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Warrior Druid of Britain #2
Song of the Centurion
It is AD 430. Against all odds Princess Catia has been rescued from her brutal Saxon captors and Bellicus is taking her home at last.
As the giant warrior-druid knows, however, the gods rarely make things easy and, even if he can escort the girl back to the North safely, their troubles will be far from over…
In a land beset by the rivalries of petty warlords, Dun Breatann has stood solid and secure for untold generations. Trouble brews though as King Coroticus has cracked under the pressure and, as well as starting a war with the neighbouring kings, he has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. When the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile, or complete another seemingly impossible undertaking.
So much for the returning hero…
Accompanied by his massive war-dog, Cai, and the ever-loyal former centurion, Duro - who has his own painful issues to contend with - Bellicus must somehow survive a journey east into enemy-held lands. There, he will need to use his gods-given talents to the full if they are to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king’s orders without being captured or killed by the men of Dalriada.
Folklore, superstition, the healing power of song, and even a wondrous white stag will all play a part in the companions’ continuing adventures, but, no matter the outcome of their mission, it will take a miracle to untangle the mess they’ve left behind in Alt Clota. Armies are gathering and, when spring returns, the people of Dun Breatann will be under siege once again.
Will their legendary warrior-druid be there to defend them, or will the new ways sweep away the old once and for all? Find out in Song of the Centurion, the action-packed sequel to 2018’s The Druid!
As the giant warrior-druid knows, however, the gods rarely make things easy and, even if he can escort the girl back to the North safely, their troubles will be far from over…
In a land beset by the rivalries of petty warlords, Dun Breatann has stood solid and secure for untold generations. Trouble brews though as King Coroticus has cracked under the pressure and, as well as starting a war with the neighbouring kings, he has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. When the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile, or complete another seemingly impossible undertaking.
So much for the returning hero…
Accompanied by his massive war-dog, Cai, and the ever-loyal former centurion, Duro - who has his own painful issues to contend with - Bellicus must somehow survive a journey east into enemy-held lands. There, he will need to use his gods-given talents to the full if they are to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king’s orders without being captured or killed by the men of Dalriada.
Folklore, superstition, the healing power of song, and even a wondrous white stag will all play a part in the companions’ continuing adventures, but, no matter the outcome of their mission, it will take a miracle to untangle the mess they’ve left behind in Alt Clota. Armies are gathering and, when spring returns, the people of Dun Breatann will be under siege once again.
Will their legendary warrior-druid be there to defend them, or will the new ways sweep away the old once and for all? Find out in Song of the Centurion, the action-packed sequel to 2018’s The Druid!
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2019
503 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Steven A. McKay
51 books443 followersI was born in 1977, near Glasgow in Scotland and live in Old Kilpatrick with my wife and two young children. After obtaining my Bachelor of Arts degree I decided to follow my life-long ambition and write a novel. The Forest Lord series now has four novels, and various short spin-off tales.
My new book "The Heathen Horde" is the first in a brand series following Alfred the Great. It comes out on October 26 2023 so please check it out and pre-order if you can!
I play guitar and write all my books while listening to extreme metal.
In 2022 I started a podcast with fellow historical author Matthew Harffy. You can subscribe to Rock, Paper, Swords! on all the usual podcast outlets and also find the audio on Youtube every fortnight.
My new book "The Heathen Horde" is the first in a brand series following Alfred the Great. It comes out on October 26 2023 so please check it out and pre-order if you can!
I play guitar and write all my books while listening to extreme metal.
In 2022 I started a podcast with fellow historical author Matthew Harffy. You can subscribe to Rock, Paper, Swords! on all the usual podcast outlets and also find the audio on Youtube every fortnight.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 14, 2025
This amazing book is the 2nd volume of the "Warrior Druid of Britain" chronicles from the Scottish author, Steven A. McKay.
Once again details concerning this exciting historical tale can be found at the back of the book, while at the beginning you'll find another list with place-names, which are featuring within this great story.
Story-telling has again been of a superb quality, the atmosphere of the Dark Ages in Britain is coming off the pages in an astounding fashion, while also all the characters come vividly to life within this wonderful lifelike historical adventure.
The book starts off in the Autumn and will end during the Winter of the year AD 430-431, and the Warrior Druid, Bellicus, who's in company with Centurion Duro, who will find his wife, Alatucca, murdered in Luguvalium by Horsa and his band of Saxons, and after some lethal skirmishes they will finally arrive home with Princess Catia and the war-hound, Cai, at Dun Breatann, where Duro will compose a song in remembrance to his late murdered wife, Alatucca.
Although he's finally home, the relationship between the druid, Bellicus, and his master and King, Coroticus, will retaliate even further into hostility, when King Coroticus will find a way to get Bellicus exiled, along with Duro, and so send him on a fool's errand and only to return if he succeeds in assassinating the King of the Dalriadans, Loarn mac Eirc.
Not knowing that King Loarn mac Eirc has sent a message to the Saxons for help in an attempt to overthrow and kill King Coroticus, Bellicus will enter a wasp's nest in his effort to kill this King of the Dalriadans, and succeeding or not this mission will prove very eventful.
What is to come is an eventful historical adventure where loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, survival and death will be the main ingredients, until the final fall-out between two old friends, the common thread between them being, the Princess Catia and Queen Narina, followed with the inevitable confrontation.
Very much recommended, simply because this is an absolute treasure of an adventure, and one that is a terrific follow-up to The Druid, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Magnificent Druid Sequel"!
Once again details concerning this exciting historical tale can be found at the back of the book, while at the beginning you'll find another list with place-names, which are featuring within this great story.
Story-telling has again been of a superb quality, the atmosphere of the Dark Ages in Britain is coming off the pages in an astounding fashion, while also all the characters come vividly to life within this wonderful lifelike historical adventure.
The book starts off in the Autumn and will end during the Winter of the year AD 430-431, and the Warrior Druid, Bellicus, who's in company with Centurion Duro, who will find his wife, Alatucca, murdered in Luguvalium by Horsa and his band of Saxons, and after some lethal skirmishes they will finally arrive home with Princess Catia and the war-hound, Cai, at Dun Breatann, where Duro will compose a song in remembrance to his late murdered wife, Alatucca.
