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She-Wolf
You know the poem. You know the hero. You don't know the full story.
Beowulf lands on a Danish shore in winter, salt spray soaking her armor, and walks into a failing king's hall with fourteen warriors and a name that already echoes across seas. She fights the monster Grendel without a weapon and wins. She dives into a cursed lake and faces something worse.
But the battles that cost her the most are not the ones fought with fists. They are the battles of legacy and loneliness, of a woman the world insists on calling a killer when she only ever wanted to protect. When a queen sees past the legend to the woman beneath, something shifts that no monster could dislodge.
The epic poem gave you a hero. She-Wolf gives you the truth of her.
Find out in She-Wolf, an immersive sapphic retelling of Beowulf featuring a warrior queen and a slow-burn romance between two powerful women.
Beowulf lands on a Danish shore in winter, salt spray soaking her armor, and walks into a failing king's hall with fourteen warriors and a name that already echoes across seas. She fights the monster Grendel without a weapon and wins. She dives into a cursed lake and faces something worse.
But the battles that cost her the most are not the ones fought with fists. They are the battles of legacy and loneliness, of a woman the world insists on calling a killer when she only ever wanted to protect. When a queen sees past the legend to the woman beneath, something shifts that no monster could dislodge.
The epic poem gave you a hero. She-Wolf gives you the truth of her.
Find out in She-Wolf, an immersive sapphic retelling of Beowulf featuring a warrior queen and a slow-burn romance between two powerful women.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 22, 2025
3.25 ⭐
I had the pleasure of reading She-Wolf ahead of its 2026 release, and I couldn't be more grateful to Kel for kindly gifting me an ARC copy!
Right from the start, this book gave me major The Witcher vibes (which I adored!). I’ll be honest: I didn’t know much about Beowulf before picking this up, so I’m genuinely grateful that this retelling made me curious enough to look into the original stories. I love when a book does that.
In this novel, we follow Beowulf on her journey as a fierce warrior, facing terrifying creatures that roam the lands—creatures she later sets out to slay. What truly stood out to me was the way the author reimagines Beowulf as a woman. We get epic action scenes, yes, but we also get moments that peel back the “legend” and show us the person underneath. She felt so human, not just a heroic figure. Her integrity, humility, and compassion really shine through. Instead of being a hero who slays monsters just because she can, she’s someone who embraces her humanity, and honestly, that’s something I loved deeply.
I also really enjoyed her bond with Braggi. We only see bits and pieces of him, but every scene they share adds warmth to the story. Their dynamic brought a lovely softness to the narrative, and their friendship was honestly so fun to witness.
Another aspect I appreciated was the feminist angle. We get powerful women warriors and a focus on women choosing their own path, refusing to simply accept the patriarchal norms of their time. It felt empowering and intentional in all the right ways.
Now, for the things I struggled with a bit: I wanted more depth in the worldbuilding. There are other monsters and intriguing elements mentioned, but we don’t get much detail about them. I also had trouble with the pacing—things start strong and fast, but the second half slows down, and I found it harder to stay fully immersed. Besides, the tone sometimes leaned a bit too serious, almost giving nonfiction energy instead of the storytelling flow I expected.
And as a romance lover… the romance was very minimal. I would’ve loved to see a more fleshed-out relationship between Beowulf and her love interest. But the tiny moments we DO get? Super cute. Seeing Beowulf soften and turn into a total gentlewoman with her girl (no spoilers) was such a treat.
Overall, I’m really excited to see more of O’Connor’s writing in the future. She definitely feels like a rising author worth keeping an eye on!
I had the pleasure of reading She-Wolf ahead of its 2026 release, and I couldn't be more grateful to Kel for kindly gifting me an ARC copy!
Right from the start, this book gave me major The Witcher vibes (which I adored!). I’ll be honest: I didn’t know much about Beowulf before picking this up, so I’m genuinely grateful that this retelling made me curious enough to look into the original stories. I love when a book does that.
In this novel, we follow Beowulf on her journey as a fierce warrior, facing terrifying creatures that roam the lands—creatures she later sets out to slay. What truly stood out to me was the way the author reimagines Beowulf as a woman. We get epic action scenes, yes, but we also get moments that peel back the “legend” and show us the person underneath. She felt so human, not just a heroic figure. Her integrity, humility, and compassion really shine through. Instead of being a hero who slays monsters just because she can, she’s someone who embraces her humanity, and honestly, that’s something I loved deeply.
