What do you think?
Rate this book
The Valkyrie
*The Embroidered Book shortlisted for the Aurora Award for Best Novel*
From SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Kate Heartfield comes a glorious, lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics
Brynhild is a shieldmaiden of the Allfather, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile.
Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.
And in the songs to be sung, there is another Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.
As the legends tell, these names are destined to be lovers, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies…
For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.
From SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Kate Heartfield comes a glorious, lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics
Brynhild is a shieldmaiden of the Allfather, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile.
Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.
And in the songs to be sung, there is another Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.
As the legends tell, these names are destined to be lovers, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies…
For not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
84 people are currently reading
7301 people want to read
About the author
Kate Heartfield
36 books379 followersKate Heartfield is the author of The Embroidered Book, a Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy novel published in 2022, which was shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award. The Valkyrie, published in 2023, is a retelling of Norse and Germanic legends. The Tapestry of Time, published in 2024, is about four clairvoyant sisters fighting the Nazis for control of the Bayeux Tapestry in 1944. Her Alice Payne time travel novellas were published in 2018 and 2019. Her debut novel Armed in Her Fashion (2018) was re-published in a revised edition in 2023 as The Chatelaine. She also writes interactive fiction, including The Road to Canterbury, and The Magician's Workshop, published by Choice of Games. She has published two Assassin's Creed tie-in novels: The Magus Conspiracy and The Resurrection Plot. She has won the Aurora Award for Best Novel three times, and her short fiction has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, Nebula, Locus, Aurora, Sunburst and Crawford awards, and her journalism for a National Newspaper Award. Her short stories have appeared in Strange Horizons, Lackington's, Podcastle and elsewhere. A former newspaper journalist, Kate lives near Ottawa, Canada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
Read
April 3, 2023Hello! I'll just use this space to say thanks for reading, and to link to my very brief content note.
UPDATE April 2023: I've shared my Kindle notes and highlights here, and I've also posted them on my website. If you're interested in the Norse and German sources, or in my writing process, you might find them interesting.
UPDATE April 2023: I've shared my Kindle notes and highlights here, and I've also posted them on my website. If you're interested in the Norse and German sources, or in my writing process, you might find them interesting.
March 9, 2024
"We are a nation of two, a witch and a warrior, a warrior and a witch, and we lie under the stars at night so close that our pulses touch."
What a wonderful retelling! I am such a fan of mythology retold from women's perspectives and this one did not disappoint. It really felt like a fairy tale and it was so exciting that I felt like a little kid again reading it.
What a wonderful retelling! I am such a fan of mythology retold from women's perspectives and this one did not disappoint. It really felt like a fairy tale and it was so exciting that I felt like a little kid again reading it.
April 21, 2023
The Valkyrie is an epic tale of Brynhild, a fallen Valkyrie banished to Midgard (Earth) for opposing Odin’s decisions on who lives and dies.
What does a fallen Valkyrie do first? Go on an epic journey to kill a Lindworm that is poisoning and killing the land and its people of course. There are epic battle scenes full of gore and I loved it!
It is also told from the POV of Gudrun, a princess. At times the POV switch was a little confusing but once you settle into it, it is very effective and comes together perfectly.
There is heartbreak, hope, epic battles, honour and hate.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in advance.
What does a fallen Valkyrie do first? Go on an epic journey to kill a Lindworm that is poisoning and killing the land and its people of course. There are epic battle scenes full of gore and I loved it!
It is also told from the POV of Gudrun, a princess. At times the POV switch was a little confusing but once you settle into it, it is very effective and comes together perfectly.
There is heartbreak, hope, epic battles, honour and hate.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in advance.
Read
April 25, 2025There are differing versions of the legendary or mythical characters in this book, Brynhild, Gudrun and Sigurd, the Germanic in the Nibelungenlied and the Scandinavian in the Prose Edda being the best known. Kate Heartfield brings the legend right up to date with feminist themes of women’s power and female sexuality, relying heavily throughout on elements of magic, mostly in the hands of the two women, although of course there is also magic in the dragon Fafnir that Brynhild the Valkyrie fights against. The stock figure of the witch appears in one guise or another, from Gudrun’s mother to an ancient crone who inhabits a lonely tower – her tower has a rôle in the tale later on. All aspects of the narrative are complementary and relevant, which I admire.
The two women reveal their separate stories and their togetherness in directly addressing each other, having promised each other complete honesty. This enables an intimacy of style into which the reader is drawn, appreciating the very different characters and motivations of both women. There is also a male relationship, which is presented lovingly and gently, against the background of men such as Attila the Hun, who might not have been too impressed! The book was well written and a good read. It ticks all the boxes of a 21st century bestseller, and it’s backed up by a great deal of very plausibly authentic detail.
What interested me, even more than the powerful and dazzling Norse myths, was the slow identification of Brynhild the Valkyrie with the city defended by Gudrun. I’m reading Christine de Pizan’s Cité des dames at the moment (the ‘d’ is deliberately not capitalised!) where all the strong, powerful, clever and religious women past and present build a city together, led by three allegorical figures, Reason, Rectitude and Justice. To capitalise the ‘d’ in ‘dames’ would give the impression of referring to these figures only, not to all women, anywhere and in any time period. These women build a city without men; but so far in Christine’s book their lives within it are not portrayed. In The Valkyrie, Kate Heartland does explore the basic human need, male and female, to gather, to plant, to own, to belong, to defend one’s city. I spent last week in Glasgow, a city I very rarely visit. I’m always struck, though, when I do go there, by the friendliness, helpfulness and straightforwardness of Glasgow people. In particular, this time, I thought about the handsome old buildings of the West End, which, despite being built and lived in by Sugar Lords and now by the generally well-off, still somehow belong to all Glaswegians, part of their sprawling, diverse history and present sense of ownership of a rare and splendid thing – a city that acknowledges itself and its people, and finds recourse in a great humanity. In Kate Heartfield’s novel the sense of this need and raison d’être sits alongside the fantasy and the magic of the world of witches and Valkyries. It does battle against Attila the Hun and the Roman legions. Also, an important feature of Brynhild's story is the scars she bears, some self-inflicted, to remember her dead sisters. We bear her scars with her; we bear our own; not with self-pity, but with a resignation and something of pride.
