Ambitious ... The novel’s overall ride is enjoyable enough, but I often got tripped up by specifics ... North is making some thoughtful arguments here, loosely likening Brexit’s anti-European Union stance to the Celtic hesitation about the Roman Empire, but it all gets wrapped up hastily. The opposition is never clearly voiced, probably to preserve mystery about the druid’s ultimate demise, but the village is enjoyable enough that I think I just wanted more time there.
There is an immense tenderness laced through Bog Queen ... North takes us from the expected mysteries of a body in a bog into reflection on the web of life that links everyone. That insight, combined with a page-turning narrative, makes Bog Queen a book with something to offer any thoughtful reader.
It’s inevitable that the character of Agnes cannot help but be less magnetic than the regal druid. Nevertheless, this is a memorable tale of the unexpected linkages of history, land, and female power. North widens her range with this layered mystery-meets-ancient-history mashup.
