Perfekt Order
The Aere Saga #1
S. T. Bende
Release Date: December 8, 2015
Genre: New Adult Paranormal/Fantasy
All’s fair when you’re in love with War.
For seventeen-year-old Mia Ahlström, a world ruled by order is the only world she allows. A lifetime of chore charts, to-do lists and study schedules have helped earn her a spot at Redwood State University’s engineering program. And while her five year plan includes finding her very own happily-evah-aftah, years at an all-girls boarding school left her feeling woefully unprepared for keg parties and co-ed extracurricular activities.
So nothing surprises her more than catching the eye of Tyr Fredriksen at her first college party. The imposing Swede is arrogantly charming, stubbornly overprotective, and runs hot-and-cold in ways that defy reason . . . until Mia learns that she’s fallen for the Norse God of War; an immortal battle deity hiding on Midgard (Earth) to protect a valuable Asgardian treasure from a feral enemy. With a price on his head, Tyr brings more than a little excitement to Mia’s rigidly controlled life. Choosing Tyr may be the biggest distraction—or the greatest adventure—she’s ever had.
ST Bende’s books area a refreshing dip into the paranormal fantasy world that will sweep you off your feet. Ever since her first book, Elsker, I have waited to see where she heads and eagerly follow. This book is no exception to the rule. Perfekt Order is a brilliant start to a new series that I cannot wait to fall in love with. This book has a sweet romance, Norse gods, adventure, danger, and gumption. If you love a good, clean, and exciting story, you need to read this book!
Bende does a great job of blending the Norse mythology with life as we know it. It is a world that we live in day to day woven with fantastic elements that build a fun story. With so few well known Norse books around, this book is a beacon in the genre, offering readers something new to dive into and explore. Hearing familiar names based on comics and movies we know from pop culture today gives the reader a connection and foundation to learn about the Norse gods and goddesses. I loved how you learn so much without being overwhelmed. Each character Mia meets is well developed and believable. They have characters flaws and act just like any young adult you would expect despite their many years of life and otherworldly duties.
Mia the main character is dropped unknowingly into a world of chaos. She is easily swept into the fold, not knowing how things have progressed or where things are leading. One of my favorite things about this heroine is her personality. So often in supernatural fantasy books we see a young woman who just accepts everything with ease and moves along. Mia is very pragmatic and seeing that character trait hit up against the supernatural things she sees and learns is wonderful. I loved her spunk and attitude. She is capable and brave, which allows her to know what she can and cannot do. Her confidence is brilliant and her character is something that young women will admire.
The romance between Mia and Tyr is sweet and completely appropriate for first love. It was darling to watch Mia fall in love and to realize the connection they shared. She is honest with her feelings and brave in what she shares and feels. Seeing this book unfold in her experiences allows the reader to better understand her internal debate and her pragmatic approach to love. When it happens though, she sees a new venue to better understand that some things will not be understood with reason but instead by the heart. These two balance well. When Tyr becomes over protective and alpha male, Mia is quick to push back and stand her ground. These two become a unit that work well together. I am excited to see where they go in this series and how they grow together.
The Aere Saga is definitely on my radar to watch out for. I am ready to see more of the characters introduced in this first book and crossing my fingers that they all have their chance in the spotlight featured in their own story. Bende is a fabulous author, one that is overlooked, but once you give her stories a shot, you will fall for her characters and beg the universe for more!