The last section of Brynhild’s adventures has a different focus, one which we all come to, acknowledge wordlessly, sometimes desperately. It works as well as anything could at this level of exploration – I don’t want to say more about it as I hate having the end of a book told to me before I’ve read it! But I left the story with a sense of the importance of home, whether temporary or permanent, actual or imagined, physical or emotional, whether tied to a place or to a person. And that sense carries us from the fantastic world of the afterlife and magic to what we fight for, and what we need, in any time or place.
The two women reveal their separate stories and their togetherness in directly addressing each other, having promised each other complete honesty. This enables an intimacy of style into which the reader is drawn, appreciating the very different characters and motivations of both women. There is also a male relationship, which is presented lovingly and gently, against the background of men such as Attila the Hun, who might not have been too impressed! The book was well written and a good read. It ticks all the boxes of a 21st century bestseller, and it’s backed up by a great deal of very plausibly authentic detail.
What interested me, even more than the powerful and dazzling Norse myths, was the slow identification of Brynhild the Valkyrie with the city defended by Gudrun. I’m reading Christine de Pizan’s Cité des dames at the moment (the ‘d’ is deliberately not capitalised!) where all the strong, powerful, clever and religious women past and present build a city together, led by three allegorical figures, Reason, Rectitude and Justice. To capitalise the ‘d’ in ‘dames’ would give the impression of referring to these figures only, not to all women, anywhere and in any time period. These women build a city without men; but so far in Christine’s book their lives within it are not portrayed. In The Valkyrie, Kate Heartland does explore the basic human need, male and female, to gather, to plant, to own, to belong, to defend one’s city. I spent last week in Glasgow, a city I very rarely visit. I’m always struck, though, when I do go there, by the friendliness, helpfulness and straightforwardness of Glasgow people. In particular, this time, I thought about the handsome old buildings of the West End, which, despite being built and lived in by Sugar Lords and now by the generally well-off, still somehow belong to all Glaswegians, part of their sprawling, diverse history and present sense of ownership of a rare and splendid thing – a city that acknowledges itself and its people, and finds recourse in a great humanity. In Kate Heartfield’s novel the sense of this need and raison d’être sits alongside the fantasy and the magic of the world of witches and Valkyries. It does battle against Attila the Hun and the Roman legions. Also, an important feature of Brynhild's story is the scars she bears, some self-inflicted, to remember her dead sisters. We bear her scars with her; we bear our own; not with self-pity, but with a resignation and something of pride.
The last section of Brynhild’s adventures has a different focus, one which we all come to, acknowledge wordlessly, sometimes desperately. It works as well as anything could at this level of exploration – I don’t want to say more about it as I hate having the end of a book told to me before I’ve read it! But I left the story with a sense of the importance of home, whether temporary or permanent, actual or imagined, physical or emotional, whether tied to a place or to a person. And that sense carries us from the fantastic world of the afterlife and magic to what we fight for, and what we need, in any time or place.
March 8, 2024
Outstanding!! This author is on my must-read list. Amazingly, every time I think Heartfield has outdone herself, she does it AGAIN.
It is a wonder.
As is this book. If you love your myths retold and brought into fiery, vivid new life--or if you just want a terrific story with memorable characters--this is for you. Most Highly Recommended.
It is a wonder.
As is this book. If you love your myths retold and brought into fiery, vivid new life--or if you just want a terrific story with memorable characters--this is for you. Most Highly Recommended.
January 1, 2025
I went into this book without fully knowing what it was about, I just saw the title and cover and thought, This looks like my kind of read! And I have to say, past me made the right call.
This is essentially a retelling of the Brynhild saga, featuring the Valkyrie cast to earth by Odin, her betrayal by Sigurd, and the backdrop of Vormatia. The narrative culminates in a dramatic clash involving the armies of Attila and the Western Roman Empire.
The story is incredibly compelling, blending witches, gods, warfare, and just the right dash of romance to keep things engaging. A fantastic pick to kick off the year!
This is essentially a retelling of the Brynhild saga, featuring the Valkyrie cast to earth by Odin, her betrayal by Sigurd, and the backdrop of Vormatia. The narrative culminates in a dramatic clash involving the armies of Attila and the Western Roman Empire.
The story is incredibly compelling, blending witches, gods, warfare, and just the right dash of romance to keep things engaging. A fantastic pick to kick off the year!
March 9, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I love Norse mythology but tend to struggle a bit with the writing style and storytelling of mythology retellings.
So my personal experience with the book was a little bit tainted by that, but I still recommend it because I think objectively, it's a great book!
The story follows a princess of Burgundia and a fallen Valkyrie, and this combination is just so good. Both storylines were so interesting, and I love how they flowed into each other.
I really appreciated how this book was a combination of Norse mythology and Germanic history, especially since the latter is something I haven't yet read about in a fiction novel.
There are battles and wars, betrayals and betrothals, royalty, diplomacy, court politics, Gods, and even a dragon!
It was so much fun to read and learn about all of it.
