Wrath of the Picts

Warrior Druid of Britain #5

by Steven A. McKay

Princess Catia has gone missing and once again it falls to the legendary druid, Bellicus, to find her. Was the child taken by force, or did she go willingly with the Pictish warrior-woman, Aife?

Their trail leads far north to the windswept fortress of Dunnottar, so the druid must journey there with his companions, Duro, Eburus, and the fearsome wardog, Cai. Leaving Dun Breatann in the hands of Queen Narina and her enigmatic new husband, Ysfael, the friends ride out, but things are never as straightforward as they seem…
Violence and death follow Bellicus as he seeks to discover the fate of the princess. In doing so, he also finds himself on the trail of the swordsman, Lancelot, who disappeared months before when his warband was slaughtered by Saxons. Will the druid be in time to save them both? Or will their enemies, old and new,earn the bloody vengeance and glory they so desperately desire?
Ambition, lust, grief, and the power of the old gods combine in Wrath of the Picts as the druid and his companions are thrust towards a shocking finale that will leave Dun Breatann in turmoil and Northern Britain ravaged again by war.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2022

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Paul Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

full review soon

[Simon Haine · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far there hasn't been a single book by this author that I've not loved.

This one is an absolute rollercoaster ride of a book and is very much my favourite of the series, although there is a part in this one that fans of the series should prepare for (chapter 27 I'm looking at you).

Following on from the previous book, we catch up with the gang as they once again head off looking for trouble. We've got issues with the Saxons again, problems with the Picts, troubles with certain members of the Votadini, and to top it all off issues even at home. Hats off to Mr McKay for not only keeping every thread of this story together but also for the amount of adventure crammed into one book!

When I started the first of Bellicus's adventures I was uncertain as it's not an area of history I've looked to - but I can't imagine it stopping now, even five books in. I hope it continues for many more.

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. The princesses were great and I enjoyed Lancelots character as well!

[Charles T. Thiele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Druid series has been a very good read. Lots of action and well developed characters. It's always interesting to read historical fiction with characters from interesting backgrounds and the Druid does not disappoint. In addition to personal interaction, the books deal with interactions between different tribes of the British isle during the 6th century. Highly recommend the entire 5 books (so far) in this series.

[Richard West · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every book, Steven McKay shows why he's one of the leading writers in the field of historical fiction, and this book continues the trend.

This is No. 5 in the Warrior Druid of Britain series (have no fear, there will be more, there are too many loose ends that need to be tied up) and involves our old friend Bellicus, the druid and his close companions Duro and Eburus, not to mention Queen Narnia (who has remarried following the death of her husband and the bozo she's married is up to no good) and his daughter Catia who once again goes missing. And so the search begins.

There's a nice plot twist about halfway through which I certainly didn't see coming and it provided a nice surprise and shows that McKay has an excellent imagination......and it adds a lot to the story, it's not just there because he could put it there!

SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! Somebody dies and it's a character that - if you've read the other 4 volumes in the series - while adding a definite touch of realism - hey, people die in these sword fights, ok? - will prove unsettling to those who have grown attached to the characters.

COMPLAINT: At 281 pages, the book is too short!!! I didn't know whether I'd be able to work it in over the weekend or not because of my work schedule, but one night of sitting up until around 3 AM solved that little problem.

This is definitely worth your while, particularly if you've read the other 4 volumes and it really isn't a book that stands alone, so you'll want to read the other 4 before launching into this one. And if you've read some of McKay's other works and wonder where to go next, this is a good series to get involved in.

And, if you want to learn more about Steven McKay, he's got his own podcast now as well as a web page where you can get free stories on occasion, not to mention enter into drawings for free books and the like. Coming around Christmas - his annual Christmas novella featuring characters from his early Robin Hood series, which has become a tradition and always brightens the holidays of faithful readers everywhere.

