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    The Unleashing
    The Unleashing
    The Unleashing
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Unleashing

    Written by Shelly Laurenston

    Narrated by Johanna Parker

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn't for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.


    In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig "Vig" Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life-but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.


    But Vig can't give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera's discipline, Vig's loyalty...and the Crows' sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMar 31, 2015
    ISBN9781494578848
    Author

    Shelly Laurenston

    Shelly Laurenston is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Pride, Call of Crows, and The Honey Badger Chronicles, as well as winner of the RT Book Reviews Readers' Choice Award for her 2016 novel, The Undoing. When she’s not writing about sexy wolf, honey badger, lion, and other fang-filled predators, she's writing about sexy dragons as G.A. Aiken, the acclaimed and bestselling author of the Dragon Kin series. Originally from Long Island, she now lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued pit bull doesn’t love everyone into a coma. Please visit her online at www.ShellyLaurenston.com. 

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    Reviews for The Unleashing

    3.5/5

    153 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      What I loved about this story is I was listening along, thinking it was good, and then all of a sudden, I was completely invested in the story. I needed to know what was happening, what would happen next, who are all the players, and how do they fit together? Of course, I got to know most everyone, and our couple ends up together, but there is still more story to be told! Have to say, I loved the crows and the ravens, and the characters are wonderful. Brody was a nice touch as well. Now, off to the next book to see what is going to happen next ?

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Candid, real, and fun with Norse lore and fantasy to boot. I love this book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I am a huge fan of Ms. Laurenston's work. Unfortunately, I can only give this book 3 stars. The first 46% of the book was very un-Laurenston like; it was dry, dull, and boring....I debated continuing to read it. However, I'm glad that I did because the last half of the book was funny, battle ridden, sexy, and so much like a Laurenston original. I think it's a decent start to a new series.
    • 4/5
      This book was interesting esp with all the Norse mythology from a different POV.
      And it's Shelly Laurenston so there's some crazy opinionated women and crazy things going on, steamy romance, plus fighting. Not to mention vikings
    • 2/5
      Two and a half stars--it was fine, but not great. There was some excellently structured tension between Kera and her Crow mentor, which I really enjoyed, but what really held the story back was the quality of the actual writing, sentence-wise. But! It's a great plane read, which is precisely what I needed. Nothing too hefty.
    • 3/5
      A solid 3.5. I enjoyed the humor of this book and that it didn't feel like sex scenes were interrupting the good stuff, but the plotting was not great. I'm going to try the next one and see how it goes.
    • 2/5
      This is the story of how a murderous cult uses sex, magic, money and manipulation to brainwash a Marine.

      One of the challenges of fiction in general, and fantasy/scifi in particular, is to persuade the reader to buy in to a particular moral/ethical system and worldview-- in this case, that of the Vikings as extrapolated to a modern day environment where pagan gods are real. In this case, that worldview includes the "Crows," a group of resurrected women whose purpose is to kill on behalf of their goddess. This killing is contextualized as being in revenge for, and support of, oppressed women, as well as helping maintain the balance of the worlds to prevent Ragnarok.

      It seems like this would be a pretty easy sell-- show the reader some nasty rapists and the Crows killing them, or the Crows beheading the leader of an evil cult as she tries to invoke a demon or something. Instead, the first "Crow mission" our main character (Kera) and the reader see is a raid to kill a bunch of moon-worshipping naked would-be witches who have accidentally gotten their hands on a powerful magical necklace. Kera talks the Crows out of killing the witches, in favor of getting the necklace by tricking the (pretty obviously high off their asses) witch/hippies who have no idea that it isn't just a pretty bauble. This act has zero consequences later on, leading me to conclude that there wasn't any reason to kill them in the first place. Which makes the whole "killers of the goddess to prevent Ragnarok" seem kind of hollow. How many unnecessary slaughters have the Crows committed over the centuries? How are these women (two of whom are the protagonists of the next two novels) not just murderous psychopaths?

      I kept reading, hoping that by the time Kera was convinced to fully throw in with the Crows, I would be too. But instead, Kera gets her mind changed via a magical mind-meld with a Crow Seer where she goes back in time to see the first Crows being created from abused and raped slaves. Given that Kera is a Marine, and therefore knows there are ways of defending powerless people aside from wanton murdering, I don't see why being viscerally confronted with atrocities that happened in the years BC made her immediately go over to the "yay blood guts and mindless rage" side.

