by: Julia Silverwood
Series: The Norse Realms Saga
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2026
Publisher: Everbound Press
The Ninth Realm is a romantasy full of delicious intrigue, gripping adventure, and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance based on Norse mythology.
For ten thousand years, a Keeper has guarded Earth from ancient gods, greedy dwarves, and beautifully wicked fae. Saga knows nothing of this until an urgent email from her dying father summons her home to Iceland.
Fulfilling his final wish, Saga inherits his role as Keeper and heir to the family’s horse farm. But when Kalen, a devastatingly handsome stranger, arrives to fulfill a mysterious life debt, her world unravels into secrets and deadly magic.
Dark creatures come for her, revealing her father’s greatest deception that Saga is bound to Kalen through the sacred Life Bond. Worse, the Norse gods have resurrected the Tournament of Realms, a brutal contest among champions of the nine Norse realms to determine who is worthy to guard them.
To survive, Saga must master her skills while navigating the intrigue of the gods. Yet her greatest challenge may be resisting the dangerous fae prince who could either save her heart or shatter the world she’s fighting for.
A must-read for readers who love star-crossed lovers, plot twists, fated mates, and tournament vibes. Perfect for fans of Demi Winters and Danielle Jensen.
The Ninth Realm features deadly trials, bonded animal companions, enemies-to-lovers romance, forbidden romance, forced proximity, and bonded mates. But fae, dwarves, and other mythical beings are also prominent. More importantly, the gods of Norse mythology play heavily into the story and the Norse Realms Saga series overall.
Saga Ragnar left Iceland and her father behind when she was nine years old. Now twenty, she and her mother have built a happy life in Florida. Her mother has a horse ranch, and Saga is a college student. Throughout the years, Saga has stayed in contact with her father through the occasional email. When she receives an urgent message asking her to return immediately to his farm, she goes without question. She arrives only to find him on his deathbed. In his final moments, he makes her promise to take over the farm. He also establishes a life bond between her and a stranger named Kalen for her protection. Saga has no idea that she just promised to take her father's place as Keeper of the Ninth Realm, also known as Midgard or Earth, and that her life is tied to Kalen’s. Soon, she finds herself in a tournament, facing multiple trials to secure her position as the rightful heir to the Keeper title. Saga also fights her attraction to Kalen while trying to keep them both alive and learn about the world she has been thrust into.
The Ninth Realm was an enjoyable read. I love that there were surprises and the book wasn’t what I was expecting. Saga dives headfirst into the challenges that come her way and doesn’t back down. The political intrigue and scheming gods add to the surprises. Saga and Kalen, who is mysterious and definitely knows more than he’s revealing, were both likable characters. Their forbidden romance is slow-building and passionate. The Ninth Realm is Julia Silverwood’s first foray into romantic fantasy, and she delivered on the friendships and the emotional rollercoaster you expect with this genre.
I’m probably one of the few readers who did not like the way The Ninth Realm ended. However, I’m sure that in the upcoming books, I will appreciate the ending and what it actually means to the overall series. This is my first time reading Julia’s writing, but I have faith that since she put together a good story, she will continue to do so. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book and finding out how Saga’s saga continues.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“A little kindness goes a long way.”
“The only way out is through.”
“Just focus on today. Tomorrow has its own worries.”
**Received an ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Rating: 4
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Great review Kim. Yes, I am feeling the same regarding the genre and have become very selective.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm definitely starting to want something different. But I appreciate that Julia changed it up a little for her story.
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