I also really enjoyed her bond with Braggi. We only see bits and pieces of him, but every scene they share adds warmth to the story. Their dynamic brought a lovely softness to the narrative, and their friendship was honestly so fun to witness.
Another aspect I appreciated was the feminist angle. We get powerful women warriors and a focus on women choosing their own path, refusing to simply accept the patriarchal norms of their time. It felt empowering and intentional in all the right ways.
Now, for the things I struggled with a bit: I wanted more depth in the worldbuilding. There are other monsters and intriguing elements mentioned, but we don’t get much detail about them. I also had trouble with the pacing—things start strong and fast, but the second half slows down, and I found it harder to stay fully immersed. Besides, the tone sometimes leaned a bit too serious, almost giving nonfiction energy instead of the storytelling flow I expected.
And as a romance lover… the romance was very minimal. I would’ve loved to see a more fleshed-out relationship between Beowulf and her love interest. But the tiny moments we DO get? Super cute. Seeing Beowulf soften and turn into a total gentlewoman with her girl (no spoilers) was such a treat.
Overall, I’m really excited to see more of O’Connor’s writing in the future. She definitely feels like a rising author worth keeping an eye on!
May 5, 2026
this was sort of silly and not really the best book i’ve ever read but. buff lesbian warrior. you know how it is
June 13, 2026
Well as a Xena fan back in day I'm always drawn to a female warrior tale. If its based on folklore or a saga all the better.
Here the author is clearly an expert and to me it seems a faithful retelling of the story but with a female as Beowulf.
Really great compelling action throughout. Beowulf is such a strong honorable character. Alongside her faithful warrior friend Braggi she battles monsters and foe alike.
Won't spoil the romance interest but its very light touch and tender. I think I would have liked a bit more yearning earlier.
Not familiar with this author but she very easily creates a detailed, landscape and world that felt very visual and which I could immerse myself in.
Also I really appreciated the glossary and afterword to give some comfort. Overall I really loved this retelling of an epic tale with a strong woman at the heart of it.
Here the author is clearly an expert and to me it seems a faithful retelling of the story but with a female as Beowulf.
Really great compelling action throughout. Beowulf is such a strong honorable character. Alongside her faithful warrior friend Braggi she battles monsters and foe alike.
Won't spoil the romance interest but its very light touch and tender. I think I would have liked a bit more yearning earlier.
Not familiar with this author but she very easily creates a detailed, landscape and world that felt very visual and which I could immerse myself in.
Also I really appreciated the glossary and afterword to give some comfort. Overall I really loved this retelling of an epic tale with a strong woman at the heart of it.
March 27, 2026
Sapphic Beowolf with a touch found family / choose your own destiny. It works really well in form of a modern adaption, imho.
November 12, 2025
I enjoyed E.K.'s retelling of Beowulf from the women's perspective and learning about my grandfather that according to this book was from Geatland or the Southern part of now Sweden. My name is French and I have German and Scotch ancestors but when I look at my ancestry I'm 65% Swedish. Those Swedish gentlemen really got around. I liked the retelling of Beowulf mainly because of how it was treated by the author who managed to create a female into a shield-maiden who had the strength of 20 men, that's really wild. And she went into battle with nothing which the trolls and monsters had also nothing. We were also privy to all the Scandinavian gods and treated to how they looked at their deaths. There was enough action to keep you on your toes and I will read other E.K. O'Connor books in the future as they become available.
October 1, 2025
Outstanding!
Beowulf was so well done. She had clear motivations of the type of person she wanted to be. How she wanted to protect her people. When it's clear she will become Queen, seeing her agonise over a certain decision was something else. No matter what decision she made she would be going against her own morals and dishonouring herself. Unless... 😏
And the ending had me in tears despite knowing what was coming 😭
Beowulf was so well done. She had clear motivations of the type of person she wanted to be. How she wanted to protect her people. When it's clear she will become Queen, seeing her agonise over a certain decision was something else. No matter what decision she made she would be going against her own morals and dishonouring herself. Unless... 😏
And the ending had me in tears despite knowing what was coming 😭
April 22, 2026
Beowulf, wonderful retelling
I found myself, after reading this book, looking up to read about Beowulf on The web. Thank you E.K. O’Connor for sticking to the epic poem’s telling. I had no idea that this story was so far back in history. I loved it, as you can guess I did cry at the end.
