| Title | : | Camelot (The Arthurian Tales, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 450 |
| Publication | : | First published May 14, 2020 |
Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been these past ten years. But in a small, isolated monastery in the west of England, a young boy is suddenly plucked from his simple existence by the ageing warrior, Gawain. It seems he must come to terms with his legacy and fate as the son of the most celebrated yet most infamous of Arthur's warriors: Lancelot. For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive . . .
Camelot (The Arthurian Tales, #2) Reviews
-
ARC provided by the publisher—Bantam Press—in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
It is not easy to re-lit the fire of hope when everything feels bleak.
I’m a HUGE fan of The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell and Lancelot by Giles Kristian himself; I consider these four books the holy grails of Arthurian retelling novels. I won’t lie, these books are so incredible that I have pretty much settled with the thoughts that there won’t be a better Arthurian novel than them, even if that book is a new novel written by either Bernard Cornwell or Giles Kristian. And I am very confident in this bold claim. But please don’t let this statement steer you into thinking that I wasn’t excited for Camelot. This follow-up sequel to Lancelot is one of my most anticipated books of 2020, and Giles Kristian was able to deliver another beautifully melancholic Arthurian retelling that I’m sure will captivate fans of Lancelot.
“There is still a flame and that flame can become a fire which will wake the gods.”
The story in Camelot takes place ten years after the end of Lancelot, and the story follows a 20 years old Galahad, the son of Lancelot—Arthur’s best friend, the betrayer, and the lord of battles. A story about finding hope in the darkest of times may be a bit cliché, but it is a timelessly important theme that will prevail through the test of times, and Camelot depicts an immersive tale about exactly that. The narrative in Camelot mainly revolves around Galahad, the familiar characters from Lancelot, and their struggle to brandish the shining swords of Britain once again. It would be on-point to call Camelot an epilogue novel that finished the tale that began in Lancelot but also begins a new line of story upon its conclusion.
“We are no army, but we are the beginning of an army. We are the flint and steel from which a hundred fires will be lit. A thousand fires.”
Galahad is not Lancelot. That point is one of the key driving strengths of Galahad’s characterizations, and in all honesty, it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two of them. However, I feel like a comparison on which one was superior as the main character needs to be done because this novel—despite the time-gap—is quite a direct continuation of what happened at the end of Lancelot. Who do I like more as the main character? Lancelot. There’s something extraordinarily special in Kristian’s coming-of-age rendition of Lancelot. Plus, I am much more familiar with Lancelot than Galahad, and it took a bit longer for me to connect to Galahad relatively. Regrets, love, glory, and loyalty are still some of the most dominating themes of the story, and thankfully, Galahad eventually grew to become a great character as he progressively becomes the reaper of lives—following the footstep of Lancelot while retaining his own identity.
“I thought it would be enough. I should have seen what would happen. I should have known that love can destroy like fire.”
Giles Kristian is a massively talented writer, his capability to chain a lyrical stream of words seriously should earn him many awards. I didn't rush through this book. Similar to reading Lancelot, haste is not an option; the emotions, the bloody battles, the writing demands to be savored. I would slow down time if I could. I would beg for more words to read if I could, and still, the eye that peered into the words on the pages eventually reached the last page. I loved Camelot, this is a wonderful sequel that, somehow against all odds, completed Lancelot even further. Enchanting, haunting, and filled with lyrical prose that would spark the jealousy in a myriad of writers, Camelot is an evocative work of magnificence. Every enthusiast of Lancelot and Arthurian retelling should give this book a read. Kristian seems to have left the ending open for continuation, and I look forward to reading the next tale he writes.
Official release date: 14th May 2020
You can order the book from:
Amazon UK |
Book Depository (Free shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find
this and the rest of my reviews at
Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on
Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas. -
another review(er) called this series dude/bro/guy books and i totally agree, but that doesnt take away from how epic the story is!
similar to lancelot, this companion novel feels more historically based rather than rooted in arthurian mythology, but it was so good to be back in the world of king arthur. from saving britian from the saxons, reclaiming the throne, finding merlin, and searching for a highly coveted cauldron, arthur and his knights (with the newest addition of lancelots son) go on a daring adventure.
and galahad is such an interesting character. the antithesis of lancelot, he is unsure of himself and his purpose. so it was quite rewarding seeing him come into his own by the end of the book. i dont think i enjoyed his coming-of-age as much as his fathers, but his is still a worthwhile tale.
i did found the ending to be a little abrupt, so i would be very curious to see if a third book is planned for the series.
↠ 4.5 stars -
I feel like something brilliant has been added to the Arthurian legend here
There have been so many takes on the Arthurian legend, so many stories told endlessly again and again in both film and novel that after a while it begins to feel a little tedious; it begins to feel like nothing new could be said, but Giles Kristian proves such feelings completely wrong.
He did something quite clever here, writing about a daughter Arthur may have had and a legacy that could have continued even though Arthur was unwilling to lead the charge for Britain anymore. And what strikes me most powerfully here is how realistic it all seems. These legends do not feel like legends. The characters are epic figures, but they are human, they have human faults and human weaknesses. In a way, it shows how such people can be hero worshipped and idealised and turned into something more than they were by subsequent storytellers and minstrels.
Heroics are a matter of perspective
Merlin is, perhaps, the embodiment of this because I always get the impression that he does not really know what he is doing here. As the last Druid, there is not anybody left alive to question his methods or his logic. He can say pretty much anything, and the simple and noble warriors of Arthur would believe him. His magic, the limited power that he does have, is trumped up by his own illusions and subterfuge. His hatred for the Saxon invaders is also driven by a need to protect his own heritage rather than one to protect the peace.
And, not more than once through this story, I considered the perspective of the invader – the Saxons – and concluded that perhaps Merlin’s ambition and manipulation of heroes and warriors is not necessarily in the best interest of Britain. His motives are not as just as he would have them be. It left me with the distinct impression, without directly saying it, that he could be the real villain at work. This, for me, took the novel to a different level because you can see what drove a man like Mordred to betrayal and you can see why Morganna would attempt to make peace with the Saxons.
Lancelot's son
This though is the story of Galahad, so it follows perfectly on from the previous novel
Lancelot. It is a story about a boy overcoming his father’s legacy and finding his own identity and courage. And here the characterisation became quite deep and meaningful. We all, for better or worse, carry part of our fathers with us, but we do not have to become him. We can do better and we can be better and not let ourselves be defined by our history. Galahad’s story is one of bravery and honour, of a boy trying to do the right thing and be the right thing in the face of those you would use him for their own motives and goals.
Giles Kristian takes numerous liberties with the stories and legends that surround Arthur. He fills them with his own unique take on famous heroes and he fills them with his own original characters. And, in a way, this is a statement about what stories are and can be. They are constantly growing and moving, being adapted, and fleshed out.
And here the myth becomes even greater.
__________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via
My Linktree.
__________________________________ -
I received an uncorrected proof copy of Camelot in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Giles Kristian and Bantam Press for the opportunity.
