Reviewers Rave About
Ursula's Maiden Army
by Philip Griffin

Winner of a BRONZE in the Independent Publisher's (IPPY) Book of the Year Awards (Historical Fiction)

"When the army of Roman Britain travels to the mainland of Europe to assist Rome in its battles, they leave their women and children to face Pict and Hibernian raiders. Princess Ursula takes matters into her own hands, forming an army of young women who defend their homes before ultimately taking part in the defense of Europe against the invading Huns. Basing his story on the few bits of existing information about St. Ursula, the legendary martyr of Cologne, debut author Griffin has written a powerful story of friendship, courage, loyalty, and faith. Not just Ursula but her comrades-in-arms---peace-loving Brittola, vengeance-driven Pinnosa, and the survivor and narrator Cordula---are finely drawn characters, breathing life into figures of legend. Historical fantasy at its best, this book, first published in Germany, belongs in most libraries and is suitable for mature YAs."—Library Journal

A Highlighted Title in the Independent Publisher on-line magazine

"In the fifth century, when the Roman-Britannia men leave their island home to fight on the continent defending the Roman Empire, their women and children seem like easy pickings for the other residents of Britannia. Knowing that the Picts, Hibernians and Saxons will at a minimum plunder, but more likely rape and kill, Princess Ursula knows she must lead the left behind with boldness. Her plan is to raise an army of women to defend their people. Enlisting her best friends Pinnosa, Brittola, Cordula, Martha and Saula to assist her, they establish an all female military that effectively defeats their adversarial neighbors in combat.

"When their men fail to return home as expected, Ursula and her inner circle believe most are dead as Rome is falling to the barbarians. They need a new plan that provides them with male allies and mates. Ursula leads her eleven thousand all female army onto the continent heading to Germania for an unheard of marriage of two giant forces. However, instead of reaching their wedding destination, Ursula's Maiden Army battles the Huns knowing that of they lose, death would be the most comfortable fate.

"This is a terrific fifth century historical fiction based on the limited knowledge (more legend than factual) of Saint Ursula the martyr of Cologne, Germany. The action-packed story line brings alive the era through the eyes of the sextet of females, which Philip Griffin shows his writing skills by making each of the six contain different personalities. Fans of ancient era thrillers will appreciate this rendering of a legendary courageous warrior woman and her army of fighting females." —Harriet Klausner, Amazon.com's #1 Reviewer

"The tales of Ursula, and her friends, Pinnosa, Brittola, Cordula, Martha, and Saula in their adventures together are fiercely entertaining.... Working with little historical precedent, author Philip Griffin has developed a highly charismatic figure in Ursula, believable in her deeds and choices, both heroic and human."—Midwest Book Review

“In this powerful tale from a dark, half-forgotten corner of history, women of valor are all that stand between civilization and the most dreaded scourge of their day—the Huns. The story never flags as it builds relentlessly to a crescendo. I cared for these characters, and didn’t want to let them go.”—Donna Gillespie, author of The Light Bearer

“Philip Griffin has a great storyteller-style. The story still kept me gripped and reading far into the night; [it] is an admirably well-paced and action-filled novel.”—Rachel Hyde for My Shelf.com

“Griffin does a good job of imagining a courageous woman, buffeted by back luck and the tides of history. The ending is clever and satisfying. The novel does justice to the legend!”—Roundtable Reviews

“Griffin has created surprisingly full-bodied female characters, characters that will stick with readers long after they have put this book down.”—Front Street Reviews

Published in Germany by Rowohlt Taschenbuch as Das Heer der Jungfrauen in December 2004, Ursula's Maiden Army was a “recommended read” in Die Welt, Germany’s largest circulation daily.

Read the facts about Saint Ursula