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Shieldmothers Saga #1
Queens of the Wyrd
Raise your shield. Defend your sisters. Prepare for battle.
Half-giant Lovis and her Shieldmaiden warband were once among the fiercest warriors in Midgard. But those days are long past and now Lovis just wants to provide a safe home for herself and her daughter - that is, until her former shield-sister Solveig shows up on her doorstep with shattering news.
Solveig's warrior daughter is trapped on the Plains of Vigrid in a siege gone ugly. Desperate to rescue her, Sol is trying to get the old warband back together again. But their glory days are a distant memory. The Shieldmaidens are Shieldmothers now, entangled in domestic obligations and ancient rivalries.
But family is everything, and Lovis was never more at home than at her shield-sisters' side. Their road won't be old debts must be paid, wrongs must be righted, and the Nornir are always pulling on loose threads, leaving the Shieldmaidens facing the end of all Nine Realms. Ragnarok is coming, and if the Shieldmaidens can't stop it, Lovis will lose everyone she loves...
Fate is inexorable. Wyrd bith ful araed.
Queens of the Wyrd is the brand-new epic Norse fantasy adventure by Timandra Whitecastle.
Half-giant Lovis and her Shieldmaiden warband were once among the fiercest warriors in Midgard. But those days are long past and now Lovis just wants to provide a safe home for herself and her daughter - that is, until her former shield-sister Solveig shows up on her doorstep with shattering news.
Solveig's warrior daughter is trapped on the Plains of Vigrid in a siege gone ugly. Desperate to rescue her, Sol is trying to get the old warband back together again. But their glory days are a distant memory. The Shieldmaidens are Shieldmothers now, entangled in domestic obligations and ancient rivalries.
But family is everything, and Lovis was never more at home than at her shield-sisters' side. Their road won't be old debts must be paid, wrongs must be righted, and the Nornir are always pulling on loose threads, leaving the Shieldmaidens facing the end of all Nine Realms. Ragnarok is coming, and if the Shieldmaidens can't stop it, Lovis will lose everyone she loves...
Fate is inexorable. Wyrd bith ful araed.
Queens of the Wyrd is the brand-new epic Norse fantasy adventure by Timandra Whitecastle.
414 pages, ebook
First published November 21, 2019
24 people are currently reading
1143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 17, 2020
"I mean, sure, everyone says they'll do anything for their kids. But it's different for moms. We start giving of ourselves before they're even born. And then when they're born, we're still giving, giving, giving, and the nature of our giving changes, but it never really ends. We give more of ourselves than we ever thought we would, and then we scrape the rest of ourselves together and give that, too. And all the time there's this fear for them coiled at the back of your throat, ready to spring on us any time."
If you're looking for a book with strong, flawed and beautifully complex female characters, look no further!
Written by Timandra Whitecastle as a nod to Nicholas Eames' Kings of the Wyld, Queens of the Wyrd is the first in a new series with the second book currently in progress.
It's a love letter to mothers everywhere. Moms going on a viking quest! The title! The cover! THE DEDICATION! I mean.. this book was meant for me!
Queens of the Wyrd takes the reader on an emotional journey as badass warrior moms kick major ass and steal hearts!
Populating the Norse-inspired setting is a glorious cast of multidimensional characters. Lovis is a half-giant, retired Shieldmaiden and mother to 10-year-old Birke. After walking away from her warband, she sold her weapons and armor, keeping only her beloved shield as a reminder of her past. In order to provide a somewhat stable life for her daughter, she currently works as a bouncer at The World's End, a tavern located in a small fishing village.
Then one day her best friend of 25 years, Sol, asks her for help. She wants to get the gang back together, reviving the Shieldmaidens one last time for a very good reason. Her daughter, Astrid, has gone to Vigrid to partake in some siege warfare. She wants to become a valkyrie.
You can see how that may be a problem!
But back to Solveig for a minute. Charming, charismatic, loyal Sol. Oh, how we should all be so lucky to have a Sol in our lives!
The secondary characters like Torune, Eira, Helheim and Eistla all add so much to the story, but make no mistake. This is about Shieldmaidens and their warband. They are these brave, strong, complex Goddesses of War! But also, they are mothers. Partners. Friends. Sisters. Daughters. Incredible women that lift each other up. The support they have for one another is so fucking beautiful. True family. Someone you can pick back up with right where you left off, weeks, months, years later. That shit is rare.
"This is how you usher in a new age, she thought. Shoulder to shoulder with thousands of allies fighting the same battle you are."
Holy Mother of Cats this was just so fucking good!
Not only is it like an all-female cast of Kings of the Wyld, but there are similarities to A Knight's Tale (which I fucking love)! The dialogue is quite contemporary and each chapter heading contains a modern reference.
Giants, elves, gods, dragons, undead corpses, necromancers, mages, THE DREAD WORM and a massive gnarly armored lizard beast named Nidhoggr!
Whitecastle writes with so much passion and understanding within these pages. Clearly being a parent is something she has ample experience with, which shines throughout this story.
It's not hard to see how this became a semifinalist in this years SPFBO! It's certainly one of my favorite books that I've had the pleasure to read in this hellfire timeline of 2020!
Queens of the Wyrd is a battle cry to continue smashing through those glass ceilings placed upon us. For tearing down the patriarchy. A call for equality. To end the injustice. It's about identity and that all-encompassing love that you have for your child. The most exhausting, yet rewarding thing ever imaginable. There's truly nothing like it!
WE NEED MORE REPRESENTATION OF PARENTHOOD IN FANTASY, ESPECIALLY OF THE NON-MALE VARIETY!
Queens of the Wyrd absolutely soars and I was completely swept away in it.
I can't wait to see where Whitecastle takes the story next!
(Massive thanks to Timandra Whitecastle for sending me a copy!)
If you're looking for a book with strong, flawed and beautifully complex female characters, look no further!
Written by Timandra Whitecastle as a nod to Nicholas Eames' Kings of the Wyld, Queens of the Wyrd is the first in a new series with the second book currently in progress.
It's a love letter to mothers everywhere. Moms going on a viking quest! The title! The cover! THE DEDICATION! I mean.. this book was meant for me!
Queens of the Wyrd takes the reader on an emotional journey as badass warrior moms kick major ass and steal hearts!
Populating the Norse-inspired setting is a glorious cast of multidimensional characters. Lovis is a half-giant, retired Shieldmaiden and mother to 10-year-old Birke. After walking away from her warband, she sold her weapons and armor, keeping only her beloved shield as a reminder of her past. In order to provide a somewhat stable life for her daughter, she currently works as a bouncer at The World's End, a tavern located in a small fishing village.
Then one day her best friend of 25 years, Sol, asks her for help. She wants to get the gang back together, reviving the Shieldmaidens one last time for a very good reason. Her daughter, Astrid, has gone to Vigrid to partake in some siege warfare. She wants to become a valkyrie.
You can see how that may be a problem!
But back to Solveig for a minute. Charming, charismatic, loyal Sol. Oh, how we should all be so lucky to have a Sol in our lives!
The secondary characters like Torune, Eira, Helheim and Eistla all add so much to the story, but make no mistake. This is about Shieldmaidens and their warband. They are these brave, strong, complex Goddesses of War! But also, they are mothers. Partners. Friends. Sisters. Daughters. Incredible women that lift each other up. The support they have for one another is so fucking beautiful. True family. Someone you can pick back up with right where you left off, weeks, months, years later. That shit is rare.
"This is how you usher in a new age, she thought. Shoulder to shoulder with thousands of allies fighting the same battle you are."
Holy Mother of Cats this was just so fucking good!
Not only is it like an all-female cast of Kings of the Wyld, but there are similarities to A Knight's Tale (which I fucking love)! The dialogue is quite contemporary and each chapter heading contains a modern reference.
Giants, elves, gods, dragons, undead corpses, necromancers, mages, THE DREAD WORM and a massive gnarly armored lizard beast named Nidhoggr!
Whitecastle writes with so much passion and understanding within these pages. Clearly being a parent is something she has ample experience with, which shines throughout this story.
It's not hard to see how this became a semifinalist in this years SPFBO! It's certainly one of my favorite books that I've had the pleasure to read in this hellfire timeline of 2020!
Queens of the Wyrd is a battle cry to continue smashing through those glass ceilings placed upon us. For tearing down the patriarchy. A call for equality. To end the injustice. It's about identity and that all-encompassing love that you have for your child. The most exhausting, yet rewarding thing ever imaginable. There's truly nothing like it!
WE NEED MORE REPRESENTATION OF PARENTHOOD IN FANTASY, ESPECIALLY OF THE NON-MALE VARIETY!
Queens of the Wyrd absolutely soars and I was completely swept away in it.
I can't wait to see where Whitecastle takes the story next!
(Massive thanks to Timandra Whitecastle for sending me a copy!)
November 16, 2020
I read Queens of the Wyrd for SPFBO 2020 as a judge with The Fantasy Hive. You can read our full review here: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2020/10/qu...
Overall, Queens of the Wyrd was a true delight to read. A story which encompasses a band of female warriors who are on the rampage and out to save the world, and yes, it is as fun as it sounds.
I found the prose was of a high quality, and whilst reading I found myself stopping to jot down many quotes which really stood out to me, I even found many that made me laugh out loud! Whitecastle had a fantastic way of balancing a poignant, often thought-provoking prose with moments of humour and a touch of wholesomeness. As I read more and more I found myself smiling at the characters’ friendship, laughing at their crude witty jokes, or becoming teary hearing about their pain. So it’s clear to say I found the prose highly emotive.
‘“If we accidentally start Ragnarok, I’m totally blaming you’” Lovis whispered in Sol’s ear.
Sol grinned. “I’ll say Loki set me up. Seems like that works for everyone else. Anyway, if we’re about to start Ragnarok, I really need to get laid one last time.”
The main protagonists, Lovis and Solvieg immediately captured my heart with their friendship. Both are take-no-shit formidable warriors, yet both are distinct in their own right. Their friendship is often raw, they are both ultimately broken people, and as Theo said, their paths are very different. Most notably they approach the hardships of motherhood in opposite ways. Yet, they share an unbreakable bond, one which has endured even during the years they have spent apart. They are both described as ‘mothers, sisters, the best of friends’ - they are essentially each other’s family. The fact that Lovis unquestionably follows Solvieg’s quest to save her daughter Astrid without hesitation worked to invest me in their journey together.
“I have encountered thousands upon thousands of people, each of whom carries scars of fights similar to your own, Lovis Giantdaughter, and I know now that every life has its own battles. Whether you die with a sword in your hand or not, the truth is that everyone is a warrior.”
Fantasy books could certainly do with more strong female friendships, and this hit the spot for me.
