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Shield Maiden
"No enemy may find this place; we hide it in mist and shadow..."
When King Alfred's great hall is destroyed by the Vikings, the king must flee with his family. But his daughter Aethelflaed knows that hiding in the marshes, far away from the battlefield, is the last thing she wants to do; can she fulfill her destiny and become a warrior princess, a shield maiden?
Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set at key moments in history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.
When King Alfred's great hall is destroyed by the Vikings, the king must flee with his family. But his daughter Aethelflaed knows that hiding in the marshes, far away from the battlefield, is the last thing she wants to do; can she fulfill her destiny and become a warrior princess, a shield maiden?
Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set at key moments in history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.
224 pages, ebook
First published September 22, 2016
5 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Hill
39 books270 followersStuart Hill was born in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England, where he still lives today. His family heritage includes English, Irish, Romany and Jewish blood. As a student his grades were average at best, but he was fortunate to have a teacher who inspired in him a lifelong love of reading. Since leaving school, he has worked as a teacher and an archaeologist, and now balances life as both a bookseller and a writer.
The Cry of the Icemark is his first novel. When he was a teenager, Stuart lost "the real Thirrin," his red-haired sister Kathleen, to leukemia. The story of the brave young warrior-queen who faces impossible dangers is dedicated to her. The Cry of the Icemark won the Ottakars Prize for the best new children’s novel - Ottakars is one of the UK's leading book chains. Foreign rights have been sold to over 14 countries, and Fox have bought the movie rights.
Blade of Fire, the second in the Icemark Chronicles series was published in the UK in September 2006 and in the USA in February 2007.
Stuart says that his influences include H. Rider Haggard, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Margaret Abbey—his former grade school teacher who is also a writer of historical novels.
The Cry of the Icemark is his first novel. When he was a teenager, Stuart lost "the real Thirrin," his red-haired sister Kathleen, to leukemia. The story of the brave young warrior-queen who faces impossible dangers is dedicated to her. The Cry of the Icemark won the Ottakars Prize for the best new children’s novel - Ottakars is one of the UK's leading book chains. Foreign rights have been sold to over 14 countries, and Fox have bought the movie rights.
Blade of Fire, the second in the Icemark Chronicles series was published in the UK in September 2006 and in the USA in February 2007.
Stuart says that his influences include H. Rider Haggard, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Margaret Abbey—his former grade school teacher who is also a writer of historical novels.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 6, 2023
This is a fun little Anglo Saxon story about the children of King Alfred of Wessex as they try to push the invading Danish forces back after their home has been attacked and overrun by Danes. I had never read this particular book by Stuart Hill before, although I had read his Icemark books some years back, so I had a very vague idea of what this book might be like.
And I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good book to be read in schools I think, it’s the perfect level of history and drama that it would appeal to younger readers, whilst still managing to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, which is impressive considering the main characters end up fighting in battles.
It’s a good starting point for an interest in the Anglo Saxons and what their world might have been like. Which I also appreciate, I would have enjoyed a book like this when I was in school.
And I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good book to be read in schools I think, it’s the perfect level of history and drama that it would appeal to younger readers, whilst still managing to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, which is impressive considering the main characters end up fighting in battles.
It’s a good starting point for an interest in the Anglo Saxons and what their world might have been like. Which I also appreciate, I would have enjoyed a book like this when I was in school.
November 16, 2018
I'm reading it in class it's good 👍
January 3, 2022
It was a bit like reading the next Season of Vikings but from the Saxons viewpoint and set about 100 years later
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews