What do you think?
Rate this book
Boudica #4
Dreaming the Serpent Spear
The fourth and final novel in the magnificent saga of Britain’s warrior queen (Boudica – “Bringer of Victory” and the last defender of the Celtic culture) will capture readers’ hearts and minds, as Manda Scott brings the series to a stunning close.
It is AD 60 and the flame of rebellion that has been smouldering for 20 years of Roman occupation has flared into a conflagration that will consume the land and all who live in it. There is no going back. Boudica has been flogged and her daughters raped, and her son has burned a Roman watchtower in an act of blatant insurgency.
This is the time to the Roman governor has marched his legions west to destroy the druidic stronghold of Mona, leaving his capital and a vital seaport hopelessly undefended in the face of twenty-thousand warriors aching for vengeance. But to crush the legions for all time, Boudica must do more than lead her army in the greatest rebellion Britain has ever known. She must find healing for herself, for the land, and for Graine, her 8-year-old daughter, who has taken refuge on Mona.
Is revenge worth it under any circumstances, or is the cost more than anyone can bear?
Colchester is burning and London is lost without hope. Amidst fire and bloody revolution – a battle that will change the face and spirituality of a nation for centuries to come – Boudica and those around her must find what matters most, now and for ever.
It is AD 60 and the flame of rebellion that has been smouldering for 20 years of Roman occupation has flared into a conflagration that will consume the land and all who live in it. There is no going back. Boudica has been flogged and her daughters raped, and her son has burned a Roman watchtower in an act of blatant insurgency.
This is the time to the Roman governor has marched his legions west to destroy the druidic stronghold of Mona, leaving his capital and a vital seaport hopelessly undefended in the face of twenty-thousand warriors aching for vengeance. But to crush the legions for all time, Boudica must do more than lead her army in the greatest rebellion Britain has ever known. She must find healing for herself, for the land, and for Graine, her 8-year-old daughter, who has taken refuge on Mona.
Is revenge worth it under any circumstances, or is the cost more than anyone can bear?
Colchester is burning and London is lost without hope. Amidst fire and bloody revolution – a battle that will change the face and spirituality of a nation for centuries to come – Boudica and those around her must find what matters most, now and for ever.
512 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2006
72 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
About the author
Manda Scott
28 books728 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 133 reviews
July 12, 2023
My new favourite historical fiction series of all time. This has so much heart. Mainly because it rips yours in two. Manda Scott is the Robin Hobb of historical fiction, the queen, the GOAT, an incredible writer. I already want to re-read Boudica again.
October 27, 2012
No fiction has captured my imagination and occupied my mind, waking and dreaming, to the extent that these four books have, for a very long time. Which is why I have read all four straight off, without taking a break to read something else in between. I wrote about the first book, Dreaming the Eagle, some time back, so what I said there still stands. Scott has created a world of warriors and dreamers where to kill or to die in battle is the highest honour, for both men and women. It is her great achievement to draw us into it so completely that we abandon modern attitudes towards violence and accept her characters' values as our own.
That being said, the books do require of us a 'willing suspension of disbelief'. This is a world where 'dreamers' can manipulate nature, calling up mists to confuse an enemy; where they can enter other minds to confuse and terrify; where they can communicate over great distances by the power of thought. Viewed from a rational position, some of the phenomena she describes as having been conjured up by the dreamers can be explained as natural occurrences. But much of the rest is not born out by common experience. And yet, we believe in it. The books are full of events and twists of fate that would be incredible in a modern story, but we accept them.
Looked at from outside, Scott's Britons can be seen as the Romans saw them, as primitive tribes who feud amongst themselves, have no agreed system of law, paint their bodies and believe in a pantheon of strange gods – expect that she makes it clear that the 'rational' Romans' belief in many gods is every bit as strong. Viewed from inside, this is a society where oaths are sacred, the old are honoured and the ties of family and friendship are sacrosanct. It is also a society capable of creating beautiful objects, a fact born out by the archaeological evidence.
It might be expected that one draw back of writing the story of the Boudica is the fact that we know how it ends. We know from the outset that her attempts to drive the Romans out of Briton are doomed to failure and the story must end with her death. Yet Scott keeps us turning the pages with bated breath to the very end. The final battle at the end of the last book is masterfully done. She has created such vivid characters and made us care about them so deeply that their ultimate fate is a matter for hopes and tears.
I have only one quibble. I do not believe that Corvus and Valerius, life-long lovers, however imbued with the military code of their upbringing, would have fought each other to the death. I should have preferred to see the situation resolved in some other way. But that is a small point in the face of a truly remarkable feat of creative imagination.
That being said, the books do require of us a 'willing suspension of disbelief'. This is a world where 'dreamers' can manipulate nature, calling up mists to confuse an enemy; where they can enter other minds to confuse and terrify; where they can communicate over great distances by the power of thought. Viewed from a rational position, some of the phenomena she describes as having been conjured up by the dreamers can be explained as natural occurrences. But much of the rest is not born out by common experience. And yet, we believe in it. The books are full of events and twists of fate that would be incredible in a modern story, but we accept them.
Looked at from outside, Scott's Britons can be seen as the Romans saw them, as primitive tribes who feud amongst themselves, have no agreed system of law, paint their bodies and believe in a pantheon of strange gods – expect that she makes it clear that the 'rational' Romans' belief in many gods is every bit as strong. Viewed from inside, this is a society where oaths are sacred, the old are honoured and the ties of family and friendship are sacrosanct. It is also a society capable of creating beautiful objects, a fact born out by the archaeological evidence.
It might be expected that one draw back of writing the story of the Boudica is the fact that we know how it ends. We know from the outset that her attempts to drive the Romans out of Briton are doomed to failure and the story must end with her death. Yet Scott keeps us turning the pages with bated breath to the very end. The final battle at the end of the last book is masterfully done. She has created such vivid characters and made us care about them so deeply that their ultimate fate is a matter for hopes and tears.
