The Wolf Queen
Thusnelda has never forgotten when she was nine years old and the Romans came. They burned their fields, killed many of her tribe including her warrior mother, and kidnapped her betrothed, along with other young men, for their army. Now in 8 CE, Thusnelda is a young woman. Her father is the chief and believes an alliance with Rome is what will keep them safe, but Thusnelda would rather die than align herself with the Romans. A chance encounter has her facing her once-betrothed, Arminius, now an assistant to a Roman officer. He has a new Roman name along with his shiny new armor. Thusnelda curses him as a traitor until she learns their goals align, and his knowledge about Roman tactics could be the key to a rebellion to take back their land.
There are some editorial errors and only a few obvious modern references here and there (examples include “curb”-ing someone’s enthusiasm, eye rolling, or keeping someone “in check”). Otherwise, Thusnelda is a fierce protagonist being pulled apart by rival demands within a well-detailed cultural setting. She’s betrothed to a man her father’s age, she struggles to trust Arminius who’s now as Roman-looking as they come, and she leads a rebellion in secret while her father and two brothers are Roman collaborators. Thusnelda’s growth is the most compelling aspect of this novel. She must learn when to sacrifice for others and when to follow her heart. The plot moves at a swift pace as it charges readers towards the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. There’s a steamy enemies-to-lovers subplot while Thusnelda and Arminius are also trying to convince the scattered tribes to unite in pushing the Romans back. It’s bloody, it’s pulse pounding, and it’s a page turner. Recommended.
