When Women Were Warriors



A trilogy by Catherine M. Wilson that includes The Warrior's Path, A Journey of the Heart, and A Hero's Tale. Beginning with the words "all the women of my family had gone to war", narrator Tamras tells the tale of how she is fostered in the house of a neighboring Lady and comes to understand the path of a warrior. Set during the Bronze Age, it's an adventure story wound up with honor, love, and following one's heart. The author calls it "epic, not fantasy", but it takes many elements of mythology into account.

This book provides examples of:

 * The Archer: The weapon of choice for Tamras, who is notably smaller than the other warriors and can't fight with a sword.
 * Cast Full of Gay: The female warriors all seem to tend this way. The main couple is Tamras and, and of the warriors who do end up with men, only Namet is portrayed as having been deeply in love rather than having an heir. Non-warriors seem to be a bit more equal-oppurtunity.
 * Dark Is Not Evil: People who are dark-haired or skin are revered by people who "hold the old ways" but distrusted by others. There is no personality difference.
 * The Heros Journey: The overreaching arc of the three books.
 * Sex Slave: Horrifying, this is how  is treated from the age of eleven.
 * Teacher Student Romance: Apparently everyone but Tamras knows.