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When Women Were Warriors #3
A Hero's Tale
"In Book II, Tamras moved from her home into the lands beyond its border. In Book three, the stage widens she deals with the struggles of whole peoples. Caught up in intrigues that would once have been far above her, the heroine risks everything unless she can not only learn to swim in treacherous waters, but to master them. The heroine’s inner journey continues to match her outer one. She must confront the meaning not only of personal love, but the love that extends beyond oneself and those we hold dear. Catherine Wilson’s skill at tackling the big issues of love, meaning, and humanity is so deft that it all seemed, to me at least, to flow naturally from her narrative in a way I found technically quite breathtaking.…"
--from a review by Charles Ferguson on the Goodreads website "Being the third and last volume in a series I enjoyed immensely, I knew that I could expect this last book to deliver a happy and satisfying ending. What I didn’t expect was the intricate and daring storyline of this last volume. It is bigger and broader than what has come before, and it is spectacular. … this time the story unfolds on to a whole new level. More characters, more intrigue, greater losses, wonderful reunions. … There’s no taking the easy road here—the story opened up into unimagined dimensions to tell a tale that really is that of a hero.
"… When Women Were Warriors manages to blend mythic storytelling with characters who feel so real you could imagine stepping into the pages and having a conversation with them. A Hero’s Tale skilfully weaves the questions of love, faith and fairness into a dramatic story; not only of a relationship between the main characters, but of a quest so much bigger it takes the breath away. There is everything you could wish for here – power struggles, forces for good and evil, dramatic tests of faith, daring rescues, fatal rivalry, but it is managed with such a deft hand that in the end it is all one beautiful story. What else is there to say? This is not just lesbian fiction, but a story about being human. It’s not to be missed.
--from a review by Kate Genet on the website, Kissed By Venus In Book III of the trilogy, Tamras must make her own hero’s journey. She ventures into the unknown and encounters a more formidable enemy than any she has ever faced. Character is destiny, and the destiny of Tamras and all her people will depend upon choices that come less from the skills she has been taught than from the person she has become, from her own heart.
--from a review by Charles Ferguson on the Goodreads website "Being the third and last volume in a series I enjoyed immensely, I knew that I could expect this last book to deliver a happy and satisfying ending. What I didn’t expect was the intricate and daring storyline of this last volume. It is bigger and broader than what has come before, and it is spectacular. … this time the story unfolds on to a whole new level. More characters, more intrigue, greater losses, wonderful reunions. … There’s no taking the easy road here—the story opened up into unimagined dimensions to tell a tale that really is that of a hero.
"… When Women Were Warriors manages to blend mythic storytelling with characters who feel so real you could imagine stepping into the pages and having a conversation with them. A Hero’s Tale skilfully weaves the questions of love, faith and fairness into a dramatic story; not only of a relationship between the main characters, but of a quest so much bigger it takes the breath away. There is everything you could wish for here – power struggles, forces for good and evil, dramatic tests of faith, daring rescues, fatal rivalry, but it is managed with such a deft hand that in the end it is all one beautiful story. What else is there to say? This is not just lesbian fiction, but a story about being human. It’s not to be missed.
--from a review by Kate Genet on the website, Kissed By Venus In Book III of the trilogy, Tamras must make her own hero’s journey. She ventures into the unknown and encounters a more formidable enemy than any she has ever faced. Character is destiny, and the destiny of Tamras and all her people will depend upon choices that come less from the skills she has been taught than from the person she has become, from her own heart.
310 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
108 people are currently reading
2308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
August 2, 2011
There are some stories that I never want to end and when they eventually do, as everything must, they haunt me for days afterward. By "haunt" I mean that I can't completely shake myself out of the world created by the author through her characters. Catherine Wilson's When Women Were Warriors is just such a story. In the case of this story, I don't want to shake off the magic woven by Ms. Wilson.
I don't know if I can call this a "review" exactly -- it is more a public appreciation for a fantastic story, characters with whom I could empathize and love, and a world into which I wish I could teleport myself. The author even managed to sneak in the element of romance -- something I don't tend to enjoy as a rule, but in the context of the adventure story enveloping it, it was not the least bit distracting and was perfectly blended. Despite her "Epic without fantasy. Sword without sorcery" warning, I plunged in -- you see, I like those elements of fantasy and sorcery. Despite the warning, I did not notice a lack of magic in the story -- the magic of a skilful storyteller which needed no other kind.
These are books I will re-read often.
I don't know if I can call this a "review" exactly -- it is more a public appreciation for a fantastic story, characters with whom I could empathize and love, and a world into which I wish I could teleport myself. The author even managed to sneak in the element of romance -- something I don't tend to enjoy as a rule, but in the context of the adventure story enveloping it, it was not the least bit distracting and was perfectly blended. Despite her "Epic without fantasy. Sword without sorcery" warning, I plunged in -- you see, I like those elements of fantasy and sorcery. Despite the warning, I did not notice a lack of magic in the story -- the magic of a skilful storyteller which needed no other kind.
These are books I will re-read often.
March 25, 2022
Good lord. I was ready to start this review by confessing that this is my least favorite volume of the three but I might just give up on a ranking and say that actually they're all equally brilliant.
Given the circumstances that arise early on in the book, its setting and adventures and characters make it stand apart from the first two volumes in a very interesting way. Our heroes are pulled out of their comfort zones spectacularly and we get to see them deal with a series of challenges of many sorts, from petty rivalry to violent enmity, from jealousy to heartbreak.
