Rating: 
Summary: Hurry up with #3
Review: The second book in the Warlord chronicles and certainly the best one so far. The series in itself is great because it gets past the over glorified story of Arthur (ie. the movie "Excalibur") and really shows how life was back then and gives a someone realistic view of how the stories may have been generated... I haven't heard very much about the 3rd book... Anyone know what the title is and when it should be released?
Rating:
Summary: Get twisted farther into Arthurian....... History?
Review: The Warlord Trillogy is by far the best Arthur novels that I have ever read. Cornwell is a perfect storyteller and historian. In this second novel of Arthur we get plunged deeper into the legend that we all know, but in a very different way. This trillogy is not about magic, dragons and romance, but we see Arthur in a REAL dark ages setting. Cornwell makes this story as if it were really recorded down in history. Merlin, is a druid, not a wizard, he has no magic, though he may think he does. Arthur is not a King, but a Warlord, with a sword that is only said to be magic, but with no proof of it.These changes make Arthur so much more believible. I personally, as a Medieval studies Major, believe in Arthur, but we have to understand what he was like without the stories we all grew up on. Cornwell has done just that. The most real Arthur and companions you will ever read about. In Enemy of God, we learn more about the middle of the legends we all know. Arthur still prepairs the throne for the to be king Mordred, while Merlin and Nimue search for the Gold Cauldren in British history. Throughout the story we find new twists to old legends in believable situations and by the end of this second book we are just waiting for the third to pick up. Kudos for Cornwell. This is a wonderful book. A must have for any fan of Arthur.
Rating:
Summary: Get twisted farther into Arthurian....... History?
Review: The Warlord Trillogy is by far the best Arthur novels that I have ever read. Cornwell is a perfect storyteller and historian. In this second novel of Arthur we get plunged deeper into the legend that we all know, but in a very different way. This trillogy is not about magic, dragons and romance, but we see Arthur in a REAL dark ages setting. Cornwell makes this story as if it were really recorded down in history. Merlin, is a druid, not a wizard, he has no magic, though he may think he does. Arthur is not a King, but a Warlord, with a sword that is only said to be magic, but with no proof of it. These changes make Arthur so much more believible. I personally, as a Medieval studies Major, believe in Arthur, but we have to understand what he was like without the stories we all grew up on. Cornwell has done just that. The most real Arthur and companions you will ever read about. In Enemy of God, we learn more about the middle of the legends we all know. Arthur still prepairs the throne for the to be king Mordred, while Merlin and Nimue search for the Gold Cauldren in British history. Throughout the story we find new twists to old legends in believable situations and by the end of this second book we are just waiting for the third to pick up. Kudos for Cornwell. This is a wonderful book. A must have for any fan of Arthur.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazingly Vivid with good knowledge of the old Celtic Gods
Review: This amazing book is his best ever out doing the whole Sharpe series and the Winter King. I like the way Cornwell changes it all with the take over of Dumnonia and the aparent defeat of Merlin by cerdic. I am a bit annoyed at how long it took for the Excalibur to be brought out.
Rating:
Summary: By Tim Huffman, author of SLAVER'S CHALLENGE
Review: This book is Cornwell at the top of his form and that should be enough for anyone to rush to buy it. Careful, intricate plotting and good characters who are so good well balanced by the bad characters who are extremely bad. This unprettified version of Arthur and "Camelot" has the ring of veracity to it that so many others have been unable to bring forth. As is his hallmark, Cornwell lays out the weft of this tapestry at the end of the work and that bit of reality is a fine mint to end this sumptuous meal. I have already ordered Warlord III hoping to see the bad guys get their final comeuppance.
Rating:
Summary: Another well-written political thriller
Review: This is a well-written political thriller set in fourth-century Britain, not the Arthurian legend that everyone's familiar with. As such, it's a fitting sequel to "The Winter King". As in that book, Cornwell takes some Arthurian legends from different eras and mixes them together, adding his own touch of historical realism. The portrayal of Saxon-Celtic conflict as well as Christian-Pagan conflict is very well done. An excellent book, though one that will disappoint some by painting a vision of Arthur that clashes with their own. As always, Cornwell's storytelling is top-notch.
Rating:
Summary: Another well-written political thriller
Review: This is a well-written political thriller set in fourth-century Britain, not the Arthurian legend that everyone's familiar with. As such, it's a fitting sequel to "The Winter King". As in that book, Cornwell takes some Arthurian legends from different eras and mixes them together, adding his own touch of historical realism. The portrayal of Saxon-Celtic conflict as well as Christian-Pagan conflict is very well done. An excellent book, though one that will disappoint some by painting a vision of Arthur that clashes with their own. As always, Cornwell's storytelling is top-notch.
Rating:
Summary: A Retelling of the Arthurian Legends to Make Merlin Smile
Review: This is good stuff by a skillful writer. The characters are, for the most part, well endowed with humanity, driven and undermined by credible needs and flaws. Not content merely to retell the version of the legends popularized by "Camelot", Cornwell has researched, dissected, and then wholly reconstructed the legends leavened by his own contribution of historical plausibility and "de-romanticization". What comes through is a more human-dimensioned, but nonetheless still heroic epic. My only major complaint, and the reason for withholding a fifth star, is the author's treatment of his religious themes. With the exception of Galahad, his Christians are so odious that you wonder how the religion could have possibly spread. I realize his narrator is a pagan, but Christianity, especially that from Ireland, was not accepted in Britain at the point of a sword, but rather through the lure of its ideas. The Irish missionaries were well known for humility and simplicity (which is why they eventually lost out the organized Roman version in the 6th century). Since Cornwell uses 'pagan' vs. Christian as a major axis in his plot, I feel he missed an opportunity for a more balanced portrayal of the two belief systems in conflict and this nagged at me throughout. Otherwise, Cornwell casts a rollicking and passionate spell that would make even Merlin smile.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Journey to 5th Century Britain
Review: This is my first encounter with Richard Cornwell. It has definitely piqued my interest to read the other two volumes in the trilogy and to investigate other books by this author. If you are familiar with Grail literature and with such classics as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d'Arthur, etc., you will have certain preconceptions about the major characters that are here transmorgrified by Cornwell. The chivalrous Arthur is transformed into a more human, too-trusting, well-meaning leader of a tribe. Guenivere is a scheming, conceited megalomaniac, who mellows somewhat as the story progesses. The narrator's (Derfel's) harshest judgment is reserved for Lancelot. He is definitely not the same Lancelot-du-lac that we have come to know from Mallory. He's more like the 5th century version of a matinee idol. He's all image, no substance. He's not someone to be counted on in the heat of battle. Merlin is a rascally magus whose main concern lies in stemming the tide of Cristianity that he views as an invasion of the old order. Cornwell is obviously making judgement calls here, but he's not doing it purely for the sake of novelty. This is a thoroughly-researched, as well as an eminently well-written work. Tolkien fans who have been turned-off by the pale imitators that have attempted to emulate the master's style will no doubt find many parallels in Cornwell. That's not to imply that Cornwell is imitative by any means. He just handles prose almost as adroitly as his predecessor. If there were a worthy Tolkien successor writing today, though in a slightly different genre, it would have to be Cornwell. Cornwell has created a truly heroic saga, and has left this reader looking forward eagerly to the other two volumes in the trilogy. Enemy of God is definitely several cuts above the mass of historical fiction being churned out today. The man can write!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!
Review: This retelling of the Authurian legend is the best I have ever read. The writing compares to Prof. Tolkein in its scope and magnificent atmosphere while it remains totally unique in its own right. I love the Pagan themes. Mr Cornwell is one of the truely great historians. To Cernunnos. Let the Wild Hunt begin!
| 
