Shield Maiden

Firstly, I do not think this is a badly written book. Was it for me? No. Is there a market for it? Definitely. The prose is well written and engaging, I breezed through reading this in only 2 days. Why am I only giving it 2 stars? I think I am a bit oversaturated on the historical fantasy right now. I got this one through the Goldsboro books GSFF club and it seems like most of the recent books from there have been quite similar in feel. Reviews are 100% subjective and I am confident that others will love this book way more than me.

Shield Maiden is a retelling of Beowulf, at least his third fight against the dragon, but told from the perspective of his niece. There is definitely a bit of fad for retelling of classic historical fantasy from a female perspective. Honestly, I am not sure how much it adds and would rather new stories were told rather than trying to shoehorn a modern feisty girl into a classic work of fiction. Yes, historical fiction is extremely male dominated, but I am not certain that feminist retellings are the way to correct that as it always ends up feeling somewhat anachronistic, putting modern societal mores onto these historical events.

The pacing also feels somewhat off, being very slow for the first half of the book. There is an almost YA feel to the characterizations. Fryda is a typical modern YA style feisty princess. The villainy here is also somewhat one dimensional and black and white. It is easy reading. It all jars somewhat with my knowledge of the original source material, but I have nothing in particular against making Beowulf more accessible to the modern audience, but again it felt a bit shoehorned in. The Beowulf elements of the story (fighting the dragon) definitely played second fiddle to the love interest and court intrigue.

This is not a bad story, it just felt like a few too many things were stitched in to a story which they didn't belong in.

DNF.

I got bored. So bored. I was 30% in and nothing had happened?
The characters were not compelling they were cardboard cutouts of people I should care about but don't. They had no depth. The multi POV was too much. One or two POVs would have been enough for this story not 5.

I skimmed most of it. I kept waiting for a big bang to happen like something big and revealing that will move the plot forward but it didn't happen.

The premise sounded so good and it fell so flat. It failed in what it promised to give. The worldbuilding was lacking a lot. I expected more Norse and just got... hardly anything.

Wish I'd never read it.

Mixed Feelings Audiobook.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook shortly after its release. Anticipating a blend of elements I typically enjoy in literature, I eagerly dove into it. Nevertheless, my experience turned out to be a mixed bag. Having studied Beowulf during my college years, I found both the content and analysis engaging. With a penchant for Norse mythology and a growing interest in historical fiction, this book seemed like a promising prospect. However, it attempted to incorporate numerous themes simultaneously, resulting in a lackluster execution.

The narrative encompassed elements such as political intrigue, the presence of a dragon, familial conflicts, romantic entanglements, the trope of the chosen one, and a perplexing curse, which failed to captivate my interest. Geographically confined to a relatively small setting, I yearned for a more expansive exploration of the world, its daily life, and customs. Additionally, the ensemble of characters felt limited in scope. Wiglaf stood out to me due to my intense dislike for him. Despite my aversion, I found his perspective surprisingly well-executed, providing a glimpse into his twisted psyche. However, I struggled to connect with the remaining characters. Fryda's naivety and obliviousness to the pervasive abuses around her, despite her proximity to a servant and a slave, proved to be a difficult aspect to witness. Theow's characterization left me indifferent, while Beowulf's only redeeming quality seemed to be his sense of humor.

The plot took an excruciatingly long time to gain momentum, failing to instill a sense of investment in the storyline until well past the halfway mark. While the story eventually picked up pace towards the end, the prolonged buildup with multiple plotlines left much to be desired. Surprisingly, this particular book might have benefited from a more extensive exploration, as it lacked substantial depth. Despite my reservations, I must commend Victoria Fox for her exceptional narration, which was a highlight of the experience.

If you possess a fervent enthusiasm for Beowulf or the depicted time period, you might find it worth exploring. I remain curious to hear other perspectives on this work. For further details, please follow the link below or visit your preferred book retailer.