Although he's finally home, the relationship between the druid, Bellicus, and his master and King, Coroticus, will retaliate even further into hostility, when King Coroticus will find a way to get Bellicus exiled, along with Duro, and so send him on a fool's errand and only to return if he succeeds in assassinating the King of the Dalriadans, Loarn mac Eirc.
Not knowing that King Loarn mac Eirc has sent a message to the Saxons for help in an attempt to overthrow and kill King Coroticus, Bellicus will enter a wasp's nest in his effort to kill this King of the Dalriadans, and succeeding or not this mission will prove very eventful.
What is to come is an eventful historical adventure where loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, survival and death will be the main ingredients, until the final fall-out between two old friends, the common thread between them being, the Princess Catia and Queen Narina, followed with the inevitable confrontation.
Very much recommended, simply because this is an absolute treasure of an adventure, and one that is a terrific follow-up to The Druid, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Magnificent Druid Sequel"!
January 31, 2021
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝘽𝙚𝙡. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚. 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠, 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩…”
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙭𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙, 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙖𝙨! 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡’𝙨 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙’𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”
🧙Northern Britain, AD430. After rescuing Princess Catia from the Saxons, the warrior Druid Ballicus and his friend, the former Roman centurion Duro returned Dun Breatann expecting a warm welcome, but find everything has changed. The stress of protecting Alt Clota from neighboring kings of Picts, Dalriadans, and Votadini, along with Catia’s abduction, had cracked King Coroticus's mind. He has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. Bel tries his best to bring him to the right path but when the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile/ complete another seemingly impossible mission. To honour the King's wish, Bel along with his faithful war dog, Cai, and ever-loyal friend, Duro journey east into the enemy's land where he'll need to use all his cunning wits and magic to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king's order without being killed by Dalriadans. Will he ever able to return in one piece?
🧙The book - 2nd in the Warrior Druid of Britain series - set in early medieval Britain when the land is ruled by different tribes and Saxon's threat looms on the horizon. In this book, Steven had raised the impossibility and stakes of Bel's mission to completely another level. He is not safe anywhere, neither in-home nor abroad and his enemies will not stop without putting him to death; only a miracle could help save him from the wrath of two Kings.
🧙Yet again Steven had amazed me with his writing. As always the multiple POVs, the fast spacing narratives, and the vivid descriptions of the settings are riveting but the best things are how beautifully he had crafted the entire story - sending Bel into this seemingly impossible mission might feel pointless initially but in the end, it all makes sense - and how wonderfully he had uses folklore and superstition to solve Bel's problems. I loved reading the storylines of the white stag and the secret tunnel.
🧙The characters are well crafted. I loved reading the camaraderie shared between Bel, Duro, and Cai; they complement each other. As the future of Alt Clota is in question, Bel had to go through so many things to keep his head intact while Duro, hiding his own personal wounds, always at Bel's side protecting him, steal the show. King Coroticus undergo serious character development, from being a loving father to a mad king and I loved how Queen Narina came out from all of these at the end.
🧙There is a huge plot twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming. This will not only provide a proper closure to the plot but also set a grand stage for the next book. Similar to book 1, this book also provides some beautiful character concept arts at the end which I absolutely loved.
Overall, Song of the Centurion was an enjoyable lite read and I've already picked up book 3 The Northern Throne. If you love a fast-paced thrilling adventure set in history then this book is highly recommended.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙭𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙, 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙖𝙨! 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡’𝙨 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙’𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”
🧙Northern Britain, AD430. After rescuing Princess Catia from the Saxons, the warrior Druid Ballicus and his friend, the former Roman centurion Duro returned Dun Breatann expecting a warm welcome, but find everything has changed. The stress of protecting Alt Clota from neighboring kings of Picts, Dalriadans, and Votadini, along with Catia’s abduction, had cracked King Coroticus's mind. He has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. Bel tries his best to bring him to the right path but when the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile/ complete another seemingly impossible mission. To honour the King's wish, Bel along with his faithful war dog, Cai, and ever-loyal friend, Duro journey east into the enemy's land where he'll need to use all his cunning wits and magic to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king's order without being killed by Dalriadans. Will he ever able to return in one piece?
🧙The book - 2nd in the Warrior Druid of Britain series - set in early medieval Britain when the land is ruled by different tribes and Saxon's threat looms on the horizon. In this book, Steven had raised the impossibility and stakes of Bel's mission to completely another level. He is not safe anywhere, neither in-home nor abroad and his enemies will not stop without putting him to death; only a miracle could help save him from the wrath of two Kings.
🧙Yet again Steven had amazed me with his writing. As always the multiple POVs, the fast spacing narratives, and the vivid descriptions of the settings are riveting but the best things are how beautifully he had crafted the entire story - sending Bel into this seemingly impossible mission might feel pointless initially but in the end, it all makes sense - and how wonderfully he had uses folklore and superstition to solve Bel's problems. I loved reading the storylines of the white stag and the secret tunnel.
🧙The characters are well crafted. I loved reading the camaraderie shared between Bel, Duro, and Cai; they complement each other. As the future of Alt Clota is in question, Bel had to go through so many things to keep his head intact while Duro, hiding his own personal wounds, always at Bel's side protecting him, steal the show. King Coroticus undergo serious character development, from being a loving father to a mad king and I loved how Queen Narina came out from all of these at the end.
🧙There is a huge plot twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming. This will not only provide a proper closure to the plot but also set a grand stage for the next book. Similar to book 1, this book also provides some beautiful character concept arts at the end which I absolutely loved.
Overall, Song of the Centurion was an enjoyable lite read and I've already picked up book 3 The Northern Throne. If you love a fast-paced thrilling adventure set in history then this book is highly recommended.
𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
December 29, 2019
*** 3.75 ***
December 23, 2019
Blurb
It is AD 430. Against all odds Princess Catia has been rescued from her brutal Saxon captors and Bellicus is taking her home at last.
