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A review by ioannap_author
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Song of the Huntress" by Lucy Holland is a brilliant historical mythology inspired novel about the Wild Hunt. Set in the same world as her novel, "Sistersong," this book is an incredible masterpiece on merging fantasy, history, and mythology.
It also has Sistersong Easter eggs, which made me very happy reading them.
It's a multiple POV book that follows Herla, the Lord of the Hunt, Æthel who is the Queen of Wessex, and Ine, her husband and the King. I loved all three characters, and each offered its own unique stamp on the wider story. We get to be devastated by Herla's nearly hubric curse. Her choice of searching for dark powers is also so very human and costs her so dearly. Æthel's desire to be loved is contrasting with her sense of duty and the love she already feels for her husband. Finally, Ine, my favourite character, has his own unique arc, during which he needs to accept himself and share his truth with those he loves while also facing the consequences of his earlier fearful ruling.
Despite the characters finding themselves in battle very often, the book is about peace. I really liked that it explored peace in a more nuanced way and perhaps in some not very agreeable to me ways. It explores the very political idea of where the line between peace and inaction really is. For Ine, especially the novel forces him to answer and face a very tough and painful question. Is it peace he truly wants or to avoid conflict?
The theme of peace is further explored in Herla's story. She is looking for peace, too. Not the end of all strife but the end of her personal strife and pain. It's the more spiritual peace and the escape from her curse and deep felt guilt for being a woman out of time.
Æthel is searching for war because she can not find happiness in the made-up peace of her court life. Unable to feel love and contentment as she needs, she goes to battle. In a bizarre way her constant eagerness for battle is a search of inner peace and a cowardice (although that word might be too harsh) of facing the problems in her life that cannot be solved with a sword.
Then, on a higher level, there is the contrast of peace and war between two kingdoms, the living and the dead, and two faiths, which as the story is explored prove they share a lot of similarities. This is for me, especially highlighter through Ine and Cadwy. These two characters interplay with each other, and through their growing relationship, the similarities between Wessex and Dumnonia are further highlighted. Both cultures need to face their own past, from where their enmity and their similarities originate, and I think they do that best through Ine and Cadwy and their interchanging positions.
An exceptional book, clever which exposes some very dark themes, hopeless situations but also ends on a note of quiet hope, which makes it further real.
I received an ARC through NetGalley to provide an honest review.
It also has Sistersong Easter eggs, which made me very happy reading them.
It's a multiple POV book that follows Herla, the Lord of the Hunt, Æthel who is the Queen of Wessex, and Ine, her husband and the King. I loved all three characters, and each offered its own unique stamp on the wider story. We get to be devastated by Herla's nearly hubric curse. Her choice of searching for dark powers is also so very human and costs her so dearly. Æthel's desire to be loved is contrasting with her sense of duty and the love she already feels for her husband. Finally, Ine, my favourite character, has his own unique arc, during which he needs to accept himself and share his truth with those he loves while also facing the consequences of his earlier fearful ruling.
Despite the characters finding themselves in battle very often, the book is about peace. I really liked that it explored peace in a more nuanced way and perhaps in some not very agreeable to me ways. It explores the very political idea of where the line between peace and inaction really is. For Ine, especially the novel forces him to answer and face a very tough and painful question. Is it peace he truly wants or to avoid conflict?
The theme of peace is further explored in Herla's story. She is looking for peace, too. Not the end of all strife but the end of her personal strife and pain. It's the more spiritual peace and the escape from her curse and deep felt guilt for being a woman out of time.
Æthel is searching for war because she can not find happiness in the made-up peace of her court life. Unable to feel love and contentment as she needs, she goes to battle. In a bizarre way her constant eagerness for battle is a search of inner peace and a cowardice (although that word might be too harsh) of facing the problems in her life that cannot be solved with a sword.
Then, on a higher level, there is the contrast of peace and war between two kingdoms, the living and the dead, and two faiths, which as the story is explored prove they share a lot of similarities. This is for me, especially highlighter through Ine and Cadwy. These two characters interplay with each other, and through their growing relationship, the similarities between Wessex and Dumnonia are further highlighted. Both cultures need to face their own past, from where their enmity and their similarities originate, and I think they do that best through Ine and Cadwy and their interchanging positions.
An exceptional book, clever which exposes some very dark themes, hopeless situations but also ends on a note of quiet hope, which makes it further real.
I received an ARC through NetGalley to provide an honest review.