Review Detail

Inheritance of Scars is a wonderful mix of modern and ancient Nordic mythology in the small forgotten town of Unden. Astrid is an interesting character because she is staunchly loyal to find her missing grandmother and willing to go to whatever lengths to find her. While that is a common trait in main characters, what makes her interesting is that she does all this while battling Crohn’s Disease.
Her loyal companion and rival-to-lover character is Soren, a draugr. A draugr acts much like a vampire. He is ancient, he has secrets, but he also has undying love. Even though Astrid and Soren’s relationship is a forgone conclusion it is enjoyable to read.
Astrid’s quest uncovers family secrets too shocking for her to fathom at first. She must break generational trauma in a literal way and work through the consequences of her actions both now and from the past.
The story unfolds at a nice pace with surprises for the audience and for the character throughout. This was the perfect next read after finishing Cinda William Chima’s Runestone Saga duology, which was also steeped in Norse mythology. It is a standalone story with a solid conclusion making for a satisfying read to sit down and consume quickly.