Rating: 
Summary: Light Bulbs Flash
Review: This book was reccommended to me by a friend, and I was excited to read it. The first twenty or so pages threw me off and sent me spiraling into confusion, but I was determined to finsih the story. I VERY glad that I did. I didn't (and still don't) know much about Aurthurian Legend, but this book has made me want to explore more. The little bit of the story that I know of was from Disney's The Sword and the Stone, and when this wonderful book and that movie made a connection, that little light in my head went off and I was urged to read more. I'm sure you will do the same if/when you read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Clichés and a Few Gimmicks
Review: This is a completely average fantasy novel that gets docked one more star for misrepresentation. The promotional blurbs for this book will have you believe that Attanasio is breaking new ground by blending various far-flung mythologies like Norse and Eastern mysticism into the fantasy genre, plus cosmology and deep thoughts about the origins and powers of the universe. This is false advertising at best. Here we have nothing but standard fantasy fare about princesses and merlins and fanciful creatures, while the cosmology and other esoteric concepts are merely window dressing, and possibly a cynical attempt to raise this book above the stereotypical. Like a fancy façade added to a bland building, the deep concepts added to this book fail to brighten up the story or make it more interesting, and come across merely as gimmickry. At the core, what we have here is just standard fantasy novel clichés with a thin veneer of attempted depth. Another bone of contention is that Attanasio tells the story mostly in present tense, which is kind of cute at first but just gets on your nerves. If you're a fan of regular fantasy novels and you're looking for a relaxing read, then this book is certainly dependable. But if you were suckered into thinking that this book breaks new ground in the realm of storytelling, as I was, you won't be too impressed.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic--in every sense
Review: This is an Attanasio tour de force, blending an incredible array of different ideas from myth and legend into a gripping story. It isn't your father's Arthur--but it's dense and engaging and exciting. I can see that some might be offended at the mixing of myths from different times and different places, and the addition of Attanasio's own "backstory". But we're talking about fantasy here, not some sort of historical treatise. And the tradition of cobbling together Christian and Pagan mythologies into amazing fantasy was started with Tolkien along with the whole genre. The lushness of Attanasio's prose may also strike some as overwritten but to me its brilliant. This is a sophisticated author at the height of his powers and he vastly outclasses most of the other entries in the field.
Rating: 
Summary: Like a song....
Review: This is no Mists of Avalon. Truly, I pity readers whose first exposure to high fantasy is Mists, because few books if any will keep you satisfied afterward. Still, Attanasio draws one with a beautiful and mystical prose, everything is descriebd with words like glittering and shining, and after a while you can begin to see it, can see the harrowing battles fought, can smell the food that rests on the table of Aquila Regalis Thor... The Royal Eagle of Thor... Arthor.
Barring Mists, it stands at the top of my Arthurian list... perhaps not the reigning king of it, but certainly up there, and surely worth the read to anyone with any interest in the genre.And, hey, if it bores you, you can always just stare at the awesome cover art!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic fantasy
Review: This is the first time I've read Attanasio (and my first time reading a book based on Arthurian legend although I'm more than familiar with it) and, I have to admit that I had a difficult time getting through the first few pages, but after I got use to his style and rather complex prose I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to get some of his other books.
Rating:
Summary: good read
Review: this was a fantastic book. i'm not a big fan of the camelot legend but this book did well to present the story in a new way. highly reccomended!
Rating:
Summary: Eclectic, insightful, emotional and mystically religious.
Review: To anyone who has ever had a combined interest in mythology, sociology, history and life in general this is a great book to fit on your shelf. In so many ways it touches the different sides of people and gives a personal light to the universe around us. It has death, love, magic and joy. It is a good book to help shape anyone's collective existance.
Rating:
Summary: Judging a book by its cover
Review: To be frank, the only reason this novel caught my eye were the words "unicorn" and "dragon". I have forever been a fan of the mystical world, especially that of the Legend of Arthur and am also a fanatic when it comes to Celtic topics. Although the book at first was near impossible to get into, once you did it was like jumping into the icy river rapids, regretting the first few moments, but when it's all done it was obviously well worth the trip! Now, I read it again and again just to understand the little and sometimes more significant symbols in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent. The beginning of an outstanding series.
Review: Where can I start? 1st off, open your mind to new ideas. Attanasio takes mythology as you know it and blinds it into one big mythos. Your going to be given norse, greek/roman, christian, celtic, Indian, etc. ideas and themes. I personally found after a couple of chapters that it was easier to follow the story as if it was fresh to me. Don't expect the same old King Arthur legend either. This is one of those books that you have to sit and think and really read to enjoy. Personally Lovecraft is the hardest thing I've ever read. Attanasio isn't that bad, but he uses big words and alot of symbolism. I don't say this as a knock against the book, just a warning. It's a little complecated. With that said it's a beautiful story. Extreamly vivid. I think that it's a great new idea to the old legends of Arthur. If your an avid fantasy fan and don't mind taking the time to read and digest the story you'll love it.
What are waiting for? Go buy this book and get started. You wont be disappointed.
RS
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