Product Description

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intereing realities. To unravel the future of the future.

Kit Livingston's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.

One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard, and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code--a roadmap of symbols--that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.

But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.

The Bright Empires series--from acclaimed author Stephen Lawhead--is a unique blending of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, fantastical adventure like no other.

Customer Reviews (49)

Dissapointed
I have read and really enjoyed every Lawhead book. But this book just didn't catch me. The characters just didn't get developed. I finished it, waiting for something... But nothing. Just purely dissappointed.

Good start
There is much cause for celebration whenever a new Stephen Lawhead book comes out, especially since he is known for writing series and the last book may have come out two or three years ago. This book is the start of a new series and as such, there will be a new book a year for the next couple of years.

This book is a little different for Lawhead, but still reminiscient of the Paradise War series with the world between world idea. Lawhead adds in his famous style for going into great detail about places, especially within a historical setting.

I do feel that Lawhead is trying to hard to make this book a movie-series type feel, and he jumps around a lot from character to character. However, by the end, it seems he's just getting started and the next book may flow more easily with a better development of characters.

Lawhead has been blamed for being quite bloody in his previous books (though the Raven King series was not so much), and I think he's toned it down a lot. I think fans of Dan Brown's books will probably like this book and series. Though there is not much mention of Christianity in this book yet, I believe it will all be tied in some way. Lawhead subtly weaves it in. There is reference to Providence guiding the characters while the lead bad guy denies Providence and goes with a chaos theory.

As usual with most of the series that Lawhead writes, this one leaves you hanging, but this one the most. We must wait until September 2011 for the followup.

Good but...
The Skin Map was written by Stephen Lawhead.The book focuses on the accidental adventures of Kit, a young man in modern London.He comes in contact with his Great Grandfather Cosimo who tells him that there are spots and paths on the Earth that will take you to other worlds, other Earths as it were. In an attempt to demonstrate this new discovery to his girlfriend Mina he accidentally loses her.

He recruits the help of his Great Grandfather to find her.They join forces with Sir Henry, a fellow adventurer.Kit then learns of "the Skin Map."It is a map of symbols that were tattooed on a man's torso that contain information on how to travel through these dimensions.A road map of different worlds and where they connect. All along the way they are chased by the "Burley men," a group of men who work for someone who is also in search of "the Skin Map."

The book started out well.I found the characters interesting and their situations engaging and believable.I have two main issues with the book and they both have to do with the ending.First of all, it just sort of stops.There is no real resolution to the story, or even to this part of the story.Secondly I found a device used at the end to allow for some ending to the story a bit contrived.It was rushed and felt out of place with the rest of the story.I realize however this is the first in a series and perhaps after another book or two it may make more sense.

Another issue I have is that I got this book as part of a book review program by Thomas Nelson (the review is my own and I am not providing a "good" review because they supplied the book to me).With that said I expected it to have some type of "Christian" world view or message.It did not that I can tell.That was disappointing.

Review of The Skin Map
You may recall the movie Jerry McGuire in which Tom Cruise's character is trying to woo back his estranged wife. He gives a very explanation of his love to which she answers, "You had me at hello."The Skin Map made me feel that way. It had me at the very first sentence: "Had he but known that before the day was over he would discover the hidden dimensions of the universe, Kit might have been better prepared."
After reading that sentence I was henceforth drawn into the story. Stephen Lawhead takes his readers on a journey through time, dimensions, and the universe.
The characters are just average people, boring even, suddenly thrust into adventures they neither planned nor cared to have. But has the adventures continue, the characters grow and become exactly the kind of people that makes you want to read about them. I loved the good guys and hated the bad guys.
Kit could not have had a more boring life until the day he meets his great-grandfather who takes him on an impossible journey. When it causes him to be late for a date with his awful "settled for" girlfriend, she plunged into an adventure of her own when he tries to prove he's not making up a story.
This is a fabulous read and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I was given a copy to review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

An Unsusual Treasure Hunt
Stephen Lawhead's new book Skin Map, the first in an upcoming series called Bright Empires, is a bit of a deviation from his usual style of fiction. I think it's important to up front, not compare it to his other works and normal literary style, in order to not get disappointed. This is a light, fun, sci-fi adventure story, not a lot of deep substance or description. Once in that frame of mind, readers will enjoy the concept of what Lawhead is trying to create. The book is also definitely an intro book, a sort of outline of the lead characters and their background history. You will learn who they are, what their part in the scheme will be, and where they are located in time and place along the ley line journeys. Do not expect a wrapped up story, this first installment really does leave you hanging, and literally is just the tip of the iceberg with the basicplayers and a core plot set-up that will evolve with more significancein the coming installments.

At first I was disappointed in the simple writing and at times unsophisticated dialog, and because some characters appeared to be locked into one place not moving.But as I got further into the book I realized what the author was attempting, and with that, knew I had to be patient for him to invent a starting point that would obviously be followed up withmore in-depth scenarioslater in the future books.

The plot of the Skin Map revolves around Kit Livingstone who is one day out racing to the London train station to meet his girlfriend Mina. Along the way he is stopped by an old man who calls Kit by his real name, Cosimo. Stunned and stopping to a halt, he finds a ragged old man who claims to be his great grandfather, and is fed a ridiculous story of how a person can travel through time and space and into otherworld dimensions. Kit refuses to believe this nonsense as theold man tugs him along a dark alley, when a sudden and violent wind storm surrounds them. Within seconds, Kit finds himself thrown to the ground, in 16th century England. His great grandfather, also named Cosimo, then introduces the world of ley line travel to Kit, leaving Kit rather in denial, yet fascinated. Still unwilling to participate in this hoax, he returns to modern day London, arrives at Mina's apartment 8 hours later, and decides to prove to her what just happened to him in order for her to not be angry he was late for their date. As he pulls her down that same mysterious dark alley, the storm comes once again, and although they were holding hands, she ends up in 17th century Prague, and Kit ends up back in old London, frantic that he has apparently lost his girl!

Lawhead slowly introduces various characters, letting us know who the good guys and the bad guys are. He begins to weave stories within stories in each place in time that will all come together in future volumes. When you are reading the book you soon realize that all is not going to connect in this first book, and one must be patient. I totally enjoyed the ley line theory, and after getting half way through, started to chose characters Iliked and the mini stories within that they got involved in. Visiting 17th Century Prague (Austria then), 16th century London, and both ancient and Victorian Egypt was fun to armchair travel to! At times I did feel this was printed television, and that it did read like a screenplay for a new sci-fi channelT.V. series because of the Quantum Leap/Stargate feel to it. But I found by the end of the book, that it wasO.K., and I liked what Lawhead did. I have to say I did enjoy it and am eagerly awaiting book two to see what creative innovation the author will use to entertain me and execute this cool concept of time travel using ley lines, all to find a map made of skin!This was interesting, fun, and different for a Lawhead novel, but it shows promise! ... Read more

Product Description

After losing everything he owns, forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest--and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion--Will joins the heroic archer and his men.

Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging--unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.

That, of course, he will never do.

Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.

From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.

Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead's riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Customer Reviews (57)

Lawhead delivers...
Lawhead surpasses himself with this follow-up to "Hood". In "Scarlet", forester William Scatlocke aka Will Scarlet joins the lawless band after his master, a Saxon thane, had his land confiscated by the crown. As Bran and his men, which now includes Will, continue to rob from the Norman rich to give to the poor, they uncover a plot that they hope will help see justice done for the dispossessed people of Elfael.

Told predominantly in the first person narrative of Will Scarlet, there is greater fullness and intimacy in Lawhead's prose writing. He captures the injustices and disorganization that ensue for many Britons after the Norman Conquest and that continue under his son, William Rufus, often with the help of Norman church ministers. This book delivers great characters, interesting plot, solid historical background, and an authentic voice in Will Scarlet.Highly recommended.

Review of Scarlet
William Scatlocke is being held in a dank, dark cell awaiting his own hanging.He'll be held in that cell for five months and his only company is a surly jailer, who refuses to speak to him, and a monk by the name of Odo, who has been sent by Abbott Hugo to learn as much as he can of Rhi Bran y Hud (Robin Hood).

This is how this book is laid out.It's the first person account of Will Scarlet's meeting with Rhi Bran and the subsequent events - all told to a monk who writes down the tales.Mixed into the story are random chapters dealing with the events taking place outside, but the majority of the book is Will's point of view - and quite the story it is.

Now, it took me a few chapters to really start getting into the story - there are so many details, the politics are confusing and the events not at all familiar so I kept getting lost.Add into this the names and well.. yes, it was hard to get into.

But the story soon picked up and I found myself interested in finding out how things would end - to the point of being unable to set the book down for the last 200 pages.

This was a worthy addition to the trilogy and fun to read and I'm looking forward to reading Tuck for some resolution to the story!

Mediocre
I haven't completed the book yet, which is saying something. I finished the first book a little over a month ago and started this one about three weeks ago. I am typically a "read it in 3 days" kind of reader, but this just isn't at that level.

I love Lawhead's writing style! But the content needs a little tweaking to keep my interest.

One chapter will be full of action, keeping me enthralled, but the next chapter I have to convince myself to keep reading so I can get to another "good part." Maybe others find it more enthralling than I do.

"I Knew a Secret That Could Save Our Sovereign King From Dark Treachery..."
The main concept behind Stephen Lawhead's "King Raven" trilogy is to take the most familiar elements of the famous English legend and transport then to Wales in the time of King William the Red (Lawhead provides justification for this in the afterword of Hood) giving them a new cultural flavor and historical context. The idea works surprisingly well, allowing for Lawhead to spin the old tales in an original light.

In "Hood", the first installment of the trilogy, Prince Bran of Wales is forced to flee his estate after Norman invaders kill his father and seize control over his lands. Taking to the woods, Bran embraces his role as a leader to the families that have sought sanctuary in the wilds, becoming "Rhi Bran y Hud," or "the Raven King" to the people known as the Grellon or "the flock". Using scare tactics in order to raid Norman convoys, Bran takes his cue from a Welsh myth and dresses as a giant raven phantom (yeah, this part is a bit silly) and leads his warriors into guerilla-style ambushes against their oppressors, leaving the black feathers of the raven as a calling card.

In the previous book it was the traditional Robin Hood's attempts to collect the ransom for King Richard's release that was given a Welsh twist; written instead as Bran's mission to raise enough money to legally buy his land back from the Norman King. In "Scarlet," it is the famous archery tournament that is given a revamp, with the added twist that this time our Robin is *trying* to lose! I won't give away the details, but Lawhead is extremely clever in adapting the traditional source material to make the "real story" behind the legends.

Born an Englishman but forced out of his home and livelihood thanks to the Forest Laws, Will Scatlocke seeks out his mother's people in Wales approximately two years after the events of "Hood". Having heard rumors of the King Raven, Will is eager to throw in his lot with the outlaw prince in his efforts to overthrow Norman tyranny. Taken into the flock, Scarlet is soon enthusiastically contributing his skills in their latest ambush - one that delivers an unforeseen treasure into the outlaws' hands, one that may well tip the balance of power in their favour. That's only *if* they manage to figure out its full significance and use their newfound information accordingly.

This time around the villains are not the various baronial overlords, but rather the sadistic Sheriff Richard de Glanville and his lackey Guy of Gysburne, as well as Abbott Hugo de Rainault, a name and personality that seems to have been swiped directly from Robin of Sherwood. The mysterious letter that the outlaws find is of crucial significance to the fate of Wales, and Lawhead draws on the real historical tension that existed between Urban and Clement in order to create the political intrigue that drives the plot.

