I loved this book so much! It reminded me of Circe and Achilles by Miller and opened completely new kind of sagas to me. I have already heard of The Song of Nibelungs, but this book enabled me to get to know the story better and from a new angle. I really liked the characters and their development, it was shown nicely through their thought and actions. The way that the story is told from two perspectives makes it possible to show more things happening, but makes it still interesting as interpretation is necessary.
I really recommend this story!

This was a fantastic book. I especially enjoyed Brynhild's character and her strength.

This was well written; I really loved it's lyrical quality.

Excited to read more of Kate Heartfield's work!

The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield is a lyrical retelling of one of Norse mythology’s greatest epics, the story of Brynhild and Sigurd.

The tale weaves between the perspective of Brynhild, a disillusioned Valkyrie stripped of her powers and Gudrun, a princess of Burgundy destined to be betrothed to a vicious invading king.

I wasn't familiar with the legend which inspired this retelling and I think this played into my favour. The Valkyrie is full of twist and turns from the very beginning. It's a fast-paced story that features corrupt gods, mythical beasts, forbidden love and betrayal.

Each chapter reads like a beautifully written love letter. I was completely immersed in the world Heartfield created. The romance was wonderfully dreamy and sincere.

Both Brynhild and Gudrun are both unapologetically fearless and loyal. It was refreshing to read a book that featured not one but two strong and powerful women.

This was a breathtakingly story that intertwines both history and fantasy perfectly

I really enjoyed The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield.
I'm a huge fan of Mythology retellings, so i had high hope for this one amd luckily I really enjoyed it.
While it was slow at times, it didn't really bother me as I really liked the characters and the writing was really good.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves mythology retellings!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love all things Greek and Norse mythology, so this was right up my street.

I loved how this was written, the story of Brynhild, Gudrun and Sidrid was easy to follow and I loved delving into how they met and their essentially love story.

I only gave 3 stars because of the pace, whilst I enjoyed the POV and how well written it is, I found myself checking how far through I was. I need a slightly faster pace.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

I love the vikings and I love the retelling of myths - particularly the recent trend of female-focused retellings spear-headed by authors such as Jennifer Saint and Natalie Haynes ... so this book was right up my street.

The Valkyrie is a gorgeous take on the myth of Sigurd and Brynhild. It's wrote from the viewpoints of Brynhild and Gudrun, Sigurd's wife - as they each describe how they met - and whilst there are battles and intrigue, this is essentially their love story.

There is a familiar-ness to the writing that draws you in, and I found this a really easy read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

The myth retelling description is what drew me in, and since Greek mythological tales are all the rage right now, I thought it'd be great to get pulled further north to the Norse folktale world.

"The Valkyrie" was beautifully written and leaned heavily on historic events interwoven with the myths embedded into ancient culture. For not knowing anything about Brynhild, Sigurd, or Gudrun from the original Norse tales prior to diving into this story, I got to know the characters well as the story progressed.

Though I enjoyed reading for how the author crafted the story, I unfortunately found the pace really slow and found myself frequently checking to see how much longer I had with the e-book format. I sometimes felt lost when the actual real-life history dominated the myth in the majority of the novel. So many different cultures are mentioned as it relates to the ongoing war, and with an exiled Valkyrie leading character, I understand why it's set up as such, but it does dilute the Norse mythology book marketing message, especially when you are expecting it be a love letter to Nordic tales.

Odin, Freya, Loki, and Hel all make cameos, but I was hoping for further medieval Nordic/Scandinavian imagery and settings. The plot relies heavily on Attila the Hun's influence and involvement which as most know originated from central Asia/today's Hungary. Not quite the same as northern Europe vibes!

While the novel's structure of a couple sharing their story with one another was interesting, I also wish there were another point of view added to better support Gudrun and Brynhild's relationship. The two points-of-view between themselves didn't lend itself well to forming their love story in a way that was believable. It had me feeling indifferent about their journey together.

