This is my first time reading a book by Jayne Starwing and I must say that I was very impressed. I have to admit the main character Astrid was the epitome of strong woman becaise not many people would be able to move on with their life after the black plague. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Not gonna lie, the emotional damage that came with this book was insane but was worth every tear and heartache! Although it was a somewhat slower paced book, it was exactly as it should be and I was never once bored! The story from the beginning captured my attention and held me throughout.
Astrid... I love her. I feel for her. I admire her. She's the obedient daughter that develops into her own strong woman. I need more, quite honestly. The ending was not at all what I thought it would be and I was in a complete chokehold the last 20% or so of the book... I will be thinking and speculating about this book until I hopefully get a book 2!!

“I am what comes after. I am a moth.”

Byrdfyre Covenant is an interesting historical speculative fiction with a little dark fantasy and a tiny sprinkle of romance.

Old Gods, a ghost ship, saining (I had to look this one up!), and bargains are what I found most interesting.

This is a really intriguing perspective on what may have happened when the plague spread to Norway via a ghost ship. We experience the Black Plague with Astrid as she does what she can to survive the Black Plague, save her family and help as many village people as she can. There is a lot of death and suffering. Mob mentality is so fascinating to me. The things people will do when their fear takes over seem unbelievable. I also found it interesting to see the adaptations people made in a time when Christianity had just swept away the Old Gods.
Young Will Green is such an admirable character and Astrid is pretty relatable. Although sometimes I wanted to snap my fingers in her face and say open your eyes 😂.

I liked the flash forward letters written by archaeologists and researchers in a more modern time as they discover relics and speculate on their meaning.

Also, I have to say that I love the cover so much 💛

Fav tropes:
Old Gods 👑
Norse mythology 🔱
Plague 😷
Betrayal 💔
Bargains 🤝

Fav quotes:
“Still smells like sorcery,”

“I am what answers when the desperate cry out, Little Byrd. I am the door that opens when all others are barred.“

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and Agency Press for the advanced copy.

The way this is written will captivate you. It’s very detailed, the history extensive, you feel like you’re really there.
It’s a slower paced book but I feel it’s necessary with the nature of what’s taking place.
Astrid, the fmc, is a force to be reckoned with. She has so much strength and even though they don’t deserve it she cares very deeply for all of the people.
She has to do hard things and make hard decisions but she perseveres.
There’s a lesson to be learned from this book.
Be careful what you ask for.

Byrdfyre Covenant is a gorgeous story that weaves historical events, Norse myth, hope, desperation, and intrigue. Though I was a bit wary at first, the story is instantly engaging and leaves behind a feeling of wonder and curiosity. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing as each character developed and changed as they adjusted to their circumstances. I loved seeing how Astrid remained strong even as the odds were against her. She fought and I’m curious to see if there will be a continuation or if this is the end of her story. At the same time, I’m curious as to whose story this really is. With alternating narrators, the story maintains a mysterious energy as there are clearly more factors at play.

There was never a dull moment and there are so many notes and quotes that I took from the novel. To a point, Byrdfyre Covenant almost feels philosophical as it explores notions of religion and society, but that might actually be me reading into it too much. As I write this, I am still in awe and wonder of the book and I have a feeling that it will linger because of how deeply I felt over parts of the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jayne Starwing for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own

Byrdfyre Covenant follows Astrid’s story during a plague outbreak in her home town of Bjørgvin where she fights against religious doctrine, increasing distrust from her family and neighbours, accusations of witchcraft and the manipulations of an old god, all to save her people.

Dark and brutal, this is nonetheless a beautifully written tale. From the moment I started reading I was hooked, fully immersed in Astrid’s life. The intricate details of everyday life in 14th-century Norway jar perfectly with the horrors of the plague. The fantasy element weaves through the story seamlessly, alternately bringing comfort and fear as Astrid struggles to understand who and what Will Green is, and what her growing feelings for him might mean.

I will definitely be reading the next book in the series as soon as it is out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

My review will appear on Goodreads and Instagram on 29/07/25.

Oh wow! I had chills the entire time reading this. I am thoroughly obsessed with this dark speculative fantasy. It is so unique and beautifully written. It was easy to get lost into it. It's emotional and raw as you go through what people may have experienced with the plague. I loved how it captured the emotional toll and created this new fantasy-like story about faustian bargains, a meddling God, and a woman's desperation to survive. It also has the perfect horror undertones and vibe. Seriously a must read.

I'm in love with Jayne's beautiful writing style and her storytelling abilities are mind blowing. I am blown away.