The Mark of the Horse Lord (1965)

This is shocking for me with a Rosemary Sutcliff book, especially one a lot of other people loved, but I didn't really like this. I somehow didn't really care. I didn't much like Phaedrus, which helped, but I'm sure I would've got to like him in the normal way of things with one of Sutcliff's books, but nope. Maybe it's the fact that I've been working on Sword at Sunset for my dissertation for months and either I'm burnt out on Sutcliff or this just doesn't compare, or even a bit of both.

Plus, the central theme being Bad Woman Needs Putting Down and Matriarchal Rule Is Inferior To Patriarchal Rule Because The Menz Say So is a bit... off putting. Sutcliff's never that wonderful with female characters, really, but that aspect really took the cake. ( )

When Phaedrus the Gladiator is convinced to pose as Midir, the blinded Lord of the Dalriadain, he is caught up in a tangled web of political maneuvering and deceit. In the end he discovers his place and that perhaps he himself is truly a leader of what has become his people. Very beautifully written. ( )

Rosemary Sutcliff at the height of her powers. I read this as a youngster, but have got far more out of it as an adult. This edition however lacks Charles Keeping's bold black Sixties style illustrations which I remember added to the atmosphere. Vivid, fast-paced adventure set amongst warring Picts and Scots in the parts of Scotland the Romans never managed to subdue, north of the Antonine Wall. Phaedrus the gladiator accepts his destiny, to become leader of the clan of the Horse Lord, having an uncanny likeness to their lost chieftain Midir. There's a witch-goddess woman to defeat, and a love interest with the witch's daughter. Builds to a tragic yet triumphant ending. ( )

from bn.com
Phaedrus, an enslaved gladiator in northern Britain in the first century, earns his freedom by killing his best friend, a fellow gladiator, in a final fight to the death ( )

This is another book that the basic premise was brilliant, but its execution was not so. The story it's still good, but I did not enjoy the writing.

It's not a happy-ever-after story, but I found the end fitting, albeit sad. I liked the main character Phaedrus a lot (how couldn't I, a huge red head gladiator?), but I felt more drawn to a secondary character, Conory. I wish there was more about him in it.

My biggest complaint about this book is that there seems to be almost no female characters at all. There are two that are named, one is the evil usurper of the throne, the other her daughter whom the main character has to marry. And that is almost all there is to them.

It was nice, but I had hoped it would be better.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts ( )