She's busted back into the world, gained new followers (and friends), and escaped from an evil corporation that harnesses the powers of the gods d now she's going global. Freya, the Norse goddess of love and war, among other things, first hit the scene in Freya (2017), and this sequel finds her headed to Hollywood, ready to gain love and adoration from her followers as an actress on the small screen. But there's a reason she needs all this power. Her old enemy Ares, the Greek god of war, is back on the map, and Freya doesn't have the strength to face him down yet. Plus, people all around Freya seem to have ulterior motives. But isn't that just showbiz? This sequel is a little more meandering than its predecessor, but Laurence continues to pack a clever metaphorical punch as he places ancient gods in the modern day, and he draws from a fascinating range of lesser-known pantheons when rounding out the supporting cast. Stay tuned: Freya's not done with us yet.

The Florida deity-exploiting facility may be toast, but to confront the corporation behind it Norse goddess Freya needs friends, good fortune, and the power boost that comes from worshipers, or, as they're known in the 21st century, fans.Freya's high priest, Nathan, and lion-headed Egyptian goddess friend, Sekhmet, have her back. Although Freya's portfolio of talents can clash with Sekhmet's, goddess sisterhood proves powerful. Alerted by an ally inside corporate giant Finemdi to Ares' prominent role there, Freya's inner Valkyrie spurs her to take him on. But humanity's wars have strengthened her nemesis, and Freya needs worshipers, too. After Nathan observes that celebrities attract them in droves, it's Hollywood ho! Gorgeous, blonde Freya's soon on a fast track to HBO-miniseries stardom. While she revels in adulation, romance blossoms between Nathan and Sekhmet, leaving Freya conflicted; she's all about love and desire, but Nathan's her priest. Following a succession of attacks by Finemdi, Freya attempts escape via a portal in a luxury spa operated by the Graces but accidentally delivers her crew to Finemdi headquarters. Unlike the story's mostly white mortals, deities manifest in diverse colors, cultures, and abilities. Make-me-a-star tropes excepted, Freya retains her quirky appeal, offering wry comments and an intriguing take on deity-human interactions.Overcoming a slow start and Hollywood clichés, this sequel eventually delivers, accelerating to a satisfying cliffhanger ending. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Norse goddess Freya, a.k.a. modern-day teen Sara Vanadi (Freya), heads to Hollywood with her high priest Nathan and her Egyptian cat goddess friend. There she hopes to recharge her divine batteries with a little fan worship before taking on Mars and the evil deity-exploiting corporation Finemdi. Although the Tinseltown shallowness combines awkwardly with a potentially world-ending climax, fans will enjoy this dramatic sequel.