[Doug Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered Wrath of the Picts book five in the warrior druid of Britain series as soon as steven announce the release of the paperback, I have thoroughly enjoyed and own everything he has written, this book like the previous 4 books in this series didn’t disappoint, another great plot with intrigue, adventure, action, and great characters, the story moves along at a cracking pace not a dull moment in the entire book, a novel about bravery love, hate, honor, and courage, of friendships new and old. Steven has again crafted an amazing masterpiece .iwould highly recommend this and the other books in the series

[Stacy Townend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great twisting plot

Great read
Strong story
Good characters, especially loved the two princesses totally different but both had different strengths .
Great how the story centralised around them.
Bel, Duro and Eburus all standing tall.once more and battling to save the day.
Great underlying twist as you try to figure out the why's of the plot.
Defiantly open for more excellent stories to follow with the adventures of Bel and I'm sure we have not seen the last of the pictish princess

[Linda Humberstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable adventure story with Bellicus the Druid and his pals. I think this series has got better and better and this, for me, is the best. I was disappointed that Eburus didn't make it as I think he was an interesting character that would gradually become important but alas, I am wrong. Looking forward to the next one though.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with the Druid Bellicus and oh how excited I was for this one. Each instalment continues to develop the characters and the overall plot in such a way you just yearn for it but at the same time you don’t want the book to end!

We start off learning the fate of Lancelot, one of Arthurs loyal warriors. His is not a fate that any should suffer…starved..beaten physical and mentally but still sharp as a knife with his cunning and charm.

The setting moves to Dun Breatann and this is where things really kicked up a gear.. Queen Narina has a new husband.. but let’s just say he’s not a loving husband by any means, it’s a marriage of convenience for both.. but his wandering eye is about to cause trouble.

Aife, daughter of Drest is prisoner of Queen Narina, she is there to ensure Drest will not attack Dun Breatann again.. but Aife draws some unwanted attention leading her to escape.. if that wasn’t bad enough Princess Catia has gone with her.. but the Queen can’t quite understand why..the truth is hidden from her but for how long.

Bellicus soon returns and learns of Catia’s disappearance. Queen Narina and Bellicus share more than just a strong love for each other.. Catia….People are starting to notice the resemblance..

What neither know is that while her husband Ysfael has sent men out after the Princesses, their orders and motivations aren’t good.. and it can only mean trouble.

Now Bellicus has saved Catia once, he’s not about to let her out into the world without someone to look after her. He has a deep love for the girl so even though he doesn’t know the danger she’s in his course is set and he will see Catia home safely once again and he will find out why she ran away in the first place. Aife can only be heading one place.. home.. so Bellicus sets of in pursuit.

Catia ends up not only in the company of Picts but also Saxons! This brings back bad memories of a time she was abducted by Saxons.. but why are they there and do they mean her harm again?

Now this is where the tale really gets juicy! There’s some amazing twists.. misdirection and awe inspiring scenes as Catia comes face to face with Lancelot! She vows to see him free. She shares the blood of Bellicus so you just know she will see Lancelot and the other slaves free… but their escape isnt an easy one and not everyone will want to stand together and fight.. it’s each man for themselves.

Worlds collide from this point on and it’s a mad race for Bellicus to save Catia once again..will he make it.. and if he does what will he do when he learns the truth about Ysfael.. and anyway.. what is his ultimate goal.. he’s hiding something but you are held in suspense waiting for the answers to become clear.

I’m never one for massive spoilers but this is a cracking instalment.. the urgency.. the details.. the brilliant twists and character development.. simply untouchable greatness, you won’t find a better storyteller than Steven A. McKay.

I bang on about character development a lot but it’s pivotal to a tale..if you don’t feel the characters the book will never be a 5*.. but McKay knows how to do it. This book isnt just about the Druid.. each character shows their own style and you feel for them all, even the slaves that are held captive with Lancelot.. in a short space of time emotion is infused in written words masterfully.

The ending will not disappoint you! Again no spoiler’s here but I love how the author managed emotions in this one, for everyone.. especially Bellicus, he’s a Druid after all.. he should be all to control himself…. But really? Do you think he’s going to stand by and watch what’s happening.. No chance.

[David Pilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrath of the Picts is the fifth novel in Steven A. McKay's very successful Warrior Druids of Britain series. I should say at the outset that I haven't read the previous four, so this is a strange place for a reviewer to start.

Perhaps inevitably, I struggled to pick up the storyline, at least to begin with. This is entirely my fault, not the author's, or any issue with his storytelling skills. McKay certainly knows how to spin a yarn. He writes with pace and verve and manages to put an original twist on a subject explored by many previous authors (myself included).

This is post-Roman Britain, once termed the 'Dark Ages', although that is unfashionable these days. McKay has chosen to incorporate elements of Arthurian legend, but this is not simply another retelling of that very old tale. Instead the narrative focuses on the Picts and northern Britain, a group of warrior-women and a legendary druid, Bellicus, on their mission to find the missing Princess Catia.

I have to admit to being no fan of the invincible 'warrior-woman' trope. Women exercised influence on these ancient societies in other ways, and (if done badly) the image of female warriors beating up males many times their size and weight can be most unconvincing, as well as unintentionally amusing: some of us may recall the battle scenes in the execrable King Arthur movie starring Clive Owen, in which a scantily clad Kiera Knightley hacks down any number of hulking Saxon warriors.

No such worries here. McKay is a skilful enough writer to make it convincing, and his female characters never descend to Xena Warrior Princess-style pastiche. Instead they are tough and shrewd, and have learned how to overcome physical disadvantages against men in battle. They are also, it must be said, every bit as vicious and bloodthirsty as their male counterparts. McKay paints a brutal, primitive world, in which the veneer of Roman 'civilisation' has completely fallen away, replaced by cold barbarism.

The Arthurian elements are original, although some readers might find them jarring. For instance McKay chooses to include 'Lancelot', even though the character is a much later invention of medieval French romances, who doesn't appear in early Brythonic traditions. His name aside, the character is engaging, and suffers from a kind of madness or mental breakdown. This, too, appears to be lifted from the later French cycle, albeit portrayed in a different way. The inclusion of Cai, one of Arthur's earliest companions (converted to Sir Kay in medieval traditions) made me smile: McKay has turned Cai into a dog, albeit a faithful and intelligent one.
Another original feature is the inclusion of magic. In one of the best scenes in the novel, the druid Bellicus, engages in a magical duel with a Saxon rival. However the two are really using sleight-of-hand, just like modern magicians, to fool the audience. This is very cleverly done, and convincing in an age of superstition and absolute belief.

McKay is one of a current stable of writers (others include Matthew Harffy, Griff Hosker, Conn Iggulden et al) who specialise in combat-heavy historical adventure fiction. The obvious inspiration is Bernard Cornwell, especially his Warlord Chronicle and Uhtred of Bebbanburg series. On occasion Cornwell's shadow hangs a little too heavy, especially in the gory fight scenes. Older writers, such as Arthur Conan Doyle, had a knack for depicting combat without spraying claret all over the mead-hall. That said, there are certain restrictions to any genre, not least the demands of the audience.

Overall, bar a few minor quibbles, this was an excellent read.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book five of the series, we mostly follow young princess Catia and her friend Aife as the latter flees Dun Breatann—or rather, its disreputable king, Ysfael. Catia can’t bear to see Aife leave on her own and begs the girl to take her along, thus precipitating an even bigger crisis. No one knows whether Catia has been kidnapped or not, but her disappearance gives Ysfael the excuse to execute Aife’s countrymen left behind as hostages. Our gigantic Druid, Bellicus, must involve himself in this explosive situation, for he alone can deal with all parties. Catia and Aife lead their pursuers a merry chase, especially when they discover and free Lancelot from miserable slavery on a Saxon merchant ship:

The slave stopped in his tracks, still holding the big stone, and he looked at her face again, eyes boring into her as he examined her features.
“Dun Breatann,” he breathed. “You’re Catia.”
“I am,” she replied, but he continued to speak.
“You’re the princess Bellicus was looking for.”
“You know Bel?” Catia was dumbfounded but the mention of the big druid made her feel instantly homesick and she broke off, fearing that she might burst into tears.
“Know him?” Lancelot replied, face lighting up for just a moment as he thought of Bellicus. “We’re good friends. He was with me when I killed Leofdaeg’s father on that raid together, just the two of us. What a day that was!”

