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The Arthurian Tales #3
Arthur
Years have passed since the clash of shieldwalls echoed across the land. The Saxons are now the lords of Britain. And yet the bards still sing of Arthur - 'In our darkest time, when we need him most, shall he come again.'
Yet old Beran has no love of bards' songs. Nor of people, unless they are paying him to steal or kill. He is a mercenary, in the employ of the cutthroat Nabor ap Nabor, and he has been ordered to murder a boy fleeing a burning city. No ordinary boy either. No, this boy is the son of King Constantine and the grandson of High King Ambrosius. And he could be the hope of Britain . . . if he lives.
Betraying his companions and returning to a world he thought he had left forever, Beran gives his word that he will take the boy to the one place that still holds out against the Camelot.
Crossing a hostile land, they will meet the runaway lovers, Tristan and Isolde. They will seek the help of Guivret, called the Little King, and the Saracen, Palamedes, who once rode beneath Arthur's banner.
Hunted by Saxons, Nabor ap Nabor, and Queen Morgana, this unlikely band must fight for their lives and for each other. For if there's to be any hope for Britain, Beran must deliver the boy to Camelot. But to do that, he must also face his own past . . .
Yet old Beran has no love of bards' songs. Nor of people, unless they are paying him to steal or kill. He is a mercenary, in the employ of the cutthroat Nabor ap Nabor, and he has been ordered to murder a boy fleeing a burning city. No ordinary boy either. No, this boy is the son of King Constantine and the grandson of High King Ambrosius. And he could be the hope of Britain . . . if he lives.
Betraying his companions and returning to a world he thought he had left forever, Beran gives his word that he will take the boy to the one place that still holds out against the Camelot.
Crossing a hostile land, they will meet the runaway lovers, Tristan and Isolde. They will seek the help of Guivret, called the Little King, and the Saracen, Palamedes, who once rode beneath Arthur's banner.
Hunted by Saxons, Nabor ap Nabor, and Queen Morgana, this unlikely band must fight for their lives and for each other. For if there's to be any hope for Britain, Beran must deliver the boy to Camelot. But to do that, he must also face his own past . . .
505 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2024
225 people are currently reading
1281 people want to read
About the author
Giles Kristian
18 books1,567 followersGiles Kristian's first historical novels were the acclaimed and bestselling RAVEN Viking trilogy – Blood Eye, Sons of Thunder and Odin’s Wolves. For his next series, he drew on a long-held fascination with the English Civil War to chart the fortunes of a family divided by this brutal conflict in The Bleeding Land and Brothers’ Fury. Giles also co-wrote Wilbur Smith’s No.1 bestseller, Golden Lion. In God of Vengeance (a TIMES Book of the Year), Winter’s Fire, and the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown shortlisted Wings of the Storm, he returned to the world of the Vikings to tell the story of Sigurd and his celebrated fictional fellowship. Lancelot was published to great acclaim and hit The Times bestseller charts at No. 3. It was also a Sunday Times bestseller. He followed Lancelot with Camelot, and his next novel, a thriller called Where Blood Runs Cold, was the Times' Thriller of the Month, and won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2022. His next novel, Arthur, will be the final book in his Arthurian Tales. It will be published June 6th. Pre-order links here: https://linktr.ee/arthur_by_giles_kri...
To find out more about Giles: www.gileskristian.com
Follow Giles on Facebook and Twitter: @GilesKristian
To find out more about Giles: www.gileskristian.com
Follow Giles on Facebook and Twitter: @GilesKristian
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 30, 2024
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.
June 6, 2024
Very lucky that the publishers have sent me an ARC of Arthur in return for an honest review!
“He watched them die, those horse lords. Those gods of war. The clamour of it ebbed even as the light leached from the land, but he knew he would hear it always. He watched until it was done.”
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.
5/5 STARS
“He watched them die, those horse lords. Those gods of war. The clamour of it ebbed even as the light leached from the land, but he knew he would hear it always. He watched until it was done.”
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.
5/5 STARS
June 8, 2024
Okay WHO is cutting onions in here? Oh, it's Giles himself cutting them!
This book has had me weeping. Buckets. I could fill a whole pond with these tears.
Now I know that Giles is probably one of the most brutally effective authors out there. He has a command of writing that we all can only dream of. And he has the power to make you tense, make you ecstatic with joy, the power to make you desperate to become a horse lord and ride into battle and he, unfortunately, has the power to make you weep. He's basically the Thanos of historical fiction.
Arthur is the best of the Arthurian tales - something I really do not say lightly. Please, I implore you to read this series. It is seeping in emotion, in friendships that shape countries, in relationships that hit home, in intense action that has your blood pumping. It's incredible.
This book has had me weeping. Buckets. I could fill a whole pond with these tears.
Now I know that Giles is probably one of the most brutally effective authors out there. He has a command of writing that we all can only dream of. And he has the power to make you tense, make you ecstatic with joy, the power to make you desperate to become a horse lord and ride into battle and he, unfortunately, has the power to make you weep. He's basically the Thanos of historical fiction.
Arthur is the best of the Arthurian tales - something I really do not say lightly. Please, I implore you to read this series. It is seeping in emotion, in friendships that shape countries, in relationships that hit home, in intense action that has your blood pumping. It's incredible.
July 11, 2024
Arthur is the dramatic and emotional third entry in Giles Kristian's thrilling The Arthurian Tales trilogy. After a striking and moving prologue, Arthur introduces readers to Beran. He is a grizzled old warrior who runs with a group of ruthless mercenaries. Beran is gruff, tough, and does not care much about anything. Give him someone to rob or kill for payment and he will follow orders with no questions asked. That is until his mercenary band are ordered by Queen Morgana to murder a boy. During the skirmish, someone from Beran's past recognises him and this familiar figure's dying plea is for Beran to save the child and take him to Camelot. Camelot is still standing strong against the Saxons whereas the rest of the Dark Isles is succumbing to the onslaught. Beran turns against the group of mercenaries, saving the boy, and they begin a dangerous trek to the legendary stronghold. The child could become someone of great importance and may even spark a small amount of hope in the disillusioned Beran. Throughout Arthur, they are pursued by Saxons, Queen Morgana's forces, and a very pissed-off mercenary captain.
Arthur works as a standalone and, in isolation, is an absorbing and gripping historical fiction read. I have read Lancelot and Camelot however my memories of these books are hazy. If I had read them more recently, I feel it would have increased my enjoyment of Arthur by about five percent. Arthur has two point of view perspectives. The first is the 'present-day' Beran storyline which features characters from mythology such as Saracen warrior Palamedes and the lovers Tristan and Isolde. The other viewpoint is of past events through the eyes of a young Arthur. Here, familiar characters such as Merlin, Gawain, and Uther are present as moments from Arthur's formative years are depicted. As the novel progresses, similarities between a young Arthur and the rescued boy and his potential become clear. As I read further, it became engrossing to try and work out who Beran was in his past life before he was a mercenary and lost faith in humanity. He is a skilled fighter for his age, showcases fine horsemanship, and knew, in some capacity, famous warriors such as Galahad and King Constantine.
Through the two timelines in Arthur, we see Kristian's interpretation of the beginning and the end of this legendary age of warlords, battles, and kings. I was completely absorbed in Kristian's working of this period. It is dark and gritty, and Britain is an uncertain place with many rulers, rival gods, and competing factions. Magic is presented well in Arthur too as the presence of the druids and the messages delivered by omens seeming more grounded in reality than some retellings. However, these occurrences are witnessed as otherworldly and mysterious to the inhabitants of Britain present in Arthur. These elements add to the complicated murkiness of the Britain on show. Furthermore, Kristian's crafted world is hostile and unforgiving, and just because a character is either good or weak does not mean they are entitled to a happy ending.
Arthur contains many features I adore in well-crafted historical fiction tales. For example, there are gripping battles, vendettas to settle, pasts to escape from, a disgruntled protector figure, brotherhoods, friendships, honour and loyalty, and the high costs of fate, expectancy, and the weight of a nation on a set of shoulders. Kristian does some adept foreshadowing throughout the novel and the payoffs that I foresaw were highly satisfying. That being said, the finest moment was a twist I did not see coming. If I had to be more critical, I wish Arthur was longer, more complicated, and the 'present-day' action set over a longer timeframe. However, the immediateness and the pacing make it tough to put Arthur down.
To conclude, the two storylines are skilfully presented and equally important to the novel's incredible and emotional conclusion. Arthur is a moving, atmospheric, and enthralling experience that culminates The Arthurian Tales in the best possible manner.
