Review: The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner

So after running a giveaway ages ago, so many people wanted to win The Helheim Princess. I had never heard of this one, so when I kept seeing it, I decided to look it up. It’s a Norse queer YA fantasy and I proceeded to add it to my list! So the power of persuasion works both ways! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.

Summary

For as long as Sigrid could remember, she’s wanted to become a mighty, fearless valkyrie. But without a winged mare, she’s a mere stable hand, left wondering who her parents were and why she’s so different. So when the Eye shows her a vision where she’s leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse Sleipnir, she grabs the possibility of this greater destiny with both hands, refusing to let go.

Too bad that the only one who can help her get there is Mariam, an enemy valkyrie who begrudgingly agrees to lead her to Helheim but who certainly can’t be trusted―even if she does make Sigrid more than a little flustered. As 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 bond forms.

As her feelings for Mariam deepen into something fiery and undeniable, Fate has other plans for Sigrid. What happens when the one thing you think you were meant to do might end the nine worlds?

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

While there is tons of action in The Helheim Princess – basically nonstop – what I enjoyed most was the main character Sigrid. If you’re looking for a Norse adventure story with tons of little clues to Norse mythology and legends, The Helheim Princess is 100% your book. But what I enjoyed the most was Sigrid’s character evolution. She’s so convinced that she’s meant for more, that she should be a valkyrie. Then when she has that vision, she’s even more convinced.

But throughout The Helheim Princess, Sigrid has to figure out how much control over her own fate she has. Is everything written in stone from her vision? Because we can think we know how our life is going to go. We can be so utterly convinced that our vision is going to happen like we think it is, only to find out it’s the same image with a different story. Sigrid is almost singled handedly focused on her future, that she struggles to see those around her and the other options.

Throughout The Helheim Princess, Sigrid also must learn about her own privilege, even though she’s been an Outsider. All the various ways you can be alone and an Outsider. And what I loved about The Helheim Princess is how entranced we can get by this idea of purpose and greatness. And so while The Helheim Princess is full of adventure and even some romance, it’s also about chasing a dream of what success is. What achievement and acceptance looks like to us.

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Find The Helheim Princess on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Discussion

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