Victoria: Born to Be a Warrior

Gladiatrix #1

by Frances Mary Hendry

Striking an accomplished balance between comprehensive research and page-turning historical adventure, Frances Hendry's Victoria: Born to Be a Warrior, the first novel in her Gladiatrix series, packs a thrilling girl-power punch with a difference.

Ancient Britain was home to the oldest, meanest, girl-with-an-attitude of all time--the Iceni warrior Queen Boudicca and it is into this world that the author has woven her story so well and with such dramatic effect.

Victoria is a 16-year-old girl with big identity problems. Born to a mother from one of Britain's indigenous tribes, but living under the roof of her Roman stepfather and among the trappings of Roman civilisation and occupation, Victoria does not find life easy. Instinctively tough, and handy with a sword, her life nosedives for the first time when she is promised in marriage to an ugly and cruel Roman merchant of her step dad's choosing--mainly for profit and not love, of course. Rescued from this fate by her Iceni uncle, she moves far away to begin another kind of life in the flat wilds of Eastern Britain.

Sadly, Victoria soon discovers that she has swapped one kind of confusion for another and her new existence is no less arduous. Caught up in Boudicca's revolt against Roman oppression, she must fight alongside her new compatriots as they fight for independence from effective slavery. Unfortunately, her loyalty is tested to the limits when she is torn between saving her family in London or fighting alongside her new friends.

Hendry's contemporary style gives this historical action story a great degree of readability and authorial panache. Her central character is strong and resolute, facing real hardships and authentic questions of faith in her own ability and will to survive. Sometimes brutal and bloody, the narrative is nevertheless enthralling and exciting to read. Suitable for readers aged 12 and over. --John McLay

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2004

About the author

Frances Mary Hendry is a British writer of children's historical fiction. Born and educated in Glasgow, Scotland she now resides in Nairn, where many of her books are set.

Reviews

[Evan Þ. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this kids' historical novel lacks any greatness. We open in Roman Britain, just before Boadicea's Revolt - but the characters don't feel realistic to the period, the historical events we see don't feel logically driven, and too much happens offstage - the revolt goes from victorious to defeated without any news even until it's all done.

Our protagonist isn't badly portrayed; she's at least a normal member of the class of spunky female protagonists who dislike domestic arts and like swordfighting. I think rather it's her crudely-painted surroundings that betray her and make her plot ill-done. Her resolution at the end to become a gladiator is perhaps the culmination of this... or perhaps not; perhaps becoming a celebrity warrior (even if technically a slave) isn't the worst thing for someone like her?

I don't recommend this book, and I'm not interested in continuing to the next two volumes in the series.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent read, but def. aimed at the young crowd. However, I think some parents may want to read it first as it is quite violent at moments with the tribes chopping off and carrying around souvenir heads on their belts and ponies.

Victoria is the daughter of an Iceni woman and a Roman man (or so she thinks) and has grown up Roman. The Romans are in the process of taking over the world of course and the native people of ancient Britain are getting pretty upset. When Romans defile their beloved Boudica, there is a revolt. Victoria's loyalty is torn in two tho because tho she has grown up Roman, her mother's family, the Iceni tribe, has taken her in to their midst to prevent her unwanted marriage to an old Roman fart. What will she do? Stay with the Icenis and attack her Roman friends and Roman sisters or flee and warn the Romans that the Iceni are coming?

Personally, I think she makes the wrong decision, but readers need to decide for themselves. It is a good book, but rather quick and could use some editing. I sometimes had to read the same line a few times to get the gist of it. The prose is somewhat backwards at times and often words seem inserted where they don't belong. I think the rest of the series may be better as Victoria becomes a gladiatrix. This was pretty much just about her conflicting loyalties and her training to fight.

[Evalangui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victoria seems the classic girl wants to fight and rejects traditionally feminine roles. Except for iceni, women warriors are far from a novelty and Victoria´s own mother belonged once to that tribe, whose language they speak and whose gods they still worship in the Roman household of her abusive father. Victoria, alias Boudicca, is an able fighter but still has much too learn, she is also not great at people, managing to antagonize both Romans and iceni of her own age and not impress many of her elders either.

I started the book fearing Victoria would be a Mary Sue protagonist but she is far from perfect and therefore far from boring.
Mostly the narrative is driven by battles, escapes and accidents, although most of these stem from character flaws. Character flaws are something there´s an overabundance of in this novel, which impressed me as original and realistic; in most books, the good and the bad are rewarded by the universe (author) with what they deserve. Not so here, suffering is random and although courage is admired, it does not ensure safety or peace. Not all slave owners are evil or all slaves hapless victims.

The historical details are so interwoven with the plot and characterization that I was left wanting to know more, even though I have, indeed, learned quite a bit.

[Reader Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book very interesting as I feel a lot of research went into it and made an effort to be historically accurate. I did find the dialogue a little hard and it left out actions and physical reactions that went in between the talking and I missed them. Found the character likeable but not always . . .

Overall though would recommend it!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading it looooong ago - and I was so happy reading it (I was a child still, and always freaked out (in a positive way) when a heroine had my name). It's obviously aimed at younger audience, but I loved it then.

I only regret that our publisher never got to publish the sequels.