As the giant warrior-druid knows, however, the gods rarely make things easy and, even if he can escort the girl back to the North safely, their troubles will be far from over…
In a land beset by the rivalries of petty warlords, Dun Breatann has stood solid and secure for untold generations. Trouble brews though as King Coroticus has cracked under the pressure and, as well as starting a war with the neighbouring kings, he has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. When the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile, or complete another seemingly impossible undertaking.
So much for the returning hero…
Accompanied by his massive war-dog, Cai, and the ever-loyal former centurion, Duro - who has his own painful issues to contend with - Bellicus must somehow survive a journey east into enemy-held lands. There, he will need to use his gods-given talents to the full if they are to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king’s orders without being captured or killed by the men of Dalriada.
Folklore, superstition, the healing power of song, and even a wondrous white stag will all play a part in the companions’ continuing adventures, but, no matter the outcome of their mission, it will take a miracle to untangle the mess they’ve left behind in Alt Clota. Armies are gathering and, when spring returns, the people of Dun Breatann will be under siege once again.
Will their legendary warrior-druid be there to defend them, or will the new ways sweep away the old once and for all? Find out in Song of the Centurion, the action-packed sequel to 2018’s The Druid!
Review
Well now, my fellow readers, prepare yourself for an exciting, page turning sequel to The Druid. The author has created a suspense filled tale that finds Bellicus, Duro, and Cai in some pretty hairy situations....situations that don't always turn out the way they expected. Plot twists, surprises, plus a damn good story, make Song of The Centurion a more than worthy successor to The Druid...now we wait for results of all those twists and surprises. Book 3 can't get here soon enough. 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is AD 430. Against all odds Princess Catia has been rescued from her brutal Saxon captors and Bellicus is taking her home at last.
As the giant warrior-druid knows, however, the gods rarely make things easy and, even if he can escort the girl back to the North safely, their troubles will be far from over…
In a land beset by the rivalries of petty warlords, Dun Breatann has stood solid and secure for untold generations. Trouble brews though as King Coroticus has cracked under the pressure and, as well as starting a war with the neighbouring kings, he has become jealous, suspicious, and often blind drunk. When the king’s paranoia finally boils over during a winter feast, Bel finds himself with two choices – accept exile, or complete another seemingly impossible undertaking.
So much for the returning hero…
Accompanied by his massive war-dog, Cai, and the ever-loyal former centurion, Duro - who has his own painful issues to contend with - Bellicus must somehow survive a journey east into enemy-held lands. There, he will need to use his gods-given talents to the full if they are to survive the winter frosts and carry out the mad king’s orders without being captured or killed by the men of Dalriada.
Folklore, superstition, the healing power of song, and even a wondrous white stag will all play a part in the companions’ continuing adventures, but, no matter the outcome of their mission, it will take a miracle to untangle the mess they’ve left behind in Alt Clota. Armies are gathering and, when spring returns, the people of Dun Breatann will be under siege once again.
Will their legendary warrior-druid be there to defend them, or will the new ways sweep away the old once and for all? Find out in Song of the Centurion, the action-packed sequel to 2018’s The Druid!
Review
Well now, my fellow readers, prepare yourself for an exciting, page turning sequel to The Druid. The author has created a suspense filled tale that finds Bellicus, Duro, and Cai in some pretty hairy situations....situations that don't always turn out the way they expected. Plot twists, surprises, plus a damn good story, make Song of The Centurion a more than worthy successor to The Druid...now we wait for results of all those twists and surprises. Book 3 can't get here soon enough. 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 21, 2019
When we last saw Bellicus he had just rescued Princess Catia from the Saxons. As he makes his way back to the King and Queen we see that the relationships between Catia, Bellicus and Duro has grown strong and they’re all looking forward to a nice warm welcome on their return…
You’d think the King would be happy to see the return of the Princess but in Bellicus’s absence the King has changed.. he’s not the man he was and his quick temper is slowly putting his people under strain.. they will only take so much.. can Bellicus help set the King back on the right path?
Well he tries.. he really does but in the end the King sends Bellicus away on a mission.. a mission that seems doomed to fail.
Bellicus will honour the King’s wishes but he knows the Saxon’s are the real threat so he needs to get this task done.. and fast.
Things never go to plan of course and Bellicus must use all his cunning to make it out in one piece.
When all is done it’s time to return home.. but how will the King receive him this time?
McKay has outdone himself with this one. Being a fan of the author my biggest fear was him moving away from a series I loved to something new.. would It live up to expectations.. well it smashed the ball out of the park to be honest.
While the first book in the series The Druid was very plot driven to get the readers sucked in to a new series, book two is character driven development which is what I wanted to see.. this is the kind of action I need.. the kind of connections with the characters I want.
The word to describe this book is “Development” in more than one way. Not only does the tale develop amazingly I feel it shows real author development as McKay cements is credentials as a top-notch author.. he’s no one trick pony. He himself says that at one point progress on this book was side-lined for a while as he was involved with other projects but you’d never think that from reading the book.. it flows perfectly, the direction is never forced and that ending was pure brilliance.. as a storyteller McKay is up there with the best of them..the whole white stag storyline was not only riveting but joyous to read.
Bellicus along with his loyal war dog Cai and Duro the centurion are the perfect team.. they complement each other superbly and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Duro for me steals the show as I felt he had a larger part to play in this tale compared to the first book in the series..(for obvious reasons if you’ve read the book).. he was often the one who put a smile on my face with his humour but I also felt for him.. there's some deep wounds that will take time to heal and this side of him really makes you take a shine to him.
Overall it’s a cracking read.. but it’s more than that.. it’s the perfect 2nd book in a series.. it shows growth from the first book but leaves you in no doubt this Is a series you need to keep following.
Everyone should have a copy of this on their bookshelf.
You’d think the King would be happy to see the return of the Princess but in Bellicus’s absence the King has changed.. he’s not the man he was and his quick temper is slowly putting his people under strain.. they will only take so much.. can Bellicus help set the King back on the right path?
Well he tries.. he really does but in the end the King sends Bellicus away on a mission.. a mission that seems doomed to fail.
Bellicus will honour the King’s wishes but he knows the Saxon’s are the real threat so he needs to get this task done.. and fast.
