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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb final book of the series!, 6 Mar 2006
This review is from: Dreaming The Serpent Spear (Boudica 4) (Hardcover)
You really must read the first 3 books before reading this final one. So many stories and plots and sub-plots were revealed over this whole series. With the seeds of each character's destiny put forward and then resolved with perfect clarity in this final volume. It is an amazing finale. Yes, the written history of Boudica's demise is fairly well known, but as always it's the way Manda Scott has interpreted history and woven the threads together that makes this book have such tension ans suspense. Knowing that Boudica dies in the end, doesn't stop this book from pulling the reader in and letting them almost see and feel the events that happen. The battle scenes from the various points of view of different characters are wonderful, and set a real ambience in the reader's mind. And as always the ideas on the "dreaming" culture and how that is portrayed is superlative and fascinating. The character development has also been brilliant, and you can really feel the changes and growth in such characters like Cunomar and Valerius and Graine. There is a surprising storyline with Valerius and Cygfa towards the end, and the the heartbreaking choices and feelings of Valerius and Corvus, knowing they'll face each other in battle is fantastic writing. When the end comes, both of the book and of Boudica herself it's hard not to shed a tear or two. It is beautifully written, with characters you can really love(or hate) and it's hard not to feel you have been on a journey with them all, with nearly all the loose ends clearly resolved and still with plenty of room for personal thoughts and theories. Stunning book!! Thank you Manda Scott!!
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Absolute Triumph, 31 July 2006
This review is from: Dreaming The Serpent Spear (Boudica 4) (Hardcover)
This is the fourth book of what was to have been a trilogy, the author obviously had second thoughts and thank goodness she did. I believe that this one is the best of the lot, or maybe it is because it is still the freshest in my mind, no matter, they are all a triumph of historical fiction.
I do not think there is a boring page, never mind a boring chapter in any of them.
Most people who have any interest in history will have some knowledge of the Queen of the Iceni, what befell her and her daughters and the pain and suffering she rained down on the Roman invader in retribution.. . .
The Warrior Queen has burned Colchester to the ground and the Roman's are leaving London. Rome's forces are stretched to the limit and their chain of command is broken. Never in the history of the legions have the Roman forces been in such disarray.
Can Boudica sustain her advance against the might of Rome. Will she ever she her daughter Graine again. The young girl has taken refuge on the island of Mona will her mother succeed where others have failed. Can she unite the land of Britain against its invaders, or will the might of Rome finally impose its iron will on the tribes of Britain.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible, 18 Feb 2006
By A Customer
This review is from: Dreaming The Serpent Spear (Boudica 4) (Hardcover)
After waiting for a year with baited breath for the concluding book of Manda Scott's 'Boudica' series, I found the story being taken to new levels, after experiencing the detail of the tribal rites, and the mind-blowing scene of the final battle... The constant love shown between Valerius and Corvus, despite being on opposing sides, is heart-breaking - especially in the concluding chapters. An appropriate finish to an immensely realistic series. For anyone interested in fictional works (largely refenced on fact) about Boudica, 'Dreaming the Serpent Spear', and it precending counter-parts are must-reads.
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