Reading it in one go, I found it entertaining for young adults, though not literary gold. The characters grow believably, and I appreciated how it portrays women's agency and interracial cooperation against a common enemy. Despite some heavy themes, like violence and cultural clashes, it handles them thoughtfully without being crude. Overall, don't let any initial doubts hold you back—this book captivates with its world-building, cultural diversity, and promising hints of romance and intrigue that make me hope for a sequel.

I will not be reading or reviewing this title. Sorry to request it without researching it a bit more.
It will not let me submit without a star rating so I have chosen 5 stars.

This story was fascinating. I loved the premise and found the story itself felt realistic. The authors did a great job of putting the reader in the shoes of the characters. The character development was excellent as well.

Engaging and very exciting - tons of battle. Great character development of central characters, some of secondary characters were well developed as well. Worth watching to see what else Willow Smith/Jess Hendel puts out.

This is an interesting novel about a shield maiden, and the struggles that go along with her family. It is a dual point of view, which I found interesting.

I received this book in exchange fora fair review from NetGalley.

I was so skeptical about this book. I’m so glad that the book was stopped and re-edited because the reviews from years ago was so alarming. I did not care for this friendship. Personally I do off the book at 60%. I believe that this book is for someone it personally is not for me. I do not recommend And idea of even putting something offensive even if it was taken out should had no place even getting that far. We’re reviewers were able to review and no sensitivity read was done.

Let me just say, I really wanted to like this books. A Black woman overcoming trauma to become a Viking sounds exactly like something k would want to read. Unfortunately, I was let down by the execution of this book.

This book reads like it was written by a new author. At just under 500 pages, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of descriptions and ‘telling’ the authors did. There would be moments of action that would be interrupted by descriptions and world building, that when the action came back I just did not care what was happening.

This book had so much potential and could have been done so much better if it was cut down and if there was more ‘showing.’

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I asked for an arc, I only read the little summary. I didn't know the authors or history of the book. When I saw, I considered dropping the book but I read it through. I found almost no mention of Islamic nations or cultures. I think there is just a little vague paragraph now. If the author's views have changed, that's another thing. Either way, because the past controversy wasn't present in the book, I will not add it to my review. There are several other reviews mentioning this, it is easy to find more information.

I think the romance and pacing of the book was very well done. I don't like love at first sight or lust at first sight, which is becoming more common in fantasy romance or romancy. I was glad to see a more tentative and shy love bloom. The pacing of the romance as well as the balance between action and reaction was well done. I felt like no event was really glossed over or squished together with another. I didn't ever feel a lull in the plot. Though, the start of the book, maybe first 30%, had the plot lead the characters rather than characters controlling the plot, which I prefer more. The ending was satisfactory, but the last chapter felt like it was missing one last scene. The ending was so abrupt, I thought the file must have been cut off.

This book might have been mislabeled as a fantasy. This book definitely leans more on fantasy realism, if it could be called fantasy at all. There were little magic or otherworldly forces that couldn't be explained by lies or tricks. It was unclear if the seer was communicating with the gods and if the main character could truly sense life. I do love when the authors play with what is real and what is fake in a world, but this book is definitely more focused on showing realistic-style events and cultures.

Black Shield Maiden caught my attention immediately. I love a story with a strong female lead, and you saw Yafeu strength from the beginning. Yafeu is taken from her homeland and ends up in a kingdom in the North. There she has to learn the ways of a new country, one that is not like her own and she the only person of color. She ends up being a servant for princess Freydis who is nothing but a pawn for her father the king. I love the relationship that grows between the two ladies. In the beginning Freydis has no backbone let's call it what it is lol but she learns from Yafeu. She sees how strong she is and starts to gain strength of her own and in that their friendship grows. Even with that Yafeu destiny and wants are still to be a warrior, to be a part of the shield maiden with Freydis aunt Alvtir. She gets her chance after showing her warrior spirit and finally becomes a part of the shield maidens. As the story comes to a crashing end each womens strength is tested, Yafeu, Freydis, and Alvtir. Let me just say my heart broke for Alvtir after learning her story. My heart broke for all three women each carrying their own burdens. This was a wonderful debut and I'm looking forward to the sequel hopefully. I'd love to know what adventure awaits Yafeu and Freydis especially after the ending.

