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The first two books of this series were interesting, but didn't make me enthusiastic to read more. I waited over six months before picking up this one while searching for something to read. Hearne just doesn't make Atticus feel like a well-developed character, and for someone who's supposed to be old and wise he acts and talks like someone with little experience. When he shows flashes of competence and power, they are jarring and out of place. That's why I didn't care so much for the first two books, and that trend continues with the third.

That's not why I rated it at one star, though. Hearne has characterized Atticus (as much as he has characterized him at all), as someone earnest and peaceful except in self-defense. That characterization is totally destroyed by this book.

(view spoiler)[Agreeing to get a golden apple from Asgard or to transport your friend there is one thing. He had little choice but to make those promises. But he was caught totally off-guard by the most obvious threats, resorting to slaughter as a result. He kills with no remorse as a substitute for planning.

Later, rather than just take his companions to Asgard, he sets up a war with the Frost giants with no thought to the obvious deaths that will result. Atticus dangles the possibility of getting Freya to the giants, despite knowing what they would do to her. Instead of staying out of the battle, despite repeated warnings, he wholeheartedly participates, again, in slaughter.

The Frost giants claim Freya, and Hearne made it obvious what was going to happen to her, and all Atticus can do is shrug and forget about it. A big deal is made of how terrible Thor is and why he deserves death. Okay. What about the Norns? Heimdahl? Uller? The Valkyrie? The Frost giants? All the others who die?

The only regret Atticus shows toward his actions is that they may cause him trouble in the future. (hide spoiler)]

There's also the issue of building up a certain narrative momentum toward the big showdown, and then stopping for chapter after chapter of backstory on characters just to show why they're there. The pacing was wrecked by this.

So, the story was told badly and any empathy I had for Atticus is gone. I may read the next book, but it will be in hopes of seeing justice for what was done in this book.