This was an interesting Norse Mythology retelling. I wasn't familiar with the myth before reading and I found it a bit confusing with the switches of POV as it wasn't always clear right away who we were following. Some of the action happened off page which contributed to the plot feeling a bit slow at times. Overall, I enjoyed the strong female characters and the setting was well developed.

I was excited when I had seen this come out as I had been looking for a mythological retelling for the Valkyries. This certainly did not disappoint !
The point of view switches did take a bit to get used to but as soon as you knew who it was, it was such an amazing story to follow on

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was completely captivated by The Valkyrie. From the very first page, I felt drawn into the vivid world that Kate Heartfield has crafted, intertwining Norse mythology and historical elements seamlessly. The story follows the journey of a fierce and determined Valkyrie, whose strength and vulnerability resonate deeply.

The writing is exquisite, balancing rich descriptions with sharp dialogue that brings the characters to life. Themes of duty, sacrifice, and the complexities of love unfold beautifully, making every twist and turn of the plot feel impactful. This book left me yearning for more and solidified its place as a favorite in my collection!

2.5 stars

Brynhild is a Valkyrie, chosen by Odin, the All-Father to enforce his will during mortal battles, both saving and killing those Odin chooses.
Then Brynhild is exiled to Midgard, where she must decide how she wants to live her life.
Gudrun is a princess who loves her home and people. Together with her brother, the king, and her mother, Gudrun fights to keep her home safe from the greedy, war-loving Atilla,
Brynhild and Gudrun are brought together by Sigurd, a man who wants to be a hero and a legend.
Can Gudrun save her home?
What will Brynhild decide to do now she is exiled to live a mortal life?

I like Norse mythology, so I was excited to read this book. However, I ended up being a little disappointed.
I found both Brynhild and Gudrun to be likeable protagonists - they both wanted to help people and put the well being of others before their own. However, I didn't feel that I really connected with either of them. Sigurd was an interesting character, but I felt that he could have been fleshed out more.
The story is told from Brynhild and Gudrun's perspectives, and as if they are telling each other what has happened while they were apart. I found this different and didn't dislike it, but I wasn't sucked into the story and I didn't feel invested.
The plot was mixed for me. There were times when I enjoyed it and found what was happening interesting, but there were also times when I was a bit bored, so the pacing could have been better.
The romance wasn't one of my favourites as I couldn't feel the connection between the characters.
The writing was easy to follow.
I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

"The Valkyrie" by Kate Heartfield is a captivating retelling of Norse mythology's epic tales. Brynhild, once a fierce Valkyrie, and Gudrun, a Burgundian princess, are caught in a web of love and betrayal with Sigurd, a legendary warrior. Heartfield's lyrical prose redefines heroism and villainy, showing that love can be the most powerful weapon of all. This novel offers a fresh perspective on familiar legends, blending myth and humanity in a compelling narrative that resonates long after the last page.

This was a retelling of a Norse mythology of Brynhild - the shieldmaiden (a female warrior) of Odin. While I was not familiar with the myth before reading this, I found myself learning quite a lot.

Full of kick-ass girl power, you constantly find yourself rooting for the main character.

There was a lot of detail in the story but I felt like it was a little slow-going. Think I would have preferred a little more action. Overall though, I did enjoy the adventure.

The Valkyrie is the story of Brynhild, Gudrun and Sigurd, a fantasy retelling from Norse mythology that reveals another side to the Valkyrie, princess, and hero. Going into this, I’m not overly familiar with Norse mythology and the sagas, so I can’t compare this to the ‘original’, but it has made me keen to look into it more, especially following the author’s comments discussing her inspiration.

What I can say is this is a good, sapphic fantasy, told in a way that keeps you invested in the story and not quite sure where the history ends and the fiction begins. It’s clear early on we’re getting the two POVs from this, Brynhild and Gudrun, in a style that makes it clear as they’re telling it to us, they’re also telling each other. It keeps the intrigue high, curiosity about how they got from the start of the story to the end, together, keeping the plot threaded tight.

Exiled to Midgard (Earth), Brynhild sets out to do what she does best; be a Valkyrie, with or without the ability to fly. Soon she hears of a monster nearby, and allies with a wannabe hero, Sigurd, to fight it and save the local area from the beast. Soon, Brynhild and Sigurd are tangled up in a local ruling family, including the princess, Gudrun, who will do what she must to secure her family’s home.

The journey these characters take blurs historical fiction and fantasy, giving us a fully realised historical setting alongside the more fantasy elements. There’s always the sense of the ‘wider world’ past the borders, too, as Brynhild is aware Odin is up to something, and watches him push the pieces into place as she tries to work out what her own role might be.

I really enjoyed reading this one and found myself completely immersed in the story and hooked into finding out how Brynhild and Gudrun get from their starting points to a place where they’re able to tell each other their own stories, from beginning to end, and where the crumbs laid out near the start would lead us. The character voices are really strong throughout, and if you like Norse inspired fantasy, this is a good one to delve into.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending my a copy of this book to read and review.

I was really drawn in by the blurb and have always loved mythology based retellings. Although I found it was a little bit slow to get into at first I felt it was a fresh take on the myth of Sigurd and Brynhild. It is written in dual POV from the perspectives of Brynhild and Gundrun which is one of my favourite styles of writing. If you enjoy tales of dragons, politics, romance and betrayal you will enjoy this.

