Black Shield Maiden has already garnered high praise:

“Intimate, tender, and fiercely epic.”
—Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone

Lore, legend, and history tell us of the Vikings: warrior-kings on epic journeys of conquest and plunder. But the stories we know are not the only stories to tell. There is another story, one that has been lost to the mists of time: the saga of the dark queen.

This saga begins with Yafeu, a defiant yet fiercely compassionate young warrior stolen from her home in the flourishing Ghanaian empire and taken as a slave to a distant kingdom in the North. In this strange, cold world of savage shield maidens, tyrannical rulers, and mysterious gods, Yafeu finds an unexpected kindred spirit in Freydis, a shy princess. Together, they seek to forge their own fates, challenging the roles imposed on them and inspiring each other to dream of a greater future.

With its rich blend of history and myth, “Black Shield Maiden” is a story of resilience, friendship, and revolution. Yafeu’s journey from enslavement to becoming a legendary shield maiden is not only a gripping adventure but also a tale of empowerment and self-discovery.

Title: ‘Black Shield Maiden’

Author: Willow Smith and Jess Hendel

Available: Amazon