I found myself, after reading this book, looking up to read about Beowulf on The web. Thank you E.K. O’Connor for sticking to the epic poem’s telling. I had no idea that this story was so far back in history. I loved it, as you can guess I did cry at the end.
September 3, 2025
This book gave me John Gwynne vibes right out of the gate! I love O’Connor’s writing style, especially the imagery. Action, politics, romance with an amazing slow burn, and all the emotions. O’Connor is now one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait for more books!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
She Wolf is a retelling of the famous story Beowolf but instead but in this retelling Beowolf is a woman. I'm not very familiar with the orginal story of Beowolf other than the fact that he was a man but I will say that this story was a very interesting retelling story. In this book we are introduced to the Warrior Queen Beowolf who has an unending strengh and a willingness to fight for what she believes in. Overall this is the perfect story for anyone looking for an adventure.
September 29, 2026
Found and chosen family permeate this epic retelling; have tissues handy
I've never read the original Beowulf epic poem so, aside from recognizing three names from the cast of characters in this book, I went into She-Wolf with no expectations, foreknowledge, or basis for comparison to the original. She-Wolf is a grand adventure and poignant love story with a title character who epitomizes integrity even, at times, to her own detriment. There is a heart-string tugging romance, loads of battle/war action, drama, suspense, and so much more to keep you immersed in the story. I was fortunate to both the audiobook and ebook so I listened while following the text in the book simultaneously; the first time I've done that. I found it helpful to both see and hear new to me location and character names especially as none of them are common in modern day, at least in North America. There was a moment where I briefly confused two kings whose names started with the same letter, but it became clear soon after they're mentioned; keeping track of the more prominent characters was simple enough. The added benefit of having the ebook was being able to read the author's note, glossary (after I finished the story), afterword, and acknowledgments, and to see the glorious artwork, none of which are part of the audiobook.
I was a little leery at first with the narrator's delivery however sections of the book are heavy on narration, including the opening of the story, so narrator Laura Horowitz's range of voices for the sizeable cast of male and female characters and expression of their emotions wasn't on display right away. She does a commendable job voicing it all and further bringing the story to life over and above author E.K. O'Connor's wordsmithing magic, that paints vivid images of settings, battles, monsters and more. A feast for both imagination and all senses (smells included). She-Wolf isn't your typical mainstream lesfic story and feels at once like literature that belongs in leatherbound volumes with gilded edges on carved wood bookshelves, but also wholly accessible in its language so you don't need several degrees to read, understand, or appreciate it. The audiobook makes for excellent bedtime or end of day listening but it's best not to listen to while driving as tears will at some point cloud your vision so facial tissue needs to be handy, never mind the lengthy and thorough emotional (all the emotions, high and low) wringer the reader is put thru by the end; it's easy to get emotionally invested in the story and attached to the characters especially the mains. Most chapters are long (30 to 45 minutes give or take) so a chapter a night to read/listen to is doable if you're not a binge reader/listener, just be prepared to get sucked in and to potentially lose track of time. Word to the wise: make sure you have meal time/prep covered before you delve in for 'just one chapter' or you may end up scrambling when you come back to reality. There is a wonderful thread thru this book that centers around family, mostly chosen and found with Beowulf's friendship with Braggi rich with sibling like teasing, loyalty, and devotion a key example. If you tend to speed up your audiobooks, I strongly suggest you leave this one at regular speed and listen with full attention to give your imagination and mind the opportunity to take in the story in all its lush unfurling and to read between the words of the text. This is not a story to rush thru but rather one to savor and truly appreciate by an author who's skilled with telling a multisensory tale that touches your heart (and tear ducts) performed by a narrator who takes it up a notch or more in her delivery. I reached a point where I was hesitant to continue listening because I knew what was coming thanks to foreshadowing, and wasn't ready for it emotionally so had to take a break before continuing on. I did not expect to get so choked up while listening to this story but there are more than a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes and wrung my heart out. That to me is an indicator of quality storytelling and it's abundant in both the book and audiobook. If you're able, I'd suggest getting both formats so you can read it yourself and then have someone read it to you, listen to it with the glossary handy, or read and listen together. Aspects of the ending may not appeal to all listeners and readers however the afterword in the ebook provides a sound explanation for anyone who might challenge it.
This is my second E.K. O'Connor book and I'm already eager to read/listen to more of her work in the future. She-Wolf is already on my 'to be re-read/listened to' list for when I'm ready to go on that adventure again.
I highly recommend the ebook and audiobook versions of She-Wolf and also E.K. O'Connor's retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, Wither and Bloom.