Catia shows herself to be incredibly resourceful, even though she lacks the experience and martial skill of Aife. She is truly her father’s daughter, and manages to keep herself and the other fugitives one step ahead of disaster. At the same time, although Ysfael threatens the security of Dun Bretann, Bellicus manages to outmaneuver him. For the moment. This is a lively story and keeps the pages turning.

[Vivienne Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I ordered Wrath of the Picts as soon ai it was announced but saved the reading till on holiday to enjoy it to the full. My god it didn’t disappoint, I love the way he writes, full pelt no quarter asked, no quarter given. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything he has have written but this is just the best. Husband snoring away me reading to finish your book, cannot possibly go to sleep till I finish it, started this morning, well yesterday to be correct, unputdownable if there is such a word. Ye gods a triumph!!!!! Tried to leave a review on kindle but the internet here is iffy to say the least. Long time since I enjoyed a book so much, well since his last one. Knocked the others of the same genre into a cocked hat. Bliss.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellicus, his faithful dog Cai, Duro, Lancelot, Eburus, princess Catia, and princess Aife, all great characters, travel across ancient England, fighting for their survival and also a powerful Volva. But as the finally get back home they find all the picts hanging from fortress walls as the new King Consort was responsible. And responsible for the upcoming battle in the next book, The Vengeance of Merlin

[Storter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent writer

This is the first book of his that I have read, but I'm going to be reading everything else he's written. Excellent storyline that moves along really well. I also really like the characters and the way they develop during the story. I was also able to read the book out of sequence and follow along with no problem.

[Barry Lee Traill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

What can I say? Another gripping yarn from an exciting and original author, if you haven't read the 4 books in the series prior to this,then I think you should,I mean,you are really missing out on a fantastic journey if you don't.

[Martin Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

There is a lot more intrigue in this book, along with good storylines involving chases, magic battles, and the normal sword fights between characters. There is sadness along the way as well, but you are cleverly setup for the next instalment.

[George McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem...

Another fantastic tale about Bellicus and Co. Well written, (as are all of Stevens books) the story sucks you in from the 1st page. Hopefully won't have to wait long for book 6....5 out 5 on review👍

[David Reekie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner.

I really believed in the characters, and couldn't wait to read what happened next. I was really shocked when the big fella was killed. I thought it would have made a good story of he and the pictish princess had booked up and started another story line.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Another great action adventure over medieval England. There is never a dull moment and the book is hard to put down. The descriptions of the Volva's and their behaviours is great too.

[Martin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

magic

The inclusion of magic tricks to win the Shirva villagers back from Saxon volva seems at odds with the battling and conflicts in rest of series
I enjoy Bellicus etc but found tricks to the illiterates incongruous and irritating
Regards Martin

[Reece Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! Honor, friendship, bravery, love, evil, good, and a romping adventure! Great read!

[W. Boal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Gandalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Excellent as always I love reading this authors book's as he writes very gripping stories can't wait to read his next book

[Mr Bill Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff

Very enjoyable novel, fully at home with the characters now and. And can’t for the next instalment. Interesting and engaging story, thanks to the author.

[Gloria U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading

Thank you for writing such a great adventure. I’ve enjoyed all your books. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for your next book.

[Graham Trickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Rapid moving .Good characters .Interesting background and not over the top credibility wise.Enjoyed it very much and now ready for the next one.

[Chris Warburton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Yet again another fantastic book in the series, fast paced, breathless at times. Great characters and a fabulous story line.
Loved it

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great instalment in this series - fast paced and easy to read I couldn't put it down, or wait for the next

[Damien Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrath of the picts

Cunning, plots, blood and guts and topped off with a sprinkling of camaraderie and humour. A great and gritty read, thoroughly enjoyable.

[Rhys Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great instalment

I’ve read most of Steven’s books and each one keeps you hooked. Can’t wait for the next instalment of warrior Druid. Well researched and written.