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Tales from Norvegr #1
Sigrid and Elyn
Attracted by passion, repelled by war. Can two shieldmaidens navigate battlegrounds of the sword and the heart?
Sigrid the Valiant is legendary throughout the kingdoms of Norvegr for her heroic deeds, but her love has yet to find a home. Now, racing on the heels of her father’s murder, a neighboring kingdom’s raids signal an all-out conflict.
Elyn is a young shieldmaiden with a score to settle, fighting her own insecurities along with enemies who threaten her homeland. However, she suspects a more menacing danger lurks in the shadows.
When the two clash on opposite sides of their shield walls, sparks fly from both their swords and passions. But when they talk, the fierce women discover an antagonist’s plot has pitted their kingdoms against each other.
Can Sigrid and Elyn move past their suspicions and differences to forge a binding love and foil the villain’s scheme, or will the enemy’s assassins end their search for the truth?
Action, adventure, and intrigue ride together with romance in this enemies-to-lovers saga from the pre-Viking land of Norvegr. Award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane brings history to life in this fast-paced sapphic novel. Grab your ax and rönd and join the quest by clicking to buy now!
Sigrid the Valiant is legendary throughout the kingdoms of Norvegr for her heroic deeds, but her love has yet to find a home. Now, racing on the heels of her father’s murder, a neighboring kingdom’s raids signal an all-out conflict.
Elyn is a young shieldmaiden with a score to settle, fighting her own insecurities along with enemies who threaten her homeland. However, she suspects a more menacing danger lurks in the shadows.
When the two clash on opposite sides of their shield walls, sparks fly from both their swords and passions. But when they talk, the fierce women discover an antagonist’s plot has pitted their kingdoms against each other.
Can Sigrid and Elyn move past their suspicions and differences to forge a binding love and foil the villain’s scheme, or will the enemy’s assassins end their search for the truth?
Action, adventure, and intrigue ride together with romance in this enemies-to-lovers saga from the pre-Viking land of Norvegr. Award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane brings history to life in this fast-paced sapphic novel. Grab your ax and rönd and join the quest by clicking to buy now!
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
177 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Edale Lane
48 books216 followersEdale Lane is an Amazon Best-selling author and winner of Rainbow, Lesfic Bard, and Imaginarium Awards. Her sapphic historical fiction and mystery stories feature women leading the action and entice readers with likeable characters, engaging storytelling, and vivid world-creation.
Lane (whose legal name is Melodie Romeo) holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a master’s in history, and taught school for 24 years before embarking on an adventure driving an 18-wheeler over-the-road. She is a mother of two, Grammy of three, and doggy mom to Australian Shepherds. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Lane now lives her dream of being a full-time author in beautiful Chilliwack, BC with her long-time life-partner.
Enjoy free e-books and other promotional offerings while staying up to date with what Edale Lane is writing next when you sign up for her newsletter. https://bit.ly/3qkGn95
Lane (whose legal name is Melodie Romeo) holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a master’s in history, and taught school for 24 years before embarking on an adventure driving an 18-wheeler over-the-road. She is a mother of two, Grammy of three, and doggy mom to Australian Shepherds. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Lane now lives her dream of being a full-time author in beautiful Chilliwack, BC with her long-time life-partner.
Enjoy free e-books and other promotional offerings while staying up to date with what Edale Lane is writing next when you sign up for her newsletter. https://bit.ly/3qkGn95
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 10, 2023
Epic
Edale Lane’s Norvegr books are 💯 for me. I mean, come on, shield-maidens fighting the good fight and defying patriarchal rules since 649 C.E? Mint!!!
EL’s shield-maiden’s stories are littered with interesting Scandinavian history, culture and traditions. In this particular story I love that the author didn’t shy away from the realities of war/raids and how life was back then. It all seems so brutal and difficult. That’s why I love it! The politics and deception made it feel like a shortened sapphic version of game of thrones.
Edale Lane’s Norvegr books are 💯 for me. I mean, come on, shield-maidens fighting the good fight and defying patriarchal rules since 649 C.E? Mint!!!
EL’s shield-maiden’s stories are littered with interesting Scandinavian history, culture and traditions. In this particular story I love that the author didn’t shy away from the realities of war/raids and how life was back then. It all seems so brutal and difficult. That’s why I love it! The politics and deception made it feel like a shortened sapphic version of game of thrones.
January 17, 2023
I really liked this book. The author created a well drawn picture of a long ago period. Setting great characters in that setting made for a good read.
