Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #280586 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 450 pages

Synopsis
Arthur is a young boy, revealed as the new Pendragon. He must serve a hard apprenticeship under his enemy if he is to succeed. Gwenhwyfar is his childhood sweetheart who finds herself a political pawn in a deadly struggle. This is the first volume in the "Pendragon's Banner" trilogy.

From the Author
Thankyou to everyone for your kind comments on my books, I very much appreciate your support and enthusiasm. Visit my website helenhollick.net for excerpts from all my novels and up-to-date information

Customer Reviews

Can Arthur unite the Britons against the English?
Don't read this book (or any of the trilogy) expecting a tale of mystery, magic and Merlin. Rather a historian's view of what the real Arthur and Britain in the post-Roman, pre-Saxon age might have been like. This is a time when Rome has deserted the British and the English are only just arriving from 'Germany' bringing with them upheaval and a constant struggle for power. A time when 1000 soldiers is considered a major force and tribal and ethnic loyalties are constantly shifting. As in real life many people are looking to the past and the glory of Rome while others want to look to the future. Not as clear a distinction as it sounds. Dirt, death, tragedy and a nicely dispassionate view of life and death keeps the books rocking along even though they are quite substantial. I did manage to put it down but it did certainly keep me popping back as often as possible.

If I did have one criticism it was that Guinevere (spelt in the more realistic Welsh fashion in this book) was possibly a little bit more of a modern feminist action hero than I feel reasonable. But then again what is a novel without a challenging interpretation of life and love.

I found it very interesting that the origin of the sword from the stone could be because the Latin for 'out of a stone' (ex saxo) is similar to 'from a Saxon' (ex saxone). Sounds reasonable!

An Arthur to top all Arthurs!
By far the best version of the Arthur legend I have read so far - and I've read a few! Helen Hollick combines fact with fiction to create a very real and credible Arthur. Her trilogy is packed with suspense, passion and pathos and is totally addictive! I defy anyone who does not fall in love with at least one of her beautifully developped and fully rounded characters, be it with her headstrong Gwenhwyfar or with her rugged Arthur.

Unlike most contemporary Arthurian novels, Helen omits the characters of Lancelot and Merlin, and rationalises the magical elements of the legend, one would think to the disappointment of the reader. Without a shadow of a doubt however, poor Merlin and Lancelot were not missed by me in the slightest, despite my being a lover of all these magical and romantic elements in previous novels. 'The Kingmaking', 'Pendragon's Banner' and 'Shadow Of The King' are all absolute 'musts' for anyone who enjoys a damn good read, and the sooner a film maker puts them on the big screen, the better!

Earthy and historically accurate re-telling...
The Arthur and Guinevere of the fairy-tale legend is firmly buried in the past, the moment you pick up Book One of this brilliant trilogy. This tale is packed full of historical earthiness and truly transports the reader back to those early years of Britain, when life was not full of gallant knights and pretty castles, but a harsh world where the British-born struggled against the invaders of the isle, the Saxons, Jutes and Angli, not forgetting the hostile North lands thrown in for good measure. The "Gwenyhfar" and "Arthur" of this tale are solid and believable - the reader cannot help but get caught in these shadowy times and catch a historical glimpse of this dark, far-away age. The characters spring to life through the pages, creating an exciting identity of their own whilst their lives are gradually mapped out through the chapters. There are no love-lorn Lancelots, no gushing Guineveres or awful Arthurs, here you can believe in an age-old legend to the extent that the myths fade, and the real history is like The Kingmaking...yours for the taking.