The Wounded Bear

The Silurian #10

by L.A. Wilson

Last Man to Avalon: The Wounded Bear - The road to Avalon is paved with death and endings; the advent of a new age that is dark with the fall of Arthur...and Bedwyr fights to the last of his strength to keep his warrior-king alive...

1173 pages, ebook

First published August 20, 2012

About the author

Unique writer of Arthurian fiction; this is King Arthur like you have never read before, called The Silurian: the Silurian is Arthur, and this is his story told by his closest companion and foster-brother, Bedwyr, called The Fox.

There are ten books in the Silurian series, with book ten issue only as part one, The Wounded Bear. Part Two will follow in 2013.

Book One: The Fox and The Bear
Book Two: The King of Battles
Book Three: Arthur's Army
Book Four: Hunters and Killers
Book Five: Longhand, White-tooth and the Fox
Book Six: Bedwyr's Loss
Book Seven: The Blacksmith's Hammer
Book Eight: Facing the Bear
Book Nine: The Fox on the Water
Book Ten, Last Man to Avalon; Part ONE: The Wounded Bear

Book One of the series received an 'Honorary Mention' in the London Book Festival of 2007

My work has been describe as 'art', as intense and full of passion. The Silurian, a battleground of Saxon invasions and British survival, of loss and love and enduring resistance. Whatever The Silurian is, it is not in the mould of 'Lancelot loves Guinevere'; but in the true mould of Dark Age warriors, who fight for their lord in war-host to the very ends of the endurance, with Arthur at their head. This is not the romance of Merlin, Tristan, Lancelot, or the 'knights of the round table': this is real life in the raw,told in a unique first person narrative, in the unique style of Bedwyr, the Fox...

Reviews

[Mary Josefina Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

With ‘Last Man to Avalon’, L.A. Wilson brings ‘The Silurian’ the great epic saga of King Arthur, to a conclusion of devastating beauty. Just the title kills me, but I had to read it as soon as it was published, even though we all know that Arthur dies in battle, betrayed. The death of heroes is awesome and resonates through time. The magic of Arthur is ongoing and the marks of his deeds lie buried in the landscape of Britain. If only I knew where to look.

Even when I’d finished it, in tears, this passionate and astounding story kept whirling round in my head. For me, Arthur is forever accompanied by his greatest warrior Bedwyr, whose words give us the eight books of ‘The Silurian’ series and who has the intense destiny of being the ‘Last Man’ of the title. I treasure Bedwyr’s words, beautiful, poetic, passionate and often full of wild humour.
I also had sympathy for Medraut. I've suffered from Romani Christians myself and the damage is incalculable The Snake, Medraut, is too damaged, too broken inside to resist the glittering lure of treachery.

The description of the final battle and Arthur’s death is awe inspiring as well as heart breaking. The powerful images flew into my mind with visionary intensity, a waking dream. The final one being, unbearably, Bedwyr the Fox, stunned by grief. But there is hope. The certainty that Arthur and Bedwyr are together forever in Avalon. I have to believe this.

The beauty and wonder of this book is impossible to describe in a review. It has to be experienced. ‘Last Man to Avalon’ is so much more than writing. It is love manifested. L.A. Wilson must have gone to the limits of endurance to create it. I don’t want to leave Arthur and Bedwyr, ever. So, there's only one thing for me to do. To read this awesome saga again, from the beginning.

[Susanna Shipman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

The final book in the Silurian series is a masterpiece! L A Wilson is a terrific writer. After reading this book
I can understand how she had a hard time writing it. Im sure she cried the whole time. I sure did. The whole series is a literary masterpiece.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

It looks like this ends the series as the next book appears to be DOA --- not happening.
I really wanted to like this but it was excruciating to finish. There was a whole lot of "nothing" actions, and some of the events and characters added into the story were... sorry... ridiculous. Pict Amazon warriors? What kind of Briton is named "Sasha"? While I appreciated the relationship themes of brotherhood and male love throughout the series, it felt like a lot of tedious repetition with nothing new added. Overall I enjoyed the series and its new take on the Arthur legend, which plunges way more into fiction that most versions. One does have to set the plausibility meter pretty low and throw those kind of expectation out the window.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve put off reading this book for so long, because I knew that it was going to tear my heart out. And it did! I don’t think there ever was a truer love. When I can handle it, I would love to sit down and re-read all of them, binge them, and take it all in again. I so wish someone would produce this as a series or movie. This needs to be on the big screen!

[Mary Josefina Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving five stars to the 'The Wounded Bear' seems so inadequate. This book is like sunrise over water, flames reflected in a deep dark pool, a whirling wind from fifth century Britain carrying love, war, passion and death - and also humour. Bedwyr enjoys making outrageous remarks! L.A. Wilson has, for me, captured the essence of Arthur, the once and future king, a true myth, my hero. As is his greatest warrior Bedwyr. I can't believe that Bedwyr has reached his forties. I remember him when he was a wild young boy, all the way back in Book one (The Fox and the Bear) helping Arthur to win his first battle. Now he's a wild adult man. Irresistible. There is a warning about adult content but throughout all the books I found the love making scenes to be honest and true, the essence of passion. In 'The Wounded Bear' these scenes are especially beautiful, often a poem in themselves. Whether the lovers are gay or straight seems to me to be completely irrelevant. It's just love. 'The Silurian' series tells the story of Arthur's efforts to create a peaceful and ordered Britain. There's always someone waiting to smash such dreams and 'The Wounded Bear' contains some monsters. The people who always want to spoil everything. I had to force myself to stop reading in order to do pointless things, like going to work or sleeping. I had to find out what happened next. L.A. Wilson has written ten books, with one more to come. Each of these books is an experience. It's hard to describe - the best thing to do is to read the books - but once you've tasted the potent mixture that makes up each part of the story of Arthur and Bedwyr - nothing else will do. I suffer from total addiction but I'm a happy addict. Even in the midst of difficult and painful events the power of love shines through. When all else is gone Arthur and Bedwyr still have love and hope, the glimmer on the edge of sight, the secret place, Avalon.

[Don Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book in this series. Does not appear to be a happy ending coming to this series but one of hard life lessons in some very difficult times.