Most importantly, we get to see just how much Tamras has learned from the wisdom of Maara and the elders, and the spark that only these amongst the wisest had seen in her from the beginning expands until she is no less than a force to be reckoned with. And for that she needs no sword, no bow. There are moments in this book that had my jaw dropping to the floor. It is beautiful.
It is such a solid end to such a solid series, bringing together all of the threads opened in the first ones, reintroducing elements and characters I never imagined would return. Everything happens for a reason and nothing is left unexplained. And how they explain it! I love that when the characters tell the others about what happened, the book doesn't sum it up and/or cut to the next scene—even though they are literally recounting what I just read chapters before, I get to read all of the storytelling, how each of them frames the events of the day before and emphasizes or skips different things, the questions that their listeners are asking. Even the writing takes on a slightly different style as the story takes its turns and Tamras is found dealing with so much hardship, her first-person narration often takes the form of intense, long internal monologues as her mind tries to rearrange itself over the new developments. And the plot developments themselves were so smartly crafted, just so well-done and interesting, I couldn't put this book down until all was resolved.
With different settings, more action, older and more mature characters, and much more complex plot lines, this book sticks to what the series set out to do, and until the very end, it proves it is very much a story about love. Through the eyes of a young companion now grown into a wise woman who has learned a lot though still has much to learn, one thing she has always had clear is that love is the most important thing.
Given the circumstances that arise early on in the book, its setting and adventures and characters make it stand apart from the first two volumes in a very interesting way. Our heroes are pulled out of their comfort zones spectacularly and we get to see them deal with a series of challenges of many sorts, from petty rivalry to violent enmity, from jealousy to heartbreak.
Most importantly, we get to see just how much Tamras has learned from the wisdom of Maara and the elders, and the spark that only these amongst the wisest had seen in her from the beginning expands until she is no less than a force to be reckoned with. And for that she needs no sword, no bow. There are moments in this book that had my jaw dropping to the floor. It is beautiful.
It is such a solid end to such a solid series, bringing together all of the threads opened in the first ones, reintroducing elements and characters I never imagined would return. Everything happens for a reason and nothing is left unexplained. And how they explain it! I love that when the characters tell the others about what happened, the book doesn't sum it up and/or cut to the next scene—even though they are literally recounting what I just read chapters before, I get to read all of the storytelling, how each of them frames the events of the day before and emphasizes or skips different things, the questions that their listeners are asking. Even the writing takes on a slightly different style as the story takes its turns and Tamras is found dealing with so much hardship, her first-person narration often takes the form of intense, long internal monologues as her mind tries to rearrange itself over the new developments. And the plot developments themselves were so smartly crafted, just so well-done and interesting, I couldn't put this book down until all was resolved.
With different settings, more action, older and more mature characters, and much more complex plot lines, this book sticks to what the series set out to do, and until the very end, it proves it is very much a story about love. Through the eyes of a young companion now grown into a wise woman who has learned a lot though still has much to learn, one thing she has always had clear is that love is the most important thing.
July 3, 2016
Honestly I think this was my favorite of all three. It was so well written, and such a rollercoaster, I cried so many times but it was so well done and so beautiful in the end. Tamras is the most wonderful character I have read in a long, long time. She is everything; brave and intelligent and strong and incredible. But I think what I love most about her is what her actual greatest strength is: her heart, and her ability to love. It's what makes her who she is, and it's so refreshing to read a book/series with a hero whose true strength comes from love, not violence. I should probably write more in depth about this but I am at a loss for words. Please please read this series! And have some lovely quotes:
"The love I felt for her made me feel strong, while her love for me made me feel safe."
"I trusted her not to be careless with my heart or with my feelings. I trusted her to understand and to accept what might be broken or imperfect. In some dusty corner there may be things I tossed away, forgotten, things that might once have shamed me. I trusted her with those things too. I trusted her to accept me as she found me and to love me as I was, as I loved her."
"That I would risk my life to regain what we had shared, that much I already understood. Now I began to understand the sacrifice. I had seen the world the way it should be, and I would accept nothing less."
"Like a forest tree that has grown up entwined with another may keep its shape long after its companion has been taken down, my spirit had bent to the shape of her and now could neither straighten itself nor accommodate to the shape of someone else."
"We search for love. Love is our shelter. Love is our purpose. Love is why we are here."
"Sometimes even now I entertain the hope that Love lives in the world independently of us, but when I am most courageous, I believe that love was born within the human heart, and that the survival of love in the world, as well as its ultimate triumph, is entirely out responsibility."
"The love I felt for her made me feel strong, while her love for me made me feel safe."
"I trusted her not to be careless with my heart or with my feelings. I trusted her to understand and to accept what might be broken or imperfect. In some dusty corner there may be things I tossed away, forgotten, things that might once have shamed me. I trusted her with those things too. I trusted her to accept me as she found me and to love me as I was, as I loved her."
"That I would risk my life to regain what we had shared, that much I already understood. Now I began to understand the sacrifice. I had seen the world the way it should be, and I would accept nothing less."
"Like a forest tree that has grown up entwined with another may keep its shape long after its companion has been taken down, my spirit had bent to the shape of her and now could neither straighten itself nor accommodate to the shape of someone else."
"We search for love. Love is our shelter. Love is our purpose. Love is why we are here."
"Sometimes even now I entertain the hope that Love lives in the world independently of us, but when I am most courageous, I believe that love was born within the human heart, and that the survival of love in the world, as well as its ultimate triumph, is entirely out responsibility."