Not only is Queens if the Wyrd a fun Norse mythology book, but it’s a book to represent and celebrate women (particularly mothers) from all walks of life, which is something the fantasy genre has sorely needed. I would happily follow this band of shield-maidens on many more adventures.
Overall, Queens of the Wyrd was a true delight to read. A story which encompasses a band of female warriors who are on the rampage and out to save the world, and yes, it is as fun as it sounds.
I found the prose was of a high quality, and whilst reading I found myself stopping to jot down many quotes which really stood out to me, I even found many that made me laugh out loud! Whitecastle had a fantastic way of balancing a poignant, often thought-provoking prose with moments of humour and a touch of wholesomeness. As I read more and more I found myself smiling at the characters’ friendship, laughing at their crude witty jokes, or becoming teary hearing about their pain. So it’s clear to say I found the prose highly emotive.
‘“If we accidentally start Ragnarok, I’m totally blaming you’” Lovis whispered in Sol’s ear.
Sol grinned. “I’ll say Loki set me up. Seems like that works for everyone else. Anyway, if we’re about to start Ragnarok, I really need to get laid one last time.”
The main protagonists, Lovis and Solvieg immediately captured my heart with their friendship. Both are take-no-shit formidable warriors, yet both are distinct in their own right. Their friendship is often raw, they are both ultimately broken people, and as Theo said, their paths are very different. Most notably they approach the hardships of motherhood in opposite ways. Yet, they share an unbreakable bond, one which has endured even during the years they have spent apart. They are both described as ‘mothers, sisters, the best of friends’ - they are essentially each other’s family. The fact that Lovis unquestionably follows Solvieg’s quest to save her daughter Astrid without hesitation worked to invest me in their journey together.
“I have encountered thousands upon thousands of people, each of whom carries scars of fights similar to your own, Lovis Giantdaughter, and I know now that every life has its own battles. Whether you die with a sword in your hand or not, the truth is that everyone is a warrior.”
Fantasy books could certainly do with more strong female friendships, and this hit the spot for me.
Not only is Queens if the Wyrd a fun Norse mythology book, but it’s a book to represent and celebrate women (particularly mothers) from all walks of life, which is something the fantasy genre has sorely needed. I would happily follow this band of shield-maidens on many more adventures.
November 15, 2019
Queens of the Wyrd is a captivating, entertaining, fast-paced romp with great characters in a Norse setting.
Let me get this out of the way - this is the first book by this author that I have finished that I loved from the start to finish. I am looking forward to any sequels that will hopefully follow, with the same characters.
On the surface, this might seem to be a retelling of Nicholas Eames's 'Kings of the Wyld'. The core plot is somewhat the same as are some of the beats in the story. Hell, even their names are similar. But, Queens of the Wyrd has enough and more unique elements to make the book stand-out.
For one, this is a book with strong feminine characters. The two main characters, especially, are brilliant - how many times have we seen heroes who become mothers. Their trials and tribulations, their doubts and anxieties - all of these are portrayed well. In addition, these characters break multiple tropes (or at least call them out) - for eg: being a mother is as heroic as being a warrior or that a single person need not be a hero to save the world.
The second thing that stood out was the unique take on Norse mythology. I am not going to spoil it but I suppose it is Timandra's mild stab at the patriarchy :P . (This is not a feminist book but it is a book focused on women.)
The third thing is that, while I anticipated quite a few plot points, the journey to the conclusion is entertaining and fast paced. I really didn't feel like putting the book down.
In conclusion, Queens of the Wyrd is a book that will get five stars from me.
Let me get this out of the way - this is the first book by this author that I have finished that I loved from the start to finish. I am looking forward to any sequels that will hopefully follow, with the same characters.
On the surface, this might seem to be a retelling of Nicholas Eames's 'Kings of the Wyld'. The core plot is somewhat the same as are some of the beats in the story. Hell, even their names are similar. But, Queens of the Wyrd has enough and more unique elements to make the book stand-out.
For one, this is a book with strong feminine characters. The two main characters, especially, are brilliant - how many times have we seen heroes who become mothers. Their trials and tribulations, their doubts and anxieties - all of these are portrayed well. In addition, these characters break multiple tropes (or at least call them out) - for eg: being a mother is as heroic as being a warrior or that a single person need not be a hero to save the world.
The second thing that stood out was the unique take on Norse mythology. I am not going to spoil it but I suppose it is Timandra's mild stab at the patriarchy :P . (This is not a feminist book but it is a book focused on women.)
The third thing is that, while I anticipated quite a few plot points, the journey to the conclusion is entertaining and fast paced. I really didn't feel like putting the book down.
In conclusion, Queens of the Wyrd is a book that will get five stars from me.
January 27, 2020
Kings of the Wyld with Valkyrie moms? Yes please!
Queens of the Wyrd is a vigorous grinning nod to Nicholas Eames’ breakout hit, Kings of the Wyld, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Queens departs from Kings in a wonderful way, though, focusing on the role, trials and tribulations of motherhood in a dangerous and fantastical world that I found refreshing and exciting. A great weekend read!
Queens of the Wyrd is a vigorous grinning nod to Nicholas Eames’ breakout hit, Kings of the Wyld, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Queens departs from Kings in a wonderful way, though, focusing on the role, trials and tribulations of motherhood in a dangerous and fantastical world that I found refreshing and exciting. A great weekend read!
Read
November 26, 2019I won't be reviewing my own book, of course - this is just to keep interested folks updated :)
October 2019:
rough draft - written
revised draft - done
cover design - done and approved, just waiting on the finalized print cover
copyediting - returned from copyeditor
November 2019:
Edits are done.
Formatted the ARCs and will be sending them out
Nov 20th - 6 days to launch and the paperback proofs have arrived (they look good!)
Nov 26th - QUEENS IS GO
October 2019:
rough draft - written
revised draft - done
cover design - done and approved, just waiting on the finalized print cover
copyediting - returned from copyeditor
November 2019:
Edits are done.
Formatted the ARCs and will be sending them out
Nov 20th - 6 days to launch and the paperback proofs have arrived (they look good!)
Nov 26th - QUEENS IS GO
December 29, 2023
3.5 Stars
I was really enjoying this one, it's one that started off really strong. I loved the worldbuilding that we had in here, the characters seemed pretty good, I was starting to get into them… but around the midway point, it just lost its way a little bit for me and I wasn't as invested in the story anoymore.
My feelings towards the book really softened as we moved on past that halfway point, so it was quite a disappointing ending for me—or rather, a disappointing half a book, to be honest, and I by the time I got to the end of it, I was just happy to put it down.
That was a real shame because, as I say, the worldbuilding was there. It was kind of a Norse mythology basis, so you got all the gods and you got various words that a lot of people will recognize from various different pop culture sources—if not from actual mythology itself—things like Yggdrasil, the world tree, Bifröst, Ragnarok, etc., and these play a big part in it. We're building up to Ragnarok, this big final battle, where various gods come into play as well, so there's lots there, but I think it was really well put together and made into a fantasy rather than just a tale of mythology.
Sadly though, I didn't really like the direction the book took. It felt like the characters just flittered around a little bit, they seemed to go off on odd little side quests which really didn't move the story along enough for me. I didn't like that and I think that's where I started to get a little bit tired with reading the book.
I was really enjoying this one, it's one that started off really strong. I loved the worldbuilding that we had in here, the characters seemed pretty good, I was starting to get into them… but around the midway point, it just lost its way a little bit for me and I wasn't as invested in the story anoymore.
My feelings towards the book really softened as we moved on past that halfway point, so it was quite a disappointing ending for me—or rather, a disappointing half a book, to be honest, and I by the time I got to the end of it, I was just happy to put it down.
That was a real shame because, as I say, the worldbuilding was there. It was kind of a Norse mythology basis, so you got all the gods and you got various words that a lot of people will recognize from various different pop culture sources—if not from actual mythology itself—things like Yggdrasil, the world tree, Bifröst, Ragnarok, etc., and these play a big part in it. We're building up to Ragnarok, this big final battle, where various gods come into play as well, so there's lots there, but I think it was really well put together and made into a fantasy rather than just a tale of mythology.
Sadly though, I didn't really like the direction the book took. It felt like the characters just flittered around a little bit, they seemed to go off on odd little side quests which really didn't move the story along enough for me. I didn't like that and I think that's where I started to get a little bit tired with reading the book.
December 16, 2019
3.5 stars.
This was a fun and engaging story with a good and different look into Norse mythology. I loved how it was centred around women - good women, strong women, insane women, powerful women - and their bonds and their children.
Told from the POV of Lovis Giantdaughter, we're taken on a Kings of the Wyld-esque journey from retired warriors to a reformed warband - the Shieldmaidens - as they head off to rescue Solveig the Golden's daughter Astrid from a siege. But the plethora of well-researched Norse mythology and the seamless weaving of the gods popping down to Midgard to meddle in human and Jotun affairs gave this a different feeling entirely to the Eames book.
Great fun.
This was a fun and engaging story with a good and different look into Norse mythology. I loved how it was centred around women - good women, strong women, insane women, powerful women - and their bonds and their children.
Told from the POV of Lovis Giantdaughter, we're taken on a Kings of the Wyld-esque journey from retired warriors to a reformed warband - the Shieldmaidens - as they head off to rescue Solveig the Golden's daughter Astrid from a siege. But the plethora of well-researched Norse mythology and the seamless weaving of the gods popping down to Midgard to meddle in human and Jotun affairs gave this a different feeling entirely to the Eames book.
Great fun.
March 20, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/queens-o...
Queens of the Wyrd is an epic fantasy story, based on Norse mythology, written by Timandra Whitecastle; and that is quite unique, as despite taking the trope of a questing group, the characters that form this group are different: mothers, and really strong women. And this kind of focus is a refreshing take, as they usually tend to be ignored in fantasy.
Once part of one of the most famous warbands in Midgard, Lovis now is just trying to procure a safe place for herself and her daughter. That's until her former shield sister Solveig appears, asking for help and trying to reunite the old band, as her daughter is trapped in the middle of a siege in Vigrid.
While for Lovis joining this adventure is a difficult decision, as it means putting in danger her own daughter, she finally decides to help her old sister; she can understand how desperate Sol might be feeling, a mother whose daughter is in an extreme situation.
An epic quest gets started, one that will take us to visit several of the Nine Kingdoms, being able to see how our Shieldmothers overcome the biggest difficulties just to help their sister to recover her daughter.
It is interesting to see how each one of those characters is unique; each mother has a voice that enhances the full group. I personally loved the fact that they are mothers, and how Whitecastle portrays the strength behind this role; how they will do anything to keep their relatives safe.