I have only one quibble. I do not believe that Corvus and Valerius, life-long lovers, however imbued with the military code of their upbringing, would have fought each other to the death. I should have preferred to see the situation resolved in some other way. But that is a small point in the face of a truly remarkable feat of creative imagination.
Want to read
July 23, 2023Diving into this final instalment in the Boudica quartet by Manda Scott. So far, this series has been an absolute masterpiece. I cannot wait to follow our characters again, but I also feel tendrils of dread every time I pick Dreaming the Serpent Spear up. For some reason I doubt our beloved characters are going to fare well....
January 9, 2022
Read this book in 2013, and its the 4th and final volume of the magnificent "Boudica" quartet of books.
The year is AD 60 and the time has come for a final reckoning between the forces of Boudica against those of the Romans, for there is no going back after the flogging received by Boudica, and the rape Boudica's daughters had to endure, while Boudica's son has burned down a Roman watchtower.
The time has come to act, especially when the Roman Governor is intent on destroying Mona, and seeking refuge there is Boudica's daughter Grainne, and so Boudica is in doubt whether to go into battle or not with her daughter there in danger.
Boudica is finally convinced in the fact that to free her people she must now if she wants to be victorious against this serpent spear with its deadly poison.
Camuludonum (Colchester) is soon burning, and Londinium is lost, but when the Roman army returns one last desperate effort is needed by Boudica and her forces to overcome the Romans, and in an all out struggle dreaming the serpent spear will end in defeat for the heroic, legendary and mystical Boudica against the forces of the Romans, but her name Boudica will always be remembered for eternity.
Highly recommended, for this is another magnificent addition to this tremendous series, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Compelling Dreaming The Serpent Spear"!
The year is AD 60 and the time has come for a final reckoning between the forces of Boudica against those of the Romans, for there is no going back after the flogging received by Boudica, and the rape Boudica's daughters had to endure, while Boudica's son has burned down a Roman watchtower.
The time has come to act, especially when the Roman Governor is intent on destroying Mona, and seeking refuge there is Boudica's daughter Grainne, and so Boudica is in doubt whether to go into battle or not with her daughter there in danger.
Boudica is finally convinced in the fact that to free her people she must now if she wants to be victorious against this serpent spear with its deadly poison.
Camuludonum (Colchester) is soon burning, and Londinium is lost, but when the Roman army returns one last desperate effort is needed by Boudica and her forces to overcome the Romans, and in an all out struggle dreaming the serpent spear will end in defeat for the heroic, legendary and mystical Boudica against the forces of the Romans, but her name Boudica will always be remembered for eternity.
Highly recommended, for this is another magnificent addition to this tremendous series, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Compelling Dreaming The Serpent Spear"!
July 27, 2013
I have a love hate relationship with the works of Manda Scott. Her subject matter and overall plot design is often engaging but the quality of her writing can be dreadfully variable. Some days she gets it together enough to move me, but on others she buries herself under laughable purple prose and melodrama. I much prefer her camp action thriller series about the Emperor's spy, which is essentially a lighthearted James Bond in sandals. She's so much more enjoyable when the bar is lowered.
The more ambitious Boudica series plays to her weaknesses as a writer, wavering backwards and forwards across genre boundaries. It bills itself as Historical Fiction, but more times than not it's Fantasy and Romantic Fiction. Important plot points hinge on magic or "True Dreaming" in this fantasy world loosely based on 1st century Britain, but which owes more to Neo-pagan revivalism and a long tradition of Romantic Celtic Myst storytelling. Scott is closer to Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Mists of Avalon) than Rosemary Sutcliff's "The Eagle of the Ninth", so I don't understand why she so desperately wants to be seen as a serious writer of well researched historical fiction. Fantasy has a HUGE market but I for one prefer not to mix my George Martins with my Hilary Mantels.
So once I convinced myself we're off in a parallel universe where all the men are hot ripped hunks and the girls have hair spun from sunlight (Hey it's a fantasy!), I could almost settle in and go with the flow. I was looking forward to a final bloody act in this revenge drama to hopefully rival Titus Andronicus (We all know how it ends- you can't spoil this tale). But then we wander off into a Georgette Heyer Bodice Ripper.
"...and his eyes were wider and could hold the world. For nearly two decades, Ursus had felt himself drown in them daily and, daily had levered himself out again, cursing."
ROTFLMAO!!!!
Scott has two settings for writing about sex: Rape, and touchy feely girly romance. I just have to burst out laughing at the moon eyed coy gay sex in her novels - all her bisexual and homosexual men are lesbians in disguise.
My first impression was that she just can't write realistic relationships or sex scenes but on deeper consideration I suspect she's doing this for very canny business reasons. As a gay man, I'd have to be in the minority of her readership. I bet straight women comprise most of her market so these tame romantic gay sex(love) scenes are really soft erotica for heterosexual women. We even get a scene where the nice straight girl gets to "turn" the cute gay boy (we all know why he had to be blind). It certainly worked for Anne Rice, and the biggest consumers of Yaoi Hentai (boy-on-boy manga porn) in Japan are teenage girls. So it makes a lot of dollars and sense and it doesn't scare the horses.
Oh dear, those horses - another Scott trademark. She does so luv em. I suspect this is the first writer I've come across who can spend more time describing a horses' markings than its rider. Maybe we should add "Pony Book" to Boudica's magical mystery tour of genres.
So what about the Revenge Tragedy? Does she deliver the expected season finale bursting with righteous rage when the Boudica burns London and commits suicide! Alas no.
Scott decides to take the story in an introspective direction, devoting two thirds of the novel to characters wresting with their inner demons. Unfortunately she's not a good enough writer to pull this off. I can cope with books that devote hundreds of pages to an inner voice if it has something to say, but Scott's insights into the human condition, generally and specifically, are pretty superficial. The affectation of faux-archaic dialogue doesn't help matters ("She-Boar" ?! ...um- it's called a sow), nor does the relentless repetition and exposition of bleedingly obvious character motivations. In addition to these handicaps, she has one setting for character emotions and it's dialed up to soap opera max. This is a huge problem when we finally come to the Boudican revolt. These climactic scenes should have been a crescendo for the series - a catharsis, but there is nowhere for them to build to. They end up feeling as dull and meaningless as the ashes left in the wake of the Boudican burning.