October 30, 2022
Legendary epic and a must read
Rarely do I enjoy books with a lot of formal language, but this one did it so well it added to the reading experience. The mistakes most authors make with formal writing is to write both narration and dialog without any contractions. This makes it formal, but formal like reading a police report or academic paper. It comes out choppy and distracting, and the dialog is unrealistic. In this book, the dialog was on the formal side, but it flowed smoothly, used contractions, and gave the impression of an epic tale being told, or perhaps translated from another language, which it basically is. You feel like you could be around a campfire with a master story teller recounting and epic legend.
The research was excellent, I recognized bits of actual history, but this reads more like a fantasy novel than a historical fiction. While there is no high magic, there is magic and deep spirituality throughout. The characters are well developed, and while there are a lot of them they were very easy to tell apart and remember who was who, once I figured out the twins' names.
Depictions and descriptions of darker issues like slavery and rape were well handled, not used for shock value or as trauma porn, but as relevant to life. I appreciated that a explanation of how slavery worked in Norway in the seventh century was vastly different from how it worked in the Americas from colonial to modern times was included. It doesn't justify it, but it does point out that while we use the word slavery to refer to both systems, they are not the same thing. Before the trans Atlantic slave trade, slavery in most cultures, while still deeply problematic, was a social status based on circumstance, not the dehumanization of an entire group of people.
As for how the issue of rape was handled, in historical and fantasy it's often used as a plot device to explain a woman's strength, as if her strength and independence must be attributed to having experienced this particular atrocity. It's also often treated like some secret pain she carries alone, only to be revealed to her love interest to explain why she is the way she is. This trope is so damaging for real life survivors. In this book, I thought the issue was handled well, one character experienced it, most people knew she had, and they treat her no differently for it, but also don't pretend it didn't happen. It's simply a part of her story, something she must cope with, and she does, and moreover, she doesn't become who she is because of it, rather, in spite of it.
The romance was well done, love at first sight can be hard to write and hard to believe when reading it, but it was really believably depicted here. Like you read those early interactions between the characters and think, "How could they *not* fall for each other? It's the only possible outcome here! Obviously fate or the gods will intervene to give them a chance."
The plots, romantic and intrigue, unfold as the story goes on in a way that engages the readers mind, you figure it out along side the characters. It's not particularly convoluted, but also not simple enough that you can guess the details in the first 20% of the book. You might get the gist of what's happening, but important threads are woven in all the way through. Love, tragedies, hope, HEAs, MCDs, betrayals, and adventures abound here.
Oh, and lesbians, of course.
Rarely do I enjoy books with a lot of formal language, but this one did it so well it added to the reading experience. The mistakes most authors make with formal writing is to write both narration and dialog without any contractions. This makes it formal, but formal like reading a police report or academic paper. It comes out choppy and distracting, and the dialog is unrealistic. In this book, the dialog was on the formal side, but it flowed smoothly, used contractions, and gave the impression of an epic tale being told, or perhaps translated from another language, which it basically is. You feel like you could be around a campfire with a master story teller recounting and epic legend.
The research was excellent, I recognized bits of actual history, but this reads more like a fantasy novel than a historical fiction. While there is no high magic, there is magic and deep spirituality throughout. The characters are well developed, and while there are a lot of them they were very easy to tell apart and remember who was who, once I figured out the twins' names.
Depictions and descriptions of darker issues like slavery and rape were well handled, not used for shock value or as trauma porn, but as relevant to life. I appreciated that a explanation of how slavery worked in Norway in the seventh century was vastly different from how it worked in the Americas from colonial to modern times was included. It doesn't justify it, but it does point out that while we use the word slavery to refer to both systems, they are not the same thing. Before the trans Atlantic slave trade, slavery in most cultures, while still deeply problematic, was a social status based on circumstance, not the dehumanization of an entire group of people.
As for how the issue of rape was handled, in historical and fantasy it's often used as a plot device to explain a woman's strength, as if her strength and independence must be attributed to having experienced this particular atrocity. It's also often treated like some secret pain she carries alone, only to be revealed to her love interest to explain why she is the way she is. This trope is so damaging for real life survivors. In this book, I thought the issue was handled well, one character experienced it, most people knew she had, and they treat her no differently for it, but also don't pretend it didn't happen. It's simply a part of her story, something she must cope with, and she does, and moreover, she doesn't become who she is because of it, rather, in spite of it.
The romance was well done, love at first sight can be hard to write and hard to believe when reading it, but it was really believably depicted here. Like you read those early interactions between the characters and think, "How could they *not* fall for each other? It's the only possible outcome here! Obviously fate or the gods will intervene to give them a chance."
The plots, romantic and intrigue, unfold as the story goes on in a way that engages the readers mind, you figure it out along side the characters. It's not particularly convoluted, but also not simple enough that you can guess the details in the first 20% of the book. You might get the gist of what's happening, but important threads are woven in all the way through. Love, tragedies, hope, HEAs, MCDs, betrayals, and adventures abound here.
