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| Nocturnal Press Ltd. |
Shane S.
Almond’s the Last Child of Asgard: Delta
is a YA novel that puts a new twist on old myths. With its release date on
October 26th in the UK and on November 15th in the US,
the book is fresh off the shelves and ready to create success for this first
time author. Almond was born in London, England in 1986,
and worked on the first book in his series for the last ten years. He’s had
interviews in various newspapers worldwide, first in the Epping Forest Guardian in London and most recently in the Lincoln Eagle in New York. He’s been
very passionate about his debut novel and currently writes the sequel.
The Last Child of Asgard: Delta focuses around young Max Turner, who
comes to realize that he isn’t just an ordinary boy. Max is the son of Apollo, the
Greek god of the sun; and Fridr, the Norse goddess of serenity. With the Greek
and Norse gods at war with each other, Max finds that he is caught in the
middle, sharing the blood of both. Thus, he is sent to Moonrise Academy, a
school for heroes and demigods, to learn of his power. It is there that he
discovers a prophecy that foretells of a final battle on Mount Olympus and he
discovers that only he has the power to stop it. It’s the perfect story for
someone interested in the ancient myths.
“When I was
little, my dad showed me videotapes of Greek Mythology classics such as
Hercules, Clash of The Titans, and Jason and The Argonauts,” Almond states. “As
I've grown, I've noticed that people just keep retelling these classics; nobody
has ever written what happens next. That's why I started The Last Child of Asgard series. I want to tell new Greek Mythology
stories, not just retell the classics.” And, The Last Child of Asgard: Delta is precisely that. Taking around
ten years to complete, Almond can certainly say that this is one of his biggest
accomplishments. “It’s been a long process. I started writing as part of my
GCSE English coursework.” Almond says that over the ten years it took to write
the novel; rain ruined it once or twice, his computer has reset itself causing
the story to be erased, and there was a point when he was homeless and carried
his manuscript with him to the library to work on. “It’s been a long process,”
Almond says with a chuckle.
Some of
the authors that Almond says are his inspiration are J.R.R Tolkien and JK
Rowling. “I grew up reading The Hobbit.
I loved that book so much that I just couldn't put it down until I finished it.
I think in total, I've read that story about seven times,” Almond comments. It
isn’t surprising that Rowling is listed as one of the top inspirations on
Almond’s list. The Last Child of Asgard
could easily be described as Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson. It’s definitely
a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, full of action and unforgettable
characters. Readers are sure to be on the edge of their seat, eagerly awaiting
the second book in the series. Almond has kept things pretty quiet about it,
but he’s currently planning it out.
The Last Child of Asgard: Delta is a fast-paced novel, full of action
and adventure. It will have you on the edge of your seat while you root for
young Max and his friends as they take on Queen Artemis and the other gods of
Olympus that plan to destroy Moonrise. It’s a vivid page-turner, fit for anyone
who is interested in Greek and Norse mythology. You’ll learn more about the
gods and goddesses from their original stories, as well as new tales of them in
the present day. It’s certainly not a book to miss out on; one that will leave
you eagerly awaiting the sequel.
The Last Child of Asgard: Delta is now available online and soon-to-be
in retail stores across the US. Be sure to pick up a copy and continue the
myths as you join Max in his adventures at Moonrise Academy.
By Erin Sinnott