I confess I'm maybe being a bit harsh on Scott. I'm a pretty hardcore atheist, and any book that mentions the word "god" more times than the old testament is bound to get my blood boiling. I swear, she must have been hot home from a Wiccan Ladies Drumming Weekend when she wrote this. For a while there I was counting 2 "god"s per paragraph - she must have worn out the G,O,D keys on her laptop when she pounded out her holy sermon!
In her defense, she's part of a long tradition that has appropriated Celtic Culture and substituted its own fanciful spiritual inventions for the sake of contemporary propaganda. The Tudors certainly had a good olde time with The Matter of Britain, and those sexually repressed Victorians must have let off a lot of steam running about in the moonlight playing at being druids. After the First World War, when all things Anglo Saxon were a bit on the nose, we had yet another flowering of esoteric Celtic mumbo-jumbo, and today, with the various secessionist movements busily snipping ties with England I'd expect knotwork to be decorating letter openers for some time yet.
Manda Scott's Revisionist History has more to do with the collapse of Established Christianity and a re-invention of personal spirituality. She's peddling the idea that first Century Iron Age Britain was an intensely spiritual culture based on a type of Paleolithic shamanism with La Tène bling. Since the culture in question was an oral one, no one can ever say for sure, so she's free to speculate. In light of the diversity of archaeological evidence and the fragments of Irish Sagas saved ironically by Christian monks, I suspect the reality was a good deal more complicated and Scott's doing the real Celts a disservice depicting them as be-feathered dream catching new-agers.
Obviously a huge number of fans are lapping it up, but I suspect she's preaching to the converted here - her books essentially end with a link to her website where the faithful can sign up to one of her Dreaming Workshops. All that's missing is a request for your Credit Card number. Feel free to subscribe to her neo-pagan fantasy, but I think I'll stick with the faeries when I desire the company of imaginary friends.
The more ambitious Boudica series plays to her weaknesses as a writer, wavering backwards and forwards across genre boundaries. It bills itself as Historical Fiction, but more times than not it's Fantasy and Romantic Fiction. Important plot points hinge on magic or "True Dreaming" in this fantasy world loosely based on 1st century Britain, but which owes more to Neo-pagan revivalism and a long tradition of Romantic Celtic Myst storytelling. Scott is closer to Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Mists of Avalon) than Rosemary Sutcliff's "The Eagle of the Ninth", so I don't understand why she so desperately wants to be seen as a serious writer of well researched historical fiction. Fantasy has a HUGE market but I for one prefer not to mix my George Martins with my Hilary Mantels.
So once I convinced myself we're off in a parallel universe where all the men are hot ripped hunks and the girls have hair spun from sunlight (Hey it's a fantasy!), I could almost settle in and go with the flow. I was looking forward to a final bloody act in this revenge drama to hopefully rival Titus Andronicus (We all know how it ends- you can't spoil this tale). But then we wander off into a Georgette Heyer Bodice Ripper.
"...and his eyes were wider and could hold the world. For nearly two decades, Ursus had felt himself drown in them daily and, daily had levered himself out again, cursing."
ROTFLMAO!!!!
Scott has two settings for writing about sex: Rape, and touchy feely girly romance. I just have to burst out laughing at the moon eyed coy gay sex in her novels - all her bisexual and homosexual men are lesbians in disguise.
My first impression was that she just can't write realistic relationships or sex scenes but on deeper consideration I suspect she's doing this for very canny business reasons. As a gay man, I'd have to be in the minority of her readership. I bet straight women comprise most of her market so these tame romantic gay sex(love) scenes are really soft erotica for heterosexual women. We even get a scene where the nice straight girl gets to "turn" the cute gay boy (we all know why he had to be blind). It certainly worked for Anne Rice, and the biggest consumers of Yaoi Hentai (boy-on-boy manga porn) in Japan are teenage girls. So it makes a lot of dollars and sense and it doesn't scare the horses.
Oh dear, those horses - another Scott trademark. She does so luv em. I suspect this is the first writer I've come across who can spend more time describing a horses' markings than its rider. Maybe we should add "Pony Book" to Boudica's magical mystery tour of genres.
So what about the Revenge Tragedy? Does she deliver the expected season finale bursting with righteous rage when the Boudica burns London and commits suicide! Alas no.
Scott decides to take the story in an introspective direction, devoting two thirds of the novel to characters wresting with their inner demons. Unfortunately she's not a good enough writer to pull this off. I can cope with books that devote hundreds of pages to an inner voice if it has something to say, but Scott's insights into the human condition, generally and specifically, are pretty superficial. The affectation of faux-archaic dialogue doesn't help matters ("She-Boar" ?! ...um- it's called a sow), nor does the relentless repetition and exposition of bleedingly obvious character motivations. In addition to these handicaps, she has one setting for character emotions and it's dialed up to soap opera max. This is a huge problem when we finally come to the Boudican revolt. These climactic scenes should have been a crescendo for the series - a catharsis, but there is nowhere for them to build to. They end up feeling as dull and meaningless as the ashes left in the wake of the Boudican burning.
I confess I'm maybe being a bit harsh on Scott. I'm a pretty hardcore atheist, and any book that mentions the word "god" more times than the old testament is bound to get my blood boiling. I swear, she must have been hot home from a Wiccan Ladies Drumming Weekend when she wrote this. For a while there I was counting 2 "god"s per paragraph - she must have worn out the G,O,D keys on her laptop when she pounded out her holy sermon!