Arthur works as a standalone and, in isolation, is an absorbing and gripping historical fiction read. I have read Lancelot and Camelot however my memories of these books are hazy. If I had read them more recently, I feel it would have increased my enjoyment of Arthur by about five percent. Arthur has two point of view perspectives. The first is the 'present-day' Beran storyline which features characters from mythology such as Saracen warrior Palamedes and the lovers Tristan and Isolde. The other viewpoint is of past events through the eyes of a young Arthur. Here, familiar characters such as Merlin, Gawain, and Uther are present as moments from Arthur's formative years are depicted. As the novel progresses, similarities between a young Arthur and the rescued boy and his potential become clear. As I read further, it became engrossing to try and work out who Beran was in his past life before he was a mercenary and lost faith in humanity. He is a skilled fighter for his age, showcases fine horsemanship, and knew, in some capacity, famous warriors such as Galahad and King Constantine.
Through the two timelines in Arthur, we see Kristian's interpretation of the beginning and the end of this legendary age of warlords, battles, and kings. I was completely absorbed in Kristian's working of this period. It is dark and gritty, and Britain is an uncertain place with many rulers, rival gods, and competing factions. Magic is presented well in Arthur too as the presence of the druids and the messages delivered by omens seeming more grounded in reality than some retellings. However, these occurrences are witnessed as otherworldly and mysterious to the inhabitants of Britain present in Arthur. These elements add to the complicated murkiness of the Britain on show. Furthermore, Kristian's crafted world is hostile and unforgiving, and just because a character is either good or weak does not mean they are entitled to a happy ending.
Arthur contains many features I adore in well-crafted historical fiction tales. For example, there are gripping battles, vendettas to settle, pasts to escape from, a disgruntled protector figure, brotherhoods, friendships, honour and loyalty, and the high costs of fate, expectancy, and the weight of a nation on a set of shoulders. Kristian does some adept foreshadowing throughout the novel and the payoffs that I foresaw were highly satisfying. That being said, the finest moment was a twist I did not see coming. If I had to be more critical, I wish Arthur was longer, more complicated, and the 'present-day' action set over a longer timeframe. However, the immediateness and the pacing make it tough to put Arthur down.
To conclude, the two storylines are skilfully presented and equally important to the novel's incredible and emotional conclusion. Arthur is a moving, atmospheric, and enthralling experience that culminates The Arthurian Tales in the best possible manner.
August 21, 2025
Lancelot ★★★★★
Camelot ★★★★
Arthur ★★★★
I’m honestly shocked that this series hasn’t gotten more recognition, this final installment in The Arthurian Tales has fewer than 1,000 ratings, and it deserves so much more. Arthur brings the series to a powerful and satisfying close, with Kristian once again proving himself a masterful storyteller.
This book takes a slightly different narrative approach, using dual POVs set in different timelines: One in the past, one in the present. While book two had a somewhat confusing start, this one felt more grounded from the beginning. Even when I wasn’t immediately sure how it tied into the previous books, I trusted Kristian to bring it all together, and he absolutely did.
Lancelot remains my favorite in the series, but Arthur comes in a close second. While this book can work as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy, the emotional payoff is much stronger that way. The pacing is tighter this time around, and once the plotlines converge, it becomes incredibly hard to put down.
Kristian’s writing continues to shine, with rich characterization and emotionally resonant moments. Familiar faces return, and even the newly introduced characters feel fully realized despite their late entry. The ending is absolutely gut-wrenching and a testament to Kristian’s talent as a writer.
This entire series is such a hidden gem. If you’re even remotely interested in Arthurian legend, don’t sleep on it.
Camelot ★★★★
Arthur ★★★★
I’m honestly shocked that this series hasn’t gotten more recognition, this final installment in The Arthurian Tales has fewer than 1,000 ratings, and it deserves so much more. Arthur brings the series to a powerful and satisfying close, with Kristian once again proving himself a masterful storyteller.
This book takes a slightly different narrative approach, using dual POVs set in different timelines: One in the past, one in the present. While book two had a somewhat confusing start, this one felt more grounded from the beginning. Even when I wasn’t immediately sure how it tied into the previous books, I trusted Kristian to bring it all together, and he absolutely did.
Lancelot remains my favorite in the series, but Arthur comes in a close second. While this book can work as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy, the emotional payoff is much stronger that way. The pacing is tighter this time around, and once the plotlines converge, it becomes incredibly hard to put down.
Kristian’s writing continues to shine, with rich characterization and emotionally resonant moments. Familiar faces return, and even the newly introduced characters feel fully realized despite their late entry. The ending is absolutely gut-wrenching and a testament to Kristian’s talent as a writer.
This entire series is such a hidden gem. If you’re even remotely interested in Arthurian legend, don’t sleep on it.
May 17, 2025
This excellent book is the 3rd and final volume of the "Arthurian Tales" by Giles Kristian.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of "the Kingdoms of Britain after the fall of Arthur", while at the back there's an Author's Note where the historical details and mythical elements are wonderfully explained.
Storytelling is superb, all characters come vividly to life in this tale of myth and legend, while the atmosphere of Post Roman-Britain within the Dark Isles of retreating Britons and advancing Saxons are brilliantly pictured throughout.
This book is about Arthur from the past as a young man intertwined with the present Beran/Arthur, and old man now and mercenary in exile.
This same old man Beran/Arthur will come alive again by rescuing a young boy, Prince Erbin, Son of King Constantine, and from then on Beran/Arthur's life will become invigorated with the purpose by saving this boy's life and keep him safe from all enemies, and that experience will remind Beran/Arthur of his lost past and his false promises to his family and friends back then, and in this final endeavour he will accompanied and assisted by the Saracen Palamedes.
What is to follow is a fascinating and heartfelt myth and legend about Arthur, Galahad, Gawain, Iselle, Merlin, Guinevere, and of course about the famous legendary stronghold Camelot, where Arthur, and his family and friends, will have their final battle for Britain against the Saxons, before Arthur will return into mythical obscurity for all time.
Very much recommended, for this is a magnificent conclusion of this trilogy of Arthurian Tales, and that's why I like to call this last instalment: "A Perfect Arthurian Ending"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of "the Kingdoms of Britain after the fall of Arthur", while at the back there's an Author's Note where the historical details and mythical elements are wonderfully explained.
Storytelling is superb, all characters come vividly to life in this tale of myth and legend, while the atmosphere of Post Roman-Britain within the Dark Isles of retreating Britons and advancing Saxons are brilliantly pictured throughout.
This book is about Arthur from the past as a young man intertwined with the present Beran/Arthur, and old man now and mercenary in exile.
This same old man Beran/Arthur will come alive again by rescuing a young boy, Prince Erbin, Son of King Constantine, and from then on Beran/Arthur's life will become invigorated with the purpose by saving this boy's life and keep him safe from all enemies, and that experience will remind Beran/Arthur of his lost past and his false promises to his family and friends back then, and in this final endeavour he will accompanied and assisted by the Saracen Palamedes.
What is to follow is a fascinating and heartfelt myth and legend about Arthur, Galahad, Gawain, Iselle, Merlin, Guinevere, and of course about the famous legendary stronghold Camelot, where Arthur, and his family and friends, will have their final battle for Britain against the Saxons, before Arthur will return into mythical obscurity for all time.
Very much recommended, for this is a magnificent conclusion of this trilogy of Arthurian Tales, and that's why I like to call this last instalment: "A Perfect Arthurian Ending"!
June 19, 2025
Absolute masterpiece.
First word is WOW. This book blew my mind. I have so many emotions upon finishing this final book in the Arthurian trilogy. This is one of my favorite series I’ve ever read and I deem this final book a masterpiece. If you like Anthony Ryan and Bernard Cornwell, this series is a must read and that’s all there is to it. The care, depth of emotion and character arc that Kristian lays out in these pages is subtle, thoughtful and stunning. The two prior books certainly have Arthur in the story, but this is the only one of the trilogy that focuses on his POV. Each book in this series is a sequel in that they happen later in time, but they’re more accurately described as companion pieces to that amazing world that Kristian has crafted.
SPOILIES and summary below:
This book is very different from the first two because rather than being first person POV, it’s third person. And rather than just one POV, there are two. One POV is a young Arthur before he has made a name for himself fighting the Franks. It dovetails really nicely with everything we know about Arthur from the prior books: his father King Uther is an evil bastard, Arthur befriends Gawain, Arthur’s romance with Guinevere and how Arthur is seduced by his half-sister Morgan who then births Mordred. This is a welcomed back story and it really colors the later villainous Queen Morgana and why she absolutely loathes Arthur and the dream of united Britain for which she stands. Uther demanded that the infant Morded be drowned and Arthur knew this plan and did nothing about it. Of course Queen Morgana would hate his guts. This back story brings sympathy to her.
The other POV is some random guy, heretofore unknown to the story, named Beran. The man is a cut throat in a band of criminals who are doing a hit on a royal caravan holding Prince Constantine, the son of Arthur’s cousin, and the only legitimate line to Uther besides Arthur and the last hope for uniting Britain against the Saxons. Beran and his band kill the guards and are about to kill the young prince until Beran kills his own gang and saves the boy. They start a trek where Beran aims to drop the boy off at Camelot where Lady Iselle (Arthur’s daughter) and Galahad (Lancelot’s son) have seized the place from Morgana in the prior book. So where is Arthur? Well, last we saw him was in the prior book Camelot where he slinked off into the night in despair after Guinevere died, a broken man forever it would seem.