October 17, 2017
A great trilogy
First off, you have to read all the books from the beginning. Right now the first one is free on Amazon but be warned you will want to buy the other two...almost immediately.
Book one is slow to start but about midway through it picks up and become engrossed in the telling story of Tamra. Book two and three are pretty much the same but the journey becomes more and more each time
This trilogy is not about war or power...It really is about growth and love. Yes there is war and death but through the eyes of a 16 year old who over the course of two years becomes a leader we find that truth and love is really what will set you free and that there is always a winner and loser in the end...despite good intentions.
I really enjoyed all the books. I liked how sexuality didn't bog down the story. There was no unnecessary scenes of war such as rape or massive killings. Magic played no role in the sense of sorcery but still there was little magic. I would have liked to see more of the bow and sword action but like I said this is really not a trilogy about that.
Anyway...I really liked it so maybe you will too.
First off, you have to read all the books from the beginning. Right now the first one is free on Amazon but be warned you will want to buy the other two...almost immediately.
Book one is slow to start but about midway through it picks up and become engrossed in the telling story of Tamra. Book two and three are pretty much the same but the journey becomes more and more each time
This trilogy is not about war or power...It really is about growth and love. Yes there is war and death but through the eyes of a 16 year old who over the course of two years becomes a leader we find that truth and love is really what will set you free and that there is always a winner and loser in the end...despite good intentions.
I really enjoyed all the books. I liked how sexuality didn't bog down the story. There was no unnecessary scenes of war such as rape or massive killings. Magic played no role in the sense of sorcery but still there was little magic. I would have liked to see more of the bow and sword action but like I said this is really not a trilogy about that.
Anyway...I really liked it so maybe you will too.
January 27, 2018
Wonderful book! I read this trilogy in one sitting because each book starts where the last finishes, so this review is for the three books. The first thing that I want to say is how wonderful the author writes. She creates a world where warriors live, a world where relationships are the most important things, all kinds of relationships: friendships, mother-daughter relationships, mentoring ... and of course "love". This book is about Tamra's journal which starts with her as a little girl and finishes with her as an amazing warrior. The book is magical and captivating.
November 13, 2012
The only thing I could find wrong with A Hero's Tale, book #3 in the When Women Were Warriors series was that it ended. This series is by far the best series I have ever read and know that it will be a classic. Catherine M. Wilson is an amazing storyteller and the story that she gives us in this series is exceptional. Each book carried with it multiple messages for the reader to take into her own life and A Hero's Tale does no less. In this book, Tamras takes that final step into womanhood and with that step the reader is led on a powerful adventure. In the first two books, I admired Catherine M. Wilson's use of words to capture the read and sink her into the world she created for Tamras. In this third and final book, Catherine M. Wilson not only uses her mastery of words but shows the reader how a tale is truly suppose to be told as she brings the reader full circle in Tamras' journey. This is the best series of the year, this decade and possibly for our generation.
September 19, 2013
For me this was the most emotional book of all three of them. Wilson can make you feel exactly what the protagonist is feeling - seriously. When Tamras felt betrayed I almost had to put the book down as I felt my own love had betrayed me. She has a clever way of wording things you know to be true, but when you read them she gives more meaning to it (fe: When Tamras understands love and lost for the first time really: " Love and Maara were one and the same. Love had become as mortal as she was."). When I look back on book I and II it really shows that it is a journey of years that the protagonist goes through as her memories seem to have become my own. It's been a while since I devoured a book trilogy at this pace. I would like to find more words to praise this lovely fantasy story but I'm too worn out and tired to form more words. Anyways anyone who likes fantasy with great female protagonist should read this.
April 28, 2018
What a wonderful trilogy.
We've come so far from the beginning, now the story has to come to an end, it's sadden me to no end. It's the best trilogy I've ever read *no bias tho I swear*.
It has a very good writing, wonderful storyline, unforgettable characters, and everything in between.
The story begins on book 1, when Tamras brought to Merin's house to begin her Warrior's Path. The story started so slowly in book 1, this book more like an introduction for us and the pace only picks up when it was 76% of the book.
In book 2, we see how far Tamras has become, she was no longer the lonely companion. She became constantly challenges everything around her. And then she begins her path away from civilization.
In book 3, well this trilogy feels like a Chronicles for me. Everything in this book continue to suprise me, I didn't expect many things happen on them. It was a real page turner. Tamras has earned everything and more. You will really need tissue for this book.
The writer continue to confuse me with the romance inside the trilogy, I keep guessing who'll be the endgame for Tamras. I was getting warm with the idea of Sparrow and Tamras, but well.
This trilogy's become so dear to my heart. I love this series, I'm sure somewhere in the future I'll re-read it.
We've come so far from the beginning, now the story has to come to an end, it's sadden me to no end. It's the best trilogy I've ever read *no bias tho I swear*.
It has a very good writing, wonderful storyline, unforgettable characters, and everything in between.
The story begins on book 1, when Tamras brought to Merin's house to begin her Warrior's Path. The story started so slowly in book 1, this book more like an introduction for us and the pace only picks up when it was 76% of the book.
In book 2, we see how far Tamras has become, she was no longer the lonely companion. She became constantly challenges everything around her. And then she begins her path away from civilization.
In book 3, well this trilogy feels like a Chronicles for me. Everything in this book continue to suprise me, I didn't expect many things happen on them. It was a real page turner. Tamras has earned everything and more. You will really need tissue for this book.
