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| Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen | 
| Author: Alan Gold
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $5.19
You Save: $9.76 (65%)
New (7) from $5.19
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 879596
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1
ASIN: B000ECXDSK
Publication Date: June 7, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Meticulously researched and imaginatively wrought, Warrior Queen is the sweeping epic of a flame-haired woman who would dare to challenge the vicious might of the Roman Empire-and whose name would echo throughout history.
In 43 A.D., Boudica became the queen of a Celtic tribe-and a Roman sympathizer. But after years of loyal service to the Empire, she would find herself brutally betrayed. With the conviction of a hero and the courage of a warrior, she united the Celts against their enemy. The fury of her unleashed vengeance threw the Roman forces into chaos, made her a goddess to her own people-and carried her into the history books as a true heroine of the British people.
Now, Alan Gold retells the story of Boudica in a novel that embraces all the fiery passion and intrigue of the Warrior Queen.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Cheesey in places February 25, 2008
This didn't do it for me and seemed to be lacking a certain punch. It missed the mark & I considered it cheesey in places. The Eagle & the Raven by Pauline Gedge is a superior effort on Boudica and not too bad all round but sadly I am yet to find the novel that deals with Boudica as the main subject that fulfils all my expectations & that would go close to perfection as she is a subject that offers so many possibilities.
 Strikingly different view of the doomed rebellious queen February 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
From the depictions the Romans have given her, and even from modern documentaries, I had the permanent image of Boudicca as the wronged Queen, in a primal fit of rage and vengeance, leading a scrappy rabble of Britons on an ultimately failed rebellion which wrought some havoc amongst Rome, before being put down by a proper Roman army under Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. It seemed obvious from her tactics at the Battle of Watling Street.
But this book, by Alan Gold, convincingly presents to me a different version of said story.
Meticulously researched, the book must take a few liberties, however, with regards to Boudicca's life prior to her life as Queen of the Iceni. Aside from some seemingly pointless filler chapters involving Claudius and Messalina or Nero and Agrippina, it is utterly compelling, and manages to villainize the Romans in Briton from Boudicca's point of view, and gradually heroicize them under the likes of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.
The author rarely attempts to romanticize some of the grittiness of everyday life, openly portraying Boudicca and Prasutagus as sexual beings, knowingly having extra-marital relationships and remaining happily married, and rather explicitly detailing Boudicca's awe with Roman plumbing, and how easily it disposes of her waste. And from Rome, it casually sets up sexual situations, including that of Claudius receiving a handjob from his niece, or Nero having sex with his mother.
From the rebellion onward, the book gains more focus, leaving aside Nero's random bouncing from flawed moralist to utter maniac, and drivingly tells of Boudicca's rebellion and the glory for the Britannic tribes it will fuel, and even the necessity for Suetonius Paulinus to defeat her, lest their defeat fuel the flames of rebellion and anarchy on every border of the Empire.
Where once, I thought of Boudicca as a good-intended, but ultimately "barbarian" warrioress, the book paints her as victim to the massive horde of Britons' innate lack of discipline and barbarity, as they grow careless of training, getting drunk every night and feasting on the spoils of the cities they've looted, while Paulinus invigorates his demoralized legions in a way reminiscent of Caesar.
Their final clash at Watling Street, where once I thought Boudicca stupid enough to bash her army against the Roman wall, the book paints her as helpless to stop her warriors' bloodlust as they foolishly rush head-long onto the Roman lines, and cause their own destruction by pressing in without any organization, while their wagons block off their escapes.
While Suetonius Paulinus and Boudicca are both heroicized, the book ultimately ends too early to contradict this depiction, as Paulinus deals so harshly with the subjugated Britons that even Nero is repulsed and removes Paulinus from his post. Other than that, it was a richly inviting and intriguing story.
Excellent read! October 5, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was an excellent recounting of the story. The author seemed to have done thorough research and has a good understanding of the culture that existed at the time. I would highly recommend reading this book!
Oh, please... April 7, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
As an ordained druid priestess, I'll be the first to admit that the amount we actually know about the ancient druids fills about 2 pages, and some of that was written by the romans themselves. Not exactly the best source for information. Everything else is speculation based on a few fragmentary references in Greek, Latin, and medieval Irish writings. What did the druids actually practice? Nobody knows!! So why try to create rituals for them in this book? Yes, OK, it's fiction. I get that. But gods, Cornwell did it SO much better in his Warlord Chronicles. I guess I'm spoiled by an actual author who IS a meticulous researcher.
Two stars (WHICH I CAN'T SEEM TO EDIT, HELLO???) instead of 0 for the roman bits that are correct. Everything else is completely fiction. I also rated this low for hokiness. Some of the dialogue is so ridiculous.
Boudica history January 17, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This historical fiction novel brings to life the 1st century, AD, when Claudius and Nero were emperors of Rome, and Britain was being conquered by them. Assuming that the factual portions of the story are correct, he has done a good job of weaving a story around what facts remain about the rise and fall of Boudica. The way of life of the Celts are dramatized into a very readable book. I give this book a 4 star rating, mostly based on the enjoyment of experiencing life in the 1st century.
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