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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Bello eh ma non per me. Ho faticato per la prima parte. Ho provato per la seconda, ma alla terza ho detto basta. Cornwell scrive egregiamente ma non fa per me.
Słyszałem dużo dobrego i nie zawiodłem się. Ciekawy sposób narracji, wyraziste postaci, ale to co stanowi siłę tej książki, to tak na prawdę dosyć kameralna skala wydarzeń. Bitwy toczone są nie przez setki tysięcy żołnierzy, a "epickość" nie wylewa się z kartek. Zamiast tego, mamy do czynienia z armiami liczącymi kilkuset żołnierzy, a przebieg walki śledzimy z perspektywy członka muru tarcz. Po czytaniu dużej ilości fantasy, gdzie więcej=lepiej, działa to dosyć odświeżająco, bo ani przez chwilę nie czułem się przez to mniej zaangażowany.
Dochodzi też mitologia, której jest tu całkiem sporo. Nie wchodzimy w nią jakoś głęboko, ale stanowi całkiem ważny element historii. Jest dosyć groteskowa, ale dodaje tej książce specyficznego charakteru. Moje pierwsze spotkanie z Cornwellem uznaję za bardzo udane i na pewno będę kontynuował.
Dochodzi też mitologia, której jest tu całkiem sporo. Nie wchodzimy w nią jakoś głęboko, ale stanowi całkiem ważny element historii. Jest dosyć groteskowa, ale dodaje tej książce specyficznego charakteru. Moje pierwsze spotkanie z Cornwellem uznaję za bardzo udane i na pewno będę kontynuował.
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
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.
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
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, War
I would only bother if you have a strong stomach and can bare outdated writing about women.
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.