I expected more from the title character. More insight into her thoughts, more time spent with her during battles, definitely more emotional weight. She feels more like a secondary character compared to her mother and older sister.

There was a lot of time spent with the Roman armies, more than I would have preferred. I already consider Rome to be the evil empire of the ancient world, so more of their military talk and tactics really slowed the narrative after Boudica’s defeat. I can tell the author has researched many aspects surrounding the Roman side of things, which are the most detailed accounts there are of this time. Conversely, because their side is well-recorded, it was the side of the Britons I wanted more of.

Boudica is a folk hero, and I felt her story was overshadowed by the men in her life, which was disappointing. More time could have been spent with her and her daughters. It felt emotionally light with regards to the events happening around them.

The ending was rather abrupt. I’m wondering if there’s a second story coming because very little felt resolved. Overall, I wanted more from these characters and their fight against the Roman oppression, and I got much more Roman perspective than I cared for.

I was interested in this book because it is about Boudica’s daughter. However, I really struggled with it because it was told from multiple perspectives that made it to keep track. I would have it more had it been focused on one character throughout the story. It had great potential but was not told well. I still recommend this fans of Boudica!

I love this book!!

I have been interested in Boudica for a while, her story is one of brutality and injustice, a testament to how far a woman will go to protect those around her, her life, her country and what she believes in. She was a powerful and strong woman who became a historical legend and icon for women.

This (as the title states) tells the fictional story of Boudica and that of her daughter, what they had to face and endure.

I've not read this author before, but I will certainly be looking out for Hutchin's work in the future, judging by Boudica's Daughter alone I know that I will enjoy future books too.

Boudica's Daughter is dramatic, emotional, knowledgable and insightful.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I wanted to like this book more than I did and I had a hard time finishing it.

I loved the story of Boudica, and this book helped bring to life Boudica and her daughters. To let them have a voice, even if is fictional.

I really enjoyed Boudica's Daughter but I felt it was a bit rushed. It was very fast paced which isn't a bad thing but I felt like everything could have been expanded on. I almost wish that it had been split into two books. The first book about the rise of the rebellion and Boudica dying and then the second book about the aftermath and Keara going off to Africa,

Historical Fiction isn't really my usual genre, however this intrigued me and I'd heard some really good things about it. That being said, this wasn't for me. I found it confusing as parts, as though there was another story within the story, it seemed that parts were being thrown in randomly.

I really struggled to get through this; the only reason that I finished it is because I hate marking anything DNF. It still gets two stars because I think a lot of that was me rather than the book and I can't really ping it except for "having a style I don't like", which books are allowed to do. That said -- I thought this was quite dry, too wide-ranging, and possessed of a very brief, short writing style which was not conducive to building atmosphere and which I found awkward on several occasions. There is a large cast of characters, frequent POV and location shifts, and the book covers the before, during, and after of the Iceni rebellion, all of which make the brief writing style necessary in order to keep the book length manageable, but it still wound up feeling like too much to handle. The wide-open nature of the book also meant that despite the title the eponymous Boudica's daughter never felt like the main character within the ensemble. Despite a promising premise and a clear knowledge of the history behind the fiction, this ultimately never came together for me.

I emphasise that this was my experience only and others' might differ. Thank you to Troubador Publishing Ltd. and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Troubador Publishing Ltd and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. There's not a whole lot of British Roman History books out there centred on a female character but this one just missed the mark for me. I don't like writing a review just to criticise but the main female character Keara was just completely opaque and lost in the info-dumping of historical facts. I really don't feel that Caitlyn's rape needed to be described in such forensic detail and the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural.

The author clearly knows their stuff but it just didn't translate into an enjoyable historical fiction read for me.

2.5/5
Boudica's Daughter has a premise that is incredibly promising: the story of the legendary warrior Iceni Queen Boudica from the perspective of her daughter. Boudica is a historical figure I just started recently learning about, a mother and queen who bravely led her people in a rebellion against the Roman Empire after her own brutal flogging by the Romans as well as the rape of both of her daughters as punishment for defying the Romans and retaining her late husbands lands after his death. Boudica's Daughter is the reimagining of this epic legend through the eyes of Keara, Boudica's youngest daughter, as well as the aftermath of the Iceni defeat and Boudica's death.
I will say that there were parts of this this book that were really interesting, as the legend of Boudica is. Hutchins does a great job with world-building and bringing the world of 1st century Britain, and I was really interested in this story while reading about Boudica and her many triumphs and defeats Boudica, or Vaoda, as she's referred to here, was a really enigmatic character I enjoyed reading about. Unfortunately, this book had a good deal of problems that lessened my enjoyment of it as the book went on. First and foremost was the ridiculous amount of info-dumping that penetrated Hutchins's writing style. There were times where there was just far too much explanation of certain historical facts, and that's saying something as I am historian who obviously loves history. I also didn't care too much for the amount of time spent depicting the Roman side of this story, though I understand why going there was necessary at times. Another issue with this book was that the main character, Keara, really was not interesting at all. The girl didn't seem to have much of a personality aside from her loyalty to her family and her people. She was really boring. I would have enjoyed this story from Boudica's or even Caitlyn's perspective a lot more. These factors led to a lot of dragging moments in the plot. Finally, there was alot of random plot things that were thrown in there without further development or elaboration. So Boudica's Daughter, while having a good premise, fell well short due to the writing and lack of an interesting main character.

