Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: July 26, 2022
Format: eARC
Publisher: Entangled Teen
*Note: The original title of this book was The Helheim Princess, which featured a different cover (featured below)
*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase
“You’re the most talented rider I’ve ever seen, stable girl.” Mariam nudged her and smiled. “Yggdrasil threw you the most powerful horse to ever exist. Now what are you going to do with him?”
Sigrid had dreamed of being a Valkyrie since she was a little girl, but that dream would always be just out of reach since her bonded horse Hestur has no wings. After seeing a prophecy where she is riding one of the most legendary horses of all time, Sleipnir, Sigrid resolves to take fate into her own hands. Readers who pick up Tiana Warner’s The Helheim Princess can expect great characters, lots of action, and an exciting story inspired by norse myth.
As a fan of Norse mythology, I absolutely had to read this book after seeing the blurb. I appreciated how the author brought in some more obscure figures from the myths (like Ratatosk) instead of just focusing on the most popular ones like Loki or Odin or Thor. It’s always a lot of fun to be surprised by a story, and Ms. Warner did exactly that. Her slight changes to the versions of the myths that I’m familiar with served the story well, and it still honored the heart of the tales.
I’m a sucker for an underdog story, and Sigrid is the type of character who just makes you want to root for her. I wanted her to prove all the stuck-up Valkyries wrong from the very first page. You don’t need a flying horse to be a badass female warrior. Hestur is awesome and he’s the fastest horse on land (outside of Sleipnir) even without wings. I really enjoyed her journey and the character development over the course of the story.
For those in search of books with more diverse characters, the culture of The Helheim Princess is very LGBTQ friendly (the author is part of the community too). Sigrid is queer/lesbian (her love interest is a girl) and its quite common for Valkyries to have wives. The relationship between Sigrid and Mariam is a very sweet sapphic romance suitable for young adult readers.
Altogether, The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner is an exciting, action-packed, sapphic young adult fantasy romance. I would happily recommend it to fans of mythology or those who love reading stories with strong female lead characters. Can’t wait to read the next book in The Helheim Prophecy series, and find out what’s next for Sigrid.
Thank you to the author, Entangled Teen and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of the book at no cost to myself. I appreciate the opportunity immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed The Helheim Princess. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
About the Book
Teenage stable hand Sigrid wants to become one of the mighty and fearless valkyries. But with only a wingless gelding as her bonded pair, there's no chance in Hel of that happening.
When a vision shows Sigrid leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, a greater destiny becomes possible. Determined to fulfill it, she makes an alliance with an enemy valkyrie who has nothing to lose, who seems to have an agenda all her own, and who leaves Sigrid more than a little flustered.
Together, they cross the nine worlds, battling night elves, riding sea serpents, and hurtling into fire to learn the truth about Sigrid's birthright. An unexpected but powerful friendship forms, and Sigrid hopes even something more.
In the deepest realms of the cosmos, Sigrid must decide between a destined fate or a chosen path.
When a vision shows Sigrid leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, a greater destiny becomes possible. Determined to fulfill it, she makes an alliance with an enemy valkyrie who has nothing to lose, who seems to have an agenda all her own, and who leaves Sigrid more than a little flustered.
Together, they cross the nine worlds, battling night elves, riding sea serpents, and hurtling into fire to learn the truth about Sigrid's birthright. An unexpected but powerful friendship forms, and Sigrid hopes even something more.
In the deepest realms of the cosmos, Sigrid must decide between a destined fate or a chosen path.
About the Author
Aside from writing stories, Tiana is a former programmer with a Computer Science degree, a lifelong horseback rider, and an outdoor enthusiast who loves to explore BC with her hyperactive rescue mutt, Joey. Contact her at tiana [at] tianawarner.com.
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