What do you think?
Rate this book
Boudica #2
Dreaming the Bull
The second part of the stunning fictionalization of the life of Britain’s warrior queen, Boudica, immerses us in a world of druids and dreamers, warriors and lovers, passion and courage. Originally a trilogy, this is now a four-part series.
“Boudica” means “Bringer of Victory” (from the early Celtic word “boudeg”). She was the last defender of the Celtic culture; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph.
Book one, Dreaming the Eagle , took readers from Boudica’s girlhood with the Eceni tribe to the climax of the two-day battle when she and her lover, Caradoc, faced the invading Romans. Believing her dead, Breaca’s beloved brother, Bán, joined the Roman cause.
Dreaming the Bull , the second book in this compelling series, continues the intertwined stories of Boudica, and Bán, now an officer in the Roman cavalry. They stand on opposite sides in a brutal war of attrition between the occupying army and the defeated tribes, each determined to see the other dead. In a country under occupation, Caradoc, lover to Breaca, is caught and faces the ultimate penalty. Only Bán has the power to save him, and Bán has spent the past ten years denying his past. Treachery divides these two; heroism brings them together again, changed out of all recognition -- but it may not be enough to heal the wounds.
Dreaming the Bull is a heart-stopping story of war and of peace; of love, passion and betrayal; of druids and warring gods, where each life is sacred and each death even more so; and where Breaca and Bán learn the terrible distances they must travel to fulfill their own destinies.
“Boudica” means “Bringer of Victory” (from the early Celtic word “boudeg”). She was the last defender of the Celtic culture; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph.
Book one, Dreaming the Eagle , took readers from Boudica’s girlhood with the Eceni tribe to the climax of the two-day battle when she and her lover, Caradoc, faced the invading Romans. Believing her dead, Breaca’s beloved brother, Bán, joined the Roman cause.
Dreaming the Bull , the second book in this compelling series, continues the intertwined stories of Boudica, and Bán, now an officer in the Roman cavalry. They stand on opposite sides in a brutal war of attrition between the occupying army and the defeated tribes, each determined to see the other dead. In a country under occupation, Caradoc, lover to Breaca, is caught and faces the ultimate penalty. Only Bán has the power to save him, and Bán has spent the past ten years denying his past. Treachery divides these two; heroism brings them together again, changed out of all recognition -- but it may not be enough to heal the wounds.
Dreaming the Bull is a heart-stopping story of war and of peace; of love, passion and betrayal; of druids and warring gods, where each life is sacred and each death even more so; and where Breaca and Bán learn the terrible distances they must travel to fulfill their own destinies.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
About the author
Manda Scott
29 books670 followersManda Scott is an award-winning novelist, host of the international chart-topping Accidental Gods podcast and co-creator of the Thrutopia Masterclass.
Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her previous novels have been short-listed for the Orange Prize, the Edgar, Wilbur Smith and Saltire Awards and won the McIllvanney Prize.
Her latest novel ANY HUMAN POWER is a 'seismic' Mytho-Political thriller which lays out a Thrutopian road map to a flourishing future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us.
Welding the power of intergenerational connection to combat the sting of death and the vicious vengeance of a dying establishment, it opens the doors to a new way of being.
Dream Deeply. Rise up Strong. Change is Coming!
'Instantly immersive and compelling, rich and strange, human and humane, and most of all inspiring ... an extraordinary story.’
Lee Child
"One of our best, most challenging writers is back..." Ian Rankin
"If you don't believe a world where our democracy improves as fast as our devices is possible... Manda Scott will change your mind with this visionary novel." Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan
"A light to guide us through a difficult time: Descrying the thin possible path between static social decay and populist rage is the defining problem of our time. Without lights like Manda Scott and this blessed book, we would surely fail." Glen Weil, co-author of Plurality.
Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her previous novels have been short-listed for the Orange Prize, the Edgar, Wilbur Smith and Saltire Awards and won the McIllvanney Prize.
Her latest novel ANY HUMAN POWER is a 'seismic' Mytho-Political thriller which lays out a Thrutopian road map to a flourishing future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us.
Welding the power of intergenerational connection to combat the sting of death and the vicious vengeance of a dying establishment, it opens the doors to a new way of being.
Dream Deeply. Rise up Strong. Change is Coming!
'Instantly immersive and compelling, rich and strange, human and humane, and most of all inspiring ... an extraordinary story.’
Lee Child
"One of our best, most challenging writers is back..." Ian Rankin
"If you don't believe a world where our democracy improves as fast as our devices is possible... Manda Scott will change your mind with this visionary novel." Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan
"A light to guide us through a difficult time: Descrying the thin possible path between static social decay and populist rage is the defining problem of our time. Without lights like Manda Scott and this blessed book, we would surely fail." Glen Weil, co-author of Plurality.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 20, 2023
Another stunning entry into the Boudica series. These books are the definition of emotional damage.
This is a brilliant continuation and it builds so well on the characters and events established in Dreaming The Eagle, and catapults your emotions into orbit. Manda Scott is an incredible writer and the sheer amount of feeling that she forces you to evoke is masterful. You cannot help but be dragged along on the journey, as you cry and smile.
This is a brilliant continuation and it builds so well on the characters and events established in Dreaming The Eagle, and catapults your emotions into orbit. Manda Scott is an incredible writer and the sheer amount of feeling that she forces you to evoke is masterful. You cannot help but be dragged along on the journey, as you cry and smile.
Read
April 22, 2023
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Dreaming the Eagle was one of my top two favourite reads of 2022, and on a wider scale also one of my favourite reads of all time. So, Dreaming the Bull had a lot to live up to, but I felt confident that this was also going to be a brilliant story.
