Genevieve
I really enjoyed this book. The Black Shield Maiden is a historical fantasy set in the world of the Vikings, following an African warrior, and it was such a refreshing, immersive read.
This book sat on my shelf for over a year, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I was obsessed with the show Vikings, so when I first saw this in the bookstore, I knew it would have a similar vibe, but with a main character who looks like me. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
The research in this book really shows. The world building was strong, the story was adventurous, and everything felt intentional and well thought out.
We follow Yafeu, a young Ghanaian woman who loves hunting and fighting things she’s constantly told she shouldn’t be interested in. When she’s taken from everything she’s ever known, her life changes completely after crossing paths with a group of Viking women.
We also follow Freydis, a Norwegian princess whose storyline feels very reminiscent of Vikings (which Willow Smith has said was part of her inspiration). I loved seeing their paths unfold side by side.
This is definitely a slow burn, but it worked perfectly for this type of story. The pacing allowed the characters, relationships, and world to develop naturally, and by the end, I was fully immersed.
If you love historical fantasy, strong female characters, and Vikings style stories, this one is worth the read.
I really enjoyed this book. The Black Shield Maiden is a historical fantasy set in the world of the Vikings, following an African warrior, and it was such a refreshing, immersive read.
This book sat on my shelf for over a year, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I was obsessed with the show Vikings, so when I first saw this in the bookstore, I knew it would have a similar vibe, but with a main character who looks like me. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
The research in this book really shows. The world building was strong, the story was adventurous, and everything felt intentional and well thought out.
We follow Yafeu, a young Ghanaian woman who loves hunting and fighting things she’s constantly told she shouldn’t be interested in. When she’s taken from everything she’s ever known, her life changes completely after crossing paths with a group of Viking women.
We also follow Freydis, a Norwegian princess whose storyline feels very reminiscent of Vikings (which Willow Smith has said was part of her inspiration). I loved seeing their paths unfold side by side.
This is definitely a slow burn, but it worked perfectly for this type of story. The pacing allowed the characters, relationships, and world to develop naturally, and by the end, I was fully immersed.
If you love historical fantasy, strong female characters, and Vikings style stories, this one is worth the read.
