More compelling and dimensional is Ban, whose narrative clearly upstages Breaca’s. The gods deem Breaca a “warrior,” which largely defines the extent of her characterization throughout as, red hair flaming, she charges forth, gleaming sword in hand, stilted dialogue at the ready. The 14-year-old Breaca longs to be a “dreamer”-members of her Eceni tribe become “dreamers” or “warriors,” their role made manifest in dreams. Breaca is taken to live with another family, developing a close relationship with Ban, her half brother. The epic begins as a rival tribe slaughters Breaca’s pregnant mother, killing the unborn. Especially frustrating are the scores of difficult Celtic character names: a chart of the tribal families would be immensely helpful. Unfortunately, Scott compensates by creating this world with an overabundance of detail: her history becomes a scroll of arcana that lacks a strong, central narrative line to bring it into focus.

In an author’s note, Scott acknowledges that scant details of Breaca and her times exist. 43.īritish writer Scott here follows No Good Deed (2002), a compelling, contemporary police procedural, with a prolix history of warrior Breaca and the Celtic tribes of Britain in the late pre-Roman Iron Age.

Turgid historical about Breaca (later named Boudica), the legendary warrior queen who defended Britain against Roman invaders in a.d.

Boudica manda scott