Things never go to plan of course and Bellicus must use all his cunning to make it out in one piece.
When all is done it’s time to return home.. but how will the King receive him this time?
McKay has outdone himself with this one. Being a fan of the author my biggest fear was him moving away from a series I loved to something new.. would It live up to expectations.. well it smashed the ball out of the park to be honest.
While the first book in the series The Druid was very plot driven to get the readers sucked in to a new series, book two is character driven development which is what I wanted to see.. this is the kind of action I need.. the kind of connections with the characters I want.
The word to describe this book is “Development” in more than one way. Not only does the tale develop amazingly I feel it shows real author development as McKay cements is credentials as a top-notch author.. he’s no one trick pony. He himself says that at one point progress on this book was side-lined for a while as he was involved with other projects but you’d never think that from reading the book.. it flows perfectly, the direction is never forced and that ending was pure brilliance.. as a storyteller McKay is up there with the best of them..the whole white stag storyline was not only riveting but joyous to read.
Bellicus along with his loyal war dog Cai and Duro the centurion are the perfect team.. they complement each other superbly and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Duro for me steals the show as I felt he had a larger part to play in this tale compared to the first book in the series..(for obvious reasons if you’ve read the book).. he was often the one who put a smile on my face with his humour but I also felt for him.. there's some deep wounds that will take time to heal and this side of him really makes you take a shine to him.
Overall it’s a cracking read.. but it’s more than that.. it’s the perfect 2nd book in a series.. it shows growth from the first book but leaves you in no doubt this Is a series you need to keep following.
Everyone should have a copy of this on their bookshelf.
June 12, 2020
First published in Grimdark Magazine on 12 June 2020.
‘Song Of The Centurion’ is the sequel to Steven A. McKay’s ‘The Druid’. McKay is a rising star on the indie historical fiction circuit and I was keen to read ‘Song’ since I loved ‘The Druid’, an unputdownable novel which absolutely rocked. Set in Britain after the withdrawal of the Roman legions, ‘The Druid’ has a killer plot and suspense that will melt your face. It contains all three of the essential ingredients which are all too often missing from historical fiction: a powerful early hook (when a young princess is abducted), mystery (surrounding the identity of her captors as well as the reason why she’s been abducted) and horror (caused by the eventual revelation of the grim purpose for which the little girl was abducted).
‘The Druid’ also contains gritty, confident writing, an original setting and protagonist (the titular druid Bellicus who is ordered to rescue and return the princess), as well as characters who feel three dimensional and whose motivations are always satisfactorily set out. Why aren’t there more historical novels like this nowadays? It also boasts an unforeseen and jaw-dropping twist at the end when the abducted princess’ true parentage is revealed and includes a dash of familiar legend with King Arthur and Merlin making an unexpected appearance. It all sounds deceptively simple, yet I can tell that a lot of craft and thought went into plotting it. This isn’t to mention that the historical background is also solid.
So although sequels to a brilliant first instalment are always fiendishly hard to pull off, I felt confident that there was a lot of great stuff still left in the tank to give the sequel a real shot at matching if not exceeding the high standard set by ‘The Druid’. After all, the characters and setting were still as intriguing as ever and the prospective reunion of the Princess Catia with her parents was a big draw for me.
‘Song Of The Centurion’ begins where The Druid left off, with Bellicus (Bel) the charismatic and resourceful druid and his unlikely sidekick the former centurion Duro escorting the rescued princess Catia back towards Alt Clota, seat of power of her tribe the Damnonii. On the way back Duro stops by his village to discover that his wife was killed by Saxons, so he decides to return to Alt Clota with Bel and Catia. This is neatly described by McKay, who does a good job of giving Duro a legitimate reason to remain in the story while also satisfactorily addressing the former centurion's grief for his dead wife.
In the meantime Alt Clota is besieged by enemy tribes. The leader of one of these tribes is a douchebag called Loarn who insults King Coroticus of the Damnonii by openly declaring that he’d sexually abuse the Damnonii King's abducted daughter Catia. Coroticus, who has been deteriorating psychologically ever since his daughter was abducted, is driven over the edge by the insult. No sooner is the siege of Alt Clota broken than he swiftly assembles a raiding party and strikes deep into enemy lands, in an attempt to kill the insulting Loarn. Yet the raid is an abject failure and Coroticus only survives it through the intervention of his exasperated guard captain Gavo.
The King’s popularity amongst his own people hardly grows after the needless loss of so many of his men, yet Coroticus proceeds to make one bad decision after another. The eventual return of his daughter is heart-warming and well worth the wait, yet does nothing to arrest the King’s erratic slide into further alcoholism and insanity. So that I think that a good alternative title for this novel could be: ‘The Mental Deterioration Of Drunken King Coroticus’.
Eventually Coroticus also clashes with his old friend the returned druid Bel, despite the latter being princess Catia’s rescuer. For the increasing suspicions about Catia’s true parentage soon become widespread rumour, so that the King reacts aggressively to the druid being in the proximity of the Damononii tribe’s queen Narina. After Bel subsequently knocks out his King, a revived but publicly humiliated Coroticus orders Bel to undertake an impossible and fatal mission: to kill Loarn. Bel is left with no choice but to seek to achieve the impossible, joined on his new venture deep behind enemy lines by his sidekick the titular centurion Duro and his surviving loyal hound.
There are many good aspects of this novel, particularly the quality of the writing which was taken up a notch and even more confident than that used in The Druid. McKay manages to keep the plotline twisting and turning so that it is hardly ever predictable, with each of the characters’ emotional and physical journeys satisfactorily explored. A high level of intrigue is also deftly maintained between Coroticus, Bel and Narina which is reminiscent of the classic Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot, Arwen-Aragorn-Eowyn or Jezal-Ardee-Glokta-love triangles, used for the most part to good effect.