In her defense, she's part of a long tradition that has appropriated Celtic Culture and substituted its own fanciful spiritual inventions for the sake of contemporary propaganda. The Tudors certainly had a good olde time with The Matter of Britain, and those sexually repressed Victorians must have let off a lot of steam running about in the moonlight playing at being druids. After the First World War, when all things Anglo Saxon were a bit on the nose, we had yet another flowering of esoteric Celtic mumbo-jumbo, and today, with the various secessionist movements busily snipping ties with England I'd expect knotwork to be decorating letter openers for some time yet.
Manda Scott's Revisionist History has more to do with the collapse of Established Christianity and a re-invention of personal spirituality. She's peddling the idea that first Century Iron Age Britain was an intensely spiritual culture based on a type of Paleolithic shamanism with La Tène bling. Since the culture in question was an oral one, no one can ever say for sure, so she's free to speculate. In light of the diversity of archaeological evidence and the fragments of Irish Sagas saved ironically by Christian monks, I suspect the reality was a good deal more complicated and Scott's doing the real Celts a disservice depicting them as be-feathered dream catching new-agers.
Obviously a huge number of fans are lapping it up, but I suspect she's preaching to the converted here - her books essentially end with a link to her website where the faithful can sign up to one of her Dreaming Workshops. All that's missing is a request for your Credit Card number. Feel free to subscribe to her neo-pagan fantasy, but I think I'll stick with the faeries when I desire the company of imaginary friends.
January 2, 2017
I have absolutely loved this series. Sometimes my pernicketyness about getting the history exactly right is just blown away - this is one of those times. Besides, I like Dark Ages historical fiction because so little is known - so, that part of me is less easily triggered; it's very annoying when an otherwise great book keeps bringing me out of my dazey haze to be irritated. Miss Pedant. Anyway, I was cross throughout that the author kept calling Londinium 'Lugdunum', which was Lyons.
In this case - like in The Mists of Avalon - I really enjoyed the fantasy element - and I am so not into the fantasy genre generally, there is so much in this world to marvel at and think about that why would I want to travel to somewhere else?
Also, in line with the above, my heroes must be flawed - that is, human. And Breaca is both human and a woman. Manda Scott posits in her Author's note that history would have been very different if the Boudica had won; perhaps and perhaps not. If her survival had derailed the arrival of Edward I, maybe that different perspective would have survived (and we would have a better idea of what it actually was). The subjugation of Wales, howsomever, put a stop to that - it seems to me that the Laws of Hywel Da bore somewhat of a resemblance to that earlier time, from which it probably came in oral tradition. But....we shall never know.
So, the Boudica was both a human being and something extraordinary. Manda Scott tells us of her extra-ordinariness in her own way; it was something extraordinary, whatever it was, as a woman brought about the east side of England, thoroughly under-the-thumb to Rome at the precise moment that Rome was trying to put an end to the West's revolt. It may be that women were warriors two, back then, and Queens in their own right, before Rome brought it's misogyny to Britain. Certainly, this series of novels deals in Archetypes - as I should think all novels do! - freedom (Britain) versus order (Roman), perhaps, as Jung posited. But a lot of wild cards were thrown into the mix! And I do think that modern assumptions of so-called Science and Reason that throw out the baby and the bathwater of Religion and Spirituality are false. Of course, Man made God in his own image but for all that, is there not something more to life than reason? Before the Romans left us, Christianity was on its way - and Augustinian theology, not Pelagian (Heresy); what could be more crazy than that - the concept of original sin? Yet we know have Rationalists and Christians (of all persuasions) plus all of the other faiths in the world. And Mystics of every religion. Perhaps the Dreamers/Druids were not as we think they were, in the light of rationalist thought?
In this case - like in The Mists of Avalon - I really enjoyed the fantasy element - and I am so not into the fantasy genre generally, there is so much in this world to marvel at and think about that why would I want to travel to somewhere else?
Also, in line with the above, my heroes must be flawed - that is, human. And Breaca is both human and a woman. Manda Scott posits in her Author's note that history would have been very different if the Boudica had won; perhaps and perhaps not. If her survival had derailed the arrival of Edward I, maybe that different perspective would have survived (and we would have a better idea of what it actually was). The subjugation of Wales, howsomever, put a stop to that - it seems to me that the Laws of Hywel Da bore somewhat of a resemblance to that earlier time, from which it probably came in oral tradition. But....we shall never know.
So, the Boudica was both a human being and something extraordinary. Manda Scott tells us of her extra-ordinariness in her own way; it was something extraordinary, whatever it was, as a woman brought about the east side of England, thoroughly under-the-thumb to Rome at the precise moment that Rome was trying to put an end to the West's revolt. It may be that women were warriors two, back then, and Queens in their own right, before Rome brought it's misogyny to Britain. Certainly, this series of novels deals in Archetypes - as I should think all novels do! - freedom (Britain) versus order (Roman), perhaps, as Jung posited. But a lot of wild cards were thrown into the mix! And I do think that modern assumptions of so-called Science and Reason that throw out the baby and the bathwater of Religion and Spirituality are false. Of course, Man made God in his own image but for all that, is there not something more to life than reason? Before the Romans left us, Christianity was on its way - and Augustinian theology, not Pelagian (Heresy); what could be more crazy than that - the concept of original sin? Yet we know have Rationalists and Christians (of all persuasions) plus all of the other faiths in the world. And Mystics of every religion. Perhaps the Dreamers/Druids were not as we think they were, in the light of rationalist thought?
July 19, 2017
Dreaming the Serpent Spear is the fourth and final book in the Boudica series by Manda Scott. This has been a captivating series about the warrior queen Boudica as she spearheaded the Celtic struggle to defeat the Roman occupation of Britannia. This final book coalesces the threads from previous books and brings them to a culminating, climactic battle in which Boudica is killed and the Celtic warriors are forced to retreat in defeat. Although history tells us the Boudica does not live to see the expulsion of Rome from Britannia, nevertheless, Scott’s masterful and tension-filled description of the final battle keeps us hoping until the last page for an alternative outcome.
