The myths and legends of our isles and islands form the backdrop to our history and there is no legend finer that that of Lancelot, King Arthur and Guinevere. Born in Gaul, son of King Ban and Queen Elaine, Lancelot and his family are forced to flee following the destruction of their court by the villainous, King Claudas. However, for Ban's straggling court taking refuge is no guarantee of safety and Lancelot soon discovers that his life is about to take a very different turn. His association with the Lady Nimue and his first introduction to the druid, Merlin, is done with fine attention to detail both in using what is known in legend, and also by describing realistically what it may have been like to grow to maturity in 5th century Britain, when marauding Saxons, Franks and Picts were constant sources of danger.

There's a sense, right from the start of the story, that Lancelot is bound for greatness and the author takes us through Lancelot's progression from green boy, to glorious knight, with such a perfect eye for detail that the rich appreciation of this warrior knight's contribution to the mythology of our landscape is embedded with every word.

I was quickly drawn into the story and mesmerized by the richness of the historical detail which is wonderfully descriptive and yet, there's also a magical lyricism to the language which reflects the storytelling ability of those troubadours who sat in smoky halls recounting tall tales of forgotten lands and brave warriors. What emerges, in sublime detail, is a complete picture of Lancelot, the man of legend, who grew from frightened boy, into a man of worth, and whose love for a beautiful and captivating woman would eventually bring down a kingdom.

There is no doubt that the author is absolutely at the top of his game and continually brings history alive in stunning detail. It is my belief that Lancelot is one of his strongest books to date and I don't say that lightly, as I still think that his novel The Bleeding Land about the English Civil War is one of the best historical novels I have read on that difficult subject, and yet, in terms of emotional connection and bringing complicated mythology to life, Lancelot surpasses everything I thought I knew about the Arthurian legend. It's brilliant and bold, strong and tender, and re-imagined so beautifully that you feel as if you have stepped back in time with Arthurian Britain opened up to scrutiny and with Lancelot's destiny as painful and as poignant as ever

Let me start this review with a resounding 'Wow'. It has been a while since I have read any of the author's previous books but am certainly glad I read Lancelot. It is a brilliant telling of that beautiful, and poignant tale. The man who betrayed Arthur is given a fresh start by Mr. Kristian as we follow Lancelot's early life and, in this story, meets Guinevere  (in a most startling fashion, but I won't say anything about that- spoilers, you know).  I will say this, the sheer agony, and turmoil that Lancelot experiences is exquisitely portrayed; the pain reaches through the pages and draws the reader in. In fact, the descriptive talent of the author is continually on display: examples -

'Merlin remarked one day that from the flat land to the north, Camelot resembled a great dragon sleeping under the snow-veiled earth, its foul, smoky breath rising to the wintry sky as proof that it was alive and well and just waiting.'

'Arthur would fight for Britain.  I would fight for Arthur. And Guinevere would always own my soul. The gods are cruel.'

In addition to his descriptive talent, the author has also crafted an amazing set of characters, from the mysterious Merlin, the indomitable Bors, the charismatic Arthur, and of course, the beautiful, beguiling Guinevere. I felt a part of all of them, even the enmity and hatred that exudes from Mordred (though I still wanted to kill the bastard.) :-)

Of course, this is also a tale of war and as such there are many battles, skirmishes, one on one combat, and the like as Arthur seeks to send the Saxons packing. Again I was in awe of the author's prowess in bringing me into the action. The sound of Arthur's armored cavalry while charging an enemy force; the sound of the horsemen as they sing their battle songs can be heard and then replaced by the sounds of screaming, the crunch of bones, the clang of weapons.

I was entranced by the whole re-working of the legend and while we may never know the truth of the Arthur story, this telling is certainly one we can really enjoy.  5 Stars

Kristian has taken a legend and made it his own. This isn't just a retelling or reinvention of the Arthurian legend, it is the story about how the legend came to be. It fills in the missing gaps and subtly becomes the foundation upon which the legend of Arthur is built, and as such also the story of Lancelot and Guinevere.

The story starts with Lancelot as a child, the son of one of the many kings of Britain, during times of great upheaval and betrayal. When the tribes and men who ruled Britain were more interested in fighting each other than banding together to protect their country from outside forces like the Saxons. War- and bloodthirsty men too involved in intrigue and tribal conflict to perceive the greater danger surrounding them and their people.