I'm happy to say that this is another spellbinding instalment in the series. I was swiftly reminded that Manda Scott is amongst the greatest writers I've had the pleasure of discovering. The immersion just hits a different level. It feels so unique, but smooth at the same time, with characters that obviously have very different mindsets crafted from the time they are living in. I do not think any historical fiction author has managed to capture this aspect so well.
I did prefer book 1, because I love a great coming of age story, but Dreaming the Bull is still a brilliant book. Absolutely fantastic action sequences, this book is full to the brim with tension and an overwhelming feeling of dread throughout. It is a very intense read that has you punching the air at the highs and also has you crying at the lows. It really is a rollercoaster of emotions.
There is a read-along of this series currently ongoing on the Brothers Gwynne discord server if you're interested :)
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Dreaming the Eagle was one of my top two favourite reads of 2022, and on a wider scale also one of my favourite reads of all time. So, Dreaming the Bull had a lot to live up to, but I felt confident that this was also going to be a brilliant story.
I'm happy to say that this is another spellbinding instalment in the series. I was swiftly reminded that Manda Scott is amongst the greatest writers I've had the pleasure of discovering. The immersion just hits a different level. It feels so unique, but smooth at the same time, with characters that obviously have very different mindsets crafted from the time they are living in. I do not think any historical fiction author has managed to capture this aspect so well.
I did prefer book 1, because I love a great coming of age story, but Dreaming the Bull is still a brilliant book. Absolutely fantastic action sequences, this book is full to the brim with tension and an overwhelming feeling of dread throughout. It is a very intense read that has you punching the air at the highs and also has you crying at the lows. It really is a rollercoaster of emotions.
There is a read-along of this series currently ongoing on the Brothers Gwynne discord server if you're interested :)
April 9, 2023
"We are not given the choice of how and when we must serve, only whether we do so with courage and so perhaps succeed, or with fear, in which case we will certainly fail."
This was a great sequel to Dreaming the Eagle, with emotional impact and a constant dread of what might befall the characters. Scott has most definitely taken opportunity to fictionalise historical events and figures to fit this story and expertly subverts expectations. It's both vivid and bleak and has a compelling plot, beautiful worldbuilding and complex characters.
I really enjoyed the fantasy aspect of this entry being more prominent, with warring gods and true dreamings becoming further realised and less ambiguous. Each dreaming feels like a journey of mysticism and discovery, of which I'm completely captivated by.
I look forward to continuing the series.
This was a great sequel to Dreaming the Eagle, with emotional impact and a constant dread of what might befall the characters. Scott has most definitely taken opportunity to fictionalise historical events and figures to fit this story and expertly subverts expectations. It's both vivid and bleak and has a compelling plot, beautiful worldbuilding and complex characters.
I really enjoyed the fantasy aspect of this entry being more prominent, with warring gods and true dreamings becoming further realised and less ambiguous. Each dreaming feels like a journey of mysticism and discovery, of which I'm completely captivated by.
I look forward to continuing the series.
December 30, 2016
This continues to be an excellent series. In the first book everything was fast and furious but in the second the pace is slower and you can watch the characters watch themselves.....anyway, I like that; there's enough action but reflection also. I just love this series!
December 11, 2016
Καταλαβαίνω ότι πολλές φορές η ιστορία είναι πολύ ξενέρωτη. Πάρτε για παράδειγμα την ηρωίδα αυτής εδώ της σειράς. Τον καιρό που γίνονταν η ρωμαϊκή εισβολή στη Βρετανία η Μπούντικα πιθανότατα ήταν ένα κοριτσάκι που έπαιζε με τις κούκλες της περιμένοντας να την παντρέψουν με το ζόρι με κάποιον ξενέρωτο, την ώρα που η φυλή της παραδίδονταν χωρίς μάχη. Όπως καταλαβαίνετε αυτό δεν είναι και το καλύτερο υλικό για ένα Best Seller, αφήστε που στην περίπτωση της συγγραφέως δεν είναι και αρκετά φεμινιστικό. Για αυτό το λόγο η φαντασία αναλαμβάνει να σώσει την κατάσταση και να δημιουργήσει μία πολεμίστρια που μεγάλωσε με παιχνίδια δόρατα και ασπίδες και αντί να περιμένει την ώρα του γάμου της να πολεμάει και το σπαθί της να παίρνει φωτιά και να κρατάει τις νύχτες με τ' άστρα τον ήρωα της αντίστασης αγκαλιά.
Όπως καταλαβαίνετε σκόνταψα στο αγαπημένο μου κόλλημα στα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα: την έλλειψη ιστορικής ακρίβειας. 5 πράγματα ξέρουμε αλλά η συγγραφέας επιλέγει να αλλάξει τα 4 γιατί δεν ταιριάζουν στη φεμινιστική/free love/female power φαντασίωση της. Κάπου εκεί έρχεται και μια καταιγίδα από κλισέ που προβλέπω στα επόμενα βιβλία να μετατρέπεται σε τυφώνα κατηγορίας 5 και μπόλικες αδιάφορες σελίδες, οπότε η δεύτερη ευκαιρία που σας έλεγα περνάει ανεκμετάλλευτη.