The last 20% of the book was devoured as my favorite as it gives readers a glimpse into Heartfield's Helheim and Folkvang. Without giving too much away, I wish there were more of this world-building! This was tailored perfectly to those looking for that solid Nordic setting the book's description promises.

Overall, it's a lyrical story with a strong sense of story, and for fans of Circe and the modern myth genre, you'll see obvious parallels with empowered female figures who are finally getting their literary spotlight. 3.5 out of 5 stars for me. Heartfield's skilled writing isn't to be missed, and it has "The Embroidered Book" on my to-read list.

// Thank you so much to Netgalley and HarperCollinsUK for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! //

I was given a digital ARC of this book for free through NetGalley.

Out of all mythologies, Norse was one of my weakest for a long time, I struggled a lot with it until recently. This book gives such a beauty to a character I only knew onscreen or in passing. The slow burn of the affection between the two main characters gave me an indescribable feeling. I loved the concept of the two narrators addressing each other as if in conversation, recalling their lives before and during their time together. I won’t be forgetting this any time soon.

We meet Brynhild as she is exiled from Valhalla by Odin and finds herself in the moral realm of Midgard. No longer a Valkyrie, Brynhild must make her own fate, which begins when she meets the warrior Sigurd and they defeat the monster that has been plaguing Burgundy.

Having defeated the monster, the pair end up in the city, married to the king and his sister, Gudrun, respectively. Despite the fact that Brynhild quickly realises that she has been tricked into her marriage, the four must combine forces to keep the region, which is at risk from both Atilla and his Hun army, as well as the whims of the Norse gods, safe – a task which is often easier said than done. I won't say more as this will be best enjoyed without spoilers...

The story is told from in turn from the POVs of both Brynhild and Gudrun, which keeps the narrative fresh and engaging, and the Norse myths are really brought to life. The characters – both divine and mortal – are flawed but captivating, and I was hooked throughout, despite knowing very little of the mythology of this period prior to reading this novel.

I loved the pacing and lyrical nature of the author’s writing, and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythological “retellings”. I will certainly be reading more by this author in future.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

An engaging retelling of the story of Sigfried and Brynhild- I enjoyed the way the myth of the valkyrie was re interpreted and especially the early parts of the story, with the lindworm fight, were absorbing and evocative. I did find the book a bit too short, however- I was hoping that there'd be more of Brynhild and Gudrun together as this relationship is what forms the backbone of the book and it just wasn't enough to satisfy me by the end.

All in all though it's a great retelling that goes on the shelf along with Circe and Kaikeyi.

The Valkyrie follows the story of Brynhild and Gudrun told in both POV. Brynhild a Valkyrie who has been banished and Gudrun a princess of Burgundy, each telling their sides of the story of how the fate had brought them together.
I love reading mythology of any sort and this was definitely a interesting read.

I was expecting this book to be written the way is was, and it kinda of confused me. While I came to understand why it was written this way kt made sense. But unfortunately this wasn't the book for me.

The blurb on this book grabbed me instantly. Valkyrie, witch, just strong women full stop and I'm there. I have to say that although names and bits were familiar, I do not know the Norse Mythology well enough to see how this book was as a retelling. I enjoyed the multi pov in the book, even though it could be confusing at times which was which. I did find it kept me mostly engaged and wanting to know what happened

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I was given early access to this book on NetGalley and it did not disappoint. Although I found the split narrative within this book confusing to begin with, after the first 4 chapters I fell in love with it. This is a must read for anyone who loves greek mythology retellings.

