Review Detail

THE VALKYRIE'S SHADOW continues Sigrid's story from THE VALKYRIE'S DAUGHTER with another high stakes fantasy adventure. Sigrid is still coming to terms with her mother and what she wanted from her, while she is beginning to train with the valkyries, as she had long dreamed of doing. However, she is also separated from her girlfriend and the night elf who had helped her in the first book and become a friend.

After a successful mission to the realm of the night elves, Sigrid finds herself with an unexpected invitation from the new queen to become a princess and expand her education more broadly but also into her family lineage. Skeptical of the queen but curious to learn more, Sigrid reluctantly accepts but with conditions for her friends in exile. With war brewing and Loki's chaos growing, Sigrid will have a bigger role to play than she could have imagined.

What I loved: This series is particularly notable for the way it expands upon Norse mythology in fascinating ways through Sigrid's story. This mythology grows as she visits other worlds and learns more about the royals and her family as well as the ways in which power is controlled. While Sigrid remains hopeful about the world around her, her skepticism is often warranted, especially when she begins to see the privilege held by a few and wielded for their own gain.

Sigrid remains a highly compelling character. Her growth in the first story was by leaps and bounds, and in this sequel, it is a bit more subtle as she is learning to trust herself completely as well as embrace who she is, even with the complicated family dynamics she was exposed to in the first book. Knowing that she was chosen for the mythical horse, Sleipnir, is not made easier by her inner turmoil and wondering what makes her special after a lifetime of being overlooked. However, the outsider perspective she has had through her years as a stable hand is critical to empathizing and gaining her own priorities.

Much of this story includes the war and war scenes, which are challenged by Sigrid's new role and her conflicts over riding Sleipnir, especially with the out of control way that the horse makes her feel. Her skills will be particularly critical in finding a path forward - if she is able. Beyond these themes of personal growth, confidence, influence, and the importance of empathy, other themes around betrayal, complicated family, corrupting power, the weight of punishments, distrust, and friendship are also really thought-provoking in the story.

What left me wanting more: While I absolutely love the romance between Sigrid and Miriam, I found myself wanting more of it in this book. There is a lot of action/adventure going on with the war, so we only get a little bit of the two together and their feelings for one another. While the story is fast-paced as a result, it still would have been great to have even more of the romance, but I suspect this may come up more in the future.

Final verdict: THE VALKYRIE'S SHADOW is a lush YA fantasy about Norse mythology and finding your path, continuing an interesting series. Readers will need to begin with the first book to appreciate this fast-paced, action-packed sequel.