The world used for this quest is also great, inspired by Norse mythology. I think some details could be explained better, as I feel Whitecastle assumes familiarity with the topic treated, but still, it's so enjoyable, and probably one of the best settings for a quest-like story.
Personally, I loved the premise, and I think we need more novels like this one, more novels that take a classic trope, but subvert it in ways that the focus is given to roles that traditionally have been ignored in the subgenre. If you liked mythology-based fantasy, Queens of the Wyrd is a book for you.
Queens of the Wyrd is an epic fantasy story, based on Norse mythology, written by Timandra Whitecastle; and that is quite unique, as despite taking the trope of a questing group, the characters that form this group are different: mothers, and really strong women. And this kind of focus is a refreshing take, as they usually tend to be ignored in fantasy.
Once part of one of the most famous warbands in Midgard, Lovis now is just trying to procure a safe place for herself and her daughter. That's until her former shield sister Solveig appears, asking for help and trying to reunite the old band, as her daughter is trapped in the middle of a siege in Vigrid.
While for Lovis joining this adventure is a difficult decision, as it means putting in danger her own daughter, she finally decides to help her old sister; she can understand how desperate Sol might be feeling, a mother whose daughter is in an extreme situation.
An epic quest gets started, one that will take us to visit several of the Nine Kingdoms, being able to see how our Shieldmothers overcome the biggest difficulties just to help their sister to recover her daughter.
It is interesting to see how each one of those characters is unique; each mother has a voice that enhances the full group. I personally loved the fact that they are mothers, and how Whitecastle portrays the strength behind this role; how they will do anything to keep their relatives safe.
The world used for this quest is also great, inspired by Norse mythology. I think some details could be explained better, as I feel Whitecastle assumes familiarity with the topic treated, but still, it's so enjoyable, and probably one of the best settings for a quest-like story.
Personally, I loved the premise, and I think we need more novels like this one, more novels that take a classic trope, but subvert it in ways that the focus is given to roles that traditionally have been ignored in the subgenre. If you liked mythology-based fantasy, Queens of the Wyrd is a book for you.
July 31, 2022
This book was entertaining, fast paced with good character dynamics, set in Norse inspired world with bunch of mythology references.
July 29, 2021
La première fois que j’ai croisé Queens of the wyrd sur les réseaux sociaux, j’ai haussé un sourcil et râlé dans ma barbe « oui bah c’est juste Kings of the wyld avec des femmes ». C’est même ce que j’ai tweeté à peu près. Le quasi-même pitch, le quasi-même titre, ça faisait un peu gros. Mais il avait quand même de très bons retours, et a gagné une superbe couverture récemment. Et je suis quand même curieux.
Lovis est une ancienne guerrière qui vit aujourd’hui tranquillement (ou presque) avec sa fille de 10 ans sur une île reculée de l’archipel. La vie de mère célibataire est un peu compliquée et être une hybride humaine-géante aide pas vraiment à s’intégrer. Mais un jour, son ancienne camarade Solveig vient cogner à sa porte. Elle a besoin de l’aide de sa meilleure amie pour sauver sa fille coincée dans une ville assiégée au milieu de la plaine de Vigrid. Lovis va ressortir son bouclier légendaire et partir réformer les Shieldmaidens pour un dernier raid, ensemble jusqu’aux portes du Ragnarök.
Oui, voilà, ça se voit un peu que c’est le pitch de Kings of the wyld, quand même, vous voyez. Mais quand on lit la genèse du projet, on comprend à peu près la démarche. Timandra Whitecastle a adoré le roman de Nicholas Eames mais un truc la saoule : pourquoi c’est toujours les mecs qui partent dans des aventures épiques ? Pourquoi la maman reste toujours à la maison et s’efface ? Pas aujourd’hui monsieur, aujourd’hui, les mamans elles vont partir à l’aventure et botter des culs. Et c’est ça le propos, une réponse à un livre qu’elle a adoré, mais avec un sens supplémentaires, un discours sur la maternité et le sacrifice.
Mais si Queens of the wyrd part de cette filiation et l’assume, il arrive à s’en détacher en virant le ton comique de son inspiration. Et surtout on oublie le cadre de Donjons et dragons classique pour taper dans la mythologie nordique. Après The shadow of the gods, faut croire que les vikings et les mamans épiques ça marche bien. Tout le cadre du roman est ici plongé dans la mythologie, les Shieldmaidens ne sont pas un simple groupe de bourrines, elles sont des anciennes héroïnes quasi-divines. Sol a reçu sa lance d’Odin lui-même, Lovis a du sang de géant et vient de Jotunheim, Torune et Eira sont… Bah je dis pas, on va pas spoiler ça. Oui, Queens of the wyrd c’est Wyld avec des mamans qui débarquent dans l’univers du dernier jeu God of War, grosso modo. L’ombre des dieux est bien là, les neufs royaumes et l’arbre sacré sont une réalité. Et le Ragnarök aussi.
Mais alors, on sait pas, ça vaut le coup ou pas, ce bouquin ? Ben oui, carrément, malgré ma réticence initiale de vieux râleur, faut avouer que Queens of the wyrd est un bouquin sacrément bon. L’autrice nous a créé des personnages forts qui fonctionnent bien ensemble. Il y a l’alchimie de groupe, l’amitié sans faille, l’action, le cadre nordique qui fonctionne très bien. La mise en contexte de la mythologie scandinave participe aussi à la richesse du bouquin, on découvre un passé compliqué pour chacune des Shieldmaidens, compliqué avec les hommes, compliqué avec les dieux, et maintenant elles affrontent la vie seules. Mais l’intrigue de fond réserve des surprises quand on apprend ce que cache le siège dans lequel est coincée la jeune Astrid.
Par certains côtés on aurait préféré que la filiation avec Wyld soit moins flagrante, que la protagoniste ne soit pas une colosse taciturne avec un bouclier en bois sacré, que Sol ne soit pas une leader charismatique aux cheveux dorés, que sa fille ne soit pas bloquée dans une guerre lointaine qui oblige l’ancien groupe de mercenaires à se reformer. Mais ces parallèles participent aussi au propos de fond du bouquin. Pourquoi Clay peut partir à l’aventure alors que sa femme va gentiment garder la petite à la maison ? Lovis n’a personne à la maison, elle va même devoir emmener Birke avec elle. Ce parallèle est le propos du bouquin, est-ce qu’il serait aussi fort sans la référence ? Ou, tout connement, est-ce que j’aurai entendu parler de ce roman sans cette filiation ?
Queens of the wyrd parle ainsi des mères, des femmes qui s’effacent des sagas dès qu’elles ont des enfants, qui donnent tout pour leur foyer et n’existe donc quasiment plus dans les grandes histoires, dont l’héroïsme est quelque part entre les couches et les nuits blanches, l’héroïsme invisible. Mais quand elles doivent partir à l’aventure, oh boy, elles envoient du pâté. Mais une maman qui part à l’aventure, elle doit faire l’héroïsme, oui, mais elle assume toujours ses enfants, bien sûr, y’a pas bobonne à la maison pour ranger la famille le temps qu’on fasse des cabrioles. Le fait de faire partir Birke avec Lovis pour cette croisade ajoute un lien fort dans le groupe, et un sens à tout ça. Lovis passe son temps à protéger sa fille avant tout, et à balancer des bourre-pifs ensuite. Il y a bien sûr des moments touchants, des moments drôles, parce que l’autrice réussit très bien les relations entre ses personnages complexes. Il y a l’adorable Birke, mais il y a aussi les membres du groupe qui se soutiennent à tout prix, il y a l’amitié indéfectible et la sororité quand l’une des filles a besoin d’aide. Bon, on va aussi essayer de sauver le monde, mais c’est accessoire.
Et pour ne rien gâcher, il y a de grands moments épiques, des combats contre des dragons, des déchainements de magie, des armées de méchants monstres à repousser avec une poignée de camarades. Cette scène où Lovis « déboite » un dragon avec son bouclier, diantre c’était quelque-chose. Timandra Whitecastle nous offre un roman plein d’action où les bastons et l’intrigue progressent en même temps, sans temps mort et avec des surprises tout le long. On va même parfois un poil trop vite, si on veut chipoter, j’aurai vu un peu plus de temps calmes pour souffler, mais on va pas pinailler, Queens of the wyrd est une réussite avec des personnages forts, du rythme, de l’action, et du fond amené par ce point de vue maternel.
https://ours-inculte.fr/queens-of-the...
Lovis est une ancienne guerrière qui vit aujourd’hui tranquillement (ou presque) avec sa fille de 10 ans sur une île reculée de l’archipel. La vie de mère célibataire est un peu compliquée et être une hybride humaine-géante aide pas vraiment à s’intégrer. Mais un jour, son ancienne camarade Solveig vient cogner à sa porte. Elle a besoin de l’aide de sa meilleure amie pour sauver sa fille coincée dans une ville assiégée au milieu de la plaine de Vigrid. Lovis va ressortir son bouclier légendaire et partir réformer les Shieldmaidens pour un dernier raid, ensemble jusqu’aux portes du Ragnarök.
Oui, voilà, ça se voit un peu que c’est le pitch de Kings of the wyld, quand même, vous voyez. Mais quand on lit la genèse du projet, on comprend à peu près la démarche. Timandra Whitecastle a adoré le roman de Nicholas Eames mais un truc la saoule : pourquoi c’est toujours les mecs qui partent dans des aventures épiques ? Pourquoi la maman reste toujours à la maison et s’efface ? Pas aujourd’hui monsieur, aujourd’hui, les mamans elles vont partir à l’aventure et botter des culs. Et c’est ça le propos, une réponse à un livre qu’elle a adoré, mais avec un sens supplémentaires, un discours sur la maternité et le sacrifice.
Mais si Queens of the wyrd part de cette filiation et l’assume, il arrive à s’en détacher en virant le ton comique de son inspiration. Et surtout on oublie le cadre de Donjons et dragons classique pour taper dans la mythologie nordique. Après The shadow of the gods, faut croire que les vikings et les mamans épiques ça marche bien. Tout le cadre du roman est ici plongé dans la mythologie, les Shieldmaidens ne sont pas un simple groupe de bourrines, elles sont des anciennes héroïnes quasi-divines. Sol a reçu sa lance d’Odin lui-même, Lovis a du sang de géant et vient de Jotunheim, Torune et Eira sont… Bah je dis pas, on va pas spoiler ça. Oui, Queens of the wyrd c’est Wyld avec des mamans qui débarquent dans l’univers du dernier jeu God of War, grosso modo. L’ombre des dieux est bien là, les neufs royaumes et l’arbre sacré sont une réalité. Et le Ragnarök aussi.
