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nimeneth's review against another edition
The book would have been good if it had just stopped at the halfway point. My stomach was starting to churn with the events after that, and of Fryda's continued naivete. It was an interesting concept but definitely got wrapped up too much in the unnecessary drama.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Gaslighting
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not.
Hmmmm, I love retellings and mythology! It's all so fascinating to me, how we can recycle stories and create something novel! However, the way Fryda's disability was set up for a trope doesn't fully sit right with me. This book dragged on a bit, especially in the middle, that I often found myself having to rewind so I could grasp what was happening. Ultimately, I think the audio of this just did not work for me and that's okay. They can't all be hits!
Hmmmm, I love retellings and mythology! It's all so fascinating to me, how we can recycle stories and create something novel! However, the way Fryda's disability was set up for a trope doesn't fully sit right with me. This book dragged on a bit, especially in the middle, that I often found myself having to rewind so I could grasp what was happening. Ultimately, I think the audio of this just did not work for me and that's okay. They can't all be hits!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Racism, Torture, and Blood
aliteraryescape's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Blood
Minor: Racism and Torture
tashasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a fantasy and historical story loosely based and a retelling of Beowulf. Personally, I hadn't read that beforehand/knew the story, so I went in blind on that front and cannot draw comparisons between the two.
This story follows Fryda, a chieftain's daughter in the period of the late 900 CE to early 1000 CE. All she wants is to become a shield maiden, but a horrible accident causes makes it near impossible to reach her dream. However, she begins to feel a strange power growing inside her. Her father, Weohstan hosts the King Beowulf and other leaders to his village to feast and celebrate. During this time, Fryda learns of a conspiracy and has to do what she can to protect her people. Based on what I know of the time, I do think it's pretty accurate historically, the author did a great job of implementing this! I do see a lot of people saying the book is YA, personally I think it goes more into the adult range due to the language, gore, maturity, and sexual content.
There are a LOT of POVs in this book, especially at the beginning. I counted seven, where we have the main character, Fryda, and the slave Theow. There are also perspectives from the dragon, indentured servant Hild, the blacksmith Bryce, King Beowulf, and Fryda's brother Wiglaf. These tend to taper off as we get further in the book, mostly focusing on our main characters Theow and Fryda. I do think they are helpful to gaining information about the world and relationships, but it's just a lot in the beginning to switch back and forth and get your bearings. It is also very slow paced in the beginning, but once we get to some action, the plot jumps forward and things start happening with a purpose.
I thought Fryda was wonderfully developed. We see her struggle with her disability, but gaining confidence over time. A lot of attention is drawn to how she hides her hand from others at the start, especially around Theow. She cares very much about the staff of slaves and servants in her household, but she is quite naive (a little too much to be believable) about the poor treatment of them and always seems shocked when she learns about her brother's misdeeds and when a servant is treated horribly. Towards the end, Fryda gains agency and control of her life and decisions. I really enjoyed the romance in this novel as well between Fryda and Theow. It is forbidden and it's cute to see the little connections between them.
I really enjoyed this book once the action and plot took off! There were battles and a dragon fight and it was thoroughly entertaining and kept me engaged. I just felt the novel started off very weak. Overall, I do recommend this if you are looking to read a fantasy novel in this time period.
Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows Fryda, a chieftain's daughter in the period of the late 900 CE to early 1000 CE. All she wants is to become a shield maiden, but a horrible accident causes makes it near impossible to reach her dream. However, she begins to feel a strange power growing inside her. Her father, Weohstan hosts the King Beowulf and other leaders to his village to feast and celebrate. During this time, Fryda learns of a conspiracy and has to do what she can to protect her people. Based on what I know of the time, I do think it's pretty accurate historically, the author did a great job of implementing this! I do see a lot of people saying the book is YA, personally I think it goes more into the adult range due to the language, gore, maturity, and sexual content.