However Bellicus’ mission in this instalment is not as intriguing as the one which underpins the main narrative in ‘The Druid’. For while the first instalment held me in a vice-like grip due to the uncertain fate of an innocent young princess, it is hard to care as much about a quest that is essentially just the whim of a detestable King in mental free fall. The fate of the Damnonii or of any beloved character does not really hinge on Bel slaying Loarn, so that my care factor while reading this novel could never match my delightful levels of tension while reading The Druid. The idea of Bel luring Loarn to his death by using a white stag’s head didn't reach the gritty, danger levels which were reached in the first book. In fact I think that a chunk of the second half of Centurion is best summed up when McKay writes of Bel and Duro - who are deep in enemy territory and attempting to kill a dangerous chieftain - that ‘they grinned at each other like naughty children’.
So in my view this book’s plot lies somewhere between a three and a four on five, with the increased quality of writing just tilting it past four on five stars. All in all it's a respectable stepping stone which sets up a grand finale in the eventual third instalment.
‘Song Of The Centurion’ is the sequel to Steven A. McKay’s ‘The Druid’. McKay is a rising star on the indie historical fiction circuit and I was keen to read ‘Song’ since I loved ‘The Druid’, an unputdownable novel which absolutely rocked. Set in Britain after the withdrawal of the Roman legions, ‘The Druid’ has a killer plot and suspense that will melt your face. It contains all three of the essential ingredients which are all too often missing from historical fiction: a powerful early hook (when a young princess is abducted), mystery (surrounding the identity of her captors as well as the reason why she’s been abducted) and horror (caused by the eventual revelation of the grim purpose for which the little girl was abducted).
‘The Druid’ also contains gritty, confident writing, an original setting and protagonist (the titular druid Bellicus who is ordered to rescue and return the princess), as well as characters who feel three dimensional and whose motivations are always satisfactorily set out. Why aren’t there more historical novels like this nowadays? It also boasts an unforeseen and jaw-dropping twist at the end when the abducted princess’ true parentage is revealed and includes a dash of familiar legend with King Arthur and Merlin making an unexpected appearance. It all sounds deceptively simple, yet I can tell that a lot of craft and thought went into plotting it. This isn’t to mention that the historical background is also solid.
So although sequels to a brilliant first instalment are always fiendishly hard to pull off, I felt confident that there was a lot of great stuff still left in the tank to give the sequel a real shot at matching if not exceeding the high standard set by ‘The Druid’. After all, the characters and setting were still as intriguing as ever and the prospective reunion of the Princess Catia with her parents was a big draw for me.
‘Song Of The Centurion’ begins where The Druid left off, with Bellicus (Bel) the charismatic and resourceful druid and his unlikely sidekick the former centurion Duro escorting the rescued princess Catia back towards Alt Clota, seat of power of her tribe the Damnonii. On the way back Duro stops by his village to discover that his wife was killed by Saxons, so he decides to return to Alt Clota with Bel and Catia. This is neatly described by McKay, who does a good job of giving Duro a legitimate reason to remain in the story while also satisfactorily addressing the former centurion's grief for his dead wife.
In the meantime Alt Clota is besieged by enemy tribes. The leader of one of these tribes is a douchebag called Loarn who insults King Coroticus of the Damnonii by openly declaring that he’d sexually abuse the Damnonii King's abducted daughter Catia. Coroticus, who has been deteriorating psychologically ever since his daughter was abducted, is driven over the edge by the insult. No sooner is the siege of Alt Clota broken than he swiftly assembles a raiding party and strikes deep into enemy lands, in an attempt to kill the insulting Loarn. Yet the raid is an abject failure and Coroticus only survives it through the intervention of his exasperated guard captain Gavo.
The King’s popularity amongst his own people hardly grows after the needless loss of so many of his men, yet Coroticus proceeds to make one bad decision after another. The eventual return of his daughter is heart-warming and well worth the wait, yet does nothing to arrest the King’s erratic slide into further alcoholism and insanity. So that I think that a good alternative title for this novel could be: ‘The Mental Deterioration Of Drunken King Coroticus’.
Eventually Coroticus also clashes with his old friend the returned druid Bel, despite the latter being princess Catia’s rescuer. For the increasing suspicions about Catia’s true parentage soon become widespread rumour, so that the King reacts aggressively to the druid being in the proximity of the Damononii tribe’s queen Narina. After Bel subsequently knocks out his King, a revived but publicly humiliated Coroticus orders Bel to undertake an impossible and fatal mission: to kill Loarn. Bel is left with no choice but to seek to achieve the impossible, joined on his new venture deep behind enemy lines by his sidekick the titular centurion Duro and his surviving loyal hound.
There are many good aspects of this novel, particularly the quality of the writing which was taken up a notch and even more confident than that used in The Druid. McKay manages to keep the plotline twisting and turning so that it is hardly ever predictable, with each of the characters’ emotional and physical journeys satisfactorily explored. A high level of intrigue is also deftly maintained between Coroticus, Bel and Narina which is reminiscent of the classic Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot, Arwen-Aragorn-Eowyn or Jezal-Ardee-Glokta-love triangles, used for the most part to good effect.
However Bellicus’ mission in this instalment is not as intriguing as the one which underpins the main narrative in ‘The Druid’. For while the first instalment held me in a vice-like grip due to the uncertain fate of an innocent young princess, it is hard to care as much about a quest that is essentially just the whim of a detestable King in mental free fall. The fate of the Damnonii or of any beloved character does not really hinge on Bel slaying Loarn, so that my care factor while reading this novel could never match my delightful levels of tension while reading The Druid. The idea of Bel luring Loarn to his death by using a white stag’s head didn't reach the gritty, danger levels which were reached in the first book. In fact I think that a chunk of the second half of Centurion is best summed up when McKay writes of Bel and Duro - who are deep in enemy territory and attempting to kill a dangerous chieftain - that ‘they grinned at each other like naughty children’.
So in my view this book’s plot lies somewhere between a three and a four on five, with the increased quality of writing just tilting it past four on five stars. All in all it's a respectable stepping stone which sets up a grand finale in the eventual third instalment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
3.75🌟
October 7, 2019
Okay, I'd been looking forward to this since reading Druid, mainly to see where the story would take Bel and Duro, and I was far from disappointed. I enjoyed Druid, but Song has gone to another level and sits comfortably alongside the best in the genre.
