Veronica Roth's Allegiant, Divergent series book 3, made me cry. I believe I'd prefer laughter to tears. However, life has both ups and downs. If a given book is well written, I'm game.
Congratulations on your Rita Nominations! And, congratulations for getting selected as a RT Book Reviews Top Pick! Such an exciting time for you! Viking Warrior Rising sounds fascinating. I'm glad to have learned of you and your books today!