Customer Reviews

Erskine Untitled

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this new book by Barbara Erskine to be both a chilling and absorbing read, I couldn't put it down. She has the reader from the first page trying to anticipate who or what voices are and if they are real or not. Jess, her heroine, is a teacher who wakes up with no memory of the scratches on her thighs and her torn clothing. Was she a victim of date rape drug? Clearly she has been raped but why can't she remember the who or why. Fearing for her sanity thinking it may be a student she flees to her sister's cottage in the hills of Northern Wales. She has the place to herself to recover her memory because her sister has jutted off to friends in Rome. But when Jess is in the cottage but a short while, she begins to hear a child's voice and learns the area was once a great battlefield for one of the last great battles where the Briton tribes stood against the Romans.

Jess is quickly drawn to the story of Eigon and she wants to know more, but when she has strange happenings with things and visitors to the cottage, she leaves to join her sister in Rome. Unfortunately, her obession grows worse when she learns Eigon too was taken to Rome with her family. Apparently there is some reason why this ancient woman's live is important to Jess. Those around her , her sister, friends and a former lover are growing more concerned by her obsession but all that changes when evil has followed her to Rome Clearly it isn't only the Ancient Welsh princess's life that is danger but Jess's own live as she races around Rome staying just one step ahead of the evil.

In true Erskine fashion she has a story line in the past ( Ancient Rome and Wales) that effects those in the present. There are some surprises for those who read her last book DAUGHTERS OF FIRE. This new offering does have only one drawback and that the role of the hero of sorts plays only a minor role until about the last 150 pages or so, I would have wished to have developed more but after all this isn;t romance .

Those who are fans of Erskine's style are going to love this story and those new readers who love history, mystery and a strange bit of paranormal all thrown together for a satisfying read are going to love this book as well. Surprisingly she expertly blends ancient Welsh Druidism, with the early stirrings of Christianity in Rome which could be turn off for some but I was surprised to find it added wonderfully to make the story come alive. I hope she develops that last bit of unfinished business with one of her spirit characters. Don't wait for the US edition of this book, get it now and find a cosy place to read but watch your back you never know where evil lurks.

Author Barbara Erskine must be listening to her fan base. Her last few novels, although set in different locales, followed the same tired formulaic plot line where a modern day heroine urged on by a spectacularly historic backdrop channels into a restless soul from the past and is pursued by dual male contemporaries with a mixture of lascivious and murderous intentions to yield a 500+ page yawn of a good versus evil supernatural saga. However, instead of the usual mindless pursuit where the reader can determine halfway through the novel its three snores and a beer can climax, "The Warrior's Princess" fascinates with a well-controlled weaving of the past and present storylines to create a compelling neatly crafted story about Eigon, the daughter of the defeated warrior king, Caratacus, of the Roman Britain's Catuvellauni tribe featured in her earlier novel "Daughters of Fire (Unabridged)". As a master storyteller, Erskine explores her rape at the hands of Roman soldiers and her subsequent life in the Rome of Emperior Claudius and Nero.

The plot of "The Warrior's Princess" does not deviate too far from the characteristic Erskine storyline. Jess, a young teacher living in 21st century London awakes the morning after a party celebrating the end-of-school to find herself bruised, her clothing torn and disheveled, her mind wiped clean of whatever violence had transpired. When she realizes that she has been horrifically raped, yet cannot remember which of the men from the night before returned with her to her apartment, she decides that her life may be in jeopardy. Frightened with her only recourse escape to her sister's home in remote Wales, Jess's heightened emotional upheaval attracts the vibes of a lonely distraught child searching the Welsh hills for her mother and sister. The reader quickly discovers that the young girl is a manifestation from the Britain of Roman times, abandoned by her mother for her own safety on the day of the great battle between her tribe and the conquering Roman legion. To her sudden discomfort, Jess relives her own attack as she finds herself witnessing the rape of Eigon and her mother by Roman soldiers. Filled with pity for the outrage endured by the young girl, Jess desires only to discover what her outcome was in a historical sense. Spurred on by her own need for escape, Jess decides to journey to Rome as once Eigon and her captured family did to explore the sensations Eigon is sending her through the funnel of time.

Like other Erskine works, the premise behind the story remains predictable. Admirers of Erskine know that inevitably she will employ her standard technique of introducing a woman who is psychically linked to a troubled soul from the past. As the major character has enemies, so does her doppelganger in the present. In fact, Erskine notably does well in fashioning a believable modern story filled with contemporary angst resulting from male/female relationship problems usually with city types that exhibit a somewhat jaded sensibility regarding the inevitability of relationship break-ups. Jess, obviously has her problems with men--in this story Erskine flips four different men in and out of her life to parallel the goings-on in the early A.D. era revolving around, Eigon, her warrior princess. As Erskine readers have come to expect, this familiar bit of male flipping reeks of a bit of a feminism that may seem dated. Most of Erskine's female characters remain strong even through adversity and physical pain. Her main men, however, tumble rather quickly, succumbing either to their overwhelming desire for the woman in question, their pressing need for dominance or an ever-weakening already sick psyche. The majority of "Warrior's Princess's" men, sadly, remain of this ilk that lends itself to an "oh-no" `been-there-done-that' feel for the reader.

Somehow, in this current offering, Erskine redeems herself in the way she intertwines the two concurrent past and present tales. Eigon's portion of the story sparkles with life from the vantage point of the country stranger to the teeming of the ultimate Eternal City. Erskine molds a formidable cast of ancient characters that do not disappoint along with a plot line that centers upon the early Christian community and their deers-in-the-headlights struggle during Nero's persecution. Also commendable and this offering's major salvation as compared to her other recent titles is Erskine's trick of adding new personalities at the tail end of this novel that help bring the entire story to a satisfying conclusion on both a supernatural and human level.

Erskine's well-known paranormal themes are tweaked to perfection in this one--kudos go especially to her creation of Marcia Maximilla, an intriguing seer from the past and Meryn, present day druid, a character first presented in "Daughters of Fire (Unabridged)," both of which I would like to revisit in a future tale that reveals more of their respective backgrounds.

Bottom line? Although Barbara Erskine's "The Warrior's Princess" again plays with themes of channeling the past and weaving a present story with emotional similarities to those haunted characters of another time, it is indeed a step above her last few offerings. Therefore, don't be dissuaded by her reliance on retelling tales that reviewers like myself have deemed past formulaic disappointments and do give her another chance to provide her reading public with a classic story of the caliber of "House of Echoes" and "Midnight Is a Lonely Place." In "The Warrior's Princess" Erskine finally gets her tale of possession, good and evil and pursuit over time right. Her interjection of a bustling ancient Rome during Nero's persecution of the early Christians adds the necessary ingredient into her usual domain of Britannia and its Celtic tribes and supercharges this one to an over average rating. Hopefully Ms Erskine's next novel will revisit the compelling creation of Marcia Maximilla and her flirtation with the present day druid Meryn from "Daughters of Fire (Unabridged)" and explore perhaps a romance between the past and present rather than another recycling of hatred passed down through the ages. Recommended.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

I usually love timeslip novels like this. A first-century Celtic princess's life parallels that of a modern-day woman, who escapes to Wales to avoid someone who attacked her in London. Later Jess, the modern-day woman, goes to Rome, partly to escape her attacker (who followed her to Wales), partly to research Eigon's story. I thought I couldn't go completely wrong with a premise like this. The premise is good, but the execution of the book falls far short of my expectations

I enjoyed the historical part of the novel, but it took me a while (about 300 pages) to get in to Jess's story in the present day. You really have to suspend your sense of disbelief at this book, peppered as it is with too many coincidences and deus ex machinas to save the day to count. It's lazy writing, in my opinion. And although Erskine conveys Jess's sense of panic at being stalked really well, through the first 200 pages or so, I found myself thinking, "OK, I get it now, can we move on to the more interesting parts of the story?" Some of the supporting characters were also a bit confusing; at times, Jess's friends seemed to believe her story, but at others, not.

In addition, the dialogue in the modern-day story is a bit stilted; native English speakers I know of use contractions while speaking, and they don't use the passive tense (as in this sentence: "you are looking at me as if I am mad"). I noticed that often, the author would use the same phrases and descriptions over and over again (a number of the characters wear open-necked shirts, and in a couple of scenes, Jess kicks off her sandals--in the middle of sidewalks in Rome in the middle of summer, in order to relax her feet.

About two thirds of the book focuses on Jess, which is a pity, because the story really belongs to Eigon, the woman in the past. I think the novel could have been better had the author focused on this historical parts of this novel. I found Eigon's story to be much more compelling. I really liked the historical details; clearly, the book is well-researched, and I enjoyed learning about Roman Britain. Another part of the book that I enjoyed was the author's exploration of religious traditions; I thought she weaved the ancient Roman gods, Christianity, and Druid beliefs into the story very well. I also loved the suspense factor of the book. Through both the ancient and modern settings of The Warrior's Princess, the theme of good versus evil is delivered heavy-handedly.

According to the author's note at the end of the book, historically, not much is known about Eigon--it's not even clear if Eigon was a man or a woman. That's one of the more interesting parts of the story, in my opinion, and I would have loved to see the author flesh that out a bit more. But as it is, the book is about 200 pages too long. The Warrior's Princess is the first Barbara Erskine novel I've read; and while my opinion of it wasn't stellar, interestingly enough, I'm willing to try more of her books in the future. Maybe this one just wasn't for me.