Όπως καταλαβαίνετε σκόνταψα στο αγαπημένο μου κόλλημα στα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα: την έλλειψη ιστορικής ακρίβειας. 5 πράγματα ξέρουμε αλλά η συγγραφέας επιλέγει να αλλάξει τα 4 γιατί δεν ταιριάζουν στη φεμινιστική/free love/female power φαντασίωση της. Κάπου εκεί έρχεται και μια καταιγίδα από κλισέ που προβλέπω στα επόμενα βιβλία να μετατρέπεται σε τυφώνα κατηγορίας 5 και μπόλικες αδιάφορες σελίδες, οπότε η δεύτερη ευκαιρία που σας έλεγα περνάει ανεκμετάλλευτη.
July 17, 2022
So one must admit when they were wrong. I don't understand the character arc still but the book ended up not being as descriptive regarding cruelties as I initially thought. More implied than anything. Honestly, overall, I think this was better than book 1. I was on the edge of my seat for a good chunk of the book. Also as if I hadn't stuck my foot in my mouth when I posted my doom and gloom update rant, somehow, I ended up not hating the main protagonist of the book (despite all he had done and found myself rooting for him🤦🏽♀️). Authors have the ability to control our emotions like puppets (I say that with affection lol). Solid book and I'm immediately starting book 3!
June 5, 2017
Dreaming the Bull by Manda Scott is the second in a four-book series on the Celtic warrior Boudica, leader of the coalition of tribes fighting Rome’s invasion of Britain. As with the first book in the series, Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle, Scott combines historical research with a creative imagination. But this second book in the series falls short of its predecessor.
Picking up where Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle left off, Dreaming the Bull begins with a lengthy description of ongoing battles and complex battle maneuvers between the two sides. The description is unnecessarily detailed, convoluted, and somewhat tedious. But once you get passed that, the pace of the novel picks up.
Intermittently threaded throughout the battles and skirmishes with the indigenous population, we witness Bán (Boudica’s brother) becoming progressively more brutal. The novel focuses on Bán and his downward spiral more so than on Boudica. Bán, who has adopted the name Julius Valerius, has immersed himself thoroughly in Roman culture and military, dedicating himself to the Roman god, Mithras. He has worked his way up the military ranks, becoming increasingly brutal toward members of his former tribe and their coalition partners. He uses his knowledge of their battle maneuvers to entrap them, rapidly developing a reputation among all sides for his extreme brutality.
Unfortunately, Bán’s transformation from Bán of the Eceni tribe to Julius Valerius, Decurion of the first troop, First Thracian Cavalry, was unconvincing. Why does Bán become more Roman than the Romans? Why is he so hell-bent on destroying all traces of his heritage even after he learns his sister is still alive and leads the rebellion? Why is he so full of venom that he embraces every opportunity to betray the tribes and their cause? We read of Rome’s cruelty toward the rebels—tortures, crucifixions, flaying of victims, and hangings—all of which Bán eventually endorses. His pangs of guilt manifest through frequent visits from spirits of his deceased family and friends, but he suppresses their voices by calling on Mithras and/or burying himself in alcohol. His journey from Bán to the “Decurion on the pied horse,” the rebel’s most hated military officer in the Roman army, isn’t believable.
Scott peoples her novel with a motley crew of characters: a Roman emperor desperate to hold on to power; dreamers who commune with the gods, see into the future, and control the weather; a young man from the Eceni tribe turned cruel Roman soldier who suffers from a severe identity crisis; a female warrior who leads a coalition of tribes in the resistance to Roman occupation of its lands. The spirits of the dead make frequent appearances, blurring the lines between the real and imaginary. The transitions are seamless with characters dialoguing with one another as routinely as they dialogue with spirits. Greater prominence is given to life in the Roman military and the political intrigues of the Roman Empire than life among the rebels. Similarly, the degree to which we follow the tribulations of Dubornos, Cunomar (Boudica’s son) and Caradoc after their capture shifts the attention away from Boudica and relegates her to the margins of her own story.
Despite its shortcomings, Dreaming the Bull is an entertaining and compelling read as Scott manages to sweep us up in her vision of a time when Rome’s tentacles reached the shores of Britain.
Recommended with some reservations.
Picking up where Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle left off, Dreaming the Bull begins with a lengthy description of ongoing battles and complex battle maneuvers between the two sides. The description is unnecessarily detailed, convoluted, and somewhat tedious. But once you get passed that, the pace of the novel picks up.
Intermittently threaded throughout the battles and skirmishes with the indigenous population, we witness Bán (Boudica’s brother) becoming progressively more brutal. The novel focuses on Bán and his downward spiral more so than on Boudica. Bán, who has adopted the name Julius Valerius, has immersed himself thoroughly in Roman culture and military, dedicating himself to the Roman god, Mithras. He has worked his way up the military ranks, becoming increasingly brutal toward members of his former tribe and their coalition partners. He uses his knowledge of their battle maneuvers to entrap them, rapidly developing a reputation among all sides for his extreme brutality.
Unfortunately, Bán’s transformation from Bán of the Eceni tribe to Julius Valerius, Decurion of the first troop, First Thracian Cavalry, was unconvincing. Why does Bán become more Roman than the Romans? Why is he so hell-bent on destroying all traces of his heritage even after he learns his sister is still alive and leads the rebellion? Why is he so full of venom that he embraces every opportunity to betray the tribes and their cause? We read of Rome’s cruelty toward the rebels—tortures, crucifixions, flaying of victims, and hangings—all of which Bán eventually endorses. His pangs of guilt manifest through frequent visits from spirits of his deceased family and friends, but he suppresses their voices by calling on Mithras and/or burying himself in alcohol. His journey from Bán to the “Decurion on the pied horse,” the rebel’s most hated military officer in the Roman army, isn’t believable.
