4-STAR REVIEW: ICENI: THE YEAR OF SACRIFICE by Stephen D. Owen

Iceni: Book 1
Publication Date: January 28, 2025

Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice is the first thrilling instalment in this historical trilogy.

60 AD. The death of Prasutagus, the Iceni king, leaves his kingdom divided between Rome and his daughters. The Roman Procurator Catus Decianus seizes the entire territory and brutalizes Boudica and her family.

Driven by vengeance, Boudica rallies the Iceni tribe and allies including the Trinovantes, Coritani, and Catuvellauni. As Roman forces are preoccupied in the north, Boudica’s rebel army advances on Camulodunum, the Roman provincial capital, where a vastly outnumbered Roman defence struggles to hold.

With the fate of Roman Britannia hanging in the balance, the epic tale of sacrifice, rebellion, and fierce determination unfolds.

Travel back in time to witness an Iron Age tribe led by a woman revolting against Rome.

Author Stephen D. Owen serves up the first installment in a historical trilogy with Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice.

Queen Boudica demonstrates the fury of a woman seeking revenge after a betrayal strips the Iceni of their lands. The Roman soldiers have no intention of honoring the dead king’s will. Instead, they beat Boudica like a common slave.

What follows is a brutal story of a people determined to rebel against the Romans. Death and destruction, along with sacrifice, paved the way for the story’s progression.

While the historical detail appears solid, the storyline could use a bit of tightening to better track the multiple characters. A guide at the beginning may be helpful, given the complexity of the names. Lack of consistency with past and present tense also adds to the confusion.

Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice offers insight into the epic battle of those unwilling to bow down to Roman influence.

I live in Bristol in the heart of the West Country in England. I have also lived in Bath and Frome in Somerset. I have had a passion for history since childhood. I studied creative writing at college and have written for the local newspaper. Iceni: The year of Sacrifice is my debut novel. I hope to publish further novels, telling the full story of Boudica and the Iceni Revolt. As well as writing novels, I am a wedding and event photographer.

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