Shield Maiden

July 1, 2023

DEBUT Fryda has grown up hearing the tales of her uncle, the legendary King Beowulf, and aspires to become a shield maiden--a warrior in her own right. But a frightful, strange accident in her childhood damages Fryda's hand, seemingly dashing her chances to fight. When her father hosts a grand celebration for Beowulf, Fryda must navigate dealing with foreign rulers and outside clans; a growing love for Theow, an enslaved young man in her home; and a twin brother, Wigalf, who cares more about drinking than his duties. When a shocking plan is revealed that threatens her home, her people, and her life, Fryda must find a way to battle through the treachery--and understand the growing power within her, one that links her to a dragon awakened from a long, cursed sleep. This Beowulf retelling is freshly inspired by its focus on a less-repeated part of the poem but can feel a bit light on character development. VERDICT Beowulf and mythology fans, especially young adults, will find this debut novel a fun read.--Kristi Chadwick

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August 7, 2023
Emmerichs’s thrilling debut picks up where Beowulf leaves off, turning the focus onto a young female niece of the epic’s hero. In 987 CE Geatland (modern-day Sweden), 13-year-old Fryda tries to convince her disapproving father, Weohstan, Lord of Eceweall, that she is ready to be a shield maiden—even after a fall down a crevasse during an earthquake leaves her with a shattered hand. Never losing her resolve, Fryda trains in the ways of the warrior in secret, in the process uncovering superhuman strength and ability. This talent stems from a mysterious link between her and the dragon Frýdraca, who has a long and bloody relationship with Beowulf’s bloodline but who is kept at bay by the Lone Survivor’s Curse that keeps her entombed in nightmares. When Fryda is 20, the clans gather to celebrate Beowulf’s 50th anniversary as king, leading to tense political machinations—including a kidnapping attempt against Fryda. As schemes and betrayals are revealed and Fryda finds forbidden love with Theow, a Celt enslaved by her father, Frýdraca begins to wake from her cursed slumber. Emmerichs’s plotting is commendably complex, and, after a slow start, exciting twists keep the pages turning. Fryda is admirably witty and resourceful and the dash of romance adds appeal. This should win Emmerichs many fans. Agent: Kristina Pérez, Zeno Literary.

September 1, 2023
A focus-shifted retelling of Beowulf's final battle. Set in 994 CE, debut author Emmerichs' romantic historical fantasy introduces Fryda of Clan Waegmunding--a brave, beneficent 20-year-old who is daughter to Lord Weohstan of Eċeweall and niece to King Beowulf, legendary hero turned ruler of Geatland. Fryda dreams of becoming an elite warrior known as a shield maiden, but her widowed father's overprotective nature combined with limitations imposed by a misshapen left hand force her to settle for covertly sparring with her friend Hild, an African indentured servant, and her secret crush, Theow, an enslaved Celt. Fryda's practice pays off when three men attack and attempt to abduct her during a feast celebrating Beowulf and his half-century on the throne. Theow hears Fryda's cries and helps dispatch the assailants, one of whose final words suggest the entire enclave is in danger. Fryda warns both Weohstan and her boorish twin brother, Wiglaf, about the threat, but they dismiss her concerns, prompting Fryda to launch her own investigation. Meanwhile, Fryda begins experiencing strange surges of superhuman strength, and in a nearby cave, F�rdraca, last of the fire-dragons, stirs for the first time in centuries. After a languid start rich with character development, Emmerichs changes gears, skillfully juxtaposing high-stakes action and interpersonal drama with breezy banter and sharp wit. The intricate plot thrills and inspires, fashioning a hidden history that at once honors the original Old English poem and re-contextualizes the tale, conferring new relevance. Kindhearted and fiercely feminist.

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September 1, 2023
Emmerichs' debut is a fresh and exciting expansion to the epic of Beowulf. Focusing on the poem's final battle against the dragon and the slave who stole from her, Shield Maiden brilliantly renders the humanity of those who lived in Geatland. Fryda, the niece of Beowulf, has a lifelong passion for becoming a Shield Maiden, the clan's fiercest warriors. However, her father forbids her from following this dream and, at thirteen, a freak accident leaves her with a maimed arm. Now, at twenty, she has settled for a life of privately sparring with her close friends: a blacksmith, kitchen servant, and the handsome redheaded slave she cannot help but love. When her father hosts feasts for the clan to honor Beowulf's fifty years on the throne, it is Fryda who discovers a dangerous and subversive plot to seek revenge against her family. With all seemingly lost, she must draw from an unknown source of strength that has been growing deep within her since her accident and rise to meet the threat. Fiercely written, Shield Maiden will have readers begging for more of this world.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.