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The Bloody Branch

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Three powerful heroines – a queen, a sorceress and woman made of flowers – plot revenge against the villain who wronged them. A gorgeously dark debut novel inspired by Celtic Britain’s first fantasy fiction.

Man is cruel, but the flowers will take their revenge.

Three great heroines – slave queen Goewin, the reclusive sorceress Arianrhod, and Blodeuwedd, a woman conjured from flowers – unite to avenge themselves on the most dangerous man in ancient legend.

Gwydion is a powerful sorcerer, whose ambition and cruelty wreak havoc across the kingdom. When at last the earth itself is put at stake, Goewin, Arianrhod and Blodeuwedd each unleash their uncanny powers to challenge him.

In this vital and visceral retelling of one of the oldest stories in British literature and precursor of modern fantasy fiction, Brigid Lowe casts ancient light on desire, sex and our relationship with nature to bring Celtic myth to explosive, sensuous, blossoming new life.

© Brigid Lowe 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Dark Fantasy Fantasy Historical Revenge Magic Sorcery Magic Users Royalty Fiction

Critic reviews

Brigid’s book is a masterpiece of poetic reimagining, woven into an intricate, otherworldly, complex and dramatic novel that held me spellbound. (Barbara Erskine, Sunday Times Bestselling Author)
A rich, visceral fever dream unafraid to take you to the darkest corners of myth and magic... always powerful, the story is conveyed in language that branches, metamorphoses, and invites you to follow it into the mists of medieval myth. (Lucy Holland, author of SISTERSONG)
I adored everything about The Bloody Branch. I revelled in the absolutely exquisite prose - pure poetry - and its intensely atmospheric world shimmering with folklore and magic. I reread lines multiple times, shocked at their beauty. Shifting between violence and tenderness, protest and surrender, this haunting, sensual debut had me holding my breath, firmly under its spell. (Emma van Straaten)
A magnificent folkloric retelling rich with passion and relevance for our modern world. Every single page captured me, heart and soul, as I bore witness to female solidarity & strength, mankind's destruction and violence and the endurance and power of nature... Lowe interweaves folklore, history and magic through lush prose and compelling storytelling. Her powers of description are breathtaking.... Stunning! (Anya Bergman, author of THE WITCHES OF VARDO)
An astonishing feat of reimagined myth - lush, wild and evocative. Dripping in beauty and brutality, The Bloody Branch is spellbinding from the first page.
All stars
Most relevant
A superb rendition of a fantastic, shocking and achingly beautiful story. All three actors offer masterly performances, ravelling the glowing, poetic storytelling of the author with vigour and sensitivity. Brilliant.

Vivid storytelling with heart-stopping, lush prose

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