When Women Were Warriors Book I: The Warrior's Path (Volume 1) [Paperback]

Catherine M Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0981563619 | ISBN-13: 978-0981563619

Winner, 2010 EPIC Ebook Award for fiction in the Mainstream category.

"Breathtakingly gorgeous writing … a multi-layered tale of such depth, breadth and insight that it was very nearly a spiritual experience…"
--from a review by T. T. Thomas on Amazon.com

"…reminds me of Le Guin, of Cecelia Holland, and something of Rosemary Sutcliff… It made me feel as I did when I was a child reading authors like those… Once again I was in a magical place…"
--from a review by Charles Ferguson on Amazon.com

"…there’s no ring of power or glowing sword of specialness; the magic, like the tone of the book, is quiet. It feels real."
--from a blog review on livejournal

When she was a child, the author of When Women Were Warriors happily identified with all the male heroes she read about in stories that began, "Once upon a time, a young man went out to seek his fortune." But she would have been delighted to discover even one story like that with a female protagonist. Since she never did find the story she was looking for all those years ago, she decided to write it.

In Book I of the trilogy, Tamras arrives in Merin’s house to begin her apprenticeship as a warrior, but her small stature causes many, including Tamras herself, to doubt that she will ever become a competent swordswoman. To make matters worse, the Lady Merin assigns her the position of companion, little more than a personal servant, to a woman who came to Merin’s house, seemingly out of nowhere, the previous winter, and this stranger wants nothing to do with Tamras.

"…Both men and women of all persuasions seem to love these books... Very rare. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!"
--from a review by T. T. Thomas on Amazon.com

"Think Beowulf--only comprehensible and with girls."
--from a review on the blog, The Rainbow Reader, by Baxter Clare Trautman, author of The River Within

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Shield Maiden Press (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981563619
• ISBN-13: 978-0981563619
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (255 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In the interest of full disclosure, I should state that my author picture was taken in 1968, more than 40 years ago, so if you should happen to run across me in real life, don't be disappointed that I no longer resemble the young woman you see here. I have grown old, and although not so cute on the outside, I am much lovelier on the inside.

I chose this photo for my Amazon author page because in it I am standing by the entrance stone at Newgrange, a megalithic passage tomb in Ireland, built over five thousand years ago. If mysterious portals exist in the world, this is one of them. Many authors will tell you that their stories come from a mysterious place, and when I began to write my trilogy, When Women Were Warriors, I suspected that perhaps I had once stepped into another world without knowing it and brought back some ancient long-forgotten tale. Wherever the story came from, it came more through me than from me. I made it from my own life and from my own experience, but I also heard a voice whispering within me that was not quite mine.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

149 of 158 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Music of Words January 1, 2009

By Cathy S. Umbehagen

Format:Kindle Edition

"All the women of my family had gone to war... Now my turn had come...So it is the custom that a free woman leave her mother's house to bind herself and those of her blood to a neighboring clan, either by the sword or by the cradle." Set in the British Isles during the Bronze Age, thus begins the tale of Tamras, just sixteen, as she leaves her home and everything she knows to continue the custom of her clan and journey to become a warrior's apprentice. The story is told from the perspective of the main character who has led a quite sheltered life prior to this point.

From the title the reader would expect simply a tale of battle and blood, but this story instead surprises and mesmerizes one in its wonderful intricate weaving of words that become a delicate fabric of story and feeling. Words flow like a gentle meandering stream and one is swept up in the actual thoughts and emotions of the main character as she experiences growth and change when she enters the world of a warrior's apprentice. The battles in the first book of this trilogy are few and are not the main focus of the story.

I am a book lover and have been an avid reader of many genres for over fifty years. I do enjoy a good story just for the sake of the story while often thinking that the writing is simply mediocre. Seldom, however, do I read a book where I feel that the actual writing drives the book. This book is a true gem not to be missed. There are so many books out there to be read, but a limited number where the telling is as good as the tale. This is a book for those who love the smooth feel of words on their minds as a story progresses rather than just the action driving the book.

Note: Because of the imposed segregation of the women in this society of warriors, this story does have a couple of scenes of female sex.

49 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read! November 26, 2011

By Janis Ian

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

On vacation with my trusty Kindle, I happened to notice this book was available for free download. Got a sample, was intrigued, ordered the book. Read through it in two days and was so taken with the characters that I actually ordered - and paid for! - the second in the series. I've just bought the third, and am completely engrossed. Yes, perhaps not as detailed as Rothfuss or Martin - she's a new author, hey! - I found I didn't miss any of the detail at all. Reminiscent of early Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey) stories. Worth reading.

50 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved reading this book January 18, 2009

By Lee Frank

Format:Kindle Edition

This title would never have attracted my attention, however I saw an offer on "kindlekorner" for a free copy of Book 1, so I took advantage of it. When it arrived I was in the middle of reading "Blind Man's Bluff". I decided to put it aside and just read the first few pages of "When Women Were Warriors". It really caught my attention so read the first couple of chapters. At that point I could not put it down, as I was consumed in the story and continued reading until the end. Then I finished the book I had been reading. I just purchased book 2 & 3 and have already started reading book 2. I am so happy I saw the free offer for Book 1, because reading it really expanded my horizon. This author really paints a clear understandable picture in these three books. Excellent read!