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The Shield-Maiden: A Foreworld SideQuest (The Foreworld Saga) by [Michael Tinker Pearce, Linda Pearce]

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Michael Tinker Pearce

Linda Pearce

The Shield-Maiden: A Foreworld SideQuest (The Foreworld Saga) Kindle Edition

by Michael Tinker Pearce (Author), Linda Pearce (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

99 ratings

Part of: The Foreworld Saga (12 Books)

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SideQuests are stand-alone stories or novellas that chronicle the heroes, villains, and adventures in The Foreworld Saga across numerous eras and ages. They can be read in any order with or without prior knowledge of The Foreworld Saga.

Sigrid is a Shield-Maiden who yearns to break free of the restrictions of her father’s home and join the Sworn Men in an actual raiding expedition. When a small diplomatic party that includes members of the Shield-Brethren lands at her family’s holding on Göttland, the party’s second in command, Halldor, sees in Sigrid a vision of beauty and power that might challenge—and even destroy—many men.

And when bloody chaos ensues at a nearby Viking fishing village, Sigrid proves she has more than mere talent: she has Vor—the fate sight—an astonishing focus in fighting that sets her apart from nearly all who have ever lived and puts her in the rare company of the finest Shield-Brethren.

But as Sigrid and her family confront her otherworldly ability, will it prove to be a gift to be celebrated, or an affliction to be cured?

Length: 67 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Part of: The Foreworld Saga (12 Books)

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael “Tinker” Pearce is a world-renowned sword-maker and author of The Medieval Sword in the Modern World. He is a student of historic European martial arts and also works with Subutai Corporation as a fight choreographer and consultant.

Linda S. Pearce has worked in the high-tech industry for over twenty years and is active in the animal rescue community. The two met at a renaissance faire and fell in love immediately. They are now married and live in Seattle with six dogs and two cats.

They are also the authors of the fantasy novel, Diaries of a Dwarven Rifleman.

Product details

ASIN : B009KP9VHY
Publisher : 47North (November 27, 2012)
Publication date : November 27, 2012
Language: : English
File size : 286 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 67 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #738,460 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,080 in Alternative History
- #2,213 in Two-Hour Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Reads
- #3,003 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
99 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		38%
4 star		40%
3 star		16%
2 star		4%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Lauren M

A fun, engrossing read

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013

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I loved this story and would have given it five stars if it were a complete novel. This is just the introduction to a much longer story and cuts off just when the adventure is about to begin. Though incomplete, it was well written and entertaining throughout.

Because the story was so short I did not fully understand the plot. Who were the Danes that mysteriously appeared in their midst chasing the boatload of elite warriors? What were they after, and what were the warriors doing there in the first place? I assume these questions will be answered in later editions, but it is frustrating to buy a book, read the entire thing, and and be left with these questions.

One part that I found troubling was the way the authors dealt with the thralls. Although described as members of the household, they were slaves, probably captured in long ago raids. To write of them as happy, sex-loving servants did them a disservice. But, the authors were creating heroes in a slave-owning society. Perhaps they felt the only way to include thralls (as historical authenticity demanded) and keep the heroes heroic (under modern sensibilities) was to describe the thralls as happy. In this novel they could even choose their sexual partners!

Don't be put off by what I said about thralls. This is only a short part in a great story and I am sensitive on the subject. This is NOT a full novel, so don't buy this expecting one. Just enjoy what you get and know that if you like the introduction, you'll be shelling out more cash to find out what happens next.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mel Odom

Awesome Representation of the Vikings!

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

The Shield Maiden is part of the Foreworld saga and focuses on the Vikings. In particular, the story focuses on Sigrid Pettirsdottir, a Viking maiden who fights in battle beside the male warriors. She's noticed by Halldor, one of the Shield-Brethren that tend to take center stage in the Foreworld novels. Halldor has the Vor - the fate sense that nudges him a little past human on ability and perceptions. He knows that Sigrid has it as well, and that if she isn't trained properly, she's a threat to others.

The Foreworld series is dynamic and interesting because it opens up history in a lot of ways. The original authors tried to bring realistic fighting and a sense of civilization into the stories, and Linda and Michael "Tinker" Pearce do a bang-up job of it in this novella.

I enjoyed the description of the everyday life of the Vikings as much as I did the action. Michael Pearce is a sword-maker and author of The Medieval Sword in the Modern World. He's skilled in martial arts and works as a fight choreographer, which shows in the narrative.

Sigrid becomes a real person throughout the story and I feel like I got to know her well. Her family and friends are highlights throughout the story, and watching her try to sort through things.

This was my first foray into the Foreworld universe, but I'm now intrigued and will be picking up other stories in the series.

