Review by Booklist Review
Cornwell interweaves elements of history, mysticism, and folklore, spinning a fantastic revision of the standard Arthurian legend. In this version, Arthur, the bastard son of Uther, pledges his fidelity and protection to his infant nephew, Mordred, the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Dumnonia. In a Britain populated by both druids and Christians, torn asunder by feuding regional factions, and threatened by invading Saxons, Arthur emerges as a powerful, courageous warlord capable of inspiring loyalty and healing festering wounds. Yet, instead of being a unifying force, Arthur initially contributes to the prevailing chaos by eloping with a calculating and manipulative Guinevere, prompting a series of vicious and bloody battles. Cornwell has painted a portrait of Arthur as both a mythic hero and a complex man motivated in turn by duty, honor, and passion. The first volume of the Warlord Chronicles will leave readers clamoring for the next installment in the revamped Arthurian saga. --Margaret Flanagan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Arthurian literature may be a worldwide cottage industry, but Cornwell, author of the Sharpe series of historical military adventures (Sharpe's Battle, etc.) stands out from the crowd with this exemplary kickoff to a trilogy about the legendary warrior-king. Cornwell's Arthur is fierce, dedicated and complex, a man with many problems, most of his own making. His impulsive decisions sometimes have tragic ramifications, as when he lustfully takes Guinevere instead of the intended Ceinwyn, alienating his friends and allies and inspiring a bloody battle. The secondary characters are equally unexpected, and are ribboned with the magic and superstition of the times. Merlin impresses as a remarkable personage, a crafty schemer fond of deceit and disguise. Lancelot is portrayed as a warrior-pretender, a dishonest charmer with dark plans of his own; by contrast, Galahad seems the noble soldier of purpose and dedication. Guinevere, meanwhile, no gentle creature waiting patiently in the moonlight, has designs and plots of her own. The story of these characters and others is narrated forcefully and with dry wit by Derfel Cadarn, one of Arthur's warriors, who later becomes a monk. Cornwell knows his historythe battle scenes are particularly finebut not once does it get in the way of people of flesh and blood meeting on a darkened field of combat. Author tour. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Cornwell, author of the popular Sharpe series (e.g., Sharpe's Battle, HarperCollins, 1995) here takes a crack at the Arthurian legend. First printing: 100,000 copies. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The author of the accomplished Richard Sharpe naval adventure novels (Sharpe's Battle, 1995, etc.) takes on Camelot in the wonderful beginning of a new series. Of course, as Cornwell acknowledges in his wry introductory note, so little is known of sixth-century Britain that ``we cannot even be certain that Arthur existed,'' much less his knights of the round table. Cornwell is free, therefore, to present Galahad as a fine scholar, and Lancelot as a cowardly politician and pretender to Arthur's glory. But history does provide a record of the crumbling Roman Empire, the ascendancy of Christianity alongside Druidism, and a Britain besieged by invaders; and these Cornwell portrays in amazing, colorful detail. His narrator is Derfel Cadarn, one of Merlin's odd foundlings who becomes a valorous warrior for Arthur against the Saxons. Derfel witnesses an excruciating royal childbirth, strikes out in love, and embarks upon a perilous journey before the appearance of Arthur, who arrives on a black horse to turn the tide of battle. Many battles ensue, and Derfel prospers at the right hand of Arthur, but his master is the bastard son of a king and, though a hero of the common born, no sure prospect politically. Meanwhile, the aging, rather comical Merlin pursues what may be a madman's agenda on the Isle of the Dead: He hopes to coax the true, Druidic gods back to Britain and banish the silly Christians forever. His magical alliance with Arthur gives the latter the power to rid the kingdom of its enemies, yet Arthur's bravery and decency cannot conquer the whimsical, less-than-worthy Guinevere, or outmaneuver the crafty Lancelot. Great battle scenes and brilliant political intrigue swirl about a cast of legendary but very human characters. The redoubtable Cornwell strikes again. (First printing of 100,000)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
