Ratings5
Average rating3.8
'So beautiful, so haunting . . . bitingly real . . . Giles has given us a vital, glorious story: rich, rewarding, and utterly revealing of our times' Manda Scott Following his acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller, Lancelot, Giles Kristian's new novel returns us to the realms of Arthurian legend . . . The Saxons have returned and their war bands stalk the land. The lords of Britain look only to their own survival, unable or unwilling to unite as they once did under Arthur. And in a monastery hidden in the marshlands of Avalon, a novice monk prepares to take his vows. However, two strangers - the wild-spirited, Saxon-killing Iselle and the ageing warrior Gawain - will pluck him from his sheltered existence and his world will be turned upside down. Together they will go in search of the last druid, to find the cauldron of a god, and to raise an army to hold the darkness at bay. And as they journey, so the novice will cast aside his training and embrace his legacy. For he is a warrior born. His name is Galahad. And he is the son of Lancelot . . . Acclaim for Lancelot: 'A masterpiece.' Conn Iggulden 'Stands head and shoulders above the rest.' Manda Scott 'Glorious. Tragic. Lyrical. Totally gripping.' Ben Kane 'A gorgeous, rich retelling.' The Times 'An extraordinary writer . . . an exceptional book.' Dr Janina Ramirez
Featured Series
3 primary booksThe Arthurian Tales is a 3-book series with 3 released primary works first released in 2018 with contributions by Giles Kristian.
Reviews with the most likes.
When I reached about one third of the book, I had to check whether Giles Kristian was indeed the writer of this novel...
Unfortunately, this one failed to win me over. Without a firm basis on the Arthurian saga, this version of the battle against the Saxons during Arthur's later years seemed to me a poor attempt, similar to a ridiculous Hollywood movie or TV series. Full of stereotypical characters, the young, naive former monk, the pagan girl who gradually has the hots for said young man but also takes time to ridicule his beliefs, and extremely vicious, disrespectful view of the Christian religion.
Well, dear writer, you're free to go live in a cave, if you wish.
Repetition, wooden dialogue. I couldn't believe that this was written by the same author...Sorry, but no.
Many thanks to Transworld Digital and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.