Unlike the previous book, which was told entirely in third-person narrative, most of the chapters in "Scarlet" are narrated by Will himself as he languishes in a prison cell, awaiting his execution and sharing his story of what lead him to these current circumstances with a Norman monk. Brother Odo is an engrossed listener, and between the two of them a strange sort of friendship arises as Will's tale unfolds.

As the title would suggest, Will Scarlet takes centre-stage in this novel, shifting the perspective from Bran and intensifying the point-of-view by putting us directly into Will's mind. Although Will's voice is brisk and his speech patterns engaging, it's unclear exactly what he's telling the Norman monk in his confession - the narrative often skips between his recounting of his experiences and the interruptions that Odo makes in the cell. It's a stylistic technique that doesn't quite gel, for not only are we unsure how much Will is divulging (and whether it includes the outlaw secrets that the reader is privy to) but that once the past catches up to the future, the need for Will's confessional account ends, and it's unclear who exactly he's talking to at all.

It's also a shame that Bran is more of a secondary character this time around; having become invested in his development in the last book, he seems considerably more distant here, and his relationship with Merian still hasn't improved much. The two of them don't really seem to like each other much, and all we have Lawhead's assurance that they're actually in love, and I've come to suspect that writing romance is simply not his strong suit. Further evidence is when Will falls in love with an outlaw woman. Why? Well...because she's a woman. That's all we get.

But of course, Lawhead's great strength is melding an exciting story based on old legends with the historical context of the time. He has a strong grip on plot and characterization, as well as the knack of knowing just the right blend of humor, pathos, detail and suspense to craft a quick-paced and thoroughly enjoyable novel. I'm definitely glad I began this trilogy after it's completion, for now I won't need to wait too long for the final book: Tuck.

Dissapointing. Too Slow. Meanders with too many words
I bought the first book in this series with a touch of apprehension. I love the Robin Hood tale and enjoy fresh takes on old ideas. I loved the first book. Stephen Lawhead is at his best when he is telling a rip roaring story of love, adventure, battles and human issues. He achieves that in the first book.

In Scarlet though he reminded me why I didn't like his King Arthur series. This book was a chore to finish for me. The plot itself is intriguing but the delivery lacks. The story is told from the first person POV of Will Scatlocke (Scarlet). Occasionally the book will drop back into a third person POV and actually move forward but when "Ole Will" is telling the story it's slow and painful. I just didn't like it.

It does end with a cliffhanger and I know that people are raving about the third book so I'm hoping Lawhead will right the ship with that one.


... Read more

Product Description

"Pray God our aim is true and each arrow finds its mark."

King Raven has brought hope to the oppressed people of Wales - and fear to their Norman overlords. Deceived by the self-serving King William and hunted by the treacherous Abbot Hugo and Sheriff de Glanville, Rhi Bran is forced again to take matters into his own hands as King Raven.

Along the way Friar Tuck has been the stalwart supporter of the man behind the legend - bringing Rhi Bran much-needed guidance, wit, and faithful companionship.

Aided by Tuck and his small but determined band of forest-dwelling outlaws, Rhi Bran ignites a rebellion that spreads through the Welsh valleys, forcing the wily monarch to marshal his army and march against little Elfael.

This epic trilogy dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood as Stephen R. Lawhead conjures an ancient past while holding a mirror to contemporary realities. Filled with unforgettable characters, breathtaking suspense, and rousing battle scenes, this masterful retelling of the Robin Hood legend reaches its stunning conclusion in Tuck.

"Steeped in Celtic mythology and political intrigue, Tuck is also filled with suspense and action. The dialog is marvelous, the settings in Wales and England breathtaking, and the characters well drawn." - Historical Novels Review

Customer Reviews (45)

Tuck
Great book, number 3 in the series; puts a more probable view on the legend of Robin Hood. I love all of Stephen Lawheads books. They are exciting from page 1 to the end of the book.

Excellent purchase
Everything as advertised. Service quicker than stated.Would buy again.Great genre writer.

A good read, with strong spiritual and moral themes
It took me awhile to warm up to Tuck. I think part of it was coming into the story on the third book of a trilogy, having to get oriented as the tale of Rhi Bran and his band of outlaws was building to a climax.

The Robin Hood legend is familiar and comfortable for most of us, I think, but Lawhead throws it akilter by setting it in an historical Wales with a Robin who's more than just a dashing re-distributor of wealth. He's a dispossessed prince, a man who should be king, and he's carrying a load of emotional baggage, not the least of which is the death of his parents at the hands of Norman raiders.

Great, I thought. A brooding, orphaned aristocrat who runs around in the dark fighting evildoers, wearing a scary costume. Bruce Wayne in the year 1000. I wasn't liking him much at the beginning.

Fortunately, I kept reading, mostly because of Friar Tuck. He's an unlikely hero--short, round, bowlegged, and not particularly handsome. We experience most of the story from his point of view. Far from the jolly, insubstantial pseudo-priest of the cinema, Tuck is a man of deep faith and simple convictions. He's equally at home offering blessings to poor families and breaking the heads of enemies foolish enough to underestimate him. He is at turns brilliantly insightful and childishly naive. He wants nothing more than to live at peace, tending a little flock of country parishioners, but his conviction of the rightness of Bran's cause leads him perpetually into danger, a situation he accepts with weary patience and good nature. It helped my understanding and appreciation of Bran when I began to see him through Tuck's eyes.

Tuck has faith that God will bring Bran and his followers safely through their war against impossible odds and grant them victory. His faith is ultimately vindicated-victory is secured not primarily through force of arms, or shrewd alliances, but through a change of heart. The peacemakers don't have an easy time of it in this story, but in the end, they are clearly proven right, and blessed. It's a powerful message.

This is a character-driven story. Lawhead doesn't spin a lot of purple prose in blow-by-blow analysis of battles or breathtaking travelogues of the Welsh countryside, though there are some nice action scenes and enough imagery to provide a decent mental anchor for medieval Wales. We watch Rhi Bran's transformation from a bandit leader to a worthy king, with the help of wise advisors and loyal friends. Lawhead also shines a welcome spotlight on some of the supporting players who don't get a lot of press, like Will Scarlett and Alan a Dale, as well as a few we've not met before. I was particularly intrigued by Angharad, the shaman/wisewoman who is Bran's principal advisor and mentor. It's unclear whether she is a converted Druid or someone who has discovered the one true God via His witness revealed in nature, but she illustrates the fact that despite its embrace of Christianity, Britain was at this time only recently emerged from paganism, and the memories and influence of the old ways were still strong. Even Tuck defers to her authority at times.

Tuck is a good read, with strong spiritual and moral themes. I enjoyed it, and probably would have enjoyed it more had I read the other two volumes of the trilogy first. I'll probably go back for them at some point, but Tuck actually left me more eager to check out Patrick, Lawhead's novel about the Irish saint.

Review of Tuck
This was the best book of the trilogy, hands down.Friar Tuck has always been one of my favorite characters in the Robin Hood stories - but he was almost replaced by a new character introduced in Tuck - that of Alan a'Dale.Lawhead did a beautiful job of writing this character and I found myself searching for as much of him as I possibly could throughout the story.

Everything must come to an end, and a satisfying end this was.I loved Tuck's role in the resolution (even though it did seem a bit far-fetched) but even more I loved Lawhead's explanation of where the inspiration came from.

I haven't spoken about this on the other two books, but each of these books Lawhead gives a short 5-6 page history lesson on some of the more fantastic things we, the readers, have read about in each book.Tuck was no exception - and if anything has me already researching books to read that will give me more knowledge on the battles Lawhead described.

A worthy trilogy and a fine introduction to Lawhead.My only complaint is the pace can move a bit slowly - and I'm hoping that is something that doesn't happen in his other series as well.

"I Am Too Old and Fat for This..."
This is the third and final part in "The Raven King" trilogy, begun with Stephen Lawhead's Hood and continued in Scarlet. After publication was delayed for a period of time due to illness, "Tuck" finally concludes the story in a satisfactorily, though perhaps slightly anti-climactically, way. The key concept behind this particular version of Robin Hood is that it proposes to be the "real" story behind the legends, based on events that originated in Wales and which went on to inspire the later bards and minstrels.

Lawhead chooses to transport the traditionally English tale to Wales based on several factors: that country's dense forests, the Welsh skill with longbows, and the historical difficulties that the Normans had in conquering territories in eleventh century Wales due to the guerilla tactics that were used to repel invaders. Wales in circa 1093 (the time period in which this trilogy is set) was a breeding ground for stories that could have eventually grown into the Robin Hood legends as we know it today.

This particular retelling of Robin Hood has Rhi Bran y Hud as the titular character, a Prince of Wales who is driven from his home after Norman invaders kill his father and seize control over his lands. Taking to the woods, Bran embraces his role as a leader to the families that have sought sanctuary in the wild, and he becomes known as "the Raven King" to the people known as the Grellon or "the flock". Joined by his old friend Iwan (Little John), new friend Will Scathelock (or Scarlett), close acquaintance Friar Aethelfrith (Tuck) and his long-time love Merian (no translation needed), Bran uses scare tactics to terrorize and raid Norman convoys and settlements.

After thwarting a plot to overthrow King William Rufus, the outlaws return home in disappointment after the king refuses to return Bran to his rightful place on the throne. Though Rufus has exiled the greedy Baron de Braose and his nephew Count Falkes, the Welsh still have to deal with the sadistic Sheriff de Granville, the corrupt Abbott Hugo de Rainult and their lackey Guy of Gysborne. Although the story is told in first-person narrative (moving away from Scarlett's confessional account of events in the second book) and drifts between several characters' points of view, much of the focus falls upon Tuck, the self-described: "poor, humble mendicant whom God has seen fit to bless with a stooped back, a face that frightens young `uns, and knees that have never had fellowship with the other."

Much like the trilogy itself, "Tuck" is divided into three distinct parts: the outlaws' rescue of a potential ally, the ousting of the Ffreinc from Bran's ancestral home, and the final gathering of two armies in order to fight for the freedom of Elfael. As such, the story feels a little choppy, especially when certain plotlines don't tie together particularly well. Although the lengthy first act involves Bran and his men undergoing a clever but dangerous mission in order to rescue King Gruffydd, the eventual pay-off isn't particularly rewarding. Likewise, Merian (still rather bland) has a short subplot in which she returns to her brother in order to muster his soldiers, only to be taken under house arrest by her family. Although she argues the cause of Bran and the Welsh with passion, her brother and Bran's allies eventually come to a decision that they would have reached with or without Merian's insistence. Likewise the conniving character of Baron Bernard de Neufmarche fizzles out a little bit to the point where I'm not entirely sure why he was necessary at all. The man who was shaping up to be the main antagonist of the series ends up as a minor background character.

As the title would indicate, it is naturally Tuck who keeps the disparate bits of the narrative together. Tuck is often the overlooked character in the legends; often used as comic relief or po-faced pontificating, but here he is warm and kind-hearted, wise and intelligent, witty and pious, and overseeing both the physical and spiritual needs of his little flock. In short, this is one of the best and most humanized Tucks I've ever come across. In various incarnations of this character, Tuck never quite seems a "follower" of Robin in the same sense that Little John, Will Scarlett, Much and even Marian are. Though he's a natural ally to Robin and an active part of the gang, he often comes across as a bit of an outsider, and it's perhaps because of his affiliations with the church that he never takes on true "outlaw" status.