I've never read the original Beowulf epic poem so, aside from recognizing three names from the cast of characters in this book, I went into She-Wolf with no expectations, foreknowledge, or basis for comparison to the original. She-Wolf is a grand adventure and poignant love story with a title character who epitomizes integrity even, at times, to her own detriment. There is a heart-string tugging romance, loads of battle/war action, drama, suspense, and so much more to keep you immersed in the story. I was fortunate to both the audiobook and ebook so I listened while following the text in the book simultaneously; the first time I've done that. I found it helpful to both see and hear new to me location and character names especially as none of them are common in modern day, at least in North America. There was a moment where I briefly confused two kings whose names started with the same letter, but it became clear soon after they're mentioned; keeping track of the more prominent characters was simple enough. The added benefit of having the ebook was being able to read the author's note, glossary (after I finished the story), afterword, and acknowledgments, and to see the glorious artwork, none of which are part of the audiobook.
I was a little leery at first with the narrator's delivery however sections of the book are heavy on narration, including the opening of the story, so narrator Laura Horowitz's range of voices for the sizeable cast of male and female characters and expression of their emotions wasn't on display right away. She does a commendable job voicing it all and further bringing the story to life over and above author E.K. O'Connor's wordsmithing magic, that paints vivid images of settings, battles, monsters and more. A feast for both imagination and all senses (smells included). She-Wolf isn't your typical mainstream lesfic story and feels at once like literature that belongs in leatherbound volumes with gilded edges on carved wood bookshelves, but also wholly accessible in its language so you don't need several degrees to read, understand, or appreciate it. The audiobook makes for excellent bedtime or end of day listening but it's best not to listen to while driving as tears will at some point cloud your vision so facial tissue needs to be handy, never mind the lengthy and thorough emotional (all the emotions, high and low) wringer the reader is put thru by the end; it's easy to get emotionally invested in the story and attached to the characters especially the mains. Most chapters are long (30 to 45 minutes give or take) so a chapter a night to read/listen to is doable if you're not a binge reader/listener, just be prepared to get sucked in and to potentially lose track of time. Word to the wise: make sure you have meal time/prep covered before you delve in for 'just one chapter' or you may end up scrambling when you come back to reality. There is a wonderful thread thru this book that centers around family, mostly chosen and found with Beowulf's friendship with Braggi rich with sibling like teasing, loyalty, and devotion a key example. If you tend to speed up your audiobooks, I strongly suggest you leave this one at regular speed and listen with full attention to give your imagination and mind the opportunity to take in the story in all its lush unfurling and to read between the words of the text. This is not a story to rush thru but rather one to savor and truly appreciate by an author who's skilled with telling a multisensory tale that touches your heart (and tear ducts) performed by a narrator who takes it up a notch or more in her delivery. I reached a point where I was hesitant to continue listening because I knew what was coming thanks to foreshadowing, and wasn't ready for it emotionally so had to take a break before continuing on. I did not expect to get so choked up while listening to this story but there are more than a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes and wrung my heart out. That to me is an indicator of quality storytelling and it's abundant in both the book and audiobook. If you're able, I'd suggest getting both formats so you can read it yourself and then have someone read it to you, listen to it with the glossary handy, or read and listen together. Aspects of the ending may not appeal to all listeners and readers however the afterword in the ebook provides a sound explanation for anyone who might challenge it.
This is my second E.K. O'Connor book and I'm already eager to read/listen to more of her work in the future. She-Wolf is already on my 'to be re-read/listened to' list for when I'm ready to go on that adventure again.
I highly recommend the ebook and audiobook versions of She-Wolf and also E.K. O'Connor's retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, Wither and Bloom.
April 3, 2026
I enjoyed the first part of this, but as a whole it didn't quite work for me, and after a point, I had trouble finishing it. That being said, it wasn't bad; it did make me interested in reading a translation of the original Beowulf, and I would try another work by this author.
I think a bit more editing could have helped - there's a decent number of typos (not so many that it was super distracting, but enough to be noticeable), and it's very repetitive about a few things. We're shown but also told over and over again that Beowulf hates killing and only wants to protect her clan, and after we meet the queen, Beowulf is repeatedly referred to with the epithet 'the warrior' instead of her name. Overall, I found her a bit too nice/good in a lot of ways to be super enjoyable as a character; she doesn't like killing despite being a warrior in a warrior culture, she's too modest to enjoy boasting, she's great and ever-patient with children, she's the only one who seems to consider marriages arranged without consent to be worth questioning, when she's dying she even takes a moment to forgive the cowards who abandoned her, there's only the most oblique reference to slavery existing in her realm, etc. Maybe this is left over from the original in a way that didn't translate well for me? I did enjoy her battle moments though, her punching a boat hard enough to sink it when enraged with grief was great. More super-strong female warriors with satisfying moments like that please.
