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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
The Winter King is an Arthurian story you have never read before. Cornwell focuses more on the historical background rather than the well-known magical story. This is a good thing. A very good thing.
The novel is set in a period of time where the Romans have left and the Anglo-Saxons have started their raids. Meanwhile the Britons, Celts, fight among themselves for becoming High King. It is up to Arthur to make Mordred, still a baby, the future King of England.
It is told from the perspective of Derfel, a monk secrectly writing down the story. In intervals, we read about him discussing the story with Queen Igraine. This framed story gives a different and interesting take on the Arhurian tale. Igraine is the reader's voice, asking Derfel about the common ideas (misconceptions) about the Arthurian legend, while Derfel refutes these misconceptions and tells the tale from his limited perspective and personal development.
Derfel was there. He was a warrior participating in the many battles and witnessing the politics behind them.
Although Merlin's and Lancelot's part in the story can't be defended historically, Cornwell admits that they have become such an integral part of the story that he can't omit them.
An interesting note on magic: Although many people believe magic is real, it is never truly shown. Enchantments are cast, but it is the people's believe in them that make the 'work'. It was interesting to see this take: magic as a sincere fraud. .
The book has a good pace and variety. There are many battles, but there is also character development and historical background. The writing style is accessible but not simplistic.
As this is book one of a trilogy, I will definitely read the others too.
The novel is set in a period of time where the Romans have left and the Anglo-Saxons have started their raids. Meanwhile the Britons, Celts, fight among themselves for becoming High King. It is up to Arthur to make Mordred, still a baby, the future King of England.
It is told from the perspective of Derfel, a monk secrectly writing down the story. In intervals, we read about him discussing the story with Queen Igraine. This framed story gives a different and interesting take on the Arhurian tale. Igraine is the reader's voice, asking Derfel about the common ideas (misconceptions) about the Arthurian legend, while Derfel refutes these misconceptions and tells the tale from his limited perspective and personal development.
Derfel was there. He was a warrior participating in the many battles and witnessing the politics behind them.
Although Merlin's and Lancelot's part in the story can't be defended historically, Cornwell admits that they have become such an integral part of the story that he can't omit them.
An interesting note on magic:
The book has a good pace and variety. There are many battles, but there is also character development and historical background. The writing style is accessible but not simplistic.
As this is book one of a trilogy, I will definitely read the others too.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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:
N/A
Bernard Cornwell is an excellent historical fiction author and brings this period of history to life. The book was so exciting in places I didn't want to put it down. I shall definitely be reading more in this series.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This style of writing didn’t click with me. I try to give any novel 100 pages before I make a decision and once I arrived there it was hard to deny.
It was hard to tell what was going on at time. The scenes were vivid, but everything felt jumbled up at times. There were so many characters to keep track of and the plot wasn’t made clear enough for me to keep going.
It was hard to tell what was going on at time. The scenes were vivid, but everything felt jumbled up at times. There were so many characters to keep track of and the plot wasn’t made clear enough for me to keep going.
challenging
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
Perhaps one of the most written about legendary figures in history has to be Arthur. I thought this work was excellent and got the Audible version which was highly entertaining. This story is told by a monk, who was once a pagan, warrior, slave, Saxon and a friend of Arthur. As the monk(who is old) writes the legend of Arthur for a Queen he recalls the life of the hero of ancient Britain. Intense battle scenes, colorful characters (Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere etc.), and a unique spin on the legend.
I really enjoyed it. However as I listened to the audiobook read by Jonathan Keeble, whom I have only ever heard narrate Warhammer 40,000 books, I kept having trouble picturing the characters as ancient British warriors and not as Space Marines. But that added to the entertainment value.
Ciekawa lektura i choć z początku nie wiedziałam, czego się po niej spodziewać, to jednak nie do końca odpowiada mi styl pisania autora -pomimo mistrzowskiego pióra, książka zawiera zbyt wiele opisów, a za mało dialogów. Nie lubię też fabuły pisanej w pierwszej osobie, a tutaj mamy akcję opowiadaną z perspektywy Derfyel'a - narratora saksońskiego pochodzenia. Pomimo tych defektów, postanowiłam jednak kontynuować serię, ponieważ wielbicielką słynnego króla Artura byłam już od dziecka, więc opowieści o legendach arturiańskich zawsze mnie ciekawiły.
Pierwszą część skończyłam z lekkim niedosytem, co mnie niejako trochę zaskoczyło, bo już na samym początku wydawało mi się, że pozycja pisana w pierwszej osobie skończy się porzuceniem książki gdzieś pośrodku akcji, no ale stało się tak, że dobrnęłam do końca i jeszcze zachciało mi się więcej.
Daję 4, bo Cornwell ma jednak świetne pióro i gdyby nie te przeważające zbyt długie opisy, dałabym 5.
Pierwszą część skończyłam z lekkim niedosytem, co mnie niejako trochę zaskoczyło, bo już na samym początku wydawało mi się, że pozycja pisana w pierwszej osobie skończy się porzuceniem książki gdzieś pośrodku akcji, no ale stało się tak, że dobrnęłam do końca i jeszcze zachciało mi się więcej.
Daję 4, bo Cornwell ma jednak świetne pióro i gdyby nie te przeważające zbyt długie opisy, dałabym 5.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No