The writer continue to confuse me with the romance inside the trilogy, I keep guessing who'll be the endgame for Tamras. I was getting warm with the idea of Sparrow and Tamras, but well.
This trilogy's become so dear to my heart. I love this series, I'm sure somewhere in the future I'll re-read it.
February 25, 2018
sobs
This series is so good and full of everything I love: complex women and their relationships with each other; political intrigue; linguistics; oral tradition; a protagonist who, despite everything, still fights for peace; and much, much more. Also, the lesbians save the day like, all the time, so. That's cool.
This series is so good and full of everything I love: complex women and their relationships with each other; political intrigue; linguistics; oral tradition; a protagonist who, despite everything, still fights for peace; and much, much more. Also, the lesbians save the day like, all the time, so. That's cool.
February 17, 2015
Thus concludes the trilogy, some of the most unlikely reading for me, yet thoroughly enjoyable. Now that the romantic situation is sorted out, this book in particular permanently establishes the main character as a heroine via some seriously convoluted (so much so it has to be explained twice) warring and battling. As far as trilogies go, this one follows a perfect arc to an perfectly suitable ending. There is something very endearing and engaging about Wilson's Neolithic warriors and if fantasy is suppose to transport the reader to an entirely different world, these books certainly do the job. It makes for a slightly cheesy, hopelessly romantic and surprisingly immersive read. Recommended.
June 6, 2016
Wonderful Trilogy and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. IMH opinion, the author did a great job portraying the pre-Christian Europe where women had an important role in the society.
January 1, 2023
Though all the world believes that the good of many souls must tip the balance, there is a flaw in their reckoning, for the value of the soul cannot be weighed or measured but by love. If my heart held the scales, I knew which side would fall.
My heart is too small. I was scared to read this because I was worried it wouldn't live up to how much I loved the previous two books, but I need not have been afraid. I loved this so much. I loved it in the specific kind of way that makes it difficult for me to talk about it. Tamras goes on this amazing journey, both in terms of adventure, personal growth, and her love. It's so beautiful to read. That is probably the most striking thing about the series to me. Wilson writes in an extremely simple way, never flowery, never purple, but every sentence is lovely, even when she is being bald and economical. My heart hurts with how much I loved this. This series has given me so much already, by prioritising all kinds of different relationships between women, and this book had to top it all off by including one of my all-time favourite tropes. Or I don't know if you would call it a trope. But let's just say that Tamras makes certain decisions that are agonising and perfect. I love love like that. I love reading about it and I love witnessing it. She and Maara just make my heart bloom. It's painful and beautiful, all the lessons that have to be learned. All of the different plot threads and side stories were wrapped up in a really great way and I'm just so happy with everything.
If I have one quibble it's that I would have liked for there to have been more stories within the story, in the vein that there were in the first book. My kingdom to have just one more story about the ancient days when only women were warriors. The stories and fantastical elements are some of the best things about this series. I did appreciate that we got stories from other cultures, but I did miss the original ones. Other than that? Perfect. I am so happy to be able to end off my year with a solid five star and a new favourite.
I would love my life for as long as Maara lived. More than that no one could demand of me, not even my own gods.
November 24, 2015
Sometimes a book is perfect because you happen to read it for the first time just at the right time.
I expected a pseudo fantasy setting of some sort, but the trilogy's sharp sensitivity took me by surprise. More than anything, this particular book is about grief and healing. Wilson's tasteful charm and deftness don't detract from hitting the darker themes of trauma and loss on the head. Her writing is piercing without being grotesque, poetic without being cloying. At a time when it's trendy for fantasy to be unrelentlessly ugly and crude, Wilson's work is a breath of fresh air.
I expected a pseudo fantasy setting of some sort, but the trilogy's sharp sensitivity took me by surprise. More than anything, this particular book is about grief and healing. Wilson's tasteful charm and deftness don't detract from hitting the darker themes of trauma and loss on the head. Her writing is piercing without being grotesque, poetic without being cloying. At a time when it's trendy for fantasy to be unrelentlessly ugly and crude, Wilson's work is a breath of fresh air.
September 6, 2019
✨ 2.5 / 5 ✨
My review for The Warrior’s Path (Book 1)
My review for A Journey of the Heart (Book 2)
“And I would put the whole world to death before I let death come for you.”
*sighs* I love this series but this was disappointing.
I think the main problem is that I love the setting of Merin’s House and this book doesn’t take place there unlike the others. We set out to discover more of the world but I don’t think I cared. The Forest lent itself to a lot of sweet moments for the characters but it also meant that the first 30% of the book were pretty boring. It something I never felt with this series even when nothing much happened because it meant we got to know the characters. By this point we know Tamras and Maara well and we don’t learn much about the Forest People so it didn’t make me care for them or their relationship with the main characters.
Then we set out to discover another noble House and I found that part a bit more interesting. There we get to know a new character called Elen and she did grasp my interest for a while. However, she felt very one dimensional compared to everyone else in Merin’s House. And I think that was an issue with the characters introduced in this book. We didn’t get to know them as we had others and so I didn’t feel as invested.
The plot was okay but a lot of things were just very circumstantial and Tamras wasn’t really pushing the story forward. She was very passive about whatever was happening around her and her blunders became heroic acts. I liked that a tale could be spun around those mistakes and I can see the point but I think the execution could’ve been better.
One of the issues that really arose during this book is that for love to be real, sex is needed. It’s strange to me that in this world and for our main character that sex can be without love but love without sex is inconceivable. It was also mentioned that “love can be shared but not hearts. No one wants a love that is half-hearted” and hmm, let’s not go down that path.