The characters are vividly portrayed and show growth. Bán/Valerius is reconciled with his dual identity and is no longer conflicted about where his allegiances lie; Cunomar shows his maturity by putting the needs of the people above his own need to prove himself worthy. Although still a young child, Graine shows a maturity and understanding well beyond her years but one that perhaps borders on implausibility considering the physical and emotional trauma she experienced at the hands of the Roman conquerors. And, finally, there is Boudica, a mother, a sister, a warrior, a hero, and a leader. Through her portrayal of Boudica, Manda Scott shows that a leader transcends her physical limitations because she represents something larger than herself. By the end of the series, Boudica the warrior is no longer capable of being the warrior she once was, but Boudica as a symbol and representative of her people’s aspirations remains untarnished.
The final book of the series veers more toward historical fantasy than historical fiction in that gods and spirits of the ancestors intrude in the affairs of humans with greater frequency than in previous books. And animals continue to be endowed with an uncanny connection with humans, anticipating their thoughts, actions, and emotions.
Scott draws the reader into a world in which men and women willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good; in which to die in battle is considered the highest honor; in which the spirits of ancestors are seen to receive the dead; and in which dreamers are honored and relied upon to manipulate nature, send their thoughts across great distances, and give direction and guidance to the people.
The battle for control of Britannia is depicted as a clash of cultures. The invading Roman army is technologically advanced, disciplined, organized, eager to pillage natural resources, and brutal in its treatment of the indigenous population. The indigenous population consists of feuding tribes, which eventually unite to fight a common enemy. They communicate with nature and with the world of the spirit just as easily as they communicate with each other. Viewed by their Roman conquerors as primitive, they paint their bodies, run around naked, and engage in an elaborate system of mystical beliefs that baffle and scare the invading army. But they behave according to a strict code of honor, placing loyalty to family, friends, and tribal affiliations above all else.
The novel is not without its shortcomings. Descriptions of the battles can be confusing and some passages are obscure and unnecessarily drawn out. But the biggest drawback lies in the conclusion. The intense tumult of the final battle, replete with clashing armor, screams of vengeance and death, blowing trumpets and horns, thrashing horses, and dismembered limbs was a thrilling page-turner. By contrast, the final scene with the dying Braeca feels inconclusive and disappointing, as if the novel fizzled out with a whimper.
In spite of these few shortcomings, however, Dreaming the Serpent Spear is a crowning achievement in an entertaining and exciting series.
Highly recommended.
The characters are vividly portrayed and show growth. Bán/Valerius is reconciled with his dual identity and is no longer conflicted about where his allegiances lie; Cunomar shows his maturity by putting the needs of the people above his own need to prove himself worthy. Although still a young child, Graine shows a maturity and understanding well beyond her years but one that perhaps borders on implausibility considering the physical and emotional trauma she experienced at the hands of the Roman conquerors. And, finally, there is Boudica, a mother, a sister, a warrior, a hero, and a leader. Through her portrayal of Boudica, Manda Scott shows that a leader transcends her physical limitations because she represents something larger than herself. By the end of the series, Boudica the warrior is no longer capable of being the warrior she once was, but Boudica as a symbol and representative of her people’s aspirations remains untarnished.
The final book of the series veers more toward historical fantasy than historical fiction in that gods and spirits of the ancestors intrude in the affairs of humans with greater frequency than in previous books. And animals continue to be endowed with an uncanny connection with humans, anticipating their thoughts, actions, and emotions.
Scott draws the reader into a world in which men and women willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good; in which to die in battle is considered the highest honor; in which the spirits of ancestors are seen to receive the dead; and in which dreamers are honored and relied upon to manipulate nature, send their thoughts across great distances, and give direction and guidance to the people.
The battle for control of Britannia is depicted as a clash of cultures. The invading Roman army is technologically advanced, disciplined, organized, eager to pillage natural resources, and brutal in its treatment of the indigenous population. The indigenous population consists of feuding tribes, which eventually unite to fight a common enemy. They communicate with nature and with the world of the spirit just as easily as they communicate with each other. Viewed by their Roman conquerors as primitive, they paint their bodies, run around naked, and engage in an elaborate system of mystical beliefs that baffle and scare the invading army. But they behave according to a strict code of honor, placing loyalty to family, friends, and tribal affiliations above all else.
The novel is not without its shortcomings. Descriptions of the battles can be confusing and some passages are obscure and unnecessarily drawn out. But the biggest drawback lies in the conclusion. The intense tumult of the final battle, replete with clashing armor, screams of vengeance and death, blowing trumpets and horns, thrashing horses, and dismembered limbs was a thrilling page-turner. By contrast, the final scene with the dying Braeca feels inconclusive and disappointing, as if the novel fizzled out with a whimper.
In spite of these few shortcomings, however, Dreaming the Serpent Spear is a crowning achievement in an entertaining and exciting series.
Highly recommended.
June 9, 2023
This was the perfect ending to a fantastic series! Had everything, incredible action, heartbreak, courage and so so much more!
August 20, 2013
Brilliant and Mind Blowing!
Wow what a journey Boudica goes through in raising a war host to fight against Rome. Even with many of the sacrifices to the gods and the dedication from the tribe warriors to include some of the Roman Soldiers who turned to Boudica's side the war was a brutal ending with great loss on each side.
The story that the author weaves is brilliant. This is not a fast pace read, it is filled with lots of details and must be savored to get the full effect of the feelings towards war and why the lands were stripped away. However just know that the smooth writing captures your heart and mind and sweeps you into an amazing story of sacrifice and victory.
The development of the characters and their emotions bleed from the pages right down into my own soul. I felt their pain and their victory of each kill. The action was intense and mind blowing in the brutal battles between the tribes and the Roman soldiers. It simply amazed me how these roman soldiers fought because they were told too, not because they wanted too - they had no choice but to fight or be killed by their own governor. At least the tribe warriors had a choice.
