Book: Winter’s Maiden

Author: Morgan L. Busse

Genre: Adult Viking Fantasy

Release date: August 6, 2024

Warrior. Survivor. Daughter of the North.

From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south.

Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured.

As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?

My thoughts: I love how this book takes history and blends it with fantasy! Mystery surrounds Brighid and her parentage, leaving her with the unfortunate moniker of being the clan less one is a place where your clan means everything. Her birth in the first chapter broke my heart and grabbed my attention with the secrets surrounding who her parents were. This comes more into play as Brighid grows up and discovers that she has a unique gift, one where she can sense death. As she tries to find her place in the world and the wars going on, it leads her on a unexpected journey.
This is the first book in the series and leaves off at a cliffhanger, so I was left wishing the second book was already out. It's a wonderful story for YA and adults!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

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About the Author

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of multiple series including The Ravenwood Saga and Skyworld series. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and won the INSPY, Selah, and Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

More from Morgan

A long time ago when I wrote Daughter of Light (the first book in my Follower of the Word series), I mentioned the Nordic Wars and how it changed people’s perspective on beings with power. It was a side comment to answer my main character’s question, but I was intrigued with the idea and knew someday I wanted to write about it.

Now almost twenty years later, here is that story.

Some questions I’m asked when people realize Winter’s Maiden ties in with Daughter of Light is do they need to read my first series? The answer is no. Winter’s Maiden takes place 400 years before the events in Daughter of Light. It involves a country and culture I never explored in my previous series, not to mention the world looked different back then. However, fans of my first fantasy series will appreciate seeing familiar places, races, and what happened back then to create the world in Daughter of Light.

So, what do new readers have to look forward to? Here are a few: a Viking-Inspired culture with my own twist, a female character who is strong but doesn’t need to prove that, a healer who is built like a berserker but is actually a pacifist, a power that allows a person to see inside the soul of another, battles that don’t read like a historical textbook, and deep questions I’m known to explore in my novels.

In the end, I love that I was able to revisit a world I created over twenty years ago and write a story that’s been on my heart for almost as long. I consider it one of my best books yet and cannot wait for readers to finally get to read Brighid’s story.