Play Audiobook Sample
Dreaming the Eagle: A Novel of Boudica, The Warrior Queen Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 1,474 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Dreaming the Eagle is the first part of the gloriously imagined epic trilogy of the life of Boudica. Boudica means Bringer of Victory (from the early Celtic word “boudeg”). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph. It is 33 AD and eleven-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girl and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who has attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior. Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves most: Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and Bàn, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe’s history. Bàn becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica’s salvation. Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realised, luminous scenes as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic -- where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed -- to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman invasion: a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it, a world of warriors who fight for honour as much as victory, a world of passion, courage and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds. Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages.
Download and start listening now!
"I really loved this book. My mom's friend lent it to her and I ended up picking it up after she was done with it. I thought I was getting into a historical fiction and was surprised to find so many of my favorite fantasy elements in place as well. Boudica, real person, Romans conquering every civilization that can sink they're swords into, real events, but then there are the visions, and energy of the gods and tons of subtle mystical events. Also, the writing style is wonderfully detailed. The only thing that occasionally throws me off is how the book jumps forward in time. I was really into the story and then it abruptly jumped several years into the future and I had to get into it all over again. Other than that though, really unique and original book."
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
Dreaming the Eagle Listener Reviews
-
" Except for the complicated Gaelic names of people and places that take up a great deal of the pages of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. An exciting story of the tribes of what is now England, in the time of Caligula, when Rome was bent on conquering the world. "
— Barbara, 2/15/2014 -
" It was okay. Little boring. I made myself read it. "
— Lora, 2/11/2014 -
" A stranger in a coffee shop was reading this book and we struck up a conversation about it. The next time I saw her she let me borrow it ... It started a little slow for me but once it got moving I was hooked. The entire series is awesome. "
— Joanna, 1/21/2014 -
" An enthralling read for anyone who likes historical novels. "
— Mark, 12/27/2013 -
" i just love boudica!! read all the books in 2 weeks!!! "
— Brenda, 12/22/2013 -
" The detail within this historical fiction is excellent, though it can go a little far at times. The book could probably be just as good and much shorter but all in all, a very interesting period in history and a fascinating woman. "
— Abigail, 12/17/2013 -
" A fantastic account of the famous warrior's early life and how she came to be who she is. Remarkably believable and compelling read. The characters are fantastic and complex and the author's description of what is now a virtually unknown culture is well-crafted and credible. Lots of action too! "
— MÃami, 12/12/2013 -
" I learned a lot about horses from this book. I'm not sure if that was the authors intent. "
— Liz, 11/6/2013 -
" Historical fiction fan, here. Lots of political and cultural details but they don't get in the way of good plot and character development. Excellent beginning to the series. "
— Cheryl, 10/10/2013 -
" I am a complete Boudicca fan, I love historical and I admire Manda Scott as an author - put them all together and I'm in heaven. Well written and researched - enjoyed every page "
— Lizzie, 9/15/2013 -
" I really wanted to like this book. I adore Boudica as a historical figure and I love reading historical fiction. I just couldn't get into this one. It was just weird. And a bit incestuous. I read about 1/4 of it, which is saying a lot because the text is really small, before I decided to give up. "
— Teghan, 6/12/2013 -
" Having first read Book 2 in the Boudicca series, I tracked down Book 1 in the local library. Well researched and well told - it nearly sounds real but the author admits it is nearly all fiction as facts from the time are so few and far between. "
— Stuart, 11/29/2012 -
" Not as good as I had hoped... definitely gets better at the end. I'll probably still read the next one in the series. "
— Laura, 10/19/2012 -
" n enthralling series which need to be read in the correct order to really appreciate them. I found them educational as well as very enjoyable although maybe not for the squeemish. "
— Jennifer, 9/16/2012 -
" A good example of historical fiction, with emphasis on the fiction (although not in a bad way). Definitely made me want to read others in the series. "
— Marsha, 6/16/2012 -
" I liked the main story, diversity, characters... but too much politics! "
— Josie, 4/14/2012 -
" Fantastic, loved every minute of this book. "
— Emma, 10/11/2011 -
" Re reading this marvelous book and second time around it is even better. Brilliant prose that carries you away to the land of the Eceni. "
— Jackie, 9/17/2011 -
" A book I remember finding very hard to put down. I became totally absorbed into the life of Boudica and her family. "
— Penny, 9/12/2011 -
" A bit strange but enjoyable "
— Lisa, 3/9/2011 -
" Good book, a little confusing though. You have to read it constantly or you will lose the plot. "
— Alice, 2/22/2011 -
" good series...I like stories about powerful women "
— Shauna, 2/21/2011 -
" The detail within this historical fiction is excellent, though it can go a little far at times. The book could probably be just as good and much shorter but all in all, a very interesting period in history and a fascinating woman. "
— Abigail, 2/2/2011 -
" Love, Love ,LOVE this series. I cried right along with the characters.I think the story Manda Scott tells here will be carried with me in my spirit journeys as well as my day to day life. Excellent read! "
— Samantha, 12/12/2010 -
" A book I remember finding very hard to put down. I became totally absorbed into the life of Boudica and her family. "
— Penny, 10/22/2010 -
" I really wanted to like this book. I adore Boudica as a historical figure and I love reading historical fiction. I just couldn't get into this one. It was just weird. And a bit incestuous. I read about 1/4 of it, which is saying a lot because the text is really small, before I decided to give up. "
— Teghan, 10/2/2010 -
" This was pretty well written and well researched. The pace did slow routinely because of the depth of detail though. "
— Ty, 7/7/2010 -
" Having first read Book 2 in the Boudicca series, I tracked down Book 1 in the local library. Well researched and well told - it nearly sounds real but the author admits it is nearly all fiction as facts from the time are so few and far between. "
— Stuart, 6/5/2010
About Manda Scott
Manda Scott, born and educated in Scotland, is the author of mysteries, thrillers, crime fiction, and historical fiction. Hen’s Teeth was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, and A Treachery of Spies won the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Fiction and named a Financial Times Best Crime Fiction of the Year.
About Josephine Bailey
Josephine Bailey’s impeccable narrations include the British classics Jane Eyre and The Secret Garden. She has also used her subtly nuanced style to enliven historical fiction and light romances. She has won nine AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award.