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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
There Is A Price To Pay For Turning Your Back On A Goddess!, March 1, 2010
When Branwen was little her brother Geraint would tell her old nursery stories of Pooka's and Coblyn's and Gwyllion's. When she was little he told her stories of the Shining Ones. They were the Old Gods, the forgotten Gods, and it was forbidden to talk of them.
When Branwen was younger her brother Geraint gave her a slingshot that she taught herself to use and to hunt with. When she was younger he taught her to handle a sword if ever she had a need to defend herself. However these lessons were always with swords of wood and always held in secret.
Now Branwen had watched as her brother Geraint displayed bravery and courage when faced with the enemy. She stood and watched as he was killed, she stood and did nothing. But what could she have done against a band of armed men, she was after all still a child.
Sent far from home to an unfriendly place with strange customs, Branwen stumbles upon a grove, a place once held sacred but now believed haunted. Here a choice must be made, follow her duty and her parents' wished to a loveless marriage far from her home, or follow her destiny and the wild and pitiless Old Magic of Rhiannon, a Shining One, to an unknown future as a warrior.
Rhiannon of the Spring has returned to save a land in danger. Warrior Princess Branwen must learn to cope with grief and loss as she makes a choice between her duty to others and following her own heart. A fantasy adventure based on Welsh mythology, this is a journey of discovering belief in oneself and about standing up for what is right, even if you stand alone. Do not be put off by the cheesy description of this book; what's inside is well worth the read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable introduction to a new medieval historical fantasy series., October 2, 2009
This review is from: Warrior Princess (Hardcover)
In early medieval Wales, fifteen-year-old Princess Branwen's world is turned upside down when her older brother is killed by Saxon invaders. Because she is her parents' only surviving child, they decide to send her away to live somewhere they hope will be safer. Branwen's new home is luxurious, but in this place a woman's role is to marry, not to fight. But even bigger changes are in store for Branwen, when the ancient goddess Rhiannon tells Branwen of her destiny as a warrior and savior of her people, but leaves her to make the choice herself if she will follow the prophecy.
Branwen is now left with a difficult choice for her future. Does she do as her parents wish, and marry and live a quiet life and hope for peace? Or does she choose the more difficult path, and train as a warrior and face an uncertain future for the sake of her people? And if it is indeed her destiny to fight for her people, is her choice only an illusion?
Warrior Princess is the first book in a series about Branwen, and it was pretty obvious from reading it that it was going to be the first book in a series. It introduces the story, characters, and world, and quite well, I will add - the setting really comes alive. But once Branwen makes her decision about what her future will be, the outcome of her choice is left for future books in the series. If you like historical fantasy, I definitely recommend this book to you, but be prepared to be eagerly waiting for the rest of the books to be published.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, February 11, 2009
This review is from: Warrior Princess (Hardcover)
It takes just a moment for fifteen-year-old Branwen's life to change forever.
In the blink of an eye, the Saxons attack and her brother is killed. Almost as quickly, she is sent away from her home to a neighboring stronghold where she'll be safe from harm. Now Branwen lives as a princess should -- surrounded by exquisite things and lavish quarters.
But deep down inside remains the soul of a warrior.
Just when Branwen is sure she has been pushed to her limits, a chance encounter with a mystical woman in white forces her to question everything -- and everyone -- around her. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: continue in the path her parents intended for her . . . or step into the role of a true Warrior Princess.
I'm a fan of Jones's THE FAERIE PATH books, so when I heard he had a new series coming out, I was very excited. Jones has a very descriptive writing style yet doesn't exhaust the reader in mundane details. WARRIOR PRINCESS is no exception.
I really enjoyed Branwen's story, and while at times I had problems with the character personally, she redeemed herself many times over. One of those redeeming moments being Branwen's change from the awkwardness of childhood to a prominent and determined young woman.
I think if I had to label this novel I'd call it a historical fantasy. I appreciated the historically accurate details that were depicted throughout the novel.
I'm hoping that this is the beginning of a series, because the ending leaves many questions unanswered. Overall, an entertaining, faced-paced read that is sure to conquer fans of both fantasy and historical fiction!
Reviewed by: The Story Siren
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