Ehh. It wasn’t great. 1. I thought it was way too long even though it was only 490 pages. The story was so slow!! 2. Most of the characters are pretty insufferable. I absolutely loathed the way Yafeu started acting towards the end. I felt so sad for Freydis!
Some of the descriptions felt unbelievably juvenile and it seemed like the author spent more time telling than showing. But at the same time the book was bogged down with excessive descriptions of things that didn’t matter.

I did enjoy the different perspectives from strong female characters however I don’t think the authors note at the beginning about gender fluidity was achieved. I wouldn’t have finished this had it not been an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I thought this was interesting! A unique addition to the genre, it came out before I had the chance to fully dive into it, but I enjoy this as an addition to the alternate histories re-tellings.

Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith and Jess Hendel is told from the viewpoint of three women, Yafeu, Fredys, and Alvtir. I went into this book with little to no knowledge of the controversies that had plagued it that you can see in existing reviews. I honestly was also under such a rock that I had no idea it was a ghostwritten novel. I typically if I identify something as ghostwritten, don't pick it up. The premise was interesting to me and that was why I picked it up.

Content warning, this book can be pretty brutal in some of the depictions of what happens to female characters throughout the book. it does seem like in re-writes, much of what was controversial about the novel previously was removed or re-written. I would like to see a broader group of reviewers on the updated copy because I come from a background that I can speak to what it felt like to read women depicted the way they were, but there are a lot of cultures and backgrounds discussed in the book that I'm not comfortable speaking on behalf of as far as improvements in the book and if they were improvements off of the first copy, so I leave that space open to others and welcome any comments of others who have read the book.

There were several twists and turns in the book, and while some of them I did see coming, a few were a little more unexpected. I would be curious to find out more about the actual historical inspiration of the book, as many people see Vikings first as warriors but do not see the society that at heart were traders (and slavers) across continents. So much of the history we read is told from an idolized viewpoint and this was brutal at points in portraying how Freydis' people treated those they encountered. I'm really torn on my overall rating of the book, as there were several, I thought really well written portions, and the overall story was really interesting. My only discomfort is speaking to how other cultures were portrayed. I felt that there were some unhappy endings that I was not really happy about, and then a few too neat story line finishes while other story lines were open ended. I would really like to know more of the history, and about the gods that Yafeu discussed. The story overall is a fairly long book, but once you're into it, it goes quickly. I really struggled on my overall review as to what my rating would be. The offending sections of the book have been removed from what I understand, and the women in the novel gain their own agency as it goes on, however there were elements of discomfort.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Willow Smith and Jess Hendel put a spin on traditional Viking fiction with Black Shield Maiden. The story is interesting but the writing stumbles in several places. `
Yafeu, a defiant yet fiercely compassionate young warrior is taken from her hold to be sold into slavery. She is saved by a Shield Maiden, a kind of warrior she has never seen that becomes her life goal. She wanted the same strength as this foreign woman. But once she arrives, she is shoved into the king’s household as a lady’s maid for the princes. For Yafeu, it is the same torment but a totally different word. Freydis, a shy princess, couldn’t be more different than her. And while there are many barriers they must overcome, they want the same thing in life: to forge their own fate. The two girls learn about each other and their cultures on their journey to find their way in the Viking world.
Overall I enjoyed this book. While far from perfect, it is entertaining and brings a unique perspective to the Viking world. In Africa, the authors truly immerse you in what it was like and incorporate words, themes, and religions that are both education and give the book more depth. I will say there was better immersion in Yafeu’s world than Freydis’. I enjoyed watching both girls take on the worlds to which they are exposed. I wasn’t a fan of Yafeu being so hard on Freydis. But once I checked my white privilege and released the character was owed that pain and they don’t have to forgive white people unless and when they choose to. Understanding that gave watching their relationship even more depth.
There were several things I didn’t like about this book. First, Hendel lets Smith down. The language is uneven. Some of the language is perfect for the time period and adds realism to the story (“hoary” was a beautiful example). But then they use something like “smooch” and you’re taking out of the story. And if I had a nickel for every time the word “smirk” was used, I would be rich. There are many synonyms for that damn word. Both of these issues could have been prevented if Hendel had done her job correctly. After looking into Hendel she is described as a screenwriter and author with no other published books. Unless this was a pet project together, Smith should have partnered with an author who understood how literature works and how it’s different than screenwriting. I also hated the ending. It felt so far-fetched that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief. I did check my white privilege. But it comes from the content; typically, Viking stories don’t always have happy endings and when they do it’s not a beautiful circle of wishes granted.