I did not find the romance very compelling, and I found the scene where Beowulf decides to marry the queen instead of killing her and her sons to be confusing. This is a world where same-sex marriage is apparently rare but completely socially acceptable (nobody goes 'but you're both women???' in protest, and Beowulf doesn't have to use her authority as the new leader to push through her solution to the problem), and yet her friends, when giving her advice, never think of it despite Beowulf's reluctance to murder children? Their second substantial scene together after the marriage also has Beowulf telling the queen a story that she'll only tell to people she truly trusts, which does not include her best friend since childhood - which brought me to a halt since there was no indication of that deep, soul-baring trust or where it came from on page. However, I liked Beowulf's relationship with her adopted children, and she and the queen get a very nice sparring scene together that I enjoyed. The scene where they understand that they are about to part for the last time was also quite poignant.
One more thing I liked is that a few pieces of character art are included - the artist did a beautiful job, and it was a treat to see them pop up.
I think a bit more editing could have helped - there's a decent number of typos (not so many that it was super distracting, but enough to be noticeable), and it's very repetitive about a few things. We're shown but also told over and over again that Beowulf hates killing and only wants to protect her clan, and after we meet the queen, Beowulf is repeatedly referred to with the epithet 'the warrior' instead of her name. Overall, I found her a bit too nice/good in a lot of ways to be super enjoyable as a character; she doesn't like killing despite being a warrior in a warrior culture, she's too modest to enjoy boasting, she's great and ever-patient with children, she's the only one who seems to consider marriages arranged without consent to be worth questioning, when she's dying she even takes a moment to forgive the cowards who abandoned her, there's only the most oblique reference to slavery existing in her realm, etc. Maybe this is left over from the original in a way that didn't translate well for me? I did enjoy her battle moments though, her punching a boat hard enough to sink it when enraged with grief was great. More super-strong female warriors with satisfying moments like that please.
I did not find the romance very compelling, and I found the scene where Beowulf decides to marry the queen instead of killing her and her sons to be confusing. This is a world where same-sex marriage is apparently rare but completely socially acceptable (nobody goes 'but you're both women???' in protest, and Beowulf doesn't have to use her authority as the new leader to push through her solution to the problem), and yet her friends, when giving her advice, never think of it despite Beowulf's reluctance to murder children? Their second substantial scene together after the marriage also has Beowulf telling the queen a story that she'll only tell to people she truly trusts, which does not include her best friend since childhood - which brought me to a halt since there was no indication of that deep, soul-baring trust or where it came from on page. However, I liked Beowulf's relationship with her adopted children, and she and the queen get a very nice sparring scene together that I enjoyed. The scene where they understand that they are about to part for the last time was also quite poignant.
One more thing I liked is that a few pieces of character art are included - the artist did a beautiful job, and it was a treat to see them pop up.
November 4, 2025
A big thank you to AQH Publications, Netgalley, and the author for providing an ARC for review!
3.75, rounded down to 3. I'm not super connected to the Beowulf story but my interest was piqued at a sapphic retelling of the story, in which Beowulf is a female warrior instead of male. I really liked the relationship between her and Hygd, respectful of her boundaries while also FULL of sapphic yearning. The art included was also super gorgeous, and you can tell that the author really loves the story of Beowulf. She follows the beats of the original poem pretty closely, from the fight with Grendel to the homecoming to Geatland.
Sadly this book didn't hook me completely, not sure as to why. Maybe it's my lack of connectivity to the tale of Beowulf but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing, and that something kept me from fully immersing myself into this book. Maybe it was the length, but it always felt like it was breezing from one plot point to the next so it'd hit all the plot beats of the original poem. The relationship between Beowulf and Hygd, while heartwarming, felt a little undercooked for me. I love the idea of marrying her to ensure her and her kids' safety, it's a killer setup, but it didn't feel like there was enough there to get me fully invested in their relationship. Most of the time they spent together was either spent on exposition or individual character development, instead of on their bond. I did love the little moments Beowulf had with Hygd's kids, though.