      In short, I was unconvinced and disturbed by the entire book.
    • 3/5
      Good start to a series and with a really interesting Viking based world.

      I found myself really interested in all the gods aspect of this and their clans. I didn't love the heroine at all though. She could be rather grating at times. I do think that the other crow ladies often came across as way more interesting.
    • 3/5
      I am a huge fan of Ms. Laurenston's work. Unfortunately, I can only give this book 3 stars. The first 46% of the book was very un-Laurenston like; it was dry, dull, and boring....I debated continuing to read it. However, I'm glad that I did because the last half of the book was funny, battle ridden, sexy, and so much like a Laurenston original. I think it's a decent start to a new series.
    • 2/5
      Romantic Paranormal Thriller that came recommended by the Smart Bitches at Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Every Friday, they put out a newsletter of books on discounted sale, along with commentary on each of the titles on the slate. Even with the recs, buying from the list can be dicey, and this one was absolutely ridiculous: A former female US Marine is given a second life with super strength through the intervention of Norse/Viking deities; and becomes a member of a group of like-saved women. The love interest is a fierce Viking god who has a sensitive side. Lots of killing, a couple scenes of graphic sex, and a bit of a cliffhanger ending :-/
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A marine turned Crow, and Viking Raven and darkness that is coming to devour them all.Opening Sentence: She didn’t know what woke her up.The Review:Kera is a former Marine who is killed and offered a second chance at life. She is then dropped into a house with new sisters, which are a Viking clan called Crows. For the most part they are the complete opposite of Kera and at least one spectacular fight breaks out from Kera’s organizational skills. There are multiple clans serving all of the different Norse gods. The only thing any of the Crows have in common is that they are known for their rage, their hatred and their loyalty to each other.Kera finds out Vig is a Raven, another Viking Clan that serves Odin. Vig was a repeat customer at the coffee shop Kera worked at before her life so drastically changed. Kera also makes the Skuld bring her dog with her, although at the time she doesn’t realize that Brodie has to die too. Brodie quickly becomes the new mascot at the sorority type house Kera finds herself living in, in her new life.There are several POV’s in this book including Chloe and Erin (who is Kera’s new mentor and the Crow she gets into an epic fist fight with.) Chloe is the leader of this particular chapter, apparently there are many all over the world. The first half of the book is really getting to sort of know Kera and her new sisters and her developing relationship with Vig (the blacksmith for the Ravens or weapons master). The second half brings to light that something dark and dangerous is attacking the clans and that one clan alone probably won’t make it against this darkness.I enjoyed the book, although it did drag a little in the beginning. Sometimes it was a little confusing whose point of view it was at the time, but for the most part the author was on it. I feel like I have read a lot of books lately with gods, or Norse gods in them. This one didn’t have them active as of yet but definitely their presence was felt. I did really like the fact that Kera was a former Marine and that she ends up deciding to run a non-profit for rescue dogs that pairs them with veterans.As a former Marine myself there were several parts of the book that made me laugh out loud and I appreciated the author really portraying her in such a positive manner. Overall, I liked it, didn’t quite love or really like it but I enjoyed it and thought it had a lot of interesting concepts and characters. My only issue is that it could be confusing and some of the world building really needed to be fleshed out.Notable Scenes:“He was just an introvert with an aversion to shaving.”“A whistle caught their attention and the Silent looked up… to see the trees filled with Chloe’s sister-Crows.”“They stood straight and ready for battle.”FTC Advisory: Kensington provided me with a copy of The Unleashing. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      Kera is a former Marine now working in a coffee shop when she is killed by a pimp when she tries to protect his girl. Luckily, Vig Rundstrom, who has been admiring her from afar, is there and makes a deal with Skuld to have Kera turned into one of her Crows. Kera accepts the deal but only if she can bring her dog - Brodie Hawaii - along.Kera is dumped headfirst into the Crows who are an interesting assortment of women. They are from a variety of ethnicities and have equally varied pasts. The Crows are different than the other Nordic clans. They weren't born into the life; they don't know the mythology. What they have in common is rage and their loyalty to each other. Kera has some trouble fitting into the life because the Crows around her are so disorganized. They are also, in Laurenston's tradition, unique and quirky people. Kera depends on Vig to help her find her way despite the fact that he is a Raven and Ravens and Crows are sometimes at odds. And Kera needs to find her way in a hurry because an ancient god is trying to come back to Los Angeles which won't be a good thing for Los Angeles or for the Crows.I liked the nod to Norse mythology. I liked the relationship between Vig and Kera. I enjoyed the byplay and one liners flying among the Crows. This was a fun story to read.
