Review: Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*

 

4/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

In a bleak future built on virtual reality, Ginn is a romantic who yearns for something real. She designs environments for people who play at being Vikings. But when her project goes awry, she’s stranded in the actual 10th century, on a storybook farm in Viking Iceland.

Heirik is the young leader of his family, honored by the men and women who live on his land. But he is feared and isolated because of a terrible curse. Ginn and Heirik are two people who never thought they would find a home in someone else’s heart.

When forces rise against them to keep them apart, Ginn is called on to decide—will she give up the brutal and beautiful reality of the past? Or will she have the courage to traverse time and become more of a Viking than she ever imagined?

My thoughts on this book:

 

This book, despite the not so great cover  (so much more potential there for a better one), was a intensely beautiful read.  The author has some raw talent that is comparable to some of the great historical books.  You can tell that a LOT of research and time and thought went into this book.  The writing was lyrical and articulate, the world building was phenomenal and the characters well thought out.

 

The first chapter basically took place in the future, holograms and contacts that are basically computers, and a holographic "tank" the world building here wasn't as impressive, I wasn't sure what I was reading and what the tank actually WAS.  I can tell the author and the main character, Ginn had passion more for times of the Viking, because once Ginn arrived to the past, it was like high definition color started happening, and the future was just black and white.

 

The book, the story, it was intense.   It was raw and emotional, I cried at several points, at Ginns heartbreak and forbidden love.  I loved how the ending wasn't revealed at the very beginning like a lot of books seem to do.  It is NOT a lighthearted quick romance.  There is a little bit of everything, hand chopping off, love, angst, struggle, enemies and friends, vikings and futuristic mma style fighting.  If you like historical romance that isn't frilly and is down right gutwrenching and absolutely enthralling that you don't know you just read almost 500 pages?  read this one!