Scott peoples her novel with a motley crew of characters: a Roman emperor desperate to hold on to power; dreamers who commune with the gods, see into the future, and control the weather; a young man from the Eceni tribe turned cruel Roman soldier who suffers from a severe identity crisis; a female warrior who leads a coalition of tribes in the resistance to Roman occupation of its lands. The spirits of the dead make frequent appearances, blurring the lines between the real and imaginary. The transitions are seamless with characters dialoguing with one another as routinely as they dialogue with spirits. Greater prominence is given to life in the Roman military and the political intrigues of the Roman Empire than life among the rebels. Similarly, the degree to which we follow the tribulations of Dubornos, Cunomar (Boudica’s son) and Caradoc after their capture shifts the attention away from Boudica and relegates her to the margins of her own story.
Despite its shortcomings, Dreaming the Bull is an entertaining and compelling read as Scott manages to sweep us up in her vision of a time when Rome’s tentacles reached the shores of Britain.
Recommended with some reservations.
January 9, 2022
Read this book in 2013, and its the 2nd volume of the marvellous "Boudica" quartet of books.
This quartet of books is set as from AD 32 until AD 60, and in this tale we follow once the paths of Breaca, who will later become known as Boudica, and her brother, Ban.
In this tale when dreaming the bull, and will come to fighting battles to overcome the difficulties that is to be expected when the Romans start to act in earnest.
As a whole its a tremendous tale of peace and war, love and passion for the Iceni people and land, betrayal from within, and Druids and warring gods are given their spell in this mystical tale about the Celtic world.
Breaca and Bran must extensively travel and undergo many tribulations if they want to fulfil their destinies to their utmost ability, if they want to rescue their Iceni tribe from annihilation by the Romans.
What is to follow is an astonishing tale about the Celtic world with its beliefs and dealings with people who wants to change their world ito a Roman world of taxes, obedience and its deadly laws.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magnificent Dreaming The Bull"!
This quartet of books is set as from AD 32 until AD 60, and in this tale we follow once the paths of Breaca, who will later become known as Boudica, and her brother, Ban.
In this tale when dreaming the bull, and will come to fighting battles to overcome the difficulties that is to be expected when the Romans start to act in earnest.
As a whole its a tremendous tale of peace and war, love and passion for the Iceni people and land, betrayal from within, and Druids and warring gods are given their spell in this mystical tale about the Celtic world.
Breaca and Bran must extensively travel and undergo many tribulations if they want to fulfil their destinies to their utmost ability, if they want to rescue their Iceni tribe from annihilation by the Romans.
What is to follow is an astonishing tale about the Celtic world with its beliefs and dealings with people who wants to change their world ito a Roman world of taxes, obedience and its deadly laws.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magnificent Dreaming The Bull"!
May 17, 2013
I am having trouble judging books by "good reader" star ratings in this genre of historical fiction. I guess that means it's a very personal taste. Some (like me) like LOTS of well researched history with their fiction, other folk think the history gets in the way of telling a good story.
I loved Boudica #1 - So much historical reasearch I could just tell Manda Scott was a regular on Time Team (one of my favourite shows!). I loved the section at the back where she declared her biases and listed the (sometimes controversial)contempory theories about the Roman invasion she was backing in this series. Other GoodReads Reviewers really hated this.
Now for Boudica #2 .... I hated this book because great slabs of it were soap operatic personal dramas with Mary Sue characters. The history was basically a stetchy framework for the plot and the historical celtic anthropology was based more on modern pagan reconstructionist ideology than archaeology. That probably means a massive bunch of readers out there are going to love this.
The line between reality and fantasy was less cloudy in this book - there is a lot more "true dreaming" that has influences on the plot than in the first book. I'd have personally preferred an ambiguity here that indicated a superstitious culture as opposed to actual spooky actions at a distance. Once again, I'm sure the fantasy readership will love this aspect.
now some teeny weeny niggly points....
- recall the double headed snakey thing with the Z through it that occurs all over. Historians still can't agree on what that means - or even if it's pagan as this sign usually occurs on stone crosses. A lot of experts don't think it's a broken spear. It usually shows up with two circles (sun signs?) and in conjuction with a crescent moon and V sign so it probally has something to do with the solstices and the other world.
-does anyone know of ANY evidence for kill feathers? I suspect that if so it's filed under "dream catchers"?
-Did anyone else feel the need for a facepalm after the umteenth "The Decurion on the pied horse"?
This was the third book of Scott's I have read, and each one so far has a very different style than the others. This could mean she is a patchy writer, or that she was struggling to find a style that she was comfortable with (at least with the books I've read). I'll try Boudica #3 in the hope it gets better. Certainly there is a more comprehensive historical record for the period to be covered in books 3-4 so hopefully that will help keep these books on track. Other reviewers have pointed out that #2 is a filler designed to get all the players ready for the real action. Fingers crossed.
If this review strikes a chord with any folk reading it - I'd love some suggestions for great Roman themed books. I'm pretty sure I'm not a Simon Scarrow, Harry Sidebottom kind of guy. Where are the Hilary Mantels of Ancient Rome?
I loved Boudica #1 - So much historical reasearch I could just tell Manda Scott was a regular on Time Team (one of my favourite shows!). I loved the section at the back where she declared her biases and listed the (sometimes controversial)contempory theories about the Roman invasion she was backing in this series. Other GoodReads Reviewers really hated this.
Now for Boudica #2 .... I hated this book because great slabs of it were soap operatic personal dramas with Mary Sue characters. The history was basically a stetchy framework for the plot and the historical celtic anthropology was based more on modern pagan reconstructionist ideology than archaeology. That probably means a massive bunch of readers out there are going to love this.