Great pacing, authentic feel, and excellent main characters, even the pauses to get your breath back were well done. I'd like to know more about Narina, but I've a feeling that's coming.
I also liked the little nod to Bernard Cornwells' Uthred about half way through. That brought a smile.
Really enjoyed it Steven, very much.
Great pacing, authentic feel, and excellent main characters, even the pauses to get your breath back were well done. I'd like to know more about Narina, but I've a feeling that's coming.
I also liked the little nod to Bernard Cornwells' Uthred about half way through. That brought a smile.
Really enjoyed it Steven, very much.
November 20, 2019
An enjoyable read!
This was a fast paced and exciting tale that gave the reader an incite into the brutal everyday life of Britain in the dark ages. The Roman ideals of law and order were long gone, to be replaced by constantly feuding local warlords and murderous incursions by Saxon invaders. The old gods were in terminal decline, usurped by the new Christian religion. All in all, a time of momentous change, something that large swathes of the population would never live to see.
This was a fast paced and exciting tale that gave the reader an incite into the brutal everyday life of Britain in the dark ages. The Roman ideals of law and order were long gone, to be replaced by constantly feuding local warlords and murderous incursions by Saxon invaders. The old gods were in terminal decline, usurped by the new Christian religion. All in all, a time of momentous change, something that large swathes of the population would never live to see.
August 30, 2020
Wonderful book
This book follows the Centurion and his friend the Druid. They embark on a mission for their king to stave off a Great War between them and three other kings that want the land. A great book for everyone.
This book follows the Centurion and his friend the Druid. They embark on a mission for their king to stave off a Great War between them and three other kings that want the land. A great book for everyone.
September 29, 2019
Absolutely gripping sequel to The Druid.
Steven excels once more
The story neatly follows on from The Druid. The Victorious Druid Bel his faithful hound Cai and the companion Duro the Centurion.
They return hero's ! With Coroticus the Kings daughter. All is not as it seems with the king
After a turn of events Bel, Duro & Cai are once mire thrown into an adventure that you feel they may not survive.
The story moves on well with a deeper understanding of the main characters including Bel, Duro and Gavo the faithful captain of the guard.
You know ad you read that a confrontation is fast approaching though how this will manifest and climax you do not know.
Once again Steven has written an excellent book, which groups you and has you wanting more. The story flows well ftom book 1 to book 2 and leaves wanting a book 3
Strong colourful characters and a great plot keep you attentive and reading..
I could not wait for the sequel and was unsure if it would be as good , my doubts are well and truly unfounded this is an excellent book, worth waiting for. Well done Steven a true professional writer. Be proud of your work. And keep writing, to entertain your fans
Steven excels once more
The story neatly follows on from The Druid. The Victorious Druid Bel his faithful hound Cai and the companion Duro the Centurion.
They return hero's ! With Coroticus the Kings daughter. All is not as it seems with the king
After a turn of events Bel, Duro & Cai are once mire thrown into an adventure that you feel they may not survive.
The story moves on well with a deeper understanding of the main characters including Bel, Duro and Gavo the faithful captain of the guard.
You know ad you read that a confrontation is fast approaching though how this will manifest and climax you do not know.
Once again Steven has written an excellent book, which groups you and has you wanting more. The story flows well ftom book 1 to book 2 and leaves wanting a book 3
Strong colourful characters and a great plot keep you attentive and reading..
I could not wait for the sequel and was unsure if it would be as good , my doubts are well and truly unfounded this is an excellent book, worth waiting for. Well done Steven a true professional writer. Be proud of your work. And keep writing, to entertain your fans
September 29, 2019
In this novel, we meet the Warrior Druid of Britain once again and if Bellicus was on a suicide mission in the previous novel, I can only say the impossibility and stakes of his mission are raised even higher in this volume. Faced with an impossible mission and enemies at home and abroad, Bellicus can only rely on his faithful dog, Cai, and equally loyal ally, Centurion Duro to see him through.
The author, Steven A. McKay, keeps things going at a quick clip from beginning to finish. Like his hero, there's barely a pause for readers to catch their breath. McKay is very effective at establishing his settings and locales and Dark Ages Scotland comes alive at his touch. His characters, from the highest noble to the lowest farming rustic, all ring true.
There are plenty of story possibilities opening up for the next volume which will bring me back for more when the next Bellicus novel is released.
The author, Steven A. McKay, keeps things going at a quick clip from beginning to finish. Like his hero, there's barely a pause for readers to catch their breath. McKay is very effective at establishing his settings and locales and Dark Ages Scotland comes alive at his touch. His characters, from the highest noble to the lowest farming rustic, all ring true.
There are plenty of story possibilities opening up for the next volume which will bring me back for more when the next Bellicus novel is released.
September 14, 2019
Another Gripping Adventure
Song of the Centurion picks up where The Druid left off and continues the story of Bellicus and company. The twists and turns in this instalment will leave the reader gripped and anxious for more. Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction.
Song of the Centurion picks up where The Druid left off and continues the story of Bellicus and company. The twists and turns in this instalment will leave the reader gripped and anxious for more. Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction.
September 14, 2019
Absolutely fantastic stuff. The ending was amazing and left me impatient for the next instalment.
September 17, 2019
Not one to miss.
Mr McKay brings the old times to life again, movies are made from lesser books than these, someone please buy the rights and get on with the job.
Mr McKay brings the old times to life again, movies are made from lesser books than these, someone please buy the rights and get on with the job.
September 9, 2022
Song of the Centurion, the second book of the Warrior Druid of Britain series by Steven A. McKay, picks up the story where The Druid left it and takes it to the next level.
For those unfamiliar with the Warrior Druid of Britain series, the tale is set in fifth century Britain and follows the exploits of Bellicus, a druid who also happens to be a magnificent warrior, and his trusty companions.
Following on from the first book, Song of the Centurion begins with Bellicus returning to his king after his long, hazardous quest across the length of Britain, only to find that things are not the same. Now Bellicus, his ever-faithful war-dog Cai, and the former centurion Duro are sent away on an even more hazardous mission and must once again use all manner of druidic magic, trickery and cunning to overcome the challenges they encounter. What follows is a spectacular adventure, behind enemy lines, on a quest that even Bellicus believes to be impossible.