Mais alors, on sait pas, ça vaut le coup ou pas, ce bouquin ? Ben oui, carrément, malgré ma réticence initiale de vieux râleur, faut avouer que Queens of the wyrd est un bouquin sacrément bon. L’autrice nous a créé des personnages forts qui fonctionnent bien ensemble. Il y a l’alchimie de groupe, l’amitié sans faille, l’action, le cadre nordique qui fonctionne très bien. La mise en contexte de la mythologie scandinave participe aussi à la richesse du bouquin, on découvre un passé compliqué pour chacune des Shieldmaidens, compliqué avec les hommes, compliqué avec les dieux, et maintenant elles affrontent la vie seules. Mais l’intrigue de fond réserve des surprises quand on apprend ce que cache le siège dans lequel est coincée la jeune Astrid.
Par certains côtés on aurait préféré que la filiation avec Wyld soit moins flagrante, que la protagoniste ne soit pas une colosse taciturne avec un bouclier en bois sacré, que Sol ne soit pas une leader charismatique aux cheveux dorés, que sa fille ne soit pas bloquée dans une guerre lointaine qui oblige l’ancien groupe de mercenaires à se reformer. Mais ces parallèles participent aussi au propos de fond du bouquin. Pourquoi Clay peut partir à l’aventure alors que sa femme va gentiment garder la petite à la maison ? Lovis n’a personne à la maison, elle va même devoir emmener Birke avec elle. Ce parallèle est le propos du bouquin, est-ce qu’il serait aussi fort sans la référence ? Ou, tout connement, est-ce que j’aurai entendu parler de ce roman sans cette filiation ?
Queens of the wyrd parle ainsi des mères, des femmes qui s’effacent des sagas dès qu’elles ont des enfants, qui donnent tout pour leur foyer et n’existe donc quasiment plus dans les grandes histoires, dont l’héroïsme est quelque part entre les couches et les nuits blanches, l’héroïsme invisible. Mais quand elles doivent partir à l’aventure, oh boy, elles envoient du pâté. Mais une maman qui part à l’aventure, elle doit faire l’héroïsme, oui, mais elle assume toujours ses enfants, bien sûr, y’a pas bobonne à la maison pour ranger la famille le temps qu’on fasse des cabrioles. Le fait de faire partir Birke avec Lovis pour cette croisade ajoute un lien fort dans le groupe, et un sens à tout ça. Lovis passe son temps à protéger sa fille avant tout, et à balancer des bourre-pifs ensuite. Il y a bien sûr des moments touchants, des moments drôles, parce que l’autrice réussit très bien les relations entre ses personnages complexes. Il y a l’adorable Birke, mais il y a aussi les membres du groupe qui se soutiennent à tout prix, il y a l’amitié indéfectible et la sororité quand l’une des filles a besoin d’aide. Bon, on va aussi essayer de sauver le monde, mais c’est accessoire.
Et pour ne rien gâcher, il y a de grands moments épiques, des combats contre des dragons, des déchainements de magie, des armées de méchants monstres à repousser avec une poignée de camarades. Cette scène où Lovis « déboite » un dragon avec son bouclier, diantre c’était quelque-chose. Timandra Whitecastle nous offre un roman plein d’action où les bastons et l’intrigue progressent en même temps, sans temps mort et avec des surprises tout le long. On va même parfois un poil trop vite, si on veut chipoter, j’aurai vu un peu plus de temps calmes pour souffler, mais on va pas pinailler, Queens of the wyrd est une réussite avec des personnages forts, du rythme, de l’action, et du fond amené par ce point de vue maternel.
https://ours-inculte.fr/queens-of-the...
July 8, 2024
While Queens of the Would by Timandra White castle isn't flawless, it's a brilliant read nonetheless!
If you like the following, look no farther, read this!
• Strong female characters who still are individuals and not just stone cold assassins
• Norse mythology
• Humour and plenty of witty banter
• A quick and easy read
• Fast paced and cool fight scenes
I loved the characters in this one. I enjoyed mums and just "regular" women being the main characters and still being awesome. I'm not maternal and no mum myself, and don't intend to ever be one, but the theme still absolutely worked for me.
They mythology part definitely works best if you already have some basic info about it, as it's often not described in great detail, so it gets a lot more depth of your brain just adds in more backdrop. This does make for an even quicker read, and doesn't take away from the book if you have some knowledge of it already. Only if this s your first encounter with the topic it might lack a bit of depth.
The above mentioned flaws are a rather big amount of small errors / typos and at time it's just a bit too quick and solutions a bit too easy. So it's not the deepest or most thought provoking book ever, but it is a hell of a lot of fun and I devoured it.
Absolutely highly recommended!
If you like the following, look no farther, read this!
• Strong female characters who still are individuals and not just stone cold assassins
• Norse mythology
• Humour and plenty of witty banter
• A quick and easy read
• Fast paced and cool fight scenes
I loved the characters in this one. I enjoyed mums and just "regular" women being the main characters and still being awesome. I'm not maternal and no mum myself, and don't intend to ever be one, but the theme still absolutely worked for me.
They mythology part definitely works best if you already have some basic info about it, as it's often not described in great detail, so it gets a lot more depth of your brain just adds in more backdrop. This does make for an even quicker read, and doesn't take away from the book if you have some knowledge of it already. Only if this s your first encounter with the topic it might lack a bit of depth.
The above mentioned flaws are a rather big amount of small errors / typos and at time it's just a bit too quick and solutions a bit too easy. So it's not the deepest or most thought provoking book ever, but it is a hell of a lot of fun and I devoured it.
Absolutely highly recommended!
February 9, 2020
I saw a tweet from Timandra Whitecastle about how she loved Kings of the Wyld but it got her thinking about how there are rarely stories like that about mothers, and how that sort of started the idea of Queens of the Wyrd. I instantly preordered based on one tweet alone (take that social media doesn’t sell books skeptics!). I absolutely loved it, and it very much surpassed my expectations of “ a fun KotW but with women vikings”, going full speed on the feel train. I saw other reviews talking about it being a fun romp, but I connected with it a lot more than that description implies.
The plot of Queens starts with Solvig the Golden, a retired Shieldmaden, coming to ask her old friend, Lovis, for help with rescuing her daughter from a siege at Sivrig. Lovis is the main character, raising her own daughter in a small fishing village, trying to make people forget she is a half giant. A lot of the initial plot points seem a nod to KotW, but the story grows apart pretty soon, and the characters are all its own.
One of my favorite things about this book, my many favorite things, was how multidimensional the characters are. Duality is a recurring theme whether it shows up in Lovis who is both a mother and a woman, a carer and a fighter, a giant and a human, Sol struggling between her former glory and her current role, Eira, always cheerful but capable of a righteous fury, even the gods show more than one of their face.
Another thing I loved was the setting. I really like Norse Mythology, and Queens is all in for it. We not only meet Valkyrie and gods, but travel through 3 of the 9 realms using the World Tree, battle all sorts of mythical creatures, and see Lovis struggle to come to terms with her half-giant nature, and how she helps Birke relate to hers.
And then there was how intense it was, both emotionally and battle-y. I thought I was ready to read mom books, 11 years after my mom died, I was not. I got all weepy midway, but I pushed through and I’m really glad, cause I loved the book. Towards the end there is a big final battle, and there’s a part where Lovis is exhausted, and it’s so well written, all the sights and sounds and the confusion of battle. It’s very sensory and immersive, I usually see scenes pretty well in my head, but I felt that one.
I found the writing both fun and powerful, I have 56 highlights ranging from funny and witty to gut wrenching.The tone and language is more modern that one might expect from the setting, but it worked really well for me. I was surprised to see the raw ways she wrote about motherhood, especially the very hard parts that people so often glaze over. I loved how Lovis and Sol talked about what they had given for their children, and how they still wanted things for themselves, how Lovis kept trying to make herself fit in to be able to raise Birke safely, how Lovis always wanted to protect her daughter, but at one point had to learn to trust her.
Although it started out looking like a fun little adventure, getting the band back together etc, Queens ended up complex both in scale, and in all the little ways it called out various bullshit, both between the characters, and general perceptions.
The plot of Queens starts with Solvig the Golden, a retired Shieldmaden, coming to ask her old friend, Lovis, for help with rescuing her daughter from a siege at Sivrig. Lovis is the main character, raising her own daughter in a small fishing village, trying to make people forget she is a half giant. A lot of the initial plot points seem a nod to KotW, but the story grows apart pretty soon, and the characters are all its own.
One of my favorite things about this book, my many favorite things, was how multidimensional the characters are. Duality is a recurring theme whether it shows up in Lovis who is both a mother and a woman, a carer and a fighter, a giant and a human, Sol struggling between her former glory and her current role, Eira, always cheerful but capable of a righteous fury, even the gods show more than one of their face.
Another thing I loved was the setting. I really like Norse Mythology, and Queens is all in for it. We not only meet Valkyrie and gods, but travel through 3 of the 9 realms using the World Tree, battle all sorts of mythical creatures, and see Lovis struggle to come to terms with her half-giant nature, and how she helps Birke relate to hers.
And then there was how intense it was, both emotionally and battle-y. I thought I was ready to read mom books, 11 years after my mom died, I was not. I got all weepy midway, but I pushed through and I’m really glad, cause I loved the book. Towards the end there is a big final battle, and there’s a part where Lovis is exhausted, and it’s so well written, all the sights and sounds and the confusion of battle. It’s very sensory and immersive, I usually see scenes pretty well in my head, but I felt that one.
I found the writing both fun and powerful, I have 56 highlights ranging from funny and witty to gut wrenching.The tone and language is more modern that one might expect from the setting, but it worked really well for me. I was surprised to see the raw ways she wrote about motherhood, especially the very hard parts that people so often glaze over. I loved how Lovis and Sol talked about what they had given for their children, and how they still wanted things for themselves, how Lovis kept trying to make herself fit in to be able to raise Birke safely, how Lovis always wanted to protect her daughter, but at one point had to learn to trust her.
Although it started out looking like a fun little adventure, getting the band back together etc, Queens ended up complex both in scale, and in all the little ways it called out various bullshit, both between the characters, and general perceptions.
December 31, 2019
A good norse mythology inspired fantasy that tackles the themes of motherhood, family, friendship, and love through a quirky story that gives a familiar adventurous delight. It is a story about women, women who are warriors, mothers, witches, demigoddesses, and who have unfathomable strengths as well as vulnerabilities, and tries to live a life of their own that's not dictated by anyone. At the heart, it's a story about love and freedom, and reading it reminded me of Nicholas Eames Kings of the Wyld,and Timandra beautifully captures the anxiety, fear, and the lengths to which a mother will go to save and rescue their child, their world. The action was brilliant, and the varied staccato beats of the narrative gave the story a fresh energy that sweeps the reader on a journey filled with magic, monsters, and shadowy gods. It's a enjoyable read.