The tribe rituals and how they worship their god's totally tripped me out but believable for that time frame. I loved the tribal characters and loved Boudica's family. I didn't want this story to end even though Boudica left her spirit for fight to carry on in her children and their future children. I loved the emotional drama between Corvus (Roman Perfect) and Ban (Valerus) - it was bitter sweet in the end.
I think this is a more accurate account of how the men and women loved each other. I'm glad the author showed the females having female lovers and the male's having male lovers or even how the tribes had open relationships instead of being bound to marriage. It makes sense if you think about how long the men were left alone and away from their females - I am sure they would seek out some kind of comfort - what better way to do it than with your own battle buddy.
I know this story is only fiction in most part concerning a lot of the characters but the reality that the Boudica and the war host she raised was in fact the truth and gives our current day actions examples of what happens when greed and hatred bleeds into everyday life. I see our history repeating itself and that is sad. I know the author's comment is that we can change our ways and thinking and try not to repeat the past but from the study of history it is unstoppable. Even now as we sit here and read, we have the Muslim Brotherhood trying to take over ever part of the word and are causing wars unnecessary.
Thank you Manda Scott for writing Boudica's Dreaming and I hope for everyone's own sake that in our current lives that we have a better dreaming of a future that is not full of war.
Wow what a journey Boudica goes through in raising a war host to fight against Rome. Even with many of the sacrifices to the gods and the dedication from the tribe warriors to include some of the Roman Soldiers who turned to Boudica's side the war was a brutal ending with great loss on each side.
The story that the author weaves is brilliant. This is not a fast pace read, it is filled with lots of details and must be savored to get the full effect of the feelings towards war and why the lands were stripped away. However just know that the smooth writing captures your heart and mind and sweeps you into an amazing story of sacrifice and victory.
The development of the characters and their emotions bleed from the pages right down into my own soul. I felt their pain and their victory of each kill. The action was intense and mind blowing in the brutal battles between the tribes and the Roman soldiers. It simply amazed me how these roman soldiers fought because they were told too, not because they wanted too - they had no choice but to fight or be killed by their own governor. At least the tribe warriors had a choice.
The tribe rituals and how they worship their god's totally tripped me out but believable for that time frame. I loved the tribal characters and loved Boudica's family. I didn't want this story to end even though Boudica left her spirit for fight to carry on in her children and their future children. I loved the emotional drama between Corvus (Roman Perfect) and Ban (Valerus) - it was bitter sweet in the end.
I think this is a more accurate account of how the men and women loved each other. I'm glad the author showed the females having female lovers and the male's having male lovers or even how the tribes had open relationships instead of being bound to marriage. It makes sense if you think about how long the men were left alone and away from their females - I am sure they would seek out some kind of comfort - what better way to do it than with your own battle buddy.
I know this story is only fiction in most part concerning a lot of the characters but the reality that the Boudica and the war host she raised was in fact the truth and gives our current day actions examples of what happens when greed and hatred bleeds into everyday life. I see our history repeating itself and that is sad. I know the author's comment is that we can change our ways and thinking and try not to repeat the past but from the study of history it is unstoppable. Even now as we sit here and read, we have the Muslim Brotherhood trying to take over ever part of the word and are causing wars unnecessary.
Thank you Manda Scott for writing Boudica's Dreaming and I hope for everyone's own sake that in our current lives that we have a better dreaming of a future that is not full of war.
October 22, 2023
Cried my eyes out at the end, even though I already knew how it was going to end before I even started the series (as will anyone who knows about Boudica). Nevertheless, this was an incredible finish to an incredible series, and these books are going down as some of my all-time favorites. Everything was written with purpose; all the threads from throughout the first three books were woven together beautifully in the final installment. The writing - in its style, plot, and character development - was phenomenal. The real shame of it all is that so few know who Boudica was, and so this series has largely gone undiscovered.
August 13, 2012
This last book of four almost left me in tears at the end. Especially the reconciliation of Valerius and Corvus before the battle - major lump in throat!. A big thumbs down for history, however can't change what happened I guess. Great read for anyone who likes historical novels. All four books for me personally were a joy to read. Well done Ms Scott!
August 23, 2012
Finished this series again last night. I am always reading them, even while reading other things. I cry the whole way through all four because they are so profoundly moving, engaging... and of the spirit. Can't live without them. Thank you, m. So much. You don't even know.
June 4, 2023
Wow. What an amazing historical fantasy series! This final instalment definitely didn't disappoint. It was just as heart-wrenching, immersive, and bittersweet as the rest of the series and tied the story up brilliantly. It wasn't perfect, but I couldn't give it any less than five stars.
The characters really are my favourite part of this series, they're put through so much pain and suffering, but Scott dives into the effects of their trauma and how it affects their decisions, as well as the bonds between the characters.
Scott's character work shines throughout the whole series, especially in this book. Valerius is my favourite character by far; the journey he goes on throughout the series is just incredibly well written, and seeing him learn to understand and accept himself in this book was so great to read. Breaca's journey towards healing and accepting leadership was also so well done. Breaca struggles to make the best decisions for her people and their future, influenced by information she has gained from the magical aspect of the story, and seeing her wrestling with that was really interesting.
Some other standout characters were Graine, Cygfa, and Belos. I loved the moments between Valerius and Breaca, as well as between Breaca and her children; some of them were super sweet and heartwarming, and others were heartbreaking, but in the best way. Some favourites were the scenes between Velarius and Cygfa, Graine and Hawk, Valerius and Corvus, and so many others. I wish we had seen Caradoc again, but I understand why we didn't.
Scott writes relationships with animals so well and definitely made me emotional at times. I've really liked the importance of them throughout the entire series.
As usual, I love the historical setting; it's fascinating seeing the different belief systems at play, as well as the different methods of fighting, especially when we see how Velarius' history with the romans helps give the tribes the upper hand. The tensions grow throughout the book, there is an ominous feeling as you know a big battle is coming, and you're worrying for the characters that you've come to love. However, I do think the final battle felt a bit short, but maybe it was limited by history. I also would have liked to see a bit more of the aftermath.