That being said and criticisms aside... Miss Beowulf was a total dreamboat. Big buff musclewoman warrior?? HELLO...
3.75, rounded down to 3. I'm not super connected to the Beowulf story but my interest was piqued at a sapphic retelling of the story, in which Beowulf is a female warrior instead of male. I really liked the relationship between her and Hygd, respectful of her boundaries while also FULL of sapphic yearning. The art included was also super gorgeous, and you can tell that the author really loves the story of Beowulf. She follows the beats of the original poem pretty closely, from the fight with Grendel to the homecoming to Geatland.
Sadly this book didn't hook me completely, not sure as to why. Maybe it's my lack of connectivity to the tale of Beowulf but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing, and that something kept me from fully immersing myself into this book. Maybe it was the length, but it always felt like it was breezing from one plot point to the next so it'd hit all the plot beats of the original poem. The relationship between Beowulf and Hygd, while heartwarming, felt a little undercooked for me. I love the idea of marrying her to ensure her and her kids' safety, it's a killer setup, but it didn't feel like there was enough there to get me fully invested in their relationship. Most of the time they spent together was either spent on exposition or individual character development, instead of on their bond. I did love the little moments Beowulf had with Hygd's kids, though.
That being said and criticisms aside... Miss Beowulf was a total dreamboat. Big buff musclewoman warrior?? HELLO...
October 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
Instead of preparing for my enlightenment and romanticism midterm, I decided to devour a sapphic retelling of Beowulf, and I don’t regret it one bit.
My review of this book will be short, since I don’t have anything to complain about, ha. Only that there was a little bit of repetition of words at some points. Barely noticeable, though.
I enjoyed the story till the end. The writing was quite simple but beautiful, very digestible, and easy to follow. It was a delight to turn the pages. I also have to congratulate the author on actually making me look forward to fight scenes. I’m usually not one to enjoy them, so it’s a rare thing.
The characters, oh my poor family. I loved the slow burn and the relationship between Beowulf and Hygd. Their romance was pretty well done, no notes. Beowulf’s bond with her children, I ate it up. Thank you for the food. And let’s not forget my man Braggi. I liked the impact he had on our main character. Nowadays we don’t really get characters that genuinely mourn and don’t forget all about it the next sentence or chapter, so I really appreciated Beowulf’s struggle to accept the loss.
That’s all, folks.
p.s. The art in-between parts was stunning.
Instead of preparing for my enlightenment and romanticism midterm, I decided to devour a sapphic retelling of Beowulf, and I don’t regret it one bit.
My review of this book will be short, since I don’t have anything to complain about, ha. Only that there was a little bit of repetition of words at some points. Barely noticeable, though.
I enjoyed the story till the end. The writing was quite simple but beautiful, very digestible, and easy to follow. It was a delight to turn the pages. I also have to congratulate the author on actually making me look forward to fight scenes. I’m usually not one to enjoy them, so it’s a rare thing.
The characters, oh my poor family. I loved the slow burn and the relationship between Beowulf and Hygd. Their romance was pretty well done, no notes. Beowulf’s bond with her children, I ate it up. Thank you for the food. And let’s not forget my man Braggi. I liked the impact he had on our main character. Nowadays we don’t really get characters that genuinely mourn and don’t forget all about it the next sentence or chapter, so I really appreciated Beowulf’s struggle to accept the loss.
That’s all, folks.
p.s. The art in-between parts was stunning.
October 26, 2025
I can not find the words, the re-telling of this classic was breath takingly exquisite.
I appreciated the Author’s Note, as it educated me on the origins of the underlining story, which was not covered in the many previous times I have had to read Beowulf. The Afterword, helped me understand the ending better.
This is an action packed story starting with a bang and just didn’t stop. This book has everything, well written action, Norse mythology, a story of found family, a story of love and a slow burn that burns the pages!
I don’t know if I’m the only one but I had to read this story twice in junior school and then again in the first year of high school, I hated it, it left such a scar on my schooling as a gay, dyslexic kid who really struggled to read. This book has healed a part of me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this incredible book.
E.K. O’Connor please keep writing, this was incredible.
I appreciated the Author’s Note, as it educated me on the origins of the underlining story, which was not covered in the many previous times I have had to read Beowulf. The Afterword, helped me understand the ending better.
This is an action packed story starting with a bang and just didn’t stop. This book has everything, well written action, Norse mythology, a story of found family, a story of love and a slow burn that burns the pages!
I don’t know if I’m the only one but I had to read this story twice in junior school and then again in the first year of high school, I hated it, it left such a scar on my schooling as a gay, dyslexic kid who really struggled to read. This book has healed a part of me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this incredible book.
E.K. O’Connor please keep writing, this was incredible.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I *just* finished reading Beowulf for a college course when I picked this up. O'Connor does a fantastic job with keeping close to the original story while giving it a Sapphic twist. Further, those missing years between Grendel and the dragon? O'Connor brings some of that to life here. In fact, the entire world is given new life in this retelling. I thought the slow-burn relationship was beautiful, and I appreciated that it was fade to black as having anything spicier might've ruined the tone.
While it is true that much is similar, O'Connor elevates the story in so many ways, such as giving Beowulf a best friend, explaining where Beowulf got her strength, and giving Wiglaf a backstory that made the end that much more emotional.
If you love Beowulf, read this. If you hated Beowulf in high school or college, try this version instead.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.
While it is true that much is similar, O'Connor elevates the story in so many ways, such as giving Beowulf a best friend, explaining where Beowulf got her strength, and giving Wiglaf a backstory that made the end that much more emotional.
If you love Beowulf, read this. If you hated Beowulf in high school or college, try this version instead.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.
May 1, 2026
Imagine Beowulf retold as an epic romantic fantasy with a female lead. We get all the classic Grendel stuff from a fresh perspective, with a lesbian love story that feels real.
If this were a romance, I’d be talking about rivals to lovers, butch-femme, ice queen. But this is epic romantic fantasy. The distinction is essential.
The story feels true to the source material, with an epic tone and deft worldbuilding. The prose is solid, occasionally inspired, sometimes a little loose. It’s short by epic standards but a solid chunk of book nonetheless, and it makes good use of its pages. The pacing is excellent.
As a big fan of lesbian fantasy, I would love to see more stories like this. I prefer my romance with a capital R, but it was handled perfectly and I can’t fault the author’s choices.
Honestly one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while.
If this were a romance, I’d be talking about rivals to lovers, butch-femme, ice queen. But this is epic romantic fantasy. The distinction is essential.
The story feels true to the source material, with an epic tone and deft worldbuilding. The prose is solid, occasionally inspired, sometimes a little loose. It’s short by epic standards but a solid chunk of book nonetheless, and it makes good use of its pages. The pacing is excellent.
As a big fan of lesbian fantasy, I would love to see more stories like this. I prefer my romance with a capital R, but it was handled perfectly and I can’t fault the author’s choices.
Honestly one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while.
October 1, 2026
I spoke with the authors wife earlier this year and learned the audiobook was coming. I was waiting for it but I didn’t know who would be narrating. This narrator was the perfect choice and the story is breathtaking. I saw the research that came out a while back about how 40% of the ancient warriors we’ve studied, upon actual testing, are women and since learning that this was everything I needed. It’s such a rich story it’s almost hard to believe beowolf isn’t a woman so I think I’m gonna hold to it, even if only for myself. Ya know, dudes like to give themselves way more credit than they are due anyway lol. Be prepared. This story will rip your heart out, gift it back to you and rip it out again. I’m not big on overly emotional stories but all of my sobs were 100% worth it and consensual for this one💕
Review of advance copy
I received this book as a Kickstarter backer and hooooly crap am I glad I backed it. An absolutely stunning book! It took me a little bit at the beginning to get involved but once it hit, it hit HARD and I couldn’t put it down. I was absolutely in love with Beowulf and Hygd and every character in her immediate circle. The small humor, the subtleties of the passing glances and physical touch, the description of the world; all exquisite. The sapphic element also just elevated all of it in my personal opinion. Not to mention I sobbed like a child in the last quarter of the book and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who loves Norse mythology, sapphic warriors with a heart of gold, or fantastical elements.
October 17, 2025
Staying true to the original story of Beowulf, this sapphic retelling is an incredibly rich and poignant tale of a woman who rose from her origins as a foundling to become a great legend in her own right. Told in prose more akin to a skald's spoken word, She-Wolf covers Beowulf's story from the hunting of Grendel to her final, fatal encounter with a dragon. As the author notes in the closing, to describe any less would be to do a disservice to both this Beowulf and that original tale. It is a wonderful work, and I recommend it to any reader who shares a similar fascination with the old legend.
