I find it hard to believe three years have passed since I reviewed Lucy Holland’s Sistersong. Now Holland is back with a companion novel, Song of the Huntress. Once again, we are treated to a tale of British folklore… with a twist.
What Is Song of the Huntress?
The first question to get out of the way is whether one should read Sistersong before reading Song of the Huntress. You can certainly read Song of the Huntress as a standalone novel and your enjoyment won’t suffer too much if you do, but the two books work together as a pair. It would make sense to start with Sistersong as it sets the scene for Dark Ages Britain and the arrival of Christianity via the Saxons as they seek to coexist with the indigenous Britons.
The events of Song of the Huntress take place many years after those in Sistersong, and the novels don’t share any main characters (with one minor mythical exception). The two do, however, share a folkloric root, with some of the myths and legends overlapping. This means that the events of Sistersong inform the actions of some of the characters in Song of the Huntress, and by reading both, readers will be able to fully enjoy the picture that Holland paints.
One of the hallmarks of a Lucy Holland novel is the subversion of a traditional British folklore tale. In this case that of the Wild Hunt, which has many European roots, and Gwyn ap Nudd, who is associated with Glastonbury Tor. In Song of the Huntress, Herla, a member of Boudicca’s Iceni tribe, is tricked by Gwyn ap Nudd into leading the hunt. Trapped to do so for eternity, she raids across the fields of Britain once a month, cleaving souls wherever she and her hunting party go.
Hundreds of years after Boudica, King Ine and his wife Aethelburg (of Wessex) stand upon a precipice. Forces rise against them, plots are formed in the shadows, and the two are not communicating. No heir is apparent. When Aethelburg is about to be struck down by Herla and the Hunt, Aethelburg is rescued by Geraint, a King of the Britons and nominally her husband’s enemy. Aethelburg watches on as Ine’s brother, Ingild, stabs Geraint in the back. This shocking act sets in motion events that will see Ingild attempt to take his brother’s throne.
Thanks to Geraint’s actions Herla finds herself free of the curse of the Hunt, free to roam Wessex, and free to pursue the queen she has become entranced by. Then follows a tale of superstition and witchcraft, as Ine and Aethelburg find themselves pitted against foes both human and from the Otherworld. Can Herla help them, or will her role as leader of the Hunt ultimately ruin them all?
Why Read Song of the Huntress?
Song of the Huntress is another excellent retelling of forgotten British history. From reading this book, I wanted to find out more about the history and timelines of the kingdoms of the early Britons. It’s a fascinating rabbit hole to fall down. As with Sistersong, Lucy Holland mines this tranche of history to great effect, very much enjoying storytelling in the margins of accepted fact.
It took me a while to work my way into Song of the Huntress. The old English names, particularly for places I thought I should know, required a bit of effort to come to grips with. There are quite a few characters in the book too, all with similar names and/or functions within Ine’s kingdom. As for Sistersong, the initial effort expended in tracking the narrative is worth it.
The novel has several narrative strands that all work well together. There is the manner in which Christianity is changing the traditions, folklore, and attitudes of Britain, as well as men who use religious persecution for their own gains. Conversely, there are also men who use religious teaching to spread compassion and understanding. There are parallels here with modern religious posturing and contemporary political mores, which offer the reader food for thought.
The central narrative arc is the battle for the kingdom of Wessex. It’s a classic tale of brutal dark ages combat, supplemented by the book’s supernatural undertones. The fight scenes in the book are compelling.
Continuing a theme that started in Sistersong, the story also examines gender identity and sexuality. The story would probably have worked without this modern reframing, but it would have lost much of its emotional heft. Set against a backdrop of ruling a kingdom, Ine and Aethelburg have to navigate the issues within their marriage and confront truths they hide from one another and even themselves. Ultimately, Song of the Huntress is a story about the strength of love and the importance of making an emotional connection with the people you surround yourself with.
I think what I most enjoy about Lucy Holland’s novels is their setting. This period of British history is overlooked when it comes to storytelling or sanitized so much that it becomes anemic. Holland manages to balance the grit and superstition of the time with her modern interpretation of Britain’s less explored histories. She brings post-Christian, pre-Norman British history alive in a vital fashion, making for an excellent read and one that makes you realize the depth of the past.
If you would like to pick up a copy of Song of the Huntress. you can do so here in the US, and here in the UK. (Affiliate Links)
If you enjoyed this review check out my other book reviews.
I received a copy of this book in order to write this review.