That same idea is at work here; although Tuck is obviously loyal to Bran and happy to take his commands, there's also the sense that he answers to a higher power that transcends both sides of the conflict. His course is usually to encourage peace talks, and in fact this makes up the most crucial part of his role to play in this particular installment.

As the other characters go, Bran has come into his own and fully embraced his role as leader to the people, weighing up his victories and defeats and making the difficult decisions in order to protect what he holds dear. It is a bit odd however that so much of the narrative is somewhat distanced from his point of view, particularly considering how prominent he was at the beginning of the trilogy. I wonder if perhaps it would have been more effective if the first book had been called "Tuck", with the good friar setting Bran on the path to manhood and maturity, and this, the final book, being told from Bran's point of view in order to explore how much he's really grown.

Little John and Will Scarlett are fairly low-key here, and although Merian is more prominent, she and her relationship with Bran is still rather one-note. Alan a'Dale is introduced here as a vagabond and minstrel, and given the appropriate role of translator between the many dialects that existed in Wales at this time (furthermore, an epilogue explores his role in adapting the story into the legends as we know them today). Much never makes an appearance, and rest of the cast are a variety of original characters that help join in the conflict for the freedom of their homeland, but who suffer legitimate loss in the struggle.

Heading several of the chapters are the verses to a ballad that one day turns the events recorded here into legend, as well as an informative author's note that explains several of the concepts and historical ideals used in the narrative.

For what looks like such a large book, the pace is extraordinary quick and flits from scene to scene without any excess dross. Lawhead has a good handle on the distribution of dialogue, setting, characterization, historical context and plot, and never wastes any words when it comes to getting across the pertinent aspects of the story he's trying to tell. All in all, this has been an enjoyable adaptation of the familiar story, both predictable (not that that's necessarily a bad thing) and with plenty of clever and unforeseen twists. Focusing on a character that is so often given short-shrift (in the latest BBC series, Tuck wasn't even included until the third season) this is a warm and memorable portrayal of one of the most iconic and familiar characters in European legend. ... Read more

Product Description

It was a time of legend, when the last shadows of the mighty Roman conqueror faded from the captured Isle of Britain. While across a vast sea, bloody war shattered a peace that had flourished for two thousand years in the doomed kingdom of Atlantis.

Taliesin is the remarkable adventure of Charis, the Atlantean princess who escaped the terrible devastation of her homeland, and of the fabled seer and druid prince Taliesin, singer at the dawn of the age. It is the story of an incomparable love that joined two worlds amid the fires of chaos, and spawned the miracles of Merlin...and Arthur the king.

Customer Reviews (102)

Depends on what you're looking for....
The story is well-written and the characters are endearing, but...

Taliesin journeys to the Otherworld and finds there... the White God?Seriously?!The most legendary Druid Bard who ever lived (maybe?) turned into the World's First Evangelical Christian was very painful to witness.And the light hand with history was also cringe-worthy.If you have only the most cursory interest in and knowledge about Celtic history, Druids, the Atlantis myth, the Cymry people, Wales, and the Arthurian Legend, you may enjoy this book.But if you are interested in these subjects and know a thing or two about them, this book will probably deeply hurt you.

All that said... there are some passages which are beautifully crafted and quote-worthy.Just... not the ones which have anything to do with the spiritual path of the world's most famous Druids (whether myth or real) or history even in the lightest concept.

It captured my imagination
I read the entire Pendragon Cycle some years ago. I ran across the Merlin book quite by accident in a book store. I was enthralled. After reading Merlin, I just had to get Taliesin. I was not disappointed. Every page held me fast. I could not put it down. It is the same with all Lawhead books.

Worst book ever
This was AWFUL. The first two thirds were entertaining. But in the third section, just when Taliesin was starting to get awesome, he becomes a Christian which apparently is equivalent to being boring and one dimensional. I'm a Christian, so when i read this portion of the book it thoroughly disappointed me. Lawhead could have provided an entertaining story but instead he decided that he wanted to provide an uninspired and uninteresting ending to an otherwise good story. What a waste.Don't but this book. If you REALLY want to read it just borrow it from the library or borrow it from a friend who made the mistake of buying it. I got it at a yard sale; i wish i had spent my quarter on just about anything else.

A good read
This book was hard for me to get into at first. There was a lot of made-up language to get used to.But once I picked up on the terms (or learned what I could ignore and still understand the story), the book got much better.Normally, I would have given up on a book five chapters in if I didn't like it but I was stuck in a sick bed for a couple of days and so kept reading.I'm glad I did.I wound up staying up way past my normal bedtime to finish this book and cried like my own heart got broken at the very end.

Legends of Arthus
This is my second reading of this series.My first was many years ago. I collect items about Merlin and Arthur, but in a recent move many items were lost!! So I am recollecting these books, and reading them for the 2nd time and enjoying them fully again.Mr. Lawhead goes into detail without slowing down the plot.His writing style is easy but not childish. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in the legend, or anyone liking a good satisfying read. ... Read more

Product Description
The legends of King Arthur come alive with a Christian world-view in these masterfully told adventures. These new editions contain new maps and other new material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

YES!
This book is the bomb! it was excatly what i was looking for and i read it non stop. Literally 24 hours. but only 1 problem it lasted me three days!!!! Anyway this is a great book, if you like fantasy this will be the book of your dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fast-moving style
Book two of The Pendragon Cycle, in which Lawhead moves forward in his retelling of Arthurian legend onto a little firmer historical ground, in that time between end of Roman military presence and establishment of island-wide political rule.

This slim historical grounding gives Lawhead's tale believability, and he writes in fast-moving style, seldom bogged down in breathless romanticism, and sometimes rising to profound and humorous levels in retelling this oft-told tale.

Book three in the series:Arthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3)

Lawhead weaves a great tale
I am a fan of the Mary Stewart Arthurian legend, yet I found myself enthralled with the Pendragon Cycle of books.Very different types of stories, but I found them equally interesting.I read this book almost 20 years ago and I remember it almost in its entirety.

Not Free SF Reader
Merlin goes through a considerable period of Myrddins life.He is the child of Charis of Atlantis and Taliesin the Bard.

From being a kid and showing his tutelage by various luminaries, to life as a young warrior, all the way through to becoming a kingmaker and installing Arthur.

The Second Book in the Pendragon Cycle

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Stephen Lawhead has his home in Austria with his wife.

I admire Stephen Lawhead's writing very much. It is quite obvious to the reader that the author loves his subject matter andin his historical novels has diligently researched the material that he uses. Even with Merlin, which can only be described as a fantasy, the way the author sets the scene makes the reader almost believe that they are reading a factual rather than a fiction book.

Having brought the `children' of Atlantis to the shores of Britain in Taliesin, the author now focuses on the mystical figure of Merlin, who in all the other legends is always at the right hand of Arthur. Merlin has a vision of the Kingdom of Summer ruled by the Summer Lord. ... Read more

Product Description

It has been fortold: In the hour of Britain's greatest need, King Arthur will return to rescue his people.

In Portugal, the reprobate King Edward the Ninth has died by his own hand.

In England, a dark scenario conceived by the power-hungry Prime Minister, Thomas Waring, is about to be realized: the total destruction of the British monarchy in the twenty-first century.

And in the Scottish Highlands, a mystical emissary named Mr. Embries--better known as "Merlin"--informs a young captain that he is next in line to occupy the throne. For James Arthur Stuart is not the commoner he has always believed himself to be--he is Arthur, the legendary King of Summer, reborn. But the road to England's salvation is rocky and dangerous, with powerful waiting to ambush: Waring and his ruthless political machine...and the agents of an ancient, far more potent evil. For Arthur is not the only one who has returned from the mists of legend. And Merlin's magic is not the only sorcery that has survived the centuries.

Customer Reviews (61)

what a great premise!
I have made my way through the entire Pendragon series and then started this one.I love how Lawhead takes the premise of the once and future king" and puts it into a modern setting.I love the subtle references to the events, places, and characters in the earlier books.This book is probably better after one reads the other books in the series, as it is something of a conclusion to the Arthur cycle.I am a scholar of Arthurian literature, so I hungrily read any and all modern interpretations.This one is definitely the most unique I have read in a long time.

A fun romp
A somewhat isolated book of the Pendragon Series which borrows a few key personalities from the series and brings them ~1500 years ahead to the current time. The characters are transparent, the plot is fairly predicable, and the climax was not. No sword clashing or epic battles, and a small and shallow romance thrown in for spice.

With all that in mind, read it for purely entertainment purposes. Set your mind in the same mood as when you watch an action movie, with no real expectations beyond that, and it is an enjoyable read that you'll devour fairly fast, then put it away and forget within a few days.

Amazing
A High King has risen out of the midst of his people.By his side stand a wise councilor, a beautiful Queen, and faithful companions.This man has a vision of peace and prosperity, but to make that dream a reality he must overcome a terrible evil and a petty Prime Minister. That's right; Arthur is no longer a mythical figure from the dark ages. He lives on in Steven R. Lawhead's masterpiece about near-future England.
Everything changes when King Edward the Ninth dies and leaves the government with the means to dissolve the monarchy. For most of England, this event comes almost as relief.The monarchy has been in steady decline and nearly everyone is saying "good riddance" to the whole thing.James Stewart only wants to hold-on to the home that was left for him by his parents and which is being battled over by numerous people with claims to the property.When James comes home and discovers a man -who identifies himself only as Embries -his life changes completely.This book does not take the story of King Arthur and magically transform it into a modern tale.It carries it on, fulfilling the prophecy of Arthur's return."The throne of Britain shall become an iniquity to the nation, and a reproach to the people, ere Arthur returns. But, when Avallon shall rise again in Llyonesse, and the Thamesis reverse its course, then also shall Arthur take up the kingship of his nation once more."- Anerin, the Black Book of Anerin (ca. 643)-preface of Avalon.Avalon goes far beyond the traditions of Arthurian tales, and yet the Old World feel and enchantment remain unchanged.Whether or not he ever drew a breath or sword, Arthur inspired anyone who heard his tale.Now we have a new hero; James Stuart.
Lawhead's genius is apparent in his characterizations.No matter how absurd the idea of a reincarnated King Arthur may seem, James is completely believable. He is confident and modest, and feels like a real person.I found myself wishing that I could be present at one of his awe-inspiring speeches.Arthur's closest friends and allies have also reappeared.Everyone fits into modern society perfectly, while retaining qualities that instantly identify them.Jenny is strong, and supportive; just as before, she is James' backbone.Cal McKay is James' fiercely loyal best friend; "the brother James' parents never got around to giving him."Even Prime Minister Waring is portrayed flawlessly as the ladder climbing politician whose entire life's work is crumbling out from under him.
This book has something for everyone; Arthurian legend, political intrigue, fantasy, romance, adventure -you name it.There are places where suspended disbelief is necessary, but in a book this amazing it doesn't matter.At just over 400 pages, Avalon is not a book for someone looking for a quick read, but once you start, putting it down ceases to be an option.
Stephen R. Lawhead is the author of many other wonderful books. His works include The Pendragon Cycle, the Dragon King Trilogy, and The Song of Albion trilogy.The Pendragon Cycle is recommended for anyone who would like more background on Lawhead's version of King Arthur's tale; it consists of five books, each of which tells a story leading up to or about Arthur, beginning with that of his grandfather; Taliesin.Avalon can certainly stand by itself, but these novels give further insight into the story.