Oh, and lesbians, of course.
October 20, 2022
Elyn and Sigrid are shieldmaidens from opposite sides. By working together, only they can stop the war from claiming any more lives; and perhaps find something more.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the Norvegr series, but it feels like it could be a stand-alone, as Sigrid and Elyn's stories have a satisfying ending in this book.
The story is mostly narrated by our two main characters.
Sigrid the Valiant is a legendary warrior, and alongside her twin brother Sigurd, they are co-Jarls.
Sigrid knows that she's lucky to live a life of freedom, and has the power to reject the normal female roles. She's an adventurer and fights to protect the innocent.
When their land is attacked, Sigrid rallies to aid her king.
After her parents died, Elyn went to live with her uncle, who treated her little better than a slave. She knows that one day she will be sold off in marriage, and her only source of joy is her training as a shieldmaiden.
When Elyn sees the famed warrior Sigrid across the battlefield, she sees everything she wants to be, even if they are on opposite sides of a war.
The story is set in Norvegr (Norway), and the author weaves together their own imagination and historical facts, to create a believable and entertaining adventure.
It's fairly clear from the beginning who the Big Bad behind the conflict is, and which of his minions are pulling the strings. This doesn't really detract from the story, as it keeps you guessing as to which other puppets have been enlisted? Who killed Sigrid's father? And how can this all be resolved?
I really enjoyed following the growing relationship between Sigrid and Elyn. I liked that it avoided some of the usual cliches of jealous lovers, etc. Instead, (almost) everyone is happy for them, and it has such a sweet positive element in the middle of all the danger.
I think watching Elyn really come into her own was one of my favourite parts. She's been the down-beaten girl for so long, she just accepts that's the way things are. She doesn't realise she's allowed to be strong, she's allowed to be intelligent.
Overall, this was highly entertaining, and I can't wait for the next Norvegr story!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the Norvegr series, but it feels like it could be a stand-alone, as Sigrid and Elyn's stories have a satisfying ending in this book.
The story is mostly narrated by our two main characters.
Sigrid the Valiant is a legendary warrior, and alongside her twin brother Sigurd, they are co-Jarls.
Sigrid knows that she's lucky to live a life of freedom, and has the power to reject the normal female roles. She's an adventurer and fights to protect the innocent.
When their land is attacked, Sigrid rallies to aid her king.
After her parents died, Elyn went to live with her uncle, who treated her little better than a slave. She knows that one day she will be sold off in marriage, and her only source of joy is her training as a shieldmaiden.
When Elyn sees the famed warrior Sigrid across the battlefield, she sees everything she wants to be, even if they are on opposite sides of a war.
The story is set in Norvegr (Norway), and the author weaves together their own imagination and historical facts, to create a believable and entertaining adventure.
It's fairly clear from the beginning who the Big Bad behind the conflict is, and which of his minions are pulling the strings. This doesn't really detract from the story, as it keeps you guessing as to which other puppets have been enlisted? Who killed Sigrid's father? And how can this all be resolved?
I really enjoyed following the growing relationship between Sigrid and Elyn. I liked that it avoided some of the usual cliches of jealous lovers, etc. Instead, (almost) everyone is happy for them, and it has such a sweet positive element in the middle of all the danger.
I think watching Elyn really come into her own was one of my favourite parts. She's been the down-beaten girl for so long, she just accepts that's the way things are. She doesn't realise she's allowed to be strong, she's allowed to be intelligent.
Overall, this was highly entertaining, and I can't wait for the next Norvegr story!
October 1, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Taking place in 649 C.E., this historical fiction, first in the Tales from Norvegr series, combines action, adventure, a murder mystery, and a love story into a very well researched book. The author displays a keen understanding of the era and its people, showing off the food, the clothing, the legal systems — which mostly revolve around honor, sacrifice, and loyalty — as well as an understanding for how battles would be fought, how diplomacy would work, and how the land shaped much of the politics of the time. Even the family dynamics feel genuine.
Trigger warning: Elyn is raped as a child. The scene is brief and not gratuitous (though I wonder at the need for it). There are mentions of enslaved thralls being raped by their owners, and multiple scenes of people dying or being killed.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Taking place in 649 C.E., this historical fiction, first in the Tales from Norvegr series, combines action, adventure, a murder mystery, and a love story into a very well researched book. The author displays a keen understanding of the era and its people, showing off the food, the clothing, the legal systems — which mostly revolve around honor, sacrifice, and loyalty — as well as an understanding for how battles would be fought, how diplomacy would work, and how the land shaped much of the politics of the time. Even the family dynamics feel genuine.
