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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're going to tell an old fairy tale in a "gritty, grounded" fashion, this is how to tell it. Heroism, romance and tragedy. Romanticism over pedantry.
This book is a little better than the first one. I am becoming more familiarized with the characters so they are looking more like those people you knew in high school, lost contact with but still would like to know what happened to them.
Lancelot is a jerk, Guinevere is a liar and I like this take on those characters. Arthur is such a naive person that it is hard to see how he led an army and became so famous when his followers and most trusted advisors are questioning his decisions all the time - and with good reason. Well, I think maybe we will find more in the last installment of this series.
Lancelot is a jerk, Guinevere is a liar and I like this take on those characters. Arthur is such a naive person that it is hard to see how he led an army and became so famous when his followers and most trusted advisors are questioning his decisions all the time - and with good reason. Well, I think maybe we will find more in the last installment of this series.
Keeps getting better. As the series has progressed, the story gets so much better, with deeper characters.
Cornwell spends so much time on battles and not as much time on the characters. I wish there was a map in this one.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
I enjoyed this sequel slightly more than the first book. It is the same length as the first, but I felt this book made twice as much progress in both plot and character development. The ending was satisfying, if not marginally cathartic, and I think it's a great setup going into the conclusion of the trilogy.
However, I can't help thinking that Uhtred from Cornwell's Saxon Stories is the superior character. I can't help making the comparison, and it's unavoidable given their similar origin stories. Not to mention the practically identical memoir-like narrative device in the books. Derfel is a fantastic protagonist and narrator for this tale, but he's missing that ineffable quality Uhtred was able to create. It's as if Derfel walks so that Uhtred could later run. In retrospect, I wish I had read this trilogy before picking up The Last Kingdom. That would have worked better historically speaking as well.
Regardless, I'm excited to pick up the last book of this Arthurian retelling. It's probably my last Cornwell for the foreseeable future but I'm motivated to continue reading more historical fiction.
However, I can't help thinking that Uhtred from Cornwell's Saxon Stories is the superior character. I can't help making the comparison, and it's unavoidable given their similar origin stories. Not to mention the practically identical memoir-like narrative device in the books. Derfel is a fantastic protagonist and narrator for this tale, but he's missing that ineffable quality Uhtred was able to create. It's as if Derfel walks so that Uhtred could later run. In retrospect, I wish I had read this trilogy before picking up The Last Kingdom. That would have worked better historically speaking as well.
Regardless, I'm excited to pick up the last book of this Arthurian retelling. It's probably my last Cornwell for the foreseeable future but I'm motivated to continue reading more historical fiction.
I mean...was anyone surprised? Truly? The signs were there.
A delightful, exciting read. As always the narrator is superb.
A delightful, exciting read. As always the narrator is superb.