The line between reality and fantasy was less cloudy in this book - there is a lot more "true dreaming" that has influences on the plot than in the first book. I'd have personally preferred an ambiguity here that indicated a superstitious culture as opposed to actual spooky actions at a distance. Once again, I'm sure the fantasy readership will love this aspect.
now some teeny weeny niggly points....
- recall the double headed snakey thing with the Z through it that occurs all over. Historians still can't agree on what that means - or even if it's pagan as this sign usually occurs on stone crosses. A lot of experts don't think it's a broken spear. It usually shows up with two circles (sun signs?) and in conjuction with a crescent moon and V sign so it probally has something to do with the solstices and the other world.
-does anyone know of ANY evidence for kill feathers? I suspect that if so it's filed under "dream catchers"?
-Did anyone else feel the need for a facepalm after the umteenth "The Decurion on the pied horse"?
This was the third book of Scott's I have read, and each one so far has a very different style than the others. This could mean she is a patchy writer, or that she was struggling to find a style that she was comfortable with (at least with the books I've read). I'll try Boudica #3 in the hope it gets better. Certainly there is a more comprehensive historical record for the period to be covered in books 3-4 so hopefully that will help keep these books on track. Other reviewers have pointed out that #2 is a filler designed to get all the players ready for the real action. Fingers crossed.
If this review strikes a chord with any folk reading it - I'd love some suggestions for great Roman themed books. I'm pretty sure I'm not a Simon Scarrow, Harry Sidebottom kind of guy. Where are the Hilary Mantels of Ancient Rome?
September 25, 2017
The best part of this is not Boudicca. The best part of this is her brother. Deep, perplexing, courageous. The other characters are interchangeable, all pretty much the same. But Valerius stands out. Such a beautiful character. For me, this series is his.
As with the first book, loved the descriptions of nature and animals. I'll definitely be reading the next one in the series!
As with the first book, loved the descriptions of nature and animals. I'll definitely be reading the next one in the series!
May 5, 2023
Once again, I'll preface this by saying I know very little of the real history of this period, so can't really comment on that aspect of the book....
But once again, this was a wonderful book!
Everything that was brilliant about the first book is also brilliant about the second book, but with the added bonus that since the reader already knows the characters and cultures, less time is spent on set-up and more time is spent in the thick of things.
The positives...
Manda Scott's prose is beautiful and her attention to detail when it comes to (re)creating ancient Britain and Rome is remarkable. She takes care to involve all the senses as she describes each scene and the end result is breathtaking - the reader emerges from each chapter feeling like they have just lived it alongside the main characters.
Where her writing really shines, in my opinion, is in the dialogue between characters. A large number of the major conflicts in this book are explored through conversations between a pair, or small group, of characters. This might sound less exciting than constant battles, duels and daring adventures but I would say, without a doubt, that the tensest, most stressful moments in the book all revolve around one-to-one conversations between characters.
Which is not to say that Manda Scott doesn't write blood and guts and action sequences when she needs to. She does. But she does so sparingly, and her restraint really pays off. Violence and brutality remain shocking because she takes care not to allow the reader to become desensitised to it.
The characters we love and hate (and hate to love and love to hate) are all back, with a few new faces to make up for those we lost in book one. The characters are wonderfully written and feel utterly believable - Ban is probably still my favourite... even if I can't call him Ban anymore...
The negatives...
Are there any....? Certainly no major ones...
I suppose one thing (although it wasn't a problem for me) is that for a book about Boudica, she really wasn't in it very much. I'd have to go back and count chapters to be sure but I'd guess at least two-thirds, maybe three-quarters of the book did not feature Boudica at all. Obviously, the Roman invasion of Britain did not revolve around one woman, and Manda Scott is trying to tell a wider story here, not just a straight biography of Boudica. If you are reading this series only wanting to hear about her, however, or you became particularly attached to her viewpoint chapters in book one, you may be a little disappointed by her lack of 'screentime' in this book.
I would say I preferred this to book one, and am very excited to see where the series goes next. Thanks again to the Brothers Gwynne for hosting the readalong!
But once again, this was a wonderful book!
Everything that was brilliant about the first book is also brilliant about the second book, but with the added bonus that since the reader already knows the characters and cultures, less time is spent on set-up and more time is spent in the thick of things.
The positives...
Manda Scott's prose is beautiful and her attention to detail when it comes to (re)creating ancient Britain and Rome is remarkable. She takes care to involve all the senses as she describes each scene and the end result is breathtaking - the reader emerges from each chapter feeling like they have just lived it alongside the main characters.
Where her writing really shines, in my opinion, is in the dialogue between characters. A large number of the major conflicts in this book are explored through conversations between a pair, or small group, of characters. This might sound less exciting than constant battles, duels and daring adventures but I would say, without a doubt, that the tensest, most stressful moments in the book all revolve around one-to-one conversations between characters.
Which is not to say that Manda Scott doesn't write blood and guts and action sequences when she needs to. She does. But she does so sparingly, and her restraint really pays off. Violence and brutality remain shocking because she takes care not to allow the reader to become desensitised to it.
The characters we love and hate (and hate to love and love to hate) are all back, with a few new faces to make up for those we lost in book one. The characters are wonderfully written and feel utterly believable - Ban is probably still my favourite... even if I can't call him Ban anymore...
The negatives...
Are there any....? Certainly no major ones...