There are a LOT of POVs in this book, especially at the beginning. I counted seven, where we have the main character, Fryda, and the slave Theow. There are also perspectives from the dragon, indentured servant Hild, the blacksmith Bryce, King Beowulf, and Fryda's brother Wiglaf. These tend to taper off as we get further in the book, mostly focusing on our main characters Theow and Fryda. I do think they are helpful to gaining information about the world and relationships, but it's just a lot in the beginning to switch back and forth and get your bearings. It is also very slow paced in the beginning, but once we get to some action, the plot jumps forward and things start happening with a purpose.
I thought Fryda was wonderfully developed. We see her struggle with her disability, but gaining confidence over time. A lot of attention is drawn to how she hides her hand from others at the start, especially around Theow. She cares very much about the staff of slaves and servants in her household, but she is quite naive (a little too much to be believable) about the poor treatment of them and always seems shocked when she learns about her brother's misdeeds and when a servant is treated horribly. Towards the end, Fryda gains agency and control of her life and decisions. I really enjoyed the romance in this novel as well between Fryda and Theow. It is forbidden and it's cute to see the little connections between them.
I really enjoyed this book once the action and plot took off! There were battles and a dragon fight and it was thoroughly entertaining and kept me engaged. I just felt the novel started off very weak. Overall, I do recommend this if you are looking to read a fantasy novel in this time period.
Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault
ermreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
I was kindly sent this by Head Of Zeus in exchange for an honest review
I found the writing of this book to be terrible and the portrayal of disabled and Black people to me abysmal
Full video review can be found on my tiktok @ermreading
I found the writing of this book to be terrible and the portrayal of disabled and Black people to me abysmal
Full video review can be found on my tiktok @ermreading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I was really excited for this book because I loved Beowulf in high school and all things Viking/Norse myth related. It was a slow start and I almost DNFd but by the 20% mark I was more into the story. I enjoyed the character relationships and most of them are fleshed out/well written. For anyone that likes the found family trope, you may like this!
I normally love a switching POV novel but this one has too many. also they suddenly went away? For the start it was 6 characters getting a POV and then suddenly it changed to only 2 or 3 characters (plus the dragon). It felt like a weird choice, as most of the POVs were unnecessary. I especially didn’t enjoy the dragon’s POV chapters as it kind of pulled me out of the story.
I normally love a switching POV novel but this one has too many. also they suddenly went away? For the start it was 6 characters getting a POV and then suddenly it changed to only 2 or 3 characters (plus the dragon). It felt like a weird choice, as most of the POVs were unnecessary. I especially didn’t enjoy the dragon’s POV chapters as it kind of pulled me out of the story.
The chapters were too long and too descriptive at times for my taste. It’s so much detail about the clothing and the views but somehow also zero world building! It’s a fantasy novel, where is the world building? Also with the descriptions; the gore and body horror was a little too much for me 🤢 it was so detailed it made my stomach turn.
The first half was so much better, I wished I had DNFd by the 65-70% mark. By the last third, I just began skimming the excessively descriptive passages because I couldn’t be bothered anymore. Sadly the most boring and lacking fantasy novel I’ve read.
The first half was so much better, I wished I had DNFd by the 65-70% mark. By the last third, I just began skimming the excessively descriptive passages because I couldn’t be bothered anymore. Sadly the most boring and lacking fantasy novel I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
lovefromhannah's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Sharon Emmerichs’ Shield Maiden is the next perfect read for fans of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and The Guinevere Deception. Emmerichs includes representations of chronic pain and disability, as well as PTSD. Not only that, but her knowledge from being a professor of early British literature shines true in her attention to detail within her descriptions. With that being said, sometimes the description is a little heavy and I found myself anticipating action rather than delving into descriptions of historical accuracies.
Emmerichs weaves together the heroism from ancient tales for a reader who actively seeks and devours feminist retellings of classic tales.
Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me an advanced reader copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Slavery
carysbeesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Shield Maiden was a slow starter for me. I didn't really get into it until about a third of the way through but, when I did start to get invested, I really got invested! This book follows Fryda, daughter of a well respected chieftain and family friend of the famous King Beowulf, who desperately wants to become a shield maiden and prove herself to her father. After an awful accident as a teenager, Fryda is left disabled and thinks that her dreams have been shattered. However, as romance begins to bloom between Fryda and one if her father's slaves, and a dragon starts to wake in a nearby cave, an unexplainable power rises within Fryda, making her wonder if her dreams of glory are not so far out of reach after all.
