Black Shield Maiden

By: Willow Smith, Jess Hendel

Narrated by: Willow Smith

From Willow Smith and Jess Hendel comes a powerful and groundbreaking historical saga about an African warrior in the world of the Vikings.

“Intimate, tender, and fiercely epic.”—Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone

Lore, legend, and history tell us of the Vikings: warrior kings on epic journeys of conquest and plunder. But the stories we know are not the only stories to tell. There is another story, one that has been lost to the mists of time: the saga of the dark queen.

This saga begins with Yafeu, a defiant yet fiercely compassionate young warrior who is stolen from her home in the flourishing Ghānaian empire and taken to a distant kingdom in the North. There she is thrust into a strange, cold world of savage shield maidens, tyrannical rulers, and mysterious gods.

And there she also finds something unexpected: a kindred spirit. She comes to serve Freydis, a shy princess who couldn’t be more different from the confident and self-possessed Yafeu.

But they both want the same thing: to forge their own fate. Yafeu inspires Freydis to dream of a future greater than the one that the king and queen have forced upon her. And with the princess at her side, Yafeu learns to navigate this new world and grows increasingly determined to become one of the legendary shield maidens—to fight not only for her freedom but for the freedom of others.

Yafeu may have lost her home, but she still knows who she is, and she’s not afraid to be the flame that burns a city to the ground so a new world can rise from the ashes. She will alter the course of history—and become the revolutionary heroine of her own myth.

©2022 WILLOW and Jess Hendel (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Intimate, tender, and fiercely epic . . . With Black Shield Maiden, Willow Smith and Jess Hendel pull the reader into a rich adventure filled with detailed prose and poignant symbolism. You quickly become endeared with the character of Yafeu and her plight as a young woman in a vicious world. With her first foray into literature, Smith proves there is no limit to her boundless imagination and explosive creativity.”—Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone

Breathtakingly Beautiful!

This is a story for the ages. Willow Smith has an extraordinary gift that transcends all artistic mediums. The story went to places I could not have imagined. Looking forward to your next endeavor, Ms. Smith!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Non stop

This story was so well thought out and enacted that through my mind’s eye, an epic movie came to life! Well done!

so good

it was amazing loved everything about it I listened because I love willows music but this showed a whole nother level of talent

Amazing First Book

Willow Smith is an amazing singer but how can add amazing author to her legacy. This book keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The characters are fantastic!!

I loved how characters could be so different and yet mirror one another. This book has pain, action, and power throughout it. Thanks for this experience Willow xoxo

The story held my interest all the way through.

I liked the blending of two cultures and how the lead character fought and rose from her station.

Did NOT expect that!

Bravo, Miss Smith! I was intrigued by the description and slightly hesitant. But once I started, it held me tight and wouldn’t let go. I finished this in a day, and though I thought some of the cultural blending was a little forced toward the end, it made my eyes glisten at the last minute. It's a fantastic start to, hopefully, a long series.

Beyond the Tales of Rags to Riches!!!

This story was very tastefully put together!!! I've laughed, cried, clutched my pearls and cried some more!! I'm hoping there will be another installment!!

Kept my interest 😌

I enjoyed the book too my surprise, it was my go-to listen driving to work.

It gave Woman King meets GOT vibes in the next way!

I loved it. I believed the whole world. I wanted to learn more about each character and waited in anticipation for background stories. I hope there is a plane for a second book! And I loved Willow as the reader!