The Blackthorn Queen

Eagles and Crows, Book 1

By: Melanie Karsak

Narrated by: Lesley Parkin

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

From ancient henges to windswept mountains, dive into a world where pagan gods rule, powerful priestesses weave magic, and fierce Celtic tribes battle for dominance.

Britain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions.

But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge.

A tangled web of political games soon unfolds. When enigmatic Prince Cormag of the Votadini shows the princess unwanted attention, the Brigantes’ alliance with the Carvetti is shaken. Cartimandua’s dream of marrying gallant Prince Venutiux of the Carvetti is put at risk. Soon, Carti finds herself at the center of a whirlwind of divided loyalties.

Yet amidst the misty forests and the blackthorn trees, the Cailleach, the ancient dark goddess of the Brigantes people, whispers that all is not as it seems. With the fate of her tribe at stake, Carti must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of politics, duty, magic, and love.

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak, The Blackthorn Queen transports listeners to northern Celtic Britain on the precipice of the second Roman invasion, introducing us to Cartimandua, princess of the powerful Brigantes tribe.

©2023 Clockpunk Press (P)2024 Clockpunk Press

excellent story

well written story line, loved the mix of magic and love. fantastic narrator as well! can't wait to see where Carti goes next!

Amazing Book!! Amazing Narration!!

I absolutely loved this book and was a 5 star read for me!
If you are familiar with the Celtic Rebels series, you have already briefly met Carti.
Cartimandua - Carti is strong, independent, and has a brilliant mind. Princess of the Brigantes, her father was murder and she is surrounded by many she can not trust. This story was fantastic and brilliant with complex characters, mystery, intrigue, celtic mysticism, and so much more! The audio narration was an absolute delight! Lesley Parkin is a perfect fit for the story and does an outstanding job making each character come alive!!

Excellent Read!

I really enjoyed Carti’s story. I love historical fiction and all the little details added to this book. I thought the narrator was perfect as well.

An Intriqing New Series

I received an audio ARC for review; all opinions are my own.
This beginning to Eagles and Crowns is slower than many of the author's other books. But there is a reason for this. The book is more political plotting, making alliances, and less clashing of swords. I enjoyed hearing how the main character p[lotted and planned to ensure her family was not deprived of their rights. After her father's death, Carti must secure safety for herself and her mom. The concludes nicely but that doesn't mean things are wrapped up in a nice bow. And I look forward to the next part of the story.
The narration was wonderful, and the accent and tone were perfect for the character and the time. The narration really adds to the story.

A Fantastic Read!

This was a fantastic read! The combination of the wonderful storytelling and the narrator’s voice, made for a captivating read. It was so easy to get lost in another world. I can’t wait for the next book! Highly recommend!

Excellent storyline and narration!

I’m a fan of Melanie’s books and love this historical fiction book in her series. I’m now going to highly anticipate the continuation of this story! The narration was perfect as always! I can’t find anything I disliked about this book.

The BlackThorn Queen....

I have fallen in love! From the very beginning to all the surprises. All I can say is, Carti is a force to be reckoned with. She is a thinker. She gets what she wants AND what she needs. The way of a queen. The narration was wonderful. I enjoy Leslie Parkin. She brings a character to life. Looking forward to the next in line..The Crow Queen!

Memorable and a great age in time

Melanie has a really good cadence down with her writing. I was very excited to be able to access this audiobook and delighted finding out that it is narrated by Leslie Parkin. They have both done a wonderful job giving life to Princess Carti and the struggles that she faces within the Brigantes tribe. It’s a coming of age tale and Melanie did a thorough job at making Carti into a 3-dimensional character. She has sorrows, she has self doubts, she has triumphs that are hard won. Like Melanie’s other works, I found myself transported away from my office job and put into the world of her series. I eagerly await the next book! I received a complementary copy of this work.

Amazingly detailed and written well

So I am not typically a fan of historical books unless there is fantasy involved and this book did not disappoint. I seriously devoured this in one sitting. I did listen to this on audible while following along with KU and the narrator Lesley Parkin did a fantastic job of differentiating between the characters and it was so easy to follow along. I am looking forward to reading the rest in this series.

Melanie Karsak is amazing and so is Narrator Lesley Parkin

I love everything about this story and the narration of it. It is a must read (and must listen) for sure!