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kendylldrilling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
desolation73's review against another edition
4.0
I nearly reached for another Sharpe novel and thought ah Ill try another Bernard Cornwell novel and I think this is a splendid arthurian retelling, im looking to the rest of this trilogy now.
papisto's review
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
book_baron's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wouterk's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting book. A great mix between, action, politics, history and culture.
I first had a hard time getting into this book with all the names of people and places, being not very familiar with medieval England and all. However, as the story progressed I really got into it. This story is told with Derfel Cadarn as narrator, an old monk and in the past soldier and shield brother of Arthur.
Derfel tells the story of Arthur in a way that does much more justice to the historical context than in many an Arthur retelling. The world is gritty, Britain is constantly beset by Saxons and as much in turmoil by internal strife. There is an ongoing battle for peoples hearts between druidic shamanism and Christianity. In battle Druids play important roles but their magic is funnily reminiscent of Granny Weatherwax in Terry Pratchetts Discworld (iykyk).
Cornwell also takes quite some interesting and exciting liberties with the polished characters we know from Arthurian stories. He pictures Merlin as a (imho) Sociopathic druid that still does a lot of good, but more as a byproduct than intentionally. Similarly Lancelot is a Narcissistic lying @hole that manipulates his way into fame rather than being actually heroic. Arthur himself is still idealistic strifing for a united and peaceful Britain, however suffers much from pride and self-centeredness as well. Guinevere is indeed a stately queen, but also a frivolous and promiscuous one, caring only for beautiful things and discarding anything else.
In hindsight I think the beginning was actually quite nice. It gives the reader a nice overview of the historical events leading up to where we enter the story, skimming over the birth of Mordred and the death of Uther but still in a show-don't-tell-style story. So it still describes events. If you get lost there don't worry, it just sets you up and everything will fall into place and will end into an epic story with epic battles, interesting places such as the Isle of the Dead, some very gruesome, but also some very wholesome scenes.
In conclusion I would definitely recommend this epic retelling to anyone and will soon try to see if the second book is as good. If you are into audiobooks, the narration is great.
I first had a hard time getting into this book with all the names of people and places, being not very familiar with medieval England and all. However, as the story progressed I really got into it. This story is told with Derfel Cadarn as narrator, an old monk and in the past soldier and shield brother of Arthur.
Derfel tells the story of Arthur in a way that does much more justice to the historical context than in many an Arthur retelling. The world is gritty, Britain is constantly beset by Saxons and as much in turmoil by internal strife. There is an ongoing battle for peoples hearts between druidic shamanism and Christianity. In battle Druids play important roles but their magic is funnily reminiscent of Granny Weatherwax in Terry Pratchetts Discworld (iykyk).
Cornwell also takes quite some interesting and exciting liberties with the polished characters we know from Arthurian stories. He pictures Merlin as a (imho) Sociopathic druid that still does a lot of good, but more as a byproduct than intentionally. Similarly Lancelot is a Narcissistic lying @hole that manipulates his way into fame rather than being actually heroic. Arthur himself is still idealistic strifing for a united and peaceful Britain, however suffers much from pride and self-centeredness as well. Guinevere is indeed a stately queen, but also a frivolous and promiscuous one, caring only for beautiful things and discarding anything else.
In hindsight I think the beginning was actually quite nice. It gives the reader a nice overview of the historical events leading up to where we enter the story, skimming over the birth of Mordred and the death of Uther but still in a show-don't-tell-style story. So it still describes events. If you get lost there don't worry, it just sets you up and everything will fall into place and will end into an epic story with epic battles, interesting places such as the Isle of the Dead, some very gruesome, but also some very wholesome scenes.
In conclusion I would definitely recommend this epic retelling to anyone and will soon try to see if the second book is as good. If you are into audiobooks, the narration is great.
carlybroady's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
amber_lfor's review
I wanted to like this book. I read the series when I was younger, and put up with a lot, the second reading I just couldn't do! The women lack personality, and are mainly seen as beautiful and meek, or defiant and ugly in some way. I'm about 100 pages in and 3 women have been raped. All I want is a good historical book that does women justice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and War
I would only bother if you have a strong stomach and can bare outdated writing about women.jakelewis_23_'s review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant
A great start to what I think will be a great series, all the foundations of another masterclass by Mr Cornwell. I could read his books all day long, the perfect mix of action and character to draw you in and hold you there.
A great start to what I think will be a great series, all the foundations of another masterclass by Mr Cornwell. I could read his books all day long, the perfect mix of action and character to draw you in and hold you there.
takumo_n's review
5.0
A wonderful retelling of King Arthur, with all the narrative freedom that the lack of information of the Dark Ages can give you. In this case it brings the story without actual magic, but with the bottomless superstition of those times, and because they believed in magic, it feels that it exists. Even though the rituals and spells are completely ridiculous. There's complex politics and a deep sense of honor between the most powerful characters. The personalities are all well fleshed out, and nobody is lost in the epic of it all, even the smallest ones. The story is told by an old Derfel telling the story to his Queen Igraine.
Some quotes that I liked:
"There was something about the hopelessness of our plight that eroded normal behaviour and so we crammed as much living as we could into those hours before our expected deaths."
"I learned that the joy and the fear are the exact same things, the one merely transformed into the other by action."
"I do understand that you can look into someone's eyes,' I heard myself saying, 'and suddenly know that life will be impossible without them. Know that their voice can make your heart miss a beat and that their company is all your happiness can ever desire and that their absence will leave your soul alone, bereft and lost."
Some quotes that I liked:
"There was something about the hopelessness of our plight that eroded normal behaviour and so we crammed as much living as we could into those hours before our expected deaths."
"I learned that the joy and the fear are the exact same things, the one merely transformed into the other by action."
"I do understand that you can look into someone's eyes,' I heard myself saying, 'and suddenly know that life will be impossible without them. Know that their voice can make your heart miss a beat and that their company is all your happiness can ever desire and that their absence will leave your soul alone, bereft and lost."