So about halfway through this book, I’m enjoying it and Beran’s POV, but I start asking myself, “why the hell is Beran in this book, who is he?” Beran is a cantankerous, hopeless man who scoffs at any idea of uniting Britain and the false faith in Arthur. He’s extremely pessimistic and so where is his motivation for taking this young brat prince back to Camelot?
This realization hit me so hard and made me finally appreciate the genius of the book and the incredible story crafting that was going on right in front of my face the entire time. Everything finally made sense that Beran is Arthur—all his motivations and his paradoxical cynicism. Arthur hates himself and has been roaming the land as a robber ever since the last book. The utter tragedy of this realization also slaps you in the face. Arthur and the boy prince finally make it to Camelot where the truth comes out. And all our favorites from the prior books are there: Merlin, Gawain, Iselle and Galahad. And it’s upon this bitter reunion that Arthur is finally sparked to pick up Excalibur one last time to charge toward the encroaching Saxons. But what is really Arthur’s motivation? It is finally to unite Britain under his banner?
No.
How do I know this? Because, while he does lead the men of Camelot into glorious battle, Arthur heads right to a Saxon camp to free the boy prince who has been captured by the Saxons. He kills the Saxon Prince, frees the boy and—doesn’t return to Camelot. No. Arthur and the boy, the only other heir to Uther, ghost off to the woods. The boy prince wants the mantle of Britain as little as Arthur. The real beauty of this relationship is seen in the epilogue where the now passed Guinevere watches Arthur and the boy through the eyes of a crow. Arthur is clearly now raising the boy, finally being the father he should’ve been all along to Iselle. Arthur is protecting the boy from the fate that he suffered. Arthur is extremely flawed, does legitimately awful things in this series, but this send off was really something special and beautiful.
So how will Britain fair? That remains unanswered but it will not go on with Arthur. Britain will likely continue on its uncertain road between war and reconciliation with the unwanted but unstoppable forces of both the Saxons and Christianity.
Incredible book.
First word is WOW. This book blew my mind. I have so many emotions upon finishing this final book in the Arthurian trilogy. This is one of my favorite series I’ve ever read and I deem this final book a masterpiece. If you like Anthony Ryan and Bernard Cornwell, this series is a must read and that’s all there is to it. The care, depth of emotion and character arc that Kristian lays out in these pages is subtle, thoughtful and stunning. The two prior books certainly have Arthur in the story, but this is the only one of the trilogy that focuses on his POV. Each book in this series is a sequel in that they happen later in time, but they’re more accurately described as companion pieces to that amazing world that Kristian has crafted.
SPOILIES and summary below:
This book is very different from the first two because rather than being first person POV, it’s third person. And rather than just one POV, there are two. One POV is a young Arthur before he has made a name for himself fighting the Franks. It dovetails really nicely with everything we know about Arthur from the prior books: his father King Uther is an evil bastard, Arthur befriends Gawain, Arthur’s romance with Guinevere and how Arthur is seduced by his half-sister Morgan who then births Mordred. This is a welcomed back story and it really colors the later villainous Queen Morgana and why she absolutely loathes Arthur and the dream of united Britain for which she stands. Uther demanded that the infant Morded be drowned and Arthur knew this plan and did nothing about it. Of course Queen Morgana would hate his guts. This back story brings sympathy to her.
The other POV is some random guy, heretofore unknown to the story, named Beran. The man is a cut throat in a band of criminals who are doing a hit on a royal caravan holding Prince Constantine, the son of Arthur’s cousin, and the only legitimate line to Uther besides Arthur and the last hope for uniting Britain against the Saxons. Beran and his band kill the guards and are about to kill the young prince until Beran kills his own gang and saves the boy. They start a trek where Beran aims to drop the boy off at Camelot where Lady Iselle (Arthur’s daughter) and Galahad (Lancelot’s son) have seized the place from Morgana in the prior book. So where is Arthur? Well, last we saw him was in the prior book Camelot where he slinked off into the night in despair after Guinevere died, a broken man forever it would seem.
So about halfway through this book, I’m enjoying it and Beran’s POV, but I start asking myself, “why the hell is Beran in this book, who is he?” Beran is a cantankerous, hopeless man who scoffs at any idea of uniting Britain and the false faith in Arthur. He’s extremely pessimistic and so where is his motivation for taking this young brat prince back to Camelot?
This realization hit me so hard and made me finally appreciate the genius of the book and the incredible story crafting that was going on right in front of my face the entire time. Everything finally made sense that Beran is Arthur—all his motivations and his paradoxical cynicism. Arthur hates himself and has been roaming the land as a robber ever since the last book. The utter tragedy of this realization also slaps you in the face. Arthur and the boy prince finally make it to Camelot where the truth comes out. And all our favorites from the prior books are there: Merlin, Gawain, Iselle and Galahad. And it’s upon this bitter reunion that Arthur is finally sparked to pick up Excalibur one last time to charge toward the encroaching Saxons. But what is really Arthur’s motivation? It is finally to unite Britain under his banner?
No.
How do I know this? Because, while he does lead the men of Camelot into glorious battle, Arthur heads right to a Saxon camp to free the boy prince who has been captured by the Saxons. He kills the Saxon Prince, frees the boy and—doesn’t return to Camelot. No. Arthur and the boy, the only other heir to Uther, ghost off to the woods. The boy prince wants the mantle of Britain as little as Arthur. The real beauty of this relationship is seen in the epilogue where the now passed Guinevere watches Arthur and the boy through the eyes of a crow. Arthur is clearly now raising the boy, finally being the father he should’ve been all along to Iselle. Arthur is protecting the boy from the fate that he suffered. Arthur is extremely flawed, does legitimately awful things in this series, but this send off was really something special and beautiful.
So how will Britain fair? That remains unanswered but it will not go on with Arthur. Britain will likely continue on its uncertain road between war and reconciliation with the unwanted but unstoppable forces of both the Saxons and Christianity.
Incredible book.
November 18, 2024
Wow, how do I start this review?
I’m going to try my best just to focus primarily on this book, Arthur, rather than Giles Kristian’s Arthurian Tales as a whole, though it’s hard not to make comparisons.
If you haven’t read Lancelot and Camelot though, I would highly recommend reading them first. The author refers to them as companion novels and I agree that they can be read alone, but you’re going to get so much more out of the experience by reading them in order.
From the very start of the novel, I was invested in the action and it’s certainly the fastest, most engaging start of Kristian’s Arthurian Tales.
This was a relief because I wondered whether I’d enjoy following a new group of characters as introduced in the blurb when I just wanted to be saturated in more of the same as I’d already read. Not only new characters, but I’d read about the dual timeline and almost had the opinion that this third book wouldn’t quite have the impact of the previous two.
I should have known to put my entire faith in the author because this book is by no means an afterthought and is executed with precision and grace. It’s a beautiful and fitting ending to what is now my favourite series and is in no way lesser to the previous two. This book is absolutely essential to providing the depth, scope and overall satisfaction of the series which I think would have felt hollow if finishing with Camelot. Where there is a very melancholy vein running through Camelot, even though Britain is truly lost now in Arthur, there is more heart and hope, perhaps through an acceptance from many of the characters of the new way of things.
This is the first set of reviews I’ve written where I’ve found it really difficult to translate my feelings into words and articulate how brilliant I think it is. Kristian has the measure of human emotion, of love, of brotherhood and masculinity, of hope, dreams, regrets, retrospection, belonging. There are some amazing action sequences and fast paced drama but it is in the relationships and this understanding of the human condition which really gives this book (and the two before it) an added layer of that magic recipe that’s easier to show someone by handing them the book than it is to assess in a review.
There are times of great poignancy, foreshadowing and moments that required the utmost care to craft so well as they are here. This is perhaps best illustrated with the author’s handling of the tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde, characters introduced here whose story and the reactions to it from Beran hold a lot of meaning when we consider the parallels through these books.
There is a real emotional pull throughout this story, with new characters and old breaking your heart. The writing itself lends to this with beautiful, poetic prose full of memorable lines and a way of writing about the world that just makes you really feel and think. For me, one of the most important things an author should achieve when writing about myth or old times of heroes is to capture that mystical, magical aura and that’s something I love about this book and series. There are very few that can achieve this in practice; Anna Smith Spark being one that springs to mind with her A Sword of Bronze and Ashes. You are transported to an era shrouded in mist and I feel that Kristian absolutely nails the balance between otherworldly and real. This is primarily pure historical fiction with just enough of the mystery that now feels gone from our world to give Kristian’s Britain such a sparkle.
To incredibly accentuate this further, audiobook listeners have the privilege of listening to Phillip Stevens again and he is just phenomenal, surely the best narrator I’ve ever listened to. He really does this book justice and continues to amaze with his range and passionate storytelling.
In terms of plot itself, the dual storyline featuring Beran’s journey and Arthur’s rise works so well and I appreciated it massively, even though it showed me I shouldn’t try and become a detective any time soon with how slowly I picked up some important breadcrumbs. I love how the author went in another fresh direction and brought something new, a fresh style and tone to each book and it worked wonderfully each time. There is a danger with this style in making a reader skip through one storyline to get back to another yet I was always enthusiastic to continue where I left off with both.
It’s hard to talk too much about individual plot aspects that were so prominent because they’re all big moments that will ruin the surprises and poignant moments that you should experience for yourself. The blurb will give you everything you need to know and I don’t think you should go looking for answers before you begin! The payoff is incredibly rewarding, in particular the titular character of Arthur himself and his journey as a person. We see High King Uther at his prime (not a particularly likeable bloke) and are reminded that most people are not simply bad with some context on Queen Morgana and the new resident Saxons – they are of course not all without honour.
I’m so deflated that this saga is over because it’s been on my mind so much over the last 2 or 3 months and I’ve really savoured it. Despite being sad it’s done, I feel so glad and satisfied that I’ve experienced it, it was a massive privilege to do so and there is no doubt a re-read will come which will have its own rewards second time around to spot things I missed the first time or to appreciate the significance.
I could re-write this review a million times and probably make it more coherent and remember important things to mention but I’ve just unleashed all my feelings onto the page.
This book has perfectly completed Giles Kristian’s Arthurian Tales, taking the duology of Lancelot and Camelot from the realm of brilliant up through the stratosphere as one of the most extraordinary, spine tingling, epic and memorable series in history. A triumph of storytelling prowess that will live so very long in the memory.
I’m going to try my best just to focus primarily on this book, Arthur, rather than Giles Kristian’s Arthurian Tales as a whole, though it’s hard not to make comparisons.
If you haven’t read Lancelot and Camelot though, I would highly recommend reading them first. The author refers to them as companion novels and I agree that they can be read alone, but you’re going to get so much more out of the experience by reading them in order.
From the very start of the novel, I was invested in the action and it’s certainly the fastest, most engaging start of Kristian’s Arthurian Tales.
This was a relief because I wondered whether I’d enjoy following a new group of characters as introduced in the blurb when I just wanted to be saturated in more of the same as I’d already read. Not only new characters, but I’d read about the dual timeline and almost had the opinion that this third book wouldn’t quite have the impact of the previous two.
I should have known to put my entire faith in the author because this book is by no means an afterthought and is executed with precision and grace. It’s a beautiful and fitting ending to what is now my favourite series and is in no way lesser to the previous two. This book is absolutely essential to providing the depth, scope and overall satisfaction of the series which I think would have felt hollow if finishing with Camelot. Where there is a very melancholy vein running through Camelot, even though Britain is truly lost now in Arthur, there is more heart and hope, perhaps through an acceptance from many of the characters of the new way of things.
This is the first set of reviews I’ve written where I’ve found it really difficult to translate my feelings into words and articulate how brilliant I think it is. Kristian has the measure of human emotion, of love, of brotherhood and masculinity, of hope, dreams, regrets, retrospection, belonging. There are some amazing action sequences and fast paced drama but it is in the relationships and this understanding of the human condition which really gives this book (and the two before it) an added layer of that magic recipe that’s easier to show someone by handing them the book than it is to assess in a review.
There are times of great poignancy, foreshadowing and moments that required the utmost care to craft so well as they are here. This is perhaps best illustrated with the author’s handling of the tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde, characters introduced here whose story and the reactions to it from Beran hold a lot of meaning when we consider the parallels through these books.
There is a real emotional pull throughout this story, with new characters and old breaking your heart. The writing itself lends to this with beautiful, poetic prose full of memorable lines and a way of writing about the world that just makes you really feel and think. For me, one of the most important things an author should achieve when writing about myth or old times of heroes is to capture that mystical, magical aura and that’s something I love about this book and series. There are very few that can achieve this in practice; Anna Smith Spark being one that springs to mind with her A Sword of Bronze and Ashes. You are transported to an era shrouded in mist and I feel that Kristian absolutely nails the balance between otherworldly and real. This is primarily pure historical fiction with just enough of the mystery that now feels gone from our world to give Kristian’s Britain such a sparkle.
To incredibly accentuate this further, audiobook listeners have the privilege of listening to Phillip Stevens again and he is just phenomenal, surely the best narrator I’ve ever listened to. He really does this book justice and continues to amaze with his range and passionate storytelling.
In terms of plot itself, the dual storyline featuring Beran’s journey and Arthur’s rise works so well and I appreciated it massively, even though it showed me I shouldn’t try and become a detective any time soon with how slowly I picked up some important breadcrumbs. I love how the author went in another fresh direction and brought something new, a fresh style and tone to each book and it worked wonderfully each time. There is a danger with this style in making a reader skip through one storyline to get back to another yet I was always enthusiastic to continue where I left off with both.
It’s hard to talk too much about individual plot aspects that were so prominent because they’re all big moments that will ruin the surprises and poignant moments that you should experience for yourself. The blurb will give you everything you need to know and I don’t think you should go looking for answers before you begin! The payoff is incredibly rewarding, in particular the titular character of Arthur himself and his journey as a person. We see High King Uther at his prime (not a particularly likeable bloke) and are reminded that most people are not simply bad with some context on Queen Morgana and the new resident Saxons – they are of course not all without honour.
I’m so deflated that this saga is over because it’s been on my mind so much over the last 2 or 3 months and I’ve really savoured it. Despite being sad it’s done, I feel so glad and satisfied that I’ve experienced it, it was a massive privilege to do so and there is no doubt a re-read will come which will have its own rewards second time around to spot things I missed the first time or to appreciate the significance.
I could re-write this review a million times and probably make it more coherent and remember important things to mention but I’ve just unleashed all my feelings onto the page.
This book has perfectly completed Giles Kristian’s Arthurian Tales, taking the duology of Lancelot and Camelot from the realm of brilliant up through the stratosphere as one of the most extraordinary, spine tingling, epic and memorable series in history. A triumph of storytelling prowess that will live so very long in the memory.
Read
June 14, 2024As a child, I adored T.H. White’s collection of novels about King Arthur – ‘The Once and Future King,’ I have to confess, that though I’ve read plenty of non-fiction about Arthur since, I’ve rather avoided reading any novels about Arthur and the knights, afraid to destroy the memories of the childhood pleasure I got from White’s books. But Giles Kristian’s ‘Arthur’ is brilliant and couldn’t be more different from White’s take on Arthur.
White wrote about the magical, fantasy Arthur, but Kristian’s character’s are solid, real and human. They bleed, sweat, need to pee and feel aches and pains, thirst and hunger, as I did with them. It is rare gift to be able to transport readers into such an ancient and alien time and make them smell, see, hear and experience every battle, each sword thrust or step of a journey as if they were physically there. But Kristian has that gift in spades.
I loved the subtle interweaving and balance between the two timelines of the young Arthur and Arthur as an old man, which culminated in what felt to me to be an exquisitely poignant and perfect ending. This is definitely on my shelf of books I will read again. But in the meantime, I’m off to read the first books in Kristian series now – ‘Lancelot’ and ‘Camelot.’ Can’t wait.
White wrote about the magical, fantasy Arthur, but Kristian’s character’s are solid, real and human. They bleed, sweat, need to pee and feel aches and pains, thirst and hunger, as I did with them. It is rare gift to be able to transport readers into such an ancient and alien time and make them smell, see, hear and experience every battle, each sword thrust or step of a journey as if they were physically there. But Kristian has that gift in spades.
I loved the subtle interweaving and balance between the two timelines of the young Arthur and Arthur as an old man, which culminated in what felt to me to be an exquisitely poignant and perfect ending. This is definitely on my shelf of books I will read again. But in the meantime, I’m off to read the first books in Kristian series now – ‘Lancelot’ and ‘Camelot.’ Can’t wait.
March 4, 2025
That ending hit me like a wrecking ball. 😭😭😭😭
RTC after buddy read.
RTC after buddy read.
June 25, 2024
What an ending!
Review to come
Review to come
February 3, 2024
A thrilling and fantastic finale to GKs Arthurian legacy 👌
As always, GK writes with beauty. His prose always lands perfectly with me. I love the beauty that he creates with his words and the way he can always transport me to any world he writes.
This story is no different. A duel narrative, pulling together perfectly and oozing with imagination and wonder.
The ending was spot on. It finished and completed, the trilogy exquisitely
Now to wait and see what GK does next
As always, GK writes with beauty. His prose always lands perfectly with me. I love the beauty that he creates with his words and the way he can always transport me to any world he writes.
This story is no different. A duel narrative, pulling together perfectly and oozing with imagination and wonder.
The ending was spot on. It finished and completed, the trilogy exquisitely
Now to wait and see what GK does next
November 18, 2024
I'll be honest, I did not expect this 3rd book to be this good. Lancelot was utterly amazing, but Camelot was a bit of a let-down. I was therefore a bit hesitant going into this, thinking I should maybe give it some weeks as I believed that might have made Camelot a better experience. But no, no hesitations here. Jumping into it, the way I always do!
And boy, no regrets.
As soon as I started with that prologue I knew I was going to enjoy it.
Fast-moving plot with a lot of action, that's always good. But the cherry on the cake was the raw emotion that Kristian managed to put into it. Beran & the Boy, Tristan & Isolde, the ending. There were some serious tear-jerkers in here!
Kristian inserted a dual timeline in this book and it worked really well. I would say it also compromised the secret identity rather early on, but that had as a benefit that I could enjoy all the little easter eggs more.
I loved the epilogue, it was so bittersweet and it invoked the two dominating feelings I had reading this trilogy.
My compliments to the author, this trilogy was an amazing experience.
And boy, no regrets.
As soon as I started with that prologue I knew I was going to enjoy it.
Fast-moving plot with a lot of action, that's always good. But the cherry on the cake was the raw emotion that Kristian managed to put into it. Beran & the Boy, Tristan & Isolde, the ending. There were some serious tear-jerkers in here!
Kristian inserted a dual timeline in this book and it worked really well. I would say it also compromised the secret identity rather early on, but that had as a benefit that I could enjoy all the little easter eggs more.
I loved the epilogue, it was so bittersweet and it invoked the two dominating feelings I had reading this trilogy.
My compliments to the author, this trilogy was an amazing experience.
March 7, 2025
I... I just don't know how to feel. In a way, this book is mesmerizing and haunting. It feels burned into me. I feel dead for having finished it... or did it finish me?
And yet... it's almost so at odds with everything you think you know about Arthur that I feel... well, let down is not the answer but just like... this isn't how it's supposed to end. I wanted more of a blaze of glory, which is so often how the tale is told, but who's to say that's right? Why can't Arthur have had this ending instead.
Sorry for all the ellipses, I'm just very in my feelings right now and unsure what to say without spoilers. This feels like the grimmest thing I've read in a long time, and I'm very melancholy for having finished it. It's also one of the most brilliant things I've read, and I can't deny the power Giles Kristian has with words. Dude knows how to invoke imagery and cut to the soul.
I will say I thought there was a bit of a pacing issue, but that might also have been the dual timeline. Again, I struggle with them, and that's a personal issue. I appreciated the chance at the end of the tale to get to see Arthur in the glory of his youth. I almost wish this book had been longer, though, because I would have enjoyed even more flashbacks. But again, that's me thriving in the tale of Arthur, the hero, I know and love.
I will also say you all are sleeping on this trilogy and this author. I'm off to order his entire backlog, maybe even including his contemporary thriller, because this series has made a fangirl out of me. He's so good at small evocative moments between characters, and his poetic descriptions are next level. I don't think you have to be an Arthur fan to enjoy these books because the tales are spun so uniquely it almost made me struggle to sort how I think things were supposed to go. Anyway I can't wait to reread these books and I suppose that's probably all you need to know.
And yet... it's almost so at odds with everything you think you know about Arthur that I feel... well, let down is not the answer but just like... this isn't how it's supposed to end. I wanted more of a blaze of glory, which is so often how the tale is told, but who's to say that's right? Why can't Arthur have had this ending instead.
Sorry for all the ellipses, I'm just very in my feelings right now and unsure what to say without spoilers. This feels like the grimmest thing I've read in a long time, and I'm very melancholy for having finished it. It's also one of the most brilliant things I've read, and I can't deny the power Giles Kristian has with words. Dude knows how to invoke imagery and cut to the soul.
I will say I thought there was a bit of a pacing issue, but that might also have been the dual timeline. Again, I struggle with them, and that's a personal issue. I appreciated the chance at the end of the tale to get to see Arthur in the glory of his youth. I almost wish this book had been longer, though, because I would have enjoyed even more flashbacks. But again, that's me thriving in the tale of Arthur, the hero, I know and love.
I will also say you all are sleeping on this trilogy and this author. I'm off to order his entire backlog, maybe even including his contemporary thriller, because this series has made a fangirl out of me. He's so good at small evocative moments between characters, and his poetic descriptions are next level. I don't think you have to be an Arthur fan to enjoy these books because the tales are spun so uniquely it almost made me struggle to sort how I think things were supposed to go. Anyway I can't wait to reread these books and I suppose that's probably all you need to know.
January 19, 2024
5 ⭐️
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This trilogy is perfect. For me, it is the best modern retelling of this legend.
Plot
The Saxons governed Britain for many years, yet the bards continue to sing of Arthur. A kid, the grandson of High King Ambrosius and son of King Constantine, is to be killed by mercenary Beran; if he survives, he may be Britain's best chance. Beran betrays his friends by pledging to bring the youngster to Camelot, where they will see Tristan and Isolde, ask Guivret for assistance, and deal with the Saxons, Nabor ap Nabor, and Queen Morgana. For Britain to have any chance of success, Beran will need to face his history and bring the boy to Camelot.
This book focuses on Beran trying to take Prince Erbin to Camelot as he is Britain's last hope and the best chance they have in trying to stop the Saxons. However, this story is also about Beran coming to terms with his past. Some moments are really emotional for the reader. The ending was perfect and left the reader feeling a sense of hope for the future.
Characters
Beran/Arthur
Giles Kristian's Arthur will remain my favorite portrayal of him. In most modern retellings, Arthur is just the perfect king and man, which makes him dull in most retellings. But, this Arthur is a man with his own flaws and weaknesses, a broken man who needs to come to terms with his past. The reader can also see his past, which made me feel sorry for him. He didn't have an easy past, but seeing him come to terms with it was emotional for me.
Erbin
Erbin is the son of Constantine and the boy Arthur needs to take to Camelot. He is so sweet but can also be stubborn. However, he is a child scared for most of the novel, but he knows he can count on Arthur to help him. The friendship and the bond Erbin found with Arthur were so beautifully done.
Tristan and Isolde
Tristan and Isolde are two characters that Beran and Erbin encounter on their journey. People who know these characters know they also have a tragic love story, and it is impossible not to feel sadness. They are so young and naive, and for a moment, I thought they would have their happy ending.
Palamedes and Guivret
Guivret, I cannot forgive his character for what he did, but Palamedes was so good. I was thrilled to see him. He is loyal, and he still has hope of a united Britain.
Writing
Giles' writing is beautiful. The way he writes made me feel everything the characters were feeling. He made me feel like I was inside the book with them. I cried with them, felt for them, and I could feel when they were sad, angry, and hopeless. While not as lyrical as Lancelot or Camelot, it is still a beautiful prose that connects the reader with the characters and the story.
World-Building
I love how Giles portrays Britain in the Dark Ages. I could feel how brutal those times were. Some descriptions made me feel sick, but unfortunately, those times were cruel, and the author did a fantastic job of showing that.
Romance
In this book we have the love triangle between Tristan-Isolde-King Mark. Beran and Erbin met the lovers while they were running away. This tragic story allows Arthur to reflect on his relationship with Guinevere and Lancelot. Through Tristan and Isolde, Arthur accepted what happened and forgave Lancelot. That moment and that realization was such a poignant moment in the book.
Final Thoughts
Arthur is the hundredth book I have read about this legend. I have read both the modern retellings and the medieval sources, and I noticed that, for the most part, I either love or hate the modern retellings. Giles said in his author notes that this book is different from the traditional myths, and in some ways, he is right. There's no knight in shining armor, quest, round table, or Holy Grail.
However, at least for me, this legend is about love, loss, greed, betrayal, friendship, and hope. It shows that we are humans; as humans, we fail and make mistakes. In the legend, Arthur dreams of a more equal society with justice. In this trilogy, Arthur is the person who can expel the Saxons from their lands. He was the warlord who could unite Britain against the enemy. But that dream failed because these characters are human. We are not black and white. We all have our weaknesses and strengths, and this novel portrays that very touchingly. That's why Arthur, as well as Lancelot and Camelot, are the best retelling of the legend, and that's actually this part that is lacking in most retellings.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This trilogy is perfect. For me, it is the best modern retelling of this legend.
Plot
The Saxons governed Britain for many years, yet the bards continue to sing of Arthur. A kid, the grandson of High King Ambrosius and son of King Constantine, is to be killed by mercenary Beran; if he survives, he may be Britain's best chance. Beran betrays his friends by pledging to bring the youngster to Camelot, where they will see Tristan and Isolde, ask Guivret for assistance, and deal with the Saxons, Nabor ap Nabor, and Queen Morgana. For Britain to have any chance of success, Beran will need to face his history and bring the boy to Camelot.
This book focuses on Beran trying to take Prince Erbin to Camelot as he is Britain's last hope and the best chance they have in trying to stop the Saxons. However, this story is also about Beran coming to terms with his past. Some moments are really emotional for the reader. The ending was perfect and left the reader feeling a sense of hope for the future.
Characters
Beran/Arthur
Giles Kristian's Arthur will remain my favorite portrayal of him. In most modern retellings, Arthur is just the perfect king and man, which makes him dull in most retellings. But, this Arthur is a man with his own flaws and weaknesses, a broken man who needs to come to terms with his past. The reader can also see his past, which made me feel sorry for him. He didn't have an easy past, but seeing him come to terms with it was emotional for me.
Erbin
Erbin is the son of Constantine and the boy Arthur needs to take to Camelot. He is so sweet but can also be stubborn. However, he is a child scared for most of the novel, but he knows he can count on Arthur to help him. The friendship and the bond Erbin found with Arthur were so beautifully done.
Tristan and Isolde
Tristan and Isolde are two characters that Beran and Erbin encounter on their journey. People who know these characters know they also have a tragic love story, and it is impossible not to feel sadness. They are so young and naive, and for a moment, I thought they would have their happy ending.
Palamedes and Guivret
Guivret, I cannot forgive his character for what he did, but Palamedes was so good. I was thrilled to see him. He is loyal, and he still has hope of a united Britain.
Writing
Giles' writing is beautiful. The way he writes made me feel everything the characters were feeling. He made me feel like I was inside the book with them. I cried with them, felt for them, and I could feel when they were sad, angry, and hopeless. While not as lyrical as Lancelot or Camelot, it is still a beautiful prose that connects the reader with the characters and the story.
World-Building
I love how Giles portrays Britain in the Dark Ages. I could feel how brutal those times were. Some descriptions made me feel sick, but unfortunately, those times were cruel, and the author did a fantastic job of showing that.
Romance
In this book we have the love triangle between Tristan-Isolde-King Mark. Beran and Erbin met the lovers while they were running away. This tragic story allows Arthur to reflect on his relationship with Guinevere and Lancelot. Through Tristan and Isolde, Arthur accepted what happened and forgave Lancelot. That moment and that realization was such a poignant moment in the book.
Final Thoughts
Arthur is the hundredth book I have read about this legend. I have read both the modern retellings and the medieval sources, and I noticed that, for the most part, I either love or hate the modern retellings. Giles said in his author notes that this book is different from the traditional myths, and in some ways, he is right. There's no knight in shining armor, quest, round table, or Holy Grail.
However, at least for me, this legend is about love, loss, greed, betrayal, friendship, and hope. It shows that we are humans; as humans, we fail and make mistakes. In the legend, Arthur dreams of a more equal society with justice. In this trilogy, Arthur is the person who can expel the Saxons from their lands. He was the warlord who could unite Britain against the enemy. But that dream failed because these characters are human. We are not black and white. We all have our weaknesses and strengths, and this novel portrays that very touchingly. That's why Arthur, as well as Lancelot and Camelot, are the best retelling of the legend, and that's actually this part that is lacking in most retellings.
January 14, 2024
A brilliant end to an outstanding trilogy. The trilogy is obviously Arthurian but mostly about other characters, Lancelot and Galahad and mainly set in the aftermath of Arthur’s time when Britain was losing its identity to the invading Saxons.
So, the final book. It is a story set over two periods, that of a young Arthur growing into the man and leader he would become and many years after Arthur’s final battle where it looks like the Saxons are here to stay and the Britains are desperately looking for a leader to inspire them.
All three books capture a time in history, many years after the departure of the Romans and a post Arthur Britain being unable to hold off the Saxons. A space for Giles Kristian to place characters of legend and make you feel that not only were they real, but to tie you emotionally to them.
You need to read the trilogy in order, you should already have read the first two and this ties it off in just the satisfying and emotional way you would hope for. This is proper storytelling that does not let down those characters of legend.
So, the final book. It is a story set over two periods, that of a young Arthur growing into the man and leader he would become and many years after Arthur’s final battle where it looks like the Saxons are here to stay and the Britains are desperately looking for a leader to inspire them.
All three books capture a time in history, many years after the departure of the Romans and a post Arthur Britain being unable to hold off the Saxons. A space for Giles Kristian to place characters of legend and make you feel that not only were they real, but to tie you emotionally to them.
You need to read the trilogy in order, you should already have read the first two and this ties it off in just the satisfying and emotional way you would hope for. This is proper storytelling that does not let down those characters of legend.
August 7, 2024
Probably my least favorite of the trilogy but a very strong ending. I think the shift to first person hindered it some but overall a masterful Arthurian trilogy.
May 20, 2024
Perfection. Review to come, but Giles has mastered the art of “show, don’t tell”
He shall come again…😭
________________________________________________
Oh man, this book.
“I know what I said, that you can't go back. And it’s true, none of us can. Still, we take the past with us into the future. For we carry it with us, Beran. We must, or else we cannot know who we are or how we came here.”
The author has found a way to make every character in the beloved legend memorable and compelling. The series starts with the most grounded Lancelot, and Guinevere who is beautiful and lovely, but not purposefully cruel. Even Sir Ector is shown in a reluctant father figure sort of way which I adored. In this final book we also get some background on Morgaine, and her story is not that of a villain but that of a disgraced daughter and a scorned lover.
Where we left Arthur in Camelot was a broken man. I was thrilled to see how he was introduced into this story, it was MASTERFULLY done. (I put the book down and screamed.)
The dual timelines here were unique, the story could not be told chronologically, and each different perspective was told in a complete way, that I was invested in. The stories were engaging and so well blended (no frustrating cliffhangers) that I didn’t feel like I needed to skip to the next section to see what was gonna happen. Each story and reflection was called back upon before the end, it seemed that every word had a purpose!
“I love her, Beran. Every breath I draw is the whisper of her name. For years, every moment we were not together was a taste of death to me. I cannot live without her."
I was surprised to see Tristan and Isolde here! I know how their story ends in the legend and I was eating up this new craft of them. I was rooting for them so hard. The way their love reflected back on another forbidden love we saw earlier in the series was absolutely beautiful and entirely heartbreaking.
In the end, I loved every minute of this book. I laughed, and I cried.
Would I reread? Yes, knowing what I know now, I will def be able to pick up a few new things!!
Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely!! Fans of Arthurian legend rejoice, this is the most stunning version of Arthur I seen.
He shall come again…😭
________________________________________________
Oh man, this book.
“I know what I said, that you can't go back. And it’s true, none of us can. Still, we take the past with us into the future. For we carry it with us, Beran. We must, or else we cannot know who we are or how we came here.”
The author has found a way to make every character in the beloved legend memorable and compelling. The series starts with the most grounded Lancelot, and Guinevere who is beautiful and lovely, but not purposefully cruel. Even Sir Ector is shown in a reluctant father figure sort of way which I adored. In this final book we also get some background on Morgaine, and her story is not that of a villain but that of a disgraced daughter and a scorned lover.
Where we left Arthur in Camelot was a broken man. I was thrilled to see how he was introduced into this story, it was MASTERFULLY done. (I put the book down and screamed.)
The dual timelines here were unique, the story could not be told chronologically, and each different perspective was told in a complete way, that I was invested in. The stories were engaging and so well blended (no frustrating cliffhangers) that I didn’t feel like I needed to skip to the next section to see what was gonna happen. Each story and reflection was called back upon before the end, it seemed that every word had a purpose!
“I love her, Beran. Every breath I draw is the whisper of her name. For years, every moment we were not together was a taste of death to me. I cannot live without her."
I was surprised to see Tristan and Isolde here! I know how their story ends in the legend and I was eating up this new craft of them. I was rooting for them so hard. The way their love reflected back on another forbidden love we saw earlier in the series was absolutely beautiful and entirely heartbreaking.
In the end, I loved every minute of this book. I laughed, and I cried.
Would I reread? Yes, knowing what I know now, I will def be able to pick up a few new things!!
Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely!! Fans of Arthurian legend rejoice, this is the most stunning version of Arthur I seen.
September 29, 2024
What a truly epic book and so beautifully written. A haunting look at a life that begins so full of hope and ends so full of regret. The whole trilogy has been a masterpiece of historical fiction. Highly, highly recommended
December 3, 2024
A very fine reimagining of a legendary tale. Highly recommended. 5⭐️
March 15, 2025
Some books entertain, some transport, but Arthur by Giles Kristian completely immerses you in another world. From the very first page, I was captivated—lost in a Britain teetering between legend and history, where warriors fight for survival, loyalty is tested, and fate whispers through the cracks of a fractured land.
