[In "The Shield Ring"] Rosemary Sutcliff tells the story of young Bjorn, unsure of his own courage but determined to prove himself worthy of the noble traditions of his people [the Vikings]. How he does this, and how his friendship for the Saxon girl, Frytha, gradually changes into love, makes an absorbing tale, peopled with three-dimensional characters and filled with stirring events. Admittedly, the author's precise care in recreating a period and place, her use of archaic words such as garth and schoon, her concern with character motivations make for slow and sometimes difficult reading. Nevertheless, this is a well-written, richly colored historical novel which can be warmly recommended….

Elizabeth Hodges, "The Defenders," in The New York Times Book Review (© 1957 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), March 17, 1957, p. 40.