As mentioned in the beginning, I struggle with the storytelling of mythology retellings because they always feel more impersonal, and I just find it harder to get into the story. There was a part in the middle where I lost a bit of interest, there is a lot happening at the beginning and the end, but the bridge between the two felt long.
The writing style as a whole was coherent with the story and world, but there were a few instances where modern slang was used (like a 'Go fuck yourself") and it took me out of the story for a short moment.
Overall I recommend this book to fans of books like Circe by Madeline Miller, or anyone who has an interest in Norse mythology.
I love Norse mythology but tend to struggle a bit with the writing style and storytelling of mythology retellings.
So my personal experience with the book was a little bit tainted by that, but I still recommend it because I think objectively, it's a great book!
The story follows a princess of Burgundia and a fallen Valkyrie, and this combination is just so good. Both storylines were so interesting, and I love how they flowed into each other.
I really appreciated how this book was a combination of Norse mythology and Germanic history, especially since the latter is something I haven't yet read about in a fiction novel.
There are battles and wars, betrayals and betrothals, royalty, diplomacy, court politics, Gods, and even a dragon!
It was so much fun to read and learn about all of it.
As mentioned in the beginning, I struggle with the storytelling of mythology retellings because they always feel more impersonal, and I just find it harder to get into the story. There was a part in the middle where I lost a bit of interest, there is a lot happening at the beginning and the end, but the bridge between the two felt long.
The writing style as a whole was coherent with the story and world, but there were a few instances where modern slang was used (like a 'Go fuck yourself") and it took me out of the story for a short moment.
Overall I recommend this book to fans of books like Circe by Madeline Miller, or anyone who has an interest in Norse mythology.
June 21, 2023
I love all things mythology but tend to struggle a bit with the writing style of this book.. written as if it’s a being spoken as a bed time story to the other person, which is a little like a diary entry honestly. Not sure how I feel about it
The story follows a princess of Burgundia and a fallen Valkyrie, and this combination is just so good ❤️ Both storylines were so interesting, and I love how they flowed into each other while also being strong in their own storyline’s.
I really appreciated how this book was a combination of Norse mythology and Germanic history, you rarely get a cross over between the two
There are battles and wars, betrayals and betrothals, royalty, diplomacy, court politics, Gods, and even a dragon! Love me some dragons!!
I will admit there was a part in the middle where I lost a bit of interest, there is a lot happening at the beginning and the end, but the bridge between the two felt long and a bit blaze.
I also didn't understand the romance in the book. It felt like a slow-burn but without the actual romance. The majority of the book once the characters had met, they didn't like each other and suddenly within a page they were in love? The book tells you they're in love without showing any of it or evidencing how they've fallen in love which made it very unbelievable for me. How did this happen? Why did it happen? This is what was missing
There was an overarching plot about the god in this book, however as there's already so much happening in a short book, the plot around the gods didn't get given as much detail. So when it got to the point in this book where it was "resolved", it felt very rushed and random. I think this book may have been flowed better and been more engaging if it had solely focused on the battles in Midgard and Brynhild's life after her fall from Valhalla.
Overall I recommend this book to fans of books like Circe and the song of achillies by Madeline Miller it’s very much resembling this style work.
I really wanted to give this a 3… but because I am so on the fence it’s a 2.5 for me.
The story follows a princess of Burgundia and a fallen Valkyrie, and this combination is just so good ❤️ Both storylines were so interesting, and I love how they flowed into each other while also being strong in their own storyline’s.
I really appreciated how this book was a combination of Norse mythology and Germanic history, you rarely get a cross over between the two
There are battles and wars, betrayals and betrothals, royalty, diplomacy, court politics, Gods, and even a dragon! Love me some dragons!!
I will admit there was a part in the middle where I lost a bit of interest, there is a lot happening at the beginning and the end, but the bridge between the two felt long and a bit blaze.
I also didn't understand the romance in the book. It felt like a slow-burn but without the actual romance. The majority of the book once the characters had met, they didn't like each other and suddenly within a page they were in love? The book tells you they're in love without showing any of it or evidencing how they've fallen in love which made it very unbelievable for me. How did this happen? Why did it happen? This is what was missing
There was an overarching plot about the god in this book, however as there's already so much happening in a short book, the plot around the gods didn't get given as much detail. So when it got to the point in this book where it was "resolved", it felt very rushed and random. I think this book may have been flowed better and been more engaging if it had solely focused on the battles in Midgard and Brynhild's life after her fall from Valhalla.
Overall I recommend this book to fans of books like Circe and the song of achillies by Madeline Miller it’s very much resembling this style work.
I really wanted to give this a 3… but because I am so on the fence it’s a 2.5 for me.
August 12, 2024
I love Heartfield’s writing, and this book is my new favorite. She takes on Norse mythology against an underused backdrop of a Europe torn by war among tribes, Huns, and Romans. With eloquent prose, the two heroines trade stories addressed to each other. Brynhild is a Valkyrie freshly exiled from Valhalla by Odin, while Gudrun is a princess to preserve her kingdom and family by wit and magic. Battles and politics twist and turn as war plays out between gods and humans. The novel is innovative and immersive, the kind where you’re sad to finish and say farewell to the characters.
March 10, 2023
Overall I gave this book 2.2 stars.
I really wanted to enjoy this book and usually I’m a big fan of retellings but this just wasn’t for me.
I think my main issue stemmed from the fact that although this book was very eventful with monsters and battles and adventures, it somehow felt very slow. The events felt rushed through and the lead up to the events and aftermath were longed out whereas for a book of this size, I would have liked it to have been the other way around.
I also didn’t understand the romance in the book. It felt like a slow-burn but without the actual romance. The majority of the book once the characters had met, they didn’t like each other and suddenly within a page they were in love? The book tells you they’re in love without showing any of it or evidencing how they’ve fallen in love which made it very unbelievable for me.
