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Boudicca's Daughter

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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents Boudicca's Daughter by Elodie Harper, read by Nathalie Emmanuel with an introduction read by Elodie Harper.

'Boudicca’s Daughter is Elodie Harper’s masterpiece.' Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia
'A beautiful, breathtaking novel... pre-order it immediately!' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne
'One of the best books I have ever read.' Bea Fitzgerald, Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

Boudicca. Infamous warrior, queen of the British Iceni tribe and mastermind of one of history’s greatest revolts. Her defeat spelled ruin for her people, yet still her name is enough to strike fear into Roman hearts.

But what of the woman who grew up in her shadow?

The woman who has her mother’s looks and cunning but a spirit all of her own?

The woman whose desperate bid for survival will take her from Britain’s sacred marshlands to the glittering façades of Nero’s Roman Empire…

Born to a legend. Forced to fight. Determined to succeed.

Meet Solina.

Boudicca’s Daughter.

©2025 Elodie Harper (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Ancient Historical Fiction Heartfelt Royalty
All stars
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Love this author, her immersive writing creates a world you can see and even smell. Brilliant strong characters and fantastic plots. After the Wolf Den trilogy, this didn’t disappoint.

Fantastic read

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I listened to the novel on Audible and thought “it’s pretty good, like 4 stars”. Then, because I was doing the washing up when the actual novel ended I let it play on & heard the author’s notes. Now I admire it. It has principle: Harper choosing to illuminate the seldom-heard though common life story of a noblewoman captured and enslaved by the Roman Empire. It’s rather scholarly: paying due attention to proper histories and archaeology. I’m a bit particular with my 5 star ratings. I reserve them for books which I enjoy, but which I also think are important in some way, and just. This book meets all those criteria - meets them but doesn’t absolutely smash them, which is how come it’s only getting 4 stars.
I expected a revisionist, feminist warrior who really stuck it to the men in a wish-fulfilling kind of way. That is not at all what I got. At the start of the novel Boudicca’s daughter, Solina, is certainly a warrior; half way through, and at the end, she’s still pretty handy with a sword or a spear. But has been very thoroughly subjugated. Fear not, ladies, Solina does manage some pretty impressive poisoning of the Empire from within - using her long, slow, feminine wiles. Its a long slow love story too, though. Here’s a quote from late in the book which, I think, kind of sums up Solina’s story: talking of her man she says: “He faces a choice without honour. Whatever he chooses it will be dishonourable. He is not used to thinking of himself that way. I do not add that I am used to it; that much of my life has been about making appalling choices”.
Obviously there is truly grisly violence but Harper does an excellent job of keeping it off-screen. We go very close, it really hurts. The emotional scars never heal, in fact the whole book might be described as PTSD. Well done Elodie Harper, very cleverly written.
As a man, I got tired, really, of all the feelings and emotions. I wanted physical objects and activities. Early in the book there is a scene in which Solina takes her sister into the house of a woman who offers to treat the sister’s head-wound. The house is in a town which is in the process of being sacked, and the householders are technically the enemy. While the nice woman is treating Solina’s sister the three women go through various sets of strong feelings about each other, and say things that cause hurt or whatever. There’s meant to be an elderly sick relative in the house, but we never meet him. If a man were writing this scene it would be full of physical objects and actions. Solina would case the joint, checking it for hostiles. She would overturn things, break locks, check lines of sight, get onto the roof, etc etc. The objects in this book are mostly charms or keepsakes, freighted with emotions, causing people to gush or yearn. Not quite my style.
Nonetheless, a great book.

Almost 5 Stars

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After devouring The Wolf Den trilogy last year, I was keen to read this - and it didn't disappoint. As The Wolf Den painted a picture of ancient Pompeii in a way I'd never before been able to envisage, so she does her for Boudica's Isynai warrior family. Solina is a vivid, strong likeable character. I greatly enjoyed going on this journey to Rome with her, and learning more about that point in history though Harper's creative lens.

Brings ancient history vividly to life; A wonderful read

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The mispronunciation of some words was an irritation. In particular ‘procurator’. The change of perspective was interesting.

A convincing evocation of a clash of very different cultures.

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Although Harper is very honest about the artistic licence she has taken, the book does balance both imagined and real events to tell a wonderful tale of vividly captured characters.

Captivating tale

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