I had a hard time finishing this book. There's no doubt that the author has done his research and knows his history. However I found the writing style a let down. Lots of telling, repetitions (especially in the beginning), no internal thoughts by any of the characters, blocky dialogue and just a hell of a lot of names to keep straight without lots of description or character traits. All this made for a very dry read, which felt more like a chore than enjoyment.
I was hoping for a Celtic/Arthurian historical read, but I guess if you're fine with a more matter of fact writing style and looking up maps and names while reading, you might still wanna give this a try.

The Iceni warrior queen boudica has a tragic, courageous and well known tale, rebel who took on the Romans. This very immersive tale continues this story through her daughters whose rape triggered their mothers revenge against the Roman invaders. Full of description that brings the period to life you are drawn into what happened next yo Catlynn and Keara in their quest for revenge and the protection of the Iceni people and Britainnic way of life. An excellent read

This book is so captivating, loved following the story of this powerful women and the story of the Iceni. An excellent story for this period in history.
Amazing characters with a complex plot. Loved reading it!

I had a hard time with this book. While I appreciated the detail put into replicating this period in history, the story just never really came together. I found that even though this book is only just over 200 pages, it felt very dense and hard to get through which was odd for me because I usually love to read historical fiction.
The writing came across very plain, I just never felt like the author really had a clear voice or writing style so the story felt more like it was just written down instead of being told leaving the characters and plot to be not engaging, I think this is novel is a good starting point but the writing just needs to feel more alive so the story can really shine.

i really enjoyed this book, I liked the use of historical points and adding that to the characters. I'd be interested in seeing more from this series.

This book was amazing! It had it all; mystery, passion, betrayal, standing up for what you know is right....everything! I am very thankful for the publishers, the author, and netgalley for allowing me to read this book. It kept me pulled in the entire time, I couldn't put it down!

Druids, female warriors, evil Romans. Call me odd, but I find all those things comforting. "Boudica's Daughter" has a lot more to offer than just those things. There are moments of intense drama, heartbreak, and fierce hope. It's a very well-rounded book and is brilliantly written. I would very much like to read more of this author's work.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Attention all historical fiction lovers: finally, a historical novel that features the Roman occupation of Britain in the first century AD!

Sam J Hutchins has stepped up to the plate, filled the void and penned a wonderful, much needed and anticipated account about Voada, Queen of Iceni, and her daughters, Caitlyn and Keara as they lead an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire. Emperor Nero is wringing his hands greedily after Voada’s husband dies and his will is read in Londinium. You see, the Iceni kingdom is one of the richest Celtic lands and once controlled, can bring lots of money into Nero’s coffers. To safeguard his family’s inheritance, King Prasutagus, before succumbing to the wasting disease, stated that he wished his two benefactors to each receive half of the share of his kingdom and Emperor Nero to be the remaining co-heir. Nero cruelly twists the wording of the King’s will and boldly announces that Caitlyn can’t become the ruling heir; furthermore, they have two months to repay loans the Iceni thought were gifts! This would prove to be the catalyst for Voada demanding revenge. When the men sent to impose Roman law and confiscate the land arrive, they are met with the fiercely unified Celtic tribes. History books tell of Voada summoning her people to unleash war upon the invading Romans near a settlement for discharged Roman soldiers in Camulodunum, now modern-day Colchester in England. What ensues is an epic battle recorded in the annals of history. Voada is renamed Boudica and well, the rest is history!

You’ll have to pick up a copy of this book to follow the resistance as these disenchanted people take up arms and take the fight to the Romans. This book has something for everyone; the fierce love of a mother willing to do anything for her daughters, the sisterly bond that supports wayward siblings, a loving canine companion, a romance, brutal battles and even unsuspected plot twists! Hutchins, with the ability to bring history alive, has made sure we remember this courageous warrior queen who fought for freedom from oppression, for herself and all the Celtic tribes of Britain.

Thank you, Sam F. Hutchins, Matador Books, Troubador Publishing and Netgalley for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.