There was an overarching plot about the god in this book, however as there’s already so much happening in a short book, the plot around the gods didn’t get given as much detail. So when it got to the point in this book where it was “resolved”, it felt very rushed and random. I think this book may have been flowed better and been more engaging if it had solely focused on the battles in Midgard and Brynhild’s life after her fall from Valhalla.
However, I did enjoy the way this book was written. It’s split in two perspectives with the two main characters taking turns narrating but their narration is written so that it feels like they’re talking to you the reader, with you being the other main character. So it’s as if they’re taking turns telling each other how they experienced the events that had happened. I thought this was such a good way of writing it and very different to what I normally read.
So, overall, I gave this 2.2 stars and unfortunately didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book and usually I’m a big fan of retellings but this just wasn’t for me.
I think my main issue stemmed from the fact that although this book was very eventful with monsters and battles and adventures, it somehow felt very slow. The events felt rushed through and the lead up to the events and aftermath were longed out whereas for a book of this size, I would have liked it to have been the other way around.
I also didn’t understand the romance in the book. It felt like a slow-burn but without the actual romance. The majority of the book once the characters had met, they didn’t like each other and suddenly within a page they were in love? The book tells you they’re in love without showing any of it or evidencing how they’ve fallen in love which made it very unbelievable for me.
There was an overarching plot about the god in this book, however as there’s already so much happening in a short book, the plot around the gods didn’t get given as much detail. So when it got to the point in this book where it was “resolved”, it felt very rushed and random. I think this book may have been flowed better and been more engaging if it had solely focused on the battles in Midgard and Brynhild’s life after her fall from Valhalla.
However, I did enjoy the way this book was written. It’s split in two perspectives with the two main characters taking turns narrating but their narration is written so that it feels like they’re talking to you the reader, with you being the other main character. So it’s as if they’re taking turns telling each other how they experienced the events that had happened. I thought this was such a good way of writing it and very different to what I normally read.
So, overall, I gave this 2.2 stars and unfortunately didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2023
The Valkyrie – Kate Heartfield
I found this cover to be absolutely beautiful and I find something about Viking tales to be fascinating so when I saw this book at my local Big W I just couldn’t resist.
Kate Heartfield is a Canadian author who has written fiction books such as “The Embroidered Book” and “Armed in Her Fashion”.
Brynhild is a Valkyrie of Odin’s Halls in Valhalla. But for daring to question the Allfather she has been exiled to Midgard.
She soon meets Gudrun the Burgundian Princess and daughter to the spirit of the Rhine – soon to be the peace bringing bride for the war monger Attila and his vicious monster – Fafnir.
Together these two are destined to become allies to stop Odin and Attila’s war and save the innocent people of Burgundy – for the fates and gods are playing at their games and time will tell who wins.
“The Valkyrie” is a tale of myths and legends – old Norse and Viking myths and legends. Something that I absolutely love to read about. The story was written from different perspectives – the first chapter is from Brynhild’s perspective and the next is from Gudrun’s - and so on and on. Sadly, this is one of the reasons I did not enjoy this book at all. I love stories around this sort of topic but while the author had a great base to work of, I just didn’t feel they put together a story that had the strong and engaging characters and stories that it needed – plainly the author didn’t do the topic any justice. I have read and enjoyed books where each chapter is from a different character's perspective, but this story wasn’t entwined or written well enough to pull this off. Maybe if they had just stuck to telling it from Brynhild’s it would have been more enjoyable.
I found this cover to be absolutely beautiful and I find something about Viking tales to be fascinating so when I saw this book at my local Big W I just couldn’t resist.
Kate Heartfield is a Canadian author who has written fiction books such as “The Embroidered Book” and “Armed in Her Fashion”.
Brynhild is a Valkyrie of Odin’s Halls in Valhalla. But for daring to question the Allfather she has been exiled to Midgard.
She soon meets Gudrun the Burgundian Princess and daughter to the spirit of the Rhine – soon to be the peace bringing bride for the war monger Attila and his vicious monster – Fafnir.
Together these two are destined to become allies to stop Odin and Attila’s war and save the innocent people of Burgundy – for the fates and gods are playing at their games and time will tell who wins.
“The Valkyrie” is a tale of myths and legends – old Norse and Viking myths and legends. Something that I absolutely love to read about. The story was written from different perspectives – the first chapter is from Brynhild’s perspective and the next is from Gudrun’s - and so on and on. Sadly, this is one of the reasons I did not enjoy this book at all. I love stories around this sort of topic but while the author had a great base to work of, I just didn’t feel they put together a story that had the strong and engaging characters and stories that it needed – plainly the author didn’t do the topic any justice. I have read and enjoyed books where each chapter is from a different character's perspective, but this story wasn’t entwined or written well enough to pull this off. Maybe if they had just stuck to telling it from Brynhild’s it would have been more enjoyable.
March 26, 2024
Just another book for me to be obsessed with, I’ll survive.
May 13, 2023
"The world with you in it was a different world to the one I had known, and there was no going home again."
Brynhild is a Valkyrie: shieldmaiden of Odin, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile on Midgard (Earth).
Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.
And in the songs to be sung, there is another hero: Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.
As the legends tell, these names are destined to be rivals, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies… for not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.
This is a wonderful reimagining of an old Norse story. The original tale has a bit of a Sleeping Beauty vibe, but thank goodness, this feminist version does not. As always, I must provide the disclaimer that I have an unknown depth of love for any myth retellings so my bias must be proclaimed.