I suppose one thing (although it wasn't a problem for me) is that for a book about Boudica, she really wasn't in it very much. I'd have to go back and count chapters to be sure but I'd guess at least two-thirds, maybe three-quarters of the book did not feature Boudica at all. Obviously, the Roman invasion of Britain did not revolve around one woman, and Manda Scott is trying to tell a wider story here, not just a straight biography of Boudica. If you are reading this series only wanting to hear about her, however, or you became particularly attached to her viewpoint chapters in book one, you may be a little disappointed by her lack of 'screentime' in this book.
I would say I preferred this to book one, and am very excited to see where the series goes next. Thanks again to the Brothers Gwynne for hosting the readalong!
January 5, 2013
So. I know that Rome invades the majority of England. And I know that Boudica is captured and her daughters raped. Consequently, at just passed half-way through the second installation of the series, I give up. It's battle after battle, in which Ban gets more evil and Boudica gets more desperate. I know there's probably some big reconciliation at some point, but I can't hang in there for it--too many other good books to read.
November 13, 2016
I thought it was a good book- it seemed well researched and there was complexity in the way two very different cultures, and two spiritualities that are somewhat alien to a modern reader were presented. I found the spirituality intriguing, because people's conversations and beliefs in various (conflicting) gods were presented as "true". I also really loved the way the cultures were contrasted in all sorts of ways such as attitudes to gender, sexuality, family, what counts as being "civilised" and the way a lot of this came out in the careful writing sort of naturally but there is also a scene in Gaul where Cygfa and Valerius discuss war and ethics with Valerius representing reason, order and masculinity and Cygfa a sort of androgynous femininity, chaos and emotion and yet in other scenes Valerius is a mess of emotions while similtaneously trying to deny/avoid them.
So while it is a historical book about the Boudica and her times (the Roman invasion of Britain and the defence by indigenous people) it is also a book about identity (which is clearly shown to splinter in Valerius), relationships (complex alliances of family, love, religion and army mates) and values. There was a great deal of complexity in how some of the romans were presented simultaneously as cruel invaders but also sympathetic in their loves. There are sexual relationships between soldiers, but these are written in a way that focuses on the deep love they share rather than invading their privacy with descriptions of acts. There is Rome that has a gender-binary and marriage (ownership) view of (hetero)sexuality while men will have relationships with other men that seem deeper and are also erotic but don;t upset the status quo. On the other hand there are the Ecceni who are polyamorous (or serial mono-amorous) and seem to be bisexual (with possibly a greater incidence of man-woman pairings implied due to the need to procreate). I found all of that interesting because it showed how cultural values and political ideology form who we are as sexual and relating beings and also as gendered beings (I found it very interesting on p346 how Cygfa being young is somewhat androgynous and resembles a young version of her father).
I did not enjoy Valerius as a character but I thought he was well and sensitively written. I was irritated by aspects of the way Cunomar was portrayed early on (although I had to admit it was a good attempt to detach "eternal childhood" from the character and put him in a different setting and therefore mindset, I think there was some psychologising which led back into essentialism and sabotaged the attempt to some degree but at the same time I think aspects of this scene were necessary for his character growth) I thought there were too many main characters (although not as many as some books, in that it was relatively restrained) and we lost sight of Breaca a lot in the focus on Valerius which was pretty dominating but then uncomfortably taken over by for example Dubornos or Cunomar for a short segment so that we began to bond with that character only to have him become a background character once more. If the POV was going to shift so much it probably ought to have been loosened from Valerius a little more or this should have just been his story.
I hated the torture scenes, the slow journey of the book through despair and the long drawn out almost death scenes (with enough actual death scenes in other places to make them quite harrowing to live through with the characters). The scenes were well painted but it was all too much for me- too much suspense and pain, despair and loss. I get it that in reality invading armies and megalomaniac emperors are that cruel but I don't like to dwell on it. Kudos to Scott for bringing us through all that hellishness with some hope for human nature intact (and some desire to resist such evil even when it is daunting). But for me the book dragged painfully whenever it was about torture, also the idea of flaying traitors alive and especially the crucifixion or hanging of children was brought up too many times. It goes from having shock factor to just being depressing. I do however think I am more squeamish about that than many people and anyone who enjoys game of thrones would probably love this book for the mixture of intrigue and just awful things people do to each other for power.
I thought Agrippina was interesting as a character and even though I hated her I sort of felt there were reasons for her to be that way. A lot of characters were almost over-described as if the cameos of every real historical person the author knew of had to be got just right.
Ultimately for the complexity, mysticism, and especially the gender in the book I liked it. I will quite likely read more from this author although I am still not looking forward to the descriptions of violence.
So while it is a historical book about the Boudica and her times (the Roman invasion of Britain and the defence by indigenous people) it is also a book about identity (which is clearly shown to splinter in Valerius), relationships (complex alliances of family, love, religion and army mates) and values. There was a great deal of complexity in how some of the romans were presented simultaneously as cruel invaders but also sympathetic in their loves. There are sexual relationships between soldiers, but these are written in a way that focuses on the deep love they share rather than invading their privacy with descriptions of acts. There is Rome that has a gender-binary and marriage (ownership) view of (hetero)sexuality while men will have relationships with other men that seem deeper and are also erotic but don;t upset the status quo. On the other hand there are the Ecceni who are polyamorous (or serial mono-amorous) and seem to be bisexual (with possibly a greater incidence of man-woman pairings implied due to the need to procreate). I found all of that interesting because it showed how cultural values and political ideology form who we are as sexual and relating beings and also as gendered beings (I found it very interesting on p346 how Cygfa being young is somewhat androgynous and resembles a young version of her father).
