Part historical fiction, part fantasy, Sharon Emmerichs’ debut novel Shield Maiden is an immersive, well researched retelling of portions of the epic poem Beowulf. The titular Shield Maiden is Fryda (“Free-da”), a young woman who overcomes great adversity to realize her destiny over the course of the book. When a horrible injury leaves her hand disfigured as a child, not much is expected of Fryda as she grows into adulthood. A harsh father and a… troubled brother are both pretty rotten to her, leading her to find companionship from servants, slaves, and other workers in their burh (think medieval era fortress). When Fryda’s uncle, King Beowulf, descends on their home for a celebration of his 50-year reign, trouble soon rises from threats within and without the walls of the burg. Fryda must summon her courage and power to save the home she loves.

There are a lot of good things to talk about in this book. We have a good amount of representation for the time period of the story, with the FMC having a disability and other supporting characters having diverse backgrounds. Emmerichs wrote the villains particularly well, and I loved to hate them. There is a lot to learn about the culture and customs in this time period from this book.

Overall, this was a good debut novel, and I think Emmerich is capable of wonderful work. I look forward to reading what she writes next. I would recommend this book to readers who have an interest in the time period, the Beowulf story, or looking for historical fantasy with representation.

Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs is a debut fantasy reimagining of Beowulf featuring a heroine with a disability. The audiobook version is narrated by Victoria Fox.

Though the daughter of a lord, Fryda has longed to become a shield maiden, in part to follow in her uncle Beowulf's footsteps. Assuming her dream was shattered after an accident in her teens, at age twenty she has started to feel an uncontrollable power rising within herself. And deep below, buried in her gilded lair, the last dragon is drawn to Fryda's untamed power and begins to wake from a long and cursed sleep.

In college I studied Beowulf a few times, including memorizing the opening stanza. Thanks in part to that, Beowulf has a fond place in my heart. Shield Maiden focuses on the very end of the epic poem, during the 50th year of King Beowulf's reign.

Emmerichs did a great job with this reimagining! I inhaled the audiobook within 24 hours. The narrator, Victoria Fox, does a pretty great job here. There were a few character voices that sounded a bit similar to me, but overall I greatly enjoyed the listen. And take a look at this cover, it's GORGEOUS and has so much detail. I love it.

As someone who likes history, and studied this time period in college, I really enjoyed the detail in these pages. There is a lot of description of the buildings, clothing, and oral storytelling of the Geats.

Overall I did like the prose, but the plot was a little meandering. There were some scenes that felt like jump cuts from where we were just before. Fryda is also a bit too naïve. The point-of-view shifts around a lot as well; I typically prefer either full chapters of one POV, or less jumping around.

There's a good amount of diversity here. Fryda does not have full use of one of her hands, after falling into a chasm during an earthquake when she was thirteen. Her childhood friend, Theow, is coded as suffering from PTSD when he smells smoke he is not expecting. Fryda's best friend Hild is a black indentured servant whose people initially hailed from Romans in sub-Saharan Africa.

I'd recommend this one to anyone who has a fondness to Beowulf, or who liked books like Grendel by John Gardener or Claire North's Songs of Penelope series.

CW: violence, gore, drug and alcohol abuse, assault, sexual harassment

Shield Maiden is a solid, if somewhat underwhelming retelling/sequel of Beowulf. The main issue I have with writing this review is that, coming to write it, I find myself unable to remember much of what happened in the book, despite finishing it recently.

I do think the marketing and title of this book let it down, by toting it as a feminist retelling focused on the titular shield maiden. The actual story is a lot more varied, and with its significant focus both on other characters and on the dragon, I think that advertising it as such sets the reader up with false expectations.

There is also a naivety to the main character which becomes quickly and overwhelmingly irritating. While I did enjoy the disability representation, the character dynamics and indeed depth fell relatively flat in the end.

The narrator is a highlight of this book, however, with an engaging voice that does try to keep you hooked despite the confusion of the story.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook. The following review is my honest feedback and given voluntarily.