The fantastical element of the story has been another one of my favourite things about the series. I've loved learning about the dreaming and seeing it in action, especially in battle. I really enjoyed Scott's authors note about the history of the time period and how that influenced some of the magic and events. I found the religions fascinating.
Overall, this was a fantastic finale to an incredible series. It was a really tought read at times (I'm looking at you book three) but soo worth the read.
The characters really are my favourite part of this series, they're put through so much pain and suffering, but Scott dives into the effects of their trauma and how it affects their decisions, as well as the bonds between the characters.
Scott's character work shines throughout the whole series, especially in this book. Valerius is my favourite character by far; the journey he goes on throughout the series is just incredibly well written, and seeing him learn to understand and accept himself in this book was so great to read. Breaca's journey towards healing and accepting leadership was also so well done. Breaca struggles to make the best decisions for her people and their future, influenced by information she has gained from the magical aspect of the story, and seeing her wrestling with that was really interesting.
Some other standout characters were Graine, Cygfa, and Belos. I loved the moments between Valerius and Breaca, as well as between Breaca and her children; some of them were super sweet and heartwarming, and others were heartbreaking, but in the best way. Some favourites were the scenes between Velarius and Cygfa, Graine and Hawk, Valerius and Corvus, and so many others. I wish we had seen Caradoc again, but I understand why we didn't.
Scott writes relationships with animals so well and definitely made me emotional at times. I've really liked the importance of them throughout the entire series.
As usual, I love the historical setting; it's fascinating seeing the different belief systems at play, as well as the different methods of fighting, especially when we see how Velarius' history with the romans helps give the tribes the upper hand. The tensions grow throughout the book, there is an ominous feeling as you know a big battle is coming, and you're worrying for the characters that you've come to love. However, I do think the final battle felt a bit short, but maybe it was limited by history. I also would have liked to see a bit more of the aftermath.
The fantastical element of the story has been another one of my favourite things about the series. I've loved learning about the dreaming and seeing it in action, especially in battle. I really enjoyed Scott's authors note about the history of the time period and how that influenced some of the magic and events. I found the religions fascinating.
Overall, this was a fantastic finale to an incredible series. It was a really tought read at times (I'm looking at you book three) but soo worth the read.
August 21, 2019
10/10
So richly detailed, with complex characters facing immense challenges. Very satisfying conclusion to the tale of the Boudica.
So richly detailed, with complex characters facing immense challenges. Very satisfying conclusion to the tale of the Boudica.
August 13, 2024
Took so long reading this as obviously know the ending and think I subconsciously didn’t want to experience it !!
But what a way to make a horrific ending beautiful and hopeful and I love these books and I’m so sad to be finished 😭😭
Manda Scott is a dream babe
But what a way to make a horrific ending beautiful and hopeful and I love these books and I’m so sad to be finished 😭😭
Manda Scott is a dream babe
August 26, 2012
I to halfway through the book and and said 'stuff it' hid it away in cupboard so that daylight may never look upon this book again.
I read the other books and i couldn't help but feel bored. Bored out of my skull, sure, we you can kill romans who doesn't want to?
But it would have been nice to add say, a little romance? some side plots?
We all knew the main plot for the series, thats all well and good. But add something else to it, just about all the characters were flat as pancakes. The only character that kept me reading was Julius Valerius, he added something. taken from his family, beaten, shagged and all the tragic hallmarks. Joins the legions, and somehow gets torn between revenge and oath. really good stuff. But alas he couldn't keep me reading the rest of the book.
To sum it up, bland, boring and lacked EVERYTHING.
Barely deserves 1 star.
I read the other books and i couldn't help but feel bored. Bored out of my skull, sure, we you can kill romans who doesn't want to?
But it would have been nice to add say, a little romance? some side plots?
We all knew the main plot for the series, thats all well and good. But add something else to it, just about all the characters were flat as pancakes. The only character that kept me reading was Julius Valerius, he added something. taken from his family, beaten, shagged and all the tragic hallmarks. Joins the legions, and somehow gets torn between revenge and oath. really good stuff. But alas he couldn't keep me reading the rest of the book.
To sum it up, bland, boring and lacked EVERYTHING.
Barely deserves 1 star.
January 18, 2024
A very interesting book. Not sure how much to take for fact or fiction; but take it all as fiction it is more than well worth reading.
May 5, 2013
The 'dreamer' aspect left me completely cold. But I've enjoyed following Bán/Valerius through the whole tetralogy. He seemed to me to have the most character development. Boudica's revolt and final battle were both VERY exciting. I could visualize the whole scene. Boudica's end as told in this novel sounded much more plausible than Tacitus's saying she poisoned herself. The author has a gift for descriptive prose. I realize she played with history, but it irritated me she located both Lugdunum and Canovium in Britannia. Lugdunum was the Roman name for Lyons in France, and Canovium that of Caerhun in Gwynedd [N. Wales].
August 11, 2017
I got half way through this fourth and last in the series and read into a quagmire. It was a struggle for me to finish this. As often happens in series, an author will drag out a book to make it into a book. Given the pace of the first three books, I'm thinking this tale could have been made to end in book three. Manda Scott is an excellent writer and did her research, but sometimes enough is enough.
June 12, 2023
A phenomenal conclusion to a remarkable series!
I could talk for ages about the immersive detail, the beautiful prose, the complex characters.... but I've mentioned all of these in my reviews for the previous three books and I'm not sure I have anything new to add: more of the same, but in a really, really good way!
I guess I knew that this series couldn't have a happy ending if it was going to be anything close to historically accurate. I was, however, impressed by the way Manda Scott managed to still make the ending feel somewhat hopeful. I'll avoid spoilers, but I didn't leave feeling as bleak as I was expecting.