I also loved the fact that Timandra has imbued the story with the varied essences of world-myths. I loved the part where she describes the creation myth of Hindu religion (being a Hindu, I loved that nod), and also the conception of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone was excellently realized through the major characters. I hope the author writes more mythology inspired fantasy tales, and I would definitely read them.
I also loved the fact that Timandra has imbued the story with the varied essences of world-myths. I loved the part where she describes the creation myth of Hindu religion (being a Hindu, I loved that nod), and also the conception of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone was excellently realized through the major characters. I hope the author writes more mythology inspired fantasy tales, and I would definitely read them.
Read
November 16, 2020QUEENS OF THE WYRD, from the description, sounded like my cup of tea exactly. Even better, it got a lot of buzz as a semifinalist in the current SPFBO, so I was honestly always going to read this one.
And it didn't disappoint! This book was a blast. Like another book I read recently (Genevieve Gornichec's THE WITCH'S HEART) this is an updated, female-centred take on Norse myth, except this one has 500% more epic dragon battles and anachronistic jokes. You've got to love a story about a warband of aging shieldmaidens getting together again to save their leader's teen warrior daughter from a hellish siege that just might presage Ragnarok. Turns out I simply cannot resist fantasy adventures starring mums.
The book is written with vivid attention to detail, a fantastic grasp of military history, and immersive, thrilling battle scenes which create a feast for the imagination's eye. Add in the brisk pacing, and this is probably the closes thing you'll get to reading an action movie this year. The heart of the story for me was the viewpoint character, Lovis - a down-on-her-luck half-giant - and her very sweet relationship with her 10-year-old daughter Birke, but the other characters were all very distinct and very appealing as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the themes about the sacrifice and nobility of motherhood, something that usually isn't celebrated like battle. The main thing I would have appreciated was better male characters: the way some of the protagonists speak of men reminded me a little too uncomfortably of the dismissive way many male-penned narrators speak of women. Overall, however, this book was a wild, vivid, hilarious thrill ride that reminded me of all the things I love about THOR: RAGNAROK.
Rating for pervasive strong language.
And it didn't disappoint! This book was a blast. Like another book I read recently (Genevieve Gornichec's THE WITCH'S HEART) this is an updated, female-centred take on Norse myth, except this one has 500% more epic dragon battles and anachronistic jokes. You've got to love a story about a warband of aging shieldmaidens getting together again to save their leader's teen warrior daughter from a hellish siege that just might presage Ragnarok. Turns out I simply cannot resist fantasy adventures starring mums.
The book is written with vivid attention to detail, a fantastic grasp of military history, and immersive, thrilling battle scenes which create a feast for the imagination's eye. Add in the brisk pacing, and this is probably the closes thing you'll get to reading an action movie this year. The heart of the story for me was the viewpoint character, Lovis - a down-on-her-luck half-giant - and her very sweet relationship with her 10-year-old daughter Birke, but the other characters were all very distinct and very appealing as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the themes about the sacrifice and nobility of motherhood, something that usually isn't celebrated like battle. The main thing I would have appreciated was better male characters: the way some of the protagonists speak of men reminded me a little too uncomfortably of the dismissive way many male-penned narrators speak of women. Overall, however, this book was a wild, vivid, hilarious thrill ride that reminded me of all the things I love about THOR: RAGNAROK.
Rating for pervasive strong language.
October 13, 2020
I’m going to be honest with you, dear reader. I am at the point where it almost takes an act of god for me to read a Viking-based fantasy and like it. However, I just edited a few that have knocked my socks off, and I absolutely loved the cover on this one. I saw it right after I finished said editing projects, and I figured I was on a bit of a Viking roll, so why not see if I can keep it going?
Friends, this book was amazing.
First of all, on the surface this book feels a bit like an answer to Nicholas Eames’s Kings of the Wyld, and I guess it is. The story follows the same patterns and walks down a very similar path, but if you stop there, you’re really missing all the delightful things that are going on under the surface. And there is a lot going on here. I think, perhaps, it was all the layers I enjoyed the most. I always do have a bit of a soft spot for books and authors who take standard fantasy tropes and flip them on their heads.
The skalds say that in the beginning, there was nothing but ice. They say before the beginning there was another world tree but it died, wrapped in sheets of ice and cold, and perhaps Nornir came from that older reality to tend this one, and when this tree dies in the flames of Ragnarok, burned to cinders and ashes, they will plant a new seed in its place by their fountain, and wait.
For the end of a world pays its debts, but also owes itself a new beginning.
Much like Kings of the Wyld, Queens of the Wyrd takes readers on a bit of a journey. A retired band of shieldmaidens forms up once again in an effort to rescue one of the members’ daughter. In said quest, things happen, and wackiness ensues while Norse mythology and various fantasy tropes are marched out, and either summarily dealt with in a rather terminal manner or flipped on their head to show them as different than they usually appear. Now, readers who enjoy fantasy involving quests and adventures will doubtlessly love this. I’m typically not one of those readers, however, this one kept me engaged simply because the storyline was this intoxicating blend of familiar and totally unique, and there was always something happening that I hadn’t really anticipated.
And, let’s be real for a moment. There are not a whole lot of fantasy books out there involving a fierce band of warrior women hellbent on saving the day. We just don’t see that very often, especially with Norse mythology, which is weird because shieldmaidens were very much a Thing and so were the Valkyrie and the like. (This is likely why setting a story like this in a Norse-flavored world was such a good decision. There are so very many strong women in that particular arena.) Whitecastle does a great job at spinning everything to fit into her unique fantasyscape. Her spin on mythology was nothing short of fantastic, and sometimes even humorous. Her world is large, and I enjoyed how she hinted at the vast scope and size of it, leaving me to believe there’s wiggle-room for her to add on to this world in future books, if she chooses. Furthermore, while the fantasy is very much a large part of this book, it never overshadowed the story being told, and I truly enjoyed that particular balance.
If you want change, you must invite chaos.
This book isn’t just a bunch of mothers on a quest to get back a daughter in peril. As I said above, there’s a lot under the surface. I truly enjoyed the dynamics of family, love, and loyalty that suffused Queens of the Wyrd. It took this from being just another book with a bunch of people trying to do something and turned it into a book that has a shocking amount of depth and heart, a lot of very poignant moments to balance out everything else. It was, perhaps, that balance that was one of the determining factors for my overall enjoyment. One of the reasons I don’t typically like quest/adventure fantasy is because I feel like it so often devolves into predictable battles and fart jokes and I really didn’t find that here. Whitecastle could have taken the easy road, but she didn’t. Yes, there’s battles and levity, but there’s also a whole lot of emotion. A band of mothers going out to save a daughter trapped in an ugly siege? How can there not be a lot of heart in that? There’s a whole lot of emotional play that mothers and women all over will connect to on a very profound level.
The characters are all very well drawn, and they have to be to be able to reach past the wham-bam moments and tug at your heartstrings. All of the shieldmaidens bring something unique to the group. Each of them have their own voice, their own nuances, and history. The dialogue is very modern feeling, which might be off-putting to some readers, but I ended up enjoying it. That modern-feeling dialogue was part of the reason this was such a fun, fast read. It helped keep me focused on the story being told, rather than spending time parsing out the subtle flavors in the words used, and the deeper meanings behind them. Don’t get me wrong, I do love some lyrical prose (hello, my books.) but there is a time and a place, and I felt like Whitecastle’s prose were the perfect complement to the story being told.
“We are a generation raised by strong, single mothers,” Lovis interrupted. “And we’re raising the next generation as strong, single women. Having a husband is not the answer for everything.”
So what do you have here? A bunch of badass mothers. Women on a quest. Nonstop adventure and pulse-pounding action. A relentless story that refuses quit. Love, loyalty, and family. Fierce women who fight their own battles, steal the limelight, and are absolutely, positively unforgettable.
What an absolute joy this book was.
Friends, this book was amazing.
First of all, on the surface this book feels a bit like an answer to Nicholas Eames’s Kings of the Wyld, and I guess it is. The story follows the same patterns and walks down a very similar path, but if you stop there, you’re really missing all the delightful things that are going on under the surface. And there is a lot going on here. I think, perhaps, it was all the layers I enjoyed the most. I always do have a bit of a soft spot for books and authors who take standard fantasy tropes and flip them on their heads.
The skalds say that in the beginning, there was nothing but ice. They say before the beginning there was another world tree but it died, wrapped in sheets of ice and cold, and perhaps Nornir came from that older reality to tend this one, and when this tree dies in the flames of Ragnarok, burned to cinders and ashes, they will plant a new seed in its place by their fountain, and wait.
For the end of a world pays its debts, but also owes itself a new beginning.
Much like Kings of the Wyld, Queens of the Wyrd takes readers on a bit of a journey. A retired band of shieldmaidens forms up once again in an effort to rescue one of the members’ daughter. In said quest, things happen, and wackiness ensues while Norse mythology and various fantasy tropes are marched out, and either summarily dealt with in a rather terminal manner or flipped on their head to show them as different than they usually appear. Now, readers who enjoy fantasy involving quests and adventures will doubtlessly love this. I’m typically not one of those readers, however, this one kept me engaged simply because the storyline was this intoxicating blend of familiar and totally unique, and there was always something happening that I hadn’t really anticipated.
And, let’s be real for a moment. There are not a whole lot of fantasy books out there involving a fierce band of warrior women hellbent on saving the day. We just don’t see that very often, especially with Norse mythology, which is weird because shieldmaidens were very much a Thing and so were the Valkyrie and the like. (This is likely why setting a story like this in a Norse-flavored world was such a good decision. There are so very many strong women in that particular arena.) Whitecastle does a great job at spinning everything to fit into her unique fantasyscape. Her spin on mythology was nothing short of fantastic, and sometimes even humorous. Her world is large, and I enjoyed how she hinted at the vast scope and size of it, leaving me to believe there’s wiggle-room for her to add on to this world in future books, if she chooses. Furthermore, while the fantasy is very much a large part of this book, it never overshadowed the story being told, and I truly enjoyed that particular balance.
If you want change, you must invite chaos.
This book isn’t just a bunch of mothers on a quest to get back a daughter in peril. As I said above, there’s a lot under the surface. I truly enjoyed the dynamics of family, love, and loyalty that suffused Queens of the Wyrd. It took this from being just another book with a bunch of people trying to do something and turned it into a book that has a shocking amount of depth and heart, a lot of very poignant moments to balance out everything else. It was, perhaps, that balance that was one of the determining factors for my overall enjoyment. One of the reasons I don’t typically like quest/adventure fantasy is because I feel like it so often devolves into predictable battles and fart jokes and I really didn’t find that here. Whitecastle could have taken the easy road, but she didn’t. Yes, there’s battles and levity, but there’s also a whole lot of emotion. A band of mothers going out to save a daughter trapped in an ugly siege? How can there not be a lot of heart in that? There’s a whole lot of emotional play that mothers and women all over will connect to on a very profound level.
