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.
