The third book in the Chronicles of Arthur series. Arthur is continuing his quest to ride the country of the Saxons and return it to the Britons. Guinevere petitions Arthur to built them a place of their own, In the meantime, Arthur has to raise an army to defend the counties that are loyal to him from the Saxons. Another excellent telling of the Arthur Sagas. The characters are so familiar that it is like living with them. Although it's a story we know the outcome off this is a fresh retelling. Recommended to people who enjoy a good medieval drama. With thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I'm not always a fan of anything Arthurian that mirrors the post-Norman traditional tales, those with Merlin, Lancelot and indeed, Excalibur and the myth of Camelot because they are not compatible with the reality of 5th/6th century post-Roman Britain when, IF, there ever was an 'Arthur' he would be more rightfully set. (For my own Trilogy I stripped the story of all that and used the earlier Welsh legends.) However, I did enjoy this tale of Dark Age Warlord Adventure. It had good characters (even Lancelot and Merlin) which drew me into the gritty and vivid story - this was warfare and battles during a turbulent period of British history, not a romance of Courtly Love. Was also, very much a male character dominated novel, which would possibly appeal more to male readers rather than female.

The pace drifted a little in places and I did have to sort out a few characters, events and locations in my head as I have not read the first two books in the series, so it might be best to start at the beginning?

Accurate history it may not have been, (for instance - no castles like the one depicted on the cover at this time period,) but given that Arthur probably never existed anyway this is an era where accuracy can be thrown out the window in favour of a compelling adventure story.

The portrayal of violence - especially where battles are concerned - will possibly not appeal to squeamish readers, but a story that must, by the very definition of this chaotic era, include the explicit detail of battle scenes is to be expected. Battles were bloody, vicious places. (If you don't like these sort of scenes don't read this sort of book.)

For myself, this one is not at all how I think of Arthur or the period, but it was a good, entertaining, read which avid breaders of Arthurian fiction should enjoy.

This is the action packed epic tale of Arthur Pendragon who seeks to unite his fractious countrymen to stand up to the Saxon invaders. Even as they rebuff his attempts, he is supported by powerful allies in the form of Merlin, Lancelot, Gawain and others who recognise that this is a battle for Britain's survival.

Gritty, hard-hitting and brutal, this is the tale of the Arthurian legends - full of the clamour of battle and the price of conflict - as they would have been told if they were indeed history rather than myth. Rousing story telling, this gets 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review.

Peter Gibbons delivers a brutal, battle-scarred vision of Dark Age Britain, where myth meets steel and destiny is forged in blood.

⚔️ Plot Summary
Britain is fractured ruled by petty kings and threatened by relentless Saxon invaders. Arthur Pendragon, wielding the legendary Excalibur, rises as the last hope to unite the land. But unity doesn’t come easily. Ancient rivalries, betrayal, and internal rebellion threaten his vision of a peaceful, united kingdom.

Arthur must rally his allies Merlin, Lancelot, Bors, Gawain, and Kai and face not only external enemies but also the bitter divisions within his own ranks. As war looms, the fate of Britain hangs in the balance, and Arthur must decide what kind of king he truly wants to be.

This is the third book in The Chronicles of Arthur series, and it continues Gibbons’ gritty, action-packed reimagining of the legend with cinematic intensity.

🔥 What I Loved
The Realism: Gibbons strips away the romantic sheen of Camelot and gives us a world of mud, blood, and hard choices. It’s Arthurian legend with a pulse.

The Action: The battle scenes are vivid and relentless. You feel every clash of swords and the weight of leadership on Arthur’s shoulders.

The Characters: Arthur grows from a hesitant leader into a hardened warlord. His relationships with Merlin, Lancelot, and his enemies are complex and compelling.

The Stakes: This isn’t just myth it’s survival. The tension between idealism and necessity runs throughout the novel.

⚠️ What Fell Short
Pacing: Some middle chapters felt repetitive, especially in the build up to major battles.

Limited Female Presence: The story is heavily male-dominated, and Guinevere’s role is minimal compared to other retellings.

🏰 Final Thoughts
Camelot is a fierce, atmospheric retelling for fans of Bernard Cornwell and gritty historical fiction. If you love stories where legends are reborn through hardship and heroism, this one’s worth your time. It’s not the Camelot of fairy tales, it’s the Camelot of warriors.