The way this story is told is unique - we sweep between Brynhild and Gudrun's voice, they appear to be reminiscing about their lives before each other and what was to come. I immediately liked Brynhild and Gudrun. Both are fierce and intelligent. They suffer the role of women - whether it be at the hands of men or Gods. But they will take the reins to become masters of their own fate. Here for it!
"Like all stories, I have more than one beginning."
Brynhild is a Valkyrie: shieldmaiden of Odin, chooser of the slain. But now she too has fallen, flightless in her exile on Midgard (Earth).
Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine, a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans, and a dragon to call upon.
And in the songs to be sung, there is another hero: Sigurd, a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon.
As the legends tell, these names are destined to be rivals, fated as enemies. But here on Midgard, legends can be lies… for not all heroes are heroic, nor all monsters monstrous. And a shieldmaiden may yet find that love is the greatest weapon of all.
This is a wonderful reimagining of an old Norse story. The original tale has a bit of a Sleeping Beauty vibe, but thank goodness, this feminist version does not. As always, I must provide the disclaimer that I have an unknown depth of love for any myth retellings so my bias must be proclaimed.
The way this story is told is unique - we sweep between Brynhild and Gudrun's voice, they appear to be reminiscing about their lives before each other and what was to come. I immediately liked Brynhild and Gudrun. Both are fierce and intelligent. They suffer the role of women - whether it be at the hands of men or Gods. But they will take the reins to become masters of their own fate. Here for it!
"Like all stories, I have more than one beginning."
April 3, 2025
This was an interesting Norse Mythology retelling. I wasn't familiar with the myth before reading and I found it a bit confusing with the switches of POV as it wasn't always clear right away who we were following. Some of the action happened off page which contributed to the plot feeling a bit slow at times. Overall, I enjoyed the strong female characters and the setting was well developed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK and the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK and the author.
July 19, 2025
2.5 stars
Honestly? This felt like a bit of a slog to get through, considering it was only just over 300 pages and a fairly large typeface. The storyline itself was fine, but I never got really invested in any of the characters, so it was super easy to put down and hard to pick back up again. I also had a hard time believing in the love between the two characters, as for most of the book they either hadn't met yet or disliked each other. Then all of a sudden, they're in love? Yea, hard pass.
If I was the type of person to DNF books, I might very well have DNF'd this one.
Honestly? This felt like a bit of a slog to get through, considering it was only just over 300 pages and a fairly large typeface. The storyline itself was fine, but I never got really invested in any of the characters, so it was super easy to put down and hard to pick back up again. I also had a hard time believing in the love between the two characters, as for most of the book they either hadn't met yet or disliked each other. Then all of a sudden, they're in love? Yea, hard pass.
If I was the type of person to DNF books, I might very well have DNF'd this one.
August 9, 2025
Loved the blending of history and fantasy and folklore. A witch and a warrior ❤️.
“There I grew my rose garden; there I trained with sword and dagger, book and cauldron.” 🙌✨
“There I grew my rose garden; there I trained with sword and dagger, book and cauldron.” 🙌✨
April 3, 2023
I do enjoy a mythology retelling, and especially myths that I've read less about, like the Norse ones. The Valkyrie is a feminist retelling that explores many complexities.
Brynhild, head of the legendary Valkyries, has been exiled by the All father, Odin. Meanwhile, Gudrun, princess of a people within a waning Roman empire, faces a deadly foe, and fights to keep her Kingdom together...
I enjoyed the dual points of view of Brynhild and Gudrun as their lives intersected and diverged in the tale. They are both powerful women, and The Valkyrie also includes many more, which I really liked. The women really steal the show in this retelling. It took me a while to get into, but the pace picked up as I read on.
Heartfield's interweaving of Norse mythology within the historical setting of the waning Roman Empire was skilful and fascinating. I also liked the different afterlives depicted in the book and Brynhild's reflections on these. Brynhild's gradual realisation of how narrow her world-view had been, and how manipulated it had been, showed great character growth in a being hundreds of years old.
I have yet to read the traditional tales of Sigurd, Brynhild and Gudrun. Heartfield's insightful author's note has given me some great books to start with, and I'm sure I'll appreciate this retelling even more after reading them.
Brynhild, head of the legendary Valkyries, has been exiled by the All father, Odin. Meanwhile, Gudrun, princess of a people within a waning Roman empire, faces a deadly foe, and fights to keep her Kingdom together...
I enjoyed the dual points of view of Brynhild and Gudrun as their lives intersected and diverged in the tale. They are both powerful women, and The Valkyrie also includes many more, which I really liked. The women really steal the show in this retelling. It took me a while to get into, but the pace picked up as I read on.
Heartfield's interweaving of Norse mythology within the historical setting of the waning Roman Empire was skilful and fascinating. I also liked the different afterlives depicted in the book and Brynhild's reflections on these. Brynhild's gradual realisation of how narrow her world-view had been, and how manipulated it had been, showed great character growth in a being hundreds of years old.
I have yet to read the traditional tales of Sigurd, Brynhild and Gudrun. Heartfield's insightful author's note has given me some great books to start with, and I'm sure I'll appreciate this retelling even more after reading them.
January 4, 2024
The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield was an engaging and unique retelling of fallen Valkyrie Brunhilda's story, based on features taken from The Ring of the Nibelung, Völsunga Saga, and Poetic Edda.
Told in two POVs, the novel was a fresh take on old legends and I enjoyed the intersection of the 5th-century powers of Rome, Huns, and Burgundians, and the rising tension between old Norse beliefs and the rise of Christianity. The historical details woven throughout the narrative made the world of the story come alive and, while I did find it a bit slow in parts, there is plenty of action in the form of quests and battles. The relationship between Brunhilda and Gudrun (Kriemhild) added a modern twist to the story.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy modern retellings of myths and legends.