Trigger warning: Elyn is raped as a child. The scene is brief and not gratuitous (though I wonder at the need for it). There are mentions of enslaved thralls being raped by their owners, and multiple scenes of people dying or being killed.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
September 24, 2022
I beta read this book and am leaving an honest review.
This is a Viking era enemies to lovers story.
Sigrid is legendary in her kingdom for valiant deeds, but has never found love.
Elyn is young, with her own score to settle as well as fighting her insecurities.
Both women meet on the battlefield and wonder why the other one hadn’t killed them in battle. The story evolves with lots of drama, questions and a nameless foe creating problems in each of their kingdoms.
The author has done a fantastic job of laying out the historical scene and time of this novel and draws you in with the events and tempers of all in both kingdoms. The conflicts are intense withy loss of life in each kingdom.
Read how both women figure out what is happening and set out on a journey to rectify the wrongs in their kingdoms as well as finding love as they work together.
This is a Viking era enemies to lovers story.
Sigrid is legendary in her kingdom for valiant deeds, but has never found love.
Elyn is young, with her own score to settle as well as fighting her insecurities.
Both women meet on the battlefield and wonder why the other one hadn’t killed them in battle. The story evolves with lots of drama, questions and a nameless foe creating problems in each of their kingdoms.
The author has done a fantastic job of laying out the historical scene and time of this novel and draws you in with the events and tempers of all in both kingdoms. The conflicts are intense withy loss of life in each kingdom.
Read how both women figure out what is happening and set out on a journey to rectify the wrongs in their kingdoms as well as finding love as they work together.
September 11, 2022
It's captivating, touching, poignant, full of action ... I LOVED it !!!
And I want more !!!
So ... I really hope we'll be able to read (at least) another (long length) story about those 2 lovebirds as MCs in the future and, maybe, also other books as well with them as strong secondary characters ... 🙏🙏🙏
January 13, 2026
Personally hated the narration of the audiobook, but the story is very interesting and paints a great picture. I would stick with a digital version next time though.
April 20, 2023
TRIGGER WARNING: There is a description of the SA of a 12y/o as the backstory of one of the main characters. SA is also mentioned once or twice as a common practice while raiding, which is not historically inaccurate and not unexpected given the era in which the book takes place. There is also a relationship which could be read as coercive and nonconsensual, although the author takes pains to write the potentially coerced character as acting of her own free will.
This review contains spoilers for plot, character development, and the ending of the book.
Aside from the trigger warning above, it's a pretty cute book and the main romantic plot is fairly satisfying until the 5-Years-Later epilogue. The main subplot revolves around political intrigue and lacks sophistication, but it keeps events and character encounters moving along well enough and is serviceable as a mechanism for the romantic developments. The characters generally lack depth, although the protagonists are better developed than the supporting characters.
I did enjoy the main romance, although the writing felt considerably more male-gaze-oriented than I was expecting from a female author. The emotional intimacy was not well developed, but the physical attraction more or less made up for it. The sexual encounters are of the fade-to-black variety, nothing even slightly explicit, but that's my preference in a book. I did not enjoy that the epilogue ended with Babies-Ever-After for the lesbians, which is one of my Do Not Want qualities in a romance novel.
Most supporting characters are either villainous and receive their just desserts or are unexpectedly supportive of the protagonists' actions and motivations, even when counter to how they were developed earlier. For example - Elyn's husband-to-be was mighty sanguine about being jilted the day before his wedding and extremely accepting of Elyn's motivations as well as her explanation of incipient treachery for a man with power in an 8th century society, okay, and while it turned out to the the correct decision it did not seem like it would be the most likely course of action for him to take given the information he had available to him and his actions up to that point. This pattern repeats across most of the supporting characters - they are unquestioningly supportive of the protagonists, regardless of whether or not the protagonists' actions and interactions have earned it.
The book also treads very carefully around the concepts of consent, particularly with the thrall Sveina - she is in a sexual relationship with Sigrid, which has a number of implications regarding power dynamics, especially when it is revealed that Sveina is straight. Great care is taken to assure both Sigrid and the reader that Sveina has been participating in a non-satisfying sexual relationship out of affection for Sigrid, and she continues to act on Sigrid's behalf (although not as her lover) after gaining her freedom, but the master-slave relationship may not be palatable to all.
The prose was lovely - except for the aforementioned male gaze, most of the passages were smooth and fit together beautifully. I particularly enjoyed most of the descriptive passages, especially when they brought the environment to life. This book felt very vivid in its placement and actions, which I did feel was an odd contrast to how flat many of the characters felt.
It was a pleasant diversion, it's pretty great to get historical romance with lesbians, and I don't regret the money I spent, but I would recommend borrowing this one from a library if you can, rather than buying it outright.
