The Valkyrie’s Shadow & The Weaver and the Witch Queen

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Valkyrie’s Shadow by Tiana Warner
Series: The Helheim Prophecy #2
Published by Entagled Teen on July 25, 2023
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / General
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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Being both a valkyrie and a princess isn’t turning out quite the way Sigrid imagined. The other valkyries still treat her like a stable hand. Her relationship with Mariam is less “long-distance” and more “worlds apart.” And lately, she’s been wondering if Sleipnir, her new horse, isn’t making her a little bit...well, evil.

But Sigrid’s first official valkyrie mission sends ripples through the Nine Worlds. She’s attracted the wrath of not only the Night Elves but their sinister king, who wants nothing more than to bring darkness down on everyone. Worse yet, Loki might just be interfering with the balance of light and dark...

When war threatens the shores of Vanaheim and her friends are in danger of being exiled, Sigrid makes a deal with the new queen. She will ride Sleipnir against their enemies and use his might to defeat them, even as he pulls her closer to that line between good and evil.

What she becomes will either save everyone...or unleash disaster upon them all.

The Sigrid and The Valkyries series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 The Valkyrie’s Daughter
Book #2 The Valkyrie’s Shadow

This was really good! This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book so you will definitely want to read the series in order. Sigrid is such a great character and she has a lot of overwhelming situations to deal with in this book and I couldn’t wait to see what she would do next. The story was really exciting with a ton of action to keep the pages turning. I am so glad that I found this entertaining YA series.

Things have changed dramatically for Sigrid since the previous book in the series. She is back home and has brought her friends Mariam and Fisk after a quick quest to rescue Ratatosk. Things change quickly when her aunt is crowned queen and asks Sigrid to move into the palace. Before long, they are under attack and Sigrid becomes a leader, along with the war horse Sleipnir. Unfortunately, they will have a lot of challenges to face before the story draws to a close.

Sigrid and the other characters go through so many things in this installment. I feel like Sigrid showed a lot of growth over the course of this story. I was thrilled by the progress in Sigrid and Mariam’s relationship and was pleased to find a few other romances sprinkled around the supporting cast of characters.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I thought that this book brought the story to a satisfying conclusion but left the door open for future installments. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up more of this entertaining series.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen.

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec
Narrator: Nina Yndis
Published by Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio on July 25, 2023
Length: 16 hours 25 minutes
Pages: 432
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm

The lives of two women—one desperate only to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway—intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch’s Heart.

Oddny and Gunnhild meet as children in tenth century Norway, and they could not be more different: Oddny hopes for a quiet life, while Gunnhild burns for power and longs to escape her cruel mother. But after a visiting wisewoman makes an ominous prophecy that involves Oddny, her sister Signy, and Gunnhild, the three girls take a blood oath to help one another always.

When Oddny’s farm is destroyed and Signy is kidnapped by Viking raiders, Oddny is set adrift from the life she imagined—but she's determined to save her sister no matter the cost, even as she finds herself irresistibly drawn to one of the raiders who participated in the attack. And in the far north, Gunnhild, who fled her home years ago to learn the ways of a witch, is surprised to find her destiny seems to be linked with that of the formidable King Eirik, heir apparent to the ruler of all Norway.
 
But the bonds—both enchanted and emotional—that hold the two women together are strong, and when they find their way back to each other, these bonds will be tested in ways they never could have foreseen in this deeply moving novel of magic, history, and sworn sisterhood.

I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with Genevieve Gornichec’s writing when I read The Witch’s Heart last year. I couldn’t wait to dive into her sophomore novel. Once I started this book, I did not want to stop because I was fully invested in the fate of these 3 women. I found this to be a very entertaining novel set against a compelling Viking backdrop.

Gunnhild, Oddney, and Signy were fantastic characters. I could tell just how much they meant to each other as children. They haven’t seen each other for years but their paths cross just as Oddney and Signy’s farm is raided and Signy is taken away. They are both determined to do what it takes to get her back. This story was exciting and sometimes heartbreaking. There was just the right amount of magic and enough romance to keep things very interesting.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Nina Yndis did a remarkable job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I must say that I was impressed. I thought that she did a great job of bringing this extensive cast of characters to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no issues listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration only added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I would recommend this book to others. I was drawn into this entertaining and often exciting novel featuring characters that I found easy to like. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

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