Helpful

Kevin Corn

Like most of these

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014

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I read the Mongoliad with an avid enthusiasm that prompted me to try out some of the shorter books in the Foreworld Saga that have spun off that project. these are much shorter novellas that take place within that same fictive semi-historical universe as the Mongoliad. Shield Maiden is one of these. Like most of these, it is full of loose ends that apparently will have to wait for other writers to tie up in further installments to the series. In style and content it stands out as one of the better pieces in this series. I'm ready to learn more about this mysterious order and its female heroes.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Eric B. Burres

Another Great Story in the Foreworld Saga

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012

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The Foreworld Saga is a series of novels and short stories of historical fiction written by some of the best contemporary writers as well as a few that you may never have heard of but who are equally as good as the more well known authors. This story is no exception. It is a very good short piece dealing with a young woman who has "vor", a special battle sense that allows her to concentrate and excel at melee combat. I loved this story as much as all the other foreworld tales. If you've not read any of these stories and you like good historical fiction, I highly recommend you get them all and have a feast of reading pleasure.

Helpful

Rlynnk53

The Shield Maiden : A Foreward SideQuest

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Well written. Thoroughly enjoyed the story line. Looking forward to reading more about the female warrior caste. Will find the nextstory.

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Love the story, am not sure about the marketing strategy

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012

Verified Purchase

I am enjoying the Mongoliad series (conglomerate?) very much, but the piece-meal delivery system can make for a more challenging read. The story includes novels and "supplements" written by various combinations of the authors. Depending on how diligent you are about keeping up with your downloads, it may be difficult to place where you are within the chronology of the main story. It also means you are paying and paying... and paying some more as each of the supplements is released.

I think it's worth it, but I think you should enter into the process with eyes open.

Helpful

Joe S

An immersive read

Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2016

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The best stories cause you to no longer see the book in your hands . You turn the pages unconscious of the movement. You are totally immersed in the author's creation. This is one of those stories.

Helpful

Don Reese

Short, but enjoyable

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013

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The story tells of just a few days in the life of Sigrid, a Shield-Maiden. When we meet her she is already an accomplished fighter and by the tale's end a battle-tested warrior. It's the inner talent she possesses that makes her the fighter she is. Unfortunately, we're left waiting for the next installment to see what happens as she makes ready to head off and learn about this talent.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Another solid sidequest in the Mongoliad world - but not as clearly related to the main story so far

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2013

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As already established, the Mongoliad ( The Mongoliad: Book One (The Foreworld Saga) ) universe is constantly being enriched by prequels and side quests, this being one of them. Happening in Norway, with an interaction between some Shield Brethren enroute to Tyrshammar and the local population, with the pairing fending off a Danish raid on the local fishing village. The story is focused primarily on Sigrid - the chief's daughter, who is at the same time a Shield Maiden, and uncannily handy with spear and axe.

Like the others ( Sinner: A Foreworld SideQuest (The Foreworld Saga) , Dreamer: A Foreworld SideQuest (The Foreworld Saga) , etc.), the book is very short - basically the equivalent of a handful of chapters. It is well written, and action packed - therefore easy to read quickly. It provides additional richness to the world described (13th century Europe, this time the Northern parts) and should be quite interesting to people more fascinated by Norse sagas and history (irrespective of whether they find the politicking between Christian orders of the time, or the Mongol state exciting).

The characters of course cannot be painted in depth but the brief description through their thought and action is good enough to add some colour, to what could be a fairly two dimensional cast (given the length of the story).

The one criticism that can potentially be leveled at this side quest is that there is less connection to the Mongoliad protagonists (state the end of The Mongoliad: Book Two (The Foreworld Saga) ) than in the other side quests / prequels, so it is really more of a nice to have than a useful addition to the world. Still, I do not regret getting it, and it works equally well as a stand alone short story.

2 people found this helpful

Linda Acaster

Did Not Disappoint

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2015

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Having read none of The Foreworld Saga but wanting a short yet fully contained read, I picked up this novella as a trial. I wasn’t disappointed. The authors do a brilliant job of setting characters within their time without a turgid lesson on history or lifestyle. That Sigrid is a Shield-Maiden in her first battle is not conveyed on the page as a crass “blond beauty picks up weapon in rage”; there is a back-story of years of training and following in her aunt’s footsteps.

The fight scenes are vivid and mesmerising in their intricacy, especially as Sigrid’s training kicks in and she slips into the ‘Vor’. For this alone it is well worth the read. There isn’t much time in the novella for her and Halldor’s relationship to grow, but he recognises the ‘Vor’ in her before he sees it, giving a glimpse into his own spirituality. I shall pick up another in the series.

Nish Pfister

Growing up to be a hero

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2013

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This story moved me greatly. Always being taken in easily by a story of a courageous woman, this is well told and made me care for the characters. It flows along lightly, setting the scene, identifying era and location, then coming to a crescendo with a battle and the main character's personal development.

One person found this helpful

Suchea

Nice Viking Saga

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book. I really like the idea of a girl as a warrior, not as something extraordinary but taken as something quite natural. Exciting adventure with interesting characters.

One person found this helpful

Pen Name

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book was as the title states brilliant, I could not put it down it brought the past back to life.