The characters are all very well drawn, and they have to be to be able to reach past the wham-bam moments and tug at your heartstrings. All of the shieldmaidens bring something unique to the group. Each of them have their own voice, their own nuances, and history. The dialogue is very modern feeling, which might be off-putting to some readers, but I ended up enjoying it. That modern-feeling dialogue was part of the reason this was such a fun, fast read. It helped keep me focused on the story being told, rather than spending time parsing out the subtle flavors in the words used, and the deeper meanings behind them. Don’t get me wrong, I do love some lyrical prose (hello, my books.) but there is a time and a place, and I felt like Whitecastle’s prose were the perfect complement to the story being told.
“We are a generation raised by strong, single mothers,” Lovis interrupted. “And we’re raising the next generation as strong, single women. Having a husband is not the answer for everything.”
So what do you have here? A bunch of badass mothers. Women on a quest. Nonstop adventure and pulse-pounding action. A relentless story that refuses quit. Love, loyalty, and family. Fierce women who fight their own battles, steal the limelight, and are absolutely, positively unforgettable.
What an absolute joy this book was.
September 4, 2025
More of this please 🤩
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75
In short: past viking warrior legends, now mothers, get back together to save one of their daughters, oh and the world, from Ragnarok.
If you are looking for a book with viking inspired fantasy, inspirational and heartwarming motherhood, and an adventurous , legendary story that blends heart, humour, history and hurt masterfully, read this!
If you liked this, I would recommend The Sword Of Kaigen and Kings of the Wyld.
Bookstagram
In short: past viking warrior legends, now mothers, get back together to save one of their daughters, oh and the world, from Ragnarok.
"If we accidentally start Ragnarok, I'm totally blaming you, Lovis whispered in Sol's
ear.
Sol grinned. "Ill say Loki set me up. Seems like that works for everyone else. Anyway, if we're about to start Ragnarok, I really need to get laid one last time."
If you are looking for a book with viking inspired fantasy, inspirational and heartwarming motherhood, and an adventurous , legendary story that blends heart, humour, history and hurt masterfully, read this!
”I mean, sure, everyone says they'll do anything for their kids. But it's different for moms. We start giving of ourselves before they're even born. And then when they're born, we're still giving, giving, giving, and the nature of our giving changes, but it never really ends.”
If you liked this, I would recommend The Sword Of Kaigen and Kings of the Wyld.
Bookstagram
October 30, 2020
The review below is an excerpt from the Fantasy Hive's SPFBO review of this book, one of our semi-finalists, and one of the titles I've had the most fun with, during this bleak, crappy year. Wonderful work, Timandra! And here, you can find the full review!
While we read, we all fashion meaning for ourselves of a given text. But with the better books one reads, there is an objective reason to speak of far-reaching themes. Such is the case here: Whitecastle’s themes should resonate with many a reader; one of the most important of them decries notions of individual glory–and ego-driven individualism, by extension–while celebrating community and family (not only the one connected to us by blood, but also by fiercer bonds — of sisterhood, friendship, and loyalty).
That said, I’ve had such fun with Queens of the Wyrd. It’s a rare book that’ll have me laugh through so many jokes and references that border on the cheesy, but Whitecastle’s semi-finalist is the rare exception. Rarer still is the strength of its themes — which I have plenty to say about below.
Few moments reveal character in Queens of the Wyrd the way that combat does.
At the height of Whitecastle’s combat sequences, you can almost taste the sweat and blood, your muscles clenching in response to Lovis’ draconian efforts to keep her daughter and friends alive, while often showing an absolute disregard for her own physical health – the places this half-giant warrior dives headlong into will make you question her mental health. She is a shield — hel, she’s a full bloody suit of armour for her sisters.
olveig the Golden experiences a joy in combat, in the sheer bloody nature of it, its chaos and its glory. It sweeps her up, burns her like a hunger. She’s ruthlessness and recklessness, and she is magnificent.
Torune is frigid, unmoving; winter itself. And no less horrifying.
Eira is the kind of idjit that’ll sing along to Frozen, while changing the lyrics to be topical: “Let it grow, let it grow! Can’t hold it in anymore!”
Birke is proof that the phrase “Thinking with portals,” is alive and well in the cultural zeitgeist.
As for the framework is adopts, Queens of the Wyrd is an irreverent take on Norse mythology, one that reimagines and adds a whole lot, using myth as a starting point to propel this action-fueled adventure. Whitecastle isn’t trying to create a historically accurate world to that of the pre-Christian Scandinavians. No, this is a world chock-full of pop-culture references (Nils has pointed us to Titanic and Heroes, but I came across a paraphrase of Frozen’s “Let it snow” song, and a sentence I’m near-certain is a nod to Joe Abercrombie: “Say one thing for Eira as the Spring Maiden, say she was the epitome of green-grass smells and flowers in spring rain”). The folks who inhabit this world speak in much the same way as we do; you won’t come across any “thou”s and “thee”s.
But let’s return to the mythological elements. One of the more interesting choices Whitecastle makes is in referring to Odin as the “Valfather”, which I’ve seen used in the Poetic Edda but nowhere else–until I read it in this novel. It doesn’t even figure into my Dictionary of Mythology! (Call me a nerd, I dare you; c’mon, you know you want to!)
Plenty of Norse-sounding monsters and beasties to be found, though most of them are additions of Whitecastle’s own make — something she admits to; what’s important is, she succeeds in keeping them thematically true to the roots of this norse-based myth. I enjoyed what Timandra has brought to the table — making these myths one’s own is part of the fun in writing (and reading) fantasy like this.
A favourite quote of mine is this one:
Lovis, Birke, Sol, Torune, Eira and Astrid – I grew fiercely attached to every last one of them. The camaraderie, friendship, and honesty between them caught the spirit of such anthology series as DC Comics’ Birds of Prey and even Mad Max: Fury Road, in those intense action sequences. I could see a movie based on Queens of the Wyrd directed by the likes of James Gunn, with action sequences served by Heart’s “Barracuda” as a backdrop.
The only thing that holds this book back are the errors. I don’t know if a proof-reader was hired to take a look at Queens of the Wyrd but I would make the argument that they could’ve been of help; I’ve marked over thirty errors, typos or otherwise, and I wasn’t really looking for them. I hate to bring this up, on account of how much I enjoyed Whitecastle’s work, but these errors are numerous enough not to be overlooked.
But I shan’t end on this bitter note. Queens of the Wyrd deserves your attention — it makes an excellent argument about using mythology to one’s own purposes, and it does so with heart. I hope to read more about these queens of the wyrd, I really do.
While we read, we all fashion meaning for ourselves of a given text. But with the better books one reads, there is an objective reason to speak of far-reaching themes. Such is the case here: Whitecastle’s themes should resonate with many a reader; one of the most important of them decries notions of individual glory–and ego-driven individualism, by extension–while celebrating community and family (not only the one connected to us by blood, but also by fiercer bonds — of sisterhood, friendship, and loyalty).
That said, I’ve had such fun with Queens of the Wyrd. It’s a rare book that’ll have me laugh through so many jokes and references that border on the cheesy, but Whitecastle’s semi-finalist is the rare exception. Rarer still is the strength of its themes — which I have plenty to say about below.
Few moments reveal character in Queens of the Wyrd the way that combat does.
At the height of Whitecastle’s combat sequences, you can almost taste the sweat and blood, your muscles clenching in response to Lovis’ draconian efforts to keep her daughter and friends alive, while often showing an absolute disregard for her own physical health – the places this half-giant warrior dives headlong into will make you question her mental health. She is a shield — hel, she’s a full bloody suit of armour for her sisters.
olveig the Golden experiences a joy in combat, in the sheer bloody nature of it, its chaos and its glory. It sweeps her up, burns her like a hunger. She’s ruthlessness and recklessness, and she is magnificent.
Torune is frigid, unmoving; winter itself. And no less horrifying.
Eira is the kind of idjit that’ll sing along to Frozen, while changing the lyrics to be topical: “Let it grow, let it grow! Can’t hold it in anymore!”
Birke is proof that the phrase “Thinking with portals,” is alive and well in the cultural zeitgeist.
As for the framework is adopts, Queens of the Wyrd is an irreverent take on Norse mythology, one that reimagines and adds a whole lot, using myth as a starting point to propel this action-fueled adventure. Whitecastle isn’t trying to create a historically accurate world to that of the pre-Christian Scandinavians. No, this is a world chock-full of pop-culture references (Nils has pointed us to Titanic and Heroes, but I came across a paraphrase of Frozen’s “Let it snow” song, and a sentence I’m near-certain is a nod to Joe Abercrombie: “Say one thing for Eira as the Spring Maiden, say she was the epitome of green-grass smells and flowers in spring rain”). The folks who inhabit this world speak in much the same way as we do; you won’t come across any “thou”s and “thee”s.
But let’s return to the mythological elements. One of the more interesting choices Whitecastle makes is in referring to Odin as the “Valfather”, which I’ve seen used in the Poetic Edda but nowhere else–until I read it in this novel. It doesn’t even figure into my Dictionary of Mythology! (Call me a nerd, I dare you; c’mon, you know you want to!)
Plenty of Norse-sounding monsters and beasties to be found, though most of them are additions of Whitecastle’s own make — something she admits to; what’s important is, she succeeds in keeping them thematically true to the roots of this norse-based myth. I enjoyed what Timandra has brought to the table — making these myths one’s own is part of the fun in writing (and reading) fantasy like this.
A favourite quote of mine is this one:
“To hear the bards sing of battle was all rhymes and clever imagery. This was because the bards mainly fought with words. They wrestled with the abstract, fiddled with rhythm and cadence, and then worked out the performance of their songs making minor adjustments night after night. They were craftsmen with certain tools. But very few had ever actually seen a battlefield from close up, or witnessed its carnage. If they had, they’d know that most of a battle is a lot [of] meticulous planning going to absolute shit in a matter of seconds. But this was very familiar territory to anyone with kids…”
Lovis, Birke, Sol, Torune, Eira and Astrid – I grew fiercely attached to every last one of them. The camaraderie, friendship, and honesty between them caught the spirit of such anthology series as DC Comics’ Birds of Prey and even Mad Max: Fury Road, in those intense action sequences. I could see a movie based on Queens of the Wyrd directed by the likes of James Gunn, with action sequences served by Heart’s “Barracuda” as a backdrop.
