Song of the Huntress

De: Lucy Holland

Narrado por: Kristin Atherton, Lucy Holland

The acclaimed author of Sistersong transforms the story of Herla and the Wild Hunt into a rich, feminist fantasy in this stunning tale of two great warriors, a war-torn land, and an ancient magic that is slowly awakening.

Britain, 60AD. Hoping to save her lover, her land, and her people from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the king of the Otherworld. But years pass unheeded in his realm, and she escapes to find everyone she loved long dead. Cursed to wield his blade, she becomes Lord of the Hunt. And for centuries, she rides, leading her immortal warriors and reaping wanderers’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield—a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.

Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter. But when she leads her forces to disaster in battle, her husband’s court turns against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. His own brother seeks to usurp him. And their only hope is the magic in Ine’s bloodline that’s lain dormant since ancient days.

The moment she and Æthel meet, Herla knows it’s no coincidence. The dead kings are waking. The Otherworld seeks to rise, to bring the people of Britain under its dominion. And as Herla and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity—and a way to break the curse—before it’s too late.

©2024 Lucy Holland (P)2024 Redhook

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Holland dives into the myth of the Wild Hunt in this powerful and evocative historical fantasy... Lyrical and captivating, with an ending that will leave readers devastated, the narrative hits just the right balance of action, romance, and character development. In Holland’s skilled hands, this stands out from the crowded field of legends retold."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Other world

Loved the interactions with the other world characters and the evolution Ein Herla and Ethelburg

Worth it

If you’re a history or mythology nerd and you want a book that actually portrays queer people simply existing then this is the one for you.

The mythology laced throughout was just so so so good. The narration and prose are phenomenal. The characters are well rounded and feel realistic.

Were there things as a reader I wanted to happen that didn’t? Yes. But I think how the story ultimately unfolds makes sense.

This one is worth the credit/purchase. Definitely a top 5 read for me this year.

Not for me

I wanted to know the backstory of the characters. The name Boudicca caught my attention, but there wasn’t as much imaginative fleshing out of her. The problems of the king being asexual takes way too long to reveal. There’s not a real sense of what exactly their marriage was like before he realized that, or why/how they were able to have two miscarriages before. Maybe if it had been more historical fiction than fantasy & romance, I would have enjoyed it more.

Engaging story. Brilliant performance.

Intertwining of myths, lore, legend, and history with a twist. Loved every moment. Powerful narration. In awe of Kristin Atherton's range and emotional depth.

Amazing!

I loved this book and the narration was outstanding! If you loved Circe, listen to this. Bravo to all involved!

started out good but...

it started out well. there was mystery, tension, etc. but then it seemed to become all about sexuality (asexual, bisexuality, lesbian). It just felt... forced to me. maybe that was not the author's intention, maybe it was...but it kind of ruined the rest of the story for me, which in itself wasn't bad.
The narrator got really into her characters. I could never decide if I liked her or not.
unfortunately, its not a book I will reread.