Another highlighted issue is what ethnicity are Maara, the old ones and the People of the Forest supposed to be? What does dark mean? Is there actual POC representation or are all these people white with a bit of tan and dark hair? I really want to think only the best but at this point I’m only left with questions. We also never really get to know more about Maara’s clan and what happened to them and I wish we’d gone down that path rather than being introduced to other things.
However, Tamras and Maara have my whole heart and I love them both and this series very much. This was such a cozy trilogy and it just felt very comforting to read. I’d love to come back to this world and characters again.
My review for The Warrior’s Path (Book 1)
My review for A Journey of the Heart (Book 2)
“And I would put the whole world to death before I let death come for you.”
*sighs* I love this series but this was disappointing.
I think the main problem is that I love the setting of Merin’s House and this book doesn’t take place there unlike the others. We set out to discover more of the world but I don’t think I cared. The Forest lent itself to a lot of sweet moments for the characters but it also meant that the first 30% of the book were pretty boring. It something I never felt with this series even when nothing much happened because it meant we got to know the characters. By this point we know Tamras and Maara well and we don’t learn much about the Forest People so it didn’t make me care for them or their relationship with the main characters.
Then we set out to discover another noble House and I found that part a bit more interesting. There we get to know a new character called Elen and she did grasp my interest for a while. However, she felt very one dimensional compared to everyone else in Merin’s House. And I think that was an issue with the characters introduced in this book. We didn’t get to know them as we had others and so I didn’t feel as invested.
The plot was okay but a lot of things were just very circumstantial and Tamras wasn’t really pushing the story forward. She was very passive about whatever was happening around her and her blunders became heroic acts. I liked that a tale could be spun around those mistakes and I can see the point but I think the execution could’ve been better.
One of the issues that really arose during this book is that for love to be real, sex is needed. It’s strange to me that in this world and for our main character that sex can be without love but love without sex is inconceivable. It was also mentioned that “love can be shared but not hearts. No one wants a love that is half-hearted” and hmm, let’s not go down that path.
Another highlighted issue is what ethnicity are Maara, the old ones and the People of the Forest supposed to be? What does dark mean? Is there actual POC representation or are all these people white with a bit of tan and dark hair? I really want to think only the best but at this point I’m only left with questions. We also never really get to know more about Maara’s clan and what happened to them and I wish we’d gone down that path rather than being introduced to other things.
However, Tamras and Maara have my whole heart and I love them both and this series very much. This was such a cozy trilogy and it just felt very comforting to read. I’d love to come back to this world and characters again.
November 21, 2020
I can't believe I just randomly stumbled upon this series while looking for something to read and I had never even heard of it before. It's one of the best series I've ever read and I'm worried that I'll never read something as perfect and well-written and touching as this series. I literally didn't want it to end. This series is just SO good I can barely put it into words.
Please read for: complex women and their relationships with each other, magical/lyrical writing, adventure, amazing character growth and development, incredible world and culture building, emotional, poignant scenes without being super angsty (although there were multiple parts in this final book like made me sob my eyes out), matrilineal society (seriously I think in book 1 a man spoke a total of 4 times), epic storytelling, political intrigue, linguistics, some light magic and most importantly LOVE.
These books warmed my heart so much I will definitely be re-reading and thinking of the characters for a long time :*)
Please read for: complex women and their relationships with each other, magical/lyrical writing, adventure, amazing character growth and development, incredible world and culture building, emotional, poignant scenes without being super angsty (although there were multiple parts in this final book like made me sob my eyes out), matrilineal society (seriously I think in book 1 a man spoke a total of 4 times), epic storytelling, political intrigue, linguistics, some light magic and most importantly LOVE.
These books warmed my heart so much I will definitely be re-reading and thinking of the characters for a long time :*)
May 12, 2013
I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars because omg everything about that trilogy, and especially this last book, was absolutely wonderful.
It's really the first book I've read about lesbian relationships where the fact that they're two women falling in love is just accepted as normal and you never have to deal with the "omg they're gaaay!" it's really nice to be able to escape from the need for "realism" in books about queer relationships for a bit.
It's really the first book I've read about lesbian relationships where the fact that they're two women falling in love is just accepted as normal and you never have to deal with the "omg they're gaaay!" it's really nice to be able to escape from the need for "realism" in books about queer relationships for a bit.
March 29, 2021
I didn't think the perfect trilogy existed. I was wrong.
August 1, 2023
4,25/5
No it's sadder than me that I can't rate this higher. It's so beautiful, so good ,it awakes your feelings .
But it also contains unnecessary things, THERE'S THIS ONE PART THAT I HATED SOOOO MUCH IT WAS SOOO UNNECESSARY
And besides that I still felt like there were some plot holes but it so good we don't care about them
No it's sadder than me that I can't rate this higher. It's so beautiful, so good ,it awakes your feelings .
But it also contains unnecessary things, THERE'S THIS ONE PART THAT I HATED SOOOO MUCH IT WAS SOOO UNNECESSARY
And besides that I still felt like there were some plot holes but it so good we don't care about them
October 15, 2015
Really loved this series. Complex, thoughtful, sweet, adventurous, lyrical; full of emotion and history, love and spirit.
When Women Were Warriors is a trilogy, but it reads as one book split into three volumes, (down to the chapters, which start at 1 in book one and continue sequentially through book three.) Yes, there are plot arcs in each volume, but the story of Tamras and Maara continues over the course of the entire series.
