Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire

The Forerunner Series Book One

Winner of the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Bronze Medal for EPIC FANTASY FICTION. Battles and adventure crisscross the Viking Age!From monumental sea clashes to beleaguered mountain strongholds to war with the tribes of Eire, circumstance drives the scattered Agneson clan across the known world. And beyond the lands of Midgard, mythic hidden folk challenge our forerunner hero. The award-winning Forerunner Series epic continues…

Fleeing an arranged marriage, sister Kara escapes across the narrow sea to follow her warrior dreams in the Dublinn guards. Escaping slavery, Cub joins Rollo’s horde in Britany, while his outlawed brother Sorven fights for survival in the Welsh mountains. Uncle Karl and his warriors rally to Harald Tanglehair in his ambition to unify the wild kingdoms of the Northern Way, and young Thorfinn is left behind, safe, and secure in a tiny fishing village… or is he?

Kara gains her place in King of Dublinn’s ranks to prove her mettle, but being a warrior is not what she expected, and what of these confusing new feelings she finds for her closest companion? Will Karl and his crew perish in the great battle of Hafrsfjord? And how will an unprepared Thorfinn survive kidnapping by an 8-armed giant, leaving behind worried friends and a very angry dragon?

Don’t miss this 5-star epic fantasy critics are calling “whimsical and gritty,” with “fabulous, engaging characters.” If you enjoy the history of The Last Kingdom and Nordic myths and legends, the Forerunner Series is a grand tale not to be missed!

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“…every page full of suspense, action, and engaging characters. There isn’t a moment that I couldn’t envision with the vivid imagery…. The distinct character personalities bring the story alive, with humorous events mixed into the serious battle scenes. I was on the edge of my seat because of the unpredictable nature of the story. The conclusion of this story floored me, as I never would have thought the story would turn again. I am eager to read the sequel. I recommend Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire, to readers who like fantasy stories with a colorful array of characters.”

– Stephanie Chapman 5-star review for Readers’ Favorite

“Kara’s character arc is first-rate, and she goes from strong to stronger, until a stunning and completely unexpected plot maneuver sends her into full berserker mode. In a terrifying instant, she is a warrior grown and a young woman broken…. Very highly recommended.”

– Jamie Michele 5-star review for Readers’ Favorite

“This action-packed saga is full of historical details, Vikings, battles, violence, danger, Norse mythology, paranormal/supernatural elements, emotion, challenges, mystery, suspense, intrigue, and lots of dramatic developments…. what makes this story/series so engrossing is the fact that Jay Veloso Batista has a real gift for telling an epic story, with an attention to detail that sets the scene so fully that the reader becomes part of the story and involved in all the action.”

– 5-star Bookbub review

“Kara’s authentic and feels like a flesh and blood young woman, and many who read this book will see strength in young women they know that reflects what Batista builds in Kara. My apologies to Kara, though, because the true star of this book is Sorven and his often-hilarious take on the Welsh village he did not choose to be in. If you happen to sleep next to someone who cannot tolerate snort-laughing, it’s best to save this novel for the daytime. This is a wonderfully well-written, engaging, and wholly engrossing novel.”

– Asher Syed 5-star review for Readers’ Favorite

“Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire is a masterpiece mixture of Viking history, lore, and magic. Author Jay Veloso Batista continues to develop and surprise with the characters that paradoxically seem both invincible and yet incredibly vulnerable…. Although this book does focus on Kara’s adventures more than the other siblings, the multiple story arcs do give the tale a broad scope and focus, which I enjoyed immensely.”

– Grant Leishman 5-star review for Readers’ Favorite

“… a fully engrossing tale deftly woven on multiple paths in parallel. The characters are all crafted superbly, with much attention to detail being applied consistent with the period and societal behaviors of Viking society. This is equally true for the relationships that are developed, and there is a wonderful variety of these, all unique and substantial in depth and quality. ‘Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire’ is definitely a book I would recommend to all those who love quality writing, amazing adventures, intense action, camaraderie, mythology, and the spirit of times past when legends were born.”

– Steven Robson for 5-star review Readers’ Favorite

“This book was so well written with the adventures and events that were happening that I really had to remind myself that dragons and the supernatural aren’t real. The way that the Norse mythology is written is so amazing, I absolutely love this type of stuff, and could not get enough of it from this book. Vikings, Adventure, supernatural, Norse gods, Fantasy, historical events there was so much in this book that it did not disappoint. I couldn’t put this series down. I highly recommend these books.”

– 5-Star Bookbub review