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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
As a fictionalized account of the final attempt of the Britons to defend their land from invading Saxons and Irish, this is an engaging tale, with likeable heroes. As a tale of Arthur, it disappoints.
The major problem with Cornwell's characterization is that the villains are without redeeming qualities. They are invariably a combination of the following qualities: brutal, vicious, duplicitous, selfish, and cowardly. This makes Arthur come off as particularly obtuse. For example, I don't have a problem with Cornwell re-writing Lancelot to make him ignoble, but to make him as wholly reprehensible as he is, and to have every credible character except Arthur realize what a useless and narcissistic person he is, just makes Arthur look stupid. It's hard to imagine how such a man could be a great leader of soldiers in an age of social and religious conflict when he can't seem to judge them well.
Arthur's poor judgment, at least when it comes to people, is problematic in this work, but it completely drains the second book, Enemy of God, of the tragedy that is inherent in the Arthurian story.
The major problem with Cornwell's characterization is that the villains are without redeeming qualities. They are invariably a combination of the following qualities: brutal, vicious, duplicitous, selfish, and cowardly. This makes Arthur come off as particularly obtuse. For example, I don't have a problem with Cornwell re-writing Lancelot to make him ignoble, but to make him as wholly reprehensible as he is, and to have every credible character except Arthur realize what a useless and narcissistic person he is, just makes Arthur look stupid. It's hard to imagine how such a man could be a great leader of soldiers in an age of social and religious conflict when he can't seem to judge them well.
Arthur's poor judgment, at least when it comes to people, is problematic in this work, but it completely drains the second book, Enemy of God, of the tragedy that is inherent in the Arthurian story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cornwell attempts an "historically accurate" (with as little asynchronous details as possible) adaptation of Arthurian legend... and it just wasn't my cup of tea I guess.
There is definitely a lot to like and enjoy: Cornwell is a hell of a writer, and his style is at its best enthralling, pedantic at its worst. The action is great, and the character work just as great. Arthur's cool, Merlin's is a little problematic yet purposeful (and Cornwell's favoured deus ex machina), Guinevere is up to no good, and our main man Derfel is your standard affair of unexpected hero badass, "started from the bottom..." affair. The other characters are good too.
What didn't "click" for me was the total commitment to realism: such that much of what makes the Arthurian myth so appealing to me (the magick-y bits, faeries, romance, oh my!) was purposefully left out. What I got from this was simply a story of Early Medieval Britain soaked in feud and internecine war with characters who resemble those of the source. I just felt a little let down and hoped that Cornwell would deliver some exciting twist (but that never came). Things wrapped up a little too neatly (and brutally...like YIKES) with little to no incentive for me to finish this trilogy.
Don't get me wrong: this book is good, I see it and know it, but it's not "my" kind of book.
There is definitely a lot to like and enjoy: Cornwell is a hell of a writer, and his style is at its best enthralling, pedantic at its worst. The action is great, and the character work just as great. Arthur's cool, Merlin's is a little problematic yet purposeful (and Cornwell's favoured deus ex machina), Guinevere is up to no good, and our main man Derfel is your standard affair of unexpected hero badass, "started from the bottom..." affair. The other characters are good too.
What didn't "click" for me was the total commitment to realism: such that much of what makes the Arthurian myth so appealing to me (the magick-y bits, faeries, romance, oh my!) was purposefully left out. What I got from this was simply a story of Early Medieval Britain soaked in feud and internecine war with characters who resemble those of the source. I just felt a little let down and hoped that Cornwell would deliver some exciting twist (but that never came). Things wrapped up a little too neatly (and brutally...like YIKES) with little to no incentive for me to finish this trilogy.
Don't get me wrong: this book is good, I see it and know it, but it's not "my" kind of book.
The power vacuum left when the Romans retreat from Britain, had been filled by kings and warlords who not only fight amongst themselves but also fight off invading Saxons and Irish warbands. One king, Uther, manages to cobble together a group of kingdoms. But he's dying, and leaves behind him only one legitimate son, Mordredd, born with a club foot. He gets a promise from one of his allies, that he will marry Mordredd's mother, Uther's queen, and act as regent until Mordredd, then only a baby, comes of age.
When Uther dies, the king betrays his promise and attacks, killing Uther's widow and attempting to kill Mordredd. But Merlin's band of Druids and outcasts manages to save and hide the future king.
Into that tableau comes Uther's bastard son Arthur, who had been banished to Amorica and who is now a warlord of great renown. Arthur promises to protect Mordredd and hold the kingdom for his half-brother.
Following the actual historical record (what there is of it), the tale is unlike all the other Arthurian books I've read. There's little brightness in the world of the Dark Ages. It is full of betrayals and endless wars and there are few men of honor to be found. Even Arthur is flawed and despite his desire to war for peace, he's foiled at almost every turn if not by his own flaws, then by betrayals and impossible odds.
An amazing book.
When Uther dies, the king betrays his promise and attacks, killing Uther's widow and attempting to kill Mordredd. But Merlin's band of Druids and outcasts manages to save and hide the future king.
Into that tableau comes Uther's bastard son Arthur, who had been banished to Amorica and who is now a warlord of great renown. Arthur promises to protect Mordredd and hold the kingdom for his half-brother.
Following the actual historical record (what there is of it), the tale is unlike all the other Arthurian books I've read. There's little brightness in the world of the Dark Ages. It is full of betrayals and endless wars and there are few men of honor to be found. Even Arthur is flawed and despite his desire to war for peace, he's foiled at almost every turn if not by his own flaws, then by betrayals and impossible odds.
An amazing book.
This is a great, dark, adult retelling of the story of King Arthur and Merlin. I read this a long time ago and just listened to it on audio. Looking forward to listening to the sequels as I never got the chance to read them before now.
adventurous
informative
tense
Very good take on the Arthurian legend. Can’t wait to read rest of series.
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A 3.5 stars... slow to start and OK to finish but nothing special.
This is a gritty reimagining of the King Arthur story, set in post-Roman Britain. It is a period when rival groups of Britons constantly war with each other while fighting off Anglo-Saxon and Irish invaders.
Beautifully written, this book fully immerses the reader in the strange world of druids and superstition, the clash of pagan beliefs and Christianity, all the while developing the characters of Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Galahad, Merlin, and Derfel, the narrator. The main characters are well-developed, three-dimensional people with flaws, and the world they inhabit feels very realistic.
This is the second time I have read this book and I love it even more the second time around.
Beautifully written, this book fully immerses the reader in the strange world of druids and superstition, the clash of pagan beliefs and Christianity, all the while developing the characters of Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Galahad, Merlin, and Derfel, the narrator. The main characters are well-developed, three-dimensional people with flaws, and the world they inhabit feels very realistic.
This is the second time I have read this book and I love it even more the second time around.