The only thing that holds this book back are the errors. I don’t know if a proof-reader was hired to take a look at Queens of the Wyrd but I would make the argument that they could’ve been of help; I’ve marked over thirty errors, typos or otherwise, and I wasn’t really looking for them. I hate to bring this up, on account of how much I enjoyed Whitecastle’s work, but these errors are numerous enough not to be overlooked.
But I shan’t end on this bitter note. Queens of the Wyrd deserves your attention — it makes an excellent argument about using mythology to one’s own purposes, and it does so with heart. I hope to read more about these queens of the wyrd, I really do.
April 12, 2021
This may turn into a 4 star, but keeping it at a 3.5 for now. It was a great read, fast paced, unique plot and characters, loved Torune! I got a bit frustrated by certain reactions/twists that didn’t seem to make sense to me, perhaps more context setting would have fixed this? I’m still confused by Lovis’ romantic situation, which would be an interesting follow on book! I found myself shipping Lovis and Sol, like a later in life sapphic romance. Anyhooo, I did love all the battles and emphasis on owning who you are!
Update: 4 stars now🤣, finding myself laughing at the crude jokes (wish there was sooommee follow through) and pondering the characters relationships. Questions that remain: Who is Birke’s father?! What draws Lovis to the bar owner guy (I forgot his name)? What does Tourne do now, back to attempting to teach young mages? Who is this new mage guy and what is his special magical ability? So there are at least several books there 😉
Update: 4 stars now🤣, finding myself laughing at the crude jokes (wish there was sooommee follow through) and pondering the characters relationships. Questions that remain: Who is Birke’s father?! What draws Lovis to the bar owner guy (I forgot his name)? What does Tourne do now, back to attempting to teach young mages? Who is this new mage guy and what is his special magical ability? So there are at least several books there 😉
March 26, 2022
This is a perfect example of a solid 4 star read !
This is such a go to fun adventurous read ! I loved the Norse Mythology setting and our group of Valkyrie fighter women ! Also really liked the represantation of motherhood, we need more of that. And little Birke ofcourse !
Overall definitely recommend it ! XD
"This is how you usher in a new age, she thought. Shoulder to shoulder with thousands of allies fighting the same battle you are."
This is such a go to fun adventurous read ! I loved the Norse Mythology setting and our group of Valkyrie fighter women ! Also really liked the represantation of motherhood, we need more of that. And little Birke ofcourse !
Overall definitely recommend it ! XD
December 20, 2022
Review originally posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
So, I loveeeeeed this book. I had wanted to read something by Tim for a while, because her books seemed so fascinating and I’d heard so many good things, but after reading this book, I definitely know I want to read her works for the rest of time. If you enjoyed Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames (and everyone knows that’s one of my favorite books of all time), then this book is right up your alley. Find out why below:
Likes
The characters. This is always a big thing for me. The book can be the most beautifully written book in the world, but if I don’t get emotionally connected (whether that’s loving or hating) to the characters, it’s hard for me to stay invested. For Queens, this was super easy to do. I LOVED Lovis and Birke is just too wholesome for this world. As we slowly begin to meet the rest of the Shieldmothers, not only did I love each one in turn, but I loved how unique each one was, as well, and how distinct they were.
The focus on motherhood. So many books in fantasy either a) never include mothers to begin with, b) leave them as background characters or c) act like it’s impossible for a mother to also be a warrior or an adventurer or what have you. I love, love, LOVE that this novel takes all of those ideas and throws them in the bin. It makes me want to explore motherhood more in my own novels and I just appreciated the care that was taken with this.
The adventure. I love a good adventure story and this had that, for sure! I loved how much we got to explore (especially in a certain area where a certain Spring Maiden lives) and how it all came together at the end. I also loved how it seemed to have everything: from the quest to great banter to heartfelt tender moments to laugh-out-loud humorous moments to punches right in your groin surprises.
The strong writing. I think I read the first 100 pages without pausing or realizing that I had gotten so far into the novel? It just read that smoothly.
Dislikes
I…really can’t come up with any. That it ended? That I don’t get to read book two immediately?
So, I loveeeeeed this book. I had wanted to read something by Tim for a while, because her books seemed so fascinating and I’d heard so many good things, but after reading this book, I definitely know I want to read her works for the rest of time. If you enjoyed Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames (and everyone knows that’s one of my favorite books of all time), then this book is right up your alley. Find out why below:
Likes
The characters. This is always a big thing for me. The book can be the most beautifully written book in the world, but if I don’t get emotionally connected (whether that’s loving or hating) to the characters, it’s hard for me to stay invested. For Queens, this was super easy to do. I LOVED Lovis and Birke is just too wholesome for this world. As we slowly begin to meet the rest of the Shieldmothers, not only did I love each one in turn, but I loved how unique each one was, as well, and how distinct they were.
The focus on motherhood. So many books in fantasy either a) never include mothers to begin with, b) leave them as background characters or c) act like it’s impossible for a mother to also be a warrior or an adventurer or what have you. I love, love, LOVE that this novel takes all of those ideas and throws them in the bin. It makes me want to explore motherhood more in my own novels and I just appreciated the care that was taken with this.
The adventure. I love a good adventure story and this had that, for sure! I loved how much we got to explore (especially in a certain area where a certain Spring Maiden lives) and how it all came together at the end. I also loved how it seemed to have everything: from the quest to great banter to heartfelt tender moments to laugh-out-loud humorous moments to punches right in your groin surprises.
The strong writing. I think I read the first 100 pages without pausing or realizing that I had gotten so far into the novel? It just read that smoothly.
Dislikes
I…really can’t come up with any. That it ended? That I don’t get to read book two immediately?
January 30, 2020
Moms Save the World: Epic Norse Fantasy
-Overall Thoughts-
Queens of the Wyrd is the standalone story of Lovis, a retired Shieldmaiden, and her friend and fellow Shieldmaiden, Solveig. When Solveig learns that her daughter, Astrid, is trapped in the beseiged city of Vigrid, Solveig comes to Lovis for help rescuing her. The problem is, Lovis has a 10-year-old daughter herself, and there's no daycare option for Shieldmaidens off on a vikingr. As the women try to plan how to achieve a rescue from a city besieged by a horde of monsters and Lovis grapples with the potential risk to her daughter, Birke, of bringing her along, one thing becomes clear - they need to get their band of Shieldmaidens back together. So begins an epic journey through Midgard and a few of the other nine realms. The plot points in the first part of the book will feel familiar to readers who have read Kings of the Wyld and for good reason - Queens of the Wyrd starts off as something of a response to Kings: a story of adventure, friendships and identities, and epic battles, but wrapped in the rich world of Norse mythology rather than D&D, and following the mothers rather than the guys. As we get going, though, the characters and world set themselves apart from being a simple response, and we get a deep and imaginative story of a group of strong women and mothers, being strong women and mothers, and saving the world while they're at it. It was a fun, action-packed story with a lot of heart and I greatly enjoyed reading it.
-Suggested Audience-
Readers who enjoy Norse-mythology-inspired worlds and stories.
Readers who've been wondering when the moms will get to go on the adventure.
-Rating-
5/5, this book was a lot of fun to read. It's a familiar story told from a whole new perspective, and told brilliantly well. Boy, does motherhood sound exhausting! I'd love to see follow-up stories checking in with the characters later on, especially Birke.
-Overall Thoughts-
Queens of the Wyrd is the standalone story of Lovis, a retired Shieldmaiden, and her friend and fellow Shieldmaiden, Solveig. When Solveig learns that her daughter, Astrid, is trapped in the beseiged city of Vigrid, Solveig comes to Lovis for help rescuing her. The problem is, Lovis has a 10-year-old daughter herself, and there's no daycare option for Shieldmaidens off on a vikingr. As the women try to plan how to achieve a rescue from a city besieged by a horde of monsters and Lovis grapples with the potential risk to her daughter, Birke, of bringing her along, one thing becomes clear - they need to get their band of Shieldmaidens back together. So begins an epic journey through Midgard and a few of the other nine realms. The plot points in the first part of the book will feel familiar to readers who have read Kings of the Wyld and for good reason - Queens of the Wyrd starts off as something of a response to Kings: a story of adventure, friendships and identities, and epic battles, but wrapped in the rich world of Norse mythology rather than D&D, and following the mothers rather than the guys. As we get going, though, the characters and world set themselves apart from being a simple response, and we get a deep and imaginative story of a group of strong women and mothers, being strong women and mothers, and saving the world while they're at it. It was a fun, action-packed story with a lot of heart and I greatly enjoyed reading it.
-Suggested Audience-
Readers who enjoy Norse-mythology-inspired worlds and stories.
Readers who've been wondering when the moms will get to go on the adventure.
-Rating-
5/5, this book was a lot of fun to read. It's a familiar story told from a whole new perspective, and told brilliantly well. Boy, does motherhood sound exhausting! I'd love to see follow-up stories checking in with the characters later on, especially Birke.
August 6, 2022
The action and battle scenes were incredible and there was one point where I was definitely holding my breath as I saw what was coming.
But on a deeper level, I really enjoyed this for two specific reasons.
First, I'm much more a fan of 'The Heroines' journey' as laid out by Gail Carriger (shout out to the rebel author podcast w/ Sasha Black for explaining this) than I am of Campbell's 'Heroes' Journey'. Joining together and building a community and becoming stronger together is just much more relatable and applicable than lonely individualism. Queens of the Wyrd had that in Spades. Old friends coming back together, old relationships renewed, betrayed, and deepened was, in my opinion the core of this story, and something I enjoyed immensely.
Secondly, I HATE the idea that in order to do great things, you have to leave your family, that they are somehow holding you back from doing important things. Lovis bringing Birke with her was awesome, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
When I was a kid, my Dad showed us a lot of old movies, and one the favorites was the Magnificent Seven with Yule Brenner. It's a story about how 7 gunslingers protect a small town against a band of outlaws, and the young boys of the town are, of course, thoroughly enamored of the gunfighters. In a scene late in the movie, the boys say something disparaging about their fathers to one of the seven played by Charles Bronson. He snaps and tells the boy that there is incredible bravery in staying in one place, being faithful to ones' family, and, and not running away from difficulties.
It was one of my favorite scenes in the movie, in a large part because it presented a very real version of heroism is.
Queens of the Wyrd were filled with that heroism, not glory chasing, not running away from the inglorious, regular work that goes into making a good life, the bravery of taking care of your own.
And sometimes, that means you have to fight Nidhoggr.
But on a deeper level, I really enjoyed this for two specific reasons.