The Once and Future King
England is in turmoil.The ineffective king, Edward the Ninth, has committed suicide.Prime Minister Thomas Waring is one referendum away from abolishing the monarcy.And James Arthur Stuart, a Scottish commoner and former army officer, is about to find out that he is the rightful heir to the throne."Avalon", the final book in Stephen Lawhead's 'Pendragon Cycle', is a fitting conclusion to the Arthurian legend of a king who was, and will be again.

When James Arthur Stuart finds out he is heir to the throne, he is dumbfounded to say the least; and when he is told that he is the legendary King Arthur reborn, he finds himself remembering his previous life in spite of his doubts.It is his task, along with his advisor M. Embries, better known as Merlin, to reignite the British peoples desire for a monarcy and defeat the power-hungry Waring at dangerous cost.Set in a modern/near-future time, "Avalon" is a departure from the rest of the series.Yet Lawhead brings the same intensity to detail and legend to the last book of the series.Mixed into James' life is a cast of characters from Arthurian legend, and the circumstances of his life fall uniquely in line with that of Arthur's own upbringing.While the plots of the previous five books have played out on battlefields full of blood and gore, "Avalon" is played out in the field of politics, an all too telling look at a probable reality.

Lawhead has done a tremendous job at bringing the Arthurian legends to new life.While there are moments in "Avalon" that are trite and push the limits of reality, the story is a fitting piece of the legendary puzzle.Although it already pushes 500 pages, the ending seems to come too quickly for all the previous buildup, and leaves readers wishing for just a little more.

Avalon: Intreging
This story is intreging and has an interensting view on the return of King Author.It acts as a prolog to the Pendragon Cycle. ... Read more

Product Description

Robin Hood

The Legend Begins Anew

For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now, the old familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.

Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him--for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.

Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Stephen R. Lawhead's latest work conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities.Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Customer Reviews (103)

wish I could give it five stars, but . . .
As many of the other reviews with tell you, Hood is an excellent, historically based, wonderfully written book.
I loved the book until . . . the last chapter.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but near the end, Merian is being a bit of an idiot, and Bran (Hood) slaps her. This one scene made me take a giant step back from the novel. I didn't really see how the slap helped the story move along, or how it even heightened the tension between Hood and Merian. Physical abuse between two characters who we think (based on other versions and events in the novel) will fall in love does not settle well with me.
Abuse is wrong, period, and should not be tolerated in any circumstance.

A Refreshing Take on Robin Hood
Stephen Lawhead gives a convincing argument for placing Robin Hood in Welsh country, as opposed to the much more familiar Sherwood Forest. I've been drawn to Welsh history ever since I watched Sir Derek Jacobi play a medieval monk in the Cadfael mystery series, so Robin Hood's relocation to that time and place was a lot of fun for me.

In this story, Robin Hood actually goes by the name Bran. He's the reckless and self-serving son of an angry Welsh King, whose lands are about to be invaded by murderous, yet extremely religious Norman conquerors. With his father soon dead, Bran, Iwan (Little John), and many of their people flee to the forest for safety. As more Welsh kingdoms fall to the Normans, Bran struggles to find his destiny, especially as his own plans don't always coincide with the well-being of his people.

Did I find the story suspenseful? Let me answer that with another question: Was I blissfully exhausted after realizing I'd stayed up till 4am to finish the novel last night? The answer is a resounding "yes!" After really getting to know each of the major characters I was happily drawn into the drama.

The plot moved along a little slowly for part of the novel, but what was sacrificed was made up in character development. I was happy with it. And besides, there was plenty of action throughout to keep the overall story riveting. I also truly love Lawhead's descriptions in this story, especially of the landscape, the lifestyle, and the action scenes. At some points his writing seemed exquisite to me. Love love love!

I loved "Hood" and I highly recommend it. Definitely worth 5 out of 5 stars. And I can't wait to read book two in the series: "Scarlet."

Fantastic new take on Robin Hood
This book washed away every preconcieved notion I had about Robin Hood, and replaced it with rich, intriguing characters and history from beginning to end. This is NOT the Robin Hood you grew up with. Between the fantastialy written characters and the well developed celtic mythology, this story comes alive, page after page, and leaves you begging for more.

Skeptical reader turned fan...
Lawhead presents a thoroughly believable reinvention of the Robin Hood tale with the Welsh Rhi Bran y Hud, meaning King Raven the Enchanter.Bran's home is confiscated by the Normans and his father killed.Running for his life he is attacked by Norman knights and left for dead to be found and nursed back to health by a wizened old woman, Angharad.In the meantime, the tenant's lands are left fallow while they are corralled into building projects for their new Norman lord, Count Falkes.

Though I find the book at first sketchy historically with the characters inadequately fleshed out, the plot is fast-paced and action-packed.The turning point for me was the introduction of the aged wise woman, Angharad, a Merlin-like character that taps into the Welsh tradition of bard and respected spiritual leader of the harried Welsh community. Here Lawhead excels himself in his characterization of Angharad, as she heals Rhi Bran, so King Raven y Hud, the people's much-needed protector can be born. From here on end the book takes off and I couldn't put it down.The description of the forest scenes and ambushes are excellent and gripping.I really look forward to continuing the series.

Relive the Legend!
Bran ap Brychan is the heir to the throne of Elfael, a small kingdom in Wales. Unfortunately, it's a time in history when the Ffreincs are expanding their territories, defeating and dividing new lands among barons who have proclaimed fealty to the king, Red William. Bran's father held out against the authority of William for a time, but it became clear that there was no alternative. The king and his best men travel to Lundein to offer their fealty when they are attacked on the road by a Ffreinc battalion. Fortunately for Bran and the people of Elfael, he had been delayed from departing with the king and therefore the heir to the throne survives the massacre.

Bran and a couple of close friends travel to Lundein to express their outrage at the attack and demand their lands are returned. Unfortunately, the greedy Ffreincs will not help them, and Bran is forced to return home empty handed. Upon returning home, Bran is forced into hiding after Falkes de Braose, the leader of the invasion, discovers that he is the heir. While in hiding, Bran gains a mentor in the storyteller Angharad, who helps develop him into the leader that his defeated people need. The land and people of Elfael, under Ffreinc rule, are being brutally mistreated, left to starve and work as slave labor for the Ffreincs. Bran finds a small band of people who had retreated to the woods for protection from the Ffreincs, and together they begin planning the liberation of Elfael.

Hood is the first part in a trilogy based on the legends of Robin Hood. Personally, I enjoyed the different perspective on the story. Lawhead pulls you out of Sherwood Forest and Nottingham, and places you in what is likely the more accurate origin of the tale. Historically, no one has ever been able to identify the true Robin Hood or where the story began. It was a tale told by wandering minstrels, evolving and changing into today's popular rendition as the story spread over time. At first the change in scenery seems unusual and almost offensive (who is Robin Hood without the Sheriff of Nottingham??), however he is kind enough to give his reasoning for the change in time and location at the end of the book. When one reads the evidence he provides, it is clear that his version may in fact be more historically accurate.

This story will take you deep within the forests of the Marches of Wales, and introduce you to various characters, some new and some old (Guy of Gysburne, Friar Tuck, and Little John). The characters were interesting and well developed. I look forward to learning more about them and seeing how they develop in the next two books. I think Lawhead takes an interesting perspective on Bran, who unlike Robin Hood, is not immediately keen on the idea of leading a small rebellion against the oppressive government. It is only after a great deal of persuasion that he decides he needs to help free his people.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the use of multiple points of view. You gain the perspectives of almost every character, including Marion, de Braose, Tuck, Angharad, and more! The various accounts of events allow the reader to experience many events that are occurring simultaneously such as Bran's time in hiding and de Broase's enslavement of the people of Elfael. It helps to kept the story rolling at points where it would otherwise drag on for a bit.

That being said, the writing is rather lengthy, and at times almost too detailed. You spend many chapters simply sitting in a cave with an injured Bran, being nursed back to health by Angharad. Granted, Angharad spends that time telling stories and trying to convince Bran to save his people, but it still starts to drag on after a bit. There were a few points where I had trouble staying engaged with the story because it became overly focused on details, but all in all I still feel that it was a good book. I enjoyed reading the classic tale of Robin Hood from a different perspective, and will definitely finish the trilogy. ... Read more

Product Description
A kingdom hangs in the balance...and a young boy answers the call.

Carrying a sealed message from the war-hero Dragon King to the queen, Quentin and his outlaw companion, Theido, plunge headlong into a fantastic odyssey and mystic quest.  Danger lurks everywhere in the brutal terrain, and particularly in the threats from merciless creatures, both human and not-so-human.

While at the castle, the wicked Prince Jaspin schemes to secure the crown for himself, and an evil sorcerer concocts his own monstrous plan.  A plan that Quentin and Theido could never imagine.

In the youth's valiant efforts to save the kingdom and fulfill his unique destiny, he will cross strange and wondrous lands; encounter brave knights, beautiful maidens, and a mysterious hermit; and battle a giant, deadly serpent.

In this first book of the Dragon King Trilogy, Stephen R. Lawhead has deftly woven a timeless epic of war, adventure, fantasy, and political intrigue.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Read this if you liked Harry Potter
If you loved Harry Potter - In the Hall of the Dragon King, The Warlords of Nin and The Sword and the Flame are fabulous. I have given them to my friends to read and all agree they are Harry Potter Fan Worthy!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!

Dragon King Trilogy
Orderd as gift. Good story line for young fantasy readers. Book arrived in excellent condition. Very pleased

Awesome!!!!!
In the Hall of the Dragon King is a GREAT begining to a series. You, as a reader, instantly like the main characters and are thrown headlong into their quest for truth and the salvation of their kindgom. Lawhead shows that even in the first series he published, he already had that...that...I don't even know if words can describe it. Lawhead is one of my favorite authors and this book lives up to any and all expectations I had. It is worth any price Amazon can set.

For Young Adults
I think you need to remember that this book's aimed for the young adult audience. If you've read Song of Albion, or Byzantium, or Hood and Scarlet, then you read this, you will notice the difference, and I think that's why some people are giving it only a few stars.

However, there's virtually no series I'd recommend more for young adults, especially who are into Fantasy.

Uninspiring Christian Fantasy
As an avid fantasy lover and non-Christian, I found this book very disappointing.The plot is unoriginal, the characters uninspiring, and I felt cheated by the none-too-subtle religious propoganda -- I realized only after reading the book that the publishing company is all Christian literature.If you're looking for Christian fantasy -- hey, it's a limited genre, and this book isn't all bad.But if you're just looking for good fantasy -- look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description

Slave, soldier, lover, hero, saint, -- his life mirrored the cataclysmic world into which he was born. His memory will outlast the ages.

Customer Reviews (47)

wonderful read, great historical context
i loved reading this fictionalized telling of the life of st. patrick. the historical context was fascinating. my only disappointment was that the book ended just as he was re-arriving in ireland to begin his "st. patrick" life.

Patrick got short changed here....
Just to add my two cent worth, if this book was part of a trilogy, I can rate this book higher but as it is, the story feel totally incomplete. As a reader, I felt slightly cheated when the book closed out. If this book was suppose to be a historical novel about St. Patrick of Ireland, the author totally missed his mark. What so funny is that until the end of the book, this character had several names but never Patrick!! I enjoyed Stephen Lawhead books, his Byzantium is quite excellent but this book needs more pages or more books tell the story correctly even in a fictional form. Main character in this book, is no more son of Ireland then panda bear! Lawhead has written far superior books then this.

PATRICK
This is a very good example of Stephen Lawhead's work.I have read many of his books and was well satisfied with this book.

