bentheoverlordsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A masterpiece. Cornwell is such a methodical and precise writer, his prose was truly stunning. I love his interpretation of Arthur, viewed through the lens of Derfel. I love seeing characters I know be done in a more realistic and some times villainous way, and I grew to love Derfel and his relationships with Nimue, Gawaub, Cwyen and even Guiniviere.
The battles in the book were spectactular and detailed, the book also highlighting both the darkness and the light of saxon era Britain and the tenuous relationships kings had with each other. It was interesting seeing allies become enemies and vice versa as the story progressed.
I can't wait to dive in to book 2 and 3 and I hope they are just as well done.
The battles in the book were spectactular and detailed, the book also highlighting both the darkness and the light of saxon era Britain and the tenuous relationships kings had with each other. It was interesting seeing allies become enemies and vice versa as the story progressed.
I can't wait to dive in to book 2 and 3 and I hope they are just as well done.
yashrin's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
klarareadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paulh_nguyen's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
novelideea's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Rape, Gore, Blood, Sexual assault, Slavery, Misogyny, Excrement, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
greyforest's review against another edition
5.0
Bernard Cornwell knows how to tell a story set in our world that seems so authentic and real yet so alien and mythical. The historical detail in this book from armor and weapons to mythology and customs, the names, terms, and more is outstanding. Dark Ages Britain was a weird place and Cornwell shows that in it's entirety. As well as a crumbling place bereft of a united identity, abandoned by the Romans, invaded by the Saxons, and inner fighting.
Bernard knows how to write action scenes and the fights in this book are memorable, bloody, and viscerally real feeling to the point that you feel like you're in the shieldwall.
The characters are great and memorable. The heroic protagonist of our story Derfel is memorable with his own faults and pros. Arthur is realistically portrayed, an easily lovable man who can charm an entire room and convince men to die for him but one who can act on emotion and impulse to detrimental effect. Nimue, Gallahad, and more are so memorable. And the villains so hateable you have to root for your protagonists.
Highly recommend if you want a dark and realistic retelling or Arthur that is light on the magic and heavy on the shieldwall and characters.
Bernard knows how to write action scenes and the fights in this book are memorable, bloody, and viscerally real feeling to the point that you feel like you're in the shieldwall.
The characters are great and memorable. The heroic protagonist of our story Derfel is memorable with his own faults and pros. Arthur is realistically portrayed, an easily lovable man who can charm an entire room and convince men to die for him but one who can act on emotion and impulse to detrimental effect. Nimue, Gallahad, and more are so memorable. And the villains so hateable you have to root for your protagonists.
Highly recommend if you want a dark and realistic retelling or Arthur that is light on the magic and heavy on the shieldwall and characters.
taisie22's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Bernard Cornwell is lauded for his historical fiction, and justly so. I've read many versions of the Arthurian legends, from Tennyson and Mallory to Stewart, E.B. White, Bradley, and others. This is not one of the chivalric versions, though Mr. Cornwell does include Lancelot, Excalibar, and other late embellishments. In fact, this may be the first one I've read where Lancelot is less than heroic, and I can't wait to see where this goes in the series. Arthur is a Briton warlord trying desperately to unite the various warring kingdoms against the invading Saxons. The story is told by Derfel, one of Merlin's orphans who becomes one of Arthur's warriors and later a Christian monk.
It's an outstanding book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While not much is known about 600 AD Briton, the era known as the Dark Ages, Mr. Cornwall has used what sources he could and embellished with fantasy elements to fill in any gaps. This book is probably the closest to the 'real' Arthur that we'll get, and it's a fabulous series that I highly recommend.
It's an outstanding book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While not much is known about 600 AD Briton, the era known as the Dark Ages, Mr. Cornwall has used what sources he could and embellished with fantasy elements to fill in any gaps. This book is probably the closest to the 'real' Arthur that we'll get, and it's a fabulous series that I highly recommend.
coleton1793's review
3.0
400 pages that felt like 1000.
Slow and dry in my opinion, but it had a few good moments.
Slow and dry in my opinion, but it had a few good moments.