This review contains spoilers for plot, character development, and the ending of the book.
Aside from the trigger warning above, it's a pretty cute book and the main romantic plot is fairly satisfying until the 5-Years-Later epilogue. The main subplot revolves around political intrigue and lacks sophistication, but it keeps events and character encounters moving along well enough and is serviceable as a mechanism for the romantic developments. The characters generally lack depth, although the protagonists are better developed than the supporting characters.
I did enjoy the main romance, although the writing felt considerably more male-gaze-oriented than I was expecting from a female author. The emotional intimacy was not well developed, but the physical attraction more or less made up for it. The sexual encounters are of the fade-to-black variety, nothing even slightly explicit, but that's my preference in a book. I did not enjoy that the epilogue ended with Babies-Ever-After for the lesbians, which is one of my Do Not Want qualities in a romance novel.
Most supporting characters are either villainous and receive their just desserts or are unexpectedly supportive of the protagonists' actions and motivations, even when counter to how they were developed earlier. For example - Elyn's husband-to-be was mighty sanguine about being jilted the day before his wedding and extremely accepting of Elyn's motivations as well as her explanation of incipient treachery for a man with power in an 8th century society, okay, and while it turned out to the the correct decision it did not seem like it would be the most likely course of action for him to take given the information he had available to him and his actions up to that point. This pattern repeats across most of the supporting characters - they are unquestioningly supportive of the protagonists, regardless of whether or not the protagonists' actions and interactions have earned it.
The book also treads very carefully around the concepts of consent, particularly with the thrall Sveina - she is in a sexual relationship with Sigrid, which has a number of implications regarding power dynamics, especially when it is revealed that Sveina is straight. Great care is taken to assure both Sigrid and the reader that Sveina has been participating in a non-satisfying sexual relationship out of affection for Sigrid, and she continues to act on Sigrid's behalf (although not as her lover) after gaining her freedom, but the master-slave relationship may not be palatable to all.
The prose was lovely - except for the aforementioned male gaze, most of the passages were smooth and fit together beautifully. I particularly enjoyed most of the descriptive passages, especially when they brought the environment to life. This book felt very vivid in its placement and actions, which I did feel was an odd contrast to how flat many of the characters felt.
It was a pleasant diversion, it's pretty great to get historical romance with lesbians, and I don't regret the money I spent, but I would recommend borrowing this one from a library if you can, rather than buying it outright.
October 10, 2022
There are many storytellers in the world, however, Edale Lane takes this craft to a whole other level. Set in an often romanticised time that allowed women to fight for their community while also being actively kept in their 'female place', we follow a love story full of courage, self reflection, self discovery, honour and betrayal. Touching on some hard truths about human behaviour, the author doesn't dwell on these aspects, rather she weaves them through the tale to build the background without detracting from the main story line. Of our two heroines, I didn't know who to fall in love so was swept away by both. If you adore strong, weapon carrying characters (and there is nothing sexier than a sword wielding woman) who keep their honour and humanity alive in spite of living in a world designed to wipe it out, Sigrid and Elyn, along with their close family and friends, are everything and more. Skol.
November 6, 2022
This started out as an entertaining Viking-era book centered around two characters from opposite sides of the battlefield. As it progressed, dialogue started to get clunky, the characters became boring, and the plot dragged. The author also became very heavy-handed with the villains until they were basically mustache twirlers confessing their "evil" plans. I still enjoyed much of the book, but it could have easily been a tighter and more engaging story, as it did seem to be very well-researched.
October 6, 2024
There is so much I wanted to love about this book, but ultimately it was a major miss for me.
What I liked: the descriptions of Viking life. I am normally someone who is put off by flowery words and long metaphors, but here the descriptions really work. Reading this book felt like strolling through a page of Heathen or Thorgal , and I loved it. The battle scenes were particularly well done, with detailed descriptions of their historical armaments, battle field positions and fanatic devotion to Valhalla.
Where it all went wrong (for me): Sigrid and Elyn is at heart, a genderswapped 1950s fantasy novel. It reads like it was written for a male gaze, where "kindness" and "good intentions" serve as an apologia for dubious consent, slavery, and bizarrely gratuitous nearly nude (or nude) fighting scenes.
We are told that Sigrid is a beautiful "hero" full of sexual and fighting prowess. Her biggest problem is that she's gay, but because she's also a Jarl, there are no consequences to this. The surrounding cast serve as enablers of Sigrid's development. For example, Sigrid losing her father in the opening pages of the book is a big deal for her, but the moment carries no depth. It is simply there as a plot device so that she can inherit her position and has something to avenge.
