Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review!

It took me along time to read this book. Longer than I would have liked considering I not only knew about Boudicca but also have a love of Celtic history and mythology. I’m also a fan of P. C. Cast, sort of…

I just don’t think this one lived up to the hype and the genre tags I saw. “Romantasy,” really?! This was more of a historical fiction with some fantasy elements for the mythology. It was also not written in a typical style that was accessible for me, but then again I don’t read a lot of historical fiction or mythology.

I have to admit that most people won’t know who Boudicca is or what her story is. For some readers, this will be a great introduction to her story and encourage further reading, but for others it will only lead to further confusion and misunderstanding, even denial. My limited knowledge was not enough to slog through the book, which felt long and tedious at times.

We live in a world of trigger warnings. I will not warn other readers of the horrors of the past. People, men especially, did evil things. They are depicted here, in great detail. Cast did do a good job at that. I’m not going to elaborate further, read at your own risk and quit spoiling books for yourself and others. Much of the book was spoiled for me by other reviews due to said TWs and CWs.

Overall, an okay read. But only that.

Boudicca: Queen of the Iceni* is an exhilarating dive into the life of one of history's fiercest leaders, set in the gritty world of Roman-occupied Britain. From the moment you meet the fiery-haired Boudicca, you’re hooked. Her strength, resilience, and bravery leap off the page, making you root for her every step of the way.

The supporting cast is just as compelling. Each character feels alive and contributes to a sense of camaraderie that draws you in. You genuinely feel like you’re on this journey with them, facing challenges and celebrating victories together.

Though it’s labeled as a “romantasy,” this book is so much more than that. Yes, there’s some romance, but it’s really about Boudicca’s incredible journey and the unification of the tribes against Rome. The author has woven such rich detail into each scene that it feels like you’re reading a fantastical history lesson—one you actually want to read!

Overall I thought this was is a fantastic read. If you enjoyed Circe by Madeline Miller, you’ll love this. It’s an empowering story that will leave you wanting more—more of Boudicca, more of her fierce tribe, and more of the epic battles against Rome. This book is a book thar stays with you long after you finish it.

I loved this book. It had me hooked from the first chapter, all the way to the end. Extremely well-written and engaging.

The potential of this book! And sadly, I don't think it lived up to it.

This is a book I would definitely recommend looking up content warnings for because there are some subjects in here are that quite sensitive or could upset people who are sensitive to depictions of certain things. And there are some quite gore-y depictions of battle and war and fighting because that is what this book is really about.

A cool, badass female historical figure who leads a rebellion against the Romans! Such potential, especially because I don't think that many people know very much about Boudicca. (And some scholars even question if she ever existed, so this is also one of those historical fictions that is also mythology-inspired.)

It takes a while for this book to pick up or for the reader (me) to get into the story and the characters. I just couldn't get invested in this story the way the story of the figure Boudicca should have me be invested. And a story about a badass warrior lady should always get my full attention!

I can definitely see a lot of people loving this book (fans of The Song of Achilles definitely come to mind), it really just depends on the individual reader!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

2.5⭐️

This book had such potential. Beautiful cover, great historical figure whose story doesn’t show up much in historical fiction (at least as far as I’ve seen). But the beginning was traumatic while also being slow and the dialogue never really clicked for me. I think it’s possible she was going for a more old-timey style but it didn’t work for me.

If you are interested in a Celtic story with some girl power and anti-colonial themes, and you’re not fussy about style, you should check this out.





+++ SPOILERS +++






Trigger warnings:
- SA of a minor
- SA of a supporting character
- threat of SA
- whipping
(All of these are in the first few chapters)

Other content warnings:
- injury and death of animals
- discussions of enslavement
- mild descriptions of battles

OMG this book was sooooooo good! I don't think I have read aything by this author before but man! they can write! I knew who Boudicca was before going into this and knew some of her story. The writing is so good, it pulls you in and you become part of this world, part of the tribe. A friend was lucky enough to get approved for this ARC and we read it together. She liked it too. I am recommending this to all my friends and if I ever get another cat, I am naming her Boudicca. Ty so so so much for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Boudicca!

P.C. Cast was a staple author during my pre-teen reading obsession. I adored the House of Night series, so Boudicca was an obvious pick for me today.

Strong female main character, great writing, well rounded characters, and a gripping storyline. If you are a fan of mythology and/or feminist tales, you'll eat this up.

At first, it was really hard to get into the book. The beginning was a little too complex, which altered my reading experience. It also took me forever to finish, which is abnormal for me. I had to keep dragging myself back to the book. I enjoyed the overall idea of the book and the mythology behind it, but other than that it was a difficult read.

Thank you!

Boudicca by P.C. Cast is a historical fiction account of Queen Boudicca of the Iceni tribe who led a rebellion against Rome during the Roman occupation of Briton. I had never heard of Boudicca prior to reading this book and now I can see why she is a celebrated heroine of Britain independence.

This book is on the longer side, and if you love it, it’s not long enough, and if you don’t, it will drag. Its science fiction aspect is due to the interactions the characters have with their patron deities. The world Cast has created in ancient Briton seems to be her idea of a utopian society fighting against the tyranny of the patriarchy. It was such a strong impression that I wonder how much of the worldview was idealized and how much was based in fact. What it did do was opened my mind up to the bias found in history books and consider how a different viewpoint with the same essential facts might change our understanding of it. This reality is not something I’ve been ignorant of, but Boudicca was one of the first fictionalizations that I have ever read about a historical figure whose history has been reimagined by shifting the perspective. Even to the ending - which by the time I made it to the end, I did some research on Boudicca and felt sure I knew what to expect— Cast took the facts and gave an alternate perspective.

