Not your father's Arthurian Legend...

This is the conclusion to a suprisingly original version of the King Arthur legend. Here is the showdown between Arthur, the man that should have been king and the enemies of Britian, including one within. For a high energy, unpredictable series, this one does not disappoint.

The story picks up where it left off, being written by Brother Derfel, an old monk but once the right hand man and brave knight of Arthur. He continues this memoir for the young queen Igraine of Powys who wishes to know more about the legendary and now blasphemous Arthur, enemy of God, his rise to power in the kingdom of Dumnonia, his victories, and his ultimate defeat.

Arthur, as they say, is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum shrouded in mystery. He is a powerful leader with an incredible amount of charisma, yet he continues to make bad decisions that only serve to undermine his goals of a peaceful world. It is his trust in mankind's honor that allows his enemies to survive and force him to fight the same battle over and over. This ultimately makes him a tragic figure as he cannot change men's minds and hearts, so once he leaves the stage the fragile peace he has created falls apart.

Now that Arthur is back in command after foiling the attempt made on his life by the treacherous and cowardly Lancelot(yes, that's right, Lancelot is an evil influence that manages to become famous by paying poets to write of his fictional noble exploits) and Genevieve, his beloved wife, he tries to right the damage that was inflicted on the countryside in his absence. His early retirement only resulted in a weakening of Britian and has again tempted the Saxons to attempt an invasion. Cedric, a Saxon chief, has allied himself with Aelle, the second most powerful Saxon chief and also the father of our narrator, Derfel. It is at Mynydd Baddon that Arthur and his brave soldiers meet their destiny to clear away the threat of the Saxons.

This is not the only perils that face Arthur, however. Merlin, the wizened wizard and his protege, Nimue, Derfel's childhood friend continue their quest to bring back the old gods that once ruled Britian. They will do anything in their power to bring this about, regardless of who it hurts. Mordred, the true king of Dumnonia, is also alive and becoming a more powerful warrior and lord. He still feels the sting of humiliation that Arthur inflicted on him by usurping his power and wants his kingdom back; but more importantly, wants revenge. With all these forces converging within 5th century England, it makes for a violent yet exhilarating story.

As I mentioned, the brutality described in this book is not for the faint hearted, but as Cornwell has a reputation of unblinking battle realism, very believable. This is truly an epic story that ranges over 40+ years and gives the reader a feeling for the harsh and superstitious world Britian must have been. There is no round table, or Camelot, or even plate mail; but it is the characters who come to life with such humanity that make this revisionist legend work. Although you may already know the basic story and how it ends, it really is the journey that is more important than the destination. Let me tell you, this is definitely one heckuva ride.