I appreciated the fact that Breaca's character doesn't immediately bounce back from the trauma that she experiences in book 3 - she has to heal mentally and physically. I feel like I've read too many books where the hero is brutalised in one scene and is immediately back to normal in the next - I like that Manda Scott actually considers the effect that some of these experiences might have on her.
I also enjoyed seeing the way Valerius and Corvus' relationship turned out. I'll avoid spoilers, but I'll just say that I like it when authors actually consider the real life consequences of 'ill-advised' relationships... 'love conquers all' sounds nice, but when two people are on opposing sides of a war...? Are having to work against each other while they still love each other? I'm a sucker for a bit of tragedy...
Any negatives?
For me, this was actually the weakest book in the series. It was still a very, very, very good book, and in no way a disappointment! There were just a couple of little things that, for me, meant I enjoyed the others in the series more.
One issue with it that I had was (again, trying to avoid spoilers) that one character suffers a very horrible thing in book 3. This character is then dragged on a very perilous journey, half way across the map, to the front line of the fighting. The reasoning given in the book (healing?) for this journey seems rather weak to me. As soon as the fighting concludes, the character is dragged back across the map to the front line of some more fighting. While reading a lot of this I just kept thinking to myself 'in what universe is this a sane decision?' This seems the worst possible way to keep this person safe or bring about healing...
I suspect the truth is that Manda Scott wrote her story with a fairly small cast and needed a way to get one of the established viewpoint characters 'on the scene' to act as witness to the events happening there. This was obviously what she came up with. It didn't spoil the book for me, or anything like that, but it did break the immersion for me at a few points. This may well just be a 'me' thing, however, and not something that would bother anyone else!
Overall, this was a very good book and a fitting end to a phenomenal series! Thank you again to the Brothers Gwynne for recommending and hosting the readalong!
I could talk for ages about the immersive detail, the beautiful prose, the complex characters.... but I've mentioned all of these in my reviews for the previous three books and I'm not sure I have anything new to add: more of the same, but in a really, really good way!
I guess I knew that this series couldn't have a happy ending if it was going to be anything close to historically accurate. I was, however, impressed by the way Manda Scott managed to still make the ending feel somewhat hopeful. I'll avoid spoilers, but I didn't leave feeling as bleak as I was expecting.
I appreciated the fact that Breaca's character doesn't immediately bounce back from the trauma that she experiences in book 3 - she has to heal mentally and physically. I feel like I've read too many books where the hero is brutalised in one scene and is immediately back to normal in the next - I like that Manda Scott actually considers the effect that some of these experiences might have on her.
I also enjoyed seeing the way Valerius and Corvus' relationship turned out. I'll avoid spoilers, but I'll just say that I like it when authors actually consider the real life consequences of 'ill-advised' relationships... 'love conquers all' sounds nice, but when two people are on opposing sides of a war...? Are having to work against each other while they still love each other? I'm a sucker for a bit of tragedy...
Any negatives?
For me, this was actually the weakest book in the series. It was still a very, very, very good book, and in no way a disappointment! There were just a couple of little things that, for me, meant I enjoyed the others in the series more.
One issue with it that I had was (again, trying to avoid spoilers) that one character suffers a very horrible thing in book 3. This character is then dragged on a very perilous journey, half way across the map, to the front line of the fighting. The reasoning given in the book (healing?) for this journey seems rather weak to me. As soon as the fighting concludes, the character is dragged back across the map to the front line of some more fighting. While reading a lot of this I just kept thinking to myself 'in what universe is this a sane decision?' This seems the worst possible way to keep this person safe or bring about healing...
I suspect the truth is that Manda Scott wrote her story with a fairly small cast and needed a way to get one of the established viewpoint characters 'on the scene' to act as witness to the events happening there. This was obviously what she came up with. It didn't spoil the book for me, or anything like that, but it did break the immersion for me at a few points. This may well just be a 'me' thing, however, and not something that would bother anyone else!
Overall, this was a very good book and a fitting end to a phenomenal series! Thank you again to the Brothers Gwynne for recommending and hosting the readalong!
August 28, 2025
This final installment was a fitting end to the epic saga of Boudica and her rebellion against Roman occupation. Scott treated the lingering trauma of Breaca and Graine with care while demonstrating their growth as individuals and in their relationship as mother and daughter. The sense of dread throughout this read forced me to a slower pace. I didn't want to see beloved characters die in battle or languish in imprisonment. I think Scott deftly navigated the brutality and desperation of the final battle and brought the characters' stories to worthy resolution. This series is absolutely worth a re-read.
May 20, 2023
Unlike the other three of this series, i approached this final part with some knowledge of the accepted history underpinning this saga and wondered how that would change how the story unfolded and ended.
I can easily imagine that the events really happened as described here and am left after having read all four books with the strong impression that the culture and thought-worlds of the pre-Roman Iron Age in the land the Romans called Britannia has gone now, and that that, even after all these years is is something to maybe not regret but certainly to think about.
I can easily imagine that the events really happened as described here and am left after having read all four books with the strong impression that the culture and thought-worlds of the pre-Roman Iron Age in the land the Romans called Britannia has gone now, and that that, even after all these years is is something to maybe not regret but certainly to think about.
July 24, 2019
Knowing this the last in the series I held off reading it as long as possible and therefore was grateful for the insertions of back story. And what a story - really breathtaking action, beautiful, original descriptions and told in a way which enabled me to totally immerse myself in the same manner I did as a child. For which I am grateful.
January 22, 2024
The series as a whole is the best telling of the Boudica legend I have ever come across. Scott uses both archeological evidence and the myth that Boudica has become to weave a story that is true to both.
December 11, 2023
A masterpiece !
One of my fav series of all time.
One of my fav series of all time.
January 17, 2024
Really good. Mandy Scott's re-imagining of Boudica was really enjoyable.
October 29, 2025
A good ending to a difficult story to tell.
November 19, 2025
I really didn’t know how this was going to end, how devastating. An amazing series that was so beautifully written.
August 28, 2025
Great finale to the series well worth the read.
July 6, 2025
What a great series of books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews