The woman who should have been queen. Boudicca. Her father was King of Iceni. She was preparing to marry the man of her choice. And then Rome came. No longer allowed to live life the way they always had, the Iceni people learned to accept Rome's rule. But not Boudicca. And not her lover, Tallas.

Tallas organized the initial revolt against Rome. Not well enough though. He was captured. And then he was brutally killed for his actions. Boudicca and her father were forced to watch his execution. And then the king was stripped of his sovereignty, and Boudicca was forced into a marriage with the man chosen by Rome to replace her father as King of Iceni. Unable to accept this final shame, Boudicca's father took his own life. Boudicca swore vengence. Remember. Tallas would be remembered. Her father would be remembered. Iceni would be remembered.

Already carrying Tallas's child when she wed, Boudicca allowed herself to become complacent in her marriage to Prasutagus. She allowed herself to be mildly happy in this life that Rome had created. She was Queen after all. It was something. She even bore another child for Prasutagus. But when Prasutagus died, and the Romans came and raped her small daughters, Boudicca could be complacent no longer. Her heart cried for revenge. Her sword would extract it. Organizing an army of her subjects-reminding them of all Rome had taken away-Boudicca led her army on a march across the country. They left a trail of blood and bodies behind them. There would be no mercy for Rome, as Rome had shown no mercy to them. They would remember Boudicca. They would remember the woman who should have been queen.

BOUDICCA was unique in that it did not really have any romance in the story. However, you could feel Boudicca's longing for her lost love, Tallas. Having the entire story told as though it were Boudicca's thoughts constantly in motion was a bit distracting though. At points it was somewhat difficult to stay focused on the story.

BOUDICCA was a graphic recollection of how vengence was extracted in that time period. Not quite my preference in a Romance story, but Ms. Smith did do an excellent job of projecting the yearning for a love that was lost. And in fostering the desire to remember.

Reviewed by Tracy Atencio
©August 2004