Wow! What can I say about this book. One of those typically brilliant books by Ms.Erskine. So thrilling you are scared to read on, but know you have to. And the research was brilliant as always. Loved it!

I labored over finishing this exhaustive book.

At times after reading the in-depth story of Eigon's struggles coupled with present-day Jess' obsession with Eigon---from London to Wales then to Rome and back----I found the book tiresome, slow-paced. Where was the wonderful independent heroine of the novel? Where was the tension, the buildup much less the excitement to read the story non-stop?

Instead, Jess cringed from fear, quit her job and ran away to Wales to hide out in her sister's house--a place set in the Welsh hills described as a most beautiful and mystical place. But, every male fell over backwards to help Jess, the poor helpless victim. Such characterizations I did not expect from this author, whose work I have read from the very beginning in the 1980s.

There were some interesting characters throughout the book such as Carmella, Merwyn and his interactions with the spirit of Marcia Maximilla, Aurelia. Even the character of little Glads, whom I found the most tragic of all, was well-written.

However, I was disappointed in the ending of the story which was predictable: the beautiful Jess and the handsome Rhodre. Frankly, I was more interested in Merwyn, plus I was fascinated by Aurelia: the free spirited and independent type of woman I like to read about.

Lastly what I found fascinating was reading the Afterward in which Ms Erskine discussed this story esp. the possible lost story of the 2,000 yr old Celtic king based upon a painting the author owns. Ms Erskine's discussion of the painting and the entire background of her research as a historian was Fascinating. I appreciate the author's training as a historian. Her books weave together beautiful tapestries of present and past life and times; however,this is not a book I would choose to recommend nor reread.

Jess, a teacher in London, is attacked. She flees to her sister's home in the Welsh borders to recuperate, and is disturbed by the cries of a mysterious child.
Two thousand years earlier, the valley below the house is the scene of a battle between Caratacus, king of the British tribes, and the invading Romans. Caratacus is captured and taken to Rome with his wife Cerys, and his daughter Eigon.

Jess is drawn into the story of Eigon and travels to Rome to both research Eigon's story and escape from her attacker who has followed her to Wales.

I enjoyed that part of the novel that was about Eigon and was less engrossed in Jess's story. In part this was because the historical setting was more interesting but it was also because Jess's life was too full of dramatic coincidences. I think that I would have been less bothered by the coincidences if they'd existed simply as a vehicle to keep the story focussed on Eigon. I wanted it to be Eigon's story rather than Jess's but that isn't how it worked, at least for me. I enjoyed the historical detail both in Britain and In Rome and it was interesting to read about the religious traditions: the ancient Roman gods and Druidic beliefs, and the introduction of Christianity.

This was a satisfying read without being an outstanding one. I always find Ms Erskine's historical settings fascinating, even though the modern connections don't always work for me.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I love all of Barbara Erskine's books. This one was so enjoyable I tried to read slowly so I would be able to enjoy it for a longer time.

When Jess is attacked by an unknown assailant, her whole life changes forever...

Looking to put her life back together after the attack, Jess moves to her sisters little secluded house in the Welsh Borders. But she does not get the rest she is hoping for.

Late at night she is disturbed by the cries of a mysterious child and soon, she is having vivid dreams that seem so real she feels as if she is there.

What Jess doesn't know is that, two thousand years before, a great battle took place in the Welsh Borders. When the king of the Catuvellauni Tribe is taken prisoner by the invading Romans, his wife and their daughter, Princess Eigon, take cover in the very same cottage that Jess is living in now.

Soon, with the dreams becoming increasingly real, Jess is drawn into the mystery of Princess Eigon and what happened to her. Inside the cottage Jess will find connections to the past that are real.

But those same connections to the past threaten to shatter Jess' present completely if she is not careful...

I have always loved Barbara Erskine. Her books are an incredible mix of history, romance and the paranormal. It's like she's filtered the best of three genres into her work and it always shines.

Having fallen in love with her work after reading The Edge of Darkness, I have devoured every book she's written. She has a way of capturing the reader and drawing them in, pulling them into her story and not letting go until the end.

The Warrior's Princess is no exception and is her best book yet. The story of Jess and Eigon is poignant, incredible and thrilling. Erskine has outdone herself with this thrilling story of dreams, history and salvation.

The characters are so incredibly alive, the danger so incredibly real, that I couldn't stop reading and didn't want to put it down. Though the book clocks in at well over six hundred pages, it was over in no time at all. I have never read another author who makes history so exciting.

What I love most about The Warrior's Princess is that Erskine makes time travel seem so real, so incredibly vivid. Erskine makes it seem as if time travel, as if slipping into a different time, is real and could happen to anyone.

She makes the impossible seem possible and brings what could be a boring historical period to life by having the pages drip with blood and emotion.

If you read one book this summer, make sure it's The Warrior's Princess. You won't be sorry.