By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

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:

Winter’s Maiden by Morgan L. Busse reminded me a lot of Hunger Games. Different clans of people trying to survive of what the elite is allowing them to not have. Of course, there is some mystery about the heroine, Brighid’s parents. Who are they? What is so unique about her powers? The story takes place during a battle, so the horrors of war and prisoners of war are shown. There are healers that come into their power and can use them for good. There are people that use the powers of healing for bad. No real romance in the plot, which is very nice. The story focuses on gifts and powers. What makes this story different is the setting. It is located in the Viking realm of Nordica, which could have actually been a real place in the past. The fighting to survive is the same. As for the characters, yes, I need to see who Bridghid’s father is and who was her mother. There are hints of who it actually could be, but Busse has not revealed that information in the first installment. The story ends in a moment that leads readers to believe there will be a second book in the series. Overall, Winter’s Maiden by Morgan L. Busse is not a bad read, but it kind of reads like every other dystopian society story. Fight to survive. Someone sees the injustice and decides to go against the current.

I received a complimentary copy of Winter’s Maiden by Morgan L. Busse from Enclave Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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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.