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The Pendragon Chronicles #2
Shadow of Stone
For over ten years, there has been peace in Britain after Arthur and his warriors soundly defeated the Saxons at the battle of Caer Baddon. But sometimes peace is deceptive ...
After a series of hard winters and famine, an alliance of dissatisfied northern kings attack the rich cities of Southern Britain. But in the years of peace, Arthur's army has grown soft; jealousies and trivialities rip once strong alliances apart. Cador, who is mockingly referred to as "farmer king," must go to war again. The threat to their way of life throws him together with Yseult, the woman he has secretly loved since he was a youth.
But can their politically expedient marriage help bring peace to Britain again? Or will it only lead to further conflict?
As betrayals both real and imagined shake the foundations of former British unity, Cador and Yseult must try to negotiate their own personal peace. Who will survive the upheavals to come? Will Britain rally once more behind a common leader to fight off the common threat?
After a series of hard winters and famine, an alliance of dissatisfied northern kings attack the rich cities of Southern Britain. But in the years of peace, Arthur's army has grown soft; jealousies and trivialities rip once strong alliances apart. Cador, who is mockingly referred to as "farmer king," must go to war again. The threat to their way of life throws him together with Yseult, the woman he has secretly loved since he was a youth.
But can their politically expedient marriage help bring peace to Britain again? Or will it only lead to further conflict?
As betrayals both real and imagined shake the foundations of former British unity, Cador and Yseult must try to negotiate their own personal peace. Who will survive the upheavals to come? Will Britain rally once more behind a common leader to fight off the common threat?
534 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
38 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Nestvold
71 books66 followersRuth Nestvold has published widely in science fiction and fantasy, her fiction appearing in such markets as Asimov’s, F&SF, Baen’s Universe, Strange Horizons, Realms of Fantasy, and Gardner Dozois’s Year’s Best Science Fiction. Her work has been nominated for the Nebula, Tiptree, and Sturgeon Awards. In 2007, the Italian translation of her novella “Looking Through Lace” won the “Premio Italia” award for best international work. Since 2012, she’s been concentrating her efforts on self-publishing rather than traditional publishing, although she does still occasionally sell a story the old-fashioned way. She maintains a web site at http://www.ruthnestvold.com and blogs at https://ruthnestvold.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 18, 2012
Shadow of Stone takes up 10 years after the author's book, Yseult, leaves off. Drystan is dead. Cador now rules over his own lands and estates in a time of peace.
The Dux Bellorum, Arthur, presides over an uneasy collection of alliances and kings.
But the peace is about to be broken. There will be betrayals, and the warriors of Arthur's band, as well as the now-grown children will be put to the test.
In the end, will Britain survive as a united country?
If you liked the thoroughly researched battles and journeys of the characters in Yseult, the fun continues here in Shadow of Stone. Cador still longs for Yseult, Yseult still has a heart full of love despite Drystan's passing; they are full of passion, but it is tempered with a melancholy or sad wisdom. Their children and nieces and nephews all have their own parts to play in this tale. Instead of St. Patrick, we get the welsh St. Illtud as foil/helper for Yseult.
This is the end of Arthur's story, with appearances by Nimue, Myrrdin, and Medraut (Mordred) to seal his fate.
Anyone interested in Celtic history, Arthur legends, or historical fantasy based on solidly researched places, locations, and people will enjoy how the author breathes life into people from this time.
This Book's Snack Rating: Like the first novel in the series, reading Shadow of Stone is like eating a giant bag of kettle chips for the solid historical crunch and sturdy flavor of ancient Britain
The Dux Bellorum, Arthur, presides over an uneasy collection of alliances and kings.
But the peace is about to be broken. There will be betrayals, and the warriors of Arthur's band, as well as the now-grown children will be put to the test.
In the end, will Britain survive as a united country?
If you liked the thoroughly researched battles and journeys of the characters in Yseult, the fun continues here in Shadow of Stone. Cador still longs for Yseult, Yseult still has a heart full of love despite Drystan's passing; they are full of passion, but it is tempered with a melancholy or sad wisdom. Their children and nieces and nephews all have their own parts to play in this tale. Instead of St. Patrick, we get the welsh St. Illtud as foil/helper for Yseult.
This is the end of Arthur's story, with appearances by Nimue, Myrrdin, and Medraut (Mordred) to seal his fate.
Anyone interested in Celtic history, Arthur legends, or historical fantasy based on solidly researched places, locations, and people will enjoy how the author breathes life into people from this time.
This Book's Snack Rating: Like the first novel in the series, reading Shadow of Stone is like eating a giant bag of kettle chips for the solid historical crunch and sturdy flavor of ancient Britain
June 21, 2012
Read "Yseult" and was positively fascinated with the intricate story line, the in-depth descriptions of life during that time period, the feelings portrayed through the various characters, the passion between Yseult and Drystan that can only be found in stories. When I was given an opportunity to read "Shadow Of Stone" I was thrilled. The exemplary story line continues, the intricacies of relationships and feelings are still there, and I can only hope that the author will continue the story in at least one more continuation.
