Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an arc of this book. Expected Publication: 25 July 2023

Getting to enter back into the world of Sigrid and the Valkyries was such a to pleasure read. From the opening scenes where Sigrid is leading a mission into the realm of the night elves all the way to the end, the twists and turns kept me glued to my kindle. Warner has a wonderful way of writing that keeps the chapters short and interesting, builds a believable world, and uses characters' emotions to make the reader want to know what happens next.

In this sequel, Sigrid is elevated into her rightful place as a princess, and much of the story delves into what that means for her. She must also come to terms with what it means to be the heir of Sleipnir, get the Valkyries that have seen her as less than for her whole life to respect her, and navigate new/young love all while facing the possibility of the utter destruction of her home.

There is much to love about this series, and I cannot wait for the third book.
Readers that are fans of mythology, coming of age novels, military fantasy, and great narrated novels will probably enjoy this series from Tiana Warner.

I struggled more with this book than the first one. I felt like certain plot points took too long. I saw certain twists coming. I did really like Sigrid's development. And I do have certain hopes and expectations from the third (and presumably final) book.

I’m shocked this series hasn’t caught on more. I blame the lame cover art. The original cover of the first book when it was titled “The Helheim Princess” was so much better.

Anyway, I absolutely love this series. Like any great fantasy, it has adventure, intrigue, magic, battles of good versus evil, justice versus greed, and friendship and romance to hold it all together. This cast of characters is is just outstanding, the story compelling, and I am really loving all the Norse mythology. I was initially intrigued by the mere concept of sapphic Valkyries but the story itself is so damn good. I think if more people read this series, its popularity would grow exponentially. It needs more exposure (and better covers!!) but all the elements are there for an epic fantasy series. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment!!

This book was just as good as the first one! I loved it! This felt like a very natural continuation of what started in the first book. I love the way that the author has woven Norse mythology through the story. It's such a great blend of the mythology I know and a unique story. This book definitely did not hit the book two slump that so many seem to struggle with. Some of the leftover questions from the first book were answered, but it also brought up some new questions to be answered in book three. I thought the characters all developed more, as we got to know them more. I really loved that some of the characters I loved so much from the first book were in this one as well, The only thing that I was slightly annoyed with in this book was that I felt like Sigrid made some of the same mistakes in this book that she made in the first one. It was frustrating to watch her repeat similar behaviors that I felt like she should have learned from in the first book. Even with that, I still loved this book and absolutely recommend it for anyone who loved the first book. If you haven't read book 1, you absolutely need to before you read this one.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this arc.

3.5 stars / 5 stars

Things I loved:
Realistic, well written with lots of twists and turns.
Amazing world building.
Adored the horses, they are like characters.
Things I didn’t love:
Pacing was a little slow in some parts.
You can read this book as a stand-alone or read the first one first if you want more enjoyment.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book. It was an enjoyable read. I haven't read the previous book, so it was a little challenging to keep up with the story. But overall, I liked the premise of the story.

The Valkyrie's Shadow is the second book in the Sigrid and The Valkyries series.

Author Tiana Warner creates an immersive and engaging world filled with Norse mythology and intricate plot twists. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships add depth to the story. The pacing is excellent, with a good balance of action, suspense, and romance.

The Valkyrie's Shadow is a thrilling and captivating read best enjoyed in order.

3.5. I enjoyed this sequel and thought both the action scenes and descriptions of the environment and characters were rather immersive.
Some minor parts felt a tad repetitive but altogether didn't limit my enjoyment too much.
I'm excited for the next
Thank you netgalley!

I cannot get over this series! Tiana has done it again. Valkyrie’s Shadow has everything that I am looking for in a fantasy novel, action, adventure, badass characters and some romance! I cannot wait to add this one to my shelf! I totally want to share all of the amazing plot twists but don’t want to spoil anything! A massive thank you to entangledteen for sharing this with me

This was so fun! There is no gap between the first story and this, which I adore. It's always nice to jump right back into the action. The pacing was decent, though there were a few lags. As a horse girl, I continued to love that and the fact that the horses were characters in their own right.

Super well written, great character development, awesome plot, and plenty of excitement to keep me eagerly awaiting learning what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. I was excited to receive this 2nd book of this series. It continues where the first one ended. Sigred is back home but now the Night Elves are preparing for an attack on Vanahalla and she has to comes to term with being Sleipner’s heir. Can’t wait for the next book.

I read book 1 as part of a book tour, and really enjoyed it. So of course I wanted to read book 2 as well. Since I read book 1 a year or so ago, I was afraid it would be hard to get into book 2. But I was immediately reminded of why I enjoyed it so much, and was pulled back into the story almost right away.

After reading book 1, I felt like there was an amazing balance between plot and character depth, and I feel the same about book 2. A lot goes on plotwise, which is really entertaining to read and kept me engaged all the way through, but Sigrid also has a lot going on internally and goes through a lot of development.

After this, I very much want to read book 3 as well. I'm enjoying this series so much!

The Valkyrie's Shadow begins where the first story had ended and a great continuation of the series.

While The Valkyrie's Daughter left us reeling with the truth and wondering that would come next, this installment solidifies Sigrid connection to her past and lineage, but at what cost?