A beautifully written multiple POV book between the two main characters brynhild and gudrun, and written in the style of a conversation between them.
It details their events and experiences and what led them up to this point. It is an excellent retelling, and this style of story telling is fantastic as you get the characters internal feelings and thoughts too about everything. Seeing two sides of the same story and how different it can be between them is a good contrast as you get the story but know the true events are probably somewhere in the middle
A really good book for fans of horse mythology. In depth, and true to the original myths as much as possible while still breathing new life into these things

I was excited to read this retelling and for the most part enjoyed it. I love the Nibelungenlied and Norse Sigurd stories and have always wanted to hear the tale from Brynhild and Kriemhild’s perspectives as they are such interesting, powerful characters. I’m happy this story has reimagined their roles in the story. However, these characters fell a bit flat for me and I was a bit disappointed in the book. I thought the framing device was clever but in execution it led more to telling than showing the story, especially the relationship between Brynhild and Gudrun. I’d really wanted more scenes where this development was shown through interaction and the characters’ reflections on that, as the chapters are in first person alternating between the women. This slowed the pacing too, so a story full of action and intrigue ended up being a bit boring at some points. I did really appreciate the fresh perspective on the tale, though, and admire the author’s creativity!

The Valkyrie is a beautiful lyrical retelling of the story of Brynhild, a banished from Valhalla Valkyrie, and Gudrun, a princess of Burgundy. It is exquisitely written and compelling, I couldn't put it down!

The book is a multiple POV, written as a conversation between Brynhild and Gudrun, each telling their experience, interpretation and side of the story that brought them together. I thought the structure of the text was unique in that way, because not only could the reader build a fuller and more detailed picture of the events, but the almost dialogical tone revealed a lot of the internal world of the characters. We were given a unique insight into their most intimate thoughts and emotions, thus building a feeling and deep understanding of each character.

Kate Heartfield has breathed new life into many well-known beloved characters from Norse mythology. She has made the story unique in that way, each chapter ending in an almost cliffhanger, thus making the reader want to read more.

I devoured a book in a couple of days and would absolutely recommend it to all my friends. It's a 2023 MUST-READ. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, I have already preordered my physical copy!

Brynhild is a Valkyrie, tasked with carrying dead warriors off to the heroes' paradise of Valhalla. She is punished when she defies her father, Wotan, the king of the gods. He strips her of her immortality and sends her to Midgard, where people live. Gudrun is a princess of Burgundy, a daughter of the Rhine and a witch, and a prize for an invading king – a king whose brother Attila has other plans. There is also Sigurd, the hero and a warrior with a sword that kills mythical monsters.

Their fates have become inextricably linked. The reader is left wondering who is the true hero and who is just a man who wants to be remembered as a hero.

The story of the Nibelungen Rings is told in a unique way here, which adds to its allure. The novel is written as a dialogue between Brynhild and Gudrun, each with their own distinct voice, and the tension between them is palpable.

A good Norse mythology-related read.

3,5/5

The Valkyrie

What if the sworn enemies were friends or even more… lovers? It’s always intriguing to witness how an old well-known story turns to be a new one. Here “The Valkyrie” is the story of Brynhild and Kriemhild from “The Song of the Nibelungs” told in a completely new way.
The characters are all the same, although they have new names and new destinies. The narrative is told from the perspective of Brynhild — a Valkyrie exiled from Valhalla back to Midgard, the ‘home of men” and Gudrun — a princess of Burgundy and a witch. She is destined to become the wife of the king of Huns in order to maintain peace with the invaders. However, everything does not go according to plan and Burgundy is threatened by the bloodthirsty Attila, new ruler of the Huns, who must be stopped.
I was glad to learn more about one of the most famous Germanic heroic legend and Norse mythology in general, however I wish the story had been more fast-paced. The book itself is quite eventful though the style of narration just does not give you a chance to get excited about it. Since the book is built in the form of a dialogue between Brynhild and Gudrun, through their memories of the past, it was impossible for me to get attached to the heroes, so the story, unfortunately, left me rather indifferent.
Also, in the Author’s note Kate Heartfield says that she “was struck” by the tension between Brynhild and Kriemhild in the original story, when they gave each other greeting kisses, by their mutual stares, which inspired her to write “The Valkyrie” in the first place. And I guess here it’s vital to “get struck” from the very beginning by the idea of Brynhild and Kriemhild being lovers and not enemies in order to fully appreciate the story, which simply didn’t happen in my case. Moreover, since I wasn’t familiar with the original story, I was surprised to find out it was a romantic story between two female characters, which otherwise you could guess from the book summary.