July 18, 2014
While my opinion is very much biased (I have a serious weakness for the Arthur myth in all its forms), this was an excellent retelling of the story of the latter years of Arthur and his companions. The book picks and chooses from among the various traditions and stories of Britain's most legendary king, but the meld makes good sense and the story has the depth and richness that one might expect from material that has been covered and re-covered so many times through the ages. Other famous and famously related sagas, like the tales of Tristan and Isolde are also brought in to good effect with Isolde (Yseult as she is known in this book, the more Welsh version of her name) being one of the primary viewpoints for the story.
The characters are very human, even the ones that are already living legends within the story itself, with doubts, fears, quirks and conundrums that unfold them from their tragic poetic counterparts, who all too often possess only the character traits that are significant to the advancement of the story.
The setting is as close to historical accuracy as possible, given that the story allows for the existence of supernatural powers and the people that wield them. The sheer amount of research that has gone into the fabric of Britain in the Post-Roman Age is impressive, down to the locations of significant towns and cities and the things that they were known to trade in. Magic is also handled interestingly, with little attempt to explain its mechanics beyond the fact that it works, which is refreshing in a day and age where pseudo-science is everywhere in fantasy settings.
All in all this was an excellent read, well worth the time whether you are insane for King Arthur and his stories or scratching your head and wondering who he is. I understand there is a prequel book available, so newcomers to the stories of King Arthur might want to start there in order to see how Arthur became famous, but for anyone with a basic knowledge of the story, nothing seems to be lost from starting with this book.
The characters are very human, even the ones that are already living legends within the story itself, with doubts, fears, quirks and conundrums that unfold them from their tragic poetic counterparts, who all too often possess only the character traits that are significant to the advancement of the story.
The setting is as close to historical accuracy as possible, given that the story allows for the existence of supernatural powers and the people that wield them. The sheer amount of research that has gone into the fabric of Britain in the Post-Roman Age is impressive, down to the locations of significant towns and cities and the things that they were known to trade in. Magic is also handled interestingly, with little attempt to explain its mechanics beyond the fact that it works, which is refreshing in a day and age where pseudo-science is everywhere in fantasy settings.
All in all this was an excellent read, well worth the time whether you are insane for King Arthur and his stories or scratching your head and wondering who he is. I understand there is a prequel book available, so newcomers to the stories of King Arthur might want to start there in order to see how Arthur became famous, but for anyone with a basic knowledge of the story, nothing seems to be lost from starting with this book.
October 19, 2014
Secondo volume della saga di ambientazione arturiana iniziata con il bellissimo "La fiamma e l'arpa", questo romanzo (ancora non tradotto in italiano - e chissà, purtroppo, se mai lo sarà!) prende le fila dalla tragica conclusione dell'amore tra Drystan (Tristano) e Yseult (Isotta) e si addentra di più nelle vicende della Britannia di Re Artù, lasciando da parte l'Eire natia della protagonista.
Personaggio chiave è Cador, cugino di Artù, da sempre innamorato di Yseult, la quale però è divenuta - nella disperazione per la perdita di Drystan - amante del famoso Gawain. Cador è l'esatto opposto dell'eroe: alla guerra, preferisce occuparsi della terra, dei cavalli, preferisce la vita semplice del farmer king, come viene bonariamente canzonato. Riuscirà quindi a conquistare l'amore della Fiamma, Yseult la Bella, la Leonessa?
Intrecciate alle vicende dei tre, scorrono quelle note della tradizione arturiana: qui non troveremo un Lancillotto, ma il perfido Medraut (Mordred), in una versione della vicenda che lascia da parte la tradizione cortese e si rifà piuttosto a quella di Geoffrey of Monmouth e altre versioni precedenti.
Le tre stelline sono soprattutto per la prima parte: la storia ci mette un po' ad entrare nel vivo e le schermaglie amorose sono un po' noiose e tirate per le lunghe. Ma dalla seconda metà la narrazione si fa incalzante e ritroviamo la meravigliosa Yseult del primo romanzo: una donna forte e coraggiosa, che - a mio parere - deve molto alle eroine raccontate da Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Intrigante l'intermezzo narrativo costituito dalla vicenda di Gawain e Ragnell: non conoscevo questa leggenda!
Infine: molto piacevole la lettura in lingua. L'inglese della Nestvold è molto scorrevole e fluido e rende la lettura per il lettore straniero per nulla complicata.
Personaggio chiave è Cador, cugino di Artù, da sempre innamorato di Yseult, la quale però è divenuta - nella disperazione per la perdita di Drystan - amante del famoso Gawain. Cador è l'esatto opposto dell'eroe: alla guerra, preferisce occuparsi della terra, dei cavalli, preferisce la vita semplice del farmer king, come viene bonariamente canzonato. Riuscirà quindi a conquistare l'amore della Fiamma, Yseult la Bella, la Leonessa?