What shines most in this book is the development of the characters and their relationships with each other. As the title suggests, Duro’s role expands to become quite a central character. Duro’s loyalty to his friend Bellicus, as well as the anguish he still feels for the recent murder of his beloved wife, transform him into a character close to any reader’s heart. Bellicus also develops as a character, with a connection to the queen and princess that increases the stakes of the adventure and places him in quite a bit of hot water.
Another aspect that I enjoyed of this story is the way in which the druidic magic and rituals are represented. For example, at one point in the story Bellicus needs a favour from another realm, so slaughters a pigeon, draws himself a circle in the dirt in which to sit, and finds himself once again in conversation with the hero Peredur. Not only was this encounter an entertaining addition to the story, but it is a believable explanation for how some of Bellicus’s druidic powers work.
With Song of the Centurion, The Warrior Druid of Britain series is transformed from the great story that was The Druid, to a binge-worthy series that is up there with the best in historical fiction. I cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series to see where Bellicus, Duro and Cai are headed next.
For those unfamiliar with the Warrior Druid of Britain series, the tale is set in fifth century Britain and follows the exploits of Bellicus, a druid who also happens to be a magnificent warrior, and his trusty companions.
Following on from the first book, Song of the Centurion begins with Bellicus returning to his king after his long, hazardous quest across the length of Britain, only to find that things are not the same. Now Bellicus, his ever-faithful war-dog Cai, and the former centurion Duro are sent away on an even more hazardous mission and must once again use all manner of druidic magic, trickery and cunning to overcome the challenges they encounter. What follows is a spectacular adventure, behind enemy lines, on a quest that even Bellicus believes to be impossible.
What shines most in this book is the development of the characters and their relationships with each other. As the title suggests, Duro’s role expands to become quite a central character. Duro’s loyalty to his friend Bellicus, as well as the anguish he still feels for the recent murder of his beloved wife, transform him into a character close to any reader’s heart. Bellicus also develops as a character, with a connection to the queen and princess that increases the stakes of the adventure and places him in quite a bit of hot water.
Another aspect that I enjoyed of this story is the way in which the druidic magic and rituals are represented. For example, at one point in the story Bellicus needs a favour from another realm, so slaughters a pigeon, draws himself a circle in the dirt in which to sit, and finds himself once again in conversation with the hero Peredur. Not only was this encounter an entertaining addition to the story, but it is a believable explanation for how some of Bellicus’s druidic powers work.
With Song of the Centurion, The Warrior Druid of Britain series is transformed from the great story that was The Druid, to a binge-worthy series that is up there with the best in historical fiction. I cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series to see where Bellicus, Duro and Cai are headed next.
January 24, 2020
I accidentally read Song of the Centurion, not realizing it was the second book in a series. Although the book could stand alone, I became aware of my mistake rather quickly because it was clear that something had transpired before this particular part of the tale. Despite jumping ahead of myself, I understood what was occurring and enjoyed the novel. My only criticism is that I felt there was quite a number of 'adventures' in the plot and wondered where the final climax would fall. Bellicus was on one quest after another and it began to feel tiresome.
The story begins with Bellicus, a druid, his centurion friend, Duro and dog, Cai returning from the quest of the previous novel, to bring Princess Catia home after she was kidnapped by Saxons. When Bellicus and friends arrive at their home fortress, they find that the king is often distraught and drunk, making poor choices in situations. Narina, the queen and Bellicus become too friendly during a celebration and the king, to save face, sends Bellicus on an almost impossible quest to kill an enemy king in his own kingdom. Sometime later, Bellicus returns, believing he has failed and finds the queen locked up and himself a wanted man. The druid must make things right.
The characters of McKay's story were interesting and I enjoyed Bellicus' role as a druid. But as per my synopsis you can imagine that the constant troubles facing Bellicus and his friends would be frustrating.
The story begins with Bellicus, a druid, his centurion friend, Duro and dog, Cai returning from the quest of the previous novel, to bring Princess Catia home after she was kidnapped by Saxons. When Bellicus and friends arrive at their home fortress, they find that the king is often distraught and drunk, making poor choices in situations. Narina, the queen and Bellicus become too friendly during a celebration and the king, to save face, sends Bellicus on an almost impossible quest to kill an enemy king in his own kingdom. Sometime later, Bellicus returns, believing he has failed and finds the queen locked up and himself a wanted man. The druid must make things right.
The characters of McKay's story were interesting and I enjoyed Bellicus' role as a druid. But as per my synopsis you can imagine that the constant troubles facing Bellicus and his friends would be frustrating.
December 17, 2020
Mckay is getting better and better at writing epic tales. Not that he was bad or anything, but he's becoming more polished by providing depth and to the characters, setting up emotional investment in each. It's fantastic.
This is a great mash up of historical fiction of an age where most books are written from a Christian character POV. This however is from the Briton POV, the Druids and their mystic ways of life and religion. It's a challenging and complex task, but Mckay makes it look easy without overwhelming the reader with fantasy or unrealistic events. He puts you square in the middle of the situation they faced. The fear of the Saxons, the fear of Christianity destroying their religion, but also enables you to feel the enduring hope that Bellicus and his people have, the constant determination to survive.
I love this series.
This is a great mash up of historical fiction of an age where most books are written from a Christian character POV. This however is from the Briton POV, the Druids and their mystic ways of life and religion. It's a challenging and complex task, but Mckay makes it look easy without overwhelming the reader with fantasy or unrealistic events. He puts you square in the middle of the situation they faced. The fear of the Saxons, the fear of Christianity destroying their religion, but also enables you to feel the enduring hope that Bellicus and his people have, the constant determination to survive.
I love this series.
March 1, 2020
An absolutely fantastic sequel to the brilliant Druid, made even more amazing by the author's note at the end stating it was a weird book to write due to other things going on in his life at the time.
I found Druid a slow start,probably because I was used to the Forest Lord series but it soon got going. Song Of The centurion has you right from the start and is a joy to read (unless you like to stay awake during work hours that is - as you'll be finding yourself reading late into the night and early mornings).
