Shadow of the King

September 1, 1997
Bringing her praised Pendragon's Banner trilogy to a close, Hollick maintains the high standards of The Kingmaker and Pendragon's Banner in this last glimpse of the passions and chaos of Arthur Pendragon's fifth-century court. Although Britain is nominally at peace under Arthur's reign, the king chafes at inactivity and agrees to take his handpicked fighters, the Artoriani, to Less Britain (northwestern France) to help the Romans fend off invading barbarians. Queen Gwenhwyfar is left to protect the throne as Arthur's ambitious uncle Ambrosius, his ex-wife Winifred and others scheme to take it. After muddled communications give Arthur the impression that Gwenhwyfar has died of a fever, he himself is wounded in battle. While the surviving Artoriani carry home word of his death, Arthur's old lover Morgaine saves him and nurses him back to health. Although Hollick departs from traditional Arthurian legend by leaving out any hint of magic or the supernatural, she juggles a large cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill. Fans of Arthurian legends, whether readers of genre fantasy or historical fiction, should enjoy this spirited retelling of the final days of King Arthur's court.

March 15, 2010
In the final volume of Hollicks Pendragon Banner trilogy, King Arthur finds himself restless in his new role as ruler of a peaceful kingdom. Missing the clash of swords and the glory of the battlefield, it doesnt take much to lure him from his quiet life in Camelot. After Arthur departs for war-torn Gaul, his kingdom, watched over by Gwenhwyfar and the high council, stands vulnerable. When Arthur is mistakenly presumed dead and Britains future lies in the balance, the vultures descend, viciously vying for the throne and the power it represents. Of course, when the rumors of his demise prove false, the real complicationsboth personal and politicalbegin. Because Hollick adds her own unique twists and turns to the familiar mythology, Arthurian devotees will be eager to see how she wraps up her version of the legend.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)