I did not enjoy Valerius as a character but I thought he was well and sensitively written. I was irritated by aspects of the way Cunomar was portrayed early on (although I had to admit it was a good attempt to detach "eternal childhood" from the character and put him in a different setting and therefore mindset, I think there was some psychologising which led back into essentialism and sabotaged the attempt to some degree but at the same time I think aspects of this scene were necessary for his character growth) I thought there were too many main characters (although not as many as some books, in that it was relatively restrained) and we lost sight of Breaca a lot in the focus on Valerius which was pretty dominating but then uncomfortably taken over by for example Dubornos or Cunomar for a short segment so that we began to bond with that character only to have him become a background character once more. If the POV was going to shift so much it probably ought to have been loosened from Valerius a little more or this should have just been his story.
I hated the torture scenes, the slow journey of the book through despair and the long drawn out almost death scenes (with enough actual death scenes in other places to make them quite harrowing to live through with the characters). The scenes were well painted but it was all too much for me- too much suspense and pain, despair and loss. I get it that in reality invading armies and megalomaniac emperors are that cruel but I don't like to dwell on it. Kudos to Scott for bringing us through all that hellishness with some hope for human nature intact (and some desire to resist such evil even when it is daunting). But for me the book dragged painfully whenever it was about torture, also the idea of flaying traitors alive and especially the crucifixion or hanging of children was brought up too many times. It goes from having shock factor to just being depressing. I do however think I am more squeamish about that than many people and anyone who enjoys game of thrones would probably love this book for the mixture of intrigue and just awful things people do to each other for power.
I thought Agrippina was interesting as a character and even though I hated her I sort of felt there were reasons for her to be that way. A lot of characters were almost over-described as if the cameos of every real historical person the author knew of had to be got just right.
Ultimately for the complexity, mysticism, and especially the gender in the book I liked it. I will quite likely read more from this author although I am still not looking forward to the descriptions of violence.
July 3, 2017
Some soft spots in the middle or perhaps I was unable to deal with "family" against "family" and neither knowing that was the case. Still, Manda Scott keeps it going. I will reiterate, the historical fantasy aspect in these books, given so few records exist from the 50 AD era.
Onto book three,
Dreaming the Hound.
Onto book three,
Dreaming the Hound.
July 13, 2010
re-reading for the 4-5th time!
January 3, 2015
My heart breaks. Every time. I love this book so much it hurts.
June 29, 2013
Long but worth the read!
Dreaming the Bull - 2nd book in this 4 book series continues to carry on my captivation with Boudica and her life. The blurb basically describes what the story is about however I can add to it by saying - "Only this book focus is more on the Roman'a invasion of Britannia and the single character Ban (Boudica's brother) or better known as Julius Valerius and how he ended up being a Roman soldier as well as moving up the ranks like he did."
The author gives the reader a glimpse of the culture and lifestyles the soldiers lived through during war. The story shows how greed hungry the emperor was and the politics of kissing ass to get what they wanted. Also the author gives a glimpse of how the Roman's took the lands by force, by killing - beheading and hanging them out on spears for all to see, by selling them into slavery, or even pimping them out. The roman soldiers raped not only the women but the young boys too.
This is not a fast paced read because there is so much detail in explaining where and why the Roman's did what they did which in return gives the reader a fascinating story to read and understand a little of the background from the enemy.
There are a couple of things that I want to point out that was interesting.
1. Ban (Valerius) is actually a traitor to his own people.
2. Most of the Roman soldiers are gay. (doesn't matter to me, just wanted to point that out how I could understand how the situation of being away with nothing but men - well lets just say they gotta get their release some way - LOL
3. Caradoc - Boudica's man is captured along with their son Cunomar
4. Caradoc while in captivity sleeps with another captive warrior and produces a child
5. The captive warrior Caradoc has a relationship with while in captivity just happens to be the same woman (Cwmfen - Warrior of the Ordovices) who he had a child (Cygfa) with before he was with Boudica.
6. Ban (Valerius) actually is the one who gets them out of captivity.
Overall, I liked the story but was pist at how Caradoc did not go back to his home land to be with Boudica, instead he stays with Cwmfen and their new born but sends his son Cunomar (Boudica's son) and his oldest daughter Cygfa (Cwmfen's daughter) back to Britannia via ship.
Personally to me, I lost all respect for Caradoc because Boudica was suppose to be his sunrise in all things - LOL Some sunshine, I saw his action as a slap in the face to Boudica. I can just imagine the jealousy Cunomar felt - actually I could feel the anger from Cunomar in some parts within the story.
Anyway, it is all interesting and I know times were different back then and the tribes had their own ways of life and their honor was based on different actions than how we see actions being honorable in our current days.
I look forward to the 3rd book in the series.
Good Read!
Dreaming the Bull - 2nd book in this 4 book series continues to carry on my captivation with Boudica and her life. The blurb basically describes what the story is about however I can add to it by saying - "Only this book focus is more on the Roman'a invasion of Britannia and the single character Ban (Boudica's brother) or better known as Julius Valerius and how he ended up being a Roman soldier as well as moving up the ranks like he did."
The author gives the reader a glimpse of the culture and lifestyles the soldiers lived through during war. The story shows how greed hungry the emperor was and the politics of kissing ass to get what they wanted. Also the author gives a glimpse of how the Roman's took the lands by force, by killing - beheading and hanging them out on spears for all to see, by selling them into slavery, or even pimping them out. The roman soldiers raped not only the women but the young boys too.
This is not a fast paced read because there is so much detail in explaining where and why the Roman's did what they did which in return gives the reader a fascinating story to read and understand a little of the background from the enemy.
There are a couple of things that I want to point out that was interesting.
