Publication Date: January 21, 2024
From P. C. Cast, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the landmark House of Night urban fantasy series, comes an epic, lusty, magic-filled romantasy about British warrior queen Boudicca. Perfect for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and Madeline Miller!
In Roman-occupied Britain, the Iceni tribe crowns an extraordinary new queen. Tall and flame-haired, Boudicca is devoted to Andraste, the Iceni’s patron goddess, known for her raven familiar, her fierceness and her swirling blue tattoos. Boudicca and her two young daughters will carry the tribe forward in dangerous times.
Roman tax collector Catus Decianus, expecting weakness in a female ruler, launches a devastating attack on the tribe’s stronghold. Boudicca and her family barely survive—but they refuse to bend the knee. She calls a war council, bringing together her most trustworthy allies, including her childhood friend Rhan, now a powerful Druid seer, and the horse master Maldwyn, whose devotion to Boudicca runs deeper than a warrior to a queen.
Surprising the Romans, Boudicca’s armies sack the wealthy cities of Camulodunum, Londinium and Veralamium. As the snow falls, the Celts retreat to a hidden valley to plot their assault on the remaining Roman legions, determined to force the invaders from Britain.
But in the jagged ice of winter the Druid Rhan foresees a tragic end to Boudicca’s rebellion. Although the defeat of the Iceni is spelled out in signs sent by the gods, Rhan swears she will alter the future and save her queen. Now the battle-hardened Boudicca must put her trust in the powers of the otherworld to save her from both the traitors in her midst and from Rome’s mighty legions.
Inspired by the rich history of Boudicca’s attack on Roman Britain, bestselling author P. C. Cast crafts an epic, mythic retelling of one of time’s most legendary female warriors.
Bringing Ancient Britannia to life for modern readers typically unfolds one of two ways. In the first approach, the author offers a fully immersive experience into the time period, complete with language, customs, etc., that may be challenging to read.
The second approach, used in Boudicca by P.C. Cast, takes the reader into account while still providing a cast of relatable characters determined to take revenge against the Romans. The speech patterns of the time period are built into the dialog, but the conversations are easy to follow.
The central figure is the widowed Queen Boudicca, who curses the Romans after they come to her community, raping and killing at will. The Queen herself suffered while being publicly whipped. Yet she is the one chosen by Andraste, the patron goddess of the Iceni, to rise up against the Romans and fulfill the curse.
The author deftly creates a pagan culture that relies heavily on signs. Boudicca must demonstrate she is worthy of leading the warriors into battle. Through a number of skirmishes. Boudicca demonstrates her abilities before her Druid friend, Rhan, foresees defeat. Will Boudicca listen to the gods and alter her course, or will she follow in the path of her late husband, who ignored the signs?
This epic re-telling of a woman considered to be a national heroine in Britain sheds light on a rebellion against invading forces, which continues in modern times.
Boudicca provides an intriguing foray into the first century and a woman determined to seek retribution from the Romans.
A veteran of the United States Air Force, P. C. Cast also taught high school English for 15 years before retiring to write full-time. Her novels have been #1 on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and her landmark House of Night series has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. She now lives near Portland, Oregon, near her fabulous daughter (and occasional co-writer) Kristin Cast.
