A review by jeswalhok
The Skystone by Jack Whyte

Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.

When I stumbled upon Jack Whyte's nine-volume Arthurian chronicle in a secondhand book shop, I was surprised it existed at all. No doubt there are as yet retellings unfamiliar to me, but for an undertaking of this scope to escape my notice could mean only one thing: it was probably crap. Bearing this in mind, but with a curiosity-fueled yearning to escape my own mortal coil for the hills of Old Britannia, I restrained myself to leave with only the first volume, and tried to look forward to what might lay in store.

Regrettably, caution proved the better part of my optimism, and I scarcely made it halfway through the book before dropping it. Mr. Whyte has an evident appreciation for Roman history, but it is not enough to save this book from plodding plotting, dull men, cardboard women, and some frankly bizarre writing quirks. What possesses a man to nest past-tense narratives three deep within his first ten pages? Why cripple your protagonist from the outset if it poses no lasting physical or psychological challenges? And what is with the delusional sexual conquests and suspiciously closeted homophobia?

If you desire a more "historical" Arthur, I suggest you look to Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave series. I have also heard great things about The Warlord Chronicles. Camulod, alas, I can only recommend remain on the shelf.