There was little chance that I would not love this series. Here are some of the things it had that I love to read about:
* Neolithic/pre-Celtic historical setting (with, granted, some fantastical/mythological elements included)
* A location that feels like the ancient British Isles, although it might be somewhere else - or even a fantasy world
* Strong female characters, and lots of them
* Intense relationships between women, both romantic and otherwise
* Matrilineal culture/society, with women in positions of power and leadership
* Seasonal cultural cycles and holidays
* Wise women, shamanic journeying, sacred groves, goddesses
* Storytelling, and epic tales
* Travel and living off the land
Given that I love to read about exactly the kind of setting the author created, it's no surprise I liked the series. But I also got enjoyed the story and found it to be well-written. It is a coming-of-age novel depicting young Tamras growing into her own, learning what she loves and values and standing by it with a fierce loyalty.
One thing that really stood out to me about these volumes was the the thoughtfulness of Tamras and other characters who were reflective after moments of conflict or learning that helped them take the next step. This isn't often modeled in our modern society, but it resonates with my personal style, so I loved seeing it.
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A Hero's Tale, the third volume in the trilogy, focuses on Tamras' own hero's journey. Tamras leaves the lands she know with Maara, encountering completely difference cultures - some friendly, and some not. War and personal relationships are connected in unexpected ways. I did feel the author was stretching it a bit towards the end - but I went right along for the ride anyway.
I was full of sadness when I was done because I really wanted to keep reading more about Tamras, her world, and her adventures.
When Women Were Warriors is a trilogy, but it reads as one book split into three volumes, (down to the chapters, which start at 1 in book one and continue sequentially through book three.) Yes, there are plot arcs in each volume, but the story of Tamras and Maara continues over the course of the entire series.
There was little chance that I would not love this series. Here are some of the things it had that I love to read about:
* Neolithic/pre-Celtic historical setting (with, granted, some fantastical/mythological elements included)
* A location that feels like the ancient British Isles, although it might be somewhere else - or even a fantasy world
* Strong female characters, and lots of them
* Intense relationships between women, both romantic and otherwise
* Matrilineal culture/society, with women in positions of power and leadership
* Seasonal cultural cycles and holidays
* Wise women, shamanic journeying, sacred groves, goddesses
* Storytelling, and epic tales
* Travel and living off the land
Given that I love to read about exactly the kind of setting the author created, it's no surprise I liked the series. But I also got enjoyed the story and found it to be well-written. It is a coming-of-age novel depicting young Tamras growing into her own, learning what she loves and values and standing by it with a fierce loyalty.
One thing that really stood out to me about these volumes was the the thoughtfulness of Tamras and other characters who were reflective after moments of conflict or learning that helped them take the next step. This isn't often modeled in our modern society, but it resonates with my personal style, so I loved seeing it.
----------------------
A Hero's Tale, the third volume in the trilogy, focuses on Tamras' own hero's journey. Tamras leaves the lands she know with Maara, encountering completely difference cultures - some friendly, and some not. War and personal relationships are connected in unexpected ways. I did feel the author was stretching it a bit towards the end - but I went right along for the ride anyway.
I was full of sadness when I was done because I really wanted to keep reading more about Tamras, her world, and her adventures.
October 13, 2019
Wow! I think this trilogy has been my favourite story, ever. It's hard to describe how amazing it is to someone who hasn't read it. It's not something you can describe; it's something you feel. Although, I swear this part absolutely broke me... ... I almost threw my Kindle across the room, and I was 99.9% sure I was finished reading. I shakily said to my wife, "I don't think I can read any more," and she said, "Has someone died?" And all I could answer was, "Worse." But I found the strength in my shattered heart to keep going, and thank the gods I did! I would have grieved for far too long, otherwise. This trilogy is something else entirely, and it will hold a special place in my heart.
July 6, 2020
I've just finished this book and I want to cry inconsolably because I don't want to say goodbye.
I never thought this trilogy was going to mean so much to me, but it did.
This book was perfect in my opinion.
This is the perfect ending for this trilogy. We got to see the characters grow through the years and watch them fall in love and change, and it was a beautiful journey.
I just loved every minute of this world and its characters, and I will remember them for a long time.
I never thought this trilogy was going to mean so much to me, but it did.
This book was perfect in my opinion.
This is the perfect ending for this trilogy. We got to see the characters grow through the years and watch them fall in love and change, and it was a beautiful journey.
I just loved every minute of this world and its characters, and I will remember them for a long time.
April 24, 2020
Undoubtedly my favorite Trilogy I have ever read. The most perfect set of books. A hidden gem that I recommend to anyone.
Set in the British isle in the Bronze Age, narrator Tamras goes on an amazing and beautiful journey, that literally will make you never wish it'd end.
I love how this book is written, structured and how the characters subdue your heart.
Literally you will not put this book down.
Set in the British isle in the Bronze Age, narrator Tamras goes on an amazing and beautiful journey, that literally will make you never wish it'd end.
I love how this book is written, structured and how the characters subdue your heart.
Literally you will not put this book down.
May 16, 2013
I enjoyed this final part of the trilogy but I also found it wanting a little. I know it's an epic hero story but things just fell into place a little too well at the end. I loved the part in the forest but it did seem like too many characters in the rest of the story went quietly into the night too easily (maybe there are sequels planned). And Tamras' wisdom felt a little forced towards the end too. Maara has lived a tough enough life that her wisdom feels real. Tamras seemed to have leadership wisdom beyond her age and experience. It didn't always feel authentic, especially at the end. Having said that, I'm glad I read it.
