friends for putting me onto this trilogy, and to the author for writing this wild ride. I can't wait for book three!

Shackled Fates is the second book in the Hanged God Trilogy and the sequel to Northern Wrath. As Ragnarok looms, the trickster Loki breaks free from his chains.

All of the main characters from the first book continue in Shackled Fates. Einer continues to scour the nine worlds for Hilda, who walks among gods and goddesses, searching for the truth of the Runes. We gradually see how their fates are shackled and entwined together, even in the afterlife. All these events are tied up to what I think will eventually lead to Ragnarok.

The worldbuilding continues to be beautiful with imagery and depth that is superb. I felt swept along and immersed within the world, the myths, the Viking lore and the characters, just like the first book. If you love your Norse god's, oh boy, are you in for a treat. In Shackled Fates, there are more gods and giants in this instalment than I could ever hope for.

The characters are so well written and diverse. As with the first book, It is the dialogue between characters that brings them to life. You can see how each character affects someone else with their words or actions. The battle and fight scenes are vivid and well handled.

Shackled Fates was a brilliant book and sequel. I want to say a massive thank you to Rebellion publishing for allowing me to read this epic story.


Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion for the e-arc

The world-building is what I would describe as lush. I know that word is usually used to describe worlds in books, but I seldom disagree.
However, the worldbuilding in Northern Wrath is accurate. It made me feel like I was coming home again.
The tribe of Ash-Hill and Ash-Hill itself are definitely culturally accurate (which is a thing that tends to be a hit and miss with authors who try their hand at writing about Norse culture).
The worldbuilding has space for all the customs and the culture that people seem to forget Norsemen had, and it distinguishes between the Vikings (the warriors who would go on raids in the summer) and the farmers, who usually stayed and took care of their settlement.
People, in my experience, often reduce Norse culture to raiding Vikings which puts the culture as a whole into a very bad light.
Shackled Fates expands on the worldbuilding set in Northern Wrath by introducing Asgard, with the various halls of the gods and Ida’s plain, the battlegrounds that the Ragnarok will take place on.
It also introduces a number of new mythological figures and the like.
Once again, I loved everything about this book, because, like Northern Wrath, reading Shackled Fates reminded me of why I feel so at home in Norse mythology.
And I also liked how one of the underlying themes of the book is the conversion to Christianity.
As a pagan, this was very refreshing for me to read because the Christians – the southerners and Harald, the King of the Danes – were the antagonists for once.
Hilda, my poor, poor girl, remains my favorite character, and, having to witness her character arc change once again, I am excited to see where her path will take her in the next book.
I enjoyed Kold Holdt’s take on Loki. I have read multiple interpretations of his character, and it was interesting to be able to compare yet another, new version to the rest of them!
I take back what I said about Ragnar in my review of Northern Wrath. As I suspected, his character arc was only in the beginning stages, and now that the poor man has finally been told what his purpose is, I found his chapters to be quite comforting in the (albeit also very comforting) whirlwind that is Shackled Fates.

I was granted a digital ARC from Rebellion Publishing in exchange for an honest review, thanks to Ben from The Oasis blog for organising this with Rebellion Publishing. My opinions are my own.

Shackled Fates is the second book in the Hanged God Trilogy and the sequel to Northern Wrath. I reviewed Book 1 from this series, Northern Wrath here. It is a Norse fantasy written from the point of view of multiple characters. The action starts almost immediately after the end of Northern Wrath and I have to say, I wish there had been a ‘Story so far’ section, since a lot happened in Book 1 and it’s been nearly a year since I read it. I had trouble remembering everything! I loved Northern Wrath and was concerned that Shackled Fates might not live up to it, since sequels can often be weaker than the first book in a series, but I needn’t have worried. Shackled Fates is fantastic! It is equally as full of Norse lore and legend as Northern Wrath, displaying Thilde Kold Holdt’s wealth of knowledge and research. There is also plenty of action and a wonderful depth of characterisation. I really felt for the main characters during their many trials and was rooting for them.

All of the main characters from Book 1 continue into Shackled Fates, even the dead ones, and we gradually see how their Fates are shackled together in the afterlife, tied up in the important events which eventually lead to Ragnarok. Shackled Fates is written from the perspective of multiple characters, even Odin’s ravens Hugin and Munin get a chapter from their perspective and there is also a plural perspective from the forefathers of the giants.

There are more gods and giants in this instalment of the trilogy, with not only the more famous Aesir and Vanir of Norse legend, but we also meet Ran and her daughters from the depths of the ocean:

“From the shadows of the gate that the nine sisters guarded came a woman larger than her nine daughters, with long black seaweed as hair. It trailed behind her, dragged on the sand, and disappeared into it. Unlike her daughters, she wore clothes; a dress of green seaweed sewn together at the bust. At the waist it parted into long slips of straight seaweed that showed the tops of her firm thighs.”

