A review by parchmentdreams
Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs

adventurous emotional medium-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? Yes

4.0

"She looked a glorious mess, this fierce and determined woman who loved strawberries, fought like a warrior, and hid her left hand from the world. The freckles across her nose stood out against the unusual pallor of her skin, which glowed with sweat from her exertions. Her hair tumbled in wild, loose curls to her waist. She had a tiny mole at the corner of her right eye, and a beautiful dark mark on her neck under her ear. She had a luscious mouth, pink and full, and he wished he could brush a gentle kiss across her bruised and split lower lip, erasing the evidence of violence with his tenderness. She wore no shoes and her thin shift was stained with dirt and grass. She had straw in her hair and a smudge on her cheek, and Theow had never seen anything more beautiful in his life."

This epic retelling of the third part of the poem Beowulf was an absolute dream to read. You are transported to a world of gods and monsters and kings that wield uncanny powers, those not unlike the beasts he battles. In Shield Maiden, Beowulf is an old king, ready to find a new heir for his kingdom. 

Our main character, Fryda, is kin to Beowulf, and has dreamt her whole life of being a Shield Maiden - one of the famously fierce female warriors. After a horrid accident in her youth mangles Fryda's hand, she resigns herself to a life of running her father's household, befriending the servants and secretly training with the blacksmith, Bryce.

Shield Maiden follows Fryda as she discovers a growing power within her, and torn between loyalty to her family and the man she loves, Fryda has to choose if she will become the warrior she is destined to become.

The plot was somewhat predictable, but not in a bad way. As with any retelling, there were known elements of the story, but the characters and choices were refreshing and engaging. I fell in love with Fryda and Theow and Bryce and was fully invested in their story. 

The writing style was easy to read, yet with flowing poetic descriptions that truly brought to life the tale of Fryda. The characters were lovable and believable. If you love Norse/Scandanavian mythology and epics, I would highly recommend Shield Maiden!
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