December 9, 2017
The pace of this trilogy reminds me of lord of the rings....
First book is a slow introduction of many things to come
Second book, everything becomes angsty
Third book, it's time for heroics.
And the heroin here is mostly clueless, she keeps blundering and it's only because the results of her mistakes are amazing that we can call it heroic at all.
The love finally blossom between the main characters and with it, Tamras shed the last remain of childhood.
The end is sweet, maybe overcooked and too happy, but this trilogy is still a nice discovery.
I may return to it one day when I want to feel cosy.
First book is a slow introduction of many things to come
Second book, everything becomes angsty
Third book, it's time for heroics.
And the heroin here is mostly clueless, she keeps blundering and it's only because the results of her mistakes are amazing that we can call it heroic at all.
The love finally blossom between the main characters and with it, Tamras shed the last remain of childhood.
The end is sweet, maybe overcooked and too happy, but this trilogy is still a nice discovery.
I may return to it one day when I want to feel cosy.
January 3, 2017
I don't even know how I can give a review that would do justice to what I think of these books. All the stories fit together nicely, the character development is amazing, nothing a character did felt out of character and yet I was still able to be taken completely by surprise by some of the events that happen. Whilst I think that these would do very well just as one book together, the different parts separate the different stages in Tamaras' growth very well, and show a clear progression from the girl she once was to the hero she has now become.
June 24, 2016
honestly, i love this series so much? i can't even describe it. its like catherine m. wilson saw into my heart and understood what I needed before i even knew i needed it. Please, someone let Wilson write more books. I need more books by her.
(longer review over @ galhalla http://galhallapodcast.com/2016/03/03...)
(longer review over @ galhalla http://galhallapodcast.com/2016/03/03...)
July 17, 2016
After reading all the three books, I have to said that this was a great light and fun reading. If you dislike Game of Thrones sense of dread but like the feeling of the world with a touch of fantasy focus on women, this trilogy is for you.
February 14, 2025
“I would follow her. I would search the world for her, and if she were to leave this world for another, I would follow her there too.”
“That night love did come into the oak grove. That night you came into the oak grove.”
how to put into words… that is the question. i read this so quickly so that when i come back to it in the future and read it slower, it’ll be like reading a whole new story. and i plan on that…
to start, this series isnt so much a trilogy as it is one large 1000 page book split into three. the first book does not stand on its own, the second book starts right off the first book (the chapters of each book lead into each other), and the third book is the same. i believe they were all published at the same time too, so think lotr. and it’s kinda like lotr but also not.
it’s slow, and winding, and it takes you through each chapter with intention. i am of the belief that not a single word was wasted in all three books. this is a story about love, and the way the author tells it is so special. it’s like i was sitting there listening to her say it. and the love that the characters have for each other is so palpable and real and tender. this story is so TENDER!!!! and romance is a part of it, but it’s not everything. mother’s love, love for your friends, for your companions, for your family. it’s all there - to be surrounded by the people you cherish is such a blessing, and this book felt like a warm hug. this was an epic, but also a tender story of trust and love, but also the coming of age story for tamras. i find it pretty difficult (especially because this was written in 2008) to find stories where people are just gay, and there’s no homophobia or waffling. sometimes i wanna read that but mostly i wanna read about two women falling in love just because.
9/10 or 5/5 & e-book. the second book was the strongest but each of them rely on the other so heavily!
quotes below:
My body longed for her so intensely that I feared I might burst out of my own skin without her arms around me.
I took my time with her, both for her pleasure and for my own. I delighted in discovering how best to please her.
I trusted her not to he careless with my heart or with my feelings. I trusted her to understand and to accept what might be broken or imperfect.
Now love and Maara were one and the same, and love had become as mortal as she was.
She cares for me with a tenderness that told me of her love more than there are words for.
Like a forest tree that has grown up entwined with another may keep its shape long after its companion has been taken down, my spirit had bent to its shape of her and now could neither straighten itself nor accommodate to the shape of someone else.
“And I would put the whole world to death before I let death come to you.”
“That night love did come into the oak grove. That night you came into the oak grove.”
how to put into words… that is the question. i read this so quickly so that when i come back to it in the future and read it slower, it’ll be like reading a whole new story. and i plan on that…
to start, this series isnt so much a trilogy as it is one large 1000 page book split into three. the first book does not stand on its own, the second book starts right off the first book (the chapters of each book lead into each other), and the third book is the same. i believe they were all published at the same time too, so think lotr. and it’s kinda like lotr but also not.
it’s slow, and winding, and it takes you through each chapter with intention. i am of the belief that not a single word was wasted in all three books. this is a story about love, and the way the author tells it is so special. it’s like i was sitting there listening to her say it. and the love that the characters have for each other is so palpable and real and tender. this story is so TENDER!!!! and romance is a part of it, but it’s not everything. mother’s love, love for your friends, for your companions, for your family. it’s all there - to be surrounded by the people you cherish is such a blessing, and this book felt like a warm hug. this was an epic, but also a tender story of trust and love, but also the coming of age story for tamras. i find it pretty difficult (especially because this was written in 2008) to find stories where people are just gay, and there’s no homophobia or waffling. sometimes i wanna read that but mostly i wanna read about two women falling in love just because.