"Historical Fiction"?Fiction-yes, Historical-no way
The Publishers Weekly review states that this novel was "meticulously researched," but the reader is left to wonder if the sum total of Mr. Lawhead's research consisted of watching the move "Druids" while eating a bowl of Irish stew.The multiple grotesque departures from historical fact in "Patrick: Son of Ireland" already have been chronicled by numerous other reviewers and so I will not bother with repetition here.

Some 4- and 5-star reviewers will object that the book is a work of fiction, and should be taken as such.Fair enough; but to write a book about a real person without apparently even having bothered to look at the original source material relating to that person's life (or possibly intentionally ignoring that source material) is inexplicable and inexcusable.This treatment of the life of Patrick is similar to re-writing the story of the American revolution to say that it was Benedict Arnold who drafted the Declaration of Independence using Microsoft Word, that Paul Revere rode a hippopotomus on his famous Midnight Ride to warn that the British were coming, and that Benjamin Franklin was a Buddhist monk.

Historical fiction is supposed to imaginatively flesh out the unknown back-story and details of the life of a historical figure--NOT to re-invent the essential facts of the subject's life."Son of Ireland" is merely an absurd farce--sort of a Patrician version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."All that's missing here are a man-eating rabbit and the Knights Who Say 'Ni.'

Give this one a pass.

A different take on a legendary Irish saint
This isn't Lawhead's best effort, but he still delivers a much more interesting, well written, insightful story than most of his contemporaries.I enjoy his willingness to provide a take on faith that mirrors the faith journey so many of us take: not pretty, not always something to be proud of, but always honest and seeking truth. ... Read more

Product Description

The the Song of Albion trilogy--now available in casebound hardcover.

Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden fires, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. Llew Silver Hand is High King of Albion, but now the Brazen Man has defied his sovereignty and Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. The last battle begins, and the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life as Llew faces his greatest test yet.

The ancient Celts admitted no separation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Endless Knot crosses the thin places between this work and that, as Lewis Gillies begins his ultimate quest, striking the final resounding chord in the Song of Albion.

Customer Reviews (38)

song of albion
Bought the book for my mom and husband and I have not read the book yet. They enjoyed the book though.

great book
This book arrived quickly & in great shape. It's a good read, espeically if you like fantasy/Christian fiction.

Great trilogy
I just finished the last book and have lots of thoughts about it.This review covers the trilogy in general:

1.I loved the beginning of Book 1, which had a humorous tone and was set in modern day Oxford.It reminded me of Brideshead Revisited in some ways, and was so laugh-out-loud funny that I wish the author would set a fantasy novel solely in modern day Oxford.

2.Because I loved the setup so much, I was taken aback by some of the character development later on.(I won't give away any plot but you probably know which character I'm talking about if you read it.)I just didn't believe some of the changes based on the beginning, even after reading the entire trilogy and the author's explanation.I do think some of his characters were too "black" or "white" and had too many motivations based on plot convenience, but that's okay.I also think he does better character development in his new Robin Hood trilogy - more complex.

3.The author does a great job of world building, with lots of description and a real sense of being there and experiencing the Celtic world.Sometimes, I could do with a little less description and more plot/dialogue, but that's just me.

4.I think his female characters can be a little boring - amazingly beautiful, wise, graceful, and good, they're sometimes interchangeable.I wish he'd mix things up a little and make them more flawed/human.

5.As a Christian reader, I got a lot out of all three books spiritually and really liked some of his analogies to the Christian life.

6.I was satisfied with the plot in general.Some things I guessed at the end.Others, I had no clue.It was a fairly wild ride and I had a lot of fun reading it.

When it was all over, I spent a lot of time thinking about it and had trouble getting it out of my head.For me, overall, it was a 5-star read.Very enjoyable and definitely recommended.

A Majestic, Intricate Close to Lawhead's Trilogy.
I myself have never been a particular fan of the Celts or the history of Britain until I picked up "The Paradise War," book one of Stephen Lawhead's Song of Albion trilogy. Then I was hooked from the start. I read through the books with bated breath, enraptured by the characters, the story, the descriptions - everything about them. "The Endless Knot" is no different: written with superior skill, this ending is both surprising and wonderful. It takes a master to be able to guess the path Lawhead takes through the book, so unpredictable is it, but it is not so convoluted as to confuse the reader.

Easily one of my favourite books ever, this is a must-read for all lovers of history and fantasy.

Outstanding Read!ENJOY!
Lawhead isbrilliant author period!After many years and as many books, he just flat does not disappoint!This is the third installment in the "Song of Albion Trilogy" and there is absolutely no sign of a trilogy let down.Any warrior at heart, male or female will enjoy the action, honor and passion in this book!ENJOY!

TPaul ... Read more

Product Description

The the Song of Albion trilogy--now available in casebound hardcover.

Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden fires, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. Llew Silver Hand is High King of Albion, but now the Brazen Man has defied his sovereignty and Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. The last battle begins, and the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life as Llew faces his greatest test yet.

The ancient Celts admitted no separation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Endless Knot crosses the thin places between this work and that, as Lewis Gillies begins his ultimate quest, striking the final resounding chord in the Song of Albion.

Customer Reviews (38)

song of albion
Bought the book for my mom and husband and I have not read the book yet. They enjoyed the book though.

great book
This book arrived quickly & in great shape. It's a good read, espeically if you like fantasy/Christian fiction.

Great trilogy
I just finished the last book and have lots of thoughts about it.This review covers the trilogy in general:

1.I loved the beginning of Book 1, which had a humorous tone and was set in modern day Oxford.It reminded me of Brideshead Revisited in some ways, and was so laugh-out-loud funny that I wish the author would set a fantasy novel solely in modern day Oxford.

2.Because I loved the setup so much, I was taken aback by some of the character development later on.(I won't give away any plot but you probably know which character I'm talking about if you read it.)I just didn't believe some of the changes based on the beginning, even after reading the entire trilogy and the author's explanation.I do think some of his characters were too "black" or "white" and had too many motivations based on plot convenience, but that's okay.I also think he does better character development in his new Robin Hood trilogy - more complex.

3.The author does a great job of world building, with lots of description and a real sense of being there and experiencing the Celtic world.Sometimes, I could do with a little less description and more plot/dialogue, but that's just me.

4.I think his female characters can be a little boring - amazingly beautiful, wise, graceful, and good, they're sometimes interchangeable.I wish he'd mix things up a little and make them more flawed/human.

5.As a Christian reader, I got a lot out of all three books spiritually and really liked some of his analogies to the Christian life.

6.I was satisfied with the plot in general.Some things I guessed at the end.Others, I had no clue.It was a fairly wild ride and I had a lot of fun reading it.

When it was all over, I spent a lot of time thinking about it and had trouble getting it out of my head.For me, overall, it was a 5-star read.Very enjoyable and definitely recommended.

A Majestic, Intricate Close to Lawhead's Trilogy.
I myself have never been a particular fan of the Celts or the history of Britain until I picked up "The Paradise War," book one of Stephen Lawhead's Song of Albion trilogy. Then I was hooked from the start. I read through the books with bated breath, enraptured by the characters, the story, the descriptions - everything about them. "The Endless Knot" is no different: written with superior skill, this ending is both surprising and wonderful. It takes a master to be able to guess the path Lawhead takes through the book, so unpredictable is it, but it is not so convoluted as to confuse the reader.

Easily one of my favourite books ever, this is a must-read for all lovers of history and fantasy.

Outstanding Read!ENJOY!
Lawhead isbrilliant author period!After many years and as many books, he just flat does not disappoint!This is the third installment in the "Song of Albion Trilogy" and there is absolutely no sign of a trilogy let down.Any warrior at heart, male or female will enjoy the action, honor and passion in this book!ENJOY!

TPaul ... Read more

Product Description

At the dawn of his reign, a young king must prove his greatness...or lose a realm.

Arthur is king -- but darkest evil has descended upon Britain's shores in many guises. Fragile alliances fray and tear, threatening all the noble liege has won with his wisdom and his blood.

In this black time of plague and pestilence, Arthur's most trusted counselor Myrddin -- the warrior, bard, and kingmaker whom legend will name Merlin -- is himself to be tested on a mystical journey through his own extraordinary past. So Arthur must stand alone against a great and terrible adversary. For only thus can he truly win immortality -- and the name he will treasure above all others: Pendragon.

Customer Reviews (16)

Lawhead is awesome
Very good book series.After you get used to reading the Celtic names, these become very easy and fun books.Loaded with action and drama.Lawhead is a great author.

Lawhead reaches the "stretching out the series to enhance the royalties" stage
Book Four of The Pendragon Cycle, in which Lawhead doubles back and retells more of the story of Arthur that wasn't told in Book Three.

The stories are told through Merlin's voice this time, and are more interesting than those in Book Three, but the whole thing smacks of stretching out the series to enhance the royalties.

Book five in the series:Grail (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 5) (just a warning, it doesn't live up to the best of the series, the first three books starting with Taliesin: Book One of the Pendragon Cycle).

Book Four of the Pendragon Series

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife. Stephen Lawhead is one of my all time favourite authors and I am only sorry that he does not write more often.

All of the books so far in the Pendragon series have been good reading, particular for those interested in the Arthurian legends, but also for those who just like a good historical novel. Set against the background of Roman Britain with a little Celtic legend thrown in the books tell a wonderful and sometimes moving story ofTaliesin Merlin and Arthur.

In this particular book Merlin tells the story which Arthur's own book left untold. The story of the winning of the title Pendragon and all that it entails, both for Arthur and the people who surround him, both friend and foe.

Reads like left-overs but eventually warms up
I have long admired Stephen Lawhead's writing.He has the uncanny ability to create worlds and characters that spring to life through his poetic images.He has definitely breathed new life into the Arthurian legends with his Pendragon Cycle.But "Pendragon", the fourth book in the series, is perhaps the weakest link.

"Pendragon" is not a continuation of the story that was started through "Taliesin", "Merlin", and "Arthur".Rather what Lawhead does in this fourth installment is revisit some stories about Arthur's life that either weren't in the previous books or that weren't expounded upon.This makes the beginning of the story read like left-overs that Lawhead cut from the original work.There are even times when the story is word-for-word the same as the previous novel.That being said, "Pendragon" does begin to build about halfway through the book and the story of Arthur's struggle to save Britain from a barbarian invasion comes to life.

While perhaps not the strongest link in the cycle, "Pendragon" is a continuation of Lawhead's magnificent rendering of Arthur's life.He has crafted Arthur as a king who is both strong and intelligent, fearless and faithful, seemingly invincible but also somehow mortal (even though he is the forever king).If readers can stick out the ramshackle beginning, they will not be disappointed in the end.Especially when the legend of the grail comes into question.But, as Merlin says, "that is a different story" and one this reader is looking forward to.

Great book in Series
Pendragon is one of the better books of the series. It has a flowing plot, which at times is thick and hard to read, but lawhead makes up for it in the poetry of his language. It is a unique addition to all the Arthurian books out there, and to me, the best researched and thought up.

I have read too many accounts of Arthurian fiction, and I very much liked the Pendragon cycle. Lawhead writes like a poet. His writing can get pretentious at times, and a bit thick and hard to read, but it is well worth it. It definitly enriched my mind and made me want to write epic poetry. It's not the kind of book that you can't put down, the narrative doesn't flow like a best-selling novel, but if you like the subject matter, it is not hard to get though.

Many people critisize this series of books because it deviates from legend. This bothers me. The reason it is "legend" and not fact is because it is largely unknown. I love how lawhead makes everything seem authentically celtic, ("Bedwyr" instead of "Bedivere" and so on)and he puts his own version of the legend, which every author has the right to do. If you're anything like me, your sick of hearing about Lancelot and Guenivere and you want a new and refreshing version of the saga. Lawhead has done his research and knows what he is writing.

Strongly recommended. Read in order. ... Read more

Product Description

Darkness and destruction have come to the land.

It has been ten years since Quentin helped Eskevar, the Dragon King, battle the monstrous sorcerer Nimrood.  Since that time, there has been peace in the land of Mensandor.  But everything is about to change.

An urgent message summons Quentin to Castle Askelon.  The king, who is dying, wishes to name the brave young man his successor.  But first, he sends him on an unfathomable mission.

What Quentin and his friend Toli, the Jher horseman, discover is not for the cowardly.  The brightening Wolf Star is an omen of impending evil that might herald the beginning of the end of mankind on earth.  It signifies Nin, a fearsome giant of a man who hopes to add Mensandor to his growing empire.  Along with his merciless warlords, they are the fulfillment of a nightmarish prophecy.

In The Warlords of Nin, the second book in The Dragon King Trilogy, Stephen R. Lawhead continues the mythical saga that began with In the Hall of the Dragon King.

Customer Reviews (8)

Definitely for young readers
I'm a great Lawhead fan.While I enjoyed this book and the entire series, I have preferred his other series far more.Great book/series, though!I will be donating it to my community's high school library.And I have already recommended the series to some teens & preteens I know who are always searching for a great read.

Dragon King Trilogy books
Bought as gift for young adult. Good story line for age group. Arrived in excellent condition. Very pleased.

Interesting BUT preachy
I am not going to give you a brief synopsis of this book, as you can get that from reading Amazons preview, or any of the other reviews on this book, I will say that I enjoy this book, but did not love it, the story was good enough to keep my interest, but not to the point of loosing sleep.
I found the majority of the charactures lines to be unbelievable, or contrite, but was able to overlook them and enjoy the story.Nins Characture was under developed, I did not like or dislike him.I also would have liked the author to go into more detail when solving the main conflicts, i.e. he killed the main antagonist by throwing the sword in the air and pinning him to the ground, what?!, no fight, no words exchanged, he just rides in and throws the sword and boom, story over.
My biggest problem was that the book tried to shove religion down my throat, the one main God, yadda, yadda, yadda, I get it, I get it.When I read Fantasy, I want to be entertained, not preached to.
But I did like the story, and have orderd the third book, I do hope it is better than this last one.

Warlords of Nin
The Dragon King Trilogy is a great series and I really enjoy reading it. However, The Warlord of Nin is not nearly as interesting to me as the other two books. Still, it is worth reading even if just to get some history and set up for the next book. It reads really smoothly, it just doesn't have the same magic that Lawhead's other books do. Despite that, I will be reading this book several times as I go over The Dragon King Trilogy time and time again.

Another great Dragon King book!!
This book is my favorite in the Dragon King Trilogy. This book has lots of action in it. The story continues after Quentin and his friends defeat the evil Nimrood the necromancer. I suggest that you read the first book, In the Hall of the Dragon King, first.

This story is about how Quentin, now a young man, is called unexpectedly to return to Askelon. He had been staying at Dekra, the place of power and mystery. As Quentin and his best friend Toli rides back, they encounter many interesting things. A whole village is scared for some reason and the Wolf Star was growing bigger and bigger every day. But Quentin and Toli trusts in the Most High and returns to Askelon where they meet their good friend Durwin, the hermit and also meet King Eskevar. Quentin quickly knows that something was wrong with the King, the King had grown pale and his face was gaunt. In other words, the King was deathly ill. He knew that someting was amiss in Mesandor.

Meanwhile, Theido and Ronsard, the two brave knights, (Ronsard is my favorite character!) had been sent out from King Eskevar to sort of scout the land. They realize that something was wrong, just like the King had said. Whole villages had been burnt, there was nothing but a enormous black spot on the ground. As they travel on, they see a nearly dead person in one of the burnt villages. They learn little from him, but he tells them that the enemy's name was Nin the Destroyer before he dies. Theido and Ronsard then returns to Askelon.

Quentin and Toli had been also searching for any signs of the enemy. They meet Esme, a rather fierce girl who was secretly a princess. On their way back to Askelon, they see the village called Illem burning. They quickly ride to Illem and meet the villagers running in terror. They are quickly surrounded by many soldiers of one of the warlords of Nin. Toli and Esme escapes but Quentin is captured.

Will Quentin escape? What will happen when the Ningaal reach Askelon?

This book is definently something you have to read! I love the Dragon King Trilogy and I have read them over and over again. Happy Reading! ... Read more

Product Description

The legend of King Arthur has been told many times--but never with the strength and resonance, passion and richness granted it in Stephen R. Lawhead's masterful

PENDRAGON CYCLE

Drought, plague, and war have left the Isle of the Mighty battered and its heart, the beloved Arthur, grievously injured--until a secret relic is brought before the dying KIng; a Holy Grail that heals his wounds and restores his vigor.

But soon evil enters the royal court in the guise of a beautiful maiden; a soulless, malevolent force capable of seducing the King's loyal champion, confounding the sage whom some call Merlin, and carrying the sacred Grail--and Arthur's adored Queen--off into the dark unknown. And now Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his sovererignty: a quest of recovery that must lead the noble liege through realms of magic and the undead, on a trail that winds inexorably toward a grim confrontation with his most foul nemesis . . . and his destiny.

This is a straightforward story; there's less intrigue than Iexpected. Evil Morgian's passages of gloating are nearly over the top,but the honest, steadfast knights are good fellows all. Read previousvolumes first! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

awesome book!!
I am SO totally obsessed with Arthurian legend, and Lawhead is already one of my fav authors because of Hood and Scarlet and Tuck. When I heard Lawhead had written an book based on Authurian legend, I begged my parents to buy me the series. I was not disappointed (and my parents were happy I liked the book and didn't waste their money). I am addicted to books and know good books when i see them. Grail is definitely an awesome book and the best of the series (second best would be Merlin which I also recommend)!
*SPOILER*
When Morgaws tries to get Gwalchad give her the Grail using seduction, he remembers what the Grail lady/angel said: "Lusting after honor, he was bewitched by one who honors only lust and lies. Thus are the mighty undone." So true!

Pendragon Cycle fumbles to a close amidst a mumbo-jumbo of mysterious fogs, forest, and phantom fighters
Book Five of The Pendragon Cycle, which fumbles to a close amidst a mumbo-jumbo of mysterious fogs, forest, and phantom fighters who attack the good guys (Arthur and Company) as they attempt to recover the stolen Grail.The Grail is the hero of the day, but with the wrap-up of the series in just a couple of pages, is curiously ignored.

I think it comes back with them to the home of the lost Atlanteans, where the story would then dovetail into the end of the third book, where Arthur is wounded in combat and "goes away", while the Grail is safely hidden on the Island of Avalon with the Fisher King of Atlantis.

Yeah, it goes like that.In all, the series started strong in the first two books, and raised my hope that it my continue to crescendo to a great finale.It didn't.Best bet:Begin at the beginning (Taliesin: Book One of the Pendragon Cycle) and stop with book three.

It's Ok, but not really part of the Pendragon Cycle
This books is Ok, but falls far below the original Pendragon Cycle books.

For starters, the narration is completely different, written in the first-person. Sure, the characters and settings are the same, but the narration style makes it feel like it is disjointed from the rest of the series.

I loved the first three books of the Pendragon Cycle, and being a purist, that is what I will consider to be the canon. These three books had me riveted.

Pendragon, the fourth in the series, was a necessity, as it filled in a huge gap of the third book.

Grail, well... I kept picking it up and reading, hoping that one day, I'll eventually finish it.

Up till now, Lawhead has made every effort to present the Arther legends in historical settings. Disregarding the romantic versions, or popular culture, he built a realistic world, where one can easily imagine Arther walking the lands. With that realism came the needed disregard of the Grail quests.

Until now. The book feels like it was "just written", rather than being an outgrowth of previous material. My impression is that the author was pressed to somehow or another fit the grail into his Arther retelling, and this is the half-hearted result.

While the book is good as a standalone book, make sure you read it with that in mind: it's just a standalone book, which borrows elements from the series.

The Quest for Truth
Picking up exactly where "Pendragon" left off, "Grail" puts a new and interesting spin on the legend of the holy grail.Lawhead has done a masterful job in recreating the Arthurian legends, infusing them with his poetic writing and creating legends that are uniquely his own, while holding firm to the ones that have come before.Many readers might argue at the 'changes' Lawhead has made to the legends, but a legend by literary definition is a tale that is interpreted just a little differently by the teller each time it is passed along.Stephen Lawhead's version of events is just as sincere and justified as any of his worthy predecessors.

At the conclusion of "Pendragon", King Arthur was gravely wounded at the end of his (book-long) battle with the Vandali warhost.He is taken to the Ynys Avallach where he is mysteriously healed by the grail.Meanwhile, his warhost are awaiting word of Arthur's death, travelling a land blighted by plague and drought, to deliver grim news to the kinsmen of those who betrayed Arthur.When Arthur returns, miraculously healed, he is adamant that the grail will inaugurate his 'kingdom of summer' and restore Britain to health.Stubborn to the core, and deaf to his advisors, Arthur has a shrine built to house the grail that others may bask in its glory and be healed.But evil lurks within the land, as the dreaded Morgian has nurtured her power and schemes to defeat Arthur once and for all.

Told by Gwalchavad (Galahad), "Grail" is an epic novel, and a respite from the battle-drenched "Pendragon".While battles between good and evil persist, the narration is given over to the deception and treachery that tricks Llenlleawg (Lancelot) and makes him a pawn of Morgian, an interesting twist on the Lancelot-Guinivere-Arthur triangle.Lawhead's Arthurian tales are grounded in Celtic lore and centered around a spreading Christianity in the early birth of Britain.The Pendragon Cycle is a fresh spin on an oft-repeated legend that will stand its place in the world of Arthurian lore.

Not the best conclusion to the amazing Pendragon cycle, but has substance.
This wasn't the best book in the cycle. It disapointed me as a conclusion. I sort of think of the end of Arthur as a conclusion, because after that book, the series does not seem to be in chronological order. Arthur disappears at the end of the third book, and he's back in the forth and fifth. The plot is a bit flat and not as captivating, but the poetic language never fails you, and Lawhead seems to get a bit mroe religious in this book.

I have read too many accounts of Arthurian fiction, and I very much liked the Pendragon cycle. Lawhead writes like a poet. His writing can get pretentious at times, and a bit thick and hard to read, but it is well worth it. It definitly enriched my mind and made me want to write epic poetry. It's not the kind of book that you can't put down, the narrative doesn't flow like a best-selling novel, but if you like the subject matter, it is not hard to get though.

Many people critisize this series of books because it deviates from legend. This bothers me. The reason it is "legend" and not fact is because it is largely unknown. I love how lawhead makes everything seem authentically celtic, ("Bedwyr" instead of "Bedivere" and so on)and he puts his own version of the legend, which every author has the right to do. If you're anything like me, your sick of hearing about Lancelot and Guenivere and you want a new and refreshing version of the saga. Lawhead has done his research and knows what he is writing.

Strongly recommended, only if you have read the first four. ... Read more

Product Description
In book one of the Celtic Crusades series, a Scottish boy travels to Jerusalem to try to regain his family's stolen lands, and ends up saving the relic Iron Lance that pierced Christ's side.Amazon.com Review
Most of Stephen Lawhead's popular historical fantasies are part of one or another of his sagas, trilogies, or cycles. For readers who enjoy big galloping yarns set in distant lands, and don't mind having their hands held by the author every step of the way, the first volume of his new Christian trilogy should hit the spot.

The framing device begins at the end of the nineteenth century, in Edinburgh, where Gordon Murray is about to be inducted into an ancient brotherhood whose secret rites involve a sacred relic: the iron lance of the title. The main narrative is set in eleventh century Orkney. When Pope Urban II calls for the retaking of Jerusalem from the infidel, the local lord, Ranulf, joins the Crusade with his elder sons, leaving behind young Murdo to oversee the family holdings. When the Church, through a nefarious scheme, confiscates the house and holdings, Murdo has no choice but to follow the Crusaders to the Holy Land and bring his father home to fix the whole mess.

Lawhead paints a vast and exotic canvas of medieval world politics, then peoples it with colorful characters--cunning Byzantine rulers, bluff Norman knights, gap-toothed, shaggy-brained Saxon peasants--who encounter visions and miracles, brutality and ambition, love and justice. At the end of the main narrative, Murdo gets what he wants but not in the ways expected. The framing narrative ends with hints that, as the world lurches towards a new millennium, Gordon Murray's Christian secret society is the world's only hope for survival, and the time nears for the brotherhood to reveal itself. --Luc Duplessis ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Celtic view of the Crusades
A Scottish lawyer in 1899 is invited to join a secret society that has roots in the Celtic crusades of the 11th century. This begins the story of Murdo's adventures in the crusades.

The year is 1095 and the devoted Catholic people of Scotland leave their homes to fight the infidels in the Holy Land. Murdo, who is sixteen, is resentful of being left home with his mother while his father, older brothers and cousins embark on what he thinks is an exciting journey. Once the older male relatives leave home, the corrupt church authorities seize Murdo's family lands and property, kill his servants and banish them from their home.Murdo wants to regain his rightful property for his family and his future wife so he goes to Jerusalem to get his father back.

Murdo, who is now angry at all priests is unwittingly joined by three monks on his journey to the holy land. Their relationship at first is antagonistic, but the priests wear him down and a friendship is born. Murdo's enthusiasm for the crusades quickly fades on the first day of fighting when he witnesses the excessive cruelty and vicious killing of innocent women and children by the crusaders.

This a story of coming of age for Murdo where he discovers how the church, faith, home, love and family determine the life he wants. The character development was very good, but the story dragged in a few places for me.

Good Read
Good read, the characters seem to spring from the page,sets the scene for the other 2 books in the series i hope.

The Iron Lance hooked me!
Although I haven't finished this book yet, I find it very difficult to put down.My day on average does not allow me large blocks of reading time.So, I must settle for ten or fifteen minutes here and there.Stephen Lawhead is excellent at weaving a very good story that holds the interest of avid nonfiction reader.It would be worth your time to pick up one of his titles, I don't think you will be disappointed.

'My name is of no importance.'
Stephen Lawhead has not yet failed to amaze me with his storytelling, and his ability to recreate ancient lands and factual events to weave them into a fictional tale. This book is no exception.

The Iron Lance, book one of the Celtic Crusade trilogy, begins with the telling of an induction into a secret society in 19th century Scotland. The ceremony revolves around a sacred, ancient relic...the Iron Lance of Jesus Christ, used to pierce his body at the crucifixion.

But the tale that unfolds next reaches even further back in time, as does the lance itself. The narrative travels back to the 11th century, and recounts the story of one Murdo Ranulfson, a fifteen year old boy and son of a prominent Lord in his homeland who has left, along with Murdo's older brothers, on crusade.

Finding the family land 'taken under the protection of the church' after his father and brothers' departure, Murdo determines that his kinsmen are needed at home to reclaim the family's property, and he sets off to find them, himself engaging in the same pilgrimage that they have entered into. Leaving behind his mother and his beloved, Ragna, Murdo sets forth on his own 'crusade' to save his family's land and home.

Encountering a group of monks also travelling the way of the crusaders, Murdo finds himself among strange company, yet also fast friends who prove themselves every bit as loyal and worthy as having a fully armored knight by his side.

Stephen Lawhead's The Iron Lance is every bit as thrilling and well-written as each of his other novels I have read, being 'Byzantium' and the first two books of his 'King Raven' triology that re-imagines the Robin Hood tale.Bloody battles, church intrigue, betrayal, justice, and redemption - all these things and more await in the pages of 'The Iron Lance'.

I eagerly anticipate reading the next and then the final books in the trilogy.

A Terrific Story

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife. Stephen Lawhead is one of my all time favourite authors and I am only sorry that he does not write more often.

Through visions of the past, a 19th century lawyer is able to see glimpses of the harrowing journey of a long dead ancestor, Murdo Ranulfsen. It is 1095, Pope Urban II has declared war on the infidel and men from all walks of life, from lords to peasants rush to join the crusade. Much to his disappointment Murdo stays to guard his family and what possessions they own while his father goes to join the Crusade.

When through no fault of Murdo's the family possessions are confiscated, Murdo decides to set out on the long journey to follow the Crusade and find his father.

The author spins a magical adventure for the reader. He writes a moving and fearsome story as only he can. Once again, all I can say is that I wish he would write more books.
... Read more

Product Description
In the second book in the exciting Celtic Crusades series, Murdo and his family search for a piece of the cross of Christ.Amazon.com Review
The Celtic Crusades is a trilogy of stories about a noble Scottish family whose successive generations venture to the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades to retrieve sacred relics. In the first book, The Iron Lance, Murdo Ranulfson went to Jerusalem and brought back the iron lance used at the crucifixion. Now Duncan, Murdo's son, must find and preserve the Black Rood--a piece of the true cross. As in The Iron Lance, the main narrative is framed by the memoirs of Gordon Murray, nineteenth century scion of the ancient Scottish clan and member of a Christian secret society whose mission is to bring the world back to the true path.

This middle volume follows a format familiar to fantasy readers: an unformed youth leaves home to find himself and fulfill his destiny. In his travels through distant and dangerous lands, our hero rescues and is rescued by a series of quirky characters who join his quest, encountering divine visions, politics in the court of the Caliph, and cult assassins. He returns from his adventures older and wiser, triumphantly clutching the Black Rood, and accompanied, as an added bonus, by a new and beautiful wife.

Lawhead sprinkles his tale with delicious hints about revelations regarding the potential offspring of Jesus, which, if expanded upon in the final volume, threaten to elevate this fiction from competent to genuinely intriguing. --Luc Duplessis ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Second Book in the Celtic Crusade Series

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife. Stephen Lawhead is one of my all time favourite authors and I am only sorry that he does not write more often.

This book is a continuation of the Iron Lance. I found this book The Black Rood) to be even better than the Iron Lance which is saying something because I enjoyed that tremendously. Perhaps it is because you are more familiar with the characters or the storyline, I am not sure, but I can hardly wait for the third book, The Mystic Rose.

Murdo Ranulfsson has been through the harrowing and frightening experience of being part of the Great Crusade in Jerusalem and no one is more surprised than himself that he has lived to tell the tale. He has returned to his beloved Scotland and there has founded a clan that is both powerful and god fearing. Life is also good for Duncan, Murdo's son, that is until his young wife dies in childbirth . . .

For lovers of Templars
Book 2 in this series by Stephen Lawhead (Celtic Crusades) carries on one generation after the events of the Holy Lance.

Book 1 described the first crusade, and gave some feel for the passion of the crusaders and the enormity of their achievement in "liberating" Jereusalem.

In this book Duncan, the son of Murdo, undertakes his own pilgrimage to the holy land following the death of his wife.He makes a vow to find and bring back the "Holy Rood" a piece of the true cross.

What we get along the way is a view of Medieval France, and a tour of the Eastern Mediterranean in the period after the first Crusade.

We follow Bohemond II on his ill advised invasion of Armenian and Turkish lands, we visit Famagusta and Paphos in Cyprus, Damietta and the Caliphates of Damascus and Cairo.

This tale lacks much of the punch of the first novel in the series, but more than makes up for this with the richness of detail concerning the crusader kingdoms.

And behind all that is going on are the Noble Knights Templar, the new monastic order of Sword Brothers, pleged to defend the roads and holy places for Pilgrims.

A trifle disappointing
I am not a lover of books written in first-person, because they center too much in the main character, who is not always the most interesting, and limits the actions of other players in the story.This is such a case.
From the beginning, Duncan proves to be much less interesting than his father, Murdo, and his adventures are not as thrilling.He is indeed helped by "Fortuna", for whatever he is seeking appears exactly where he is looking.Too fortuitous for my taste.
I always look forward to sequels, but not always do you find a worthy one.Again, this is such a case.
The Black Rood is much less interesting than its predecesor.Even the story inside the story is less appealing in this book than it was in the first one.

More of the same...
Lawhead's "Celtic Crusades" continue with the next generation, Duncan, son of Murdo (familiar to readers of Vol. 1 in the series, "The Iron Lance").One again the action revolves around a sacred relic, this time the black rood, a remnant of Christ's true cross, which Duncan aspires to obtain in a crusade to the Holy Land. The narrative of Duncan's vision of Christ's death in connection with this relic is one of the central passages of the book (p334-347).In his quest, Duncan is accompanied by the Cele De priest Padraig and Prince Roupen of Armenia, and must deal with danger at the hands of the Moslems (Seljuq Turks) and the more mysterious intrigues of the Templar Knights.As in the first novel of the series, the story is framed by the memoirs of Gordon Murray, a member of a nineteenth century secret society, but Murray's connection to the plot is still enshrouded in mystery and will only become clear in the final volume of the series.

There's no question that the novel is rich in historical detail and adventure, and there are some solid Christian themes.Typical are sentences like: "the Swift Sure Hand does bend all things to the good of those who love him."Despite this, "The Black Rood" lacks the gripping suspense of Lawhead's historical epic "Byzantium", and the passion and imagination of his forays into fantasy.I look forward to when Lawhead leaves the realm of historical fiction and returns to fantasy. -GODLY GADFLY

Iron Lance is better, but this is still very good
As I mention in the title I enjoyed the Iron Lance a little more than this.It's a subjective thing - the Iron Lance just grabbed me a little more than this one.

Howver, this is still a pretty decent book, worth reading.The lead character is Duncan Murdosson, son of Murdo Ranulfson from the Iron Lance.Duncan's uncle, Murdo's brother, has come home from the Holy Land where he stayed after the Great Pilgrimage.He has harrowing tales of life in the Holy Land, but also plants in Duncan the seed of knowledge of the existence of the the Black Rood, a piece of the cross of Christ.After enduring a great tragedy, and against the will of his father, Duncan goes on a quest for the Black Rood.This quest will take him on a long journey through many lands and adventures and much intrigue. Along the way he will find the object of his quest, as well as love and restoration to the True Path.

This book is written in an interesting style.Most of it is written in first person narrative with Duncan as the narrator, writing a story of his travels while in prison awaiting execution as the hands of Muslims.He is writing this for the sake of his daughter, whom he expects never to see again.One of the high spots of the book is the tale of his deliverance from prison.

So, for a fun read I recommend this. It's not the greatest book you will ever read, but it enjoyable nonetheless. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (26)

great book
We love this book/series.Our recent purchase was a gift for my father-in-law to complete his Song of Albion collection.Lawhead weaves such a powerful world that you can not only imagine it but feel it, hear it, and experience it for yourself.A must have for any self respecting fantasy reader.

best series out there
Still to date my favorite book and I have pretty many.The entire series is amazing! Must read.

Great trilogy
I just finished the last book and have lots of thoughts about it.This review covers the trilogy in general:

1.I loved the beginning of Book 1, which had a humorous tone and was set in modern day Oxford.It reminded me of Brideshead Revisited in some ways, and was so laugh-out-loud funny that I wish the author would set a fantasy novel solely in modern day Oxford.

2.Because I loved the setup so much, I was taken aback by some of the character development later on.(I won't give away any plot but you probably know which character I'm talking about if you read it.)I just didn't believe some of the changes based on the beginning, even after reading the entire trilogy and the author's explanation.I do think some of his characters were too "black" or "white" and had too many motivations based on plot convenience, but that's okay.I also think he does better character development in his new Robin Hood trilogy - more complex.

3.The author does a great job of world building, with lots of description and a real sense of being there and experiencing the Celtic world.Sometimes, I could do with a little less description and more plot/dialogue, but that's just me.

4.I think his female characters can be a little boring - amazingly beautiful, wise, graceful, and good, they're sometimes interchangeable.I wish he'd mix things up a little and make them more flawed/human.

5.As a Christian reader, I got a lot out of all three books spiritually and really liked some of his analogies to the Christian life.

6.I was satisfied with the plot in general.Some things I guessed at the end.Others, I had no clue.It was a fairly wild ride and I had a lot of fun reading it.

When it was all over, I spent a lot of time thinking about it and had trouble getting it out of my head.For me, overall, it was a 5-star read.Very enjoyable and definitely recommended.

Silver hand by Stephen Lawhead
I really did enjoy this book as the sequel to paradise war, very well written and spell binding

Excellent Customer Service that exceeded expectations
When I received the product from the seller, it was not in the "new" condition that as described on the amazon listing.I returned the book, however I sent it to the warehouse instead of the return processing center.Because of this mistake, the seller was not able to locate the book, however, they still issued me a full refund.This is customer service that exceeded my expectations.I might have expected a partial refund, but was very pleased to recieve the full refund.I will certainly do business with them again despite the small problem with the condition of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
In the sequel to Empyrion I, Treet becomes a solitary figure in a deadly civil war when even his companions from Earth desert him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Empyrion II: The Seige of the Dome delivered
This company delivered the said title in great condition. This is an exciting book that really makes you think about our society and where it is heading.

Going Dome
In the second book of the Empyrion Series, Stephen Lawhead brings the story toward its inevitable conclusion.The strong points of the series, including its well thought-out storyline, continue in this book.Yet certain aspects of the story are drawn out too long and the ending seems rushed.With the brilliant conclusion written by Lawhead, it seems a shame that it was rushed.

As Orion Treet leaves Fierra in an attempt to broker peace, new plot lines develop.Relationships between the travelers and locals of Fierra occupy too much of the focus of the middle chapters.The explorations of Fierra were quite interesting, including the fish that bring to mind stories of Francis of Assisi preaching to fish.

The villain Jamrog spirals further out of control and borders on absurdity during the war.His character brings to mind a less intelligent version of the Emperor from Star Wars.It is through his fatal flaw that the Christian theme really begins to take form.

The whole premise of this book is built around war.Yet very little of the book is spent in the war.Though it was not on a war on the scale of a "world war", the deficit of action was disappointing.The strategies discussed exhibited an intelligence which paralleled some minor twists in the resolution.

Lawhead's writing is often narrowly classified as Christian fiction or in this case Christian science fiction.However, the writing is never overly preachy and can be enjoyed by non-Christians.Empyrion is an intelligent, well designed series.

I enjoyed this book but only have time for a short review
As both a author and reader of fiction I was impressed with the Siege of Dome. The characters seemed real and the story line was believable. I guess that I just like books that can hold my interest and make me think at the same time. I recommend this book. Time keeps me from writing a longer review but I wanted to get something posted for I enjoyed this book.
Tommy Taylor

Classic Sci-Fi adventure for teens and adults
This is book 2 of 2 in the Empyrion series, a delightful "classic" sci-fi adventure for teens and adults (not for children).This volume picks up exactly where book 1 ended.While book 1 was focused very much on adventure, this book fleshes out the characters more: Yarden pursues training as an artist among the Fieri, and Pizzle pursues a girl while they all travel to the Bay of Talking Fish for a special event.Meanwhile, Treet endures capture and torture in Dome and is once again rescued by rebels who aided him before.A civil war begins in Dome as the new Supreme Director seeks to destroy any who threaten his power.

While Lawhead does write for a Christian audience, there is no presentation of the Gospel in either of these books.Yes, there is an "Infinite Father" who promotes peace and a personal relationship, but that's about all you'll find.... more of a simple good vs evil approach.I have loved this Empyrion series for nearly 20 years now, and I re-read them every few years.

Enormously Happy
Is how I felt after reading this. The Siege of Dome was so rich with Truth. With Allegory, the highest form of Truth. It is Science Fiction as Devotional. Siege of Dome, like Search for Fierra, starts out slowly, but makes up for it in the engrossing later chapters. Through most of the story the two protagonists are in separate spheres- Orion Treet in the evil Dome, and Yarden with the beautiful Fierri. Fierra is a vision of Heaven- although the Fierri are quick to point out it is only a poor imitation of the real thing. Usually the description of a life of a truly good people is rather boring; but Lawhead pulls it off by juxtaposing their lives with the situation of Orion in Dome. Lawhead uses the Fierri to describe- not teach in a preachy style, but show- what a life completely devoted to God can be like. It is a natural search for the Joy present in the Infinite. It is going to a concert and leaving without applauding, because the true joy for the artists was simply performing and expressing their gift in pure worship to the Father. It is searching one's soul to give control to the Creator to finally gain control.

In contrast Dome is a place of rage, anger, and forced control. All that is evil has been pent up there for millennia, breeding upon itself, not allowing real air in. Indeed, when Dome-dwellers or Earthlings first breath real air they initially experience great pain, for the goodness of purity is painful for those who have known only death and decay. The pain is a death we must all go through.

The main negatives: I loved that the Fierri had a firm commitment to harm no living thing, but I found parts confusing when it appears that they do. I think Lawhead could have done more without resorting to killing to have the protagonists win. And Lawhead throughout alludes to a great evil force controlling the religious beliefs and atmosphere of Dome, yet never resolves the battle with this force.

The scariest part: Dome reminded me a lot of Earth.

The most wonderful part: Fierra looked very achievable, if one begins with oneself, one individual at a time. For the good of the many is the good of every individual.

Empyrion: The Search for Fierra and The Siege of Dome ... Read more

Product Description
The triumphant conclusion to this epic historical trilogy about a Scottish family's rise to power during the Holy CrusadesDuncan has returned with his new wife to the fastness of Banvard, to continue his father Murdo's good work in building a powerful and devout community. Even more precious a gift than his wife, though, is the other item that Duncan has brought to the Scottish clan: the Black Rood, the holy Cross of the Crucifixion that Duncan rescued from the clutches of the Knights Templar.Yet the reach of the Templars is long, and soon Duncan and his loved ones find themselves under attack from the Christian Knights. Duncan's daughter Cait is forced to flee, and soon finds herself on a boat heading for the Moorish strongholds of Spain, where she will find herself mired in a battle for religious supremacy which threatens to leave only corpses in its wake.Cait appears to have little hope of survival, but it seems that the pious devotion of her forebears is about to bear miraculous fruit. And the possibility of her survival becomes intertwined with the discovery of the most holy relic of all!In the final part of this enthralling trilogy of historical adventure, Stephen Lawhead delivers an explosive and revelatory climax to this unique religious fantasy quest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Excellent service!
A great book at a wonderful price and fast shipping! All I could ask for!

Great
I liked this series so much, I have tried to get my hands on every book Stephen Lawhead has written.

It's Still Lawhead!!!
After reading some of the other reviews here I had to voice my opinion.I am just grateful that I read the book before these reviews!!!Maybe the action is a bit slower in this final book of the series but what it lacks in action it makes up for in plot...Only Lawhead could give us a story of this depth set in this era!!!Maybe it's not the Pendragon Cycle (of which I am a huge fan) but it is still Lawhead and I was not disappointed!!!
I really identified with Cait (the heroine).She struggled with herself and her world and was won over in the end by the God that had been chasing her throughout the story.The reemergence of de Bracineaux was utterly brilliant and true to his character from Rood only much more developed.And the ever present Cele De story was...well, let's not give that away, just know that our veiw of Murdo, Duncan, and Caitriona from within the Cele De was reconciled at last and beautifully.I felt he crowned the Celtic Crusades with gem!!!
No one, and I mean NO ONE does historical fiction/fantasy the way Lawhead can... who else can wrap those 2 genres up together and make you like it?

One of my favorites trilogies
Here is my review of "The Mystic Rose," the concluding volume in "The Celtic Crusades" by Stephen Lawhead. It's a good conclusion to a good series.

This is the third volume in the Celtic Crusades series and I would rate this one as "not as good as the first, but better than the second." All of the books in this series are very good. The characters are well-developed, the plots are good and there are many interesting sub-plots. My only gripe is that the first two get started a little slowly, but if you hang in there for the first 50-75 pages then the action gets going well.

The Mystic Rose does the best job of the three in grabbing your attention at the beginning and holding it. Within the first few pages an event happens that sets the tone for the rest of the book. The heroine, Caitriona sets off on a quest to avenge her father's murder and capture Christendom's most sacred relic. In fact, capturing Christendom's most sacred relic is integral to her plan for revenge. This sets up a dicey moral dilemma that is resolved nicely at the end.

I find things like this moral dilemma to be one of Lawhead's strengths. In so much Christian fiction the heroes are cookie cutter Christians who seem to rise above all of the sins and temptations of the common man. Lawhead's heroes, and Caitriona in particular are very earthy, and very sinful people. The upshot of this is that he tells a story that leads one to believe that God, in his mercy, is the real hero of the story, not the protagonist of the book.

At the end of this story, Caitriona is less conquerer and more conquered by the love and mercy of God. This is a very gospel based story line.

All in all, the entire series is a worthwhile read.

Great end to a good trilogy.
In the first two novels of this trilogy Lawhead narrates the tales of Murdo and then Duncan, Orkney Lords on pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

The final novel opens with the death of Duncan, and it is left to his plain headstrong daughter Cait and her flighty and beautiful sibling Thea to avenge him.

The now familiar Brother Andrew guides Cait in the theft of a letter which promises a prize beyond value, which can only be the Holy Grail (lets face it, the family already have the holy lance and the cross - what's left?).

Cait borrows from her fathers experience and travels to Damascus, where she randsoms a band of Norse knights who have been captured by the turks.Then they travel from one end of the Islamic world to the other, to Moorish Spain.Racing all the way to defeat the evil schemes of the corrupt Master of the Knights Templars, the book races to a thrilling conclusion.Will the Evil Renaud De Bracineaux get his filthy hands on the Grail, which he wants for himself, or will Cait save it.......for herself.....?I'm sure she deserves it.Something to do with keeping it safe until it is needed.Never did understand that twist in the plot.

The use of a female protagonist sets this novel out from the previous two, and makes for a good conclusion to the series.It is not the Da Vinci Code, so everyone lives happily ever after except for the bad guys.But it is a fun read, and the research is good, so you get a good feel for the world of the Crusades.
... Read more