Reimagining Valkyries in Fantasy Fiction: The Legacy of Brynhild

Brynhild has remained in the public consciousness since she first appeared on stage in Wagner’s operatic cycle ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ in 1876. Over the intervening century and a half, Brynhild has transitioned beyond the theatre, to mediums such as comics, video games, films, and books.

This paper will explore how authors have re-interpreted Brynhild’s character and the Vol-sung Saga in contemporary fantasy fiction, focusing on two novels.

‘The Strange Maid’ by Tessa Gratton (2014) is set in a world where a deep taboo shrouds Brynhild’s canonical narrative, her historical offence and exile remembered only by the present-day Valkyries. Even centuries after the events, Odin’s punishment of Brynhild continues to deter the Valkyries from questioning his authority, retaining his controlling influence.

‘The Valkyrie’ by Kate Heartfield (2023) is a retelling of the saga from Brynhild’s view-point, depicting Odin’s banishment as extreme and disrespectful of her role as Chooser of the Slain. In this reimagining, Odin’s character is transformed into an antagonist when Brynhild discovers he is responsible for instigating increasingly excessive wars through the manipulation of mortals. In response, Brynhild’s character converts from a figure of tragedy into a revolutionary heroine, inspiring the Valkyries to reaffirm that their judgement and duty to the dead take precedence over Odin’s commands.

This paper illuminates how these contemporary authors and others use alternative con-texts to break away from the traditional saga, challenging characters’ motives and changing readers’ perceptions. The freedom of the fantasy genre provides the ideal environment where authors can adapt or omit events and introduce alternative viewpoints. Echoing the core theme of Brynhild, each new interpretation disrupts the status quo, establishing a legacy that stimulates new responses by future writers.