9/10 or 5/5 & e-book. the second book was the strongest but each of them rely on the other so heavily!
quotes below:
My body longed for her so intensely that I feared I might burst out of my own skin without her arms around me.
I took my time with her, both for her pleasure and for my own. I delighted in discovering how best to please her.
I trusted her not to he careless with my heart or with my feelings. I trusted her to understand and to accept what might be broken or imperfect.
Now love and Maara were one and the same, and love had become as mortal as she was.
She cares for me with a tenderness that told me of her love more than there are words for.
Like a forest tree that has grown up entwined with another may keep its shape long after its companion has been taken down, my spirit had bent to its shape of her and now could neither straighten itself nor accommodate to the shape of someone else.
“And I would put the whole world to death before I let death come to you.”
February 28, 2018
It has been a few weeks since I made the final stages of the heroic journey of Tamras but so much of this world ‘when women were warriors’ lives on. I am tempted to slip back into her vibrant world again as the characters and settings feel so rich, and the writing still weaves its spell over me.
This is the epic climax and the story grows in intensity as the events become more complex. Tamras faces new challenges that are a true test of everything that she has learned. The younger and less-experienced Tamras of Book 1 might well have failed, and even after progressing so much, she still stumbles. Yet, Tamras struggles on.
The character has grown to the point where she can stand alongside some formidable characters, sharing her brand of wisdom and still learning as unexpected events unfold. Some key motifs and threads come together in well-constructed echoes and actions that made me feel this tapestry was being woven together neatly. Wolves and mysteries were my thoughts, but I will say no more about that.
Yes, as with any epic saga, there are threads left to tease the reader, but no saga truly ends as life continues beyond ‘The End’. Without those, this reader would not be creating my own imaginings of where Tamras goes next. Do we want a ‘happily ever after’ ending?
The central element is again ‘Love’ in all its forms, true and perverted, uplifting and shattering, emotional and physical. We all need to learn who to embrace and when. The key is to follow your heart and the truth will be revealed.
All the evocative words and images are there again, all the rich and flawed characters, and some unexpected actions and decisions. All these make A Hero's Tale another recommended read and the perfect end to the trilogy. Finally, I have the signed paperbacks to place in my bookshelf alongside my prized hardback copies of The Lord of the Rings.
When Women Were Warriors too will be regular re-reads over the years to come.
Story – five stars
Setting/World-building – five stars
Diversity – five stars
Characters – five stars
Structure – five stars
Readability – five stars
Editing – five stars
July 26, 2020
I don’t know why it took me forever to finish this book😂 funny thing was that, whenever I chose to pick it up and continue, I got so enraptured that’s I’d eat about 40% of it. This book was so easy to pick up and get done. There was literally NO PART in this book where I struggled to get through. Every SCENE I loved.
Omg and the whole Maara betrayal thing REALLY hurt my heart. I’ve never felt it this intensely from a book 😂😂 I think the only time I shed a tear is when someone I like in a book dies but even that doesn’t stir up my emotions so strongly. When that part was revealed I kid you not I had to put my phone down and leave my house for a bit to keep from, in general just crying, but from crying in from of my family. And on the walk MY HEART HURT SO MUCH. I was so connected to the book.
I really mean it when I say I loved every part of this book. The author made me love the forest people, Bru, Finn, and their people and history. When Maara and Tamras had to leave the forest people, like Tamras, I wanted to stay 😂 same with Bru. I really liked the message of wisdom. When I say I learned SO KUCH FROM THE BOOK. I’ve never had a book trigger so many emotions and how I handle them/or a situation. The advice this book gave me I will carry with me for life.
Personally my favorite pieces of advice from the book were:
“Anger is a choice.”
“Your pain will grow worse until you understand what caused it. Only then will you know what can be done to stop it.”
I don’t know why those 2 really stuck to me. When I read it I was like WOW WAIT WHAT? 😱 and afterwards I spent a lot of time applying the advice to my own life and was really shocked with how much it resonated with me. Gonna make the better of them and use them confidently!
Anyways,
I love love love THIS SERIES! EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! Each book I carry a piece of in my heart and memory! 💜💜
I will soon for sure re-read this 😂
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
Omg and the whole Maara betrayal thing REALLY hurt my heart. I’ve never felt it this intensely from a book 😂😂 I think the only time I shed a tear is when someone I like in a book dies but even that doesn’t stir up my emotions so strongly. When that part was revealed I kid you not I had to put my phone down and leave my house for a bit to keep from, in general just crying, but from crying in from of my family. And on the walk MY HEART HURT SO MUCH. I was so connected to the book.
I really mean it when I say I loved every part of this book. The author made me love the forest people, Bru, Finn, and their people and history. When Maara and Tamras had to leave the forest people, like Tamras, I wanted to stay 😂 same with Bru. I really liked the message of wisdom. When I say I learned SO KUCH FROM THE BOOK. I’ve never had a book trigger so many emotions and how I handle them/or a situation. The advice this book gave me I will carry with me for life.
Personally my favorite pieces of advice from the book were:
“Anger is a choice.”
“Your pain will grow worse until you understand what caused it. Only then will you know what can be done to stop it.”
I don’t know why those 2 really stuck to me. When I read it I was like WOW WAIT WHAT? 😱 and afterwards I spent a lot of time applying the advice to my own life and was really shocked with how much it resonated with me. Gonna make the better of them and use them confidently!
Anyways,
I love love love THIS SERIES! EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! Each book I carry a piece of in my heart and memory! 💜💜
I will soon for sure re-read this 😂
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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