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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
The first of [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg]'s so-called Warlord trilogy novels, which are a retelling/reimagining of the King Arthur Legend.
These are also novels that - despite being the author's own personal favourites of the (many) novels he has written - I have struggled with, never really getting into them or feeling any connection with the story or character in the same way as I do towards Uhtred of Bebbanburg, or to Richard Sharpe.
I don't know whether that's because these are so different than I was originally expecting (the magic and mysticism of the tales, here, are more to do with superstition and ignorance), or whether because it may be fairer to call these a tale of Derfel, who narrates the story in later life in a monastery and how - here- he first came to the service of Arthur, the King that never was.
Maybe also because of the Dark Ages setting, which - obviously, since so little is known of that period (hence the name Dark Ages!) - means that Cornwell can't really bring history to life like he does in most of his other works?
These are also novels that - despite being the author's own personal favourites of the (many) novels he has written - I have struggled with, never really getting into them or feeling any connection with the story or character in the same way as I do towards Uhtred of Bebbanburg, or to Richard Sharpe.
I don't know whether that's because these are so different than I was originally expecting (the magic and mysticism of the tales, here, are more to do with superstition and ignorance), or whether because it may be fairer to call these a tale of Derfel, who narrates the story in later life in a monastery and how - here- he first came to the service of Arthur, the King that never was.
Maybe also because of the Dark Ages setting, which - obviously, since so little is known of that period (hence the name Dark Ages!) - means that Cornwell can't really bring history to life like he does in most of his other works?
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Winter King is an interesting read. A historical fiction that doesn't shy from the history of the period (or what we know about it at least). Cornwell has obviously done his homework, but I found the endless names and places a little hard to follow at times, and only a select few characters lasted enough in my head to have any clue as to who they were when they showed up. It took me a while to get through it, and although the story beats were interesting, the focus on it being historically accurate while also being a retelling of what could have been the inspiration of Arthurian Legend means there is a whole ton of stuff to keen track of, and to keep the story moving and readable, could have been done away with!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture
I really wanted to love this, and thought I would - sadly, I did not. The first half of the book was extremely tedious, and I did not care much for this use of the first person retrospective POV for much of the book. The first half of the book consisted of exhausting, lengthy paragraphs and little to no dialogue. If I could have skipped the first half of the book, I would have given this a much better rating, as all the action and events really picked up in the last half. Overall there were very (and I mean VERY) few likeable characters. I did come to appreciate Derfel and felt like I would have enjoyed this more had I thought of it as a Derfel story rather than an Arthur story. It was not at all what I was expecting.
This was my first Cornwell novel and after going back through a lot of the reviews, I feel like I should give one of his other novels a try - so I will leave The Last Kingdom on my TBR list.
This was my first Cornwell novel and after going back through a lot of the reviews, I feel like I should give one of his other novels a try - so I will leave The Last Kingdom on my TBR list.
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Si tenéis ganas de epicidad plasmada en todos los aspectos posibles de una novela, pero sin magia potagia y dragones, vuestra estantería está falta de estas Leyendas Artúricas, libres de mierdas y mitos manidos.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I was in middle school I had an arthurian phase and I read many series based on the knights of the round table, it was nice to go through this book which is a much more realistic take on a highly romanticized tale. Though graphic, harsh, and clearly written for men I found it very interesting.
3.75 Picked up this because of a rave by Trevor Finn and I'm really glad I did. It was a long, dense-feeling read but I didn't waver. I haven't read any fantasy in several decades despite it being my main focus as a teen. I worried I wouldn't click with it. And while the languid pace of much of this, and the heavy description were both things for me to re-acclimatize to, I really enjoyed it. I'm sure that was in no small part because of how grounded and gritty it all felt. There was almost something noir-horrorish about parts of it. It's a down in the mud, visceral take on the story, very well told. I especially liked the practical, grotesque approach to magic in the Druids. I would love to read more of that from Cornwell. And, I want to put this up as the all time Spitter's Book. I can't imagine a book with more spitting in it than The Winter King. And that's a good thing, I promise.