3.5 stars for overall story, rounding to 4 / 4 stars for audiobook performance

This was an overall good story, however it was kind of a slow start for me. I had a hard time getting into it until about the 40% mark or so. Lots of different characters and LOTS of death, my goodness! The main character, Fryda, really gets put through it in the loss department. She also struggles with a disability that prevented her from pursuing a lifelong dream. Unfortunately, with that disability comes a lot of rudeness and disrespect from stupid and foolish men (what's new?). But Fryda is a strong and beautiful soul of a woman and she doesn't let that stop her from being a kind person to everyone she encounters, even those who are meant to be "under" her status. This earns her much respect and love from all, especially one handsome man who has loved her since they were children.

Ultimately I enjoyed the way this story played out, especially with Fryda and her friend-turned-lover, Theo. They made such a sweet couple. Theo was treated horribly by Fryda's brother, I just wanted to come through the earbud and punch Wilaf (sorry if I mispell names). But the whole "lone survivor" and the curse was a little confusing to me. Maybe I missed some stuff in the beginning due to listening to the audiobook and not being able to quickly reference things with the physical, not sure. I didn't really understand the connection between Fryda and the dragon. So while the ending was cool, I just didn't really get it. I also liked the fact that this book centered around a female character and not Beowulf. He was literally just a side character, haha!

As far as the audiobook performance goes, I enjoyed this narrator for the most part. To me it sounded like most of the men had the same voice/tone with the exception of Theo and maybe the blacksmith. Fryda had her own accent, but Hild and Idith(? I hope I'm spelling names right, I don't have the physical copy) seemed to have the same accent. I think if she would have been able to change up the male voices and make them a bit more distinguishable, it would have been a bit more exciting.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a solid YA historical fantasy that gives just the right amount of feminism mixed in. A young woman's perseverance and grit in the face of adversity is always a solid story. Add in just a pinch of very tastefully done romantic steam and you've got a well-rounded YA book. If you can get past the slower start, I think you will find the ending rewarding. Enjoy!

The writing style was really fantastic however I found myself getting frustrated with the plot and figuring out what exactly was going on. I think it’s a powerful gift to be able to describe the world but it lacked the audiences ability to see who and what was important.

The story overall was interesting but I’m not the biggest fan of Beowulf so it makes sense this wasn’t a big star rating story for me however anyone who is a fan will love this!

Thank you to NetGallery, the publishers, and the author for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

I actually really enjoyed this reimagining. It kept my attention, I enjoyed the characters, and the storyline was fantastic. The narration was excellent. Each character has their own tone and pacing, which is often really difficult to achieve. The loss of certain characters didn’t bother me in the least, but the loss of others really hit me hard. I won’t spoil a single one, because who wants to know which good or bad guys get it in the end without getting to experience it first hand?! I felt like the characters were well fleshed out, and easy to connect with or to absolutely loathe.
There was a pretty good amount of battling in here, and those battles were BLOODY! Obviously that’s to be expected when you’re talking Viking warriors adjacent timelines. I mean, Beowulf, am I right? So, if you’re not into a bit of battle gore, maybe skim those pages lol. I loved it.
A solid 4.25 ⭐️ read, and between the writing and the narrator, I’d absolutely read more if this combo works together again.

I received an audio ARC of Shield Maiden through Netgalley.

I rate this book 2.5 stars rounded up to three. Reader who enjoy retellings of the Beowulf story will find something to like here. I'll admit that am not overly familiar with Beowulf, so that will influence my experience. Also, this is for readers who like a romance that is solid from the start without much conflict.

The writing is what kept me reading. Emmerichs does a good job balancing beautiful prose with character development. I did enjoy the audiobook. The narrator is great, but I found the short chapters with the dragon to be hard to follow and there are so many named characters that I had trouble remembering who was who when they popped up in the middle of the action. This is a dialogue heavy book, and the characters don't always sound like real people, especially the brother. Still, I do think the writing is strong and a solid debut.