October 2, 2025
⭐ 5/5 ⭐
As someone who grew up fascinated with the epic of Beowulf, this sapphic retelling is a breath of fresh air. If you are already familiar with the story, then reading this won’t be too hard to follow. I love how easy it is to understand with the familiar characters and places. With a modern take on the writing tone, it felt like reading the Witcher books. It absolutely felt more emotional for me, especially the ending. I truly loved this version of Beowulf more, and I wished she had been given more adventures.
As someone who grew up fascinated with the epic of Beowulf, this sapphic retelling is a breath of fresh air. If you are already familiar with the story, then reading this won’t be too hard to follow. I love how easy it is to understand with the familiar characters and places. With a modern take on the writing tone, it felt like reading the Witcher books. It absolutely felt more emotional for me, especially the ending. I truly loved this version of Beowulf more, and I wished she had been given more adventures.
October 24, 2025
She-Wolf was an easily digestible, action-packed read that had a compelling slow-burn sapphic romance element. The characters, particularly Beowulf, Wulfgar and Braggi, were very likeable, and the relationships that O'Connor forged between them and other minor characters were believable.
I feel that I had the slight disadvantage of not having read the original Beowulf beforehand, and only knowing the basics of the story. I enjoyed this modern twist on the tale nonetheless.
Thank you to O'Connor and the publisher for giving me this Advanced Reader Copy.
I feel that I had the slight disadvantage of not having read the original Beowulf beforehand, and only knowing the basics of the story. I enjoyed this modern twist on the tale nonetheless.
Thank you to O'Connor and the publisher for giving me this Advanced Reader Copy.
December 2, 2025
With many thanks to the publishers for the advance copy of the ebook on Netgalley.
This retelling of Beowulf was positively inspired. A wonderful mix of mythology and historical fiction with the gender swap and sapphic romance giving possible alternate sociopolitical solutions. The characters were well rounded and I found the novel an immersive experience. Spiciness was implied rather than described in great detail - the narrative focus was on adventure and character development.
In short, I enjoyed this very much and have already recommended it to friends.
This retelling of Beowulf was positively inspired. A wonderful mix of mythology and historical fiction with the gender swap and sapphic romance giving possible alternate sociopolitical solutions. The characters were well rounded and I found the novel an immersive experience. Spiciness was implied rather than described in great detail - the narrative focus was on adventure and character development.
In short, I enjoyed this very much and have already recommended it to friends.
Review of advance copy
I really loved this book! Got it from Kickstarter and read the e-book and then again when I received the physical copy (gorgeously published). I haven't read Beowulf since I was in university so it was fun reading along and remembering the story but also being excited about what comes next.
I took away a star because I felt like it was a bit rushed towards the middle/end of the story, probably to try and fit the whole poem into one novel. And I needed more hot sapphic Beowulf doing hot stuff with women. But other than that, it is well worth the read!
I took away a star because I felt like it was a bit rushed towards the middle/end of the story, probably to try and fit the whole poem into one novel. And I needed more hot sapphic Beowulf doing hot stuff with women. But other than that, it is well worth the read!
April 17, 2026
I love these retelling stories from mythology especially when it is a sapphic one. This book was such a steal at 99 cents. E.K. O'Connor describes everything so vividly that you can almost feel yourself being back in time with the female Beowulf. I hope she writes many more sapphic retellings for those of us who grew up on every hero being male. We are way past the time when stories should be about two women together but please retell some into happy endings as well. Happy Birthday dear author thank you for the goodness in book form.
September 3, 2026
This was so much fun. I love this take on the myth and the raw, vulnerable humanity it brings to the character. I have no problem saying this is my preferred version of this story now. If we have to suspend modern belief of dragons and ancient magic, we can extend that to the character being a woman as well.
March 4, 2026
Wow! No conocía la historia de Beowulf, entré en este libro a ciegas y que bueno que lo hice porque esta re interpretación sáfica, para mi, fue lo que lo hizo tan especial. Voy a checar que otros libros tiene la autora, me encantó su forma de escribir. Ahora si me disculpan, me iré a llorar un ratito T^T
March 24, 2026
This sapphic retelling of Beowulf is nothing short of breathtaking, bold, immersive, and beautifully reimagined. The author takes a legendary tale rooted in ancient Scandinavia and breathes new life into it with a fierce, unforgettable heroine.
October 31, 2025
What an amazing sapphic version of the story of Beowulf! I enjoyed every part of this book. Definitely recommend it!
October 11, 2026
The ending 👌
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