    • 4/5
      Ludvig “Vig” Rundstrom finds Kera Watson stabbed and dying behind the coffee house she worked at in Los Angeles. He calls upon Skuld to give her a second chance with the Crows.Shelly Laurenston did an exception job with the contemporary story founded on Norse mythology. Kera makes an interesting Crow. Having been a marine, she is much more organized then the average Crow, a fact that makes the others amusingly nervous. I love that they all call her new girl no matter her protest.Vig is part of the Raven Clan: for the most part, the male counterparts of the female Crow Clan. I found Kera’s first impression of him humorous. They are both good for each other. I love their time together in Asgard. Kera’s dog Brodie is the best. I think it was funny that everyone always wanted to take her out. I had a dog in college. All my friends used to borrow her. One time my roommate was stopped by someone who asked her “Who’s dog is this anyway; I never see her with the same person.” That is also, Brodie. So I can relate.I love Shelly Laurenston humor. The dialog is very entertaining and kept me laughing. The characters all have interesting quirks. This is a great book to put you in a good mood.The plot was interesting and original. There was a lot going on that kept me intrigued. The ending was unexpected, and I look forward to the next book to find out what happens.Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Listened for Review (Tantor)Overall Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 4.50Story Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston was a ton of fun and I FREAKING LOVED Kera!Quick Thoughts: Here is what you need to know: YES there are a ton of characters and I had to listen to the first part twice to keep them straight. YES this is the most no-nonsense leading lady I have read in forever and quite frankly it was gosh darn refreshing (talking no drama, no TSTL, straight forward, and ballsy). YES her leading man is just as no-nonsense and totally swoon-worthy (though in a totally adorkable way he is the more unsure of the two in the romance department). YES you will love the dog! The characters are fantastic and the twist Shelley put on mythology was downright perfect for this story. Don't read it if you have "set in stone" ideas of Vikings, Crows, Valkyries etc but do read it if you are open to a new twist on old mythology. Seriously, just downright a ton of fun! I WANT MORE NOW!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Johanna Parker /Length: 11 hrs and 28 minsJohanna pretty much nailed this narration: accents, pacing, humor, and emotion. It took a wee bit to get used to the Ravens accents but really that was on me not the narrator. IF you have problems listening to audiobooks with a bunch of accents (this one has valley girl to Norsemen)then you should read this. Though honestly, I think Johanna added to the story and I will be continuing this in audio.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! ReviewStatus Updates1% #Listening I am going to like the leading lady--her one condition is she won't leave her dog! She is going to be my spirit character LOL"9% "#Listening I had to relisten to the first part a couple of times---holy total number of characters batman."80% #Listening Now that I have got all the characters straight (and holy hell batman there are a LOT of characters), I am really digging this world. Seriously it is fun, interesting, and creative. Yes there is some (or a lot) of mythology twisting but it is done in a very cool and unique way :)
    • 3/5
      Kera Watson saves a girl, but ends up being murdered in the process. She takes an offer and ends up as a Crow. Along with her dog, Brodie, she begins a new life. I have to say that Brodie was probably one of my favorite parts of THE UNLEASHING, darn cool dog. Kera doesn't sit by and take ANYTHING. She is snarky, independent, and set in her military ways. She has a really hard time fitting in with her fellow crows, but does find her niche eventually. Kera and Vig fit together well. Their romance is pretty fast, but not unbelievable. I do wish we would have started off the book getting to know Vig before Kera died and became a Crow. I felt like I was missing something at some points in the book.Although THE UNLEASHING was enjoyable, I had a few issues that made it hard to fully get into the story. First off, there is a LOT of information to be learned. Tons of mythology, roles of different groups, people (OMG are there a lot of people).... It was a lot and I seriously couldn't recall half of it by the time I finished the book. Another issue I had was that I didn't fully understand the 'evil people' of the book. There wasn't a lot of information about them and the resolution was fast so I was just left thinking "huh?".If you're into mythology I think you will enjoy THE UNLEASHING. If not, I would pass because it's a huge part of the book. It can be confusing at times, but if you stick with it, it will get clearer. Laurenston created a neat world and although there were a LOT of characters to meet I am hoping that now that we have met them, that part will calm down in future books.* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.