Fryda wanted nothing more to grow up to be a shield maiden, a destiny her stern father Weohstan -- who is both a kinsman of and a client king under the rule of King Beowulf (yes, that Beowulf) -- fiercely denies. At age 13, she attempted to hunt and slay a wolf alone to prove her valor, but an ill-timed earthquake sent her plummeting into a crevasse and, although the fate that jammed her left hand between crushing rocks during her fall saved her life, it mangled her hand, injured her arm, and may have permanently destroyed her chance for a good marriage.

Now 20, she is lady of her father's holdings when Beowulf, whose post-Grendel reign has lasted for 50 years, visits Weohstan burh (fortress) for a celebration. Fryda, who has trained secretly in combat techniques with the help of a cooperative servant and her father's blacksmith, soon finds herself entangled in an assault, attempted kidnapping, poisoning and revenge plot for which she is by no means prepared ... and yet, she's been preparing for it all her life.

Meanwhile, a dragon is stirring from its ancient slumber. Anyone who has read Beowulf knows what that means.

Sharon Emmerichs' Shield Maiden reimagines the final days of Beowulf's incredible saga. The events of the book are told mostly through the Fryda's eyes, although other perspectives do sometimes come into play. And Emmerichs has surrounded her young protagonist with several fascinating characters, foremost among them being Beowulf himself. He is Fryda's doting uncle, full of affection and good humor, but he also is well aware of his legend and status, and the responsibilities that entails. Now a fit 76 years old, he has no desire to fade into feeble anonymity. At the same time, this aging hero is a wise and just king who does not lightly risk the welfare of his people.

Then there's Fryda's father Weohstan, who is a competent ruler but is cold and unyielding where his daughter is concerned. Wiglaf, Fryda's twin brother, loves his sister but holds her life choices in disdain, and she is shocked to discover that he is greedy, jealous and too ambitious for his (and his people's) own good.

Bryce is the powerful, gifted blacksmith who gives Fryda the paternal affection she lacks at home while also helping her learn a warrior's craft and maneuvering to improve the lot of people he loves. He also conceals a dark and hidden past, which Beowulf's arrival could reveal. And then there's Theow, an Irish slave who bears terrible scars and a forgotten history ... and a secret love for a woman well above his station.

I have a well-known passion for new interpretations of old legends, and when I spied Shield Maiden on a shelf in the new bookstore in town, I knew it was coming home with me. It did not disappoint. Emmerichs has created a grand, exciting spin on Beowulf that I thoroughly enjoyed.