Becky Bookworm Book Review: The Valkyrie's Daughter by Tiana Warner

 

From the time she was born, Sigrid has only ever been ordinary. Being paired at birth with a plain horse―instead of the powerful winged mare of a valkyrie―meant there would be no warrior path for her. No riding the skies, no glory among the nine worlds. Just the simple, unremarkable life of a stable hand.

Everything changes when a terrible enemy ambushes Vanaheim and Sigrid sees a vision of herself atop a mythical stallion, leading the valkyries into a harrowing battle. Finally, she can grab her future with her own two hands and become the hero of her own story…if she dares.

But her destiny is tied up with Mariam, a fallen valkyrie who’s allied herself with the very enemy Sigrid is trying to stop.

Now Sigrid has left ordinary behind as she begins a journey with the beautiful―if treacherous―valkyrie, each step bringing her closer to answers…and to awakened feelings for Mariam.

Only, the life Sigrid has escaped may have been paradise compared to the one she’s racing toward. Because her destination is the realm of the dead: the gates of Hel.

The Valkyrie's Daughter by Tiana Warner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have a bit of a thing about Valkyries, they are a figure in Norse mythology that so little is known about yet they are always a figure of inspiration for poetry, plays and of course stories.

This book definitely features Valkyries, and is I'm pleased to say an distinctive take on their role and abilities. Tiana has them based firmly in Vanaheim, which would aligning them more with Frey and her twin brother Freya as they are Vanir (Gods of Vanaheim). They are all women, young are trained as Junior Valkyries, the more mature are known as Senior Valkyries. They are a lot like a military group being under a General, however their allegiance is solely with the King of Vanaheim and his family. They all ride horses with wings, trained in using spears that act a bit like boomerangs that can be summoned back to the hand (reminiscent of Mjolnir perhaps?) and actually seem to be more of an official peace keeping army in terms of the rivalry and conflicts between the nine realms.

And this as far as expected usual stereotype goes, after that, a lot of Tiana's own creative world building as she distinctly breaks away from modern perceptions and understanding.

In this world, Valkyries are born with a strong spiritual bond to their fated mount which is also born on the same day, place and time. Like a magical twinhood achieved across species. None of these Valkyries actually visit any battlefields and Choose or even collect fallen warriors in this story. They seem to be completely independent of Gods and indeed Goddesses, the Gods are mentioned in various parts and ways but always in the Past tense and in casual conversation. It is never really explained WHY the Gods and Goddesses aren't actively around, they don't seem to have Died, just not be present, like they've all gone off on holiday and left the Realms to sort themselves out. Even the Giants don't get much of a name drop and Loki certainly doesn't make an appearance.

The elements of Norse mythology that are explored for the reader tend to be mainly in setting and providing enemies for the protagonist, Sigrin, an orphaned young woman who was born as a Valkyrie but partnered with a common mare of Midgard, and so prevented from becoming a true Valkyrie due to the society's structure of social class.

Sigrin through bravery and at times foolery ends up on a brave solo mission with an escaped prisoner to travel across the realms to Helheim. She travels through the territory of the Dark Elves, comes across a great river with a magical ship that is captained by Ratatosk, a squirrel who is known for scampering up and down the world tree. But like the Gods, he is unfortunately missing. To get to Helheim Sigird also has to brave Garm, the guardian dog of the underworld, he is described as a Hel Hound and his encounter reveals he certainly forms the bestial shape of a hound but is less dog more Hel.

As for the story, the characters and the plot. I felt like I was reading a very warped version of the Ugly Duckling, lots of themes about 'not fitting in', bullying, loneliness, limits on dreams and achievement, personal pride and identity, the usual themes of friendship, family, destiny. By the end I felt like this was a young adult novel dressed up as Norse fantasy. The context and setting was Norse myth based, but the characters and issues involved were somewhat weak, I was left wanting more because I felt it lacked something.

I have read worse Norse fantasy books, but this certainly isn't close to my firm favourites who really dived deep into the mythology and dripped with detail and full bodied characters.

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