10 new YA novels to make your holidays bright this December

The Weight of a Soul – Elizabeth Tammi

An intriguing historical novel about Viking culture, loss and death, The Weight of a Soul is very unlike anything else you’ll read this month.

The story follows Lena, the daughter of a Viking chieftain who makes a deal with the Norse goddess of death after her younger sister is found dead. To bring Fressa back, Lena must trade another soul in her place, which forces her to confront ideas of death, life and who deserves either.

Additionally, her quest to resurrect her sister has darker consequences than she could have imagine, turning up a dangerous family plan to bring about Ragnarok, the end of the world. Can Lena save herself, her sister and her entire world while battling her own grief?

The official synopsis is a bit more detailed about the novel’s overall plot.

"When Lena’s younger sister Fressa is found dead, their whole Viking clan mourns—but it is Lena alone who never recovers. Fressa is the sister that should’ve lived, and Lena cannot rest until she knows exactly what killed Fressa and why—and how to bring her back. She strikes a dark deal with Hela, the Norse goddess of death, and begins a new double life to save her sister. But as Lena gets closer to bringing Fressa back, she dredges up dangerous discoveries about her own family, and finds herself in the middle of a devastating plan to spur Ragnarök –a deadly chain of events leading to total world destruction. Still, with her sister’s life in the balance, Lena is willing to risk it all. She’s willing to kill. How far will she go before the darkness consumes her?"

The Weight of a Soul is available now.