The Falcon Queen

The Norsewomen, Book 2

By: Johanna Wittenberg

Narrated by: Amy Landon

Ninth-century Norway, the island of Tromøy.

Åsa has won back her father's kingdom, but can she hold it?

The evil shapeshifter Hrolf lurks in the hinterlands, plotting revenge. The powerful Danes threaten from across the Skagerrak Sea, demanding marriage in exchange for peace, while her only ally, Olaf, presses his own suit. Though she loves Olaf, Åsa refuses to sacrifice her position and her people's welfare to become any man's property.

Then, across the snow-clad mountains comes Ragnhild, a runaway shield-maiden, seeking glory and gold. She seems to be the answer to Åsa's prayers, but Ragnhild's past catches up with her, bringing treachery and war.

Contains mature themes.

©2020 Johanna Wittenberg (P)2023 Tantor

good story but frustrating

it neanders a lot in this one. the last one she and Olaf were headed to be great lovers. stuff of legends in their own rights and an epic and unlikely love story, this one... scratch that. he's now with someone smaller, home maker, boring. she's organza her hall... she trains shelf maidens and is rather boring in her ability to mary sue it all... even though she's still a teenager? brother was going to be this magic laden fight and that petered out as well...

I can only hope the author is building something

Could not finish

I enjoy fantasy and strong female leads. But I could not buy these female characters. Teen girls are leading seasoned warriors in battle, Men are forgoing their oaths to others to follow them. There is no appropriate story line to justify why these teens lead. Main character lets multiple bad guys live. Resulting in deaths of her people in more than one story line. Completely unbelievable. No true warrior would do this nor would one one follow a leader who did. These are supposed to be Vikings. I finished the first book with the mindset she is learning. But she makes the same mistakes over over. Zero growth in this second book. I could not finish it. Rarely happens. Will not continue the series. I did not care for narrator’s voice as male characters.