Kristian’s storytelling is nothing short of spellbinding. Every scene, every moment, feels alive. His characters aren’t just figures from myth; they are flesh and blood, flawed and real. Arthur himself is portrayed not as an untouchable legend but as a man—one whose strength, honour, and burdens shape the destiny of those around him. The relationships, particularly the bonds of brotherhood and the weight of duty, struck me deeply. These characters matter, and you feel every triumph and heartbreak alongside them.
But what truly blew me away was Kristian’s use of figurative language and imagery. His writing doesn’t just describe—it paints, sings, and breathes. The battle scenes are ferocious and visceral; you can almost smell the blood and sweat. The landscapes are hauntingly beautiful, from misty hills to fire-lit halls. Even the quiet moments, where a glance or a whispered word carries the weight of destiny, are written with such skill that they linger long after you turn the page.
I’ve read many takes on the Arthurian legend, but this one felt different—raw, real, and deeply human. It reminded me why I love historical fiction: the power of great storytelling to make the past feel immediate and alive. Perhaps it also makes me feel that we need to learn more from the past and not keep repeating the mistakes. If you love books that completely pull you in and don’t let go, Arthur is a must-read. I honestly didn’t want it to end.
January 21, 2025
magnificent
June 6, 2024
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
I received an eARC from Transworld Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arthur being published caught me by surprise early this year. I was looking for one of my older audiobooks back in January to try and get myself out of a two-month-long funk and I decided on Lancelot. And that’s when I learned about Arthur, so it seemed like fate (I still don’t believe in coincidences). It took me a bit longer to get to Arthur than I planned, but at least I got there in time for its release.
I admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from Arthur. Back when I first read Lancelot, I loved it. Camelot, not so much. And also a couple of years have passed since those books were released and a lot has changed. But I still kept an open mind as I had a good feeling. And to my absolute delight, I enjoyed the hell out of Arthur.
We are some years after Camelot ended. Saxons roam the lands and it’s getting hopeless to force them out of Britannia. Citys fall and but a few stand still against them. Queen Morgana is scheming to put her grandson on the High King’s throne to unite the lords. Which includes ordering the murder of Prince Erbin, the son of the late King Constantine. For some, he is the beacon of hope for a better future, for some he is but a hurdle on the way to power. For Beran, though, he is a window to the past and also a pain in the ass as he tries to get him safely to Camelot. And believe me, it’s harder than it sounds.
Arthur has a dual timeline, which I think worked really well for this story. On one hand, we follow the adventures of Beran, Erbin, and the friends they make along the way, on the other hand, we get a look into Arthur’s life from his boyhood until he became a man. Arthur can be read as a standalone, but if you read both Lancelot and Camelot, it certainly will enhance the whole experience. We learn how Arthur found out about his father, how he met Morgaine (later Queen Morgana), and how he fell in love with Guinevere. I especially recommend reading Lancelot as Arthur adds an awesome background to the story in that one.
In Arthur, we get to know a man who is not without flaws, who is vulnerable, and by no means perfect. In Kristian’s interpretation, he is a human being, simple as that. With dreams and passions as anyone else, even if he didn’t choose the life that was given to him. And yet he still rose to the role of a legend. Which is probably the heaviest burden of them all.
Beran and Erbin are surrounded by a host of side characters, all of them well rounded out. There is Guivret, the Little King who mostly cares only for his own comfort, Palamedes the Saracen who works for him and takes a liking to the boy, and the most interesting of them all, Tristan and Isolde. Yes, the fabled couple whose story we all know. Kristian took some liberties here (as he did with most of the legends he was inspired by, but honestly I think it worked out magnificently), but their inclusion in the first place brings a nice parallel to the relationship between Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. And provide an opportunity for reflection. I loved it. And even though I knew how it must end, I still kept rooting for a different outcome.
I honestly don’t have much to complain about, maybe I wanted a bit more emotions from Beran regarding Iselle, but honestly, this book was just so good, that I kept turning the pages, especially toward the end. I felt the tension building both in the book and in myself, and that’s the best kind of thrill you can have as a reader. When you don’t know what’s going to happen, where things can go both ways and you have no control over any of it.
I can’t express how happy I am that Kristian decided to return to the world of The Arthurian Tales and bring it up to a trilogy. I absolutely had no idea I needed this closure, and yet here we are. Arthur brought this emotional roller coaster ride I never saw coming, to a perfect end, and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like historical fiction novels or if you want to read a different kind of Arthur story, then you definitely should pick up a copy!
I received an eARC from Transworld Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“It was a slaughter. Just two of their own had been killed, both men who had only recently joined them. It was usually the way of it. Last to join, first to die. Because the killing is easy, it’s the not being killed that takes practice.”
Arthur being published caught me by surprise early this year. I was looking for one of my older audiobooks back in January to try and get myself out of a two-month-long funk and I decided on Lancelot. And that’s when I learned about Arthur, so it seemed like fate (I still don’t believe in coincidences). It took me a bit longer to get to Arthur than I planned, but at least I got there in time for its release.
I admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from Arthur. Back when I first read Lancelot, I loved it. Camelot, not so much. And also a couple of years have passed since those books were released and a lot has changed. But I still kept an open mind as I had a good feeling. And to my absolute delight, I enjoyed the hell out of Arthur.
We are some years after Camelot ended. Saxons roam the lands and it’s getting hopeless to force them out of Britannia. Citys fall and but a few stand still against them. Queen Morgana is scheming to put her grandson on the High King’s throne to unite the lords. Which includes ordering the murder of Prince Erbin, the son of the late King Constantine. For some, he is the beacon of hope for a better future, for some he is but a hurdle on the way to power. For Beran, though, he is a window to the past and also a pain in the ass as he tries to get him safely to Camelot. And believe me, it’s harder than it sounds.
Arthur has a dual timeline, which I think worked really well for this story. On one hand, we follow the adventures of Beran, Erbin, and the friends they make along the way, on the other hand, we get a look into Arthur’s life from his boyhood until he became a man. Arthur can be read as a standalone, but if you read both Lancelot and Camelot, it certainly will enhance the whole experience. We learn how Arthur found out about his father, how he met Morgaine (later Queen Morgana), and how he fell in love with Guinevere. I especially recommend reading Lancelot as Arthur adds an awesome background to the story in that one.
In Arthur, we get to know a man who is not without flaws, who is vulnerable, and by no means perfect. In Kristian’s interpretation, he is a human being, simple as that. With dreams and passions as anyone else, even if he didn’t choose the life that was given to him. And yet he still rose to the role of a legend. Which is probably the heaviest burden of them all.
Beran and Erbin are surrounded by a host of side characters, all of them well rounded out. There is Guivret, the Little King who mostly cares only for his own comfort, Palamedes the Saracen who works for him and takes a liking to the boy, and the most interesting of them all, Tristan and Isolde. Yes, the fabled couple whose story we all know. Kristian took some liberties here (as he did with most of the legends he was inspired by, but honestly I think it worked out magnificently), but their inclusion in the first place brings a nice parallel to the relationship between Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. And provide an opportunity for reflection. I loved it. And even though I knew how it must end, I still kept rooting for a different outcome.
I honestly don’t have much to complain about, maybe I wanted a bit more emotions from Beran regarding Iselle, but honestly, this book was just so good, that I kept turning the pages, especially toward the end. I felt the tension building both in the book and in myself, and that’s the best kind of thrill you can have as a reader. When you don’t know what’s going to happen, where things can go both ways and you have no control over any of it.
I can’t express how happy I am that Kristian decided to return to the world of The Arthurian Tales and bring it up to a trilogy. I absolutely had no idea I needed this closure, and yet here we are. Arthur brought this emotional roller coaster ride I never saw coming, to a perfect end, and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like historical fiction novels or if you want to read a different kind of Arthur story, then you definitely should pick up a copy!
June 5, 2025
From just 2% in, I knew I was going to love this book. The writing in Arthur stands out in a way that few historical novels do. There’s something ancient and almost enchanting in the way Giles Kristian tells the story. His prose feels steeped in myth and shadow, as if the words themselves have been passed down through generations. Every sentence pulses with the weight of history and the chill of legend. The result is raw, haunting, and deeply evocative- exactly the kind of immersive experience I crave as a reader.
Set during the decline of the Roman Empire, this novel drops us into a brutal, uncertain world where Saxons are advancing and identities are shifting. The atmosphere is thick with danger and desperation. I could smell the battles, feel the mud, hear the clash of steel - Kristian doesn’t just write action, he inhabits it.
The story unfolds across dual timelines: that of Prince Erbin and the legendary Arthur himself. I’ll admit, I was briefly confused and had to Google whether they were the same person (they’re not), but once I caught on, I really appreciated the parallel structure. It added layers of depth and meaning, especially as the connections between them became clearer.
Beran was easily my favourite character - a seasoned warrior, rough around the edges but full of soul. I loved how his inner thoughts revealed a deeply human side, especially in his relationship with the boy. The character work in this book is exceptional. Everyone feels distinct, real, and emotionally complex. The dialogue is sharp and clever, and there’s just the right amount of humor to break the tension when needed.
