Head of Zeus seizes Emmerichs' feminist fantasy debut based on Beowulf

Head of Zeus has acquired Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs, a "lush, feminist" fantasy debut that riffs off the myth of Beowulf.

Publisher Rosie de Courcy acquired world all-language rights from Kristina Pérez at Zeno Agency, and the novel will be published in the UK in hardback and e-book on 2nd February 2023 with the Ad Astra list.

The book follows Fryda, a young woman who grows up hearing tales of her uncle, King Beowulf, and his defeat of the monster Grendel.

"Her one desire is to become a shield maiden in her own right, but a terrible accident during her childhood has thwarted this dream," the synopsis reads. "Yet still, somehow, she feels an uncontrollable power begin to rise within herself. But she is not the only one to feel the effects of her new-found battle-magic. For, buried deep in her gilded lair, a dragon is drawn to Fryda’s untamed power, and is slowly awakening from a long, cursed sleep."

De Courcy said: "The moment Kristina Pérez told me she had a novel to sell featuring Beowulf, a wounded shield maiden and a dragon, I felt that prickle of excitement familiar to all acquiring editors. Shield Maiden is everything I hoped it would be and more. We are going to have so much fun publishing it."

Emmerichs is an associate professor of Shakespeare and medieval literature, and received the Jason Wenger Award for Excellence in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage for her debut.

"Shield Maiden takes place within the Old English poem ’Beowulf’, but it turns the camera away from the heroics of the titular king and elevates the marginalised voices around him," she said, describing the inspiration behind the novel. "Why are there no women warriors in the poem when we know shield maidens existed? Who was the exiled slave who woke the deadly dragon?

"I wanted Shield Maiden not only to tell a great story, but also to fill the gaps left by the original poem and reflect the rich diversity of early medieval communities. It’s been so wonderful to work with Rosie de Courcy at Head of Zeus and Kristina Pérez from Zeno Agency, who believe in my debut novel as much as I do."

Pérez added: "I was immediately captivated by Sharon’s lush, feminist Beowulf continuation with a twist. Her expertly researched world-building is impeccable and the heroine leaps off the page. Shield Maiden is a unique reimagining and an important addition to the canon."