This wasn an ARC review for NetGalley.
Told in two POVs, the novel was a fresh take on old legends and I enjoyed the intersection of the 5th-century powers of Rome, Huns, and Burgundians, and the rising tension between old Norse beliefs and the rise of Christianity. The historical details woven throughout the narrative made the world of the story come alive and, while I did find it a bit slow in parts, there is plenty of action in the form of quests and battles. The relationship between Brunhilda and Gudrun (Kriemhild) added a modern twist to the story.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy modern retellings of myths and legends.
This wasn an ARC review for NetGalley.
March 2, 2023
After reading the blurb I really wanted to read this book. A take on the myth of Sigurd and Brynhild. Unfortunately for me it was so slow and bogged down in real life history. Essentially a love story with a few battles. Still a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
March 26, 2023
Bookstagram | BookTok | Twitter
The Valkyrie is a retelling that combines the Prose Edda, the Völsunga saga and the Song of the Nibelungs. While sticking pretty close to the original story, Heartfield manages to bring a distinct narrative voice and a female perspective to the tale that is severely lacking in the original.
The story follows the valkyrie Brynhild after she is cast out of Valhalla and forced to live as a mortal woman. After meeting the mortal Sigurd and slaying the lindworm Fafnir, they get embroiled in the politics of the Burgundian court and the impending war with Attila the Hun.
The book is written from two perspectives: Brynhild's and that of the Burgundian princess Gudrun's. I found myself enjoying both POV's immensely, with Brynhild's warrior strength and Gudrun's political cunning. The prose flowed well and was very much reminiscient of Madeline Miller's Circe.
The author wove the mythical aspects of the Prose Edda with real history from the 2nd century CE together seamlessly. I had some prior kowledge of the Song of the Nibelungs so some story elements were familiar to me. Apart from the ending, the book stayed very close to the Völsunga saga, so perhaps not knowing the story will enhance the reader's enjoyment. As it was, I wasn't bored necessarily, but none of the plot was all that surprising to me. I didn't know that much of the historical time period the book covered, such as the raids of Attila the Hun and the fall of the Burgundians, but I feel that wasn't necessary to enjoy the book.
At first, I was disappointed Norse mythology didn't play more of a role, but that was rectified in the second half of the book as we see different Norse gods such as Odin, Freyja and Loki meddling with the mortals they set their sights on. I found the mix of continental Germanic history and Norse gods fascinating, and I loved hearing about Brynhild's time as a valkyrie. The perspective on Sigurd was also a refreshing one, seeing him as a rather tragic figure, so obsessed with heroism and his own legacy he fails to see the bigger picture. Talking of Sigurd, I found that Brynhild forgave his actions rather quickly, where I would have liked a bit more female rage.
My main gripe was the romance between Brynhild and Gudrun. From the beginning, we are told several times how important the two women are to each other and that they will fall in love, yet we never see that happen. By the time they get together, they had maybe three interactions in total, and none of them all that meaningful. Beyond physical attraction and shared trauma, we never saw what made these characters fall for each other. In the author's note, Heartfield mentions she was struck by the interactions between Brynhild and Gudrun and wanted to make that a focal point of the story, but sadly, that didn't happen. Thus, I would have liked the middle part of the book to be a bit longer, detailing the blossoming relationship between Brynhild and Gudrun more. In the end, I felt I understood Brynhild's relationship with Sigurd more than I did her connection to Gudrun, which was a shame.
As for the side characters, like Gudrun's brother Gunnar and her friends Hagen and Volker, again, I would have liked a bit more depth. Especially Gunnar's decision to woo and betray Brynhild and his marriage to her felt like such a sidenote in the overall story, when there should have been more outrage from Brynhild.
Having more focus on the relationships would have also given the reader some time to sit with the charactes and process. As it was, we were kind of pushed from event to event without room to breathe. The book suffered from wanting to include everything. I felt there were just too many factions for such a short book, with the Norse gods, the Huns, the Burgundians and the Roman Empire all fighting for and against each other with shifting loyalties. The ending, as well, felt a bit rushed but I liked how it wove all the elements from the Völsung saga and the Edda together to complete the story. I found myself struggling to rate the book because while the overall plot and themes were amazing, the little details were where the story was lacking for me.
All in all, a great feminist retelling of Norse myth and the Germanic folktales for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe. 3.5/5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Like all stories, I have more than one beginning."
The Valkyrie is a retelling that combines the Prose Edda, the Völsunga saga and the Song of the Nibelungs. While sticking pretty close to the original story, Heartfield manages to bring a distinct narrative voice and a female perspective to the tale that is severely lacking in the original.
The story follows the valkyrie Brynhild after she is cast out of Valhalla and forced to live as a mortal woman. After meeting the mortal Sigurd and slaying the lindworm Fafnir, they get embroiled in the politics of the Burgundian court and the impending war with Attila the Hun.
The book is written from two perspectives: Brynhild's and that of the Burgundian princess Gudrun's. I found myself enjoying both POV's immensely, with Brynhild's warrior strength and Gudrun's political cunning. The prose flowed well and was very much reminiscient of Madeline Miller's Circe.
The author wove the mythical aspects of the Prose Edda with real history from the 2nd century CE together seamlessly. I had some prior kowledge of the Song of the Nibelungs so some story elements were familiar to me. Apart from the ending, the book stayed very close to the Völsunga saga, so perhaps not knowing the story will enhance the reader's enjoyment. As it was, I wasn't bored necessarily, but none of the plot was all that surprising to me. I didn't know that much of the historical time period the book covered, such as the raids of Attila the Hun and the fall of the Burgundians, but I feel that wasn't necessary to enjoy the book.