Unfortunately, this story missed the mark for me. I feel misled by the the description, as the powers that are building in Freya seem to take a backseat to other conflicts. Shield Maiden is supposed to be about Freya, but there are multiple POVs in this story and I do not feel that most of them were necessary. In fact, they actively detracted from my connection to the story because often, Freya would be in the scene but for whatever reason, we weren't in her head. It removed any suspense for me.

On another note, Freya as our protagonist was frustrating. Her naivete is infuriating instead of interesting., and I was especially uncomfortable with her two close friendships. Freya never seemed to grasp the power imbalance in those relationships and how some of her actions could have been deadly to them. This would have been a great character conflict to explore, but the story seems uninterested in having Freya reflect on her privilege, or having her servant friends be wary of their closeness to her.

Overall, I just found the story boring and poorly paced. There is action, leveling up of power, romance, political intrigue, and power struggle, but none are given time to be fully realized. If the story had picked a lane I probably would have enjoyed it more.

This was a great read. It told the story of Beowulf in such an interesting light. Frida was an interesting and multi faceted character, albeit sometimes frustratingly so. She is fierce and strong and capable but still cowers to her father and brother. I thought the pacing flagged a tiny bit around the middle but swiftly picked up faster than before.

Good book but nothing that has me begging for another. It took me quite a while to finish since it seemed very slow. I don't know the history of Beowulf so maybe if I did the story would have felt different for me and the dragon wouldn't have been so random.

Listened to this as an Audio book arc from NetGalley.

Firstly, the narration was fantastic and matched the story perfectly in my opinion. I choose more prise heavy books to listen to as I seem to absorb the story better so this story was perfect.

I loved anything Greek or Norse mythology growing up so I really liked this update on Beowulfe! The FMC was fearless and bold but still caring and gentle which was great to watch develop. I will always love a dragon POV and thier sad tale dispersed throughout the story was really interesting.

I enjoyed this and couldn't stop listening towards the end which was certainly action-packed! Great listen and one I may have to physically read too! Would certainly be interested in a thing else published by the author as the writing style was beautiful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was invested in the characters from the very beginning. The action and conflict builds quickly and is sustained until the end. A heads up that it does get a bit dark with vivid descriptions at certain points.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars

I'll start by saying - Sharon Emmerichs is an excellent writer and clearly has a deep passion for her subject matter. Her understanding and devotion shone through beautifully throughout the story in the care she gave to descriptions and emotions, characters and events. It was easy to get lost in her writing and picture clearly the story in your mind - she's a truly great storyteller.

As for the story itself, I enjoyed it! I didn't know much about Beowulf before going into this book but it didn't hurt my reading experience at all. Fryda was a great main character, though her complete ignorance to her brother's true nature and inability to see the status difference between her and her best friends was infuriating on more than one occasion. But, her constant drive to improve her knowledge and her refusal to give up regardless of circumstance was fun and inspiring.

I did think this book suffered a bit from pacing - while I did very much enjoy it, it felt longer than it really needed to be - or at least that there were parts that dragged more than I would have liked. Also, the dragon POV....I was really excited for it in the beginning but it never really felt relevant other than as a comparison for the obvious threat vs the real threat, and as a connection point to the original Beowulf story. I wanted it to be a bigger part, more relevant somehow....it was cool but may have contributed to some of the drag.

Overall I would absolutely read another book by Sharon Emmerichs and I do recommend this one to anyone that loves historical fiction and fantasy!

This book was very beautifully written. I had moments of frustration with the main character when she went from highly intelligent to completely naive-(ie going to talk to a murder suspect alone, not realizing punishments given to friends who are slaves and servants). On a smaller scale it reminded me a little bit of Pillars of the Earth- both have a strong woman on a mission to prove her worth, a despicable man in a position of power, and a kind, charming, brave redhead.

The narration was really well done as well- I’m glad I got to listen to the audio, especially with the pronunciations of the names I would not have guessed accurately. Overall I enjoyed, maybe not a favorite but it was good.

Beowulf was always my favorite classic literature piece, so seeing this retelling with a female angle was an immediate request from me. It surpassed all of my hopes! This was such a great story. I loved the main character’s strength and determination against the overbearing men in her life. The secondary role we see Beowulf in was also a joy, I loved how loving and funny he was mad to be. Overall this is an empowering, entertaining story that will have you yelling at characters in frustration and overjoyed by their triumphs. The narrator was a great reader, I loved the inflections and hearing the correct pronunciations of these names.

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.

Thank you W.F Howes Ltd. for the ARC audiobook! All thoughts are my own.

This is a reimagined story of Beowulf from the perspective of a girl reclaiming her power. I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I am not familiar with the story of Beowulf so it was a brand new story to me. I enjoyed reading this one from a girls perspective. All her life Fryda has wanted to be a Shield Maiden however, a tragic childhood injury befalls her. Though a special force or power makes her think it may still be possible. It has slowly been awakened within her. Her father do not want her to become a Shield Maiden. Foreign Lords and Rulers are brought to a palace for a special dinner event. Fryda soon realizes that not everyone visiting has the best of intentions. She must protect her kingdom as a queen or shield maiden would protect. Especially when a dragon threatens all of her kingdom's safety.

This is a great retelling. I enjoyed the audiobook quite a lot. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job of portraying the characters and voices. I also really liked how the narrator took into consideration the time period.

Read if you enjoy:
Reimagined stories
Strong Female Main Character
Beowulf
Character Growth

Sharon Emmerichs’ writing is gorgeous. She is a professor with a doctorate in early modern and medieval literature, so she had the knowledge to tackle a reimagining of Beowulf! Overall I enjoyed the story, which tells the ending of Beowulf’s journey with a feminist spin.

As much as I liked this book, I wanted to love it. My rating comes from me not connecting emotionally with most of the characters. I was not invested in the love story of Fryda and Theo, which is a huge plot point of the book. I did enjoy the familial relationship between Fryda and Beowulf. There were also several plot holes and points in the story that could have used more development and explanation.

Regarding the audiobook specifically, it was not made very clear when there was a chapter or POV change. This caused me to have trouble keeping up with the flow of the story and led to some confusion.

If you read classic literature, specifically Beowulf and similar tales, or are a fan of Viking/Norse themes you would likely enjoy this book!

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this book. Any reviews and opinions are honest and my own.

"Shield Maiden" by Sharon Emmerichs is a remarkable debut novel that takes readers on a journey through a the indomitable spirit of a young warrior. "Shield Maiden" not only provides a sense of adventure but also delves into deeper themes of identity and the power of perseverance.

I listened to the story on audio and the narrative did a phenomenal job delivering this production. Actually, this story lends itself quite well to the audiobook delivery.

This is a promising debut by Sharon Emmerichs, showcasing her ability to craft a good story. Emmerichs' world-building and Viking-type lore are indeed impressive, adding a rich layer of authenticity to the story that fans of this genre will appreciate. While the book excels in terms of Viking lore and alternating perspectives, it could benefit from more dragon content and a more compelling sense of urgency.

I would recommend this to others who love fantasy and those who like the old stories of Beowulf and the Grindel. It still cracks me up when I hear the narrator saying "Uncle Beowulf."

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All opinions, thoughts, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

What a fun take on a thrilling classic book. I loved Grendel as a kid and was excited to see a reimagining with a broader appeal and modern language.
I enjoyed this audiobook. I felt the pacing could be a bit smoother between the first half and second half. Maybe that was intentional, but after the slow pacing of the buildup, I wanted the same plodding pace through the action and adventure part. Granted, it's not easy to describe battle scenes without becoming repetive.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and it's fun surprises (the not-dirty jokes!). It's always preferable to read stories about the supporting characters more so than the leading men and the fiction really helps highlight their rich inner lives and possible motivations.

I love the legend of Beowulf and this was a great retelling. I really enjoyed that the dragon had a POV and the take on why she needs to hoard gold was neat. I also felt so bad and deeply for her. I really wish she was featured more.

I really liked Fryda’s character, her devotion to her friends and the relationship between her and her uncle Beowulf. Her father and brother made me seethe every time they made an appearance. Just as they were meant to.

The author does a very good job at portraying disability and PTSD which I appreciated.