Wendy: Favorite Series

I’m not necessarily a fan of historical fiction, or of the Arthurian legend, but a friend recommended this to me and I ended up loving the book so much that I bought the entire series and have read it twice.

The Warlord Chronicles is the story of King Arthur, as told in the first person by his friend Derfel. It includes the regular cast of characters and the expected monumental moments, but Cornwell skillfully twists them in a realistic way. What we think we know as Arthurian “truths” are, according to this book, the result of history being twisted by memory or by bards paid to sing different songs…

In keeping with making it more historical fiction than fantasy, much of the magic is toned down, though the belief in magic and ritual remains.

I love that Arthur is not the main character in this story about Arthur. he plays a major part, obviously, but this is Derfel’s story and I love the humility of a main character who never really realizes how great a man he is and how great a friend he has been to a king.

The trilogy consists of The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur.