Helpful Score: 1
A retelling of the Arthurian legend... reminded me of Bernard Cornwell's "The Winter King" in that this is a very gritty, militaristic view of Arthur's story, without any mystical or supernatural elements. Perhaps "Winter King" was even more gritty and unromantic, but "Firelord" is also set in a potentially-believable 6th-century (?) Britain. Arthur is an ambitious man ("Merlin" is his 'inner voice,' not an advisor or wizard) with aims on kingship and unification of the tribes of Britain. However, he is torn between his Roman upbringing and his (not-fully-explained, and initially almost dreamlike) passionate relationship with a woman, Morgana, of one of the most primitive tribes of the land (a tribe sometimes referred to as Faerie).
Rome is losing influence over Britain, and the old tribes are dying out.
Together with his wife, the eminent stateswoman Guinevere, Arthur seeks to forge a new Britain. But when Morgana, and Arthur's son from that first marriage, Modred, show up at Arthur's doorstep, jealousy and bitterness mix with politics to tragic result...
The story also has the Grail, Lancelot, Tristan and Yseult, the Knights of the Round Table - all the classic elements, but all re-examined and 'explained' -
An interesting addition to the Arthurian canon....
Rome is losing influence over Britain, and the old tribes are dying out.
Together with his wife, the eminent stateswoman Guinevere, Arthur seeks to forge a new Britain. But when Morgana, and Arthur's son from that first marriage, Modred, show up at Arthur's doorstep, jealousy and bitterness mix with politics to tragic result...
The story also has the Grail, Lancelot, Tristan and Yseult, the Knights of the Round Table - all the classic elements, but all re-examined and 'explained' -
An interesting addition to the Arthurian canon....
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