Intrecciate alle vicende dei tre, scorrono quelle note della tradizione arturiana: qui non troveremo un Lancillotto, ma il perfido Medraut (Mordred), in una versione della vicenda che lascia da parte la tradizione cortese e si rifà piuttosto a quella di Geoffrey of Monmouth e altre versioni precedenti.
Le tre stelline sono soprattutto per la prima parte: la storia ci mette un po' ad entrare nel vivo e le schermaglie amorose sono un po' noiose e tirate per le lunghe. Ma dalla seconda metà la narrazione si fa incalzante e ritroviamo la meravigliosa Yseult del primo romanzo: una donna forte e coraggiosa, che - a mio parere - deve molto alle eroine raccontate da Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Intrigante l'intermezzo narrativo costituito dalla vicenda di Gawain e Ragnell: non conoscevo questa leggenda!
Infine: molto piacevole la lettura in lingua. L'inglese della Nestvold è molto scorrevole e fluido e rende la lettura per il lettore straniero per nulla complicata.
June 23, 2013
Shadow of Stone was my introduction to Ruth Nestvold. I picked the book up on a free day from Amazon.co.uk and was immediately drawn into the story. Yseult is a strong, beautiful woman with powers of old, but, despite her ability to delve into the thoughts of others, struggles with key relationships in her life. Surprisingly, an unassuming Cador becomes a hero in his own right. Kustennin proves to be as much his mother's son as his father's. Every character has their individual charm and voice. Their interactions are sometimes simple, sometimes complex, but always keep the reader intrigued.
The story gives an insightful glimpse of every day life during these times and reflects how quickly peaceful, dreamy days can turn into violent, bloody nightmares. No one and no place is safe.
Shadow of Stone has just the right blend of conflict, love, and historical adventure. Ms. Nestvold has become one of my favorite authors. I will most definitely be reading her previous books and those to come!
The story gives an insightful glimpse of every day life during these times and reflects how quickly peaceful, dreamy days can turn into violent, bloody nightmares. No one and no place is safe.
Shadow of Stone has just the right blend of conflict, love, and historical adventure. Ms. Nestvold has become one of my favorite authors. I will most definitely be reading her previous books and those to come!
February 7, 2016
After Yseult's and Drystan's tragic love affair that ended so badly (as we surely all know and which is the topic of the first Pendragon book) we now follow her in her life after love, where she is drawn into the political turmoil around the legendary king Arthur and can't escape the next tragedy that enfolds around her. It was a very interesting read, sometimes so full of suspense I nearly forgot to breathe, sometimes sweetly romantic and sometimes a very detailed description of life during that time, in war and peace, friendship and hate. A very good mix and the fact that Ruth Nestvold has immersed herself deeply into the old tales and still spins her very own story out of it made it absolutely enjoyable (it's four books in one, so it is very long).
April 21, 2013
Not your Arthur, Gueneviere and Lancelot tale! This novel tells the true story of Arthur and his knights! A little slow to get into but once you get the characters straight(given in there original context not the context most are familiar with) a thoroughly enjoyable read! I would highly recommend it. It is not a book to skim through you MUST take your time in reading the entire story to get the true story. Well written and researched meticulously. It was a book that can make you see why Arthur is legend!
September 23, 2012
Very much like the first book in this series.
Well written. I liked this a little more than the first, mostly because it was further removed from the legend that I know. At the end, the author writes about how she followed the less well known Welsh version of the Arthurian legend.
If you enjoy Arthurian stories, I think this is a great change of pace.
Well written. I liked this a little more than the first, mostly because it was further removed from the legend that I know. At the end, the author writes about how she followed the less well known Welsh version of the Arthurian legend.
If you enjoy Arthurian stories, I think this is a great change of pace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2013
The Pendragon Chronicle is kind of like a soap opera -- no one can be happy for very long without some sort of bad thing happening. This said, the first two books are good -- interesting characters, customs, and a glimpse of life in Ireland and Britain in the 5th century.
A few very short sex scenes
War and ambition fuel some non-graphic violence
A few very short sex scenes
War and ambition fuel some non-graphic violence
May 9, 2016
This is book 2 but can stand alone. The author does a wonderful job of combining the familiar Arthurian tales while adding enough of her own touches to make them interestingly different. This series contains large volumes but definitely worth it. Read this one if you love books that you can live with for a while but don't expect it to be all good news. At least I didn't cry at the end.
February 5, 2013
I really liked it. It is Arthurian with a twist. Great development of characters whose names we've known but with no story, no history. Enough magic to keep it interesting, not so much as to make it a fairy tale. If you like this period of time, it is worth reading.
November 1, 2012
Very nice retelling of the legend of Drystan and Yseult, after the death of Drystan.
August 18, 2014
Well written, but too "soapy" for my taste.
February 9, 2013
Even though I knew how the story would eventually end, Nestvold put her own spin on the events and kept me riveted.
July 1, 2014
Interesting mixture of Arthurian myths as to the life of Yseult after Drystan's(Tristan's) death.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews