The Arthurian Tales

 By: Giles  Kristian

Location: FIC KRI

Genre: King Arthur

3 in the Series:

 Lancelot- Warrior, Friend. Lover. Legend

Camelot- they fought to keep the dream alive

Arthur: Out of the mist of legend thunders this epic story of the last lord of war.

“And yet Arthur had Merlin. And Merlin had an idea. And so Arthur listened”

John Gwynn- Loved this. A truly excellent finale to a wonderful trilogy. Gritty and heartbreaking, this is a novel that grabs you and sweeps you along to its emotional and bittersweet ending. A must read.

review by Willim Gwyn

We follow a grim, disillusioned mercenary named Beran. He kills for money, but then he is ordered to kill a boy. And no ordinary boy at that. It is a boy who could unite Britain, but only if he lives….

I imagine everyone has seen or read or watched many different takes on the Arthurian legend, but please do not let that move you away from this. Arthur, as well as the two companion novels, Lancelot and Camelot, offer such a unique perspective. This is historically based, as we are thrust into a Britain now with little hope of fighting back the seemingly endless waves of Saxons.

Giles Kristian once again proves his writing prowess. His characterisation is simply sensational, with character growth occurring so naturally, in a way that does not feel forced by plot. It is really just amazing how immersive and engaging this story is, and a huge contributor to that is how natural and vivid the characters feel.

“‘The songs say I will come again.’ He lifts his chin. ‘Here I am.’”

I will continue to profess my love for this book as I now turn my attention to the themes. We have the battle between tragedy and heroism, but we also have an exploration of themes that usually aren’t engaged with as much. Such as the double-edged sword of memory is exposed as Beran is forced to confront his past, and finds both solace and pain in it. This engagement with themes that contribute to the plot but also simultaneously enriches the characterisation has such a strong impact on the reading experience. I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again. Giles Kristian uses his vast writing skills to weave a tapestry that immerses you and shocks you, but also moves you and has a lasting impact.

This is just extraordinary. Arthur like you have never seen it before, yet it resonates in your heart just the same. The character arcs are brilliant, the world vivid, the plot unpredictable, the prose lyrical. It is a joy to pick up.

If you like Arthurian literature, you should love this. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should this. But if you just love an immersive story with standout characters, you should also love this.