Children of Ragnarok - by Cinda Williams China

The story unfolds in a fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology, brimming with magic, ancient gods, and mythical creatures across its sprawling realms.

Key Characters:

• Eiric Halvorsen: A young warrior determined to clear his family’s name and reclaim his inheritance.

• Sigrid Halvorsen: Eiric’s adventurous younger sister, who shares his determination.

• Reggin Eiklund: A healer and rune-reader with mysterious origins and untapped magical powers.

The story unfolds in a fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology, filled with magic, ancient gods, and mythical creatures across its vast realms. Since Ragnarok—the great war between the gods and the forces of chaos—the human realm of the Midlands has become a desperate and dangerous place, stripped of magic.

In the prologue, we meet young Eiric Halvorsen, eagerly awaiting his father and grandfather’s return from their sailing trip. But when they arrive, they bring an unexpected guest—a child named Sigrid. Eiric’s father confesses to his wife that Sigrid is his daughter, born from another woman who has since died. Eiric’s mother, shocked and hurt, reluctantly takes Sigrid in but makes her husband promise never to return to that land and that any jewelry Sigrid brought now belongs to them.

Years later, Eiric grows up in relative prosperity at Sundgard, a seaside farm, alongside his mysterious half-sister, now known as Liv. While he once joined his father and grandfather on Viking expeditions, their deaths leave him preferring life on the farm—especially to protect his mother, Sylvi, from her violent new husband, Sten. But tragedy strikes when Sylvi freezes to death while trying to protect her newborn son. In the aftermath, Eiric fights with Sten, and Liv kills him. Eiric is accused of murder and, during his trial, strikes a bargain with a wealthy landowner—he and Liv must embark on a dangerous voyage to find Eimyrja, a legendary island said to be home to wyrdspinners, magical beings connected to the old gods.

Meanwhile, we meet Reggin Eiklund, a young woman enslaved to a fire demon named Asger. She performs rune tricksin taverns, though most of them are illusions. Asger stages fake "miracles," marking someone to play dead, only for Reggin to “resurrect” them. But one night, everything changes—she unknowingly uses real magic to revive someone. This newfound power attracts wyrdspinners from a mysterious island, who promise her freedom in exchange for training at New Jotunheim, a magical academy. One of them, Modir Tyra, gives Reggin an offer: a new life and a chance to hone her abilities.

Eiric and Reggin cross paths in a tavern, where Eiric stands up to Asger, leading to a fight. Reggin tends to his wounds, and they share a moment—she asks for a kiss, believing she may never get another chance. Eiric obliges before leaving. Moments later, a fire engulfs the building, and many believe Eiric perished in the flames. Reggin goes along with the lie, while Asger takes her away, still claiming ownership. Meanwhile, Eiric, having seen the fire from his ship, believes Reggin is dead.

Reggin is rescued by Modir Tyra, who gives her more time to decide her fate before leading her to the island. As she settles in, she meets new friends and begins to embrace her future.

Back in the Midlands, Eiric stands trial for the deaths of his mother and stepfather. He is found guilty—until Sigrid steps forward and confesses she killed Sten. A deal is struck: Jarl Rikhard (the judge) will pay blood money to Sten’s family, and in return, Eiric must work for the Jarl for a year to pay off the debt—but he will still keep the farm.

However, when Eiric and Sigrid arrive at their new home, he realizes he wasn’t hired for farm work—he is being sent on a quest to find the Wyrdspinner Temple and its artifacts. Rumors spread that the temple is kidnapping children and training them in magic. Before he sets off, his farm is burned down by his stepfather’s family, reinforcing the town’s fears that children are vanishing without a trace. Eiric decides New Jotunheim is his true destination, and Sigrid reveals a shocking secret—she grew up on the island and likely has magic of her own.

At New Jotunheim, Reggin is learning magic and making friends. She is assigned to train under Frodi, one of the Council members, but when she seeks him out, he refuses to teach her. Frustrated, she starts learning from her friends, including a mysterious girl named Musa.

Rumors spread that the mainland believes New Jotunheim is stealing children, but for those on the island, it feels like a sanctuary. The Council assigns Reggin to train in communing with the gods through music, but something is off—her magic doesn’t seem to work.

One day, Musa reveals the truth—she is actually dead, and Reggin’s power has been working all along. Musa was once a student like her, forced by Modir Tyra to commune with the dead, but she died in the process. She also reveals that Frodi was involved in her death. Determined for answers, Reggin confronts Frodi. The meeting turns violent, and in the struggle, Musa’s ghost intervenes, killing Frodi.

Meanwhile, Eiric and his crew—Liv and a man named Thurstin—set sail for New Jotunheim. Along the way, they face challenges and storms, and Eiric eventually washes ashore alone, captured and imprisoned by the Council of Elders.

Modir Tyra saves Eiric from execution, revealing that the Council wants to sacrifice him to the gods. She convinces him to kill the Council in exchange for escape. Eiric follows through, completing one final task—killing the Keeperand taking her ring as proof.

Back at New Jotunheim, Reggin is summoned to heal a mysterious new prisoner—it’s Liv and Asger, though Liv now goes by a different name and carries herself with authority. She demands to see Modir Tyra or the Keeper, only to be told the Keeper is dead, and Modir Tyra has an announcement.

Before the gathered crowd, Modir Tyra declares that an assassin is responsible for the Council’s deaths. She forms a new ruling Council, appointing Reggin as chief strategist—but something feels deeply wrong.

Then the assassin is revealed—it’s Eiric. He looks terrified.

Liv steps forward, using powerful flame magic, and proclaims that Modir Tyra is her real mother. Modir Tyra seizes the moment, declaring that the mainland stole her daughter, and now, they must go to war.

Days later, Reggin remains in the dark about what’s happening. Liv, now fully aligned with Modir Tyra, asks Reggin to heal Eiric, believing something is wrong with him. But Modir Tyra has another solution—killing him to spare his suffering.

Reggin, however, isn’t convinced. The moment she touches Eiric, he wakes up and begs for help. She warns Liv that her mother might be using mind magic against him, but Liv refuses to believe it—she has only just found her mother again.