Though a third book hasn't been announced, I'm assuming the intent is to continue the adventure, and I'd love to see what the future holds for Sigrid and her friends.

Thank you Netgalley & Entangled Teen for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Despite this book having a slow start, it was a solid sequel to The Valkyrie's Daughter! There was some good action in the back half that made up for that, and the mystery just keeps on growing. Now I am upset that I have to wait for book three, because I would binge this series if I could.

I did with that we learned the deal behind the shadow arrows in this one - it was really being set up like it would be the main mystery of the series. And Helena was always in the background being dangled there, I thought for sure she would be coming back this book too. Who knows, maybe she will reappear in book three?

Anyway, there are a lot of questions that the next book could answer, and I look forward to reading it whenever it gets announced.

Sigrid really goes through it in this book, especially as she is still learning to deal with Slipnir. The author does a fantastic job of showing the differences in Sigrid before and after the influences of the horse, and I look forward to seeing that relationship develop more in the sequel. Same thing with Miriam - they hit some bumps in this story, but I have hopes they will come out stronger for it in the end.

So, yeah, this series is still worth the read. I absolutely loved book one, I think this is a solid sequel, and I look forward to the next installment (maybe the last? Who knows.).
Content warnings: war themes, violence, toxic relationships, gaslighting, blood, death

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an arc of this book. Here is my review, please note I did not read the first book in this series so it took me a little bit to realize what fully was going on. I would fully recommend reading the books in order!
I am a huge lover of mythology, especially Norse mythology. So this book already had me hooked with that little tidbit alone. I really enjoy this author's writing style and I will be reading more from her for sure. I also can't wait to go back and read the first book in this series. I am expectant for the finale in this series as well.
I enjoyed how the author spent a lot of time focusing on character and relationship development. I don't like when those two aspects are rushed and I didn't feel rushed in this book at all. This book had a lot going on and I was never bored. I was excited during the whole thing and really enjoyed reading this.

Thank you! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions. I have been waiting for the release of this book and when I saw it offered on NetGalley I immediately requested. So happy I was granted a copy!!!

This book should be on everybody's must read list!!!

It is absolutely over the top fantastic!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Tiana Warner. Love, love, love your book!!!

Highly recommend. Five stars!

Rating: 3.5

I don't have any strong feelings towards this book, but I did like it overall. Other than some pacing issues, the story kept me interested throughout most of it. I liked the characters and the romance.

This reads just like book 1. Those who enjoyed the first book will enjoy this one as well. It’s very YA with not a ton of adult crossover potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading the 1st book in the series (The Valkyrie's Daughter), so when I got the chance to read book 2 I couldn't pass it. Thankfully I didn't because I really liked this one as well.

The 2nd book begins where the 1st one ends. We continue to see the adventures of our main characters and explore more of the world thst is of course inspired b Norse Mythology (which I love by the way).
I really liked the story and the writing style and definitely the characters and their development. Sigrid and Mariam's relationship were very well crafted.

The Valkyrie's Shadow, the second book in the Helheim Prophecy series by Tiana Warner, continues the captivating story of Sigrid, a valkyrie and princess who finds herself struggling with her dual identities. While Sigrid had hoped being both a valkyrie and a princess would bring her admiration and respect, she still faces mistreatment from her fellow valkyries. To complicate matters, her new horse, Sleipnir, seems to be having a negative influence on her, leading her to question her own morality.

Sigrid's first official valkyrie mission sets off a chain of events that reverberate through the Nine Worlds. She becomes the target of the Night Elves and their malevolent king, who seeks to plunge everything into darkness. As if that wasn't enough, the mischievous Loki appears to be meddling with the delicate balance of light and dark.

With the shores of Vanaheim threatened by war and her friends facing exile, Sigrid strikes a deal with the new queen. She agrees to ride Sleipnir into battle against their enemies, even as the horse's influence tugs her closer to the line between good and evil. The fate of everyone rests on what Sigrid becomes: either a savior or a bringer of disaster.

Sigrid remains a highly entertaining protagonist, and her journey in this book is both engaging and relatable. The relationships depicted in the story are well-developed, capturing the complexities of both friendship and romance. It is particularly refreshing to see friends who argue yet remain steadfast in their support for one another. The book sets the stage for what promises to be an epic series finale, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

The pacing of the book is excellent, maintaining a steady and fast-paced rhythm that keeps readers engrossed. The author's world-building effortlessly draws readers into the story, making it easy to immerse oneself in the Nine Worlds. All the characters are skillfully written, each with their own distinct personality and role in the narrative. Additionally, the action sequences are well-executed, striking a careful balance that enhances the plot rather than overshadowing it.

One aspect that may not appeal to all readers is the use of third-person point of view. However, this narrative choice does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, The Valkyrie's Shadow is a thrilling and captivating addition to the Helheim Prophecy series. Sigrid's compelling journey, well-crafted relationships, and the impending climax of the series make this book a must-read. The fast-paced and steady pacing, immersive world-building, and strong characterization all contribute to its appeal. Despite the use of third-person point of view, the book remains a highly recommended read for fans of fantasy, mythology, and exciting adventures.

4.9/5 rounded up to 5/5.