Arthurian Legend Books

Wonderful story with a new idea about Merlin's childhood. I will definately buy the rest of the books in the series! Hope my grandkids like them as much as I did!

The Lost Years of Merlin
Ready for a new exciting, wonderful, exhilarating, great book to read? Well, then Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron would be a great book for you! This fantastic novelty book is all about a young boy whose "mom" claims his name is Ermys. Ermys is a young boy of twelve and has special powers passed down from his grandfather. He knows he does not belong where he is now and is determined to find out where he belongs and who his real mother is. So, Ermys sails to a magical land called Finacaria and meets a small Merlin (a hawk) and a young girl the same age named Rhia. Together they try and find out about Ermys past, present, and future, as well as his true name. The two must find a way to defeat the wicked king with the help of some friends. I really liked the book because it was so intense and so descriptive. This book made me want to keep reading until the end because I could really tell how Merlin was feeling. So, if you really like page-turning, exciting, intense, magical books, this would be the perfect book for you!

This book has proven to be a really good book. I was not sure at first if I wanted to delve into another series about the idea surrounding the good King Auther's legend because God knows how many books have been written about those folks (Merlin, and the knights). However, this one prevailed at 'jousting' it's way into my heart as a great book. The writing flows and the ideas are creative. I like the fact that my junior high aged children can understand it, yet I myself enjoyed the adventures also. We look forward to reading more of this particular author's work.

This book isnt the best iv read but its preatty good
I mean its about Merlins childhood and no one really knows about it.
Just so anyone knows i didnt read any of the sequels

This is a book about the infamous Merlin's childhood. He starts in a little village always being bullied. His mother is a healer of sorts and some people think she is a witch. In an attempt to save his mother from the wrath of the villagers he ends up blinding himself. A few weeks later in a church something miracoulous happens! But you must read to find out...This author puts together many twists and turns and builds more on the character known as Merlin.

Will Stanton turns eleven on midwinter's eve...and up until now, he's led a normal, if somewhat hectic life as the seventh (and youngest) child in his normal family. It is on this, his eleventh birthday, that he finds out he is anything but normal and also the beginning of a series of events that will help him define the man he will become. While I did thoroughly enjoy The Dark is Rising...I think the greatest draw for this book (and the series as a whole) is for children (or young adults if you prefer), ages 9-14 (or so). The "light" and "dark" are fairly cut and dry, no shades of grey here...the characters are ALL good or ALL bad, no subtle shading or real depth to them and while I do feel this is appropriate for the age range (because that's rather how kids of this age are still seeing the world, things are "good" or "bad"); it's a shame the author doesn't challenge us and help introduce a more nuanced character set to the readers (perhaps in later books in the series), because this is also the age range where pushing that comfortable envelope should begin to be introduced. Having said that, I want to be clear that while I do see the characters as lacking depth to a certain degree, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it, and it's just not as richly drawn as it might otherwise be if it were geared toward an older audience or if the author had written richer characters. Additionally for such surprisingly flat, one dimensional characters the text itself is highly detailed and extremely well written, though in places a bit confusing (for example where she refers to Will's friend...he's actually one of his brothers, but this is unclear early on and is distracting).

Cooper successfully weaves both British and Celtic folklore/mythology into the threads of the story and successfully creates an entire world in which Will must navigate to successfully achieve his quest (with time travel, even). We meet a variety of characters through Will, both Light and Dark and travel along with him as he struggles to come to terms with his new found knowledge, responsibilities and powers...it's not an easy quest for an 11 year old, nor does he suddenly "become" an Old One, it's a struggle for him the whole of the journey (as it should be for an eleven year old). One of the best features of the story is that Will's home life is happy and healthy...he is part of a tight-nit family unit. His family is normal: a two parent home where no one is sick, crazy, or otherwise absent or in need of rescue (at least as the story begins) and best of all, the entire family is well adjusted and actually get along (i.e. there is no bully or abusive siblings, no schoolyard conflicts, he's not a misfit, and there is no wicked step parent). While they do not really know about or help with Will's struggle or challenges, they are ever present and he must work in this quest and still fulfill his family obligations and remains a part of the family throughout.

Overall, The Dark is Rising is an interesting and entertaining tale that readers of all ages can dig into and love. It's got strong mythological bones, interesting plot points, and relatively well defined and likeable characters which help to allow readers to forgive it's few flaws (somewhat flat characterization...especially of the "Dark" characters, some confusing plot points, and the real lack of anything difficult being required of the "hero" when it's all said and done). I give it 4 stars and hope that later books in the series provide a bit more challenge for this (and other) characters as the series develops.

This series of books (especially, The Dark is Rising) is one of my favorites. The recent movie, The Seeker, based on The Dark is Rising, did not do the book justice. The moviemakers attempt to modernize the story, take out some of the mythological aspects, and add in some teenage angst trivialized the character of Will Stanton (the Seeker of the Signs), whose appeal is in part based on his dual nature as an ordinary 11 year old boy and the last of the Old Ones (immortals charged with the defending the Light against the Dark), and how he adjusts to being both at the same time.

These books share some features with some of my other favorites:

1) Harry Potter books by JK Rowling;
2) Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer;
3) Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quartet (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door; A Swiftly Tilting Planet; Many Waters);
4) The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with great line drawings by Jules Feiffer;
5) Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage...Septimus, like Will, is a seventh son of a seventh son;
6) Edward Eager's books (Half-Magic, Magic or Not?, Seven-Day Magic, Magic by the Lake, Knight's Castle, The Well-Wishers, The Thyme Garden).

I was less enthralled with the Chronicles of Narnia as a child and on re-reading them as an adult....they are a bit preachy...and I never have been able to read through the Lord of the Rings (though I loved the great unabridged audiobook version that I listened to in my car while commuting to work a few years ago prior to the release of the movies).

Any of these books can be enjoyed as good stories with quests and adventures, good and evil, with lessons about assuming responsibility, the nature of friendship, perserverance, and loyalty thrown in for good measure. More literate (usually older) folks can appreciate the linguistic and mythological underpinnings of the books.

So if you enjoyed any of the other books I listed above but haven't read The Dark is Rising sequence, why not check it out? But don't bother watching the movie.

What a brilliant fantasy. Although this is the second of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence (and there are 5 books in total), it could easily be read as a stand alone book too.

On Midwinter's Eve, young Will Stanton, the youngest of a large family in the Thames Valley and seventh son of a seventh son, is about to turn eleven. But something strange is in the air. The atmosphere feels odd, the rabbits shrink away from him when he goes to give them their feed, the radio shrieks with interference when Will walks past it and it feels like snow is on its way...

Events only get more strange during the course of the night and in the morning Will awakes early on his birthday to find a very different world looking back at him through the window; a forested world - no roofs, no fields, just trees, covered in a thick blanket of deep snow. Will was 'crystal-clear awake, in a Midwinter Day that had been waiting for him to wake into it since the day he had been born, and, he somewhow knew, for centuries before that. Tomorrow will be beyond imagining...'.

Will soon discovers that he has been given the power of the Old Ones; a power of Light and goodness, and that with some help from the mysterious Merriman, the shining white horse and other Old powers, he must embark upon a mission against the frightening and evil magic of the Dark. Will is no ordinary eleven-year-old boy, but a boy who has been imbued with centuries-old knowledge and power and he alone, as the Sign-Seeker, must find a join together the Six great signs of the Light to defeat the Dark in its grasp for power.

A wonderful, fast-paced and captivating book. If you are interested in the series then start with Book One, 'Over Sea Under Stone', although it doesn't really link in with this one until you get to Book Three, 'Greenwitch'. A classic series for all ages.

Susan Cooper's reputation as a children's fantasy author is largely based on this series. So, while I felt that the first book ("Over Sea, Under Stone") was uneven, I was very interested in continuing the series. But "The Dark Is Rising" is equally uneven, marred by odd narrative stumbles and gaps in characterization.

About half-way through, Will (the main character) reads the Book of Gramarye, and the book starts to lose focus. Reading the Book supposedly endows Will with all the knowledge of an Old One (although since he doesn't use any of this knowledge to complete his quest, it's an odd plot point), but then for the second half of the book Cooper can't seem to figure out whether Will should sound like an 11-year-old boy or some sort of mystic sage. The result is stiff and inauthentic. Adding to the difficulty of reading the second half of the book is Cooper's occasional confusion of adjectives --- there are times when you find yourself wondering, What am I looking at? Are we in the air? Where did that bit of geography come from? This second book is too self-consciously mystic for its own good.

This book was a complete let-down after the first of the series. Everything about it seemed completely over-the-top, starting with the one character repeated booming out `THE DARK... THE DARK IS RISING!' It went downhill from there. Every possible fantasy cliché was realized (including `mystical' sounding rhymes and poems), the characters were a bit insipid and uninspiring, and the plot seemed thin. I found myself not caring in the slightest how it ended, and once it did, felt no compulsion to read any further in the series.

There are far better children's fantasy series out there, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, The Spiderwick Chronicles, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and, yes, the Harry Potter series.

I finished this book late last night after a very quick, very intense tear through the novel; I could not put it down. I will be starting book 2, Enemy of God (The Arthur Books #2) , of this trilogy today.
This is definitely not your typical Arthur. Oddly enough, there is little proof that Arthur existed in the great way he is now known in legend to have been. Obviously, the magic, Excalibur, Camelot, the Round Table and the 'Holy Grail' type additions were very well used literary tools to create a legend bigger than itself in many tales. What Cornwell has accomplished in this novel is to bring the story back down to earth in a very real and incredible way; this is an Arthur who lived in a real world, with superstitions and gods of many religions, but no magic to speak of, rather just man's overwhelming ability to allow fear and misunderstanding to create belief in magic, spells, wizardry and monsters. To be fair, that may disappoint Arthurian legend lovers of the mystical tale. This is not the stylized Arthur that we read about in most literary works or, in more recent years, we see on film.
The tale is told by an elderly monk who, before becoming a Christian, was an orphan raised by Merlin (not a Wizard in this tale, rather a Druid leader of Britain). He, our storyteller, was Derfel Cadarn, Derfel 'the mighty', and he was a fierce and feared warrior, a Lord of war, a leader of men, a sworn man of Arthur, and a mighty killer. He is also an excellent storyteller who weaves a tale of 5th century Britain, a land at war with itself whilst also being invaded by the Saxons (who the author Cornwell also writes about in his excellent Saxon Chronicles which I highly recommend). This was an island of many nations and many kings, before it was England, just after the departure of the Romans and just as the island was at its lowest point in history, the beginning of the dark ages.
The fact that not much is known about the people that became so legendary in myth and tales of magic, allows Cornwell to weave a book of fiction that represents the period very well and freed him to create a tale that he did not have to meld in to history. In other words, Cornwell was able to create an entire story, using famous names that have no story, thus allowing us to experience a completely different version of the tale.
I avoided this trilogy for a while because the Arthur tales are a little to fantasized for me; I prefer more historically based fiction. Thankfully, I came to my senses and read this book. It was excellent. I read a review below that stated that someone struggled with this book because of all the characters, a claim I don't understand. Cornwell kindly provides a list of ALL the characters and a short summary of who they were, at the beginning of the book so you can always flip to the front if you don't remember a name. A detailed map is provided in the back to give you an understanding of where the many characters are from and where they go.
I definitely recommend this book. Although our storyteller does tell Arthur's tale, the book does tend to be more Derfel's tale and how he experienced life as a sworn man of Arthur. It follows Derfel to Amorica (Britanny, France) where he spends years fighting in Arthur's place for the kindom of Benoic (which reminded me of Jonathan Swift's kingdom of Laputa, the floating island where everyone was more interested in learning and beauty, where, in this tale the king spent all his money on knowledge and allowed the kingdom to crumble around him). This is Derfel's tale of Arthur and it is a wonderful story.
I eagerly begin book 2.
Enjoy!!!

Now, you self annointed internet police can begin yelling at me for not posting a real review.

Kindle editions of his Saxon series were great, can't understand why not these?

This is my first time reading Bernard Cornwell and I have to say that I have really enjoyed this series. I remember reading books on Arthur as a kid, but nothing could've prepared me for this series. Don't read this book if you're expecting knights in shining armor, a utopic Camelot, and Richard Gere as Lancelot. Do read this if you want fully 3-dimensional characters, blood and gore, and a well written, different retelling of the legend. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!

The Winter King, first in the Arthur Books, started a wonderful five days of continuos reading. Not being able to put this book down did not apply because as soon as I put this book down there was a second and a third book to be devoured. It was a great five days of Camelot.

Though not the best book in the series, this book is extraordinary in and of itself. The only problem I had with it is that the first eighty or so pages of this book drag a little bit until the reader can actually get to the plot. Once there, you won't put it down. Read that first 80 and introduce yourself to Derfel Cadarn and I guarantee you will not be disappointed once you get past the introduction.

I started listening to this story and it sounded so familiar I swore I'd heard the story before - but I hadn't. I think it melds a lot of recent YA together, with a dash of The Davinci Code. This is not exactly a glowing endorsement, but if I am completely honest... it wasn't that bad. It was solidly mediocre.

The main characters were likeable enough, though some of the lesser characters were just confusing. It was hard to really understand them, to get a grasp of their actual character. I think some of this was on purpose, to retain a sense of mystery (this is, after all, the start of a series) but some of it was just baffling. I would have preferred a bit more of a twist at the end of all of that action, and the end felt a bit blah. Still, overall it was easy to listen to, intriguing enough to hold my interest, and I will probably listen to the next book in the series.

If you're a fan of the mysterious treasure map-hunting storyline, don't mind some obscurity and a few cliché characters, and are looking for a fairly light but action-packed read, this might be for you.

"Over Sea, Under Stone" is the first book in the "The Dark Is Rising" series, and it's a good start. Having said that, I'm enjoying the second book more; it's worth getting through some occasionally dry sections in this book so that you have the background you need to read the rest of the series.

At first, I was a little worried by some similarities to "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" --- a group of siblings leave home and discover something unexpected hidden in the dusty corner of an old house. But as the story goes on, the resemblance is entirely coincidental. What the two books do share, though, are the elements of enduringly good children's fiction: a struggle to accomplish a goal of more than personal importance (not just growing up to like yourself, for example), narrative language that doesn't "write down" to the reader (and doesn't use slang or pop culture, which sounds too much like an adult trying to be trendy and ends up dating a book --- who can read the Hardy Boys now?), and an emphasis on moving the story forward rather than on hitting "teaching points." "The Dark Is Rising" series has a lot of the elements that make the "Narnia" books, the "His Dark Materials" books, and the "Wrinkle in Time" books so good.

Simon, Jane & Barney are off on their summer holidays with their mum & dad, to a holiday house in the village of "Trewissick" on the Cornish Coast, where they will all stay with Great-Uncle-Merry in a rambling old house overlooking the sea. They are all thrilled to be going to Cornwall, but none more so than Barney, the youngest, who loves the stories of Arthurian Legend and dreams of stories of King Arthur and his Knights. He can't wait to see Cornwall, the land of the Pendragon, the centre of Arthurian myth.

On a miserable rainy day at the beginning of their holiday, the children decide to make an adventure of exploring the house where they are staying. Locked cabinets, chests and personal papers are out of bounds but they are free to explore the rest of the house as they like. In real Enid Blyton style they soon discover a secret stairway hidden behind a large heavy wardrobe in the boys' bedroom... and off they go to explore.... An ancient treasure map soon emerges & the children have found an adventure for their holiday... secrets to discover.

But are they out of their depth? They don't seem to be the only people chasing after hidden treasure. Soon, they find an ally in Great-Uncle-Merry & Rufus, the dog... but can they reach the treasure before the sour Mr & Miss Withers, the rude ruddy-faced boy, Billy and the man they think is the vicar?!!

A good, innocent, Famous-Five-style adventure story (first published In 1965), with just a hint of Arthurian legend & magic thrown in. From reading other reviews, it sounds as though the magic & legend are developed in the rest of the series, so here I guess just the foundations are laid. The children are all very cheery, optimistic, happy-go-lucky, although individual characters aren't developed at all in the story. Well-written, with more depth than an Enid Blyton story, lacks pace in a few places but overall recommended.

The three Drew siblings, Barney, Jane, and Simon, are taken by their parents to Cornwell for the summer holiday. Their great-uncle Merry, aka Merriman Lyon, has arranged for them to stay in the house of an old sea captain who is away for the season. One day while exploring the house, the children discover an ancient map. The map is very old and seems to be connected to King Arthur. They show the map to Uncle Merry, who is a scholar and historian. He informs them that the map is a treasure map leading to a grail (not the Holy Grail), an object of extreme importance. He tells the children that he cannot decipher the map for them, but he can help watch over them and protect them if they choose to search for the grail. He also tells the children that he is an agent of the forces of light and goodness and that there are agents of dark and evil looking for the map and the grail, too. Thus what begins as a vacation to the sea for the Drew children, turns into a life-changing and dangerous adventure with huge consequences.

OVER SEA, UNDER STONE is the first book in "The Dark Is Rising" series. The book is a bit different from the other books in the series because it revolves solely around the Drew children. Therefore, there are no supernatural events and magic involved. Because there is no magic, there are many who find OVER SEA, UNDER STONE to be the weakest story in the series. I'm not one of those and find the story one of my two favorites (THE SILVER TREE is the other) in the series. When I first read the series as a boy, OVER SEA, UNDER STONE was the one I could relate to best because it was about ordinary children partaking in an extraordinary adventure. The kids speak, act, think, and react as children do. Everything is very realistic and the children are highly identifiable and relatable. Highly recommended for those who like young adult fantasy novels.

The three Drew children, Simon, Jane and Barney, are on holidays in Cornwall with their mysterious Great- Uncle Merry. One rainy day they stumble on a hidden staircase to the attic of the old house they are staying in. In the attic they find a centuries old manuscript and what appears to be a map.
The manuscript and map appear to give directions to finding the hiding place of the Holy Grail, but the Drew children must decipher the clues quickly, as other, unsavoury people are also after the grail.
Susan Cooper's `Over Sea, Under Stone" is first in the `Dark is Rising' series, but it is really more of an adventure story, rather than a fantasy story. It is an enjoyable story, with the Grail angle adding a little spice to the story

Literaly her best ever. I absolutly loved Avalon High because it was so suspenseful and not exactly what you expected. I expected a good story but this was amazing. Okay here are the basics.

Ellaine aka, Ellie takes advantage of her dads sabatical, seeing as both her parents are professors who study the mideval times like King Author and Lady Shallott, but anyways Ellie lounges her summer away in her pool on her raft until she starts reliving the story of King Author at her new school. Things and secrets start to come out about murders and others things and on top of that Ellie is in grave danger.

I recommend to everyone looking for a thrill!

I was surprised that I really liked this book. Being familiar with Cabot's Princess Diaries, I thought I would give this bit of fantasy a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Cabot weaves Arthurian legend with modern teen angst. While some parts were predictable, other parts were surprisingly fresh and new. I would definitely read more by this author.

this was a great book at first I thought it would be very boring because I have never read any of her books. But once i got started it got very interesting. It took me two days to read it between classes that is. Its very funny but toward the end I kind of guessed the twist but it was very funny and entrtaining.

I found this book entertaining. The King Arthur modern stuff was a new twist that was kind of fun although a little weird. I recommend reading it.

ellie (new girl at new school, thanks to her professor parents on sabbatical) meets will, the potential reincarnation of king arthur (and serious hottie). let the fun begin!

this was seriously one of the most fun, enjoyable, and sweet stories i have ever heard. i listened to it in the car, and i found myself laughing out loud, smiling, and sometimes even gasping while listening! ellie, the main character and narrator, was very relatable, and you felt as if you were her best friend through the whole ordeal. the teen lingo was spot on - all of the "whatevers" and "duhs" were perfectly placed, to make it that much more believable. the story moves quickly and deliberately through her first days at a new school with all of the token, and realistic, awkwardness of the experience. you could tell that Cabot knew where she was taking you with the plot, but was making sure you enjoyed the journey too.

the blend of the chick lit + hist fic novel was PERFECT. the story of king arthur is one that is well known enough to be hinted at, but is explored more deeply by Cabot throughout the tale. the romance is sweet and genuine, while the drama - though fantasy - is very tastefully done. i also found ellie's parents to be so refreshing - genuinely caring, loving, and interested in her...despite their aloofness at times. i feel like a lot of young adult novels out there have the token 'crappy' parents, and it was nice to have the alternative in this novel.

i can't say enough great things about this book. as soon as i was done, i was 1) sad it was over and 2) ready to pop disc one back in and start at the beginning!

[...]

An amazing conclusion to an incredible series. Cornwell's Arthur is like no other, with a believable story that is brilliantly written.

Just finished it Cornwell's Warlord Trilogy. I thought it was absolutely phenomenal. I have an issue with how quickly he ended it though, it seems very out of keeping. Everything else in Derfel's life is described extensively, and by having the story be from Derfel's POV and ending it with the last battle at Camlann, he leaves out so much story which could easily have fitted into an epilogue. Were I his editor I would at least have advised to spend some time on tying that up properly. Too many questions unanswered. What happens to Guinevere, Galahad, Gwydre and the others on the boat for instance? Does Derfel ever meet them again? Where does he go to live with Ceinwyn and how many more years are they given? I understand that he wants to keep Arthur's final fate unknown, even though we can deduce from his never coming back that he did die, but the final chapter just doesn't seem right in how fast Cornwell goes about tying things up. Also the Silver Mist and him never returning, while typical of the traditional Arthurian ending of Arthur going to Avalon to sleep forever, seems like a rather out of place "magical" ending to this starkly realistic series where everything has a logical explanation.

Other than that niggle about the unsatisfying ending, nothing but praise. Well almost. I thought the characterization was great, particulary for the secondary characters. He does a great job of building a big cast of characters in a way few authors can. Especially the group of Arthur's companions such as Sagramor, Culhwch, Galahad, Tristan. Derfel is the star of the show in this series rather than Arthur, whose portrayal I am ambivalent about. The same applies to Merlin, who has been portrayed better elsewhere ( Stewart). Merlin to me was too powerless as well as too vulgar. I understand he went for the Dark Merlin/Mad Merlin take but I don't think it fully worked, he is too diminished for my taste. Nimue was interesting, as was Guinevere. So many good enemies as well, Lancelot, the Saxons, Amhar and Loholt, Mordred, Nimue, the vicious twins Dinas and Lavaine that killed his daughter, so many weak men set off against strong ones, the story of Tristan and Iseult, the character of Gawain gets a completely different treatment,a great sense of melancholy for a lost reign. Wonderful how Cornwell gives us the story through the eyes of a man writing at the end of his life, excellent device. Actually a great romance between Derfel and Ceinwyn as well, touching.

His portrayal of magic in the story seems to shift at the end of the third book from how it has been portrayed up until that late point in the story however, and I found that quaint. After two and a half book of pretty much no magic and alternate explanations for everything that could be construed as magical, he does seem to want to make it plain at the end that there is some real magic being done ( Nimue's curse, the use of shadowbodies to torture Ceinwyn).

Lancelot: He's a total tool, bereft of good qualities, unlike Galahad who is his opposite and who Derfel calls his best friend.

The Saxons: not villains in the sense that they are just like the Britons, trying to gain land so continious flow of Saxons coming to the British shores can be accomodated. And enemy yes, but it depends on the POV. Nimue, the druid twins, Lancelot etc are more clearly defined as villains.

Strange how Nimue turned out. From Merlin's best friend in youth to ally in maturity to cruel enemy at the end. Mordred was a truly terrible human being, rotten even as a boy.

Merlin's portrayal leaves too much to be desired here. As does Arthur's, who is lead around the nose too much by Guinevere in the first two books, something which is corrected in book 3. He is very human, but for me just a bit much and too flawed. Some of his decisions were just poor and as Derfel said, poor for all to see but Arthur.

Loved the companions. The bachelor Galahad, Christian knight of great prowess, coarse Culhwch, built like a bull, Derfel himsel with his marvellous life story, Sagramor the black demon. Tristan was a great character as was the brutal Lord Owain in book 1, I was sad to see him killed. Same for Aelle, Derfel's father.

In the end, a superb portrayal of Arthurian legends. The only Arthurian series that rivals it is the vastly different Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart. I've still yet to read Sword at Sunset though, which has no Merlin as I understand it. He puts a different hat on almost every character, and on many known events. He has great storytelling flair and displays great characterization abilities. He shows us battles, passion, romance and makes the Arthur story new to those had become tired of it.

9/10

Cornwell is brilliant as always. Excalibur, the last book of the Arthur series, is wonderfully written, bringing the reader into the final chapters of Arthur's life. A great read, sure to keep you turning page after page.

Warlord Chronicles, a tale of Arthur
1. The Winter King (***)
2. Enemy of God (***)
3. Excalibur (**)

"Arthur was probably no king, he may not have lived at all, but despite all the efforts of historians to deny his every existence, he is still, to millions of folk about the world, what a copyist called him in the fourteenth century, Arturus Rex Quondam, Rexque Futurus: Arthur, our Once and Future King." --Bernard Cornwell, Historical Note in EXCALIBUR

Cornwell's EXCALIBUR marks the crowning jewel of a fulsomely callous portrayal of women in 5th-century Britain, at least any woman of note (with the lone exception of Ceinwyn). Maybe it's unfair and provincial of me to view ruthlessness and calculated ambition potentially admirable in men but singularly unbecoming in women. Regardless, Guinevere's promiscuous ambition for power, glory and fame while Nimue's cold, religious fanaticism to sacrifice women and children for her pagan religion both distinguished Cornwell's final Arthurian installment EXCALIBUR. Although some may see EXCALIBUR as Guinevere's road to redemption, I can't say I really saw it that way. Admittedly, EXCALIBUR belongs to Guinevere, but I couldn't get over Guinevere betraying Arthur with Lancelot and then ready to betray him again with the druid twins back in ENEMY OF GOD, and all for power and glory. The humble first-person narration in a flashback makes for an inviting reading experience though the portentously gloomy tones tends to drown some of the enthusiasm. Cornwell's settings, historical backdrop and prose are all solid.

EXCALIBUR highlights the monumental battle in Arthur's lifetime which repels the Saxon conquest of Britain for an entire generation: the battle at Mynydd Baddon, or simply, Mount Badon. Of the three books in this Arthurian rendition, magic plays the biggest role here, and I can't say it was for the better. In the first part, The Fires of Mai Dun, Merlin and Nimue attempt to bring the old gods back. I found myself most engaged in the second part Mynydd Baddon in which we're treated to the warlord in Arthur at his best: battling against insurmountable odds. The final two parts, Nimue's Curse and The Last Enchantment concludes with Nimue's pagan fanaticism.

As opposed to the madness of Christianity in ENEMY OF GOD, EXCALIBUR now turns its attentions to painting the pagan religion of 5th-century Britain in a very gruesome light via Nimue's fanatically insane group of followers. Again, you have to admire Cornwell's decided aversion to black-and-white storytelling. Where ENEMY OF GOD describes a mad and violent Christian movement, EXCALIBUR now concludes with a fanatically cruel pagan depiction with child sacrifices. Past friends and lovers now become cruel enemies (Nimue), allies plot and scheme (King of Gwent Meurig, Mordred), traitors repent and expiate (Guinevere), while apparent enemies exhibit valor and heart (Derfel's Saxon father, King Aelle). Readers will find merit in evil and cruelty in apparent good. All of it adds to Cornwell's well-researched and captivating tale of Arthur.

By the end of ENEMY OF GOD, I thought Guinevere's betrayal would teach Arthur something of ruthlessness and cold retribution. Unfortunately, Arthur's downfall rested on his most noble quality: his persistence to forgive and believe in the goodness of people and the sanctity of oaths. In the end, he wanted gratitude, but both the Christians and the pagans hate him by EXCALIBUR and he finally relinquishes his power in EXCALIBUR.

I actually liked all three books, but the first-person, melancholy tones in the flashback absorbed some of my enjoyment. I thought EXCALIBUR was the weakest out of three actually.

I first became interested in Bernard Cornwell reading the Saxon Chronicles of the Last Kingdom, but I realize that the Arthurian Chronicles are a whole lot more fun. Excalibur sure beats them all. I think the part when he helped his son from Merlin was quite good. Also, the war with Mordred. In earlier books, we always thought Mordred was a wimp and couldn't quite see him become a formidable rival to Arthur. In a way, Arthur may have perpetruated his own end. Who would allow such a powerful man to live in peace?

I bought this Signet translation by Keith Baines after a frustrating attempt to read the Modern Library translation by William Caxton. Caxton's dry, stilted rendition left me hungry for a cleaner, more modern version.

Here's a prime example from page 1:

Caxton: "It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine."

Baines: "King Uther Pendragon, ruler of all Britain, had been at war for many years with the Duke of Tintagil in Cornwall when he was told of the beauty of Lady Igraine, the duke's wife."

If Caxton was my high school English teacher demanding that I diagram his sentences, I might forthwith set myself through with mine dagger most deadly.

Anyway, if you just want to enjoy the Arthurian tales in their cleanest English version, buy Signet's paperback. It's also half the price of other translations.

Happy reading!

You already know if you're going to like this book. It was written in the 15th century. That fact alone should tell you that if you want a modernized version, look elsewhere. You should probably read T. H. White's The Once and Future King or Steinbeck's unfinished The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights. Both are retellings of this book, written for the modern reader, the former being the better, in my opinion, but the latter retains the same feel as Malory's work. If you're still not sure if you'd like this book, there are other reviews to explain in better detail why you should or should not try it.

I have always received the best service when I have placed an order from you. Outstanding!!!!!

First of all,let me start by saying that Malory is the most essential and best of all the Arthurian works.
Secondly,I'm seriously considering teaching an informal class for local folks who would like to learn more about the Arthur cycle. I don't know everything, but I've studied the 17 books I have on the subject intensely.
With respect, does anyone out there have any advice for me? Thanks!

Very handy and well done edition of the classic Arthurian legends. This book is not for the feint at heart as it is written in old english, but once you get through that roadblock there is a power to the tales that starts to shine through.

Overall, the Dark Is Rising series hasn't really lived up to my expectations. It's good children's fantasy, but not great. This fourth book, though, is the best so far. Will, this time in Wales instead of Cornwall, continues his quest for magical objects to be used by the Light to battle the rising Dark. Unlike the second book ("The Dark Is Rising"), here Cooper manages to balance the two aspects of Will's character, both as a boy and an Old One. And the farms and countryside of Wales are vividly described, the other characters clear and believable. Perhaps because this book doesn't have a lot of other magical characters running around in it, the plot makes much better sense and the characters' motives seem more clearly thought out. I enjoyed this book; it makes me more anxious to read the last one in the series.

I read this book when it was first published - I was 7 years old. Now, at the age of 39, it's still just as magical as it was then. After I finish re-reading it after 33 years, I am hoping to share it with my 11 year old son. Hopefully, he will find it as wonderful as I did and STILL DO!

The Light again have a prophecy they must try and understand, to again find another of the items of power they need to defeat the Dark.

On the day of the dead, when the year too dies,
Must the youngest open the oldest hills
Through the door of the birds, where the breeze breaks.
There fire shall fly from the raven boy,
And the silver eyes that see the wind,
And the Light shall have the harp of gold.

By the pleasant lake the Sleepers lie,
On Cadfan's Way where the kestrels call;
Though grim from the Grey King shadows fall,
Yet singing the golden harp shall guide
To break their sleep and bid them ride.

When light from the lost land shall return,
Six Sleepers shall ride, six Signs shall burn,
And where the midsummer tree grows tall
By Pendragon's sword the Dark shall fall.

They have a problem, in that Will Stanton has fallen prey to illness, and a very serious one. He has been months recuperating, and sent to stay with acquaintances in Wales.

Making friends with a strange boy named Bran, the two, and the dog Cadval must wend their way through the mysterious misty hills of Wales, past monsters, human agents of the Dark and the Brenin Llwyd to complete their quest.

As a side note, this book will teach you some basic Welsh pronunciation tips.

The book starts out where Will, an average person, becomes a warrior. The grey King is when something bad happens and he starts a fire preventing them from getting the golden harp. The fire gets closer so they run up some stairs into Bird Rock and all this weird stuff happens. Then Will wishes that he was out of Bird Rock and they appear at the bottom of the steps. The fire is gone so they get the harp and a vortex appears underneath them and Bran, Will's friend plays the harp and it goes away. I did not really get the book after that but at the end this black smoke surrounds everybody.

I gave the book 3 stars. It is the fourth book in a series so if you read the first 3 books first it will make more sense.

"...Those men who know anything at all about the Light also know that there is a fierceness to its power, like the bare sword of the law, or the white burning of the sun...at the very heart, that is. Other things, like humanity, and mercy, and charity, that most good men hold more precious than all else, they do not come first for the Light. Oh, sometimes they are there; often indeed. But in the very long run the concern of you people is with the absolute good, ahead of all else...At the centre of the Light there is a cold white flame, just as at the centre of the Dark there is a great black pit bottomless as the Universe."
- a mortal speaking as a free agent to an Old One of the Light, herein

And of all the books in the series, THE GREY KING perhaps illustrates that detatchment of the Light from mortal charity more clearly than any book before it since THE DARK IS RISING, with the hard choices it presented to the Old Ones between their duty to the Light and their private obligations to those they loved. Here, however, the choices made are by mortals, from a man who traded away his allegiance in the hope of becoming a great poet to a woman who left her only child among strangers, one of them a man forever marked in turn by her choices.

In each book of this series, either a previously unknown quantity among the major protagonists of the overall story is introduced to the reader, or familiar protagonists from different volumes work together for the first time. In each case, this serves not only to help join together the mundane waking world with the deeper reality of the battleground between the Light and the Dark, but to re-ground readers in the story so far, thus allowing each volume to function as an independent story as well as part of the greater whole.

In THE GREY KING, the Drews do not appear, and an even greater absence casts a shadow on the story - only the youngest of the Old Ones is an active participant, facing the Brenin Llwyd, the Grey King, the greatest Lord of the Dark whose reasons for binding himself to one small part of Wales are beginning to become horribly apparent. And Will Stanton must achieve this quest independently, having only the clues provided by the outcome of an earlier quest and such mortals as he can trust, who live on or near the farm in Wales where Will has been sent to recover from a serious illness. Several of these mortals are unusually perceptive and have their own roles to play in the quest, which this time is not to gain a tool of power for its own sake as a weapon or a defence, but as a stepping stone to more mysterious ends.

At first I was disappointed to find that Alex Jennings (who narrates the other four volumes' unabridged audio editions) wasn't the reader for THE GREY KING, but I decided to take a chance and get Richard Mitchley's recording of this book, trusting that there was a reason for the change, especially when Jennings was tapped for the next (and final) book in sequence.

I now understand the publishers' decision; THE GREY KING needed a narrator who could speak Welsh (not one of Jennings' strengths). I like Mitchley (particularly as Bran Davies) while still enjoying Jennings on the pre-existing characters. Sigh - if only they'd jointly narrated the last two books so I could've had it both ways...

Enemy of God, #2 in The Arthur Books, was my favorite of the three. Reading these books was a great experience because knowing that I had the opportunity to continue the story and it not ending was so much fun...until I finished #3.

This book is an excellent read and follow-up to the first one. A lot happens within these two covers and by the time you turn that last page you'll wish you had already purchased the third book to the series. Cornwell delivers excellent reading with great historical accuracies in terms of people and places, horrific battle scenes drawn out with extraordinary detail. If you like Cornwell, this will make you love him.

I was intrigued about this alternate version of the Tales of Arthur. This well-crafted book (the third of 3 books in this series) fleshes out many of the legendary characters in very believable ways. I liked the book.

While there is a certain similarity of characterization in Cornwall's books I still find them fascinating with enjoyable plots that for me evoke the age they address. I am a fan of all of his books

After a hard fought victory at Lugg Vale, Arthur and Derfel hope for peace but alas it is not to be. In this second book in Cornwell's Warlord series the Arthurian legend continues. Derfel finds the love of his life and becomes a "Lord of War" while Arthur suffers his worst betrayal, and of course there is plenty of fighting. "Enemy of God" is a completely new chapter in the Arthurian legend in which Cornwell transforms Merlin into a real and loveable character and introduces the reader to much of the magic and mystery of the Druid. The story takes the reader into the reign of King Mordred and the dark times that follow. In this installment Derfel is at his happiest while Arthur is brought to the depths of despair. This is my favorite of the three books because the story brings out such deep emotions and leaves such a lasting impression.

A retelling of some of Sir Gawain's quests, as seen through the eyes of his devoted teenaged squire, Terence. This author knows his Arthurian legends! This is a well-written, funny book. It is technically a young adult book, but that has never stopped me before!

I bought this book to read with my 11-year old and we love it. It's along the lines of the fantasy books we prefer but it carries a humor throughout that really appealed to my son. He could connect with the characters and the writing really gave him the opportunity to step into the story and empathize with the characters.

Recommend for the tween to early teen reader, my 6-year old liked listening but grew bored at some sections.

The Squire's Tale is a perfect story for kids! Gerald Morris has made The Squire's Tales Series into a great line of books for kids learning about the Middle Ages, although some books are a bit "mushy" and "lovey-dovey", but I still recommend it for kids (11+, of course)

The Squire's Tale is one of the best books I've ever, ever, ever read!!! It's sooo funny!

About 3 pages into this book he meets Gawain. Maybe 7 or so pages later he learns he's to be Gawain's squire from a very mixed-up man he was raised by. The following day he travels(with his new knight-master) to Camelot, where he'll find many adventures. For practically as soon as he gets there he's swept up into a terrific battle against the Five Kings, some very powerful, very mighty rulers. But the adventure's not over YET!!! Soon after the battle Gawain gets called to hunt a white hart(deer) and hound, and this is where the main story begins.

In this book there's an unforgettablle cast of characters, including villainous and empty headed knights, more sensible knights, bloodthirsty ladies, sorcerers and sorceresses, and a love-bird switch-around couple who are very silly. This "romance" is not even close to being mushy, more like a play on fairy tales. (I never would have put that part in if it was anything even a bit romantic)

As I said, this book is like the BEST book ever.

P.S If you like Gerald Morris you'll like Tamora Pierce

I enjoyed this entire series quite a bit. I would recommend it for middle school/jr high up through adults. I had a bachelors and a masters degree at the time I read it.

I think the other reviews have given enough plot synopsis so I won't re-write it. In my opinion, Gerald Morris is a masterful author with great story ideas and superb character development. I am anxiously awaiting the next book from this author.