First, I'm much more a fan of 'The Heroines' journey' as laid out by Gail Carriger (shout out to the rebel author podcast w/ Sasha Black for explaining this) than I am of Campbell's 'Heroes' Journey'. Joining together and building a community and becoming stronger together is just much more relatable and applicable than lonely individualism. Queens of the Wyrd had that in Spades. Old friends coming back together, old relationships renewed, betrayed, and deepened was, in my opinion the core of this story, and something I enjoyed immensely.
Secondly, I HATE the idea that in order to do great things, you have to leave your family, that they are somehow holding you back from doing important things. Lovis bringing Birke with her was awesome, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
When I was a kid, my Dad showed us a lot of old movies, and one the favorites was the Magnificent Seven with Yule Brenner. It's a story about how 7 gunslingers protect a small town against a band of outlaws, and the young boys of the town are, of course, thoroughly enamored of the gunfighters. In a scene late in the movie, the boys say something disparaging about their fathers to one of the seven played by Charles Bronson. He snaps and tells the boy that there is incredible bravery in staying in one place, being faithful to ones' family, and, and not running away from difficulties.
It was one of my favorite scenes in the movie, in a large part because it presented a very real version of heroism is.
Queens of the Wyrd were filled with that heroism, not glory chasing, not running away from the inglorious, regular work that goes into making a good life, the bravery of taking care of your own.
And sometimes, that means you have to fight Nidhoggr.
November 30, 2020
Queens of the Wyrd was one that had popped up on my radar from various sources again and again, and this was a great opportunity to finally pick it up and I’m glad that I did, because I really enjoyed this one.
This is a wonderful quest fantasy that follows a retired band of shieldmaidens as they form up once more to rescue one of their member’s daughter. Right away, I was hooked on the premise, because we so rarely see mothers so directly involved in the action of fantasy, let alone in the form of a fierce band of warrior women intent on saving the day, and the delivery sealed the deal for me. This was fun, with a wonderful blend of history and mythology, and a really unique take on both, and the worldbuilding was the perfect balance of fantastic and subtle, never overwhelming the plot but leaving me longing to know more.
The characters were the cherry on top with this one, because every one of them had a unique voice, their own history and motivations, and it made for an interesting tapestry of personalities within the group. As much as this book is about the quest and adventure and action, it is also about their relationships, the bonds of friendship, motherhood, love and loyalty and it gave Queens of the Wyrd the kind of depth that leaves a lingering impression, and this will certainly be one that I return to in the future.
This is a wonderful quest fantasy that follows a retired band of shieldmaidens as they form up once more to rescue one of their member’s daughter. Right away, I was hooked on the premise, because we so rarely see mothers so directly involved in the action of fantasy, let alone in the form of a fierce band of warrior women intent on saving the day, and the delivery sealed the deal for me. This was fun, with a wonderful blend of history and mythology, and a really unique take on both, and the worldbuilding was the perfect balance of fantastic and subtle, never overwhelming the plot but leaving me longing to know more.
The characters were the cherry on top with this one, because every one of them had a unique voice, their own history and motivations, and it made for an interesting tapestry of personalities within the group. As much as this book is about the quest and adventure and action, it is also about their relationships, the bonds of friendship, motherhood, love and loyalty and it gave Queens of the Wyrd the kind of depth that leaves a lingering impression, and this will certainly be one that I return to in the future.
January 13, 2020
A tribute to mothers everywhere! I loved Timandra Whitecastle's Living Blade trilogy so was excited to get a mail announcing she had released another work and snapped up a copy straightaway. It didn't disappoint, despite being very different in tone to said trilogy. Queens of the Wyrd is a funny, emotional ride whereas Living Blade was a more intense ride with funny moments. Living Blade has a sibling relationship at its heart; QotW is about mothers (and dare I say, parenting in general!).
Quickly accept the fact that the dialogue & phrasing is quite contemporary and you'll enjoy the humour. "Ho-ly sh*t!", "Chop chop!", "Rightio!" This is comedy with heart.
Whilst the story itself is enjoyable (band of warriors get back together for a personal quest that ends up being about saving the world) and is given a nice angle with all our heroes being female, it really is the interactions between the characters that made me love them and the book.
I have stayed at home and looked after our children from the ages of 1.5yrs and 3 yrs respectively, and so appreciated reading about warriors having to deal with being constantly needed. I've always believed that mothers have that special connection to our children, since the life grew inside them, and I could genuinely feel that within the author's words. My own mother passed away just before our first son was born, and some words and passages gave me pause to remove whatever dust or sand was in my eye .
As I said, this is a tribute to mothers and since we all were born from our mothers, I would think it has broad appeal. Whitecastle has asked readers to let her know if they want more from the Shieldmaidens. Part of me felt very content at the end and definitely not unsatisfied, but if there is more to come from Lovis & friends, I'll be there!
Quickly accept the fact that the dialogue & phrasing is quite contemporary and you'll enjoy the humour. "Ho-ly sh*t!", "Chop chop!", "Rightio!" This is comedy with heart.
Whilst the story itself is enjoyable (band of warriors get back together for a personal quest that ends up being about saving the world) and is given a nice angle with all our heroes being female, it really is the interactions between the characters that made me love them and the book.
I have stayed at home and looked after our children from the ages of 1.5yrs and 3 yrs respectively, and so appreciated reading about warriors having to deal with being constantly needed. I've always believed that mothers have that special connection to our children, since the life grew inside them, and I could genuinely feel that within the author's words. My own mother passed away just before our first son was born, and some words and passages gave me pause to remove whatever dust or sand was in my eye .
As I said, this is a tribute to mothers and since we all were born from our mothers, I would think it has broad appeal. Whitecastle has asked readers to let her know if they want more from the Shieldmaidens. Part of me felt very content at the end and definitely not unsatisfied, but if there is more to come from Lovis & friends, I'll be there!
September 28, 2025
A band of middle-aged warriors gets together for a savior mission—a nod to the Kings of the Wyld. So, was this as fun and as tongue-in-cheek?
Yes and no. Yes, because it broke my immersion time and time again with the modern lingo and chapter inserts. No, because it also wanted to be serious and deep, and I rolled my eyes at many character monologues that would have worked better just shown through the plot. Most of the time, I didn’t even know which character was talking; it was so out of character for all of them.
I was interested in the characters and thought the beginning was strong, but then the book lost me around the 40% mark and, sadly, got bogged down with many interesting concepts it did absolutely nothing with. I think a smaller scale with a smaller cast would have worked better here.
Yes and no. Yes, because it broke my immersion time and time again with the modern lingo and chapter inserts. No, because it also wanted to be serious and deep, and I rolled my eyes at many character monologues that would have worked better just shown through the plot. Most of the time, I didn’t even know which character was talking; it was so out of character for all of them.
I was interested in the characters and thought the beginning was strong, but then the book lost me around the 40% mark and, sadly, got bogged down with many interesting concepts it did absolutely nothing with. I think a smaller scale with a smaller cast would have worked better here.
July 8, 2023
It's pretty much Kings of the Wyld with women and moms instead of guys. I still enjoyed myself although it was eeriely similar. I'll definitely check out the next book in the series.
March 18, 2023
Despite having a lot of fun with the first couple of parts, the third was a little hard to enjoy as much.
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Queens of the Wyrd was the last book I read to complete my bingo card for r/fantasy's annual bingo, while also being one I highly anticipated throughout the challenge. The reason for said high anticipation, was easily because of King of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames and this being marketed as the women version of that adventure.
Was it accurate? Yes, I believe so, eerily similar in progression as well.
But the real treat here for me, was getting to know the characters in question. I enjoyed getting to know the women, seeing their abilities and learning about their issues/motives. The added angle of the Norse mythology with actual inclusion of legends or entities, in turn, made it all the more fun.
I did find an addition to the party to be a strange choice in a sense to be fair, but the interesting dynamic because of it was heartwarming more so than not.
That being said, I do believe that there was some rough spots in the book to get through for me. Queen of the Wyrd tries to be funny at times (comedy rarely hits for me as is), while showing the struggles of motherhood and sacrifices that come with it at other times. The former for me, fell flat every time, but the latter was brilliant.
This contrast between the moods so to speak, made some parts of the book fly by, while others were on a much much slower pace. But even then I was fine with it, as the author doesn't really linger on either for a long time.
Despite all of this, the book was highly entertaining for the first two thirds of it, it's when I got to the climax and the conclusion that things started being lesser in a sense.
And it was because of how incredibly silly it felt to me.
I'm sure that if the humour was at least a little bit amusing, I wouldn't have felt this at all. The usage of modern day language at times probably played into that as well, but it unfortunately ended up feeling silly despite the epic and honestly badass, conclusion.
Which wasn't how I expected it to feel after enjoying the first 70% of it (As evident by my update notes while reading).
Moving forward, I will be reading any sequels though as I did enjoy the majority of it even with the nitpicks above, and having older protagonists in leading roles is definitely not something I will pass up if it's something I know I might enjoy.
So here's to hoping I come back with a glowing review next time!
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Queens of the Wyrd was the last book I read to complete my bingo card for r/fantasy's annual bingo, while also being one I highly anticipated throughout the challenge. The reason for said high anticipation, was easily because of King of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames and this being marketed as the women version of that adventure.
Was it accurate? Yes, I believe so, eerily similar in progression as well.
But the real treat here for me, was getting to know the characters in question. I enjoyed getting to know the women, seeing their abilities and learning about their issues/motives. The added angle of the Norse mythology with actual inclusion of legends or entities, in turn, made it all the more fun.
I did find an addition to the party to be a strange choice in a sense to be fair, but the interesting dynamic because of it was heartwarming more so than not.
That being said, I do believe that there was some rough spots in the book to get through for me. Queen of the Wyrd tries to be funny at times (comedy rarely hits for me as is), while showing the struggles of motherhood and sacrifices that come with it at other times. The former for me, fell flat every time, but the latter was brilliant.
This contrast between the moods so to speak, made some parts of the book fly by, while others were on a much much slower pace. But even then I was fine with it, as the author doesn't really linger on either for a long time.
Despite all of this, the book was highly entertaining for the first two thirds of it, it's when I got to the climax and the conclusion that things started being lesser in a sense.
And it was because of how incredibly silly it felt to me.
I'm sure that if the humour was at least a little bit amusing, I wouldn't have felt this at all. The usage of modern day language at times probably played into that as well, but it unfortunately ended up feeling silly despite the epic and honestly badass, conclusion.
Which wasn't how I expected it to feel after enjoying the first 70% of it (As evident by my update notes while reading).
Moving forward, I will be reading any sequels though as I did enjoy the majority of it even with the nitpicks above, and having older protagonists in leading roles is definitely not something I will pass up if it's something I know I might enjoy.
So here's to hoping I come back with a glowing review next time!
December 15, 2019
Loved it! Hope to see more books in this world.
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