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topdragon's review
5.0
The second book in the “Camulod Chronicles” picks up shortly after the events of the first book, [b:The Skystone|151723|The Skystone (Camulod Chronicles, #1)|Jack Whyte|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388243190l/151723._SY75_.jpg|2073233]. It continues the tale of Caius Britannicus and Publius Varrus (both great grandfathers of the future King Arthur of Briton) as they continue to build the colony of Camulod during the turn of the 5th century AD, when Rome was pulling out of Briton and leaving the Brits, the Celts, and other assorted peoples to deal with various invading groups such as the Saxons and the Northmen.
I love the way this series is a truly accurate historical novel series, at this point at least, that also just happens to be related to the Arthurian legends. As the colony of Camulod gets established, we get to see major historical events and influences unfold. For example, due to the need for mobility in responding to threats, the art of warfare using horses is advanced. Rome was never known for its cavalry but now there is a need for well-trained warriors on horses. A breeding program is introduced to increase the size of the horses, the stirrup is introduced, and the swords are lengthened to allow use from horseback. All of these developments are actual historical occurrences. We also get to witness the first rough efforts to convert a Senate-like council meeting where elitism prevails to a newer style of local government in the form of a round circle of chairs where all have an equal voice. I think we all know where this will lead to in an Arthurian sense.
But more importantly, this is a well-told tale. Just as in the first novel, this is a first person account by Publius Varrus, a former legionnaire, partly crippled through a battle injury, and now a master blacksmith. One might correctly guess from the title that he is the eventual crafter of Excalibur. His first person point of view lends a great perspective on bringing these great events down to the individual level and allowing the everyday life of families, lovers, builders, etc. to be as personal and emotional for the reader as it is for him. Great and satisfying personal achievements are matched by great loss and even tragedy. It is rare when a fictional novel brings a tear to my eye but this one managed to do it.
All of these great historical shifts in thinking and technique take many years. The first two novels cover most of Caius and Publius’s long lives but it is inevitable that we move on. I’m excited for the third book in the series [b:The Eagles' Brood|372494|The Eagles' Brood (Camulod Chronicles, #3)|Jack Whyte|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440243992l/372494._SY75_.jpg|362430] where I understand that Publius’s grandson takes over the first person account. His name is Caius Merlyn Britannicus, first cousin of Uther Pendragon.
I love the way this series is a truly accurate historical novel series, at this point at least, that also just happens to be related to the Arthurian legends. As the colony of Camulod gets established, we get to see major historical events and influences unfold. For example, due to the need for mobility in responding to threats, the art of warfare using horses is advanced. Rome was never known for its cavalry but now there is a need for well-trained warriors on horses. A breeding program is introduced to increase the size of the horses, the stirrup is introduced, and the swords are lengthened to allow use from horseback. All of these developments are actual historical occurrences. We also get to witness the first rough efforts to convert a Senate-like council meeting where elitism prevails to a newer style of local government in the form of a round circle of chairs where all have an equal voice. I think we all know where this will lead to in an Arthurian sense.
But more importantly, this is a well-told tale. Just as in the first novel, this is a first person account by Publius Varrus, a former legionnaire, partly crippled through a battle injury, and now a master blacksmith. One might correctly guess from the title that he is the eventual crafter of Excalibur. His first person point of view lends a great perspective on bringing these great events down to the individual level and allowing the everyday life of families, lovers, builders, etc. to be as personal and emotional for the reader as it is for him. Great and satisfying personal achievements are matched by great loss and even tragedy. It is rare when a fictional novel brings a tear to my eye but this one managed to do it.
All of these great historical shifts in thinking and technique take many years. The first two novels cover most of Caius and Publius’s long lives but it is inevitable that we move on. I’m excited for the third book in the series [b:The Eagles' Brood|372494|The Eagles' Brood (Camulod Chronicles, #3)|Jack Whyte|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440243992l/372494._SY75_.jpg|362430] where I understand that Publius’s grandson takes over the first person account. His name is Caius Merlyn Britannicus, first cousin of Uther Pendragon.
mrbear's review
4.0
I thought this was a fair bit better than the first book. It lost some steam at the end - and having now started book 3 I wonder if that could have been offset by starting the otherwise abrupt transition to a new perspective there more in this book - but I still thought structurally this book was solid, did a good job of developing and exploring some interesting topics, and kept the plot moving along well. Some of the same disappointments hold as before, I still wish I learned more about the history from these books, it almost feels like Whyte just needed a team of historians to read these books and suggest places to add more dashes of reality and context. But that’s a huge ask, they’re still good reads, even if I’m slightly apprehensive about the next book.
darthshep's review
3.0
the story is good and it is a transitional book where we are moving from the Roman world to the Arthrian world but the author does drag on in some scenes.
chromatick's review
5.0
4.5 stars
Continuing a re-read of one of my favorite historical fiction series of my youth, I was once again transported to England during the fall of the Roman Empire.
This series still holds up very well some twenty plus years later. The prose reads more like a journal than anything else, and while I can see it not being for everyone, I really enjoy the style. The battle scenes especially are very well done.
Getting to see the little pieces of the Arthurian Legend slowly being dropped into place is just as fun this second time around.
Plus, that ending. Hit just as hard this second time.
Continuing a re-read of one of my favorite historical fiction series of my youth, I was once again transported to England during the fall of the Roman Empire.
This series still holds up very well some twenty plus years later. The prose reads more like a journal than anything else, and while I can see it not being for everyone, I really enjoy the style. The battle scenes especially are very well done.
Getting to see the little pieces of the Arthurian Legend slowly being dropped into place is just as fun this second time around.
Plus, that ending. Hit just as hard this second time.
bluerosereads's review
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Violence
thomas_hense's review
5.0
There is no magic, no aspects of fantasy. I found this series while looking for another historical fantasy but instead found one of the best historical fiction books I have ever read.
intoxicatedcake's review
4.0
A new and interesting take on the Arthur story. Or,rather, new to me as more of an origins story than an "in progress" Camelot. Good read and am interested to see where he goes with the story.
kylieqrada's review against another edition
4.0
Continuing in the vein of the first book, I could not inhale this fast enough. It's so hard to rate and review these books because they are so jam-packed FULL of amazing writing, riveting plot, and lovable and hateable characters on one hand, while on the other hand, continuing to catch me off guard with problematic elements just when I think I've escaped them. With this book, we draw much closer to the central Arthurian legend, though, which was exciting, and made me even more invested in the story than I was previously. Although, as I got nearer to the end, and the main characters got older, I did start to sense the inevitability of a new cast in the continuations, which proved correct, unfortunately. I'm sure I'll come to love the next cast as much as I loved the first, as so often happens with epic fantasy series (Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings being the prime example), but it's still so hard to let Publius, Caius, and Luceiia go. 4 stars that could easily be a 5 with some sensitivity editing.