Similarly, we are told that Elyn is "smart" and "beautiful" but doesn't know it. As a result, Sigrid's attraction to Elyn is instantaneous and totally physical. Of course, Elyn also has a tragic backstory, which is apparently needed to explain her sapphic tendencies.
Other female characters are relegated to being mothers, sisters, or wise old crones. IMHO the most interesting character in this book was the villain.
TL;DR: a sapphic, less graphic, attempt at Xena meets the the Winter King (spoiler alert: I hated that book). Whether this appeals to you will be down to your personal preferences, but personally, I wish the author had read The Perils of Allowing “Medieval Fantasy” to Be Sexist and Racist for “Historical” Reasons by Princess Weekes. She's clearly incredibly talented at historical settings, and this book would have been a lot better for it.
TW: dubious consent, slavery, trauma as a plot device
What I liked: the descriptions of Viking life. I am normally someone who is put off by flowery words and long metaphors, but here the descriptions really work. Reading this book felt like strolling through a page of Heathen or Thorgal , and I loved it. The battle scenes were particularly well done, with detailed descriptions of their historical armaments, battle field positions and fanatic devotion to Valhalla.
Where it all went wrong (for me): Sigrid and Elyn is at heart, a genderswapped 1950s fantasy novel. It reads like it was written for a male gaze, where "kindness" and "good intentions" serve as an apologia for dubious consent, slavery, and bizarrely gratuitous nearly nude (or nude) fighting scenes.
We are told that Sigrid is a beautiful "hero" full of sexual and fighting prowess. Her biggest problem is that she's gay, but because she's also a Jarl, there are no consequences to this. The surrounding cast serve as enablers of Sigrid's development. For example, Sigrid losing her father in the opening pages of the book is a big deal for her, but the moment carries no depth. It is simply there as a plot device so that she can inherit her position and has something to avenge.
Similarly, we are told that Elyn is "smart" and "beautiful" but doesn't know it. As a result, Sigrid's attraction to Elyn is instantaneous and totally physical. Of course, Elyn also has a tragic backstory, which is apparently needed to explain her sapphic tendencies.
Other female characters are relegated to being mothers, sisters, or wise old crones. IMHO the most interesting character in this book was the villain.
TL;DR: a sapphic, less graphic, attempt at Xena meets the the Winter King (spoiler alert: I hated that book). Whether this appeals to you will be down to your personal preferences, but personally, I wish the author had read The Perils of Allowing “Medieval Fantasy” to Be Sexist and Racist for “Historical” Reasons by Princess Weekes. She's clearly incredibly talented at historical settings, and this book would have been a lot better for it.
TW: dubious consent, slavery, trauma as a plot device
February 5, 2024
The story:
Norvegr is plunging into chaos as Svithjod’s jarl, Olaf, has been brutally murdered and petty kingdoms in the vicinity are engaged in inexplicable and unprovoked raids against each other. Now, a war is imminent, and Olaf’s children, the twins Sigurd and Sigrid, the latter also known as Sigrid The Valiant, a renowned warrior celebrated throughout Norvegr for her remarkable feats and combat skills, have inherited the titles of jarls of Svithjod. As the twins lead their kingdom and mourn their father’s loss, Sigrid is determined to avenge her father and prevent Norvegr from further descending into chaos. Sigrid’s pursuit of the truth takes an unexpected turn when she is joined by another shield maiden from the enemy lines. Bound by their obligations and an undeniable magnetic pull, Sigrid The Valiant and Elyn must conquer their doubts and disparities and come together to protect their kingdoms and people.
My thoughts:
This is the first book of a trilogy. To my understanding (without having read them yet), the second book follows the story of a descendant of Sigrid, whereas the third while still set in Norvegr does not include any connection to the characters from the first book.
I devoured this book in two days and could have finished it in one if it weren’t for life’s responsibilities (ugh, don’t you just hate that?). This story was an all-around great adventure. The book is well-researched, with a strong historical foundation and evident dedication from the author. It features two remarkable female protagonists who challenge societal expectations in a predominantly male-dominated world. The love story is captivating, particularly due to its enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The fighting scenes are exceptionally crafted (and I live for that!), and the characters undergo significant growth throughout the story. As the story came to a close, I was overcome with that unmistakable nostalgic sensation that only occurs when I deeply cherish a book. I can tell I’m reading excellent writing when I feel truly inspired by the captivating storytelling and the evident mastery put into the work. There is a multitude of skilled authors out there, each with their own unique prose and narrative voices, but it is the ones that evoke the feeling of sitting in a fire-lit longhouse, engrossed in a skald’s storytelling, that truly captivate my attention. Edale Lane is one of those. Reading such remarkable writing is a humbling experience for someone like me who aspires to be a published writer. I honestly wish I could sit down with her and have long conversations about history and writing historical fiction, and pick her brain about writing in general. But I should stop my rambling now and conclude with: this was a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚 review and I highly raccomand it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction (the period in this one is the pre-viking era) and a good romance.