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Stars

This one fell a little bit flat for me but I love reading about mythology, especially learning more about the Valkyries! I loved the character overlap in here, and the way we were almost the second person in some parts, with the characters speaking to us

I’m pretty familiar with Norse Myth but I’m so sorry i couldn’t care about the characters… the multiple POV also felt confusing for me. Sorry once again

I really appreciated how this book was a combination of Norse mythology and Germanic history, I feel it's something different and I loved it for that!

There are battles and wars, betrayals and betrothals, royalty, diplomacy, court politics, Gods, and even a dragon! It was so much fun to read and learn about all of it.

Excellent read!

🔮✨ Embark on a Mythic Odyssey with "The Valkyrie"! 📖⚔️ Kate Heartfield weaves a tapestry of intricate mythology, fierce characters, and magical realms that will leave you utterly enchanted.

🌌 Mythology Reimagined: Brace yourself for a journey into the heart of Norse mythology like never before. Brynhild, a Valkyrie, falls from grace, setting the stage for a tale where legends unfold in unexpected ways. Heartfield's prose breathes fresh life into ancient myths, offering a gripping narrative that transcends time and expectation.

🔄 Alternating Perspectives: Gudrun, a Burgundian princess, adds layers to the narrative with her own tale of struggle and survival. The alternating points of view create a rich storytelling tapestry, allowing readers to see the world through different lenses. It's a literary dance that keeps you on your toes, eager to uncover the next revelation.

🌟 Characters to Remember: The characters in "The Valkyrie" are more than names on a page; they're living, breathing entities with desires, flaws, and destinies entwined with fate. Root for Sigurd, marvel at Brynhild's strength, and navigate the intricate political landscape with Gudrun. Each character is a piece in a grand chess game of gods and mortals.

🔥🌪️ Magic Unleashed: The magic system in this book is nothing short of spectacular. From the ethereal realms of Asgard to the earthly landscapes, Heartfield paints a vivid picture of a world where magic pulses through every page. Expect battles with dragons, clashes of titans, and a sprinkle of enchantment that will leave you spellbound.

📜 Conclusion: "The Valkyrie" is a symphony of myth, magic, and multidimensional characters. Kate Heartfield has not only reimagined a classic tale but has transcended it, creating a narrative that feels both timeless and contemporary. If you crave an immersive journey into the heart of mythology with a modern twist, this is your call to adventure! 🚀🔥 #TheValkyrie #MythicReads #NorseMythology #BookMagic #FantasyAdventure

I read this back in Jan / Feb 2023 so I’m going to start with this one. I started it on 19-Jan-2023 and finished it on 12-Feb-2023 which feels like it took a long time but thinking back, I wasn’t reading too much at that point, maybe a couple of pages a day on this one and I was reading a couple of things at the same time (Note to self: Maybe this is the issue – stop reading multiple things..!).

Steeped in mythology and in particular the world of Norse Mythology, it was a retelling of the story of Valkyries & Brunhild. Admittedly, I didn’t know a *huge* amount about that world before diving in, which I feel like potentially hindered me a little bit.

We follow the story of Brynhild & Gudrun from each of their perspectives. One banished from Midgard for going against Odin, and one a princess who is being forced to marry to save her kingdom.

Positives
The characters were well fleshed out with purpose and well written. I particularly enjoyed Brynhild and the power and strength she conveyed.

The setting itself was also something a bit different as well. Whilst this was very much Norse Mythology, it felt like it was set on the edges of Romans, Huns, and Burgundians and that era as well which was a nice intersection of cultures.

Negatives
The romance of it all. Whilst there was supposed to be a great love and romance in the background of this, because we had so much to cover with all the stories, the slow burn felt almost forgotten and when they did come together it felt like “InstaLove” but with memories attached.

There were points where I felt that the story telling had too much to say and tried to delve into too many different myths/stories to bring it all together so the pacing ended up very off… We spent a long time at certain points and in other areas it went to quickly that I lost the impact of it. Across the whole book we had Norse Gods, warriors, Valkyries, zombies, wyrms, dragons and various other things. It felt like it either needed to be split out into 2 books, or have an extra 100-150 pages added at minimum. If this was fleshed out as an Epic Fantasy it would work so well.

Overall I enjoyed this story and It’s a 3* out of 5* for me!

Took a little while to get into but thoroughly enjoyed this in the end. Not a subject matter I knew much about before reading this.

This was ok!! It was really long and slow at times but I didn’t hate it. I liked the love in this story.
The cover is absolutely beautiful and an eye catcher.
It did feel like a longer book than it was because of the slowness at times. Especially in the second half.

This is definitely for readers who like mythology.

This was an interesting and ultimately compelling retelling from Norse mythology, but there was something in the writing that held the reader at arms length and made it a bit difficult to connect to the characters, which meant that for me, some of the moments that should have packed an emotional punch, didn't quite work. I enjoyed the dual perspectives of Gudrun and Brynhild and thought that the plot itself was fascinating, as was the melding of mythology with real world characters, such as Attila the Hun. Overall, I did enjoy this one, but I just wish I could have had more of an emotional connection to the characters.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was not my favorite read that i have done. It was solidly good. I have read better fantasy books.

I love a mythology retelling, so this was absolutely up my street. Feminist, intriguing, you wanted to root for the characters. Highly enjoyable.

I normally love retellings of ancient mythology but for me this one just fell a bit short. It didn't hold my interest like these types of novels normally do. I felt no real connection to the characters. I felt like it rushed through the pivotal events and the rest just kinds dragged.
A bit disappointed