For one reason or another, the majority of fantasy protagonists seem to be male. That’s improved in recent years, with writers creating a fascinating variety of strong female characters (read: well-written and complex characters who are female, not just the stereotypical badasses).
But there’s still a noticeable lack of mothers. Both parents are either killed off in a tragic backstory, or the father goes off on an adventure while the mother stays at home.
Not so in Queens of the Wyrd. Timandra Whitecastle has written a story of viking moms going on an adventure to save the world from Ragnarok. It starts out feeling like a Norse version of Kings of the Wyld, then quickly veers away into new territory.
Lovis is a half-giant retired Shieldmaiden who wants nothing more than to provide a good life for her daughter. When she’s roped into a “getting the gang back together” style quest, I thought I knew what I was in for. But then the daughter comes along on the adventure. It’s such a simple change, but it radically changes the dynamics of every scene to follow, and I can’t recall seeing this before in fantasy.
Queens of the Wyrd also features a women-centric cast. The warriors, monarchs, gods, and villains are almost exclusively female. One male love interest is literally never given a name in the text, because he’s only a supporting role at best. Combined with the theme of motherhood, this made the story feel fresh and new, despite containing many of the recognizable beats of epic fantasy adventures.
The banter is fun, the fights are epic, and the Norse mythology feels well-researched and skillfully woven into the tale. I recognized several classic—or more likely, well-known in pop culture—myths worked into the book, and I got the feeling there were even more that I missed. Some of the mythological references led to less-than-subtle foreshadowing, most notably one Chekhov’s Trickster, but I didn’t mind because I was having fun.
And speaking of fun, Queens of the Wyrd isn’t afraid to cut loose and avoid taking things too seriously. Each chapter opens up with a quote from a legendary skald, like Beyonce. References to popular fantasy books and movies are sprinkled throughout, as well. Fans of Joe Abercrombie might have to be realistic about spotting some of them, and Disney lovers might just have to let them grow go.
Whitecastle’s new series is off to a fantastic start with Queens of the Wyrd. It’s an unabashedly fun, fiercely feminist take on the popular Norse mythology genre, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
