Promotional Information

Set in Iron-Age Britain and Imperial Rome, the second novel in the bestselling Boudica series.

About the Author

Manda Scott is a veterinary surgeon, writer and climber. Born and educated in Scotland, she now lives in Suffolk with two lurchers and too many cats. She began her literary career as a crime writer - her debut, Hen's Teeth, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and The Times proclaimed her 'one of Britain's most important crime writers'. DREAMING THE EAGLE, the first book in the Boudica series, is also available by Bantam Books and the third boo, DREAMING THE HOUND, by Bantam Press.

Reviews

Utterly convincing and compelling ... a stunning feat of the imagination and an absolute must-read for lovers of historical fiction
*STEVEN PRESSFIELD*

Staggeringly imaginative ... Breathtakingly good, it reveals the best and worst in all of us
*VAL McDERMID*

An extraordinary work combining history and imagination. At times I was moved to tears, at others, immensely proud to be bred from a tradition that made warriors of women
*JENNI MURRAY*

One of the boldest of recent adventures in historical fiction ... richly textured, robustly plotted
*Independent*

A powerful novel, alive with the love, deceit, wisdom and the heroics of humanity
*JEAN M. AUEL*

Scott continues her saga of the Celtic warrior queen Boudica (whose true name is Breaca) in this second installment of a planned four-part series. Emperor Claudius is in the midst of his brutal attempt to master Britain and has added to his legions Breaca's half-brother Ban, who believes his sister and all his family are dead, killed by the treacherous brother of Breaca's lover, Caradoc. Ban, now called Julius Valerius, attempts to forget his past and his gods in the service of Rome and the bull-slaying god, Mithras, but fails to quite complete the process, though he believes he is totally bound to his new lords. Meanwhile, Breaca and Caradoc continue to harry the Roman invaders, and the level of savagery rises dramatically. Will Ban be saved from his own mistakes or will he remain faithful to his new allegiances and lose his true self forever? Scott gives a matter-of-fact account of the lifestyle, religion and politics of the ancient Britons, successfully creating an involving and involved world. But finely and lyrically written as it is, the novel doesn't stand alone well; this won't be a problem for those who read the first book (Dreaming the Eagle), but newcomers may be disappointed to learn that Boudica is a secondary character here. Despite its unevenness, this is a deeply emotional and affecting work that should help build Scott's audience. Agent, Jane Judd. (Apr. 27) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Utterly convincing and compelling ... a stunning feat of the imagination and an absolute must-read for lovers of historical fiction -- STEVEN PRESSFIELD
Staggeringly imaginative ... Breathtakingly good, it reveals the best and worst in all of us -- VAL McDERMID
An extraordinary work combining history and imagination. At times I was moved to tears, at others, immensely proud to be bred from a tradition that made warriors of women -- JENNI MURRAY
One of the boldest of recent adventures in historical fiction ... richly textured, robustly plotted * Independent *
A powerful novel, alive with the love, deceit, wisdom and the heroics of humanity -- JEAN M. AUEL