1. Ban (Valerius) is actually a traitor to his own people.
2. Most of the Roman soldiers are gay. (doesn't matter to me, just wanted to point that out how I could understand how the situation of being away with nothing but men - well lets just say they gotta get their release some way - LOL
3. Caradoc - Boudica's man is captured along with their son Cunomar
4. Caradoc while in captivity sleeps with another captive warrior and produces a child
5. The captive warrior Caradoc has a relationship with while in captivity just happens to be the same woman (Cwmfen - Warrior of the Ordovices) who he had a child (Cygfa) with before he was with Boudica.
6. Ban (Valerius) actually is the one who gets them out of captivity.
Overall, I liked the story but was pist at how Caradoc did not go back to his home land to be with Boudica, instead he stays with Cwmfen and their new born but sends his son Cunomar (Boudica's son) and his oldest daughter Cygfa (Cwmfen's daughter) back to Britannia via ship.
Personally to me, I lost all respect for Caradoc because Boudica was suppose to be his sunrise in all things - LOL Some sunshine, I saw his action as a slap in the face to Boudica. I can just imagine the jealousy Cunomar felt - actually I could feel the anger from Cunomar in some parts within the story.
Anyway, it is all interesting and I know times were different back then and the tribes had their own ways of life and their honor was based on different actions than how we see actions being honorable in our current days.
I look forward to the 3rd book in the series.
Good Read!
May 8, 2012
The second of four books about Boedica or Boadecia as many know by this name .
Love this series great character development and Mandy Scott is a fantastic storyteller. I' m reading the 4th book now
Amazing details of this early time- period.
If you like historical figures brought to life read this book!
Love this series great character development and Mandy Scott is a fantastic storyteller. I' m reading the 4th book now
Amazing details of this early time- period.
If you like historical figures brought to life read this book!
September 5, 2021
4.1 stars. Similar to the first installment, this book moves like a dream: at times mirky and lulling which suddenly sharpens with action. If you're not paying close attention, it's easy to miss an important moment. I really enjoy the flaws in her characters and the way she subverts your expectations. It's quite the tactic in successfully tearing at your heartstrings.
April 29, 2023
A fantastic second book in this quartet thats sure to be an all time fav. I can't say much except this gives us a more nuanced look into Roman life, and shows the complexities of the Empire. That being said I really disliked parts of part 2, however parts 1,3 and 4 really were some of the best stuff I've ever read. I think I prefer book 1 but this is still a fantastic followup
March 3, 2024
Honestly the ending pulled this from a 2 to a 3. Devasted with how much I did not enjoy, I’m almost embarrassed how much I have banged on about Boudicca. The first book is a masterpiece and I’m hoping this is just a lull bc I’ve bought them all now so will have to read lol
September 3, 2024
I read this book out of order. Not having read the first book of the series I found it difficult to care about the characters. My rating may have been higher had I read book one first.
January 25, 2023
I think it's wonderful
Somehow this book stirs strong emotion. It's bloody and sad and bleak and hopeful and magical. I've just bought the third one.
Somehow this book stirs strong emotion. It's bloody and sad and bleak and hopeful and magical. I've just bought the third one.
April 16, 2024
4.5 out of 5 stars
Don't mind me thinking back to simpler times.... like when i was only 95% of the way through this book, thinking 'I can feel it now, another dramatic ending that will only give me a taste of how gut-wrenching the next book is going to be,' not realizing that Manda Scott was winding up for approximately 5 more jabs to the heart in the last 2 chapters.
somehow... heartbreak feels good in a place like this.*
*yes I made that same joke in a status update but it's funny and it works so leave me alone
Don't mind me thinking back to simpler times.... like when i was only 95% of the way through this book, thinking 'I can feel it now, another dramatic ending that will only give me a taste of how gut-wrenching the next book is going to be,' not realizing that Manda Scott was winding up for approximately 5 more jabs to the heart in the last 2 chapters.
somehow... heartbreak feels good in a place like this.*
January 12, 2024
I loved this second installment of the Boudica series, the characters were again brilliantly written and the storyline believable and once again well researched. Scott has recreated the intricacies of Celtic Britain and the Roman Empire very well with a distinct attention to detail that continues to support the story. Each character has been developed well and the situations that arise are again handled and written well and portrayed in a manner to make each as relevent to the reader as possible.
October 15, 2008
Mostly follows the life of Ban aka Julius. Like the first book, it takes Manda Scott about 60 pages to find her rhythm. This book is filled with dark vengeance and betrayal, commitments to foreign, silent Gods by someone who was once a Dreamer for another culture and still sees Ghosts. I love the magic in this book - a dead Granma aids in a curse, and there's a Roman Bull God initiation scene in a cave that is truly beautiful. Can't wait to read the third one...
Read
May 4, 2020The second in the Boudica series takes us from the Briton tribes (with their magical island as a training ground for warriors, mystics and poets) to the continent in Gaul and the Germanic areas to imperial Rome. There are many twists, love, action, war, intrigue, loss and crises of conscience. Beautifully told with unstoppable action and impressive detail -sometimes visceral- it is a compelling read.
September 5, 2021
I’m sickened by Ban’s behaviour; his reasonings are so irrational and unjustified, fuelled purely by anger and childish misunderstandings. The battle of wills between Caradoc and Claudius and the foreshadowing of Nero’s reign kind of took away from the legend of Breaca. She barely featured at all in this book and I hope she gets more action in the next.
February 8, 2016
Once again I began this doubting that I'd find it easy to turn my mind back to when years were counted in double figures. Once again I was speedily proved wrong and this became as compelling and entertaining as any twenty-first century thriller. Superb writing.
March 10, 2011
Excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews