3.7 rounded up

Wait.. wait wait... This book ended, and I wept.

The beginning of this book was a very slow burn. Now, once I got through the first 37ish% it started to pick up.

I can say that Yafeu and Freydis are a pair that I did not expect. It was interesting to see how they ended up crossing paths and being friends. Yafeu being stolen from her homeland, the massacre of her people, broke my heart. Freydis, lived in her own hell, with parents that just did not care for her.

The 3 POVs, even midchapter, was a lot. The pacing, especially at the beginning, doesn't really allow for the experience building. I'm glad I stuck it all the way through.

Full confession: I didn't know this was written by THAT Willow Smith until after I finished it and looked it up again on Goodreads.

Black Shield Maiden is a historical fantasy in which the main character Yafeu, a Ghanian young woman, is caught by a slaver raid on her village and taken across the desert to a market. Instead of being sold, she's rescued by a group of Viking warriors led by a fierce shieldmaiden, and taken to somewhere in the Viking lands. She begins as a thrall (the slave caste in Viking age Norse society), but soon becomes the personal servant of the princess, Freydis. Yafeu's life takes a surprising series of turns resulting in a level of leadership she never expected.

Ok, I'm late to this party, and I know there's a ton of contraversy. I don't know the actual history of who helped and who hindered during the slave trade, but I do know that no culture is without a hell of a lot of skeletons in their respective closets. The book is full of cringey moments depicting all the cultures involved, including Norse, as far as I could tell. Yafeu's judgements of her own people, her captors, her rescuers, and ultimately her new captors was often condescending. Freydis even comments on it at one point. Ultimately I didn't find that to be as much of an issue as her character's motivation and development itself, which is what I look for in a novel.

I thought Yafeu's Mary Sue qualities were so distracting it took me a long time to finish this book. She's supposed to be a young woman when she's captured, but somehow she's an expert in everything she does when she becomes a thrall in the Viking city, including healing, hunting, tracking, cooking, making weapons, and fighting? All these skills she learned from her father, who'd gone away years before with other Norsemen, never to return? While the twists and turns of the plot were well done, I thought the character needed actually fail and learn more than she did.

I think Black Shield Maiden is a fantastic premise, but I wanted something more. A little less perfection, a few more foibles and failures would make Yafeu more interesting and less like a dispassionate observer in her own story. That said, I do want to know what happens next, so from that perspective the story was successful. The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger that bodes well for a sequel, and I sincerely hope one is coming to wrap up the loose threads.

Review: Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith & Jess Hendel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Willow Smith and Jess Hendel deliver an ambitious and refreshing take on historical fiction with Black Shield Maiden, blending rich world-building with an underexplored perspective in Viking-era storytelling. The novel follows an African warrior who finds herself thrust into the brutal yet intricate world of the Norse, navigating power, survival, and identity in a land far from home.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its immersive atmosphere—Smith and Hendel paint a vivid picture of the Viking world, with detailed cultural elements that feel well-researched and engaging. The protagonist’s journey is compelling, offering a fresh lens through which to view a familiar era. The authors skillfully balance action, political intrigue, and deeply personal stakes, making for an engaging read.

That said, while the story shines in its concept and world-building, the pacing occasionally lags, particularly in the middle sections, where some scenes could have been tightened. Additionally, while the characters are generally well-drawn, certain side characters feel less developed than they could be, missing opportunities for deeper emotional impact.

Overall, Black Shield Maiden is a strong debut that stands out for its unique perspective, rich historical detail, and compelling protagonist. Fans of historical fiction and Viking-era stories will find much to appreciate, and the novel’s fresh take on the genre is commendable.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a diverse and adventurous twist.

I tried picking this up so many times but wasn’t able to get into the story. Would consider picking it up again but it’s low on my list. The cover is beautiful and the premise is intriguing though.

Black History Month

An African inspired folklore tale set in the Viking era? I should love it. I read the reviews. Was scared. This started off fine and got progressively worse. Of the POVs, I thought I'd love Yafeu's the most. She is marginally better than Freydis, a wannabe white feminist.

🥃 Take a shot every time a Del Rey book mortally offends me

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey

Black Shield Maide is a stunning fantasy debut, offering readers a captivating and immersive tale that is sure to resonate with fans of the genre. From the very first pages, it’s clear that Smith has a natural talent for world-building, character development, and weaving an intricate plot that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Set in a world brimming with rich mythology and complex political dynamics, Black Shield Maiden introduces readers to an array of compelling characters, each with their own struggles, desires, and growth arcs. Smith excels in portraying the emotional depth of her characters, making their experiences feel authentic and meaningful.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

***A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.***

I am still on the fence about this book! There has been a lot of negative reviews about this book and I’m still trying to make up my mind on what I think. This is a debut novel from Willow Smith. When celebrities write books with ghost riders, I think this is why they get a lot of backlash! I need to sit and think about what I will say in this review. I will give an update soon.

Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith is a bold and imaginative debut graphic novel that captivates readers with its rich world-building, compelling characters, and unique blend of fantasy and adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.

The writing is super juvenile even for a YA book but oddly as violent as an adult book. I don't know what this book is trying to be.

I also looked up some previous controversy with this book--the author apparently was extremely Islamophobic in the earlier edition. That already cinches me not bothering me with the book anymore.

This was my first time reading Willow Smith, though I am familiar with her musical career and her famous father, Will Smith. I received Black Shield Maiden as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing blend of historical fiction and fantasy, with a unique perspective on the Viking era through the eyes of an African warrior. The plot is engaging, with several twists and turns that keep the reader invested. Yafeu's character is well-developed, and her interactions with Freydis add depth to the narrative. The conflicts she faces, both internal and external, are compelling and highlight the challenges of her new life. However, I found the pacing to be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed while others dragged. Additionally, while the historical and cultural details were fascinating, they occasionally overshadowed the character development and emotional arcs. Overall, Black Shield Maiden is a solid debut with a fresh take on the Viking genre. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Willow Smith as a writer. I'm curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #blackshieldmaiden

I was engaged from start to finish. The story was unique. I hope this is the first in a series because I'm invested and interested in this story.

***2.0 Stars***

Overall,
I think the idea is great and this book had a lot of potential, however there were quite a few things that just did not work for me here. The writing felt a bit clunky at times and there was a case of telling and not showing. There were a lot of good plot points and things in here that usually I love but there was something about it that just did not hit. Unfortunately I would not recommend this book.

This was so good I purchased a physical copy for my library. I hear there is going to be a book 2! Cant wait!

despite being billed as an "epic historical saga", it felt more confused than anything. about itself, ts internal plot, its characters...

I have seen the criticism of this book’s portrayal of Muslims but the version I read, courtesy of NetGalley, had those quotes removed and the portrayal altered. I am glad to see that, but other issues arose for me with the craft of this novel.

Yafeu and Freydis’ voices are nearly indistinguishable: when doing a multiple POV novel it’s crucial that each chapter is distinct and you know instantly whose perspective you’re inhabiting. Several times I had to go back and check to see whose voice I was supposed to be reading.

The tense changes throughout bothered me. I know this was an uncorrected advance proof, but was surprised that would have slipped through rounds of editing.

Yafeu never finds her father so that thread felt completely unresolved. It’s not that she needed to find him, but the story led you in that direction and then didn’t give me a plausible reason to believe why she wouldn’t go searching for him or for accepting she would not see him again.

Finally, the ending felt completely implausible and just lost me. SPOILERS AHEAD

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When her brothers appear at the end of the novel, I was completely thrown. Weren’t they small children when she left? I thought only a year had passed. How did they grow so much so quickly to be traders of some import on a boat to the point that she didn’t recognize them?

And also Yafeu becoming queen over Freydis? Sorry, but I just couldn’t buy it. The novel did not set that up for me in a way that I could accept it. It felt convenient rather than earned. And Freydis’ story is left completely unresolved.

Can’t say I recommend this book. It had such potential that was not met.

3.75 Stars

For starters, wow. I did not know what to expect when it came to this book simply because of what I have seen from Willow as a person. I knew it could go either very bad or pretty good and I must say it was pretty good. The fact that there was actually a story of what seemed to be self-confidence in addition to elf discovery why taking in a new world is not an easy feat especially for a novice author. I enjoyed it and all the topics touched on from different cultures to different beliefs and facing "societal norms". She delicately touches on this while ensuring the reader still feels safe and I think that's what was most important to me as a believer of Yeshua. Good job Willow. Can't wait to see what you'll do next.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. It was an intense viking story but also had friendship and romance in it. I I loved the battles they would have and they lived up to what you would think of the viking times. It was interesting to hear how all the different positions worked in that time period. From a slave to a warrior to a King/Queen. I would recommend this book if you like viking history and if you want to read about an underestimated woman who makes a name for herself.

3.75/5

I really liked this book! I did get a bit stuck about half way through the book, but did power through to the end.

The story follows Yafeu, who is captured as a slave and is to be sold in the markets of North Africa. She is rescued by raiders who then take her as her slave. She soon befriends the King's daughter, Freydis and they both bond over their struggles. Yafeu soon finds an opportunity to be free, as a Shield Maiden, and Freydis finds herself in a role she's wanted forever. But things don't end up the way they think it will.

Looking back at previous reviews compared to newer ones, it looks like the book went under some major revisions. I do think there were some loose ends that did not get addressed towards the end, but it did not take away from the ending of the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review!

Willow Smith should really have taken more time to work with this story...nothing made sense and the reading experience was abysmal.

This book was great. The mixing or religion and talk of growing up as a woman in this time period was very refreshing and informative. The first 2/3 of the book were amazing setting up the conflict and relationships between characters. The last third of the book though felt a little rushed and things just happened a little quicker than I would have preferred. But this book was a great read and I would settle on like a 3.5 or 3.75 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with an E-ARC to review.