The romance elements in this book took me wholly by surprise— this book is by and large one of war and gore. But in the second half of the book, there are scenes and they are descriptive.

Also - there are some graphic sentences describing brutality of the Romans (and in some cases the Britons) against women and children. Cast doesn’t linger with flowery descriptions of the violence, but the sentences are explicit enough to be startling and upsetting.

I’d like to thank William and Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a great historical fiction novel and the character choices are amazing. Boudicca is an awe.enspiring woman of great renown and this book shows as much.

I'm easily giving this 5 stars.
I knew the story of Boudicca going in, but by the end I felt that I'd lived it with her and come to know and love the cast of characters that are brought to life so vividly they'll be with me long after the final page.
I found this to be a very emotionally intense read. It's been a long time since I "felt" a story the way I felt this one, and now, I just want to read it over again.

I’ve been obsessed with P.C. Cast’s writing since middle school….so reading this was an obvious choice. I grew up very familiar with the story of Boudica and how she did her best to protect her people. This book perfectly encapsulates what we know of her. Strong, smart, and powerful. She powers through all the obstacles that come her way, including losing her husband.

Discover history, goddesses, fantasy, romance, magic, and so much more. This book is truly (chef’s kiss) and a masterpiece.

I think this book is great, but it's sadly not for me. It's written very well, I'm just not connecting with the story right now. I will not be publicly rating this book.

This is definitely a different version of Boudica's story from what I've previously read. Several emotions were triggered while reading, but the strongest was during the assaults of Boudica's and her daughters. Most definitely because of the perceived ages of the girls. Being of Celtic heritage myself I could identify with the rage, and love shown in the story. I'm not of the Iceni Tribe, but I would have followed their Queen into battle! It's hard to know what really happened in the end as I'm sure the Roman writers were biased in their findings. It's nice to think there was a different outcome for Queen Boudica.

It only took me two months but we have finished it. Let me say that this solidified that I am not a mythology girly, but if you are, chances are you will love this. It is a brutal feminist tale about what Boudicca will do to protect her community and her children. Now let me say that I also had never heard of Boudicca before reading this, so I am not sure how accurate this story is. I did like the amount of gore/description, and of course, the all-around bad-assery and respect given to women in this book. This would definitely make a kick-ass movie too.

The reason I requested this from NetGalley is because of the author. As a pre-teen, I read the House of Night books and I ate that shit up. Forcing my mom to take me to Barnes and Noble to get the next book was a core memory of mine and honestly established my love for reading. P.C Cast's writing in Boudicca is completely different than in House of Night. The writing in Boudicca is strong and complex, and not that her writing is bad in her other books, this one is just exceptional.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this advanced copy.

Such a strong and loyal leader. Exactly who I would want leading me into battle. A leader of her people who is lead by her heart to ensure her people are treated with respect and avenged.
If you are a woman who has EVER felt overlooked because of your gender, Boudicca will fill you with the urge to make yourself known.

This was such a good read! I loved the historical accuracy, and I think Cast really did a great job of telling this tale through a more feminist lens. Even though she had to take some license with the more minor character’s names, the way she did still made sense to the time and as a reader I found myself loving each character so much. Her tribe was so brave and strong and you really felt for everyone for their losses and victories.

If it's got P.C. Cast's name on it, you know I'm going to read it.

Boudicca is the Queen of her tribe. Strong, smart and well respected. Still feeling the loss of her beloved husband, she powers on. A dream that seemed more like a message wakes her early. Perhaps the druids and so she'll go out in the breath of dragon (fog) to forge.

Moments later, Boudicca is in the otherworld of her goddess. There she is told things about her husband and given choices about what to do next. Choice made, Bouddica heads home to face what is coming.

As soon as she returns, the pace starts to pick up. You know something is going to happen. The excitement and anticipation has you gripping onto the book and trying to read through it as fast as you can.

The history, goddess, vengeance, victory, magic, fantasy, and romantasy. It gives you everything you could want and then some. It's a P.C. Cast masterpiece.

P.C Cast is always a must read for me, her writing style and charater development are secon to none. After having read all of her books I can't find a character I hate (even if I am meant to hate them). I can' twait for more and anyone who has not read this needs to go out and grab a copy...wow

I'm so thankful Boudicca is integrating more into mainstream media. The cover is beautiful and the story hasn't been told too many time where people feel like it's "just another xyz."
Something I think historical fiction struggles with is making the character have life instead of being caricatures of humans hitting a checklist. This book has the same struggle. The pacing also is a bit off. Very early in, Boudicca visits her patron goddess and suddenly wants revenge against Rome...The problem with this is that this is the first we are hearing about Rome, and there isn't any bad history of interactions. Historically we know Boudicca takes up arms against Rome but in this opener there isn't really a good WHY. She just suddenly wants vengeance.... for nothing? What has Rome done at this point? NOTHING. Later of course war atrocious tthing happen but we don't really have a good motivation early on

Despite that the overall story was interesting enough. I think it should be marketed as historical fiction vs a romantasy however.

Also definitely check trigger warnings before reading if you have things that might be unsettling to you.