The story of a mortal woman being mistakenly chosen by the Norse gods to be the champion of Earth is an interesting premise. Mythology can be fun to play with. Iris’ misadventures with the Norse gods should make for amusing reading. Odin, Thor, and Tyr have been introduced so far. Five chapters have posted at the time of this review. The story is progressing nicely, physical actions are well described, and dialogue and character interactions are believable. The story is still in its infant stages, but some improvement will be needed to keep the reader. 

The most needed improvement is in Iris’ character. She’s so underdeveloped that’s she’s a blank slate. All that is known about her is that she’s a file clerk. No past of any sort has been hinted at. Her first concern after being whisked away to Asgard is that she’ll lose her job. No other worry springs up, such as for family or friends. Iris may not have any of either, but there should be a reason behind that, and so far, none has been given. Her musings are not deep. She seems to be going along with the ride, and while having a character freak out at every turn would be a bad choice, some more confusion or distress might help, or Crane could go the other way and have Iris glad she’s there, eager and excited to be the champion of Earth. With what little insight we’ve had into Iris, it could easily swing either way.

Along with Iris being underdeveloped, the scene descriptions are often vague as well, such as, “Sitting on a small rise, overlooking a rocky beach, was a surprisingly modest group of buildings.” I don’t know what "a surprisingly modest group of buildings" looks like, and considering the fantastical nature of the setting, she’s in Asgard for Thor’s sake, I need more in-depth description, and Iris’ personality could easily slip through with this. The descriptions are better occasionally, such as in the Dec. 1st installment with the description of the communal bathing room, but at other times, the description falls frustratingly short.

Unfortunately, Crane does not allow commenting, which I don’t count off for, but I wish that the site was set up to allow them. I would’ve at least made her aware of a few of the typos I found in the entries. The site is simple to navigate and the text easy to read. Crane does invite readers to email her.

If you like Norse mythology and like fish out of water stories, Samhain Gate is for you. Iris’ development into a heroine and seeing more of the Norse gods should be a fun romp.

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With only three chapters to date it’s not easy to form an opinion about this story.  The seeds are there for a great adventure and I am interested enough to see how they grow.

The main character is likeable and there’s a sense of fun which hints that this could turn [more . . .]

Well the premise is correct, unfortunately there are a few common weaknesses of chosen one stories. The story progresses similar to the typical action/fantasy movie, meaning some details are obviously guessed by the writer or taken from movies (wouldn’t work in real life even with the superpowers). The pacing of the plot is definitely exaggerated and a few quirks of [more . . .]

This is a highly enjoyable read.  It just flies by because it’s so much fun and there’s so much potential for what might pop up next (I do hope we get to see Sleipnir and Loki—can’t wait to get Iris’s take on them!).  I look forward to seeing more installments posted. 

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