A review by srivalli
Legacy of the Runes by Christina Courtenay

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

3.75

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Slow-paced but entertaining

 

When Storm Berger’s younger sister, Maddie, disappears, he blames himself for it and decides to travel back in time to search for her. After all, it’s not the first time someone in their family has time-traveled. 

Freydis was her father’s pet and was raised like a boy. However, his death changed her life. At eighteen, she has no freedom and has been offered to a tyrant as a bride. She needs to find a way out. Meeting Storm gives her hope but will he be the one to help her? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Storm and Freydis. 

My Thoughts:

So, this is the last book of the series and reads perfectly well as a standalone. I didn’t read any of the previous books but had no trouble in following this one. 

The process of time travel is explained well but kept brief. This isn’t the first time someone in the MMC’s family has done it (the previous books belong to the other characters who went back in time). 

Freydis’s character arc is very well done. She is a combination of confidence and vulnerability, naïve but eager to learn. Her thoughts and actions fit her age (eighteen). 

Storm’s character is good as well. I did find it a bit off at times that he was just twenty-one but tried not to let it bother me. Some of his actions align with his impulsive nature but he has enough endearing qualities to make up for it. 

Joalf is a great side character. I loved his role in the FMC’s life. Sutr, the raven is my favorite, of course! A raven that talks and loves treats? Sign me up! 

The dialogue was a bit off at times. Nothing major but I did wonder a few times if that’s how they talked back then. 

The setting is great. I could visualize the rocky buildings, the cliffs, the seaside, and the wintry chill that seeps into the bones. Brrr! Freezing! 

The romance is decent with some sprinkle of external threat and a bit of miscommunication thrown in. While there is no explicit third-act breakup, there is some tension. It aligns with their characters, so I didn’t mind it much. 

The book ends with an epilogue for the series. This might be the only part where readers like me may feel overwhelmed with all the names and details. Since we don’t have to remember any of it, that’s fine. 

There’s a bonus short story too, a quick piece for another person from the same family and involves the time-traveling love story. You can read it or skip it. I read it. 

To summarize, Legacy of the Runes is an entertaining romance with two characters bonding across different centuries and finding love with each other. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Headline Review, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley