Song of the Huntress

Song of the Huntress

Lucy Holland

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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.


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  • micaaod
    Feb 20, 2025
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  • diarythebookwyrm
    Mar 10, 2025
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  • Rose14
    Feb 12, 2025
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    ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

    "Song of the Huntress" is a historical fiction set in 700s Britain. It is a retelling of the Wild Hunt and different Celtic mythologies. The book is set in the same world as Sistersong and does have some Easter eggs in it. It effectively combines a historical setting with fantasy elements. It is told from multi-pov with Herla, an Eceni war chief of Boddica, who becomes the leader of the wild hunt after making a bargain with the King of Annwn, Æthelburg of Wessex, a warrior queen, and her husband King Ine. The book has a mix of LGBT representation, including ace, lesbian, and bi. The characters are complex, and they each have their own motivations. It does a good job of developing the characters and having them grow their sense of identity. It is a slow-paced and dense book; it can be prose-heavy at times.

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