Kristian also doesn’t shy away from darker themes like mysticism, heartbreak, war, manipulation, even incest (which here carries a deeply unsettling, manipulative intimacy). It’s a gritty, myth-soaked tale that doesn’t look away from the harsher realities of legend.
There’s a twist toward the end (which I figured out around 80%) that still managed to hit well. And I have to say, the final scenes (especially with the crow) left me moved and wondering. Was that Guinevere? Maybe. I like that it’s left open. It adds to the haunting beauty of it all.
Arthur is a beautifully written, brutal, and emotionally resonant retelling of one of the oldest legends we have. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction who like their myths with blood, grit, and aching humanity.
Set during the decline of the Roman Empire, this novel drops us into a brutal, uncertain world where Saxons are advancing and identities are shifting. The atmosphere is thick with danger and desperation. I could smell the battles, feel the mud, hear the clash of steel - Kristian doesn’t just write action, he inhabits it.
The story unfolds across dual timelines: that of Prince Erbin and the legendary Arthur himself. I’ll admit, I was briefly confused and had to Google whether they were the same person (they’re not), but once I caught on, I really appreciated the parallel structure. It added layers of depth and meaning, especially as the connections between them became clearer.
Beran was easily my favourite character - a seasoned warrior, rough around the edges but full of soul. I loved how his inner thoughts revealed a deeply human side, especially in his relationship with the boy. The character work in this book is exceptional. Everyone feels distinct, real, and emotionally complex. The dialogue is sharp and clever, and there’s just the right amount of humor to break the tension when needed.
Kristian also doesn’t shy away from darker themes like mysticism, heartbreak, war, manipulation, even incest (which here carries a deeply unsettling, manipulative intimacy). It’s a gritty, myth-soaked tale that doesn’t look away from the harsher realities of legend.
There’s a twist toward the end (which I figured out around 80%) that still managed to hit well. And I have to say, the final scenes (especially with the crow) left me moved and wondering. Was that Guinevere? Maybe. I like that it’s left open. It adds to the haunting beauty of it all.
Arthur is a beautifully written, brutal, and emotionally resonant retelling of one of the oldest legends we have. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction who like their myths with blood, grit, and aching humanity.
July 26, 2024
A beautiful finish to the trilogy.
January 6, 2025
Perfect ending to the trilogy, with lots of callbacks to the earlier two books. A much more self-contained story than the first two, with greater focus on the core themes. My favorite is still the first, Lancelot, but this may be next after that when I rank the whole trilogy.
June 30, 2024
5⭐️
My heart❤️💔❤️
My heart❤️💔❤️
September 4, 2024
Wow! This book was brilliant! Amazing characters and a weaving of past and present storylines that was seamless and captivating!
Top 3 of the year for sure and definitely an all time favourite
Top 3 of the year for sure and definitely an all time favourite
August 21, 2024
My reading experience with Arthurian legend is plenty but this series offer me completely different point of views. As the finale from The Arthurian Tales, Beran the mercenary's story is perfect to describe how Britain heroism continuing Arthur's dream.
The writing is amazing. It is have enough aspect that make me enjoy and engagingly read historical fiction story. It isn't overly descriptive but potrayed the situation, the emotions and my fave.. strong development characters. His characters always felt flesh out and natural. I love each their journey, adventure and personal arc from each one since first book. This is absolutely not my last read from the author.
Thank you Netgalley and Bantam, Transworld Publisher from Random House UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Expecting release date : 6 June 2024
The writing is amazing. It is have enough aspect that make me enjoy and engagingly read historical fiction story. It isn't overly descriptive but potrayed the situation, the emotions and my fave.. strong development characters. His characters always felt flesh out and natural. I love each their journey, adventure and personal arc from each one since first book. This is absolutely not my last read from the author.
Thank you Netgalley and Bantam, Transworld Publisher from Random House UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Expecting release date : 6 June 2024
December 30, 2024
I really enjoyed delving into the world of Arthurian legends that Giles Kristian created. Lancelot was an incredible reading experience, and while its two companion books - Camelot which told the story of Galahad, and now Arthur which provides a proper send-off for the titular character - didn't manage to pull me in and engage me in quite the same way, the whole kind-of-trilogy is absolutely worth it. Kristian writes historical fiction steeped in just a bit of magic, and his lyrical prose really made these stories come to life beyond the page.
Arthur begins with the story of a man named Beran, a mercenary sent to kill a young boy. He refuses and instead defends him by killing his mercenary companions, and it is quickly revealed that this boy is not just any boy, but the son of Constantine who as such has claim on the throne of Camelot. He might just finally become the one who, like Arthur once did, unites all the kings to finally fend off the Saxons, keeping alive the dream of a united Britain. Beran decides to bring the boy to Camelot anhd their journey together is definitely the heart of the book. They meet Tristan and Isolde on their way, who I really enjoyed as characters too even though, obviously, their own story is cut short. There is also a second timeline, looking back into Arthur's childhood and youth up until more or less the point we meet him at in Lancelot, and I really liked this glimpse into the characters we didn't get to follow for most of the books.
The story is intriguing and at times highly emotional, though I also felt like a lot of the plot points and reveals were kind of predictable. The story in general lacked some of the narrative complexity I enjoyed so much in Lancelot, though admittedly it's also simply a shorter book. There were some attempts at complexity that felt rather superficial and way too on the nose (the comparison between Tristan and Isolde's story and the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle for example), though admittedly thematic subtlety is not necessarily what the whole trilogy is steeped in anyway. And while I enjoyed the conclusion, I also often felt that we were always ending on the exact same note, in the exact same place as we did on the last page of Lancelot. There are also some choices Arthur makes that are weirdly repetitive, unless you only read this book and not the ones before (which I don't recommend). That is a statement and definitely a narrative choice all on its own, as this is not the heroic magical story of mythical knights freeing Britain from the constant threat of the saxons but much more the story of warlords in the midst of a war they cannot win aligned with the actual historical context of the time period. But it also sometimes made me thing... what's the point? Which is probably why I didn't enjoy either of the two companion novels as much as the brilliant first novel that started it all even though I really loved some of the characters.
So in the end I absolutely still recommend reading Kristian's Arthurian Tales because all of them are worth your time if you're looking for a reimagining of (some of the) Arthurian legends but as more of a historical fiction approach. Arthur, in my opinion, cannot hold a candle to its predecessor but it also has one of my favourite story tropes of all time, which is "grumpy old man becomes father figure to cute lonely child entirely against his wishes". I loved this part, and I loved their relationship and ending.
3 stars, leaning towards 3,5.
Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the arc!
Arthur begins with the story of a man named Beran, a mercenary sent to kill a young boy. He refuses and instead defends him by killing his mercenary companions, and it is quickly revealed that this boy is not just any boy, but the son of Constantine who as such has claim on the throne of Camelot. He might just finally become the one who, like Arthur once did, unites all the kings to finally fend off the Saxons, keeping alive the dream of a united Britain. Beran decides to bring the boy to Camelot anhd their journey together is definitely the heart of the book. They meet Tristan and Isolde on their way, who I really enjoyed as characters too even though, obviously, their own story is cut short. There is also a second timeline, looking back into Arthur's childhood and youth up until more or less the point we meet him at in Lancelot, and I really liked this glimpse into the characters we didn't get to follow for most of the books.
The story is intriguing and at times highly emotional, though I also felt like a lot of the plot points and reveals were kind of predictable. The story in general lacked some of the narrative complexity I enjoyed so much in Lancelot, though admittedly it's also simply a shorter book. There were some attempts at complexity that felt rather superficial and way too on the nose (the comparison between Tristan and Isolde's story and the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle for example), though admittedly thematic subtlety is not necessarily what the whole trilogy is steeped in anyway. And while I enjoyed the conclusion, I also often felt that we were always ending on the exact same note, in the exact same place as we did on the last page of Lancelot. There are also some choices Arthur makes that are weirdly repetitive, unless you only read this book and not the ones before (which I don't recommend). That is a statement and definitely a narrative choice all on its own, as this is not the heroic magical story of mythical knights freeing Britain from the constant threat of the saxons but much more the story of warlords in the midst of a war they cannot win aligned with the actual historical context of the time period. But it also sometimes made me thing... what's the point? Which is probably why I didn't enjoy either of the two companion novels as much as the brilliant first novel that started it all even though I really loved some of the characters.
So in the end I absolutely still recommend reading Kristian's Arthurian Tales because all of them are worth your time if you're looking for a reimagining of (some of the) Arthurian legends but as more of a historical fiction approach. Arthur, in my opinion, cannot hold a candle to its predecessor but it also has one of my favourite story tropes of all time, which is "grumpy old man becomes father figure to cute lonely child entirely against his wishes". I loved this part, and I loved their relationship and ending.
3 stars, leaning towards 3,5.
Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the arc!
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