The Valiant
CBC Books | Posted: March 14, 2017 6:16 PM | Last Updated: July 12, 2018
Lesley Livingston
The youngest daughter of a proud Celtic king, Fallon has always lived in the shadow of her older sister Sorcha's legendary reputation as a warrior. But when Fallon was a young child, the armies of Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain and her beloved older sister was killed in battle. On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her rightful place in her father's royal war band. But she never gets the chance. Instead, Fallon is captured by a band of ruthless brigands who sell her to an exclusive training school for female gladiators — a school whose most influential patron is none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, Fallon's worst enemy, the man who destroyed her family, might be her only hope of survival. Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, chilling threats and the dangerous attention of Caesar himself to survive the deadly fights that take place both in and out of the arena — and claim her place in history among the Valiant. (From HarperCollins Canada)
From the book
The steam rising off the backs of the cantering horses faded into the morning fog. Our chariot raced toward the far end of the Forgotten Vale, and Maelgwyn Ironhand — my charioteer, constant companion, and frequent adversary — pulled back on the reins.
"No!" I shouted. "Faster! Make them run faster!"
From The Valiant by Lesley Livingston ©2017. Published by HarperCollins Canada.