Fates

Two years after Loki's catastrophic disappearance left Chicago's financial district in ruins, the Nine Realms are fraying at the edges. In the fourth installment of C. Gockel's "I Bring the Fire" series, a desperate Odin dispatches Thor to consult the fate-weaving Norns, but the quest demands unexpected allies: Amy Lewis, a veterinarian carrying Loki's memories while missing pieces of her own, and Bohdi Patel, a man whose past was erased by divine mischief. Three reluctant companions, each with something to recover, must navigate a mythology that plays by no one's rules.

Barrie Kreinik brings warmth and precision to the sprawling cast, distinguishing human vulnerability from divine arrogance with consistent, lived-in characterizations. At nearly fifteen hours, the runtime rewards listeners who have followed the series, with Kreinik sustaining the blend of humor and genuine tension that defines Gockel's voice. The audio format suits the story well: the overlapping mythologies and shifting perspectives land cleanly when spoken aloud, giving the ensemble dynamic a natural, almost theatrical energy.