I enjoyed the story (until the end) and liked having the genre shake-up. There were writing issues though that brought its quality down. Overall, it’s a mid-grade book but worth reading.

I dnf’d this book at around 25%. It was not for me unfortunately because it seemed like a really cool concept for a book.

DNF @ 50%. This book felt very surface level for me, which made it hard for me to want to continue reading. The writing was nice, but the actual plot was just not interesting enough for me to push past the characters that weren’t actually grabbing me. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

This book feels like it was trying really hard to have a message, but never actually said anything.

This book has a kind of complicated history behind it in terms of questionable choices in its representation (negative towards the Muslim community). From what I was able to glean, it was rewritten enough to remove that aspect. But I also think it's important to note that it happened because it made me far more cautious when reading it.

This is overall a story of resilience and cultural intersection. However, despite its ambitious premise, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The book centers on a woman named Yafeu, who is stolen into slavery and eventually becomes a thrall in the unfamiliar world of the Vikings. Yafeu’s fierce character is juxtaposed with Freydis, a shy Viking princess who just kind of... accepts everything that happens to her without complaint. Their developing friendship and mutual desire to shape their own destinies form the emotional core of the novel. Yafeu's perspective is refreshing and offers a glimpse into a story that history books might have neglected. The dynamic between Yafeu and Freydis has the potential for rich character development and exploration of cultural intersections.

However, the execution falls short in several areas. The book struggles with pacing and engagement, often feeling tedious and meandering. The narrative is bogged down by trying to convey significant messages in an insubtle manner that neither fully commits to these themes nor delivers them effectively. The treatment of misogyny across societies feels heavy-handed and somewhat anachronistic, especially considering the relative freedoms historically afforded to Viking women. Again, we do not know much about Vikings, but the intensity of it in their culture specifically felt out of place.

Additionally, the choice of multiple POVs dilutes the narrative rather than enriching it. The little-used third POV still feels extraneous, adding little to the overall story and detracting from the more compelling arc of Yafeu. Freya’s inclusion as a primary character seems underdeveloped, making her role appear more as a plot device than a fully realized character.

This attempts to carve out a unique space within the historical epic genre, but it falls short of its potential for me. The ambitious blending of cultures and the promise of strong female characters are commendable, but the issues I had certainly hindered my overall experience.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy. This review is my honest opinion and is voluntary.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc. I was very excited to read this novel. I love viking and African based stories and was super excited to see how these two worlds would merge. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The beginning felt strong and I was captivated, but the more I read, the less excited and interested I became. The characters felt a bit one dimensional for me as I kept hoping for more layers to be revealed. I also wished there was a bit more showing og the action, rather than telling. There were some things that were given great detail and explanation, whereas other pivotal parts of the story were a bit glossed over.

I wasn't sure how, I would like this read. However I strapped in and enjoyed the ride. This story have a face to vikings which dealt with love, friendship, and loyalty. This is a must read for young adult historical fiction.

"Black Shield Maiden" by Willow Smith is an engaging historical fantasy that follows the journey of a fierce female warrior. The story is set against a richly detailed backdrop, blending Norse mythology with a touch of magic. The protagonist is well-developed and inspiring, showcasing strength and resilience. However, the pacing can be uneven at times, and some secondary characters lack depth. While the plot holds promise, it occasionally feels predictable. It's a good read for fans of strong heroines and historical adventures, even if it doesn't quite reach its full potential.

I really enjoyed this book! It wasn’t as graphic as I thought it would have been considering it’s about Vikings, but it is YA. I also enjoyed the lore of both cultures represented.

This was an amazing read for me up until the ending. Everything was wrapped up nicely, but let’s add another 20 or so pages of underwhelming story line. I could have done without it, but I understand it’s setting up the storyline for a sequel…maybe? It just seems like it could have been done with a little more care and creativity.