Brynhild is a Valkyrie: shieldmaiden of the All-Father, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile.
Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.
And in the songs to be sung, there is another hero: Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.
As the legends tell, these names are destined to be rivals, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies…
For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.
From Sunday Times bestselling author Kate Heartfield comes a glorious, lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics.
This is a superb retelling and adaptation of the Saga of the Volsungs and the ill-fated quarter of Sigurd, Brynhildr, Gudrun and Gunnar.
It takes a strong two voice narrative of Brynhildr and Gudrun themselves, showing sometimes the same events from opposite sides, and equally giving a unique storytelling experience to events that started before and finished after the most famous of Norse legends.
There is a good foundation of history blended into the dark fantasy twists of god's, cursed gold and the power of Valkyries role in battles.
The ending is one of many exciting and refreshing scenes although as a whole the story shows Brynhildr and Gudrun as women trying to use what magical or mundane power they have to survive in a world where significant power is held by men, thrones, armies or by marriage.
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