Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Arthur in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is everything I hoped it would be—and more. Arthur is a raw, immersive, and emotionally resonant retelling of the legendary warrior-king. Giles Kristian strips away the myth and gives us a man: flawed, fierce, and unforgettable.

The writing is lyrical yet grounded, the action visceral, and the character work exceptional. From the first page to the last, I was completely enthralled. Fans of Bernard Cornwell and Madeline Miller will find a lot to love here.

A triumphant, soul-stirring novel that redefines the Arthurian legend for a new generation.

I didn’t know this was the final book in the trilogy until after I received the ARC, so my review won’t take into account previous events or how this book ties into the other two. It will be based on this book only.

Trigger warnings for possible rape, violence, gore

The title of this book is pretty self explanatory. Interweaving past and present, we see Arthur as a young man coming of age beneath a cruel, monstrous father, falling in love with Guinevere, his dealing with his sister Morgaine, Merlin, and Lancelot as well as the old man, Beran, who rescues a young boy and now has to deal with the consequences. Most of which are getting the young prince somewhere safe, to pawn him off on someone else … but Erbin, as one of the remaining candidates to become the next ruler of Britan, has more foes than friends.

The writing is simple and spare, but it tells the story well. The action scenes are violent and efficient, and the overall tone is that of a tired man who wants to let go … but can’t quite yet make himself give up and give in. He’s too old to rise to every injustice, now with the knowledge that he’s old and alone, but it doesn’t stop him from seeing those injustices and feeling how wrong it is. To see how the world around him has changed since his “death,” how people and places have changed … and fallen.

The plotting is good, the research (as far as I know) is well done. I believed the battle scenes, I believed in the world building, and I thought the characters were well done. If you like Arthurian myths crossed with a bit of Abercrombie’s dark fatalism, you should consider giving this book a try. But it is grim; this isn’t book with a happy ending and all the characters holding hands beneath a rainbow. It ends in violence and an acknowledgement that the world is a dangerous place.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for the ARC.

An excellent book I would recommend to anyone interested in Arthurian myth and legends.The author has a good grasp of life in the dark aged to weave a tale together that makes you think you are living in them times when the Saxons were beginning to over whelm the British with their customs and ways
I could not put the book down once I started reading it

This whole trilogy was a five star for me. Which doesn’t happen very often. I knew very little of the Arthur’s myths before I read the book. I wouldn’t skip the author’s notes for this series because they are very informative.
In the last book of the trilogy we get two point of views. We follow Arthur through his childhood til he meets his one true love gunervere.

Beran is an old man that is a part of a rag tag mecernary crew. Until he meets lord Constantine son. Looking back I can’t believe it took me 60 percent to flesh out beran’s backstory. I mean the clues are all there!!! Kristian does a fantastic story of weaving these povs seamlessly together. You can read this book without reading the previous two books in the series. However, I believe it’s more impactful to read them in order.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a ARC!!!

This was a fitting finally to a great series even though the first two books do not need to be read before this one it did add to the experience.
The story was about Beran a mercenary whose conscience stops him from killing a small boy and devotes himself to getting to Csmelot and safety.
I did not expect the end and was surprised when we learn that Beran was really Arthur come back from the dead and that the boy was his relative the grandson of Constantine his uncle.
I really enjoyed this book and if you like Arthur's Legends then you will not be disappointed.

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.

This is a gripping exploration of ambition, envy, and personal sacrifice. Set in a competitive environment, it follows characters whose desires collide in unpredictable and sometimes destructive ways. The narrative voice is sharp, with prose that balances elegance and tension. Though the pacing can be intense, there’s room for thematic depth, especially around identity and self-worth. The plot is compelling without relying on melodrama. It’s the kind of book you finish quickly but think about for days. Perfect for readers who enjoy high-stakes emotional conflict without losing touch with realism or complexity.

"Arthur" by Giles Kristian switched timelines without warning (a date, anything), which was confusing. 20% from the end, the narrative shifted from 3rd Person Past to Present. The last 3% went from 3rd to 1st person. The shame was that most of the novel was a compelling adventure.

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 . . .

This was the best entry in the trilogy. I enjoyed book one, but each book got better and better. This is right up there with Bernard Cronwells Arthur trilogy. If you enjoy retellings of this well k own tale, you should love this one as much as I did.

Review: This was really good. This author excels in combining movement with characterization. The tapestry of events that collide and tumble will keep you enraptured for however many days this takes you to finish. Careful, you may be up in the wee hours.