It is certainly set up for a follow up and I for one cannot wait!
I found Druid a slow start,probably because I was used to the Forest Lord series but it soon got going. Song Of The centurion has you right from the start and is a joy to read (unless you like to stay awake during work hours that is - as you'll be finding yourself reading late into the night and early mornings).
It is certainly set up for a follow up and I for one cannot wait!
August 21, 2020
The stakes have been raised even higher in this sequel to the Druid and once again Bel and Duro, along with faithful hound Cai, are send on one impossible quest after another. The pace rarely falters, as does the repartee, both flowing fast and free whether running, riding or sailing, they are moving.
The Centurion well and truly develops into his own man and stands if not as tall as the druid, because, well, we all know how tall he is, his stature is every bit as solid. Bel is rapidly turning into the stuff of legend and I can't wait to read the next part of their story.
The Centurion well and truly develops into his own man and stands if not as tall as the druid, because, well, we all know how tall he is, his stature is every bit as solid. Bel is rapidly turning into the stuff of legend and I can't wait to read the next part of their story.
January 5, 2025
Who needs sleep?!
I downloaded this book for my Kindle app to help pass a particularly slow extended week of night shifts. Then Mr. McKay decided to give me a book that I couldn't put down to the detriment of my daytime sleep schedule. The story was an excellent continuation of the first. The pacing, which was seamles, was perfect for keeping you awake at 300 during a rainy January night. The bond between Duro and Bel continues to grow in this story, beginning to remind me of Sharp and Harper. Now, onto the next one since my week is only half done.
I downloaded this book for my Kindle app to help pass a particularly slow extended week of night shifts. Then Mr. McKay decided to give me a book that I couldn't put down to the detriment of my daytime sleep schedule. The story was an excellent continuation of the first. The pacing, which was seamles, was perfect for keeping you awake at 300 during a rainy January night. The bond between Duro and Bel continues to grow in this story, beginning to remind me of Sharp and Harper. Now, onto the next one since my week is only half done.
January 3, 2023
Good old fashioned adventure
An interesting and inventive take on the historical novel, set in a less well explored time and British region, lots of adventure and daring to plus some ancient British mystery thrown in. I enjoyed it and I'll be reading the third in the series. I love stories set in pre-christian Britain, when the old gods were still venerated, and would like to read more of the druids exploits in future.
An interesting and inventive take on the historical novel, set in a less well explored time and British region, lots of adventure and daring to plus some ancient British mystery thrown in. I enjoyed it and I'll be reading the third in the series. I love stories set in pre-christian Britain, when the old gods were still venerated, and would like to read more of the druids exploits in future.
March 18, 2025
The Path to Truth
A fascinating adventure of Bellicus, Duro, and Cai as they are sent in exile by the king. Furthermore, the king sends them on a mission whilst in exile. The thing is is this mission a fool' s one where the druid, centurian, and war dog are sent to their death? Or is it a means of reconnaissance for the three as they listen to the people during their travels and discover the truth about duty, service, and loyalty.
A fascinating adventure of Bellicus, Duro, and Cai as they are sent in exile by the king. Furthermore, the king sends them on a mission whilst in exile. The thing is is this mission a fool' s one where the druid, centurian, and war dog are sent to their death? Or is it a means of reconnaissance for the three as they listen to the people during their travels and discover the truth about duty, service, and loyalty.
October 14, 2021
Excellent follow up
The author returns to the characters and story thread of the first novel and moves them on. The characters grow, as does the story of a dangerous and secret mission, interlaced with how it became so, and the outcome. Again you are treated to unexpected twists and turns of Bel's adventures, a great read.
The author returns to the characters and story thread of the first novel and moves them on. The characters grow, as does the story of a dangerous and secret mission, interlaced with how it became so, and the outcome. Again you are treated to unexpected twists and turns of Bel's adventures, a great read.
February 22, 2022
Awesome
I have been reading every book that I can by Steven A. McKay and the song of the Centurion , the second book in the warrior Druid series does not disappoint.
The stories care so original and the characters so believable, that these books simply transport the reader to medieval times.
It's a trip worth taking.
I have been reading every book that I can by Steven A. McKay and the song of the Centurion , the second book in the warrior Druid series does not disappoint.
The stories care so original and the characters so believable, that these books simply transport the reader to medieval times.
It's a trip worth taking.
December 30, 2022
A great read
This is the second book I've read in this series and it's a great read. Th plot is brilliantly told at a great pace that keeps you turning pages.The characters are great and well written and the description of dark age Britain is also well done I will definitely read the next instalment of this series.
This is the second book I've read in this series and it's a great read. Th plot is brilliantly told at a great pace that keeps you turning pages.The characters are great and well written and the description of dark age Britain is also well done I will definitely read the next instalment of this series.
May 19, 2024
Hot off the back of the first entry in The Warrior Druid of Britain I decided to read the second one straight away.
I would give it a strong 2.5. This one for me took a slower beat until the final section of the novel. But it was great to see the set ups and consequences of the first novel play out here.
Very interested to see where this series goes!
I would give it a strong 2.5. This one for me took a slower beat until the final section of the novel. But it was great to see the set ups and consequences of the first novel play out here.
Very interested to see where this series goes!
February 15, 2020
Brilliant!
Really enjoyed both stories so far, characters are really relatable, story flows well and to be honest I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to part three a lot. My thanks to the author for his time and effort, it was very much appreciated.
Really enjoyed both stories so far, characters are really relatable, story flows well and to be honest I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to part three a lot. My thanks to the author for his time and effort, it was very much appreciated.
April 12, 2020
This would have been 5* except for a few mistakes such as adding words so that a sentence does not make sense.. Also, It says Duro's flute was left back at camp but later on he pulls it from his pack and plays it.
I will read the 3rd installment when it is released.
I will read the 3rd installment when it is released.
April 20, 2020
Easy read
Strong characters, believable storyline with some surprising directions in the script. Looking forward to book 3 already. A new author for me, I will try some of his other novel’s.
Strong characters, believable storyline with some surprising directions in the script. Looking forward to book 3 already. A new author for me, I will try some of his other novel’s.
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