At first, I was disappointed Norse mythology didn't play more of a role, but that was rectified in the second half of the book as we see different Norse gods such as Odin, Freyja and Loki meddling with the mortals they set their sights on. I found the mix of continental Germanic history and Norse gods fascinating, and I loved hearing about Brynhild's time as a valkyrie. The perspective on Sigurd was also a refreshing one, seeing him as a rather tragic figure, so obsessed with heroism and his own legacy he fails to see the bigger picture. Talking of Sigurd, I found that Brynhild forgave his actions rather quickly, where I would have liked a bit more female rage.
My main gripe was the romance between Brynhild and Gudrun. From the beginning, we are told several times how important the two women are to each other and that they will fall in love, yet we never see that happen. By the time they get together, they had maybe three interactions in total, and none of them all that meaningful. Beyond physical attraction and shared trauma, we never saw what made these characters fall for each other. In the author's note, Heartfield mentions she was struck by the interactions between Brynhild and Gudrun and wanted to make that a focal point of the story, but sadly, that didn't happen. Thus, I would have liked the middle part of the book to be a bit longer, detailing the blossoming relationship between Brynhild and Gudrun more. In the end, I felt I understood Brynhild's relationship with Sigurd more than I did her connection to Gudrun, which was a shame.
As for the side characters, like Gudrun's brother Gunnar and her friends Hagen and Volker, again, I would have liked a bit more depth. Especially Gunnar's decision to woo and betray Brynhild and his marriage to her felt like such a sidenote in the overall story, when there should have been more outrage from Brynhild.
Having more focus on the relationships would have also given the reader some time to sit with the charactes and process. As it was, we were kind of pushed from event to event without room to breathe. The book suffered from wanting to include everything. I felt there were just too many factions for such a short book, with the Norse gods, the Huns, the Burgundians and the Roman Empire all fighting for and against each other with shifting loyalties. The ending, as well, felt a bit rushed but I liked how it wove all the elements from the Völsung saga and the Edda together to complete the story. I found myself struggling to rate the book because while the overall plot and themes were amazing, the little details were where the story was lacking for me.
All in all, a great feminist retelling of Norse myth and the Germanic folktales for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe. 3.5/5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2024
3ish stars?
Its a good story of Norse Myth mixed with real history, but the format didn't keep my attention. The Valkyrie is told kind of like diary entries to each other. But this storytelling meant that I never felt close to either Brynhild or Gudrun. I never got to really know either of them, instead it was more about the events that were occurring than the characters. Also I am uncertain about the romance plot it felt a bit out of place with the characters not really spending enough time together on page to explain the intense attraction and love.
I found the book slow for a good portion of it although the end seemed to move better. That was at least partly because there was more of the mythical parts of the tale in the latter half. I enjoyed the pieces with the gods and goddesses particularly Brynhild learning that what she had been taught might not have been the truth. Seeing her make her own opinions about the goddesses Hel and Freya as well as their domains was well done.
Overall it was alright but easy to put down.
Its a good story of Norse Myth mixed with real history, but the format didn't keep my attention. The Valkyrie is told kind of like diary entries to each other. But this storytelling meant that I never felt close to either Brynhild or Gudrun. I never got to really know either of them, instead it was more about the events that were occurring than the characters. Also I am uncertain about the romance plot it felt a bit out of place with the characters not really spending enough time together on page to explain the intense attraction and love.
I found the book slow for a good portion of it although the end seemed to move better. That was at least partly because there was more of the mythical parts of the tale in the latter half. I enjoyed the pieces with the gods and goddesses particularly Brynhild learning that what she had been taught might not have been the truth. Seeing her make her own opinions about the goddesses Hel and Freya as well as their domains was well done.
Overall it was alright but easy to put down.
March 25, 2025
I didn't like the writing style. It was boring There was a flashback like every three sentences. And it was far too longwinded. 3 whole pages about fish sauce. Finally, I don't know about these original myths well enough to read a retelling without being very confused.
I was excited to read this and sad it wasn't any good.
I was excited to read this and sad it wasn't any good.
dnf
August 3, 2023dnf at 50% because it's putting me in a slump and I really need to just read books I'm loving at this point. It was enjoyable but started to get boring and I don't really feel invested in what else happens in the book.
September 6, 2023
Kate Heartfield has become one of those authors that I won’t even check the synopsis before I hit the preorder button.
September 17, 2023
3.5 stars
Ooph, a very hard book for me to review as my reading was interrupted twice for a (other) promised buddy read. I think that was the reason I never felt really invested in the characters and their stories. The first half piqued my interest, but in the second half I felt it dragging, my mind wandering off quite often. And though this isn't a very long book, it felt like one, even though I'm a fan of mythological elements in my books. I may reread it in the future (and maybe read it for myself instead of listening to the audiobook), but for now I'll have to round my rating down to 3 stars.
Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 7
Setup 6
Plot 6
Intrigue 6
Logic 6
Enjoyment 6
Narration 8
Ooph, a very hard book for me to review as my reading was interrupted twice for a (other) promised buddy read. I think that was the reason I never felt really invested in the characters and their stories. The first half piqued my interest, but in the second half I felt it dragging, my mind wandering off quite often. And though this isn't a very long book, it felt like one, even though I'm a fan of mythological elements in my books. I may reread it in the future (and maybe read it for myself instead of listening to the audiobook), but for now I'll have to round my rating down to 3 stars.
Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 7
Setup 6
Plot 6
Intrigue 6
Logic 6
Enjoyment 6
Narration 8
January 13, 2026
“Someday, there will be shapes like us in stories forged out of old swords and older rings. Let them say what they will, but let them remember that we burned down the world to save it, and the nature of the world is that it can always burn again.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2025
Yeah, loved this. If you enjoyed the song of Achilles you may also enjoy this. I picked this up because of the cover and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the way it was written—the flat humour and subtle nods. I think the build up was done so well. And I liked the changing perspectives and how they connected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
Three people come together: Brynhild, an exiled Valkyrie stripped of her flight and exiled from Valhalla by a capricious Odin, Sigurd, a man looking for his heroic destiny, and Gudrun, a princess of Burgundy, who is looking for a way to protect her land from the invader Attila the Hun, who also happens to have a dragon he can call on. None of these people is ordinary, and their different abilities and skills prove to be critical in dispatching threats and fighting off a conqueror.
Author Kate Heartfield brings her trove of research to bear on this Norse myth-inspired story set in a far past, where magic is alive in the world, and gods and otherworldly beings still walk the land.
A grieving and in pain Brynhild is used by Sigurd to prop up his name after they jointly kill a poisonous lindworm. She is later tricked by him, and is pulled into Gudrun's life. Gudrun uses her sense and honesty to win Brynhild to her cause, with Brynhild training warriors and Gudrun using her magic to strengthen her land. Along the way, Brynhild and Gudrun develop deep feelings for each other, and Sigurd proves to be a terrific warrior but a vain man jealous of his reputation.
There are a number of things that made this story compelling: Gudrun's wielding of magic, Brynhild's prowess, the conflicts amongst the characters, the political maneuvering necessary to win against the conqueror, and the exposure of petty games between the gods. Though the middle slowed down a little too much for my liking, I liked Brynhild and Gudrun immensely, and their developing relationship kept me reading to the end of this enjoyable novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HarperCollins Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Author Kate Heartfield brings her trove of research to bear on this Norse myth-inspired story set in a far past, where magic is alive in the world, and gods and otherworldly beings still walk the land.
A grieving and in pain Brynhild is used by Sigurd to prop up his name after they jointly kill a poisonous lindworm. She is later tricked by him, and is pulled into Gudrun's life. Gudrun uses her sense and honesty to win Brynhild to her cause, with Brynhild training warriors and Gudrun using her magic to strengthen her land. Along the way, Brynhild and Gudrun develop deep feelings for each other, and Sigurd proves to be a terrific warrior but a vain man jealous of his reputation.
There are a number of things that made this story compelling: Gudrun's wielding of magic, Brynhild's prowess, the conflicts amongst the characters, the political maneuvering necessary to win against the conqueror, and the exposure of petty games between the gods. Though the middle slowed down a little too much for my liking, I liked Brynhild and Gudrun immensely, and their developing relationship kept me reading to the end of this enjoyable novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HarperCollins Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
March 30, 2025
Another excellent telling of a saga from the women's point of view
February 18, 2023
— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Valkyrie
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Kate Heartfield
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mythology
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 30th March 2023
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬:
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5
”The world is wrought by people’s hands, and if you change the hands, you change the world.”
”Let them say what they will, but let them remember that we burned down the world to save it, and the nature of the world is that it can always burn again.”
Please let feminist Norse mythology be the next big thing.
Other than what I’ve gathered from Marvel things, and what I’ve read in Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, my knowledge on the subject is pretty dire.
But, that didn’t stop me with Greek mythology and it didn’t stop me now.
And who needs knowledge anyway because The Valkyrie is an amazing story in its own right. Perhaps some context or symbolic meaning was lost on me, but I can’t miss what I don’t know, and even from the very little that I know, this story is an original retelling.
Brynhild is a Valkyrie, exiled from Valhalla and sent to Midgard for her defiance. Gudrun is princess of Burgundy in a royal family that continues to grapple with external forces for the throne. The Valkyrie depicts both their point of view, but they also speak to each other in their monologues which I found endearing.
The story was fast paced and so, so, easy to get lost in, in the sense that I was utterly immersed but also sometimes I found myself confused. There were so many chess pieces in play here and often the chess pieces were being moved by different people, so it’s a story that I had to really focus on.
But with pleasure I can say it’s worthwhile.
𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 @ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚
🧚♀️🤍
♡ bookstagram • twitter • website ♡
↑ follow & subscribe for more bookish content. ↑
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Valkyrie
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Kate Heartfield
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mythology
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 30th March 2023
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬:
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5
”The world is wrought by people’s hands, and if you change the hands, you change the world.”
”Let them say what they will, but let them remember that we burned down the world to save it, and the nature of the world is that it can always burn again.”
Please let feminist Norse mythology be the next big thing.
Other than what I’ve gathered from Marvel things, and what I’ve read in Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, my knowledge on the subject is pretty dire.
But, that didn’t stop me with Greek mythology and it didn’t stop me now.
And who needs knowledge anyway because The Valkyrie is an amazing story in its own right. Perhaps some context or symbolic meaning was lost on me, but I can’t miss what I don’t know, and even from the very little that I know, this story is an original retelling.
Brynhild is a Valkyrie, exiled from Valhalla and sent to Midgard for her defiance. Gudrun is princess of Burgundy in a royal family that continues to grapple with external forces for the throne. The Valkyrie depicts both their point of view, but they also speak to each other in their monologues which I found endearing.
The story was fast paced and so, so, easy to get lost in, in the sense that I was utterly immersed but also sometimes I found myself confused. There were so many chess pieces in play here and often the chess pieces were being moved by different people, so it’s a story that I had to really focus on.
But with pleasure I can say it’s worthwhile.
𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 @ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚
🧚♀️🤍
♡ bookstagram • twitter • website ♡
↑ follow & subscribe for more bookish content. ↑
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews