The Winter King (The Arthur Books #1)

I have read many King Arthur novels and together with the High Queen series by Nancy McKenzie this is the one I liked best. It is also my favourite Bernard Cornwell novel. Set in the sixth century, after the Romans have left Britain Celtic Britain is threatened by Irish tribes from the West and Saxons from the East, as well as civil strife. Seen from the yes of the warrior Derfel, who serves Arthur. Arthur is regent to the crippled boy king, his nephew Mordred. Rich in cast of characters and fascinating to read of all the different places in Britain at the time. Strong in battle scenes and politics but also in characterization and relationships and not without well developed women characters, Cornwell never disappoints and this will be a treat for anyone who loves Arthurian legend and Dark Ages history. Unusual but interesting characterizations of Merlin, Nimue, Guinevre and Morgan. Morgan is a priestess who has been hideously disfigured by fire and wear a gold mask. Merlin is a cynical enigma with the single minded determination to return Britain to the old ways and old gods. Lancelot is portrayed as a petty and spiteful coward, Guinevere as catty and sluttish and Nimue as a beguiling priestess, determined to avenge her rape and mutilation by the evil King Gundleus of Siluria. Never a dull page. Really recreates both fantasy and history. climaxes with a victory in battle by King Arthur of against the forces of the kings of Powys and Siluria.

Having read virtually all of Bernard Cornwell's work, I imagined that this series would be great, as the author is certainly the best writer of the genre. Yet, even with the highest expectation, this series amazed me as it is excellent almost beyond belief. For this trilogy, I listened to the audio version. The reader did a fabulous job with this great version of the Arthurian legend. Whether you choose the audio version, or the books, do yourself a favor and do not miss this...

As a fictionalized account of the final attempt of the Britons to defend their land from invading Saxons and Irish, this is an engaging tale, with likeable heroes. As a tale of Arthur, it disappoints.

The major problem with Cornwell's characterization is that the villains are without redeeming qualities. They are invariably a combination of the following qualities: brutal, vicious, duplicitous, selfish, and cowardly. This makes Arthur come off as particularly obtuse. For example, I don't have a problem with Cornwell re-writing Lancelot to make him ignoble, but to make him as wholly reprehensible as he is, and to have every credible character except Arthur realize what a useless and narcissistic person he is, just makes Arthur look stupid. It's hard to imagine how such a man could be a great leader of soldiers in an age of social and religious conflict when he can't seem to judge them well.

Arthur's poor judgment, at least when it comes to people, is problematic in this work, but it completely drains the second book, Enemy of God, of the tragedy that is inherent in the Arthurian story.

I've enjoyed reading Mr. Cornwell's books for some time now, first the Sharpe's Rifles series and then assorted others. Looking about I saw his series on Arthurian Lore and was intrigued knowing Mr. Cornwell's love of bringing as much history as possible into his stories and the legends of King Arthur and his knights being so twisted by Sir Thomas Malory's le Morte de Arthur and Hollywood's take.

I'm going to open by saying wow. I was very impressed by Mr. Cornwell here. This is arguably one of his best works. Mr. Cornwell managed to paint a historical post-Roman/Saxon invasion England where magic (or the perceived effects of it) was alive and well. Mr. Cornwell's tale reflects history so well. The Briton's are trying to survive the Saxon invasion but each king is working independent of the other and as likely to seek the correction of past grievances against other Briton kings. Arthur, rather than being a king of one of the clans is instead a warlord who leads a warband for the Dumnonia who's king is Uther Pendragon, grandfather of Mordred (no, Arthur is not the father of Mordred). Arthur, rather than being the main character is a secondary character. Instead, Mr. Cornwell brings Derfel to the front. Derfel is unique to Arthurian Lore (from Hollywood/Malory cantor); a Saxon child raised in Merlin's household who becomes a warrior and the right hand to Arthur, Derfel is naïve and passionate, deep and reflective, a perfect character for the historical Briton Mr. Cornwell describes. The most amazing piece is Mr. Cornwell captures historical Briton and the mystical/magical components so well. The violence and warfare reflect what I've read about the time period, shieldwalls smashing into one another with man-vs-man fighting each other on the ground. Merging this with the belief in druids/priest and magic and holiness and you have a fabulous 5 star story.

I've read my share of Arthurian themed books. The first ones I read, and the ones I still maintain are the best, were those by Mary Stewart. Since reading those I really haven't found any series that I liked.
Until I read this. My freind recommended this to me, saying "The Druids hop around on one foot in this book!" And that got me. (They actually do, in parts)
This book is highly imaginative. And while it does use parts of the later legends that irritate me in books that are marketed for their historical accuracy (yeah right), there is so much creative imagination in this book. The author sticks to the legends, but not so artificially that it's the same as any other series you've read.
Example one that I love:
We know very little about the Druids. But many authors take this fact and either 1)don't include a worthwile description of them or 2)just use a few simple facts that we do know over and over.
Instead, the author uses his knowledge as a scholar to invent some really strange but wonderful things, still managing to keep it realistic.
Another thing I loved in this book was the portrayal of the main three characters: Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenievere. So often you see them as these beautiful, shiny happy people. Not so in this book. They are dynamic individuals. Arthur is still his down to earth self, but he is selfish and rash. Lancelot is beautiful but a total flake and a jerk (the way I always thought he was). And Guenievere. The most dynamic of all. All she wants is to see the world at it's most beautiful, but you can tell that underneath it all is a layer of cold intelligence, a hard iron will.
Anyway, this book was unlike any other I've read. It was completely compelling.. I read it in 3 days.
I'll definetly recommend it over Steven Lawhead, Jack Whyte, Marrion Zimmer Bradley, and most of the others.

The Winter King

(Warlord Chronicles, Part 1)

by Bernard Cornwell

OK, most everyone should know the legend of King Arthur by now. If you don't, the basic summary is that there was once a king named Arthur in England who became king when he pulled a sword called Excalibur from a stone with some help from a wizard named Merlin. Later he married a woman named Guinevere and formed a wonderful kingdom known as Camelot, where he and his brave knights sat around a round table after a day of searching for the Holy Grail or battling dragons. But eventually he was betrayed when his top knight, Lancelot, slept with Guinevere. Later his bastard son Mordred shows up and they lock horns and Arthur is ultimately killed. Excalibur ends up thrown into a pond, where a disembodied female hand takes it while Arthur is taken on a boat to a magical land known as Avalon to wait the day when he is needed again.

Now most of that historically speaking is pure bunk. There are some who try to assert there really was an Arthur, but evidence is sorely lacking. Nevertheless, Bernard Cornwell, known in the UK for writing the Sharpe's series of historical military novels, tries to recast the Arthurian legend in a more historical context in the 5th Century AD.

Before the story begins, it's important to note that at the time the series begins, what we think of as Great Britain is divided into a bunch of little kingdoms. There's an alliance among the kingdoms of central and western Britain (what we think of today as England and Wales) rules by a High King named Uther. Uther's son Mordred was recently killed by Saxon "barbarians" who are coming over from probably what we'd think of as Scandinavia now, leaving the High King with no heir and thus leaving the alliance in trouble if the frail Uther should die.

The story begins with the dead Mordred's wife giving birth to a boy, whom is named Mordred for his father. The only hitch is that the boy is born with a deformed foot. But for the moment the alliance is saved. Unfortunately, before long, Uther finally dies and some of the other kings want to take power for themselves. Enter, Arthur.

In Cornwell's vision of the Arthurian saga, Arthur is not a king. He starts out merely as Uther's bastard son who is a warlord in Brittany (France) and pledged to help his nephew obtain the throne. This Arthur does by sweeping in with his armored horse troops and putting down any rebellion and in the process making himself the unquestioned leader of Britain.

All seems to be going well and will be even more well once Arthur marries a princess named Ceinwyn to cement an alliance with a neighboring kingdom. Except when he goes to meet the princess, he sees a beautiful redheaded woman across the room and is smitten with love. That redheaded woman is named Guinevere and while she too is a princess, her father lost his kingdom to Irish marauders and thus she isn't nearly as good of a bargaining chip.

Though Arthur should think with his head and marry Ceinwyn to keep the peace, he instead thinks with his netherregions and marries Guinevere on the sly. This ticks off Ceinwyn's daddy, who in turn rounds up a huge army to crush Arthur and make himself the High King. It all comes down to an epic battle in a place called Ludd Vale.

That's leaving out a lot of what else happens in the story. Cornwell tells the story through Derfel, one of Arthur's loyal soldiers. He is a Saxon child raised by the Britons, who survived being thrown into a pit of spikes as a sacrifice to pagan gods. This led to Derfel being raised in the household of Merlin, the most powerful Druid in all of Britain. Derfel's coming of age from a boy in Merlin's household to a warlord at Ludd Vale parallels the coming of Arthur and his rise to power and fame.

I first read this trilogy about ten years ago and what I like about it is the way that even if none of this ever happened, it feels like it COULD have happened. Instead of the old Arthurian world with plate armor and jousting contests and courtly love, we have a Britain a generation removed from Roman rule, thrust into chaos as various kingdoms fight each other while invaders from Scandinavia and Ireland threaten to wipe everyone out. Instead of noble jousting and such, men fight in clusters called "shield walls" because the shields of the clustered men are used to protect each other from attack. There's nothing heroic about shield walls fighting, as it's a bloody, gruesome business of pushing and stabbing.

The way Cornwell debunks the myth while at the same time turning it into a more realistic story reminds me of reading Mary Renault's "The King Must Die" and its sequel about ancient Greece and the hero Theseus or Colleen MacCullough's novels about Rome like "Caesar's Women." As well the attempts to make the battles more realistic is similar to Stephen Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" about the Spartans in the Battle of Thermopylae (more famously recounted in idiotic fashion by Frank Miller's graphic novel "300"). There's also a lot of political intrigue that helps make the world in which this Arthur and his companions live seem to come alive.

My major nitpick is that there are too many names. There are so many kings and warriors and princes and princesses and different regions that you need a scorecard to keep track of who rules what and who hates who at the moment.

Still, even with no magic swords, dragons, or Round Table this is an exciting book that promises much more to come.

(On a side note, this to my knowledge has no relation to the "King Arthur" movie starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley put out in 2004, though that also deals with an Arthur in the 5th Century. These books came well before that, which means Jerry Bruckheimer probably stole and corrupted them. I've long thought the Cornwell novels would make a great series of films like "Lord of the Rings" but I doubt that would happen.)

That is all.

"The Winter King" is the first in Bernard Cornwell's "Warlord Chronicles" Trilogy, which is another take on the famous Arthurian legend. The book introduces familiar characters such as Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Galahad among others yet it paints many of them in a new light compared to other books and movies.

The story is told from the perspective of Derfel (pronounced Dervel) Cadarn, an aged Christian monk commissioned to record his first-hand experiences with Arthur and the peace he tried to bring to Britain. Derfel's character is interesting because we know he obviously survived, but we don't know how he lost his left hand, how he changed from a battle-hardened warrior sworn to Arthur's service to being a monk, or how he converted from his pagan beliefs to Christianity. The first book doesn't answer these questions -- if anything it sparks more questions!

The book is somewhat of a meandering tale with hints of mysticism, but it doesn't include explicit use of magic like in some Arthurian legends. There are some graphic battle scenes that might be upsetting to some readers, but there weren't any graphic rape or sex scenes if readers are worried about those things.

I enjoy watching "The Sword in the Stone" and stories about the Round Table and Camelot and Merlin casing magical spells and noble Sir Lancelot as much as the next person. But if you're looking for a believable and historically plausible telling of the Arthurian legend, this is the book to read. Don't get me wrong, Merlin is still here, only he's presented as the most powerful druid left in Britain. Lancelot is here, but isn't nearly as noble as the Lancelot presented in other versions of the tale.

Rather than a story focused solely on Arthur pulling a sword out of a stone, becoming King, and traveling around with Lancelot and Galahad crusading and looking for the holy grail, we're presented with a much more plausible and bleak version of the tale.

The story begins in late 5th century Britain. A land divided into squabbling kingdoms, threatened by multiple forms of invasion (the Irish to the West, the Saxons to the East). Uther, the "High King" is more or less doing his best to keep the kingdoms somewhat united and hoping for an heir. That heir, Mordred, is born at the beginning of the novel. He is born maimed and a council of the kingdoms is called to swear allegiance to Mordred. Following the death of Uther, his bastard son Arthur returns from Armorica (France) to protect Mordred's kingdom until Mordred is old enough to rule it himself.

The focus of this book is war, plain and simple. The Arthur in this book is very noble, wise, kind, and good, but far from perfect. Shrugging off an alliance betrothal in order to marry Guinevere, he all but condemns the kingdoms of Britain to fall apart and fall to the invading Saxons.

The story is narrated by Derfel Cadarn many many years after the fact. Derfel, a monk, was formerly a friend and sort of "lieutenant" to Arthur. There is action, but the story doesn't rely completely on it. The visual descriptions of Britain are very good. Fair warning: There are a lot of names that are hard to pronounce and keep track of at first. I found myself flipping back to the list of names/places at the begining, as well as the map (both extremely handy additions to the book) many times during the first 100 or so pages of the book. The chapters are pretty long, but it's not too hard to find a good stopping point. The book definitely isn't a quick or easy read, but nevertheless a rewarding read.

For fans of Bernard Cornwell (such as myself), "The Winter King" is a joy. Fans of the Grail Quest series, or "Stonehenge," will instantly recognize Cornwell's trademark style -- clear, concise prose, spare-yet-functional dialouge, and an unflinching eye for both the joys (rare) and terrors (common) of medieval life.

Narrated by Derfel, "The Winter King" kicks off the tale of Arthur's ascendancy to become King of the Britons. Set in the Dark Ages, Britain is a raging cauldron of conflicts. Followers of the pagan gods clash with the annoyingly resilient new crowd, the Christians. Saxons fight Britons, Irish fight Britons, and Britons fight Britons. Uther, the dying king, has no son and his grandson, Mordred, is born a cripple and is at the mercy of vicious warlords who want nothing more than to assume the throne.

Into this maelstrom strides Arthur, an amiable colossus who harbors an almost Clinton-like need to be loved. That is, unless he's tossing Excalibur around, which Arthur does with unbridled ferocity. Through Derfel's eyes, we see that Arthur is a man truly capable of inspiring adoration among those around him.

But nevertheless, this Arthur is a man, not a myth, not a legend. Cornwell's style is perfect for his aim, which is to humanize the man who has inspired so many myths, tales, and songs. Cornwell does this both by giving Arthur some very human failings (the aforementioned need to be loved is one, and an impulsive streak a mile wide is another) and by skewering some of Arthur's mythical comrades. Rather than the honorable, indomitable warrior of legend, Cornwell's Lancelot is a handsome coward who knows the value of good p.r. -- if you value your legacy, befriend the poets!

Throughout the novel, Arthur's ascendancy is much in doubt. Not only has he sworn a mighty oath to see Mordred king, virtually every other monarch in the tale is out to get Arthur and put him in his place. This makes for a rollicking read, particularly since Cornwell -- true to form -- is capable of killing off anybody, anywhere, at any time in this book.

Cornwell has created one truly magnificent character in "The Winter King," namely, Merlin. Merlin is the mightiest Druid in the land -- so powerful that even Christians bow to him. A schemer, a huckster, yet dangerous as hell, Merlin commands the stage like no other Cornwell character I've read, and one can easily imagine Cornwell smiling as he wrote Merlin's scenes.

Here's looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!

As an avid reader of Arthurian literature, I am always pleased to find a retelling as vivid and well written as Bernard Cornwell's wonderful addition to the genre. "The Winter King" exemplifies what keeps me coming back for more; it retains enough semblance to the generally accepted story line (that's if you're willing to buy into Mallory being the "definitive" modern source) to be "comfortable", but takes enough detours to be fresh and interesting. Mallory tended to "sanitize" and romanticize the Welsh/Gaelic roots of the legends and introduced the chivalric element to the tales. Mr. Cromwell keeps much of the original (pre-Mallory) roots intact and maintains some, though not all, of the Welsh and Gaelic spellings. He makes references to many of the ancient treasures of Britain and other mythic allusions common to older Irish folklore and weaves them into his story. (These allusions get stronger in the second book, "Enemy of God", which I'm currently reading, but I'm getting ahead of myself. . .) And, though many of the names do remain the same and many of the classic characters appear, many of the relationships and characterizations are different than other retellings. But, this variety is truly the spice of Arthurian life and makes it the rich store it is. Arthur's parentage is far more humble, his relationship with Guinivere (at least so far) is far more cordial and Guinivere herself is a far fuller character, Lancelot is quite a different person, and Lancelot's relationship with Galahad is different. (There are may more, but these are the ones that stand out to me.)
I said earlier that Mallory introduced chivalry to Arthurian literature. Though there is a great deal of oath swearing in this book, there is not much chivalry and even less classic romanticism. Oh, Arthur's attraction to Guiniverre is man/woman romantic enough, but the painting of the times is bleak. I'm reminded of the movie "McCabe and Mr. Miller", a western movie that came out in the late 60's. It was among the first of the "dusty" Westerns, in that it was not the romanticized old West of John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart and Gene Autry. It was dirty, dusty, harsh, and generally unpleasant (it's probably still my favorite western movie. . .). "The Winter King" is to Mallory and that ilk of Arthurian literature as "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" was to "The Lone Ranger." You can actually feel and smell the filth. . . Chivalry is replaced with opportunistic politicking, and Arthur is one of the worst offenders.
Merlin was actually a minor character in Mallory. In this book, he is much more of a presence. As a result, there is far more outward reference to magic in this story, too. I say reference, because there's very little of the real thing. Merlin is a full-fledged Druid, but he, Morgan, and Nimue are seem (at least to me) to more shamans than true magicians. But, if the peasants believe it's magic, does it really matter??
Another element central to this book is the religious conflict. Historically, Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries would have been wracked by dissention between the Christians, proselytized by the Romans, and the Britons, still faithful to the pagan gods. Merlin, of course, stands firmly on the side of the Old Gods and the Bishop Sansum is the kingpin of the Christians. The ancient monk Derval, who narrates the book, was the child of a Saxon slave and raised by Merlin. This story covers the period of his childhood and entry into manhood. But, we know that after a lifetime as a warrior and pagan, he becomes a seemingly staunch disciple of Sansum, as his narration is retrospective. Methinks therein lies a tale for the next two books of the series. . .
Finally, in my humble estimation, the trait that sets one Arthurian retelling above another is the strength of the character serving as the narrator. Derval is fantastic. He is a confidant of Arthur, Galahad, and Merlin - some pretty strong connections. Yet, he is a sworn enemy of Lancelot, and certainly paints the most unflattering portrait of Lancelot that I have ever read. I feel that this plot line will unfold differently than it seems, as I'm sure there are some surprises in the future relationship between Derval and Sansum. What I'm getting at is how truthful is the narration? We know Derval is strongly opinionated. I'm eager to read on to discover how much is "truth" and how much is Derval's perception and memory.
And read the rest of the story, I will! This is a strong book and a very welcome addition to the genre.

Bernard Cornwell is a very prolific author. I knew of his Sharpe series and the Civil War series and I thought any guy that writes this many books must be trading quality for quantity.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

This Arthur trilogy is a completely different take on the Arthur legend and for my money it is by far the best. If you are looking for another knights of the Round Table slaying dragons and winning fair ladies, keep looking. But if you are looking for a story that combines historical accuracy with a hint of magic, this series if for you.

Cornwell gets the chronology right (late 5th century, early 6th); the size of the contending armies; the style of warfare and the political situation. His Arthur is believable and admirable. His narrator, Derfel, is brave, cantankerous and fallible. I did not want the series to end and I miss Derfel today.

My introduction to the series was by way of the excellent Book on Tape version, but I went out and bought all the hardbacks. The BOT edition is also valuable in that it teaches you how to pronounce the Welsh names.

These three books would make a movie trilogy to rival that of The Lord of the Rings, but I fear it will never happen.

The Winter King was another take on the King Arthur story, but distinct in staying as true as possible to what information is available from that time period in what would one day become England. From a story perspective, I think Bernard Cornwell did an excellent job introducing and developing a large cast of characters and placing them in a believable setting. There is no "farcical aquatic ceremony" to be found within these pages, but an interpretation of those fantastical tales in a plausible historical context. On to book two!

I have read many of the fictional accounts of Arthur, and Cornwell's The Winter King rates among the very best. Arturian fiction tends to fall into two types, "magical" Camelot with swords in stones and magicians with real power, or "realistic" Camelot (or Camulod, for Jack Whyte fans) that tries to tell Artuhr's saga without magic.

The Winter King falls into the second category, but whereas Jack Whyte tries to explain away all the magical trappings of Arthurian legend with rational causes, Cornwell presents us with a Brittain still very much in thrall to Druidism. Many of the Druidic rites are explained, and the people of Cornwell's Brittain fervently believe in them, but Cornwell himself takes no side -- we see Druids trying to bring the gods' favor to their armies, but Cornwell neither mocks the practices nor attempts to explain away the unexplainable like Whyte sometimes does. He also does not try to demonstrate that the "magic" is working, just that it was practiced and believed, and the reader is consequently left with a much deeper feeling that this is what life was like back then than Whyte's Camulod, which often tries too hard to give a rational explanation for all of Arthur's accomplishments. (The irony of Whyte's fixation on rationalism is that he falls back on the deus ex machina of a stone from outer-space to explain why Excalibur is so strong!)

Also adding to the depth of realism is Cornwell's knack for characterization. We are presented with multi-dimensional players who live and breathe and love and hate like real people do, rather than simple archtypes. And because they are real, you really care about them. This depth is carried over, as well, in Cornwell's plotting of the political struggles amongst the kingdoms. This is in stark contrast to Jack Whyte's Camulod, where characters fight or love and die, and you know Whyte wants you to feel sad or gleeful at their passing, but you just do not manage to care much. This is largely due to the one-dimensional nature of many of Whyte's characters.

Capping off The Winter King's success is writing that is superb, managing to be simultaneously artful and elegant as well as being a real page-turner. The language and dialogue ring true without sounding stilted.

Given the above review, one might be tempted to think I didn't like Whyte's Camulod Chronicles, but I actually am a very big fan of them. But whereas Whyte's Camulod is nothing more (or less!) than a plot-driven and pulpy page turner, Cornwell's The Winter King is a true work of art and truly presents things as they might have been.

When you are looking for a very fun read, by all means pick up any of Whyte's Camulod books and you won't be disappointed. When you are looking for a window into another time, however, very little can hold a candle to The Winter King.

I had immensely the tales of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (though the more recent ones have become predictable). Then wanting more Cornwell tried the Sharpe series - but was mildly disappointed. Then by chance I picked up this series and 'Wow'!!! This trilogy far surpasses the Saxon novels. These are Cornwell's best. Way more interesting characters, superb envisioning of the battle scenes and quite realistic given the more fantastic versions of Author's life which are more common. I literally read my eyes out and everything else in my life took a beat seat for those few days.

This was a fascinating time in history. The Winter King, narrated by the monk Derfel, who in his younger days was once a loyal soldier to Arthur, really sets the mood of this shrouded and violent time.
The tide of invading Saxons threatens to overwhelm the feuding tribes and kingdoms of post-Roman England. While in the background of Arthur's, and Merlin's, dream for a united and just Britain, is the clash between the old pagan religions and the relatively new Christianity.
Cornwell doesn't choose sides with this religious conflict. Many of the Christians have their own agendas for power. On the other side of the coin, the feats of the Druids and their priestesses are revealed as little more then hocus-pocus used to influence the masses. Arthur faces enemies on all fronts and struggles to pay the price of a decision made in the heat of passion. No knights in shining armor here, just warriors and their leaders trying to survive and protect their own as honorably as possible.
The Winter King really seems like what the story of Arthur must have been like. It pulls you into a wild country on the brink of anarchy, whose all but unknown culture left its marks on our civilization from Halloween and some of our Christmas traditions, to carrying a rabbit's foot for luck. Any fan of the Arthurian legends, should give this book a read. You won't find any sorcery but you'll be rewarded with insights of forgotten or misrepresented heroes.

Cornwell's interpretation of the Arthurian mythos is compelling and superbly written. He breathes new life into the legends by presenting the well-known characters as realistic figures, neither saints nor demons. Few of his villains are without some kind of redeeming feature, and none of his heroes are without flaw. Arthur, a bastard by birth, is generous and kind but ruthless and vain; Gorfyddyd, a tyrannical ruler bent on overlordship of all Britain, is a loving and doting father and Merlin, the inveterate trickster, is never without some surprise up his sleave but is ultimately human and filled with doubt in the gods and in himself.

Cornwell's Britain is not a utopian Camelot but a patchwork quilt of loosely affiliated kingdoms warring with one another and fighting off Saxon marauders who themselves are divided into different warlords' followings.

Cornwell's description of religious conflict is one of two faiths, Christianity and Celtic paganism, at times vying for supremacy, at times seeking to co-exist, and always plagued by internacine rivalries and differences of doctrine and ideology.

We view all these people and conflicts through the eyes of Derfel, a Saxon-born slave who fights his way to the top of Post-Roman British society, allowing us to see the legend from a unique and rarely-explored perspective. The result is a spellbinding journey through war and peace, faith and folly, in a three volume work that, but for its recent publication, would no doubt be regarded as a great classic of Western literature.

Like other reviewers, I was somewhat skeptical of The Winter King, given the fact that these types of books are so often filed in the fantasy section of most bookstores, a genre that generally doesn't interest me. But Cornwell has written this as historical fiction, staying faithful to the feeling and events of the dark ages. And in so doing, he elegantly wraps a literate page turner. The characters are well-developed, and there is tension and suspense throughout, with a climactic battle scene second to none. Cornwell paints a picture of the action scenes expertly, a difficult task for many authors. The action is told by Arthur's warlord, Derfel. At the point of writing, Derfel is an old man, and is writing his story down for the sake of posterity, but primarily at the request of the young, beautiful queen, Igraine, who is fascinated by the legend of Arthur. This is a device that works wonderfully, going back and forth between the remembrances of Derfel and the present-day discussion between the aged Derfel and Igraine, a somewhat flirtatious relationship. Although I am eager to get my hands on the second volume of this trilogy, I also appreciate the fact that this is a terrific book that stands by itself.

I have read a lot of Bernard Cornwell. Whether it's a story about a child who grows up to be as tough as the black longbow he wields or the soldier who slices his way through battles and conspiracy, the characters he creates touch the reader so effortlessly that you find yourself caring about the fate of even those you've come to hate. Hero's, villains, love, hate, religion, battlefield strategy and political machinations, Bernard Cornwell's ability to weave a complex story that fires your imagination and your emotions makes him a treasure to enjoy.

Then there is Bernard Cornwell's version of the story we have all read so many times. Lord, how I have wanted someone to write this story from the point of view of one of Arthurs loyal soldiers, complete with prejudices and jealousies, tragedy and brotherly love. This story rocks. All common assumptions about the characters are thrown out, you get the story viewed through the prism of Darfil,a man fierce in his loyalty to his king, withering in his judgements of those who surround him, so violent in his duty and yet tender in romance. Through him Cornwell smashes the conventional - Lancelot is remade, Merlyn is recreated, Guinevere, Mordred, Nimue, they are all redrawn and portrayed with such delicious irony that I get a warm feeling just writing about it!

It's a long story, three books, but well worth it if you have had enough of the same old Arthur, or if you are thirsty for a historical fiction ( Cornwell is the best in this genre ) that deals in love and war, history and wisdom. You haven't read Arthurian saga until you've seen it from the point of view of the unimpressed - Darfil loves Arthur as much as he despises those he does not trust - it makes for a refreshing twist on an classic story. And on top of a engaging story you get to learn real history about England and her roots, religions and cultures. Now that's entertainment....

This first book of three takes the reader back to a time that would be difficult to imagine if we didn't have the talented story telling of Bernard Cornwell to guide us on our way. Here we are transported back to Dark Ages Britain, after the Romans have left, but before the invasion of the Normans. Britain (wales, really) has slowly slid back into a brutal, uncivilised, unstable society of dirty, blood thirsty, territorial barbarians. And if you think that's bad, it gets worse when Christianity gets the island in its' toothy grip. Mr. Cornwell makes it very clear (as he does in the Saxon Chronicles as well) that he thinks very litle of Christianity, or at least the form that it has taken in Western Culture. If you know anything about history, it is very difficult to disagree or become offended by this. However, over the course of the series (especially in book two) Mr. Cornwell's opinions become heavy handed and burdensome to the story.

All in all this book is a terrificly believable adaptation of an old myth. Some historians think King Arthur was a real person. Cornwell shows us what the real Arthur and his knights might have been. Pick it up, check it out, but don't let your religious beliefs be molested by the overtones.

It takes a lot to keep my attention. That is the reason why the novels I read tend to be less than 500 pages. For me to have read an entire trilogy says a lot for the author's storytelling ability; he never bores, or gets bogged down in the trivial. We will never know the truth behind Arthur, but I am happy to accept this version of events through its humanising of Arthur to the brilliant portrayal of Merlin. Instead of reverting to modern day conjuring, Cornwell has written Merlin as a very shrewd man that evokes magic in rather ingenious ways so as to captivate the highly superstitious and ritualistic Pagan Britons. The use of Dervel Cadarn as narrator also pulls off a coup. Giving the story of royalty from the eyes of a lowly man adds to the mystique as we do not get told absolutely everything as Dervel does not go everywhere with Arthur. My one complaint is that Excalibur ends a little too abruptly. With reference to my first comments, perhaps this abruptness has more to do with more to do with my wishing it would never end, rather than a weakness of the story. This trilogy should become a classic, only time will tell.

Just when you thought nothing new could be added to the oft-told tale of King Arthur, Bernard Cornwell surprises us with one of the best arthurian tales ever! The focus is on a much more realistic view of early british history and the people who lived in that era. Many of the familiar characters are here but in unfamiliar roles and Cornwell gives each a distinctive voice and personality. Lancelot for instance is a far cry from the noble knight we know and Guinevere is much more cunning than in other versions. Arthur himself is a noble and idealistic man with high hopes for peace in Britain, but is hindered by his all too human flaws.
The story itself details the protection of an infant king (Mordred) by Arthur til he comes of age to rule. But in the meantime Arthur tries too keep the peace among Britains many kings who constantly war with each other in a power struggle to be High King, all this while fighting the ever increasing Saxon threat of invasion.
The magical elements of the story are downplayed, and indeed, magic is representes as being little more than tricks and empty curses that are used by Druids to intimidate the people. Throughout the story there is a great deal of spitting of curses that have little or no effect.
The writing is superb and the story never looses interest. Very much reccomended for arthurian fans, historical fiction fans and just about anyone who enjoys a great tale.

I love Cornwell. His novels are realistic and make you feel as you are in the book. He does just this with "The Warlord Chronicles". This is not the Arthur that we have hear about all of our lives, but a very different take on him. All of the famous names appear in this book, and in the next two, but they serve different takes than what we have grown to know and love. As said before in a review for this book, if you are looking for an Arthur novel that is all fairytale like, dont read this book.
Cornwell makes this book, to me, the most real rendition of Arthurian legend. I am a Medieval studies major, and although I dont study Arthur much, I know the tales, and I also know there was a real Arthur, exagerated by a thousand years of word of mouth.
Through my eyes, I believe Cornwell knew this also, and so he wrote these books based on the "real" Arthur". Rather than having faries and magic, we have a realistic look into the dark ages (the time after the roman empire fell, and the coming of Charles the Great). If you love this time period and love battles, get this book. You will love it.

In this first installment of the Arthur story Cornwell makes it immediately obvious that this is not just another retelling of Malory's classic Camelot. In this telling of the Arthur myth/legend the Arthur is a believable man that the reader can't help but fall in love with. We celebrate his victories and lament his pain, but that is a subplot for the series. The real main character is Derfel, an enigmatic character who seems to have been the Forest Gump of the Arthurian period. The story is the retelling of Derfel's life as he writes down his memories of Arthur for his young queen Igraine. Derfel was everywhere, sees everything and in his old age remembers it all. After reading this series the reader will know and love Derfel. I found this telling of the Arthurian legend much more believable the "Le Mort d'Arthur", although "The Winter King" does lack much of the pageantry of the earlier work. Derfel was a warrior and therefore tells the tale from a warrior's point of view. I found it very good reading and a fun twist on the Arthur story.

I have been a fan of books retelling the Arthurian legend since childhood, and I am always on the lookout for a new version of the famous tale. However, I do not believe I will ever find a more entertaining and powerful chronicle to top Bernard Cornwell's trilogy. Told from the perspective of Saxon-turned British warlord Derfel, readers will come to love the narrator and accept him as an integral part of the legend. The only aspect of this saga that I can honestly criticize is the fact that now I have to read other versions of the story that will be absent Arthur's most loyal friend and warrior. Arthur is, in fact, portrayed as a great, yet reluctant hero. Merlin, a crabby, mysterious druid. The familiar characters are all there, but have been given new personas and roles in the story. The battle scenes are brutal and written beautifully, a talent Cornwell duplicates by endearing the characters to the reader and forcing an almost emotional attachment. I recommend this series to all readers. It will make you long for a time when battles were fought in a shieldwall and sworn oaths dictated the laws of the land.

Fans of Bernard Cornwell's beautiful prose and exciting, historically accurate descriptions of ancient military life will not be disappointed by his incredibly original take on the Arthurian legend. However, if you are expecting yet another tale of magic, romance and sorcery, you may be disappointed. The Arthur presented in the Warlord Trilogy is not the Christian king of England that you're used to, but a Celtic warlord in pagan Britain fighting back the marauding Saxons and dealing with treachery from warring British kingdoms.

The story is narrated by Derfel Cadarn, one of Arthur's warriors who is currently a monk trying to secretly write the true story of Arthur and hiding it from the slimey Bishop Sansum, one of Arthur's greatest and most subtle enemies. You will be surprised and perhaps even disappointed to discover your favorite characters of the old legends presented in an unflattering light. For instance, Guinevere is portrayed as beautiful and clever but ambitious and ruthless. Lancelot is not Arthur's courageous right-hand man, but is instead a cowardly and treacherous exiled king who pays bards and poets to fabricate false tales of his bravery.

Despite Arthur being presented as the central figure, the story really belongs to Derfel, a selfless, brave, humble, and utterly likeable main character whom we grow to know and love. And it is very important that he be likeable, as a good deal of the characters are realistically portrayed with character flaws very common to the time period. Derfel provides the reader with a moral anchor that can be related to, while he lives and observes the corruption of the British leaders.

This book comes highly recommended from someone who has read all of Cornwell's "Sharpe" books and is working on writing a historical fiction of his own.

Most people know something about the Arthurian legends, whether they've read the original Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory or seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In fact, most people have heard about Arthur so many times, from the various books, movies, mini-series, and plays, that they automatically ignore just another retelling as recycled garbage because an author ran out of ideas. This isn't the case with Bernard Cornwell's The Winter King (and I assume the rest of the Arthur novels, though I've only read the first one). Cornwell basically asks the question, What if Arthur was a real man, and then goes on to tell exactly what that would have been like. This novel presents a historical depiction of Arthur. He is a man, a great man, but only a man. He never was given a sword by the Lady of the Lake, he doesn't have a wizard by his side doing all types of great magic, and many of his warriors are simply Britons who have worked their way up the military ranks through battles with Saxons, Irish, and other Britons who are also presented as men. Just like all men they fight, they bleed, they die, and because of this, Cornwell creates a humanized version of the Arthurian legends that I haven't seen before.
Arthur is a flawed character, and some of his actions made me want to reach through the pages of the book and into history and strangle him, but at the same time, the reader is sympathetic towards him in a lot of cases, again, because he is presented as a very human character. The narrator, Derfel, is an excellent vehicle from which to tell Arthur's story. It is fascinating to read from the perspective of a person other than Arthur. You experience his love of Arthur, as well as his disappointments. You experience fear and sadness and pain right along with Derfel and this really helps make Arthur more approachable. Instead of being a fairly two-dimensional character, which some portrayals make him out to be, you can actually believe that Arthur was a living, breathing, historical character, exiled by time to the pages of history books along with Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Julius Cesar. Instead, when you put the book down, it takes some time to remember that there is very little evidence of a historical Arthur.
Cornwell combines vivid scenery, multidimensional characters, political intrigue, and religious strife to create a fantastic world that transports readers to a time and place that never existed, but after reading this book, makes you wish that it had.

Bernard Cornwell is one of that rare breed of authors who are able to write convincingly on a broad range of subjects. Present day thrillers, the Sharpe novels about riflemen in the days of the Duke of Wellington, even an ancient historical novel about Stonehenge and it doesn't come much more ancient than that. His more recent novels have been about the Saxons and very good they are too. But I think that the trilogy he has written about the Arthurian legends are certainly among the best, if not the best of his novels.

The legends of King Arthur hold a magical attraction for many people, myself included and I enjoy reading about them very much. The tales of Arthur and his knights of the round table riding about in full and shining armour are of course a total nonsense and a more or less modern day depiction of Arthur. Suits of armour were not even invented until several hundred years after Arthur's death, if indeed he existed at all. But if he did it would be more around the time in which the Winter King is set.

Mr. Cornwell puts a more realistic slant on the existence of Arthur in or around the sixth century, and the author himself believes that Arthur was some sort of war chief rather than a king.

The book begins after the death of Uther Pendragon, an event that has left Britain in turmoil. Britain needs a strong hand to keep the squabbling tribes of Britain from one another's throats. Can he hold Uther's throne for the infant heir . . .

Bernard Cornwell has an uncanny knack for inventing memorable characters and sticking them smack dab into a time and era we thought we knew. In THE WINTER KING we're slogging through the Arthur legend- and slogging is the right word since 5th Century Britain is far from comfortable or civilized. As readers we have to slog awhile too just on the various names and places until we're able to get our footing and run with the plot.
That said, it's a very good book; one that gives you a better mind's eye view of perhaps the reality of the time and place rather than the Disney singing bird image or 'gallant knight' approach we've grown up with.
Give me Cornwell any day. Toss in a sturdy shield and sword while you're at it and join the rest of us a a shield wall. Not to worry. Even the worst battles you find in the pages will only leave you with a papercut from turning the pages a little too quickly.
A great adventure for the cover price.

I was originally given this first book (The Winter King) as a gift when I was about 13 years old (about 9 years ago). I read it and loved it, but I had no idea it was part of a trilogy until I was in college. I was totally thrilled because not only did it mean I would get to start the first book over again, but that there were THREE books to carry this awesome Arthurian imagining by Mr. Cornwell.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the trilogy as a whole. Derfel Cadarn is one of the best characters in recent memory. I get a little tired of your all-too-common Mary Sues in fiction. Derfel is certainly nothing like this- while he truly grows and becomes a formidable warrior who remains honest and loyal, he never seems perfect and is always a humble knight and a delight to "listen" to. I can't begin to give justice to the characters that Mr. Cornwell has created in Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Nimue, Merlin, and many more. Totally unique, but also completely justified in their own way that is still true to the legend and the possible history.

But enough about the characters.... I initially got into this series because of the action and creativity, and there was PLENTY. I love the detailed battles, the gripping plot changes,etc. To put it simply: I love the action in this series, and there is never a dull moment. If you can forgive yourself for making up the name pronunciations for, I dunno, MOST of the places and people, then that is the only hurdle my friend, and a minuscule and historically accurate one at that.

Please, do yourself a favor, and immerse your mind in the memorable world that Mr. Cornwell has masterfully built.

Starts off rather nicely (lots of books which get published today seem to) but it didn't really carry through. This was a rather pedestrian tale, in the final analysis, w/little staying power once you've closed the covers -- though it's readable enough. I think it suffered from the decision to make it a trilogy since you don't really see that in the beginning and when the story finally winds down to its climactic battle (and "winds down" is not a poor way of putting it), it leaves the reader rather cold. As though the book just ground to a halt, mid-stream, with everything still to be determined! The story, itself, while workmanlike, is also quite uninspired. Not much insight here into the times portrayed or the people who filled those times. The only real character of interest is Merlin as a quick change artist, although his presence is telegraphed well before he reveals himself to the seeking Arthur. Who Arthur really was and what he did remains something of a mystery -- but he sure wasn't much, or worth all those legends, if this was him. I hate it when the promise of the first few pages gets broken and scattered between the covers of a book. But that's what happened here. --- Stuart W. Mirsky ([email protected]

There can be few historical characters about whom so much has been written, whilst so little is actually known, than Arthur, the "once and future king". No contemporary - or near-contemporary - sources attest to his existence, though it is recorded that, in around 500 AD, the British defeated the Saxons at Badon Hill, setting back the Saxon invasion by at least a generation.

Believers in the Arthur legend cite the strength of the oral tradition in favour of his existence, and would argue that, as the winners (in this case, the Saxons) get to write the history books, his omission from contemporary or near-contemporary documentary records is by no means conclusive.

Whether Arthur existed or not, there can be little doubt that the later additions to the tale - such as Camelot, the Round Table and so on - are fanciful, and impose thirteenth century notions of chivalry onto a tale from earlier and more savage times.

The crude, savage and dangerous nature of life in late fifth- and early sixth-century Britain is superbly portrayed in Bernard Cornwell's trilogy. Cornwell is said to regard these as his best books, and it would be hard to disagree with this assessment.

In essence, Cornwell works from the assumption that a leader - a military commander or "warlord", but not a king - named Arthur led the British resistance to the invading Germanic tribes ("Saxons" or, in the British tongue, "Sais"). His greatest victory is Badon, which Cornwell locates near Aqua Sulis (Bath).

The trilogy is superbly entertaining and convincing, at least in the sense that, if a great British leader called Arthur did exist at this time, Cornwell's is a plausible narrative of how events might have unfolded.

Given the author's skill where warfare is concerned, the effectiveness of his portrayal of conflict will not surprise anyone. But his grasp of the day-to-day realities of life in this period is impressive, as is his handling of the machinations of politics.

I find his portrayal of the conflict between the old British religion and the spread of Christianity fascinating. Cornwell seems broadly to support the pagans, and the Christians are in general portrayed as rather grasping, fanatical, scheming and unpleasant, but it should be remembered that the novels are written from the British perspective. For much of the narrative, it is not clear whether the intervention of the Gods really occurs or is imagined but, in the third book, "divine" intevention seems accepted, as when Nimue successfully invokes the sea god to destroy Arthur's fleet in the Severn.

As the author indicates in the historical notes appended to the books, he had a difficult decision to make in terms of the later trappings of the Arthur legend - should he include Lancelot, Excalibur, Camelot, the Round Table and all of the later romanticised additions, or omit them? For the most part, he adopts for toned-down inclusion. For example, Excalibur is included, but is prosaically found on a stone, not pulled from one. The Round Table is summarily introduced and dismissed in a few terse paragraphs.

Lancelot is a major character but, far from the hero or demi-hero of the later versions, he is an outright villain, vain, weak, cowardly, unprincipled and scheming.

If Arthur lived, this is indeed how things might have been, though Cornwell is the first to admit that we do not know, and that it is unlikely that we ever will.

This book (and its sequels, "Enemy of God" and "Excalibur") are novels, not histories, and very fine novels they are - beautifully crafted, with excellent plots and characterisations, set in a wholly believable context of life at the end of the fifth century. I cannot recommend these books too strongly.

Bernard Cornwell's outlook on Arthur may be surprising but is actually not of his own invention. Mary Steward started depicting Arthur as a Roman-born boy, but still made him a king. Bernard Cornwell- true to history, only makes him a warlord. In this way he does take away the fairy-tale like existence of a king of Brittain, but the history lovers cannot but applaud this. B.C. is not a romantic novels writer, hence probably his success with the male readers, but can be awfully realistic within a frame of romance, which one can only admire. B.C. does not give superstition and spiritual ways a big chance in his Warlord books, (Merlin is mostly a 'quack' etc.) but then he never does. Different but admirable, truer to history than any other Merlin and Arthur book.

It's not enough that the guy has a fabulously oh-so-English sounding name (and in fact IS oh-so-English, though currently living in the U.S.): he has to be a good writer, too. Oh, Bernard. Is it ever enough for you?

I hope not, because here is a fellow who needs to keep on writing...and writing...and writing. Although admittedly, he already has quite a few titles, best-sellers no less, to his name. The Winter King is one, and it earns that title, from the opening description of early medieval Britain in the simple but profound words of a pagan-turned-Christian monk to the last chilling and telling paragraph.

The Winter King is first of a series about... (pause) King Arthur. No, keep reading! It's worth it, I promise you. Yes, I know we've all been King Arthured to death (and various-takes-on-Morgannaed to death, and pagan v. Christianitied to death and yadda yadda). This book will truly captivate you. Cornwell's writing style puts you smack in the middle of the action; you hardly notice the writing itself except for the chills it leaves on your arms as you pant exhaustedly through a battle scene, witness a Celtic diety speaking through a woman who looks like a child or yearn for a love you know can never be yours. You'll be the characters in this book, all of them, and you'll love or hate the appropriate people...but you'll also get a good, solid feel for paganism as it was (no "and it harm none" or "blessed be our ecological sphere" here, but a truly noble, if occasionally bloody, mission). Nor will you lack a pretty bald look at Christianity as it was, much to the embarrassment of Christians everywhere. You'll beg your favorite characters not to do what you know they'd do anyway even if they could hear you.

And afterward--if you're anything like me, at least--you'll hotfoot it to the library to pick up another gem by Cornwell. (Once is never enough!)

Try this one on for size. Male or female, young or old, you'll get something out of this piece, and probably more than you bargained for...in a good way. LOVED this one (as I'm sure you couldn't already tell)...I can not recommend it enough.

For starters, I"m hooked on Bernard Cornwell. This is a great story. It seems much more plausible than all the stories I learned as a kid. It is the first of three books which should be read in order. I only gave it four stars simply because there are so many characters and difficult names to surmount (much like Lord of the Rings). Once past this, however, there is a great story. As always Mr. Cromwell ends the book with a frank discussion of the legend and what is really know (little) about the real King Arthur. It is a wonderful tale about medieval battle and life. Once read, you must finish the series.

Superb! Awesome! A wonderful and inventive retelling of Arthurian legends from the perspective of a former knight, Lord Derfel. Derfel is now an old and simple monk, retired to a monastery and despite his Christian transformation, trying to preserve the pagan history for Lady Igraine. A must read for anyone who loves medieval fiction.

I have rarely read a book that continues to haunt me long after I have turned the last page -- C.S. Lewis' Narnian Chronicles and Tolkien's Middle Earth saga being two previous examples. This book and the two continuing volumes had that effect. Long after the last page of the third book, my thoughts kept returning to Celtic Britain and wondering what happens to Derfel after all the excitement dies down. My only criticism of the books -- I don't feel like the author researched 4th-5th century Christianity in Britain very well, as the Christians in the story could not have been responisble for converting a town let alone a nation! Given their example, the "natives" would never have turned from Druidism and run the Christians out of town long before the story started here. This having been said, by all means, if you are a fan of the Arthurian saga, or want to know about pre-Christian-but-post-pagan Britain, or just want a good read, get these books. Almost as good as Mary Stewart, better than Marion Zimmer Bradley!

It's hard for me to decide between giving this audio-book three stars or four. I mean the writing is pretty good; Cornwell is a pretty good story teller. This 6 hour audio version is abridged, though thankfully not so much as the butchered audio version of Marion Zimmer Bradley's _Mists of Avalon_ which amounted to less than two hours. I have yet to read the hardcover version of _Winter King_, but since it contains passages missing from this audio version, maybe I'll save my four-star rating for that.
Piggot-Smith is a pretty good presenter of Cornwell's story. It's a tough job though -- one actor having to come up with various accents and voices for so many different characters. When quoting characters of Irish origin, his accents are great. When doing the Welsh and English characters, however, I'm not as convinced. Piggot-Smith gives many of the Welsh & Breton characters modern English accents, while his Saxons sound like something odd from... well, I don't know where, but not like what I think an Old English accent might sound like (to hear what I mean, listen to an expert recite _Beowulf_ in it's 11th-century form sometime).
The characters are varied and interesting. The character who tells the story, Derfel, has a remarkable life. He is born English but raised Welsh. This makes him useful as an interpreter, as when Arthur of Dumnonia negotiates with Aelle of Susex. Derfel is raised in the Druidic faith, but is later initiated into the Cult of Mithras; finally, in old age, he becomes a Catholic monk. His adventures take him to various kingdoms and introduce him to many prominent figures. His remarkable life is the story-telling device Cornwell uses to give us someone's first-hand account of diverse but interrelated persons and situations.
Through Derfel, Cornwell does a good job of showing us why Arthur is beloved by many, but not all. Arthur is portrayed as exceptionally charismatic and moral, but human enough make some key foolish judgements. While some may say that a historical Arthur figure could not have been so moral, the fifth-century Gallo-Roman nobleman Sidonius Appolinaris complimented Riothamus, king of the Britons, in a letter for being exceedingly conciencious; Riothamus, which means "Royalest," appears to be the title by which some folks knew Arthur.
My main complaint about the story is that it is not nearly as historical as it appears to be. That, of course, need not bar it from being an interesting and entertaining story. It's just that I would prefer either total fantasy or scrupulous history. I mean a movie like _Excalibur_, which I loved, doesn't even pretend to be historical. This story, however, like so many I've come across, makes mention of much that is historical, but then presents much of it in a way that is not really very accurate. For example, the politics in this story concern the relationships of several kingdoms which really did exist (e.g. Dumnonia, Gwynedd, Elmet, etc.). However, I've noticed that a lot of folks think that this book is very historically accurate when much of it is quite misleading.
Another book of which I have this same complaint is _Mists of Avalon_. Even though I noticed that one person called this book antithetical to that one, they are very similar in that they both portray Arthurian Britain as if it were a country caught in the midst of a grand struggle between Druidic and other pagan religions on the one hand, and Christianity on the other. There are so many people who think that this was the case at the time, but it's actually a very misleading picture. Cornwell's Merlin is much like Bradley's Morgaine. His Guinevere, however, is quite the opposite of Bradley's; Bradley's Guinevere is a Christian zealot, while Cornwell's is passionately anti-Christian. In reality, though, Christianity had already triumphed in Roman Britain by the fifth century. The main pagan threat to it in the fifth and sixth centuries came not from within, but from the invading English, who had not yet been evangelized.

Mr. Cornwell obviously does his homework. Rather than being an obscure time in an obscure part of Britain, Cornwell does an excellent job of weaving a believable place in history. Moreover, the politics involved are much more intricate and realistic than most books on this subject. It is clear that Cornwell is trying to tell a story as it might have arisen out of actual history - that the sword IN the stone was the sword ON the stone, except that the story got changed over time. Or that Lancelot was known far and wide as a fearless and triumphant warrior mainly because of a public relations campaign. I also liked the narrating character, Derfel. It was fun to follow his progress. However, this book lacks the detail that would have made it truly great. Rather than detailing characters and relationships, they are thrown into the book with broad strokes. I was interested to see Cornwell's interpretation of Arthur and Guiniverre, but disappointed that it came down to (paraphrasing) "Arthur looked upon Guiniverre and fell in love. They married the next week. We went back to the palace." Without that detail, it was hard to develop a connection with the characters.

Bernard Cornwell shows his talent and diversity by telling the story of a divided Britain during the Dark Ages through the eyes of descriptive and insightful Derfel, a Saxon-born ward of Merlin and keen observer of Arthur.
Although THE WINTER KING is named for Arthur, it is really a story about Britain during a time when it was divided into small kingdoms and the kings fought among themselves while also being threatenned by the Saxons. Derfel, as the narrator, gives his descriptions, observations, and insights of not only Arthur, but also Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Galahad, and numerous rituals, rites and customs. Derfel puts the reader in the midst of a very brutal culture where fear of the future and the forces of nature, man and the unknown are counteracted with spells, potions and rituals. Christianity is seen as a strange, mysterious religion threatenning their way of life. The dialogue is full of insults and is often courteous to the point of hilarity.
Bernard Cornwell transports the reader to a different time and place, when man's baser instincts are on display. He sheds light on the way The Dark Ages might have been and in its midst is the hero Arthur. THE WINTER KING is an enlightenning, enjoyable book with plenty of action. It gives the reader an excellent taste of a distant time.

Cornwell's revisiting of the Arthur legend is outstanding and welcome. He brings the characters to life, in a more three-dimensional telling than, say, the "Camelot" or "Sword in the Stone" versions most familiar in popular culture. There's resonance with "The Lord of the Rings"; you realize how much Tolkien borrowed from this period.

Arthur's a warlord with a strong and unusual desire to do good. Guinevere is trouble from the outset. In the view of our narrator, the warrior Derfel, the world would have been better off if she'd been drowned at birth. She launches a war by beguiling Arthur into breaking his engagement to a key princess.
Lancelot is a phony, commissioning heroic ballads about himself while shying away from combat. Merlin is fascinating but elusive, absent for too long while he's needed. Nimue is his most powerful disciple, close from childhood with Derfel, their two stories intertwined.

As another reviewer has remarked, there's much in common with "The Saxon Chronicles" here, those taking place a few centuries later in the time of Alfred the Great. England is a primitive land filled with miserable hovels and stinking peasants, besieged by savage and overwhelming foreign invaders from the east. Warriors fight with sword, shield and spear. War is miserable for the helpless citizens plundered, raped, murdered or sold into slavery when a battle is lost. Arthur is the same strong leader Alfred later is, a better warrior personally, less religious, but equally dedicated to unity and peace and equally shrewd in seeing ways through the rivalries of multiple allies and adversaries.

Again there's tension between Christianity and the pagans. In this one, Cornwell find nothing good in the Christians with their "nailed god" - dour, selfish and grasping, often subverting Arthur. (The main clergyman declares a 12 year old boy a saint so that he can consort with him.) The pagans struggle to preserve their own beleaguered religion. Their blood-soaked magic is more fun, particularly when half-crazed Druids come out before battles to dance, spit on and curse the enemy. Cornwell never shows them actually achieving any magic, and Nimue confides to Derfel that it's mostly theater - but the people's belief in Druid power goes a long way to creating it.

His similarities to Alfred nothwithstanding, Arthur is unique in Cornwell's works: stronger than his other idealists and more conscience-driven than his other bad-ass warriors like Sharpe and Uhtred. Usually Cornwell doesn't put all those goodies in one place.

Derfel, an orphan (of course) raised by Merlin, has a good vantage point from which to recount the action: the installation of Uther's baby grandson Mordred as heir to a powerful English kingdom; the treachery of others sworn to protect him after Uther dies; Arthur's emergence as his main protector; and the chaos caused by Arthur's passion for Guinevere.

There are some particularly fine scenes, including the fall of the Brittany kingdom of Benoic, where Lancelot's father Ban had created an island paradise of scholarship and art while failing to provide adequately for its defense; a scene on the Isle of the Dead, a scary place where the insane or criminal are exiled; and the final battle sequence where the rest of England gangs up on Arthur, his allies having deserted him.

You need to progress nearly a 1/3 of the way into the book before the two main characters make their appearances (Arthur and Merlin). Oh, they're mentioned quite frequently, but they take their time showing up. This is very much a book "of" Arthur and not a book "about" him. I was much disappointed by this.

Main character is a warrior named Derfel, and for some reason I could never quite shake the impression of him being a scrub, even though the book portrays him as a bad ass. I think it is in part because this is a memoir of a sort, with Derfel now a dottering, crippled old man, retelling his tales of glory. And it begins with him as a scrany orphan kid. Not exactly an impressive beginning or ending.

Also, being a memoir, you are made privy to certain details (such as Derfel clearly lives through his adventures). One of which is that a bad guy introduced early in the story also survives and evidently prospers. I'm of mixed feelings on this device, as it does rob the reader of the anticipation of him "getting his" in the end. And as you watch his skeevy plans put into place, you know ultimately, they are successful. But this is a trilogy, so maybe at some point in the end of the retelling, the narrator will do him in or something.

This book is an attempt at an authentic, historical portrayal of Arthur and his warriors. It is brutal and dark. A far cry from the honorable, noble knights they have since morphed into. Not for the squeamish.

Book is filled with English punctuation and baffling run on sentences. Yet published in New York, so I can't entirely blame the British. Odd.

I have read most of the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. I have mostly found them a good read being a fan of historical fiction. I was hesitant to read a book on "Aurthurian England" for I have found the hackneyed legends sorrounding Aurthur's myth tiresome. But WOW this is an incredible novel that brings to life a possible historical basis of this sparsely documented time in British history. It is a rich and exciting portrayal of Arthur and plausible explanations of the people and events that brought about the legend of Excalibur. I must say it is the best of his novels I have read so far and am excited about continueing with the series. I have found that those who have not enjoyed this book have been looking for a fantasy novel of a traditional sense about Avalon etc. This is not it.

This is not your traditional King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Arthur isn't a king, there are no knights and there is no round table. On the other hand, this is a well-written tale of late 5th century Britain. The Romans have gone and chaos reigns politically, socially, and religiously. What real historical record actually exists suggests that a warlord actually lived who led the fight of the celtic Britons against the invading Angles and Saxons. Was this Arthur? We'll probably never know, but Cornwell has taken elements of the traditional Arthur and combined it with what little is known of the period to produce an engrossing and plausible story. Some aspects may disappoint fans of the traditional Arthur. For example, Lancelot is not exactly the great warrior of legend. The book is a page-turner, though. It will hold your interest all the way through. It held mine, anyway. As historical fiction, this is some of the best I have come across. I recommend it highly: 5 stars.

An old monk recalls his youth fighting with the Warlord Arthur.

Yet another retelling of the Arthurian legend, although I love the legend and I wouldn't hold other versions against a good story. I wouldn't even hold Cornwell's detailed presentation of the ignorance and gritty life of the people against him if the story was gripping. But it doesn't even make the grade as interesting. Narrator Derfel is a typically callow young man; Merlin's abandoned girlfriend Nimue is a typically self-absorbed young woman; and their shared "dream" of England returning to the old gods did not involve me as the reader at all. I detest "this happened when I was young" envelopes; I have yet to read one that added to the story, they just let the author fall back on lazy "if I had only known" foreshadowing. I actually paid money for this trilogy, and I'm aggravated at wasting my hard-earned dollars. Spelling, grammar, and Kindle formatting were acceptable.

This series, which consists of this book, along with the "Enemy of God" and "Excalibur" from the same author--is simply the BEST tale of King Arthur you can find. It's told like it could have actually happened, and narrated from a brand new character who you come to truly care about just as deeply as Arthur itself.

The series has a new take on Lancelot, Guinevere, Arthur and Mordred that is absolutely fitting. I especially love his take on Arthur. Here is a man that, throughout the story, is so obviously the most honorable, truly magnificent man who should be a King, but simply wants to retire to his own land, with his own wife and family. However, that is never the case as he constantly has to pick up his sword and lead mean to victory. It seems while Arthur wants peace for himself and for Britain, Britain itself will never rest.

I also have never been a fan of the Lancelot/Guinevere drama, and this book is clever in the way Lancelot is portrayed that is truly satisfying. Also, it cleverly does away with the whole incest thing, which allows Arthur and his story to be presented in a new, unpredictable way. Believe me, you MUST read this entire trilogy.

I really enjoy Bernard Cornwell's books -- particularly the Sharpe series, so I was pleased to learn of this series. As with the Sharpe books, Mr. Cornwell has clearly done extensive research so that the book not only tells an interesting tale, it also educates the reader about what life, politics and war were like in Britain in the Middle Ages. Unlike most of his other books, it took about a hundred pages or so before I got hooked (normally, I get hooked on page one). Once I got past the first hundred pages or so, the rest of the book, and the series ("Enemy of God" and "Excalibur") flew by.
One of the things that is particularly interesting about this series is that it takes a well-known myth -- King Arthur and the Round Table -- and retells it as it may have actually happened. All in all it is a very entertaining read.

This book is a great new retelling of an old story. Most of the same characters and skeleton plot are retained, but the book is completely unpredictable even if you have familiarized your self with the first story. One of the newest and original changes in the story is the tone. The tone adheres to the readers who like a gritty and realistic story. The characters fight in gruesome and bloody fights, wearing leather and lower grade steel armor. People looking for chivalry might see it in a warlord showing mercy to a foe rather then a brave Night saving a damsel in distress out of a tower. Arthur himself can be foolish and make poor choices, this makes him look more human and relatable.
The historical timeline of this book is very on par with the actually history of Britain. During the 5th century in Britain, most men were pagan rather then Christian, who dominated the old tale of King Arthur.(Holy Grail, Christian weddings, etc.) This new religious spin creates conflict between the two beliefs and interesting events ensue. Heavy armor and towering castles also were not present during the historical time in which Arthur could have existed, therefore they do not exist is this book.
The gritty tone which helps this book become a more distinguished and interesting tale also creates a more mature target audience. There is a lot gore and nudity that wouldn't be good for people under 15 to read.
Overall this is an excellent story, not just because of its unpredictability, or its historical accuracy, but its human and relatable characters.

There is a phenomenon that seems to ensnare writers and force the question of what a historically accurate telling of Arthurian legend would look like. In most instances it doesn't seem to work out too well. The elements clash in a manner that makes one portion of the story falter and thus collapses the entirety of the idea. Bernard Cornwell however nails the concept perfectly and I think the reasoning for this lies in the execution of the narrative. By framing the tale as a re-telling of the story from the perspective of one of Arthur's knights long after the events have passed, we get a unique view of the action that allows for a subtle sense of genuine authenticity. The elements of the myth are mentioned in the story as having been developed into the stories we already know, such as the sword in the stone, and yet Cornwell explains that much of the legend of Arthur comes from the tongues of the bards and the reality is something else entirely, and in this way we are not bored by the story because it seems fresh and new.

Simply put, one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read. I cannot recommend it enough.

Was there a King Arthur? Who knows? And do I care? Nope. This was a great tale with description and characterization that put me right there and gave me different views of Arthur and Lancelot and the rest than I drew from the tales I read as a kid.

The Winter King is my favorite arthur book. There is not to much magic in it which i think makes it all the better. This book makes the whole arthur story very believable. The characters are astounding. he masters the essincial characters, the father, the young hero, the fare maiden in destress, the villan. Cornwell creates a great twist to the whole arthurian story, Lancelot is the long lasting villian. he is a cowerd, he is greedy, and lustful. many of the seven traits that get you to hell(according to Dante that is)
thank you very much for reading my reveiw, i strongly encourage all those adventure loveing readers to pick up this book, you won't be disapointed. Robert Jackson, age 14

This is a great book. It is historically accurate to the most recent discoveries about Arthur. It's also not the same old legend, it's unique and all the characters except Arthur are very different than the legend. There are also many new characters, some offspring of Conrwell's imagination, some historical figures. The narrator is Derfel, a new character. In my opinion this character is a great add on to the legend, he has a great personality, the kind of person you'd want as a best friend. I dare say this series of books, The Winter King, The Enemy of God, and Excalibur, are the best telling of the legend this century. I think they are even better than the Mary Stewart Merlin novels.

Not one of Cornwell's best. The story is somewhat slow and seems to be padded out. Many of the scenes are overlong and repetitious. Cornwell seems to revel in the gore and guts, the odors and ordure of his historical settings, but this book makes them seem more unpleasant than most.

I much prefer his Saxon series personally.

I also read 'Excalibur' and 'Enemy of God,' the other books in this series. Cornwell spins a good tale, and he has researched the period well enough so that his tale hangs together believably.

You won't be able to put it down, if you like historical novels of pre-Arthurian and Arthurian England. I've also read Jack Whyte's Camulod series, and I greatly enjoyed both author's versions. Both obviously researched the same materials, and yet arrived at a vastly different version of the life of King Arthur and his cohort.

I highly recommend these books.

Joseph Pierre,
Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Eternity

If you honestly believe that there is truth to the Arthur legends, then this book is a must read. After you finish it (and read the other books in the series) you will be amazed at how true to life the story sounds, and wonder if the author found a time machine and went back to see what really happened. We all know that history is written (and distorted by) the winner. This tale is narrated by Derfel, who started out life as a Saxon, escaped death at the hands of a really nasty Druid, became Merlin's slave and later... well, you'll have to read the book to see what happens next. No spoilers here! I always thought that Arthur was a bit dimwitted, Guinevere completely unlikable, and Lancelot was a real hero until I read this book. Now, I think that Arthur is wonderfully misunderstood, Guinevere is not so bad, and Lancelot... well, as I said, no spoilers here! Read this book and you'll become addicted to Cornwell's stories. I just finished "Stonehenge" (another must-read) and all of his stories leave you with the same feeling: where is that time machine that he's using to see what really happened, and would he let me borrow it for just a little while?!

I stopped counting the number of Arthurian series I've read when I reached the number sixteen and I have to say that next to Dame Mary Stewart's masterful series, this is my favorite. The story of Arthur is told from the viewpoint of a new character, Derfel Cardarn, who is an inspired spearman that fights with Arthur through all his battles and becomes a close friend. But don't worry, all the usual faces are in this story, as well. Cornwall develops his characters so well that you find yourself caring deeply for most and passionately hating others.

As other reviewers have said, his battle scenes are vivid, energetic and exciting. Interestingly, he draws not only on Celtic myth, but also on Egyptian, yet still manages to stay true to the legend and keep all the main scenes you'd expect to find.

This is definately a refreshing retelling, yet a very faithful rendition. Exactly what I love!

I love medieval adventures and the Arthurian tales have long been rich in these. And yet this one didn't work for me as well as it might have.
Actually, it started off rather nicely (lots of books which get published these days seem to) but it didn't really carry through. In the end it was a rather pedestrian tale, with little staying power once I'd closed the covers . . . though it was readable enough.
I think it suffered from the decision to make it a trilogy since you don't really see that in the beginning and when the story finally winds down to its climactic battle (and "winds down" is not a poor way of putting it), it leaves the reader rather cold . . . as though the book just ground to a halt, mid-stream, with everything still to be determined! The story, itself, while workmanlike, was also quite uninspired. Not much insight here into the times portrayed or the people who filled those times.
In fact, the only real character of interest was Merlin, portayed as a quick change artist, although his presence is telegraphed well before he reveals himself to the seeking Arthur. Who Arthur really was and what he did remains something of a mystery . . . but he sure wasn't much, or worth all those legends, if this was him.
I hate it when the promise of the first few pages gets broken and scattered between the covers of a book. But that's what happened here. Based on the first volume, I decided to forego the next two installments, for better or worse. But others, plainly, do not share my disappointment so perhaps I am being unduly harsh. The book is readable, though it did not meet my expectations! Give it a try if Arthurian tales are your thing. In light of all the positive reviews here, I may just have been the wrong reader for this one.
SWM

Bernard Cornwell is a master of historical fiction, and this, the first in a series about Arthur, is a great tale. It tells of Britain in an authentic manner, and even Merlin's sorcery is described in a manner making it more psychology and natural occurrence turned into magic by a master player on the superstitions of the people of the time. I really enjoyed this book, as it perfectly gave a setting and a mood of an ancient land of scattered kingdoms and constant war, that young Arthur is destined to unite.

This is a mix of legend and History, and, King Arthur will probably always be that way since there's so much info. missing.

In this tale the focus is open the original Britons fighting the influx/invasion of Saxons and dealing with the petty British kingdoms. All want to rule and there are a number of very detailed and well-written battles.

First person POV.

The typical cast isn't what it appears to be. For instance, Lancelot is a coward and villain whose bards paint him differently.

The interpersonal relationships are marvelous.

Enjoy!

I picked this novel up on a whim and have to say I was very, very impressed. Mr. Cornwell is an excellent storyteller who weaves a wonderful tale of the Arthurian legend in a very unconventional light. The story is narrated by one of Arthur's closest friends and best warriors, Derfel Cadarn. Derfel was a Saxon raised as a Briton and was taught the Druidic faith. The story moves along at an interesting pace, until, of course, Arthur shows and things really pick up. I do not wish to ruin it for you, but I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a good book about a tale they think they know. ENJOY!

This version of Arthur probably appeals more to men than women. Bernard Cornwell, reknown for the Sharpe series, loves battles and military history. His research is always thorough. His books pull no punches describing battles and acts of violence (how Nimue gets her wisdom is a graphic scene, for example.)

If you loved Braveheart, this novel reads a bit like it in style. No flowery prose here, instead, we have a gritty description of life as it must have been in Arthur's time, nasty, brutish and short as Hobbes accurately described times when man is enemy to man.

These books really turned me on to Bernard Cornwell. All his stuff is good, but this series is his best. The characters are great, the writing well done. I felt a part of the story. Some people have given poor ratings because it is not a traditional Arthur legends. If that is what you are looking for then look elswhere. This series is a new spin (honestly how many times do ocinnedeagh or the other negative reviewers want to read the same old Arthur Legend?) on the tail. It is one of the few books I've read many times. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, or get the whole trilogy.

Absolutely love this book (series).

Great read for any fan of the Saxon Tales or Game of Thrones.

I picture Uthred of Bebbanburg's great great great great great great grand father being those pesky invading Saxons that Arthur fights against.

Great story from a great author. Highly recommend.

This story is about Derfel Cadarn. Saved and raised by a wonderful Merlin(you have to love him),he becomes Arthur's trusted friend. Now an old monk, he tells the charming queen Igrayne his story.

Cornwell knows how to describe a battle,we knew that already, but this is astonishing. You can feel the excitement, the mortal fear, the rage... But the best part about The Warlord Chronicles is that it is about real people. Mordred isn't born the demon child we know from traditional stories. Gwenhwyfar is a strong woman, what's refreshing too. And Arthur...

Kingly, but not a king.

I am not going to rehash the plot during this review. If you have a sense that you may find the Arthurian period intriguing, PICK UP THIS BOOK!!

I absolutely loved this series. The main character Derfel was absolutely loveable. Even more so than Arthur. I would absolutely love to see Cornwell do another book with Derfel.

I couldn't put this book down. This book was one of the best books I have ever read. I do not consider myself to be a highly intellectual reader, I merely read for entertainment.

Please buy it or check it out. I don't think you will be disappointed.

First Let me start by saying Bravo! This has been one of the most entertaining series i have read in a very long while. The story was fresh, the combat well done, the characters likeable and real, magic believable, and so many other great aspects. The book took me a week to read, which is amazingly fast considering my schedule. I finished the whole series within a month and have started them all over again.
The characters had a wonderful depth to them and a believable life, Derfel was by far my favorite, though that was to be expected, but i had a love of many of the others. That is where cornwell is succesful, he captures the essence of the character, and knows how to influence you to like or hate them, This is shown with the transition of Nimue over the series. More than once did i find myself taking the mood of the book, when Derfel was mad, i was, i remember laughing out loud in the middle of economics (and getting in trouble with the teacher for getting off subject). I think i even cried once during the series.
Society that he creates is very believable. The world is timed right, unlike the modern world that the tales are usually played out in. The world is in a transition, and you can feel the hostility underlying in religion and society.
The combat is handled excelently, i could feel the heat of the men forming the sheild wall, feel the rush of the battle. He drew it with enough detail to give you the feel of the pounding hooves.
I highly suggest this book to any fan of arthur and fantsy, but warn that you will not see flaming dragons, hill giants, orcs, or any of the such and that after reading this you will shy away from any other Arthurian stories, as horrible fiction. Magic is handled in a real world sense, with just enough mysticism to keep you enthralled. Bernard Cornwell has wrought a masterpiece for the mind. I would give this six stars but that is rather hard to do!

This is by far one of the best books I've ever read. Bernard Cornwell shows us many different views on the characters in the tales of King Arthur and it makes you want to just never put the book down and read until you just can't hold yourself up anymore. Although it starts out a little slowly, this story, told in first person by Derfel to Igraine is witty, graphic, and it makes you feel like you're really there. There is romance, war, and political drama weaved into this fantastic tale of history. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

In this book, the first of three, Cornwell captures the essence of the Arthurian myth while staying true to history (as much as we know it) and reality (as much as we know it).

Together with Enemy of God (The Arthur Books #2) and Excalibur (The Arthur Books #3), these comprise simply the finest Arthur stories, superior to Mallory or Stewart or White. Against the grim, brutal, bleak backdrop Cornwell supplies, Arthur stands out even more as a champion of hope.

In this, we see a return to the Welsh legends - he's not a Christian, he's a pagan; he's not a king, he's a warlord; he's not looking for the holy grail, he's looking for a pagan cup. Genius. Revolutionary.

The Arthur myths became popular in the late middle ages/ early Renaissance, as can be noted in The Master of Verona (another great read, contemporary with another Cornwell book, The Archer's Tale (The Grail Quest, Book 1)). This book and its sequels return Arthur to his roots - brilliantly. Every Arthur novel will forever be compared to this.

Having suffered through tale after tale of magical events, I'm glad someone has taken the time to create a believable story of how it might have happened.
Maybe it is my aging cynicism that welcomed Cornwell's story so much. Suffice it to say that Cornwell makes you want to still believe that there were men and women who lived their lives adventurously and passionately enough to set the myth in motion.
Cornwell takes some liberties with the normal Arthurian precepts. Whether he does it as part of his own plot or to create a more historically genuine story it is hard to tell. Either way, it makes for a good read.
Cornwell has honed his skills over the years on his Sharpe and Starbuck series, set in the Napoleonic and American Civil wars, respectively. He delved into pre-medieval English history with his novel, Stonehenge. In The Winter King he brings his skills and insights together and serves the reader well. For intricate military writing, historical drama, or another look at the classic Arthur, this book is a must read.

The most striking thing about this novel is how it inverts the traditional Arthurian myths - making Lancelot into a scheming coward and Merlin into a dirty old man. It deals with the rise of Arthur to power in the old British kingdoms after the fall of Rome and the Saxon invasions.
The narrative is realistically done - often brutally, since this is quite a violent book in parts. That is part of the attraction. The depictions of violence and war are vivid and bloody, as to be expected from Cornwell whose writing is readable as normal. The characterisation can be a bit frustrating and repetitive but is generally good. On the whole this an interesting novel, though one might argue not on a par with the original Arthurian myths. It lacks the supernatural elements which make them so timeless.

How an extraordinary idea!, it presents a truly believable atmosphere of the Dark Ages and the NEW aproach to so overwritten/treated/filmed characters as Merlin (JUST GREAT AS A DRUID!), Arthur, Lancelot (funny&outstanding&imaginative treatment wich I won't spoil saying too much... !), Mordred, Guinevere etc etc it makes such films as the ridiculous Sean Connery/Richard Gere (and I am a big fan of Connery as per "The man who would be King"...) Camelot recreation absolutly laughable...

The Winter King
I am disappointed in this novel by Bernard Cornwell. I am such a fan of his “Sharp” s series, and hoped that in writing a version of the Arthurian saga he would be able to recreate the world of pre-Roman England as vividly and convincingly as he had created the world of the Napoleonic wars.

Nope. This is a 400 page novel in which Arthur does not appear until page 93, and Merlin as of page 180 had not appeared, despite numerous repetition of the phrase “There was no news of Merlin.” There is a fair amount of rapine and pillage, the narrator, Derfel, is a childhood friend of Nimue, Merlin’s lover, and when Arthur finally shows up, we have a dream of a united Britain which is very promising.

And then I stopped reading. I stopped reading at the point where Derfel says “Arthur broke Britain” over a woman, Guinevere. Guinevere is described in this telling as a strong huntress, no pushover, and the obsession which destroys Arthur’s dream. Dervel quotes Merlin as saying later “She should have been drowned at birth.”

Blame the woman. No, you lose me. I stopped reading.

Having studied Anglo-Saxon England as a postgraduate student and discovered for myself just how little information there is about Arthur prior to the 12th century (and that indirect allusions in less than reliable sources), I'm not a great enthusiast for Arthurian novels. However, I had read most of Bernard Cornwell's 'Sharpe' books, and decided to give his Arthur a try.
My reaction is that I enjoyed it, and rather enjoyed the mud and the foul weather as a refreshing contrast to Ellis Peters's over-sanitised medieval world. However, I think Mr Cornwell has overdone the brutality a bit, though rather more in the two later books of the trilogy than in this one (I really can't see that draping a man's flayed skin from one's helmet or shield as a battle standard is very likely - apart from anything else it would get in the way). I wonder also whether in making Merlin a comic figure and Lancelot a coward. He is having a joke at the expense of the legend. Arthur, to me doesn't come alive at all; he is too full of modern virtues, though some of the more minor characters are very well drawn and much more engaging.

This book manages to convince that you're reading an factual account from a warrior's view of post Roman Britain. Most of the familiar characters are here, but Merlin is no jovial wizard casting multi-coloured spells, neither is Lancelot a knight in shining armour. As for Arthur, he becomes flesh and blood and all too human as his passion almost breaks Britain. Although as the narrator ponders, it is women who ultimately dominate the story of Arthur, this first volume deals with Arthur's struggle to hold the country together. However the path to peace is littered with graphically described battles. A brilliant read, which will have you believing these events could so easily have happened as the writer imagines.

A wonderful re-telling of the Arthur stories. Cornwell's take on the well-worn, almost threadbare, characters of the legends brings them to new life. I accidentally picked this up, and read straight through all three volumes of this trilogy.

The legeng of King Arthur has always been a mystifing theme, although much research has been devoted to the subject, there is very few concrete things in which historians agree.
This book gives a wonderfull account of what could have been. It pictures a very vivid representation of what was Britain like after the Romans left, and the impact of the "Barbarians" invasion on Britain's early history.
I have never missed a chance to read any of Bernard Cornwell books, and this was not the exception, EVERYTHING, and ANYTHING, that a reader is looking for can be found in this book. The characters are very well thought, and the action is gripping, The battle scenes sensational, and quite real, for there is always a well founded explanation for battle movements, tactics, and strategy. Cornwell can best be described as an unpredictable writer.
If You have never read Bernard Cornwell before, this is the chance to do it, and this is the book to do it with.

Arthur, the great warlord and the hero who fought against impossible odds to temporarily check the invading Saxons sometime during the early years of the sixth century AD. This is what is generally believed to be the base facts surrounding the Arthurian legends. And over the years, drawing from ancient folk-tales, Welsh mythology, and fertile imaginations from such minds as Chretien de Troyes and Sir Thomas Mallory, Arthur has become a romantic hero and embodiment of strength, honor, and all things pure. But how far was the man separated from the legends? This is the question Bernard Cornwall, author of "The Winter King" had to ask himself. Could he merge a man into the myth without veering to far away from the conventions laid out and passed down over the centuries.
well, yes and no. Some would say that Cornwall takes on the legend of King Arthur and the myths surrounding him, and turns them upside-down. which could be considered true, but how many times do you want to read the same story? Cornwall has gone for realism, both in characters and environments.
he has fleshed out the paper-thin cut-out that was Arthur and made him into a 3-dimensional character, who is still a powerful man full of integrity, longing for a unified country, but human enough to make foolish mistakes.
this book is up there with my favourites and i strongly recommend anyone to pick up a copy for themselves.

Having read the synopsis of this book, my first thought was, "Great, another rehash of an oft told story!" I was reminded of the terrible-beyond-words movie "First Knight" rather than one of my all time favorites, "Excalibur."

But hold on to your helmets! This is not your father's Arthur! Cornwell has managed to retell this story in a manner which manages to focus on both Arthur and the main character, Derfel. You can read the other reviews for spoilers and whatnot, but I am writing this simply to say that if you like historical fiction, you should read this book. Not since Mcammon have I read a book where characters I read of were hated (Lancelot) and loved (Derfer and Galahad) with such passion. Cornwell has a way of taking things in the story to a univeral level that everyone can relate to. Beyond that, his battle scenes are wonderful. And he goes beyond that, explaining why a shield wall is effective and why its better to stab with a sword than hack. Just minor things of course, but this book was great. Do yourself a favor, buy it.

How can I say this without revealing too much detail? One thing that really touched me about this book is how incredibly real the narrator is. Derfel Cadarn, a very real man now in his last days of life, telling the story of a very real Arthur. A man who I believe many will be able to relate to. Of course the unique style of Cornwell shines. He has a knack of painting a beautiful mosaic and then desecrating it with the harsh reality of tyranny, war and life in a harsh period. The Winter King gives a very vivid and convincing vision as to what fifth century Britain was like. A Britain plunged into turmoil with religion, war and savage barbarism. A post-Roman Britain seeking some way of resolve and peace. A Britain that saw the real Arthur.

This book is a very good start. As yet I have not read the other two in series Enemy Of God and Excalibur, but the series has started well and I'm interested in seeing how the characters will develop.
The action is furious and vivid, the characters are complex and inglamorous. This is hard reality and much closer to how the story of King Arthur would have happened. The research into the clash of Christian and pagan beliefs is enlightening too.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the dark ages, King Arthur or good historical stories.

I loved this book.I read everything Arthurian that's published,and got quite a shock at the first few chapters,then realised that one has to completely change the feelings and ideas that had previously been the stylised view of Arthurian times-not the romantic and sanitised view of the Dark Ages,but a time of savagery and the idea that human life was of little consequence!I've ordered the next two volumes,and can't wait for them to arrive!

This book along with its sequel are a rare mastery of myth and legend. Cromwell uses the stuff of legends and blends it with the little fact that is known about King Arthur and makes a sensational biography that makes one wonder what really happend. It gives a view of the Round Table and its Knights that is mystifying in its tale. No other saga has so captured to imagination of writers and poets and Cromwell has created a verse of legend that surpasses all other myths of King Arthur. Told in the third person by a close compatriot of both Arthur and Merlin this tale is alive with passion, patriotism, and magic. It will give you a whole new outlook on the tales of old and put you face to face witht the legend himself. it is remarkably accurate in its depeictions of the time era and in the political and historical acounts of the time period. It takes the best of myth and makes it into a realife struggle for power, peace and honor.

I'm of two minds about this book and its sequel (I haven't read the third yet). It's very well-written--Cornwell has a graceful style in both description and dialogue. I love retellings of the Arthur legend. But perhaps this is just one too many. While I admire the book, I put it down easily and don't really look forward to resuming the story, as I do with my favorites. I definitely recommend the series--it just doesn't make the hair stand up on the back of my neck, I guess.

This was my first step into Cornwell and, since, I have read this whole series plus Last Kingdom. This book was wonderful! At times it seems like you are reading a fantastical about characters you know well and at other times it seems like you are reading a history book because the detail is so great. But whatever it is it seems you are reading, it is ALL enjoyable.

If you think you know Arthur - you don't! This novel has a way of making him human as opposed to something sacred. In spite of my knowledge of the Grail and related stories, I still found myself heavily involved in the story. Read the first page, I can promise you you will want to read more.

If you like a novel to transport you to another time and place; if you want the plane ride to continue so you can read more; if you want to laugh and cry and soar with exhilaration -- all within the space of a chapter. If you want all this to become true for you, buy "The Winter King." And don't delay. This is one of the most amazing novels ever written. I am a huge Bernard Cornwell fan. To me, he puts all other historical fiction writers to shame, including the late, great Patrick O'Brian. But no one can touch Cornwell. And of all the many Cornwell novels that I have read, "The Winter King" is my favorite. Please give this phenomenal read a try -- and don't get hung-up on the many names and places (in strange tongues) that pepper the novel. All will fall into place in good time. Enjoy!

This book ROCKS! This book is the 1st in the Warlord Chronicles. Winter King begins with the story of Derfel, a young Saxon boy who is enlisted in Lord Merlin's services. Derfel trains to use the sword, shield and spear while the other characters and story unfold. Merlin, Arthur, apprentices, family relations, and armies face issues of loyalties, exile, survival, and war. The Winter King is about the return of Arthur. It has vivid and suspenseful battles. If you read this, you will get a taste of life during Arthur's time. I couldn't put this book down and read it cover-to-cover non-stop. I enjoyed the Warlord Chronicles even more than the excellent Grail Quest series, also authored by Bernard Cornwell. Read it!

i just love this re-imagining of the Arthurian legend. The whole series is powerful storytelling, although Camelot purists should prepare to be surprised. I actually re-read the series several years after first reading, and my opinion of all three books only went up.

A decent reading. This one is, by far, the best of the books available in the trilogy of the "Dux Bellorum", the Chronicles of the Lord of War, in which Cornwell pretend to somehow reconstruct the Arthurian Legend based largely (must say solely) on his own and particularly opinion. At least in this reading, Derfel is not yet "Rambo Derfel". Entertaining work, but entirely fictional despite the use of historical and semi-historical names and places.

This was a very surprising book. The author not only drags you to Medieval England but also retells the tale of Arthur with such passion and accuracy that indeed one questions if the story is, after all, true.
The story is recounted through Derfel Cadarn's eyes, the perfect protagonist for the difficult task of "reinventing" such classics like Merlin and Lancelot, and blend their "mythical" attributes to the mundane and realistic, throughout his personal experiences and dedication to Arthur and Brittain.
Definitely a must-read if you like "realism" in fantasy stories, and even more if you want to believe King Arthur indeed existed. You just can't stop reading it.

This is a very powerful story. Mr. Cornwell told us the legend just as he had witnessed all that happened. The charachters are so human and the tale flows so naturally... ... I credit Mr. Cornwell as a new Taliesin ... a Taliesin who told us the story of Arthur through the eyes of his best friend...
Ali AKKIN

I love this triogy it is much more beilvable than any arthur movie that I have seen. I dont know about other books this is the only arthur book that ive read but I cant see how any other book can get any better than The Warlord Chronicles. the only down side of these books is each chapter was at least 40pages long a little to long for my taste but still great.

i have never read this type of book, both historical and ficticious together. i was not prepared to like this book, and i was most certainly not prepared not to spend the next 3 weeks of my life with derfel and the entire trilogy. watching derfel grow from child into a man admist the wars between saxon and british is amazing. cornwell's words flow like poetry.

Like many readers, I came to Cornwell by way of comparisons to Patrick O'Brien (Sharpe vs. Aubrey series) and have enjoyed everything I've read so far. The Warlord Chronicles have stood out for me, however. The level of detail, historical plausibility and sheer entertainment value make it my favorite among the author's many books. You can almost smell the sweat and blood in his post-Roman Britain.

Cornwell's knowledge of Briton and his ability to meld fiction with what little is known history of Arthur make this my favorite book (Trilogy) on the Arthurian legend. Lord Derfel Cadarn as the story teller and the greatest Druid/Wizard of all time Merlin make for a great tale.

This is a book that truely exemplifies the best in literature: good pacing, belivable flesh and blood characters and a story that sucks you in and doesn't let go. With that in mind, in this day and age when hollywood movies are mostly sequels of bad ideas, comic books or remakes with a different name, why do they not make this book and indeed the trilogy into movies? As with Harry potter, Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander,Interview with a Vampire and the Chronicles of Narnia it is possible to turn rather lengthy novels into movies.

In the new trilogy, the author gives life to one of the world's most popular sagas- the Arthur romance. Cormwell retells it masterly, with all details, treachery, magic and battle put in their right proportion. Never before have I seen the different themes being treated this way. Stories like this always alter through the different eras of man, to fit the contempory readers, but Cormwell goes back- way beyond the common "glorification" and soaplike Arthur saga of the 20th century- to tell the story from a common soldier's view. Although I've written an essay on Arthurian themes, and therefore have read many books on the subject, this is -by far- the best I've read.

Nothing in modern Arthurian romance literature compares with this chronicle of Arthur. This is the story the way it should have been, the way it was surely meant to be, and the way I know it happened if it happened at all. And of course it did. Cornwell, always the riveting storyteller, has eclipsed himself by several orders of magnitude. He has heard what surely must have been said, seen what absolutely must have happened, and reported the whole in a way that brilliantly and totally imbues an otherwise mystical world with realism and real magic. If you don't read these books you missed one of the great experiences in print in the modern age.

I suggest you disregard the reader from Brea, California (below). Everyone I know who has read this series has been deeply moved by the stories. Some characters are intentionally unlikable, but others will touch you and be unforgetable. The series' strengths is its story structure, Cornwell's obvious historical due diligence, the memorable characters, and great battle scenes. In my opinion, the biggest flaw of the series is Cornwell's minimal effort to paint the canvas of the physical environment in which the characters exist (trees, plants, apparel, art, structures). But other than this flaw, these are extroardinary stories which will someday be viewed as classics.

This is one of the Greatest King Arthur books out there today. Rather then set in a world of wizards and magic like most are, it is set in Dark Age England like it would have been. Rather then knights in shining armor, as is the norm, they protray them rather as dirty, grubby fellows in crude leather armor, with even cruder arments. Other then that everything else is there that you would expect, character and otherwise. One of the best parts is how different the characters are from the norm, esp. Merlin. All in all if you are looking to break away from the norm story of magic and the gods check this book out, you (hopefully) won't be upset with your purchease.

A retelling of the Aruthurian legands written in a fashion that you can actually understand. It is very well written with a lot of discripiton. The one drawback is that Cornwell has a tendancy to play to much on the old celtic Gods. Overal though I would recommend it to anyone, even if you do know the ending.

In the new trilogy, the author gives life to one of the world's most popular sagas- the Arthur romance. Cormwell retells it masterly, with all details, treachery, magic and battle put in their right proportion. Never before have I seen the different themes being treated this way. Stories like this always alter through the different eras of man, to fit the contempory readers, but Cormwell goes back- way beyond the common "glorification" and soaplike Arthur saga of the 20th century- to tell the story from a common soldier's view. Although I've written an essay on Arthurian themes, and therefore have read many books on the subject, this is -by far- the best I've read.

Nothing in modern Arthurian romance literature compares with this chronicle of Arthur. This is the story the way it should have been, the way it was surely meant to be, and the way I know it happened if it happened at all. And of course it did. Cornwell, always the riveting storyteller, has eclipsed himself by several orders of magnitude. He has heard what surely must have been said, seen what absolutely must have happened, and reported the whole in a way that brilliantly and totally imbues an otherwise mystical world with realism and real magic. If you don't read these books you missed one of the great experiences in print in the modern age.

I suggest you disregard the reader from Brea, California (below). Everyone I know who has read this series has been deeply moved by the stories. Some characters are intentionally unlikable, but others will touch you and be unforgetable. The series' strengths is its story structure, Cornwell's obvious historical due diligence, the memorable characters, and great battle scenes. In my opinion, the biggest flaw of the series is Cornwell's minimal effort to paint the canvas of the physical environment in which the characters exist (trees, plants, apparel, art, structures). But other than this flaw, these are extroardinary stories which will someday be viewed as classics.

This is one of the Greatest King Arthur books out there today. Rather then set in a world of wizards and magic like most are, it is set in Dark Age England like it would have been. Rather then knights in shining armor, as is the norm, they protray them rather as dirty, grubby fellows in crude leather armor, with even cruder arments. Other then that everything else is there that you would expect, character and otherwise. One of the best parts is how different the characters are from the norm, esp. Merlin. All in all if you are looking to break away from the norm story of magic and the gods check this book out, you (hopefully) won't be upset with your purchease.

A retelling of the Aruthurian legands written in a fashion that you can actually understand. It is very well written with a lot of discripiton. The one drawback is that Cornwell has a tendancy to play to much on the old celtic Gods. Overal though I would recommend it to anyone, even if you do know the ending.

I did not, as it has never happened before, check the end of the book to see that ALL the pages. I was reading and imagine my surprppise when I got to the end of page 404, mid-sentence, and mid battle to have NO more pagesno ending. I have read the reuturn policy so you are not responsible to exchange the book. I will purchase locally or borrow at the library to read the conclusion. I have checked the rest of my recent purchases to see if the last pages are there. sue cooper

I wish that I came across books like this more often. The Winter king is incredible and makes some very good points about Artherian Legend. Auther would have had to be non - biast toward both religions. Also magic never works like a puff of smoke. It is the natural course of things with a bit of a push in the right direction and this showed this.
It is a very good book for those who prefer a non biast book in concern to religion and to women. Also it entrances you. You never put down the book. I couldn't wait to get my teeth into the next chronicle!
Please read it and see why I think that this book is incredible.

An excellent book! The fact that it is not like the classical story we're all familiar with makes it more interesting to read, because you won't start off already knowing what is going to happen. Beatifully written. I immediately ordered the next book in the series, but since I'm in Brazil it takes a while to get here. I think I will just read The Winter King again while the other is in the mail.

As a fan of King Arthur, whether he existed or not, I have to say that Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction novels related to Arthur, his knights, and Guenevere, are captivating. I am amazed at how cruel life was during this period, and violence permeates every chapter to some degree, but there is a solid sense or realism here that defies argument. Well done (for all three Arthur books) and thank you!

Very refreshing, believable story with many unique twists. I particulary enjoyed the author's portrayal of the strong women in Arthur's and Derfel's life. Guinevere was so real, and not at all unworthy in the end, and Derfel's lifetime princess lover so beautiful and brave! I was also quite enthralled by the plot's raising of Christianity in a Pagan world and the country peoples resistance to the change in their gods. I liked this series far, far better than the Mary Stewart series, and I really liked Ms. Stewart's! Vol #1 is very good, but Vol's #2 & #3 are the best!!

I just could not quit reading this book. It was so interesting. It brought out so much in its characters. Derfel, Nimue, and of course Arthur were very powerful. This is the first book I have read by Bernard Cornwell. Now I will have to read all of his books.

The War Lord Chronicles are some of the greatest novels written. Cornwell's attention to detail brings the battle scenes to life, giving the reader a sense of awl of how epic these battles were.
Cornwell gave the characters and the time these characters live in a sense of realism that I've never seen in any other Arthurian tale. He intertwines historical fact and legends together to make the story of Arthur all new again and even better than any before it.

Probably Cornwell's finest work - the Arthurian legend brought to life as it was, or as it would have been, had it been true. Set in Britain circa 490AD Cornwell paints a magnificent picture of a mediavel fantasy transplaced into the gritty reality of the Dark Ages. There is no classic Camelot and knights of the round table, but a grittier tale using a familiar host of characters that makes for an absolutely gripping read. I challenge any one to read this book and not feel compelled to purchase and read the whole trilogy.

love this novel. It's multi-layered and gritty. it kept me up at night. made me believe it was real. i escaped to the ancient past. not the Arthur my mother told me about. i cant wait to read Enemy of God.

This is a well-written political thriller set in fourth-century Britain, not the Arthurian legend that everyone's familiar with. Cornwell takes some Arthurian legends from different eras and mixes them together, adding his own touch of historical realism. An excellent book, though one that will disappoint some by painting a vision of Arthur that clashes with their own.

I started to read this book after a friend started, within the first hour I could not put it down, You had to know what happened next. I have not read anything so detailed and graphic and kept reading except with this book. 5+ Stars MUST READ

Oh soooo many books about this time period have been written, all without the benefit of a written dependable history. This series of Historical Novels had be believing it the myriad of possibilities that could have existed in that time frame and let me look into the eyes of the characters of my youth in a whole new way.

I enjoyed all three books once I got past pronouncing the characters names.

While I enjoyed this novel, I found the telling of the Arthur tale slightly diminished by the emphasis on reality rather than the mystique one usually expects in the tale. There is a grittiness in the story that is reminiscent of Michael Crichton's novel, Timeline, which may appeal to the reader.
The story left me with a similar feling that the original Batman movie did, with its heavy atmosphere of darkness weighing me down.

The only other books that compare to Mr. Cornwell's Winter King series (Warlord Series) would be those by R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones, etc.). I was extremely pleased by this trilogy and finished all three in two weeks. Non-stop action with BELIEVABLE Arthurian characters. I was a little disappointed by the "abruptness" of the ending, but that's how life is- just ends. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fantasy novel fan OR a history buff. Fantastic!!

I've read read all 3 in the Warlords Chronicles, and count them as whole as my favorite book. No small feat, considering what a Ludlum fanatic I am. This is an incredible tale of the legend of King Arthur that has all the adventure and struggle I could expect from it, but without any reliance on fantastical magic. Cornwell still relates Merlin and his mysteries, but neither relies on pagan magic nor admits any fictional truth to the spells. It made the story believable, fantastically readable, and very interesting.

Cornwell kicks off one of the most enjoyable Arthurian sagas I've ever read with a strong debut full of likeable (or dislikeable, in some cases) characters that seem to leap out of the pages. This book is one you can't put down, and is a must for any Arthurian buff. I would say that this should earn its place among the classic Arthurian works like "The Once And Futute King" or "The Mists of Avalon". Cornwell spins an amazing telling of the legend, yet keeps it grounded enough to make even the most cynical start to believe, and even dream, of Arthur.

I have been a big fan of Arthurian Legends for a long time. When I found this book I was excited. That excitement was nothing compared to what the book held! I was fascinated from the get go. Extremely well written. Detail beyond detail. I really liked the played down "magic", it added an almost real history feel to it. The characters are well defined. I just can't say enough about this book! All the books after keep the same intensity. This has to be the best Arthurian series I have ever read!

Great series from start to finish. Original and great storytelling. I even felt emotionally invested in the characters. Something that rarely ever happens. Really great read. My wife found it just OK. I guess she's not really into the battle scenes and great descriptions of melee. I loved the original take on Lancelot. Be forewarned, some may be offended by the depiction of Christians in the novel. The book in general is not for the overly sensitive, but I loved it.

This is the first Arthurian novel I have read and now after reading the two sequells I have started to read it again. The author weaves an astounding tail over roughly 40-50 years in the life of the storys narrator(Derfel-pronounced Dervel) and those who surround him on his journey from a druids death pit as a young boy ,through being a Lord with his own Army and as an elderly one handed catholic priest! Trully spellbinding storytelling!

I have just read this amazing book for the second time and my first impression of three years ago remains firm. I have read many Arthurian novels and even more historical dramas. This is (along with the remainder of the 'Warlard Chronicles' trilogy), by far the best - on both counts. If you only read one dark-ages set historical novel, make it this one. However, if having done so, you are tempted to try more of the same, complete the trilogy by reading 'Enemy Of God' and 'Excalibur.'

This is the 7 th Cornwell novel I have read and I am not disappointed. The pages are filled with rich description. The author possesses the ability to weave a tale from historical bits and pieces into vibrant tapestry.

I just have finished reading this, the first book in the trilogy, and I've to say that it is an excelent version of the classical tale of Arthur. It may be different, but it's a more realistic and beliavable approach, as it pictures the characters full of virtues, but also full of defects, just as every human is.

I highly recommend The Winter King! and now I'm going offline to begin the second book...

Cornwell does a great job of giving an old story a new twist. He doesn't write about romance, but of war lords and battles. All three books are completely engrossing and vivid. A must read for anyone interested in Arthurian legends.

This book was great fun -- very original twist on the old story that could get tired without new perspectives like this one. I loved seeing all the "usual suspects" in a different light -- Arthur, Merlin, Nimue, Guinevere -- I won't spoil the fun -- just read it and see. I only wish the story had kept going to the "end" -- seems there was still so much to tell. But that's a writer's prerogative -- I'm just glad he wrote the book!

This is the first book I've read by Cornwell so far, and I have to say I'm *very* impressed. The storytelling techniques are wonderful, and I couldn't help just loving Derfel and his oftentimes barbed humor. Absolutely a wonderful read, and I plan to read the rest of the series as soon as my wallet allows.