Sigrid and Elyn

by Edale Lane

5 out of 5

Synopsis

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!

Review

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!

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