Rating: 
Summary: A very enjoyable book with some flaws
Review: The well-written, believable, historically accurate portions of this book, which take place in Britain, are cleft in two by an almost ridiculous portion taking place in Armorica (specifically Ynys Trebes). The characters of Ban, Lancelot and Merlin verge on the ridiculous. If the author had retained the gritty, realistic tone of the story during Derfel's time on the continent, and made Merlin a more well-defined, less silly character this would be a five star book.
Rating: 
Summary: If you're looking for Arthur you've come to the right place!
Review: This is definately one of the most interesting books I've ever read. It is only the first in a series of three and I've read them all. I just couldn't put them down! The story is told be Derfel, a Saxon who you will come to love. He tells his life story which happens to also surround the lives of Arthur and Merlin. If you love Arthur, Merlin, or just the legend itself, you will definately find this book excellent!
Rating:
Summary: First Arthur tale to potray the time period accuractely
Review: This novel correctely lives up to the Dark Ages. It goes beyond all the glamour that typically dominates Arthur tales. If it doesn't potray the true tale of Arthur, it at least potrays the culture and society of the place and time. He also manages to tell a great story that grabs ahold of you and doesn't let go!!!
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Summary: a different view to a known story.
Review: Every person that you thought you know though other books are put to a different kind of light some end up real nice and some just were better of liked in other books. Merlin was the best as in all books he says the most meanly full things. Nimue had a grate new veiw not as evil. Plus another love other then Merlin. It was nice reading a book that does not go to close to Aurthur that you forget that there were other people alive in that time that ment alot to the story. "Fate is inexorable"
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Summary: The first realistic Arthur story
Review: There are endless rows of books about this subject, and I really didn't believe anyone would get anything new out of it, but Cornwell proved me wrong. This is a complete antithesis to the most significant Arthur-retelling of recent decades, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon. Bradley wrote a feminist legend with a lot of moonshine and mystical priestesses, but Cornwell keeps it strictly realistic - his battles are chaotic messes of skull-slashing, his druids are comical creatures who jump up and down muttering curses at each other. It's easy to believe that the 5th century Britain really was quite like that. Cornwell has the courage to turn even the most legendary characters into believable shape, his Lancelot is a coward and his Guinevere an ambitious woman quite far from the stereotypic, lovely and oh so adorable queen. I'm not saying this is the only way to tell the tale. Novels shouldn't be historical lessons. If Bradley or somebody else wants to put a little magic in, that's fine. I like it. Cornwell's strengths are elsewhere, though; he's not a fantasy writer. He reminds me of the late great Mika Waltari, who also wrote believable stories of past times with a deep understanding of the ever-present misery of man. Even the position where Derfel starts his tale is quite the same as in The Egyptian by Waltari. This book was easy to read, not very wise but quite entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the sequels.
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Summary: This series will simply be a classic in the genre.
Review: I suggest you disregard the reader from Brea, California (below). Everyone I know who has read this series has been deeply moved by the stories. Some characters are intentionally unlikable, but others will touch you and be unforgetable. The series' strengths is its story structure, Cornwell's obvious historical due diligence, the memorable characters, and great battle scenes. In my opinion, the biggest flaw of the series is Cornwell's minimal effort to paint the canvas of the physical environment in which the characters exist (trees, plants, apparel, art, structures). But other than this flaw, these are extroardinary stories which will someday be viewed as classics.
Rating: 
Summary: This is not the legend you think you know.
Review: Mr. Cornwell takes away all the magic, fantasy and glamour from the Aurthur legends, and leaves a story of wholey unlikeable characters. The story is more realistic to the time it portrays, and the meathod of storytelling is done well, but there are no characters to root for in the book. Arthur, what little there is of him in the book, is wishy washy, and introspective, Lancelot is a vain coward, Gweniviere has her own agenda, and when Merlin pops in, he is ineffective. The battle scenes are written well, and were the only segments that transported me to another place. I will read the other installments only because I've come this far and The Winter King doesn't end. It's continues with the next book, and to stop now would be like walking out 20 minutes into a movie.
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Summary: A Vividly historic retelling of the Arthur Legend.
Review: I've read several tellings of the "Arthur" legend and I feel that this one is the most historically accurate, cutting through the romantic rubble that has built up with recent movies like 'First Knight'. This novel reminded me very much of Epic Legends such as "Song of Roland" and "the Iliad", just in battle after battle, but I like the Point of View of how it came to be written down from the past experience from someone that 'was actually' there. That in itself is very realistic. I recommend 'The Winter King' to people who want a realistic story verses a fantastic, romantic Knight in shinging armor version. I do recommend T.H. White's "the Once and Future King" for another novel of Arthur.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Portrayal Of The Legend Of Arthur
Review: An incredible read for anyone even remotely interested in Arthurian legend. Cornwell combines a well-researched background with a captivating story. Told by a common warrior in the service of Arthur, the book provides a "down in the trenches" look at life and especially war in the Dark Ages. I found Cornwell's portrayal of Merlin both refreshing and fascinating. Other familiar characters of the legend given a new portrayal include Guinevere, who is given a manipulative, scheming side and is portrayed as a powerful woman in Cornwell's rendition of the tale and Lancelot, who in this book is shown to be both a lout and a coward. This book is a wonderful, captivating piece of (semi)-historical fiction and I would recomend anyone with an interest in this sort of thing read it.
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Summary: A unique view of Arthur that compels you to think again.
Review: This book along with its sequel are a rare mastery of myth and legend. Cromwell uses the stuff of legends and blends it with the little fact that is known about King Arthur and makes a sensational biography that makes one wonder what really happend. It gives a view of the Round Table and its Knights that is mystifying in its tale. No other saga has so captured to imagination of writers and poets and Cromwell has created a verse of legend that surpasses all other myths of King Arthur. Told in the third person by a close compatriot of both Arthur and Merlin this tale is alive with passion, patriotism, and magic. It will give you a whole new outlook on the tales of old and put you face to face witht the legend himself. it is remarkably accurate in its depeictions of the time era and in the political and historical acounts of the time period. It takes the best of myth and makes it into a realife struggle for power, peace and honor.
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