Another strong, vengeful story of Arthur, Pendragon of Britain, and his cohorts. First I have to say that I truly believe there was an Arthur in our historical past! I'm fairly certain he was nothing like that of the legend we read about today, and who knows if Guinevere existed, but I don't like her any more in this series than I do in the rest of the stories. She's manipulative and selfish, and gives women a bad reputation! There, rant over.

There are some interesting turn of events happening throughout the story and it makes you stop and wonder, could things have really been that way. Gibbons definitely has a knack of describing battle detail, and the targaid were a nice touch! Be prepared for a little nail biting as you travel through Arthur's trials and tribulations.

Full of battles
Experience the horror elation and sheer panic in the press of the shield wall against an implacable enemy
Arthur finally takes the battle to the Saxon kings but with horrible consequences and faced with difficult decisions o which the lives of his warrior depend
Exhilarating read

Gritty, action-packed, and addictive — Camelot reimagines Arthur’s legend with brutal battles and raw humanity. A must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell! ⚔️🔥

Peter Gibbons delivers an absolutely electrifying continuation of his Arthurian saga in Camelot. From the very first page, I was swept into Dark Age Britain—a brutal, divided land where Arthur Pendragon must wield not only Excalibur but also every ounce of strategy and resolve to unite a fractured kingdom.

This is historical fiction at its most gripping: full of visceral battle scenes, political rivalries, and a richly atmospheric setting that makes the Dark Ages feel alive. Gibbons excels at balancing relentless action with fully realized characters—Arthur’s strength, Merlin’s mystique, and the camaraderie of his companions shine against the chaos of Saxon invasion.

As a fan of Bernard Cornwell, I found this every bit as compelling—fast-paced, bloody, and impossible to put down. Gibbons brings a fresh yet grounded energy to Arthurian legend, capturing both the brutality and the hope of Britain’s fight for survival.

Camelot is a must-read for fans of epic, battle-driven historical fiction. Highly recommended.

GIBBONS' ARTHURIAN ADVENTURE CONTINUES

I have read the two previous books in this series, "Excalibur" and "Pendragon". I was, therefore, eager to read this installment. "Camelot" is a historical novel dealing with the rise of Arthur from obscurity to king and battle leader of the Britons. What makes Gibbons' approach so interesting, in my opinion, is that in this story, Arthur and the Britons directly attack the Saxons in Saxon territory. Many other versions of Arthur's career have the Britons fighting only defensive battles against their enemies.
The character of Arthur is one of a reluctant hero coming into his own and accepting the legend that Merlin spins around his deeds. The battles and fights here are often brutal, highlighting the harshness of life in Post-Roman Britain. Besides Merlin, other familiar characters appear, each with distinct personalities and ambitions. This book sees the building of the fortress Camelot, usually attributed to Merlin, but here, there is a twist. I recommend this book to Arthurian fiction lovers and those who enjoy historical fiction about ancient warfare.

Peter Gibbons’ Camelot delivers exactly what it promises—Dark Age Britain soaked in blood, steel, and superstition. The story moves briskly, but much of it feels like a sequence of relentless, bloody battle scenes interrupted by the ideological clash between the new religion of Christianity and the “old gods” of the druids.

Arthur Pendragon, here wielding the legendary Excalibur, is more mythic than historical, so it’s worth remembering that he’s almost certainly a figure of legend rather than fact. The plot is familiar: Britain fractured by petty rivalries, threatened by the Saxon tide, and only Arthur’s vision can unite the land. That unity, of course, comes at the cost of endless skirmishes and political backstabbing.

If you’ve enjoyed Bernard Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series—as I did—you may appreciate the gritty, mud-and-blood atmosphere here. That said, the book does lean heavily on well-trodden Arthurian beats and can feel derivative at times. Still, for readers looking for action-driven historical fantasy steeped in Dark Age grit, Camelot will scratch that itch.

I really enjoyed getting to read this entry in the Chronicles of Arthur series, it had that feel that I was looking for and uses the Arthur element that I was expecting from the previous book and from Peter Gibbons. I was engaged from the first page and thought the overall feel worked in this, it had that brutal concept that battles have and thought worked overall in telling this storyline. Peter Gibbons does an amazing job in writing this and can't wait for more.