Now, like I said, this book has a very slow start. Nothing really happens for the first 100 or so pages. Every other chapter was written from the dragon's pov, with a totally different writing style to the rest of the book, and this totally took me out of the story, making me want to put the book down every time I saw the italic text. The author had given a bunch of back story and world building that I knew was going to be important to the plot later but felt that it had been dragged out for far too long. I actually had to step away from reading for a few days because I really wasn't feeling the slowness. When I came back to the book, however, I started to absolutely fly through it! I ended up reading the last 70% all in one day. I don't know if I was just in the wrong headspace when I started reading or if the last two thirds really are just way more engaging than the first third. Whatever the reason, I could not put the book down! The politics finally started to pick up, the romance between Fryda and Theow was so wholesome and pure, and the found family vibes between Fryda, Theow, Bryce and Hild were simply immaculate! One thing that I thought this author wrote particularly well were the battle scenes! I honestly felt like I was watching a movie and found myself having to look away from the book numerous times becuase the tension was so palpable! I loved seeing Fryda and Theow fighting alongside each other, each of them trusting the other to look after themselves, while also knowing that they had each other's backs if they needed the help. The way that the "villain" of the story was written was also very well done. I wouldn't call them morally grey, because it's very clear that they've been morally corrupt for a long time, but getting to read their pov and seeing the motivations behind everything they do was a really interesting addition. The relationship that this person has with the other main characters and the impact that the betrayal has on them just added even more layers to an already emotionally deep story.
Despite the slow start and a few niggles here and there, I ended up absolutely loving Sharon Emmerichs debut novel! The characters were well fleshed out and the action was fast-paced and engaging! The story of King Beowulf is not one I'm overly familiar with but this was not an issue as I was completely immersed in the world created in this book. I will definitely be wanting to add a physical copy of Shield Maiden to my shelves when it comes out next month!
I recieved a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. All of the opinions above are my own.
Now, like I said, this book has a very slow start. Nothing really happens for the first 100 or so pages. Every other chapter was written from the dragon's pov, with a totally different writing style to the rest of the book, and this totally took me out of the story, making me want to put the book down every time I saw the italic text. The author had given a bunch of back story and world building that I knew was going to be important to the plot later but felt that it had been dragged out for far too long. I actually had to step away from reading for a few days because I really wasn't feeling the slowness. When I came back to the book, however, I started to absolutely fly through it! I ended up reading the last 70% all in one day. I don't know if I was just in the wrong headspace when I started reading or if the last two thirds really are just way more engaging than the first third. Whatever the reason, I could not put the book down! The politics finally started to pick up, the romance between Fryda and Theow was so wholesome and pure, and the found family vibes between Fryda, Theow, Bryce and Hild were simply immaculate! One thing that I thought this author wrote particularly well were the battle scenes! I honestly felt like I was watching a movie and found myself having to look away from the book numerous times becuase the tension was so palpable! I loved seeing Fryda and Theow fighting alongside each other, each of them trusting the other to look after themselves, while also knowing that they had each other's backs if they needed the help. The way that the "villain" of the story was written was also very well done. I wouldn't call them morally grey, because it's very clear that they've been morally corrupt for a long time, but getting to read their pov and seeing the motivations behind everything they do was a really interesting addition. The relationship that this person has with the other main characters and the impact that the betrayal has on them just added even more layers to an already emotionally deep story.
Despite the slow start and a few niggles here and there, I ended up absolutely loving Sharon Emmerichs debut novel! The characters were well fleshed out and the action was fast-paced and engaging! The story of King Beowulf is not one I'm overly familiar with but this was not an issue as I was completely immersed in the world created in this book. I will definitely be wanting to add a physical copy of Shield Maiden to my shelves when it comes out next month!
I recieved a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. All of the opinions above are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence