Warrior Queens: Book Three in The Spirit Level Series

In a quiet, pretty village on the Devon coast, Julia appears to have it all. Money, beautiful house, handsome husband, creativity. But something is missing – something that consumes her every thought.
Claire, mother to six children, also seems to have an abundant life, but to her it is a life-threatening trap.
Trixie loves her Devon cottage and her gorgeous surfer boyfriend but what is she secretly hiding that is making her so unhappy, and so unwell?
And how is the village legend of an ancient warrior queen linked to the three friends?

Although Warrior Queens is the third book in The Spirit Level Series it is very much a STANDALONE story. You don't need to read the first two books in the series first!

First review by respected Book Reviewer, Anne
"5* Emotional, uplifting, and quite unforgettable
While her outwardly perfect marriage certainly harbours some secrets behind closed doors – I’ve rarely detested a character as much as I did husband Henry – Julia, a talented artist and the one who brought money to the marriage, is repeatedly willing to compromise and ignore them if it means the chance of a family. And family life is something Claire certainly excels at, with her five closely spaced children and well-honed coping skills – although another baby on the way was really the last thing she wanted, and it might just be time to say “enough”. Trixie was thrilled, thanks to a legacy, to be able to move into the cosy period cottage of her dreams – but surfer boyfriend Finn has since rather taken over, putting his stamp on the place, with the uncomfortably minimalist sitting room (complete with fake fireplace) and the streamlined white kitchen. And the cottage isn’t all he’s tried to change – her eagerness to please him is now beginning to have some serious personal consequences.

I have to say that these three women entirely won my heart – they’re so very real, going through such difficult experiences, showing such exceptional bravery and resilience, and finding strength in each other. As a story of female friendship and what it can accomplish, this book is exceptional – and the women’s struggles were something I could really feel with every new obstacle in their paths, desperately wanting them to be able to find their own paths to happiness. The author has the most perfect emotional touch – there were a few times when I wasn’t far from tears, although the warmth of their support for each other was immensely touching and also often brought a smile.

And then there’s the supernatural element – that ancient warrior queen, a figure sometimes felt or glimpsed when additional strength is needed, willing them on when they’re most in need of encouragement. It’s really beautifully handled – never overly disturbing, a powerful feeling of shared effort and strong support, all tied in with that find on the golf course and an earlier time of struggle for female survival.
I must say a word for the male characters in this book too and the way they’re depicted. They’re most certainly neither stereotyped nor universally unlikeable. Arthur really is an absolute sweetheart – I won’t spoil the story by introducing him further, but I do guarantee that every reader will love him as much as I did, proof that there really are some good men out there. And Claire’s husband Mike? The misguided one? I do hope you’ll come to have the same soft spot for him that I did once he started to see the error of his ways.