A Year of Ravens

A Novel of Boudica's Rebellion

By: Kate Quinn, Eliza Knight, Russell Whitfield, Vicky Alvear, Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, Simon Turney

Narrated by: Andrew Kingston, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A YEAR OF RAVENS

Britannia: land of mist and magic clinging to the western edge of the Roman Empire. A red-haired queen named Boudica led her people in a desperate rebellion against the might of Rome, an epic struggle destined to consume heroes and cowards, young and old, Roman and Briton . . . and these are their stories.

A calculating queen foresees the fires of rebellion in a king's death.

A neglected slave girl seizes her own courage as Boudica calls for war.

An idealistic tribune finds manhood in a brutal baptism of blood and slaughter.

A death-haunted Druid challenges the gods themselves to ensure victory for his people.

A conflicted young warrior finds himself torn between loyalties to tribe and to Rome.

An old champion struggles for everlasting glory in the final battle against the legions.

A pair of fiery princesses fight to salvage the pieces of their mother’s dream as the ravens circle.

A novel in seven parts, overlapping stories of warriors and peacemakers, queens and slaves, Romans and Britons who cross paths during Boudica’s epic rebellion. But who will survive to see the dawn of a new Britannia, and who will fall to feed the ravens?

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Text copyright 2015 by Ben Kane, Stephanie Dray, Ruth Downie, Russell Whitfield, Vicky Alvear Shecter, S.J.A. Turney, Kate Quinn, and E. Knight.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Kate Quinn, Eliza Knight, Russell Whitfield, Christian G. Cameron, Libbie Grant, Stephanie Thornton, Vicky Alvear, Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, and Simon Turney (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

This should be a movie!!

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep up with this book as it jumps from character to character. However it is so well done and beautifully tied together that it wasn’t an issue. The story its self was amazing and the tie ins will leave you stunned! Every last detail in this book counted. I
Finished it in under a week, I simply could not get enough of it. The narrators did an absolute amazing job as well. Love love love every single part!

fantastic!

couldn't stop! love the way the stories intertwine! would love to see another collaboration of these authors

A Slow Triumph

After being captivated by "A Day Of Fire" and "Ribbons of Scarlet", two other historical fiction anthology novels featuring stories by Kate Quinn, I was immediately compelled to give "A Year Of Ravens" a listen. Both " A Day Of Fire" and "Ribbons of Scarlet" offered immersive perspectives, compelling narratives, and fascinating historical color centered around two pivotal moments of world history ( the destruction of Pompeii, and the French Revolution respectively). With "A Year Of Ravens" we get that same approach with Boudica's rebellion and the result is just as cohesive, just as compelling, and just as addictive.
While it is not as immediately engrossing as "A Day Of Fire", it is no less enthralling to listen to. We're offered the perspectives of disparate and diverse members of both sides of the conflict. To hear the story of one of history's most remarkable rebellions through the voices of not only kings and queens but slaves, soldiers, tribunes, children, and druids is not only entertaining but remarkably stimulating and elucidating. There's more "Ribbons of Scarlet" than " A Day Of Fire" here though in that the pace is somewhat slower and more deliberate. The tension and danger of the story builds with the rebellion itself so readers may need to pace themselves. In my review of "Ribbons of Scarlet" I said "It's a slow start but PLEASE stick with it" and I would offer that same advice and urge patience again. That slow pace is never trying or boring however, and it builds effectively and deliberately while also allowing the disparate authors to establish the setting and stakes as well as some very well-written character work. It’s because of that deliberate pace that we get truly edifying historical context and a very graspable look at what life was like then. Everything feels authentic here, from the characters and setting to the warfare itself.
If you enjoy historical fiction, anthology books, or just need some good old fashioned rebellion in your literary diet, you'd be well served giving "A Year Of Ravens" a listen. Each and every contributing author offers something rewarding, immersive, elucidating, and well-written. So much so that I'm now even more excited for the upcoming release of "A Song Of War" where this formula will be applied to the Trojan War. I’m also silently hoping and praying we get more of these historical anthologies from Kate Quinn and her fellow contributors. Events like The reign of Henry VIII, The Napoleonic Wars, The American Civil War, World War I, and ESPECIALLY The Russian Revolution would give talented and historical detail oriented authors a chance to do and say something really interesting as well as entertaining. Whatever it is they do next, I’ll be sure to read it.

If you enjoyed "A Year Of Ravens" as much as I did and are looking for similar titles then please check out the aforementioned "A Day Of Fire" and "Ribbons of Scarlet" both of which feature contributions from Kate Quinn. You might also enjoy "A Thousand Ships" by Natalie Haynes, "The Silence of the Girls" and "Women Of Troy" by Pat Barker, "Horses Of Fire" by A. D. Rhine, or "The Wolf Den" by Elodie Harper.