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allwritebymaddie 's review for:

Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs
2.5
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really wanted to like this book. I like retellings, I love Norse mythology/history, I like historical fantasy... It just did not hit the mark for me. 

I really wanted to DNF is multiple times, but I kept telling myself it had to hit it's stride soon enough. I only became more invested in the plot and what happened to anyone about 3/4 of the way through the book. 

I did not find the main character endearing, relatable, or inspiring - and I feel like she was intended to be all of them. I didn't like the way her disability was depicted, because it felt very modern. The Norse would have made a big-ish deal about the physical disability, but they also would have been like "well that sucks, man, but at least you have a killer story to go with it." There's only so many times I could read about her "tugging her sleeve over her hand." I really wanted to like the disability representation, it just didn't feel like it fit the story. 

I was way more invested in practically every side character - namely King Beowulf, the blacksmith, and the MC's handmaiden. The dragon had way more interesting lore, worldbuilding, and POV sections. I wish there was more dragon and less MC, unfortunately. Pretty much all of the stars go toward the side characters and the dragon.

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