Shield Maiden
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3.4 • 7 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Both epic and intimate, Sharon Emmerichs's extraordinary debut novel reimagines Beowulf from the perspective of a young woman reclaiming her power.
All her life, Fryda has longed to be a shield maiden, an honor reserved for Geatland’s mightiest warriors. When a childhood accident leaves her tragically injured and unfit for the battlefield, her dreams are dashed—or so she thinks. But a strange, unfathomable power is awakening within her, a power that will soon be put to the test.
For when foreign lords and chieftains descend upon Fryda’s home to celebrate her uncle King Beowulf’s fifty-year reign, she realizes not all their guests come with good intentions. Treachery is afoot, and Fryda must gather her courage to fight for her people…as a queen should—as a shield maiden would—and as only Fryda can.
But as Fryda’s power grows stronger, something ancient hears its call. For buried deep in her gilded lair, a dragon awakens…and Fryda must prove herself once and for all.
Praise for Shield Maiden:
"A heroine with a generous spirit, an unshakable will, and a dragon's fury." —H. M. Long, author of Hall of Smoke
"Casts a superb spell. Shimmering with detail, with a propulsive plot to match" —D. K. Fields, author of the Tales of Fenest trilogy
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Inspired by the Old English epic poem Beowulf, this spellbinding novel uses ancient Scandinavian folklore as the backdrop for an enthralling YA adventure. Despite a debilitating childhood injury, King Beowulf’s niece Fryda dreams of becoming a great warrior called a shield maiden. But as she trains with unlikely confidants like the bold cook Hild and the wise blacksmith Bryce, her mysterious supernatural connection with a slumbering, gold-hoarding dragon quietly grows. Sharon Emmerichs playfully builds an exciting, heroic feminist story (along with a dash of irreverent humor) into the ancient Viking tale. We couldn’t look away from the pages as Fryda realizes her newfound power, all while falling in star-crossed love with an enslaved boy named Theow. Her inspiring journey toward becoming the leader that she and her people need makes Shield Maiden a triumph—and an unputdownable read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Emmerichs's thrilling debut picks up where Beowulf leaves off, turning the focus onto a young female niece of the epic's hero. In 987 CE Geatland (modern-day Sweden), 13-year-old Fryda tries to convince her disapproving father, Weohstan, Lord of Eceweall, that she is ready to be a shield maiden—even after a fall down a crevasse during an earthquake leaves her with a shattered hand. Never losing her resolve, Fryda trains in the ways of the warrior in secret, in the process uncovering superhuman strength and ability. This talent stems from a mysterious link between her and the dragon Frýdraca, who has a long and bloody relationship with Beowulf's bloodline but who is kept at bay by the Lone Survivor's Curse that keeps her entombed in nightmares. When Fryda is 20, the clans gather to celebrate Beowulf's 50th anniversary as king, leading to tense political machinations—including a kidnapping attempt against Fryda. As schemes and betrayals are revealed and Fryda finds forbidden love with Theow, a Celt enslaved by her father, Frýdraca begins to wake from her cursed slumber. Emmerichs's plotting is commendably complex, and, after a slow start, exciting twists keep the pages turning. Fryda is admirably witty and resourceful and the dash of romance adds appeal. This should win Emmerichs many fans.