There were many instances of certain characters being in the same world as the person they were desperately searching for but not finding them – which was highly frustrating and helped to increase the dramatic tension as everything moved onwards towards the inevitable. Some of the characters we had got to know in Northern Wrath turn out to be a lot more than at first meets the eye with surprise after surprise. Siv, Hilda and Tyra are far from being just a chief’s wife, a shieldmaiden and a simple girl from Ash-Hill. Their fates have many twists and turns and lots of unexpected surprises which I will not give away here! Ragnar, the former skald of Ash-Hill’s true identity was perhaps for me the most shocking:

“Ragnar could free them all; everyone imprisoned by invisible bonds sealed in blood. Only he could free them, and if their mother had been wrong, and he had even one drop of blood-given talent, he would.”

Thilde’s wonderfully descriptive prose also brings to life items from the Norse myths such as Freya’s falcon cloak, the threads of Fate woven by the three Nornir and of course Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. She describes the worlds of Asgard, Midgard, Niflheim, Svartleheim, Muspelheim and Jotunheim really well, making them each very distinct from one another, and also the Ginnungagap, referred to as The Darkness:

“A place of nothing and a place that was nowhere.”

Tyra’s visit to Ginnungagap while inside the ash tree at Ash-Hill in Northern Wrath can be smelt upon her by the Jotun giants and the Aesir and Siv urges her to trade her clothing with the aesir so that they will not notice her and pursue her. Siv always looks out for her loved ones to the detriment of her own safety. She was one of my favourite characters, along with Hilda.

I think it is fair to say that I loved Shackled Fates just as much as Northern Wrath – if not more! The ending is heart-rending, but the journey towards the end is so intriguing. The book will hook you in right from the beginning. I cannot wait for the final book in the trilogy, Slaughtered Gods.

Well, if this just doesn't take the series to a whole new level!! Everything that was so wonderful about Northern Wrath is expanded upon and fleshed out in this installment of the series. Everyone's future was thrown into chaos at the end of book one and if you thought you knew where things were going then hold on because events go in all different, unexpected directions. I don't want to spoil anything so all I will say is that the fantastic glimpses of the gods that were there in Northern Wrath are paid off in spades here. Odin, Loki, and Freya are all portrayed as such real people with flaws and plans within plans that it adds so much to the story and all the interactions the characters have with them. The rest of our characters lives continue to deal with upheaval and revelations and that ending just left me questioning how any of this is going to work out for my favorites. I continue to love Einer, Tyra, Hilda, Buntrugg and Ragnar and eagerly await the next book to find out their fates!! Go get this epic fantasy series, you will not be disappointed!!

ARC provided by NetGalley and Rebellion in exchange for an honest review

Shackled Fates picks up right after the explosive ending of Northern Wrath and definitely did not let me down. I immediately enjoyed that it all felt like a single epic saga. Even the chapter numbers continued on from the last book instead of starting over again. The overall progression from the first book to the second one was also handled immensely well and the evolution of the story came across as being very natural to me.

The first book started off almost like a historical fiction novel which began to introduce more and more mythological elements as our group of villagers from Ash Hill started encountering different elements of the Norse Mythos. Much of what made that book special was the intricate focus on Viking culture. Seeing the way they lived and what they believed in was extremely interesting and made everything feel authentic. In Shackled Fates, the author took that mythological aspect and made it the centerpiece of the entire experience. Instead of being primarily in Midgard we now traverse multiple realms meeting a huge number of different gods and creatures. Each of our characters had an exceptionally unique journey through the universe and it was fascinating. We got to visit Asgard and saw Valhalla in all its glory. We met characters like Freya and Loki. The World Serpent and Rán - goddess of the drowned. This is just a small glimpse of what we got to see and anyone even remotely interested in Norse culture should absolutely love it. All of this is culminating in a crazy finale which we get to see in a year and I am very excited.

To make things even better Shackled Fates fixed my main gripe with the previous novel which was that not all of the PoVs seemed necessary or compelling enough for me. I was always extremely happy to follow most of the cast but there were quite a few moments where we were put in the shoes of someone I did not fully care for which periodically brought down my enjoyment. This is entirely fixed in the sequel because every PoV was interesting and offered something unique to the story. I was also impressed because this also applied to characters who I was let down by in the first book.

This brings us to the only negative part of the novel - the ending. There were multiple things I felt were a little off compared to what I had been reading for so long. First of all, there was a very jarring time-skip right at the end. I understand the reasoning behind it and there were even lore explanations for this but it just felt weird to me. Part of this is connected to me being interested in the time period that was skipped over but part was definitely also the way it was introduced to the reader. I just felt really taken aback by that choice. We got to the actual finale right after and while it was an interesting scene it felt like it was lacking something. It wasn't even a bad scene but the ending of the last novel left me feeling hollow and emotional inside. Going from that to really enjoying myself for the majority of the sequel meant that I had quite high expectations which were sadly not met.

Overall, I had a great time with this novel. It is definitely an improvement on the first one and I am really excited to see where all this will take us. The journey was absolutely awesome and being immersed in the myths in this manner is immensely compelling to me. While the ending was a little disappointing it leaves us in a pretty good spot for the finale and I have full confidence that the author will deliver considering the improvement that I already noticed going from her debut to this. I can definitely recommend the series overall and anyone interested in Norse myths should feel right at home.