Set ten years after the conclusion of Lancelot, Camelot follows the first-person point of view perspective of Galahad, Lancelot's son. Galahad is a novice monk of Ynys Wydryn and is soon to ascend to the status of a fully-fledged brother of Christ. After witnessing the death of a newborn child and during a horrendous storm, he is met by two strangers. A Saxon-killing, bow-wielding lady of the wilds, Iselle and an ageing warrior who was a former companion of his father's, Gawain. Circumstances dictate that together they have to leave the monastery, leaving Galahad to question everything he has ever known, completely turning his world upside down.
Camelot is an incredible sequel to Lancelot. It is beautifully written, plucks at the heartstrings throughout and has numerous tragic, truly gut-wrenching moments. The novel packs so much excellence within its pages. It features an adventure to retrieve a mythical treasure, tragic deaths of likeable characters, epic battles for the future of Britain, mysterious druid magic, and young love. It also has some instances where certain facts are revealed that I'd love to share, yet it would be unfair of me as those moments were utterly awesome, left me speechless and occasionally emotionally shattered.
I suppose you could start cold with Camelot if you hadn't previously read Lancelot however I do believe you would be missing out greatly. Half of the ensemble here were present in the previous novel. Players like Gawain, Constantine, and Parcefal were great to read about again. Some of the other standout characters are new additions such as the previously mentioned Iselle and the intriguing young lad Taliesin. Certain towns are frequented again and it was intriguing to see how things had changed in the previous ten years. Britain is a darker and grimmer place than it was before with Saxon's running amok and causing chaos, with the Kings of Britain only caring about their own settlements. The characters that were involved refer often to the good old days when Arthur and Lancelot brought Britain together under a united Bear banner and pushed the Saxon's back to the sea. Is there any chance that Britain could unite again in this novel, without the aid of Lancelot and Arthur? It is mentioned frequently about how much Galahad reminds people of his father.
I'll finish by saying that Camelot is a sublime, often poetic and hauntingly beautiful historical fiction epic. Featuring its fair share of grit and violence as well as camaraderie and loyalty, fans of heroic fantasy will find much to adore here. I'm unaware if Kristian is planning to return to his version of Britain's middle ages but he leaves the possibility open at the novel's conclusion. Events wrap up nicely, the ending being riveting and hugely engaging. Camelot is a fine continuation to the equally excellent Lancelot and I raced through it in three days. -
3.5 stars
It has been ten years since Galahad last saw his father, the greatest of Arthur’s warriors. In that time, the land has fallen to the ravages of the Saxons, devastated by the brutalities of their warbands. Few have the power or will to fight them, and all seems lost. Briton seems lost. Yet Galahad, till now sheltered from these harsh realities in his island monastery, is about to be propelled into the centre of the maelstrom. Can he, and his small band of companions, keep the dream of Camelot, and Briton, alive...?
First things first, under no circumstances should you read this book without first picking up
Lancelot. Even though there is a separation of ten years, the storylines and themes of that book are developed further or finished in this one, utilising many of the same characters. This is both Camelot's strength and its weakness. New characters provide the impetus for the plot, but the people we already know are there to continue their story, to give us answers and offer closure, perhaps even proffer some balm for the pain we suffered in the past. Yet this is the essential and, for me at least, inescapable issue: all the emotion in this book comes from
Lancelot. As a character, Lancelot overwhelms all others. Not only that, every single aspect of this book harks back to him. His choices, his actions, his failures or successes. There is hardly a scene in this novel that doesn’t have him hovering in the background, whether that be because the author put him there or because the reader did. None of the characters, new or old, have his charisma. We lived his story, growing up with him, experiencing every change, every love, every loss. The same goes for Guinevere, though to a slightly lesser extent. We know them both, flaws and all, right down to their bones. That the others feel lesser seems inevitable as a result but it just underlines the feeling that there’s something missing here. It’s not helped by a meandering plot that follows the same pattern as the previous book. While there are some fantastic scenes, both Galahad’s love story and his progression from monk to warrior seem rushed and unconvincing. Whether there’s more to come, I don’t know, but I'm not sure I can bear to see it.
You might be wondering why I still gave this 3.5 stars at this point. Mostly because I know that this obsessive focus on the past is a personal issue. I sobbed through
Lancelot, it affected me so deeply that I can’t let it go. I haven't even written a review for it, I don't have the words. Of course this colours my reading of this book, how could it not? But there’s no doubt that Giles Kristian can write. The vitality and creativity of his wording is evident in every line, abundant with surprising comparisons and showcasing a connectivity to the natural world that brings sound and sight and smell into every feeling. It’s beautiful and lyrical, a way into a place we can never really know. This is still a great book, it’s my comparison to what came before that forces it into the shade. How do you follow a masterpiece? That's the question I came into this book asking, but it's not the right one. What I really wanted to know was whether it's possible for an author mend a broken heart? For me, the answer is that he can’t.
ARC via Netgalley -
And here it is, my review for the much anticipated CAMELOT.
Firstly, a massive thank you to Giles Kristian and Bantam Press for the advance copy of Camelot. I was so excited for this read and it did not disappoint!
Camelot gave me one-hell of a punch. It contained some of the best writing in historical-fiction today and completely knocked me off my feet. It had the emotion and intimacy of Lancelot, just with something more. A phenomenal read.
“I am an old fool, but I know that a man so loved by some and hated by others must be a man who was true to his heart.”
Camelot took me completely by surprise. Where I loved Lancelot I adored Camelot, where I felt the emotional pulls in Lancelot I felt my heartstrings well and truly mauled in Camelot. Executed wonderfully, Camelot is completely worthy of its predecessor of Lancelot. After the ending of Lancelot I did not think I would read a book in this world by Giles Kristian again, my excitement levels at being sent a review copy Camelot was indescribable.
Before I carry on I have to say that I loved Lancelot. The whole arc, the characters, I loved it. I loved Camelot even more. There is an edge to Camelot and Kristian’s writing that is evidently honed to perfection. The tone felt right and the characters were believable and memorable.
“A fronte preecipitium a tergo lupi, a precipice in front, wolves behind”
Without wanting to go into the story for fear of spoilers, of Camelot or indeed Lancelot, I will pinch this quote from the Goodreads description of Camelot. For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive…
Usually I will not love a novel if I don’t feel a connection with the characters. Camelot contains a host of fantastic characters that are all individual and brilliant in their own rights. There were old-strings that were cut and new bonds that were made. Galahad was a superb POV, a young reluctant hero who was written in such a way it felt like a breath of fresh air. There is hope in Galahad and everything he comes to stand for, flashes of his lineage that left the characters and even myself in awe.
“The dead must be avenged.”
Within Camelot there was some of the most polished and well-written passages I have read. Not just within the plot and characters, but the prose. Kristian’s prose is inspiring to read. He manages to incorporate such time-period specific phrases and feelings into some deeply descriptive writing that makes you feel like you understand the world that our characters are living in. It is, obviously being a 5th Century Arthurian tale, immensely different to our own worlds but Kristian does it superbly world.
There was a couple of chapters just after the halfway point that were some of the best chapters I have ever read. Terrifying and brutal they added so much to the story and the bond forged between a band of warriors set on the same hope-filled quest.
“He is a fool who plants no trees because he knows he will never sit in their shade.”
As a fan of Arthurian tales such as Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles (of course, and I’m sure every review of Lancelot and Camelot will keep Bernard’s portrayal in mind,) Tolkein’s Fall of Arthur alliterative verse and other classic renditions, I never once thought I’d be able to be fully immersed into another telling of Arthur and his knights. However, as you can guess I was indeed wrong. The golden ticket here is containing the bones of that mythology that we know, but making it completely your own, and it is that. Kristian has carved his own path through the jungle that is Arthur, with the action of the Raven Saga, the history of classic tellings and characters that forge a connection with you.
There were a few moments where I felt frustration based on some characters actions and I felt myself urging these characters to do a little more to live up to the song of Arthur, but as Kristian’s tale shows us, these legendary characters are human and can go completely against your wishes.
“I was Galahad ap Lancelot and I was a killer of men.”
5/5 - In short, I loved it. In long, I loooooooved it. Lancelot was a wonderful read and Camelot followed it up brilliantly. Galahad is one of my favourite main characters of historical fiction and I really enjoyed the whole setting of Camelot. It was tense, nerve-wracking but full of hope. Containing beautiful prose, strong characters and authentic action, Camelot is a great Arthurian tale. -
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out -
The Brothers Gwynne
I received an arc of Camelot in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Giles Kristian and Bantam Press for this chance.
My full review can be found on BookNest -
BookNest - Camelot
An Arthurian tale that stands out from anything else I have read, with its haunting yet beautiful story. A story of love and loss. Of friendship and betrayal. A story of sacrifice. And one of hope.
Camelot is a historical version of the Arthurian tales that is the sequel to Lancelot, which along with The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell are my favourite Arthurian stories to date. And now, Camelot joins those esteemed ranks. I highly doubt there is anything on par to these great series.
“We were few. We were the last. And we were going to war.”
Set soon after the Romans have left Britain and during the invasions of the Saxons, the Britons are on the edge of total annihilation. After facing defeat and betrayal, many of the brave heroes of Lancelot have fallen, leaving few old warriors beyond their prime still willing to fight for freedom. Defeat seems inevitable.
Amongst this, Galahad, son of the infamous yet widely despised Lancelot, has been raised as a monk in a monastery. Yet, destiny has other things set in store for him. Galahad was a character very different from Lancelot, but I thoroughly enjoyed his story as well. The conflict with the memory of his father that he and everyone else has was particularly interesting. This is a coming-of-age story that gripped me in an emotional journey.
“We are no army, but we are the beginning of an army. We are the flint and steel from which a hundred fires will be lit. A thousand fires.”
Now onto the wonderful prose of Giles Kristian. It is lyrical and poetic. Beautiful to read. I glided along this story so smoothly, carried from page to page effortlessly. He has a quality to immerse you into the world he has created and make you experience every subtle emotion that he paints with each word. One of my favourite writing styles I have had the pleasure to read.
Something that Giles Kristian in undoubtedly brilliant with is his action sequences. I learnt this when I read his Raven historical series, and also Lancelot. This is no different. Whether they be small scale skirmishes, guerrilla warfare, duels or all-out battles, each one is executed wonderfully. As a reader you experience the claustrophobic adrenaline rush of battle, the fear, the confusion of conflict, all whilst still comprehending what is taking place. Again, just brilliant.
“I am an old fool, but I know that a man so loved by some and hated by others must be a man who was true to his heart.”
Within Camelot, we get the pleasure of being reunited with some of our favourite characters of Lancelot, such as Gawain. But we also gain some wonderful and intricate new characters, such as Galahad himself and the fierce bow-wielding young woman Iselle, who is a master of stealth and hates the Saxon invaders. The interactions between characters are so realistic and develop in an emotional and believable manner, adding further to the connection to them and the story.
As I hope I have managed to get across, I loved this book. From the prose, to characters, to action sequences. Everything in this book is brilliant. That is partly due to my love for anything Arthurian, but it is also due to the intricate and powerful story Giles Kristian has magically created. I was so lucky to gain an early copy of Lancelot. Do yourself a favour and read Lancelot and then this!
5/5 STARS -
“I am an old fool, but I know that a man so loved by some and hated by others must be a man who was true to his heart.”
So I've recently finished reading Camelot by
Giles Kristian, his sequel to the epic
Lancelot. Wow, what a wonderful book.
Beautifully evocative and bone-crunchingly bloody, filled with characters I loved and hated, all conveyed in lyrical prose and edged with the sense of hope and tragedy that is essential for any retelling of the Arthurian tale. It was fabulous to go back to 5th Century Briton and dive into the fray again. Highly recommended.
For any lover of historical fiction or the Arthurian legend, this is for you. -
This fascinating book is the tale about the life of Galahad, son of Lancelot, and his achievements in trying to save Britain and its ancient fort, after which the book is called, Camelot.
The book contains at the beginning a well-drawn map of Britain 10 years after Arthur and two excerpts from Gildas and Prior Drustanus, while at the back you can find an Author's Note with historical details concerning this great story, and not to forget a list of important Dramatis Personae.
Story-telling is of a superb quality, very touching and poetic, all characters are believable and lifelike, and the atmosphere of Britain during the transition from Briton towards Saxon power of rule come superbly off the pages.
The book is titled after the famous legendary stronghold called, Camelot, although it does not figure very much in this tale, while the narrator is the main protagonist of this wonderful story, his name is, Galahad, son of Lancelot.
The story begins with Galahad dreaming about his father's demise at the Great Battle at Camlan, when in the main story as a young boy at the monastery at Ynys Wydryn, he's attacked by Saxons twice, firstly he'll be saved by the woman-warrior, Iselle, alone, and secondly he's helped again by the same, Iselle, his protector at the monastery, Brother Yvain, and by Gawain and other of Arthur's warriors, who have come to take Galahad away from there, and so leaving the Brothers of the Thorn, with the likes of, Brice, Junot and some others to their brutal fates and deaths.
And so the quest begins for Galahad, son of Lancelot, Iselle, daughter of Arthur and Guinevere, Gawain, Gediens, Yvain and Parcefal, to find Arthur and Guinevere, and of course Merlin, in the hope to restore the old ways of the Britons with Arthur at their head, in an effort to wipe the Saxons back into the Morimaru, but whether they will succeed in the end or not, or that something else will happen is for you reader to find out by reading this fabulous legendary book.
Highly recommended, for this is a wonderful return to the mythes and legends concerning the ancient fort and stronghold, Camelot, and all its important people involved, whether they are Britons or Saxons, and to come back to this book I like to call it: "A Mighty Great Camelot (Galahad) Retelling"! -
‘We were ghosts. Spirit walkers stalking through a night haunted by bat and fox, badger and polecat and, now and then, the blood-stilling shriek of an owl in the woods to the west of The Fisher King’s hall. A night haunted by us too, for we had made ourselves a part of it...’
~
Camelot by Giles Kristian is the much anticipated sequel to Lancelot. Although technically these both could be read as standalones, I would strongly suggest reading Lancelot first because this very much felt like a continuation from the aftermath of that story. I’ll be illustrating some of the connections between both books, so please be aware that my review will contain spoilers for Lancelot.
After finishing Lancelot, I had my doubts whether Camelot could have the same impact on me, whether it could captivate and enchant me in the same way. I needn’t have feared. Kristian once again works his sorcery, and weaves a superb blend of high fantasy and historical fiction, enriched by luscious prose.
Our tale begins with Britain in utter ruin. Her lands are infested with Saxon blades that know no mercy; much blood has been spilt, many are suffering. The self proclaimed Kings cower behind castle walls, leaving their people starving and defenceless. When a young man, Galahad, is set on a path away from his sheltered life in a monastery, on the island of Ynys Wydryn, hope is ignited. With the warriors of old, the lords of war, now but only a few, and with a mysterious young women skilled with a bow, Galahad embarks on a quest to bring about Arthur's dream. To unite, to fight back, to bring Britain to her former glory and right the wrongs of the past. Galahad is no ordinary young man either, he is the son of the infamous Lancelot. But can he ever live up to his father’s legacy?
Much in the same fashion as Lancelot, Camelot also uses a first person narration which centres around our main protagonist, Galahad. We see that he is a young man full of insecurities and inner conflicts. His mind wars between not only grief, bitterness and love towards his father, but also between being a devout Christian, a member of the Brothers of the Thorn, but never quite truly believing. He doubts himself as much as he doubts his father’s love for him. He feels betrayed, abandoned - poignantly reflecting the betrayal Arthur felt by Lancelot years before. Here in lies the beauty of Camelot, it is a book where the past hauntingly mirrors the present.
Perhaps Galahad can be perceived as immature, petulant even, but personally, I felt for his predicament. When your father leaves you to ride off to a war he knows he will never come back from, how can you feel anything but abandoned? How do you let go of that pain? Having the events of Lancelot still raw to my mind, I felt such an emotional connection between both books. The sadness, the sense of loss, the regret, it carries through seamlessly into Camelot, it bleeds through the page.
As much as Camelot is about loss, I loved that it was just as much about comradeship and ultimately holding on to hope. I was pleased to see many of the secondary characters from Lancelot, receive much welcomed spotlight. The ageing legendary warriors; Gawain, Yvain, Parcefal and Gediens act as guardians, mentors and almost father figures to Galahad. Their friendship and good natured quips towards each other made journeying with this band of heroes all the more delightful. But the most welcomed addition was, Iselle. A young woman with a ruthless will to kill Saxons and avenge the dead, Iselle in her own right made a formidable warrior. Her presence was undeniable, and I loved how deeply her story arc intwined with Galahad’s.
~
‘I was Galahad ap Lancelot, and I was a killer of men.’
~
Although Camelot remains a character driven narrative, Kristian adds more balance between characterisation and action scenes, which excited me no end. Throughout Lancelot I had a taste of how well Kristian executes vivid battle scenes, but in Camelot he elevates them to glorious heights. My favourite chapter, The Isle of the Dead, captivated me with its tense atmosphere, and subsequently all the chapters that follow from that were a pure thrill. We bare witness to the stifling press of men and horses, the cacophony of screams, the smell of raw violence and carnage. But contrasted with this brutality, are the picturesque descriptions of nature and wildlife. I am awed by how Kristian presents to us an England ravaged by war, but also shows us the simple beauty of the land too. Every detail was truly emotive.
Quintessentially this is a tale of loss, love and holding on to faith. With sweeping battles, and prose that makes a reader want to savour every single word, this is an Arthurian retelling that I hold with high regard. I certainly hope that Giles Kristian will return to this world, and have a few more tales to spin.
~
‘I was a leaf on the storm, swirling into the past. Lost in some half remembered dream.’
ARC provided by Bantam Press and Penguin Random House. All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. Camelot will be released 14th May 2020. -
Camelot, by Giles Kristian, is the continuation of his epic Lancelot, and takes us back once more to 5th Century Britain. Only the Britain we return to is darker and more savage than ever. For without Arthur to unite the lords of Britain, the Saxon war-bands stalk the land, the dream of Britain that once was now all but faded. Yet in a monastery hidden away in the marshlands of Avalon, Galahad, son of Lancelot, leads a life of relative peace, away from the violence and bloodshed. It is a peace that will soon be shattered, however, when two strangers enter his life, one of them a figure from his father's past, the warrior Gwain. Soon Galahad finds himself caught up in a quest to find the last Druid Merlin, who may be their best hope in these dark times. However, along the way Galahad must reckon with the legacy of his father that so haunts him, if he is to be able to embrace who he truly is.
I absolutely loved Giles' Lancelot, and so eagerly picked up this companion novel straight off the bat. I think 'companion' is probably the right term, and one that Giles uses himself in the author's note at the end, as opposed to a sequel. Lancelot was such a stunning piece of work that I think a follow up was always going to have its work cut out, but in approaching Camelot in the way that he has, I personally thought it worked very well, and whilst I never found myself as immersed in this novel as I was with Lancelot, I was still able to appreciate and enjoy it.
Indeed in some ways the novel may actually be better crafted than Lancelot, which whilst I loved, I could appreciate had its flaws, the pacing being one of them. Where in Lancelot, Giles was telling his whole life story, with jumps in time and more weight given to some sections than others, here we follow a short period of Galahad's life, and as such the story felt much more complete and unhurried, as opposed to Lancelot, where I was left feeling the later sections were somewhat rushed and could have been better developed.
Once more Giles brings this setting completely to life, expanding the world building further, and I particularly enjoyed his depictions of Avalon. I also like how he plays on the myths and carves them in a way that feels completely his own, whilst still paying tribute to the legends.
I liked Galahad a lot as the central character. He is a very different character to Lancelot, which I think worked well. Galahad is far less sure of himself, reluctant to take up this mantle that others want him to, haunted by his past and in particular the abandonment by his father (who left him at the end of the first novel on a hillside, whilst he went into battle). I enjoyed his personal journey through the course of the book as he learns to embrace who he really is and accept his past and his father's legacy. He is in some ways perhaps more astute and tuned in to the world and people around him than Lancelot was, and there are some moments earlier on in the novel that were particularly touching as he grapples with his conflicted feelings towards his father.
Merlin was a particular favourite of mine once again, and I think in this novel probably displayed more range in his personality. When we first meet Merlin again he is a broken man, believing the Gods to have abandoned him. By the end of the novel he is once again the canny Druid I loved from the first book, cunning in his manipulations, with all the best witty lines and snark. However, I did enjoy seeing the more vulnerable side to Merlin in this novel, and him admitting to having made mistakes.
I enjoyed Gwain's character a lot in this book too, and in particular his mentor relationship with Galahad. Iselle is painted as this beautiful, but also deadly killer of Saxons, and it was nice to see a female character within this time period who gets her fair share of the action. A character who I was perhaps surprised to like as much as I did in this novel, given his actions in the first, was Lord Constantine, who I thought really proved himself as a true leader in this book, in a way that Arthur never did (I'll expand on this later).
I didn't feel that the villains particularly got much room to shine as characters in their own right, such as Morgana and her grand-sons, in comparison to say Mordred from the first novel.
There are some exhilarating action sequences and battles through the course of the novel, with also slower parts that allow for more character building. Once again I like that whilst the book overall is depicted in a more realistic and gritty fashion, there are hints of magic, and in some ways I think magic probably featured more in this book than the first.
The book itself is written in a way that it feels very much in the shadows of what came before. There are constant homages not only to Lancelot (whose presence looms large throughout the book), but to Arthur and his renowned horse lords and the dream of what once was and is now lost. As such at times it had a very reminiscent feel, which is why I think it feels more like a companion novel than a sequel, and for the most part it lacks the energy of its predecessor. What I did like though was that where in Lancelot the dream is destroyed at the end, here, at the end we are left with the feeling of hope and that it can be rebuilt, despite most of the book having a darker and more tragic feel.
I also liked how the ramifications of what occurred towards the end of Lancelot are explored and felt throughout this book, and once again that comes back to the tragic triangle of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot and the legacy it left for Britain. Their actions are still very much at the forefont and driving the story in many ways. I did however feel that Arthur was undeserving of the loyalty and love his followers continue to show him in this book. I won't say too much as I don't want to give away spoilers, but whereas Constantine shows in this book that he will act as the defender of Britain no matter what, the same is not true of Arthur, who is self-consumed in comparison. When Britain needed him most the truth is he wasn't there. Even Lancelot, whose reputation by comparison is so tarnished, fought and died for Britain at the end of the last book, he came when he was needed, and whilst it is true that their obsession with Guinevere was both men's downfall, I would say in Giles' telling, that is more true for Arthur. Speaking of Guinevere, her own arc in this book was very tragic indeed, and I was glad when she was at last freed of her curse, as she perhaps endured the worst fate of any character in the books.
Overall, this was another great Arthurian re-telling by Giles, not quite matching the spirit or capturing the depth of feeling of Lancelot, but a worthy companion piece, and I do hope Giles will revisit this world again in the future, as there is more he could do with Galahad, or even Taliesin. -
BLURB
Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been these past ten years. But in a small, isolated monastery in the west of England, a young boy is suddenly plucked from his simple existence by the ageing warrior, Gawain. It seems he must come to terms with his legacy and fate as the son of the most celebrated yet most infamous of Arthur's warriors: Lancelot. For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive
REVIEW
In this emotionally taut follow up to Lancelot, the author has taken the Arthurian saga/epic/myth a step further; a certified page turning tale that immerses the reader into that darkest of dark periods in Britain's history. Wonderfully crafted characters, imaginative plot lines full of surprises, a drama played out in heartrending, and visceral fashion...The Horse Lords of Arthur reemerge from fen and forest, proud, loyal to the death...Merlin rediscovers the gods...the lament of Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere rekindled in Galahad and Iselle...yes my fellow readers, the follow up is an excellent continuation of Lancelot. Take the advice from this humble scribe as sung by The Moody Blues: Are you sitting comfortably? Let Merlin cast his spell. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -
Last book i read in 2020 and so happy it didn't disappoint me
This is such a perfect companion story of Lancelot, Kristian gave us some answers of what happened in the end of Lancelot.. what happened to the Lancelot’s son, Arthur & Guinevere even some of his friends.. i love how Giles Kristian woven the story in unique way
Written in single POV (Galahad, son of Lancelot) i really enjoyed The beautiful, lyrical with sad tone writing style of Giles Kristian, it’s so easy to get immersed into this medieval world and it feels like you are part of the important quest
It wasn’t as emotional as Lancelot tho and as someone who is not the biggest fan of Travelling story.. i found some scenes were slow
But in the end i really enjoyed this book and make me want to read all of Giles Kristian’s books in the future! cause damnnn that writing style is everything, i want more! -
Review
For many who read my ramblings about books it will come as no surprise i loved this book, its predecessor Lancelot was my book of the Year last year, and it was hugely justified, a book that spoke so much from the heart and wove a new version of a fantastic legend ( Review of Lancelot )
Camelot once again sees the storytelling brilliance of Giles Kristian reach for and attain new heights.
Many of his readers will be used to the cut and thrust of the viking tales fueled with daring deeds and bloody battles (told with his elegance of phrase and character insight), but Camelot is several steps above this, it continues a journey begun in Lancelot where the authors writing ascended to a new level, where emotions are laid bare, where middle genre historical fiction (as some may term “Swords and sandals”) becomes a leap into something much more, something that speaks to the heart, mind and soul of the reader, where every phrase and passage is weighed for its ability to tell its own tale, to wring out the emotions and make the reader ask questions of the story and characters and themselves. The writing makes you experience every nuance of the world, the actions of the characters and the emotions they generate.
for full review follow link
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/... -
Paļaušos uz Goodreads ieteikto nozīmi divām zvaizgnēm kā "It was ok", jo nevarēju izšķirties starp divām un trim.
Ar nepacietību gaidīts turpinājums, plosoties un ārdoties, kā dabūt savās rokās pēc iespējas ātrāk, tikai lai lasītu gandrīz četrus mēnešus un beigās pateiktu "it was ok".
Jāatzīst, diezgan garlaicīgi. Pirmās divas trešdaļas ir ellē garlaicīgas, trešā drusku uzņem apgriezienus, tikai lai nebeigtos ar neko.
Par spīti tam, ka Lancelotā plus mīnus bija skaidrs, kam jānotiek beigās un beigas nebūs labas, man kaut kā šķita, ka likmes tur tomēr bija augstākas nekā Kamelotā, kas ir diezgan muļķīgi, jo Kamelotā stāsts ir pa lielam izzīsts no pirksta un autors ir tikai aptuveni iedvesmojies no leģendu leģendām.
Un tas arī ir diezgan liels klupšanas akmens, jo te ir visas iespējamās vāju turpinājumu un mūsdienu interpretāciju klišejas - tēli X, Y un Z tomēr ir dzīvi (bet kā?), tēls Ж ir tā un tā slepenā atvase, un tā tālāk.
Taisnības labad jāatzīst, ka mierinājumu un vislielākās dusmas man deva tieši autora pēcvārds. Mierinājums: pats autors to sauc ne tik daudz par turpinājumu, kā par "companion novel", kas varētu izskaidrot meh kvalitāti. Un labi, jūtos nedaudz apčakarēts, bet tas ir mārketings, baby.
Dusmas: pēc kaudzes neatbildētu jautājumu pēdējais autora teikums ir "I'll leave that up to you". Man nekas nav pret "ambiguous" beigām, bet te...
Ja Lancelotu vēl 100% kādreiz pārlasīšu (iespējams, viena no "the most underrated" grāmatām, ko esmu lasījis), par šo mierīgi var aizmirst. It doesn't get better. -
As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this sequel to Lancelot. If you read my review of that book, you would see that I really enjoyed all of the memories and ideals that it brought back to mind. The overall storyline, and the way that Mr. Kristian has reworked the tale to be told from the perspective of Lancelot in the first book, and now Galahad in this followup book, are very refreshing and believable, adding a realism I really like. I love these characters - they feel so perfectly real. I truly feel their motivations, their pains and their joys. The battle scenes are so well written also making it easy to visualize the battlefield and live the action. I truly hope there are more books coming in this series as I’m hooked! Can’t wait for more! 5/5 stars.
-
Sometimes a book comes your way and you instantly engage with it. The main character could be feeling the same emotions as you, maybe even the author felt as you did when they wrote it. For whatever the reason, I felt this way when I picked up Camelot.
Galahad is a novice monk, haunted by his past. Abandoned by his father, Lancelot, who left him on a hilltop with a battle raging below, to go off and die with Arthur. Galahad is very different to his father, more aware of the people around him and their feelings. Aware too, how people view him. Some fear him, thinking him an echo of bygone days, others rally behind him, hoping he will be the warrior his famed father once was.
The Saxons have taken all of the east, and just a few of Arthur's famed Cataphracts remain, fighting on against the inevitable, believing beyond hope that they can win.
Hope is not all lost. In the wilderness of the marsh, Arthur yet lives. His beloved Guinevere is with him in body if not spirit, her mind lost in another world. Gawain seeks Merlin, the revered Druid, hoping he can bring Guinevere back to Arthur, and therefore Arthur back to them. For only with Arthur fighting under his bear banner can they drive the Saxon scourge back to the sea. Or so they thought.
Unbeknown to Arthur, his daughter rides into his marshland hideaway, Galahad at her side. With Arthur's daughter and the great Merlin at her side, maybe, just maybe, they can finally halt the Saxon advance, and win back the lands they lost long ago.
The rest... well, buy the book. Seriously, buy it. There aren't many books I would bother squinting at my phone to read (no e-reader, and couldn't resist the email from Transworld, inviting me for an early read) but I'm so glad I did with this. Giles writes with a lyrical prose, a height he hit with Lancelot and I didn't really think he would be able to sustain, but he has. Each page is drenched in detail, immersing you into a world left by the Romans and not yet colonised by the Saxons. Britain is painted as a mist covered, marsh filled, godless place. A hard land, that breeds hard men.
As with Lancelot, it isn't really the plot that keeps you reading, but the strength of the characters, the elegance of the prose. It's just beautiful. There really is no one writing now that tells a story the way Giles does, its so unique, and deserves to be cherished.
The ending is quite open, I'm hoping there's one more book left in this tale, the first two certainly deserve a third. -
Camelot – Giles Kristian
I was kindly given an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Note I have not read anything previously written by Giles Kristian or the prequel to this story “Lancelot”.
“Camelot” follows on the back of “Lancelot” which follows a young Galahad, the son of the famous Lancelot.
Abandoned on the battlefield as Lancelot rode to his death and Arthur’s side, Galahad is left all alone with the fair Lady Guinevere fading away beside him.
10 years have passed since that fateful day, since he was left with the Brothers of the Thorn to be cared for and kept safe. Until the day Arthur’s famed horse warriors and warlords would come to collect him when the time was right.
Then they came, the famed warriors of Arthur, remnants of days past, they came for Galahad. But why they came for him and kept him safe soon became clear to Galahad. For Arthur still lived and Lady Guinevere was in between life and death, here but not here. Their mission was to find what rock Merlin had crawled under and have him bring Lady Guinevere back to Arthur would ride once again and free the lands from the Saxon scourge.
Galahad also had his own journey to follow, he needed to come to terms with what happened with this father and realise who he was, who he was meant to be and have the courage to follow his own path.
The warlords and Arthur manage to track down Merlin and bring him back to Arthur but along the way they manage to find a young girl Iselle, who was as fierce as they come, but had a past, a beginning she was not even aware of.
However, Merlin was not able to revive Lady Guinevere from the in between state she was in, not for long, she could not hold onto this world she wanted to go back, back for him. This broke Arthur and he would rise, would not call the men of Britain to arms to drive the Saxon scourge from the lands.
And now, the people of Britain needed someone to help them and rid them of the Saxon scum more than ever. For Lady Morgana and aligned herself with the Saxon King and wed him. Now they had a strong foothold in Britain and would burn the land and its people until there was nothing left. There would be no one to stand in their way except Arthur’s famous horse warriors and the son of the famed Lancelot – Galahad. But to rally the last King’s of Britain to their cause, to save the people of Britain they would need something special – they would need to daughter of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere – Iselle.
Together they made their final stand just outside Camelot against Lady Morgana and the Saxon King. But would they be able to crush the Saxons, what is the price they will have to pay to win and will Merlin desert them as he deserted Arthur all those years ago. One thing is for sure, Galahad will need to find himself and what lies in his heart if he is to survive all of this, if he is to survive and see Camelot.
I may have said this before but I will say it again – I honestly can’t get enough of stories about Camelot, King Arthur and his famous knights. I have read so many stories about them all and every time I discover a new one, I just have to read it. The downside of this is I have read just about every version you can think of, of the Arthur Legend.
“Camelot” takes the reader of the journey of King Arthur from a new and exciting new angle. It’s interesting to read the story from Galahad’s point of view as Lancelot’s son. I found Galahad’s story to be very inspiring and empowering character. It takes great courage to admit who you really are, to accept it and embrace yourself.
What I also enjoyed about the story is the idea that King Arthur and Lady Guinevere had a daughter to carry on their legacy and fight for Britain. Iselle is such a strong female character that doesn’t let people tell her what she can and can’t do and seems to relish in proving them wrong.
Overall, I found ‘Camelot” to be an exciting historical fiction novel that had an exciting twist of the whole King of Arthur legend that I found to be really novel and original. It was a masterful story that I couldn’t put down and had me as reader gripped and in his power. I felt like I was there and I could feel the heat of the battles around me and smell the fear and the horses. Giles Kristian is an amazingly talented writer that has the power to take you on a journey with him into his intricate tale of magic and the power of legends. -
6th century, One Kingdom of Britain-Dumnonia. Ynys Wydryn. The Tor and the Monastery of the Holy Thorn. Ten years after the Battle of Camlan. Ten years after Arthur. Giles Kristian’s Camelot (The
Arthurian Tales, #2) is the story of Galahad, son of Lancelot - Giles Kristian’s story of Galahad, not the traditional tale. This story begins with Gawain, Prince of Lyonesse, arriving at the Monastery of the Holy Thorn to collect Galahad who will go with the warriors of Arthur as all of Britain is again overrun by Saxons whose warbands are overtaking all the kingdoms of Britain-lawlessly, barbarically, and ruthlessly. Once Galahad joins this old band of Arthur’s horse guard, they leave the Tor to meet the last Druid, Merlin, who many feel betrayed Arthur in the Battle of Camlan, and ultimately caused Arthur to fall while the Saxons prevail. The era is called the Dark Ages where men continually war against a defined foe. It is a brutal, almost hopeless time for the people of Britain. The author prose illustrates this fact. Arthur is gone. Lancelot is dead. Merlin has been forsaken by the gods. Where does Galahad belong? What role will he play? This is his story beautifully told, but very different from what one may expect. Prepare for the extreme harshness of this time, but see the light, the flame, of what may be for the kingdoms of Britain. 4.5 stars. -
A tighter and less sprawling novel than its predecessor, Lancelot, Camelot nontheless retains the lyricism, mystery and magic inherent in the first as we follow Lancelot's son, Galahad, through the most transformative year of his life - from apprentice monk to a warrior to rival his father's legacy.
For me, this one took a bit longer to get going than Lancelot, which I think in large part was due to the first book being so strong and sweeping and just mythically huge. At first, I didn't particularly care for Galahad, but once the action began to step up and we met some very key - and previously beloved - characters, it took on the saga-like greatness of the first book.
I'm not sure whether there will be a third in the series or not, but whereas Lancelot came to a satisfying conclusion, this did leave quite a lot of story threads loose, so I do hope there will be a third in short order.
That said, this is a great book for anyone looking for a different take on the Arthurian legends or, indeed, an interpretation of Britain and its peoples and gods and struggles during the coming of the Saxons and their seizing control of the land from its kings. -
This review was originally posted on
RockStarlit BookAsylum!
Actual rating: 3.5'She's a beauty, isn't she?' Yvain was watching the pretty, darkhaired girl whose long fingers danced on the lyre strings, pouring notes into that fug-filled hall like some queen scattering coins among the poor.
I didn't even start reading Lancelot yet, when Camelot appeared on Netgalley and I instantly jumped on it. I knew I would love Lancelot and if that was the case, I reasoned, then I definitely will love Camelot as well. Fortunately for me, that meant I didn't have to wait too long between the two books and I had fresh memories going in. But maybe because of the current circumstances or because I had too high expectations, Camelot didn't exactly turned out to be what I hoped it would.
If you haven't read Lancelot, this review might contain spoilers for that book, but not for Camelot.
Events happen 10 years after the end of Lancelot. The biggest warriors of Britain, Arthur and Lancelot are dead. The kingdoms that once were united under his bear flag are divided once more. Some fight the Saxons still, others are powerless against the raids and yet some others try to struck a pact with them. The High King's seat is empty and though Lord Constantine still fights, even he has less and less options to defend the island. A small group of Arthur's warriors are still carrying his dream of Camelot and grabbing on the last strings of hope go on a journey to try to keep that dream alive.
Galahad, after his father's death was taken to a small island, Ynys Wyrdyn to join the monks who keep the Holy Thorn - according to legend Joseph Arimathea stepped his foot on that island and from his staff the Thorn tree grew. Galahad is not fully initiated yet, but he is close to it when the past comes knocking. Gawain and his companions come to collect him to fulfill his fate. Soon, however the chance of choosing his own path is taken from him, and he finds himself joining forces with legends, taking on the journey of his life - not only to find Camelot, but to come to piece with his past and accept his role in the future.
In Camelot, we meet some old friends such as Gawain or Lord Constantine or Merlin or even Morgana but we also have new characters: Iselle the fiery warrior from the marshes who has more courage than most of the soldiers or Yvain the monk who is not quite as devoted as his brothers. Personally I can say he was my favourite character in Camelot.
I honestly wish I can say I enjoyed Camelot as much as I did Lancelot, but... I didn't. Don't get me wrong, it's really well written, I just failed to connect or care about any of the characters. Galahad was pretty flat and weightless as an MC here, and though he did have some character ARC, I still couldn't make myself feel anything toward him. It didn't really help that I kept thinking he is much younger than 20 or so years... I liked Iselle, but we don't really get to know her either. I think my biggest issue here is that although we spend a lot of time with them as they journey up and down through Britain with a host of other characters, we really don't get to know them somehow.
Maybe it's because I'm really not into the journeying trope, but I wish this book was more focused on the conflicts between the Saxons and the kingdoms. We only get glimpses and of course a battle here and there, but I wanted more (not of battles, but the politics and backstabbing). I wanted to know why I should root for Galahad and company, why should I hate Morgana and her offspring beside the obvious reasons. I was bored a lot, although I also have to give credit where it's due: there were a couple of really powerful moments captured in Camelot which really made it worth reading the book. But damn that ending was... not satisfying and a bit abrupt if I'm honest. I also didn't buy the romance plot...
I think we can say Camelot is not as character driven as Lancelot was. Which is absolutely fine. The plot might have taken different turns than I expected going in, but I definitely appreciated Kristian's way of showing us early Christianity in Britain and how it clashed with the old faith as well as the Saxons'. Probably would have gone a bit deeper into these issues as well, but oh my. Kristian undoubtedly has a way with descriptions and painting a vivid picture of the world in which his stories are set.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about Camelot. There were aspects I enjoyed but I also felt underwhelmed at the end. Lancelot definitely put the bar high and I don't think Camelot was able to live up to it. Even so, if you enjoyed Lancelot, I don't see why you shouldn't also read Camelot. It has some nice - if a bit predictable - twists, battles, backstabbing, drama. Underneath it all, Camelot is the story about dreams, about unyielding loyalty and the notion that you never should give up. -
My absolutely top favorite read of 2018 was Giles Kristian's Lancelot so you can bet that I've been counting the days until the next book was released. I actually read Lancelot twice and was gushing so much that the author graciously sent me a Lancelot hat :)
Yet when I held the copy Camelot in my hands at last I was heistant to start it, because I know once I started it I was closer to finishing it and I knew I wouldn't want it to end. And I was right. These books are pure perfection! And of course, I read Camelot while wearing my Lancelot hat :)
Camelot picks up 10 years after the end of Lancelot. The Saxons are ravaging Britain and a young man is training to be a Monk at Ynys Wydryn, where they protect the Holy Thorn from the Saxons. That young man happens to be Lancelot's son, Galahad. He has been with the Monks since Lancelot died in battle. Without Arthur and his men Britain has fallen to the Saxons and their raiding troops steal and kill at will. When Gawain, a warrior who fought with Arthur, shows up at Ynys Wydryn and tells them that Galahad needs to come with them, that they have found Merlin, and have a plan to save Britain, Galahad must decide between his duty to his brothers, and his fate as the son of the greatest warrior in Britain.
"A man can't hide from the future, no more than he can hude from the past."
It's impossible to describe how I feel when I am reading this series. They are magical, which sounds cheesy to say, but they are. I feel like I'm on an Epic quest in a world of Gods, sacred trees, healing waters, and magical realms. It's like how I feel when I watch Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.
I'm pretty sure Camelot will be my top read this year. I cannot begin to explain how much I love these books. A massive thanks to Bantam Books and Anne Cater for the chance to read Camelot. I will be reading these books over again for years to come! -
I might like this even more than the first book, but I'll have to think about it. The writing is incredible as are the themes tackled. The prose is interwoven so well into the plot as are the themes of being in the shadow of your father and the sins committed before you were born. Also the surviving characters have a huge amount of trauma and things to wrap their minds around after the events of the first book. Hope there's another entry in this series in the future, I really enjoyed this and looked forward to listening to it every day.
-
read out of curiosity - always open to investigating an Arthurian tale 😉 - when I came across it as an audiobook in the library.
feels abit like abit of an epic, tho I'm not sure it's that long (tho feels like it in places), nor covers a long period of history. that latter was abit blurry, possibly cos I accessed it as an audiobook. I fairly frequently lost track of where they were, and when - birds were sometimes referenced that I thought were out of season, so I think I got pretty lost chronologically.
the audiobook could have done with an accompanying timeline and maps. the audiobook chapters just had numbers, no location in time or place.
I think alot of its downsides were for me due to the audiobook - the reader (Phillip Stevens) seemed to be shouting alot of the time, and it got pretty jarring and tiring. I think he was trying to project dramatically, but I think I would have liked some variations in rhythm. his accents were at times really annoying - his Welsh accent abit grim 😬
I think I'd have enjoyed the authors description better with a different reader, or if I was reading on paper. hard to tell from just this audiobook, but the language seemed layered and lyrical in places if I could divorce it from the reader.
I liked that alot of the story was set in the Avalon marshes and on the Isle of Avalon - the connection with place, a place I know quite well. I liked the continuation of the tale - it was good to catch up with Arthur and Guinevere in their later years, and Merlin too, and to meet Taliesin. I worked out that Galahad was effectively in search of the Holy Grail of some sort.
I lost track of alot of the meetings and alliances, and grew abit tired of the fighting - I think this dominated the novel, with not quite enough of substance between times for me - they always seemed to be fighting someone.
I think the biggest downside of the novel for me was that it was pretty much entirely male POV. several hundred men, and maybe 4 women who had names/anything to say. I know it's a tale primarily about, and narrated by, Galahad... but I'd have liked the female characters to have been given more depth than their place/role in relation to one or other man (daughter, wife, lover etc). this was especially striking when the main battle against the Saxons is led in name by Iselle (spelling guessed), which felt especially tokenistic, her character having hardly been developed beyond her function as Galahads 'love interest', and/or role in saving his life, assisting his cause. I think the novel would have been alot more interesting with other perspectives, especially some female character perspectives and insights.
I read/listened til the end, mostly to hear how it would be finished. but I didn't feel especially compelled to keep listening, and my interest waxed and waned.
3 ish stars 🌟 🌟 🌟
authors note at the end, describes this novel as a companion piece to Lancelot, rather than a sequel, which perhaps explains some things. nice to hear the author reading this bit, and would have been nice to have heard the book in this voice. also explains the slightly misleading title - I wasn't sure why it had been called Camelot, and the author explains that he'd wanted to call it Galahad but people were less familiar with his name.
an extra half star for this afterword 😉 -
Book 2 in the Arthurian Tales.
The story is set 10 years after Lancelot, and is told through the eyes of Galahad, Lancelot's son - the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive.
Giles Kristian takes the Arthurian legend and makes it his own, with great characters and no shortage of action. He's a fabulous historical fiction author who's up there with Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden.
Another open ending, will there be more? I hope so. -
BLURB:
Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been these past ten years. But in a small, isolated monastery in the west of England, a young boy is suddenly plucked from his simple existence by the ageing warrior, Gawain. It seems he must come to terms with his legacy and fate as the son of the most celebrated yet most infamous of Arthur's warriors: Lancelot. For this is the story of Galahad, Lancelot’s son – the reluctant warrior who dared to keep the dream of Camelot alive...
MY REVIEW:
Giles Kristian has set himself a rather monumental task. Namely, how do you follow a novel like LANCELOT - surely already a classic in the Arthurian canon and one of those books that leaves you with your head swimming and your heart thumping long after you’ve read the last word?
His monumental answer is: CAMELOT.
Here we discover that the end of LANCELOT was not, in fact, the last word. And the unusual thing about the masterful tale that Kristian continues to weave is that, in this dark age of gods and kings and curses, nothing seems to truly come to its end. Lancelot is dead but his shadow looms everywhere, especially in the mind of Galahad, the son he abandoned, whose story this is. King Arthur has faded from glory, but have we really seen the last of him? Guinevere is as good as dead and yet her hold over the men she left behind seems as strong as ever. Merlin’s power is spent but is he still the only one who can save Britain from its enemies? Arthur’s closest followers, all hardened warriors, have endured a lifetime of combat and won many victories, yet hordes of their enemies still rise before them.
And over-arching all of this, we the reader know where all this is headed. The Saxons DID take the Dark Isles, after all; Arthur’s dream of Britain WAS extinguished by the inexorable tide of invaders. It is this that lends the whole story its tragic quality. Yet somehow Kristian convinces us, like his protagonists, that the dream can live on. That there is hope, even when all around is darkness.
And for most of the novel, the darkness is pretty impenetrable.
Even after Galahad has been dragged, rather reluctantly, from the obscurity of the small community of monks where he has been hidden away for ten years, his emergence into the world is a rude awakening. Gone are the glory days when, together, Arthur and Lancelot looked like they might actually succeed in driving the Saxons back into the sea. Now everything and everyone is old and weary and passing away. Compromise stalks the land like a spectre, acknowledging the growing reality that the Saxons are here to stay. And yet the old warrior Gawain and a small band of retainers still faithful to Arthur tell themselves that what was once so close could yet be possible again. If only, if only…
And it is that “if only” on which the drive of the whole novel seems to rest. During the course of the quest to restore hope to the Dark Isles and rally the forces of Britain under Arthur’s banner once more, Galahad must rise as his father did before him. But he must also step out of his father's long shadow. He must decide what and who he believes in, and then fight to make it so.
At its simplest, this is a classic hero’s journey, the story of Galahad’s transformation from boy to man. But Kristian’s world-building is so rich in detail and scope that the novel encompasses far more than the experience of his young hero. Everyone Galahad encounters is so real that you can practically smell them in the room with you. You share their frustrations and their sadness that the world is not as they wish it to be. Whatever their vision of Britain without Saxons might be, it is already too late. The land is smashed and cannot be put together again. And one feels the tragedy that they know this but what choice do they have but to fight on anyway? Even when the thread of hope they cling to is so perilously thin.
Kristian is well-established as a modern day skald. His writing has a poetry to it which few other authors can match. There is music in his language and artistry in his imagery which is often as startling as it is original. For me, at least, it’s not the sort of writing that one can rush through as a reader. I wouldn’t want to. I’d miss too much. Like sipping a fine wine, I suppose. (That old cliche.) Except that by the time Galahad’s quest leads him and his companions into an “inmost cave” experience of quite astonishing horror and tension, Kristian’s story-telling leaves one with little choice. You feel the afterburners begin to kick in under you and before you know it, you are off on the rocket-ride to the novel’s epic conclusion. By then, I found myself gulping down his fine writing as fast as I could take it in.
Has Kristian surpassed LANCELOT? In a word, yes - which in itself is an immense achievement. But together, these two novels represent something altogether more monumental. Nothing short of a new milestone in British myth-making. It deserves to be an instant classic and I’d bet my last arm-ring that it will be. -
RTC
-
I didnt seem to enjoy this as much as the first. The emotional connection seemed to be missing for me
-
This totally ripped my heart into pieces! Camelot was just as beautiful as Lancelot for me.
I shall be in recovery mode while waiting for Arthurian Tales #3 💔❤️🩹
