AD 61
Brittania is in the hands of the Romans but when the conquering army betray the dead King Prasutagus by defiling his daughters, his Queen, Boudicca, is determined to regain her land.
Iceni slave Brea remembers little of the time before the Romans, and has grown used to their louche and indulgent customs. She diligently goes about her duties looking after the artless Aurelia, wife-to-be of the handsome war hero Marcellus, but her longing for freedom and her desire to find her lost father, are never far from her mind.
Present Day
When Hanna returns to Norfolk from years working abroad, the strange dreams of her adolescence return: indistinct figures in tunics, mighty soldiers in armour, gladiators, temples, an Iceni warrior woman leading her people. Gradually Hanna’s dreams begin to slip into the present as visions in the famous mists rolling across the fens, and as shocks of recognition when a new face moves to her childhood home.
As Hanna realises that she has a connection with a tragedy that occurred many years before, so Brea has to understand that her fate is bound up with her Roman master. And as the drumbeat of rebellion gets ever closer Brea must make the fatal choice between love and loyalty while Hanna has to find a way to make peace with the past.
So far I haven't met one of Elena's books that I haven't loved and this one was no different. I love how she flips from modern day back into the past so easily and there's no clunky feel to it.
I really enjoyed the small glimpses of Brea's life that we each time and that it gradually gives us this fuller picture of her and her life and how it changes.I loved stepping back to that time period, Roman britian is a rich time for Elena to have picked and I'm really pleased she picked the Iceni tribe, it's one of those names that instantly gives you an image in your head when you hear the name.
I could barely put the book down it just kept me hooked the whole time, Elena's brilliant descriptions made me feel like I was stepping into the story and time period, I pretty much read it in a day(housework can wait right?) and I think that's been the case for all of Elena's books I've read.
Hanna's story was interesting and enjoyed seeing how her life flowed and how being connected to Brea kind of helped her find her path in life, it was really good to see her find her passion at the end of the book.
I always knew that I'd love this book and Elena Collins is always an auto-buy author for me so I'm now eagerly looking forward to her next book and where in time it will take me!
Thanks for being part of my blog tour and for writing such a kind and lovely review. Sending best wishes, Judy x
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