Norvegr is plunging into chaos as Svithjod’s jarl, Olaf, has been brutally murdered and petty kingdoms in the vicinity are engaged in inexplicable and unprovoked raids against each other. Now, a war is imminent, and Olaf’s children, the twins Sigurd and Sigrid, the latter also known as Sigrid The Valiant, a renowned warrior celebrated throughout Norvegr for her remarkable feats and combat skills, have inherited the titles of jarls of Svithjod. As the twins lead their kingdom and mourn their father’s loss, Sigrid is determined to avenge her father and prevent Norvegr from further descending into chaos. Sigrid’s pursuit of the truth takes an unexpected turn when she is joined by another shield maiden from the enemy lines. Bound by their obligations and an undeniable magnetic pull, Sigrid The Valiant and Elyn must conquer their doubts and disparities and come together to protect their kingdoms and people.
My thoughts:
This is the first book of a trilogy. To my understanding (without having read them yet), the second book follows the story of a descendant of Sigrid, whereas the third while still set in Norvegr does not include any connection to the characters from the first book.
I devoured this book in two days and could have finished it in one if it weren’t for life’s responsibilities (ugh, don’t you just hate that?). This story was an all-around great adventure. The book is well-researched, with a strong historical foundation and evident dedication from the author. It features two remarkable female protagonists who challenge societal expectations in a predominantly male-dominated world. The love story is captivating, particularly due to its enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The fighting scenes are exceptionally crafted (and I live for that!), and the characters undergo significant growth throughout the story. As the story came to a close, I was overcome with that unmistakable nostalgic sensation that only occurs when I deeply cherish a book. I can tell I’m reading excellent writing when I feel truly inspired by the captivating storytelling and the evident mastery put into the work. There is a multitude of skilled authors out there, each with their own unique prose and narrative voices, but it is the ones that evoke the feeling of sitting in a fire-lit longhouse, engrossed in a skald’s storytelling, that truly captivate my attention. Edale Lane is one of those. Reading such remarkable writing is a humbling experience for someone like me who aspires to be a published writer. I honestly wish I could sit down with her and have long conversations about history and writing historical fiction, and pick her brain about writing in general. But I should stop my rambling now and conclude with: this was a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚 review and I highly raccomand it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction (the period in this one is the pre-viking era) and a good romance.
July 24, 2025
Well, this was educational. Admittedly, I know little about ancient Norway, but it seems like the author was well-researched. I had to keep the context of the time close at hand as I read, because the casual misogyny, sexism, and classism/racism (slavery) kept frustrating me. Not to mention how common rape was used as a tool of fear, domination, etc. Sigrid has a slave of her own, given to her by her father when she was young. She doesn't treat her like slaves are often treated, calls her her handmaiden, and views her as a friend. But she's still a slave. And it takes well into the story - and 26 years of her life - for it to occur to Sigrid that there is an inherent power imbalance to them, and maybe keeping a person as a possession isn't a good way to care for or about them. She does make her a freewoman at that point, but it still grated. I get that you don't know what you don't know, and I wasn't raised in a time period where slavery was normal and acceptable, obviously. I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that one could claim to care for someone as a friend, but never consider that their lack of freedom is kind of a big deal.
Overall, I liked the romance. A little slow burn, a little insta-love, no spice. The politics of this time are a little simplistic, and the scheme the FMC's needed to uncover was a little obvious, but I can see how it could happen in a time where travel takes days, communication is slow, and violence is commonplace. I think I land at 3.75 Stars for this one.
Overall, I liked the romance. A little slow burn, a little insta-love, no spice. The politics of this time are a little simplistic, and the scheme the FMC's needed to uncover was a little obvious, but I can see how it could happen in a time where travel takes days, communication is slow, and violence is commonplace. I think I land at 3.75 Stars for this one.
February 13, 2025
This is the first book in the Tales from Norvegr series. It focuses on two shieldmaidens on opposite sides of the shield wall. This is a wonderful book filled with action, geopolitical treachery, drama, love and death. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. It doesn’t rush into the relationship between Sigrid and Elyn so when they finally meet off the battlefield to solve a conspiracy, it is very satisfying. These two characters are well developed, and I was very invested in them. There are a lot of other terrific characters too, from heroes to villains. I listened to the audiobook version read by Rayne Potter. I was expecting a traditional narration, but it surprised me because it was read almost like an audio play. I highly recommend this series.
