In THE RAVEN QUEEN, Jules Watson explores the legend of
Maeve, a warrior queen in Iron Age Ireland; how she took
over the reign of Connacht after the death of her father
and held her people together to save them from the rule of
Conor of Ulster. Maeve's father used her as a political
pawn, marrying her off to one lord after another to
solidify alliances until he changed his mind. Maeve had
finally had enough and fled her latest husband, Conor of
Ulster. But it wasn't until after her father's death that
she used her wit, beauty, and ruthlessness to come to
power.
Having lived with Conor, she knew his warriors and how
they trained. She also had the advantage of a relationship
with the Fae through a friendship with a blind druid,
Ruan. Ruan forced her to confront the darkest part of her
being, and it was almost more than she could handle.
Maeve's story is filled with action, magic and mystery and
is a fascinating tale whether you predict the outcome or
not.
Watson writes with lyrical prose, especially in the more
mystical scenes with Ruan. The novel gets off to a slow
start, switching from Maeve's story to Ruan's and doesn't
find its natural pace until more than 100 pages in,
but it's worth the initial struggle. Maeve and Ruan are
compelling characters, but so too are the more secondary
players including Maeve's daughter, her champion and her
war leader. Like many rulers, Maeve has complexity to her
character, a combination of good and evil, but she grows
during the story, making all of her challenges worthwhile.
This story is companion to Watson's The Swan Maiden,
the story of Deirdre, another woman coveted by Conor of
Ulster. This story can definitely stand on its own and
fans of historical fiction, druids and Celtic mythology in
particular, should definitely read it. Watson clearly
researched her topic and the weapons, dialogue, and even
the food, all ring true, making readers feel as if they
have made the journey back to Erin during the Iron Age.
In this dazzling retelling of one of Ireland’s most
stirring legends, acclaimed author Jules Watson brings to
life the story of Maeve, the raven queen, who is as fierce
as she is captivating.
She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s
royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will
through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-
spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her
latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And
when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of
its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must
at last come into her own power to save it.
With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the
equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence
and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of
ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to
draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods,
Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected
passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit
imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and
put her at war with both her duty and her fate.
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