Lancelot is rescued by Lady Nimue, after what can only be described as a scene akin to a Game of Thrones atrocity, and taken to an isolated place where he will learn the hardest of lessons. The pain of losing a friend, his first love and how to kill.

Kristian is an adept and very talented scribe. You can tell how deeply he has immersed himself into the Arthurian legend. One could almost suspect he has an inner ear to someone who knows the truth, that's how authentic this version of events sounds. From now on, this will be the story I think of when someone asks me where Lancelot came from and how he and Guinevere met. This tale and the legend fit together like a hand in a fitted leather glove. A testament to the dedication the author has for his craft.

Lancelot is a superbly written epic fantasy. Although the main characters are known to readers, Kristian infuses them with new life and a breath of fresh air. Where once the character Guinevere was perceived as the innocent girl who experiences the throes of passion and first love, she is now portrayed as the clever, mysterious and enticing femme fatale with a penchant for her own survival. Lancelot isn't the stranger who becomes a member of the love-triangle, in this story he is a young man struck by tragedy who has had to fight to make his mark in life.

Prepare to be beguiled and mesmerised by this new look at Lancelot, Arthur and Guinevere, and the love and loyalty which binds them all. Their stories are set to the background of a tumultuous and violent Britain. A country erected and strengthened by warriors, tribes and people, who had and still have one thing in common, a will of iron.

It's a spectacular read. If the author wasn't already on the book-world map and known for his talent at storytelling, then this book would certainly place him firmly on it.

Lancelot is the son of king but when his father is dethroned and then betrayed Lancelot is only saved from death by the intervention of magic and prophecy. Growing up on an island governed by the Lady, Lancelot learns the art of warfare and falls involve with the Lady's ward, Guinevere. When the high king Uther dies Lancelot is forced to swear allegiance to his successor, Arthur. Arthur and Lancelot become close friends but that friendship is tested when Arthur discovers that his wife and Lancelot know each other.
This is a brave retelling of the Arthurian myth set in the days just after the fall of the Roman empire. Britain is a group of tribes ruled by individual kings who are perpetually arguing with each other and also fighting the Saxon threat from abroad. Although the ideals of chivalry are evident in this Camelot, the romantic view isn't. Life is hard and sorcery close to the people. The writing is particularly strong and manages to describe violence and romance equally well.

Really surprisingly good. As a fan of Arthurian legend i went into this comfortably, but with a certain amount of fatigue. The beautiful prose (something that many writers rely on over plot and characterisation) helped drive the story forward, and although the plot and characters are familiar, the perspective is different enough to keep things fresh. Thoroughly enjoyable, emotional and at times quite gripping, i very much look forwards to the inevitable film adaptation

Since I've heard so much good about this book and the other books by author, I had high expectations, but they weren't entirely matched. It was a bit slow paced and I kind of got bored somewhere in the middle. All in all, it is not too bad, but certainly didn't meet my expectations.

Lancelot by Giles Kristian

It is time for the island’s people to reclaim the land once ruled by Romans. The great stone buildings, the luxurious villas now crumble, but the roads still march armies on to face their foe – the Saxons are the enemy these days. Lancelot as a boy was brought from across the sea to the Mount, off the coast of the land now known as Cornwall, and there he was taught by the lady Nimue to become a guardian, to develop the skills of a knight, to nurture a bird of prey that fought against him every moment of the day, and it was there that he met Guinevere.

The story of Lancelot is a familiar one but it’s difficult to think of any author more gifted to retell his story than Gile Kristian, one of the most lyrical and poetic writers of historical fiction that you can read today. All of the story of Lancelot, Guinevere and Arthur – surely the most famous love triangle of myth and literature – can be found in these pages and, even though we know the outcome, it is given new life in Giles Kristian’s Lancelot.

The story is told from Lancelot’s point of view, from his earliest years and through disaster, grief and pain, through to his time on the Mount, where he first learned the meaning of rivalry and vengeance while learning the skills that would make him the greatest, most noble knight of King Arthur’s court. Arthur’s story is also given prominence. His rise to power through competition, war and cunning. The way he drew men to his side. The seeds of disaster that he sewed.

Lancelot is a story of war, the fight to become the king of kings in this newly abandoned land, but it also tells the tale of love, jealousy and desolation. Guinevere is a marvellous character in her own right, a warrior, fiercely independent and yet inevitably a pawn as all young noble girls would be, but also a beacon of inspiration.

Giles Kristian writes so beautifully. He brings these post-Roman years so vividly to life. I love the way in which the recent Roman past haunts this landscape. There is myth here, there is the Druid Merlin, and we’re reminded of many of the famous Arthurian legends, such as Excalibur, but Giles Kristian evokes a time rooted in history and in the land around us even now. I must admit that I’m not a fan of modern retellings of the Arthurian legend (possibly because I studied medieval Arthurian literature for my degree and loved it very much indeed) and so this isn’t a subject I find easy to read. But this is a Giles Kristian novel. I trust him and will always read everything he writes. His writing comes closest to the feeling, mood and beauty of the Old and Middle English verse that I love so much. It also feels much more like historical fiction than fantasy.

There is power here, deep expression and enormous feeling. I cried and cried as the story ended in the only way it could. If you haven’t read any of Giles Kristian’s novels before, do read this and then make sure that you read his stunning Viking series, Raven.

Other reviews
God of Vengeance (Rise of Sigurd 1)
Winter’s Fire (Rise of Sigurd 2)
Wings of the Storm (Rise of Sigurd 3)
Raven: Blood Eye; Raven: Sons of Thunder; Raven: Odin’s Wolves
The Terror: a short story
The Bleeding Land
Brothers’ Fury
With Wilbur Smith – Golden Lion

If I'm entirely honest, my rating for this book went down the more I read of it. And that, I think, is less to do with the book itself and more to do with me. Because me and long books? We don't get along so well, especially if it's a slowburning long book like this one.

I'll start with the good parts of this book: the writing and (some of) the characters. The writing was so good - it was so evocative and atmospheric. My only problem with it was that it sometimes bordered on overly descriptive and therefore somewhat slow. And for a 512 page long book, I need something a bit faster. Some of the characters (and when I say some of, I mean, the male characters) were really well developed and I did like them - namely Lancelot and Arthur - so the end really hurt, even though I know Arthurian legend is tragic and I was expecting it. What let this book down, besides the slow pace of it, was the women in it.

Before I start on my issues in that respect, I know it's supposed to be period typical sexism and all, but even so, that as an excuse feels fairly cheap when it's a man writing it. The misogyny starts early on: in the first few chapters, Lancelot sees this girl, Celice, singing, to attract people to her father's stall. Now, Lancelot doesn't speak to Celice, just watches her a couple of times, but when one day he finds her being whored out by her father, it's all like she's betrayed me. Bear in mind he's not spoken to her at all, only seen her a couple of times, doesn't know her, and it's her father's fault that she's in this position. And yet, she is the one who betrayed him. Plus this whole little episode is never mentioned again after it happens - it literally has no goddamn point! So, that was the point at which my rating went from a potential four stars to three.

Secondly, there's an attempted rape scene about 45% of the way into the book, in which some sailor attempts to rape Guinevere. Because what is a book set in the 5th century without a rape scene, huh? It's pretty much absolutely necessary, right?

But I decided to keep reading. And got to the following line:

Tits you could hang your helmet and shield on.



And at that point I really did start just skimreading a lot of this book. Because not even good writing can keep my interest that well when there's all this casual misogyny, period typical or otherwise.

In addition to these small bits of misogyny, there was the rather larger issue I had with the female characters, of which there were only two who could actually be considered main characters: Nimue and Guinevere. Neither of them were particularly fleshed out - Nimue you can summarise as the mysterious and magical lady, and Guinevere as the beautiful princess who everyone loves. And that's about it. If they had their own desires and thoughts, it was not something they ever expressed (and I know, it's in Lancelot's POV so that's hard, but I have read books in first person that don't fail to make their female characters, or even just their side characters, three dimensional).

So yeah. In the end, the misogyny just got to me, and this book went from being a potential 4 star rating, to 2 stars, as you see now.

Ever since I watched Merlin I’ve been intrigued with the story of King Arthur, Camelot, the knights of the round table and Guinevere so I was really excited when I was accepted for this. Sadly though I ended up DNFing this at 412 pages, I tried to push through to the end but I just couldn’t. The overall plot of this story was good I just found it to be extremely slow paced and I felt as if I were slogging through it. I also found it really hard to get invested in the story and had to force myself to pick it back up every time I took a break. This wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read and I may give it another go in the future but at the moment it just wasn’t for me.

Lancelot is a stunning work of historical fiction about a legend I didn’t know much about.

The writing is exquisite with the reader drawn into the book almost immediately and transported to 5th Century Britain. It was fascinating to read about what life was like at that time with some pretty brutal but realistic descriptions of the dangers and battles people would have faced then. I felt at times like I was there walking along beside them experiencing all the action first hand. I could hear the battles, and almost smell the blood and fear, which really added to my reading experience.

The story is told from Lancelot’s point of view and it was brilliant to see his transition from timid little boy to brave knight. He was a character you could really get behind and support. I found I developed a bit of a soft spot for him and I really wanted to continue reading to find out what happens to him.

This book is quite fast paced with lots of action and intrigue to keep the reader interested. Despite the length I flew through the pages utterly fascinated by the story. The old romantic in me did want the story to end slightly differently but I know that wouldn’t have been possible as it’s not how the legend goes.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I can’t wait to read more from him in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book. If you like utterly fascinating, realistic and thrilling historical fiction you’ll love this book. A definite must read for fans of the genre.

Myths, magic, and a story about perhaps the greatest knight of all time… all wrapped up in an epic retelling. Yep, Lancelot pretty much has it all: I’m in love.

Everybody knows the story of Lancelot, Arthur’s favourite knight, whose disastrous love affair with Guinevere brought down a kingdom. But you’ve never read it like this before, I guarantee: Kristian takes the legend and transports it to a gritty historical version of Dark Ages Britain, where Britain is being overrun by Saxons, in a world where the old magic is disappearing in favour of a Christian God. It’s believable, and dark, and complex, and heartwrenching.

This story takes us into the mind of Lancelot in a way that I’ve not read before: the problem with writing about such well-established figures is that you get lost in the mythos, or fail to humanise them. No problem with that here, though; Kristian brings Lancelot to life wonderfully, as we watch him grow from a frightened young boy living through the murder of his family to his slow growth into a knight under the care of the mysterious Lady, who saved him from being killed by the same people.

The story is almost as much about the ways in which Lancelot develops as it is about the main plot of King Arthur and Camelot- indeed, Camelot isn’t even mentioned until about halfway through (which does impact the plot a little bit). This is, after all, Lancelot’s story, and Lancelot is a great character: believably complex, angry and conflicted- and a great foil for both the steadfast warlord Arthur and the wild spirit Guinevere, with whom he falls in love. And the love story is handled well: I was a little apprehensive about how it was going to unfold, but it’s handled delicately and given much more of a background than previously- now, you understand why Guinevere and Lancelot are making these choices, and feel sympathy rather than anger.

This retelling lives and breathes: Kristian has a real gift for storytelling, and you feel transported to this version of ancient Britain, where history echoes from every surface even as it’s being created; where Roman ruins are still being used as gathering-places or being converted into churches, where the old kings of Britain are fighting against a Saxon invasion. It’s engrossing to read, and it’s even more engrossing spotting the different ways in which the myth has been reshaped to fit this new story: Tintagel, Excalibur and Camelot are all referenced, but show up in ways you might not expect, alongside complex politics, shifting alliances and ancient kingdoms.

The only places I have an issue is the end of the tale- and I still can’t work out if I liked it or not. And that’s intended as a compliment: the rest of the book was so good that I didn’t want it to end! It’s unusual, dramatic, and very daring; it’s a great capstone to the entire story, which itself is dramatic, daring and also dark. For fans of Bernard Cornwell, this is of course a must- but for my money it’s better.

In three words: dark. Gripping. Different.

I always thought that Mary Stewart's Merlin was the best retelling of the Arthurian saga but this book is surely a runner up.
It's atmospheric, enthralling and wonderfully written. Everything that was already told is new because there's a different way of looking at it.
I loved every page and was sad when the book was over. A wonderful travel in a landscape you thought you knew but that seems to be completely different.
Highly recommended.
Many thaks to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC

An extraordinary book, beautifully lyrical but heart-wrenchingly real. A unique retelling of a familiar legend, this book will take you on a whole new journey. Although you could call this an Arthurian tale, it's Lancelot who is the star, and it's through his eyes that the story unfolds.
Love, loyalty, tragedy and betrayal. Pick this book up and be thrown back into years long past, as new life is breathed into an old legend. Historical fiction at its finest.

I have always been fascinated with the Arthurian legend, I guess it had something to do with the fact that I had read a bit of Arthurian legend when I was young and I watched the film, ‘The Sword in the Stone’. I really loved that film then when I was a bit older there came BBC’s Merlin. Goodness but I became obsessed with that show as fast as possible.

I own all the seasons, of course, I am well aware how much the show differed from the legend and everything related to it. I don’t mind that. The thing with legends….they differ from period to period, as people differ from period to period.

So, I was very excited when I was approved for the ARC of Lancelot by Giles Kristian. For someone who has an interest in the legend, I have to admit that I haven’t read much of the literature that comes with it. I have only read ‘The Once and Future King’ by T. H. White. I know, I know, there’s tons more to read when it comes to Arthurian legend. I will read it someday. Hopefully.

In any case, when I started reading Lancelot, I didn’t have much of an idea as to what the story could be and how it will unfold. It was a good thing in this scenario, I generally need a little bit of a background story before I pick up the book but with this one, and I was ready to dive into it blindfolded.

The book starts with action, we are immediately introduced to Lancelot and I was pulled into Lancelot’s world because of the way we are shown his life. The writing is really good, it catches you by surprise and you are stolen into the world as if you are Lancelot yourself. You see the entire world through his eyes and it’s done wonderfully. We can see the fifth century Britain with all its feuds, constant warring and trust me, it’s all rather magical to read. Just the way I imagined reading anything related to the Arthurian legend.

Lancelot’s life is not easy by any means and you can really sympathize with him during the hardships he faces. We don’t meet Arthur early in the book, in fact, I am correct, it’s almost after the book is about 50% done that we do meet him. Guinevere also comes later in the book, Merlin makes an appearance and the way magic is represented is pretty good. It just is, it’s accepted that it exists and there’s no unnecessary drama surrounding it. It surprised me a bit, I was expecting some drama but hey, I don’t mind the lack of it. It’s a bit refreshing change from all the other stories that I have heard of.

Lancelot’s friendship with Arthur, his heart-wrenching and tragic love for Guinevere, everything just made me feel things, ok? The way it’s all written, I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next every time I had to take a break and come back to it. The ending broke me, I knew it was coming, we all know it is coming but it still broke me. I think I like hurting myself emotionally through books, why else would I love the ones which hurt me the most? This book is going on my favourites, that’s for sure.

I think this book needed to be longer? Maybe that’s just me being greedy but I really would have loved to read more about those things left unwritten. Overall, this book gives such a rich and wonderful perspective from Lancelot about the legend and I loved it, though there were times when I wanted to ask the author why he would do this to the readers.

This was my first time reading Giles Kristian and now, I have to read more of his works. His writing is absolutely sublime and took me back to the times when it all could have unfolded. His writing is very atmospheric and you guys know how much I love to immerse myself in world building and well, this one took the prize.
I would totally recommend it to everyone, anyone who’s interested in the Arthurian legend, or want to read something fantastic. It has everything! Battles, friendship, complicated love, brave heroes, atmospheric writing. Seriously, I can’t recommend it enough.

I have loved the King Arthur legends for as long as I can remember and have tried to get my hands on every story told. The Bernard Cornwell trilogy stands out as an example of how to wrote Arthur's story. Giles Kristian is setting a new standard in that this is not Arthur's story but Lancelot's.
Lancelot had always been an enigma in the legend of Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. He it's the kings champion and greatest easier, but also his ultimate betrayed and the man who gets the blame for Arthur's eventual downfall. I've never had much sympathy for him - until now.
Giles Kristian paints Lancelot in a new light. He is still the champion and soldier of legends, but his history and motivations are given new insight. I like this Lancelot; he is not so arrogant as in other stories and it's a much more 3 dimensional character.
The story itself provides a refreshing new look at the fight against the Saxons, the trials and tribulations faced by Arthur and his knights. The characters address well developed and sympathetic - except for Mirdred, of course, the man we all live to hate.
This is a thoroughly entertaining novel. There is action in abundance from the very first page. It is fast paced, enjoyable and entertaining.
A fabulous novel!

I have to say from the outset that I am a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell’s War Lord Chronicles , The Winter King, Enemy of God ,& Excalibur. What great novels these are, fantastic storytelling , they are exciting, have good strong characters throughout, and include plenty of battles against the rampaging Saxons.

Couple Cornwell's fines novels with those of M K Hume's in the King Arthur trilogy, and you certainly get a real feel for Britain in the dark ages. 

Those two trilogies made a big impression on me, and I doubted that another author could emulate these trilogies of Arthurian legend.  I was wrong,  as Giles Kristian’s tale of ‘Lancelot’ does comes close, very close.

We are first introduced to Lancelot as young boy , the son of King Ban of Benoic.

His father's enemies , King Claudas and his warband, attack the family and the young Lancelot has to flee for his life. The family take refuge with the beggar king of the east. 

During a feast thrown in their honour, a dark plot takes place, and Lancelot is again fleeing, this time with the lady of the lake fame, Lady Nimue.

 Lancelot does most of his growing up on a small Island off the Cornish coast, under the guidance of lady Nimue, and this is where he first meets and grows to love Guinevere. 

A very well written novel with plenty of twists and turns,  the action flows thick and fast with battles aplenty. The story is told from a slightly different perspective to the more traditional Arthurian tales, but is enjoyable none the less.

If you have an interest in the Arthurian legends, then this is definitely a book you should read.

I have to make an admission here: I can't bear tragic stories, and they don't come much more tragic than Lancelot and Guinevere. So I started kind of skimming after the 75% mark, but only because I knew there was doom coming and I'd struggle to handle it.

But the writing was beautiful. Giles is an evocative writer, without overdoing it into sentimentality - the descriptions are wonderfully eerie, but Lancelot's lack of introspection is a nice balance.

This is a tale of legend with much of the legend stripped from it. Nimue and Merlin have, for the most part, no more magic than herbs confer; Excalibur is an ordinary sword nestled amongst superstitious folk. But the story is all the more interesting for being set against a real British historical background.

We all know about Arthur and Guinevere, so I won't go into it, except to say that Arthur is depicted very much as an ordinary, if charismatic man. Guinevere is a little more ethereal.

Well-written historical fiction, not bringing anything particularly new to am ancient tale, but engaging nonetheless.

What a wonderful take on the Arthurian legends. Giles Kristian has written a captivating book that had us hooked all the way through. Really enjoyed seeing Arthur and Camelot through the eyes of Lancelot as well as his relationships with cousins, knights, Nimue, Merlin and of course Guinevere. A really good read.

I was seventeen, at Gatwick airport browsing the shelves in Waterstones, waiting to board a flight to Cyprus when I picked up a book called Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell. I'd never been much of a reader, and at that point had never heard of the great man! I bought it, thinking it might alleviate the boredom of two weeks round the pool with my family. Little did I know it would change my life forever. I read it three times in the two weeks I was away, even after getting halfway through the first read and realising it was the third book in a trilogy!
Since that holiday I have spent twelve years devouring any historical fiction I could get my hands on, even taking the leap to write in the genre myself. Giles Kristian is without doubt one of the finest writers in the genre right now, and he truly has excelled himself with this book.
I was anxious at first. How could it live up to Cornwell's work? Surely it was bound to be a bit of a let down? I need not have worried.
It is simply spellbinding. The prose as smooth as silk, the words deeper than the ocean. I was hooked, transfixed, completely unable to function without my head buried in the pages.
The book takes you from Lancelot's early life, his journey from his home in Armorica, across the narrow sea and into Britain. I read in awe as the boy became a warrior, the warrior a man. Lancelot is brought to life on the pages, his love for Guinevere pure and everlasting, as is his love for his lord, Arthur.
It's rare for a book to stir any emotion within me, but this really hit home. You feel Lancelot's turmoil as his best friend and lord showcases his beautiful bride, Guinevere, to the people of Britain. You get a real sense of his contrasting emotions, his indecision. I also enjoyed Arthur's part. His jealousy of what he imagines his best friend and wife may have shared in the formative years, a sense that his old age will always leave a void in his marriage.
As always with a book from Giles, the battle scenes are all blood and dust, as shieldwalls collide on Britain's fields and the fate of a nation is decided.
In case you haven't gathered - I absolutely adored this, I don't think I'll read a better book for long, long time.

I love an author who can take something that's been done before and add not only a different flavour to it, but gives it a whole new twist and for me, that's what Giles has done with this, his latest offering.

Taking inspiration from Roman times and moving the King Arthur myth to the Arthurian period (I kid you know that's what the historians know the 5th century as) we get a tale that not only has a feel of believability but also gives an established myth a new founding.

Its quirky, it has top notch action and when blended with a principle character who the reader will not only like to spend time with but also see grow up as he becomes the man of legend, all round gives the reader one hell of an adventure within the pages.

Back this with Giles own unique brand of storytelling, great prose and dialogue that just trips from the page all round gives the reader a book that was not only hard to put down but one that will become a firm favourite for years to come. Legendary.