Read
February 12, 2026No rating as I DNF'd after chapter 3, and that was after giving it an extra 2.5 chapters because I was very interested in the premise. I found the prose in need of an edit both for flow and grammar, and while I know this is something that some people like in their enemies-to-lovers, instant OTT lust for the enemy doesn't do it for me. Sigrid is supposed to be a competent warrior in the middle of battle, so having her be overcome with lust at the first sight of Elyn to the point where she is thinking about how she almost doesn't mind that she's hurting someone in Sigrid's army did not really fit that.
November 14, 2022
This was an interesting read, but I did have a problem with the first half of the book, as the conflicts drag on, they keep asking why is it happening, yet nobody tries to find out. I know this is set in simpler times, but it felt like the characters were just being simpletons.
Things get better in the second half and overall I quite enjoyed the story, but I also found it a bit frustrating, at times I felt like I needed to grab hold of the main characters and give them a good shaking.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
Things get better in the second half and overall I quite enjoyed the story, but I also found it a bit frustrating, at times I felt like I needed to grab hold of the main characters and give them a good shaking.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
February 13, 2026
3 stars, only because I was not really into this type of story telling.
I have to admit that the writing is very good. I don't know why I got this book or read it. Must have been recommended by someone. Not really into Norse history, war, fighting...
Sort of hoping it would be like the the 'When women were warriors' trilogy, which I liked, even tho it was fantasy (which I am also not a fan of) ...
I have to admit that the writing is very good. I don't know why I got this book or read it. Must have been recommended by someone. Not really into Norse history, war, fighting...
Sort of hoping it would be like the the 'When women were warriors' trilogy, which I liked, even tho it was fantasy (which I am also not a fan of) ...
March 29, 2023
Extremely satisfying.
This was a lot of fun to read. There was adventure, romance, and a healthy dose of comedy peppered throughout. My only one sour note is that the author does spend (what I would consider to be) an excessive amount of time world/setting building. But overall a very good read. Would definitely recommend.
This was a lot of fun to read. There was adventure, romance, and a healthy dose of comedy peppered throughout. My only one sour note is that the author does spend (what I would consider to be) an excessive amount of time world/setting building. But overall a very good read. Would definitely recommend.
June 25, 2024
what a fun read
This book fascinated me. I have always been interested in the cultures of Scandinavian people. This book took me on a wonderful journey of the peoples of Norway. It showed how they dealt with numerous calamities and how they came together to solve problems. On top of that a wonderful love story of two shieldmaidens.
This book fascinated me. I have always been interested in the cultures of Scandinavian people. This book took me on a wonderful journey of the peoples of Norway. It showed how they dealt with numerous calamities and how they came together to solve problems. On top of that a wonderful love story of two shieldmaidens.
May 5, 2023
interesting
Well for someone from somewhere else pronouncing those names almost made me not read the book at all. What a miss would that have been and now I’m going to watch the Vikings…
Well for someone from somewhere else pronouncing those names almost made me not read the book at all. What a miss would that have been and now I’m going to watch the Vikings…
August 30, 2023
Entertaining
I had some problems at first with the words but after awhile the story was so interesting it didn’t’ bother me. The further you get into the story it gets hard to stop reading because you want to find out who the traiters are beyond the most likely.
I had some problems at first with the words but after awhile the story was so interesting it didn’t’ bother me. The further you get into the story it gets hard to stop reading because you want to find out who the traiters are beyond the most likely.
February 17, 2024
Yes
I wish there was more sapphic fantasy. I know it's out there but there's not enough. This story definitely scratches and itch. It was well written and captivating. I read it in one sitting.
I wish there was more sapphic fantasy. I know it's out there but there's not enough. This story definitely scratches and itch. It was well written and captivating. I read it in one sitting.
October 20, 2022
Part love story and part love letter to Viking culture and history, this book is well constructed and entertaining.
January 27, 2023
Good story, albeit slightly predictable. I loved the historical details. It's obvious the author really did her research.
June 12, 2023
good
Maybe a little bit more George R.R. Martin with character deaths, and slower conflict resolution between characters. But amazing research in Norse mythology. Loved all that.
Maybe a little bit more George R.R. Martin with character deaths, and slower conflict resolution between characters. But amazing research in Norse mythology. Loved all that.
z-dnf-nopes
August 16, 2024Feeling like a bit of a DNF streak here
The narration is way faster than standard, a bit monotonous, and I’m not digging the vibes
The narration is way faster than standard, a bit monotonous, and I’m not digging the vibes
March 3, 2025
I appreciated the Norwegian history and breakdown of myths to help unpack this tale. I loved the role of the two shieldmaidens. A great love story
June 9, 2025
Really loved it. It took a little bit to get into it but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down.
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