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The Song of Albion #1-3
The Song of Albion Collection
Best-selling author Stephen R. Lawhead’s Song of Albion Trilogy now available in one volume!
First published almost twenty years ago, The Song of Albion Trilogy has become a modern classic that continues to attract passionate new readers. Enter into The Paradise War and experience the dazzling brilliance of a world like ours—yet infinitely bolder and brighter: a place of kings and warriors, bards and battles, feats of glory and honour. It is a place you will forever wish to be. It is Albion.
The Paradise War
Lewis Gillies is an American graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his life. Yet for some reason, he finds himself speeding north with his roommate Simon on a lark—half-heartedly searching for a long-extinct creature allegedly spotted in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis accidently crosses through a mystical gateway where two worlds meet: into the time-between-times, as the ancient Celts called it. And into the heart of a collision between good and evil that's been raging since long before Lewis was born.
The Silver Hand
The great king is dead and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne.
Lewis is now known as Llew in this Otherworld and has become a threat to the usurper Meldron. Exiled and driven from the clan, he must seek the meaning behind a mysterious prophecy—the making of a true king and the revealing of a long-awaited champion: Silver Hand.
The Endless Knot
Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. In the midst of it, Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. As the last battle begins, the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life . . . and Llew Silver Hand will face a challenge that will test his very soul.
First published almost twenty years ago, The Song of Albion Trilogy has become a modern classic that continues to attract passionate new readers. Enter into The Paradise War and experience the dazzling brilliance of a world like ours—yet infinitely bolder and brighter: a place of kings and warriors, bards and battles, feats of glory and honour. It is a place you will forever wish to be. It is Albion.
The Paradise War
Lewis Gillies is an American graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his life. Yet for some reason, he finds himself speeding north with his roommate Simon on a lark—half-heartedly searching for a long-extinct creature allegedly spotted in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis accidently crosses through a mystical gateway where two worlds meet: into the time-between-times, as the ancient Celts called it. And into the heart of a collision between good and evil that's been raging since long before Lewis was born.
The Silver Hand
The great king is dead and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne.
Lewis is now known as Llew in this Otherworld and has become a threat to the usurper Meldron. Exiled and driven from the clan, he must seek the meaning behind a mysterious prophecy—the making of a true king and the revealing of a long-awaited champion: Silver Hand.
The Endless Knot
Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. In the midst of it, Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. As the last battle begins, the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life . . . and Llew Silver Hand will face a challenge that will test his very soul.
940 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2014
226 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Lawhead
103 books2,770 followersStephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 21, 2016
Amazing trilogy. Another I can read over and over and still find something new.
September 30, 2024
When I re-read Stephen Lawhead’s “Dragon King Saga” recently, I found myself a little disappointed, as I was certain that I had read his work in the past and enjoyed it more. Given that this had been amongst his earlier works and the stand-alone novel I had read before was much better, I figured that I would keep reading. Fortunately, I already had his “Song of Albion Trilogy”, which was written nearly a decade later than the work I hadn’t enjoyed and during a pause in his “Pendragon Cycle”, which is his best-known work, so I hoped that may be an improvement.
The trilogy opens with “The Paradise War”, focussing on Lewis Gillies, a graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his research, but allows himself to be distracted by his flatmate, Simon, who should also be studying, but as part of a rich family, has no real need to graduate and earn a living. So when Simon hears a story of an ancient creature being found dead in modern day Scotland, he insists that they check it out. During their visit, Simon steps into an ancient cairn and disappears, with Lewis convinced that his friend is playing a trick on him and wanting no part of it.
But as he returns to Oxford alone, further strange things keep happening to Lewis. He had already seen a Green Man on the road to Scotland, but then he comes across a wolf in the streets of Oxford and gets trapped in a Celtic symbol drawn on the pavement. He is rescued by Professor Nettleton, who believes his story and feels that the distance between the modern world and the mystical world of Albion on which much of Celtic legend is based is shrinking and he can help Lewis get back there and bring Simon home again.
Carrying on immediately from the events of “The Paradise War”, this second novel, “The Silver Hand” takes up the story of the bard Tegid and his growing friendship with Llew, who was Lewis in our world, but is now fully established in Albion. So established, in fact, that Tegid has determined that he will be the new King after Meldryn Mawr, a decision that does not sit well with Prince Meldron, who has been told by Siawn Hy, formerly Simon, that he is entitled to the throne, but Tegid has seen him treat the King with a lack of respect that shows he is not deserving to rule.
After the two men escape from captivity, Prince Meldron takes his revenge on all who may assist them, committing a mass murder of all the remaining bards so that there are none to speak out against his rule. He then removes sight from Tegid and a hand from Llew, as a man with such a blemish could never be King and sets both adrift in a boat so that the seas will kill them and he will be blameless. However, the prophecy of Albion has not finished with either man and through the assistance of both men and gods, the survive and start to rebuild not only themselves, but Albion.
As with the second, “The Endless Knot” follows on immediately from the events that preceded it. This means that the land of Albion is currently at peace and the people have accepted Llew as their King. However, as the land had been blighted by Prince Meldron and his army, Tegid the bard has suggested a tour of the land so that all the people who survived can see that there is now peace in Albion and they can return to how life was before, or as closely as they can manage.
Upon his return, however, Llew’s wife Goewyn goes missing, along with Cynan’s new bride Tangwen. Suspecting that they have been kidnapped by Paladyr, a former enemy who has been exiled to Tir Aflan, they set out to rescue them. Tir Aflan is a land separate to Albion, where no-one knows what to expect, as no-one who has set foot there has ever returned to talk about what they found. It soon transpires that the land is home to many different types of danger unknown to those of Albion and the journey will be neither short nor easy.
The first two novels in the trilogy were a vast improvement on the previous works I had read from Lawhead. With Lewis as an often-bewildered storyteller in the first novel, the reader is allowed to grow into the mysteries alongside him and Nettleton acts as the introduction many of us may need into Celtic cultures and legends. With this done, Lewis returns to Albion and we get to see the life of Albion through his eyes, as he first stumbles through things and then learns to live in the culture and then thrive.
The building of the story from the bottom up means that the reader feels more involved than in many such works, as it is not entirely without reference points, thanks to Lewis. Celtic lore may not be something many of us are familiar with, but there are links to our own cultures. This helped me feel more engaged in the story and the characters as a reader and I found the novel much easier reading than his previous pure fantasy works, which were frequently hard work to get through.
As good as the first was, the second was even better, although it was a tougher read in some ways. For one thing, the writing is improved and this is helped by the story being told almost entirely by Tegid using a first-person narrative. As Tegid spends much of the novel without his eyesight, he is restricted on how much he can see and has to experience events differently from everyone else. This is a brave decision the part of the author, but he writes this different approach incredibly well and it doesn’t take much adjustment on the part of the reader.
There is also a heart of cooperation in the novel which is rare to find, as whilst fantasy frequently has stories of companions on a quest and they work together, it’s not often focussed on collaborating over a new home. When this is combined with characters who are well written and have a plausible backstory and motivation, it gives the story a new heart and direction which are incredibly welcome. Despite parts of the plot being rather static, it also means that there is always something going on and the pace of the novel is surprisingly high considering how the story progresses at points.
The issue I had with the trilogy was that it ended particularly poorly, as “The Endless Knot” spent an awful lot of time travelling, but never really getting anywhere. The whole journey was poorly written and there was little sense of danger or threat as they wandered from one incident to the next. The pacing was far slower than in the earlier novels which made for a hard read, especially as there was little in the way of character building along the way, as we already knew them all. One of the strengths of the trilogy was that the reader was made to care about the characters and so when bad things happened, it had an emotional impact, but that feeling didn’t happen here, as I felt less involved in the novel this time around.
Perhaps the worst part for me was the ending, which happened in an awful rush after the story plodded to its conclusion after taking the long way around. There was a hint of a low-budget C. S. Lewis in the ending, but Lawhead then felt the need to add in more to really make the point, which felt unnecessary as well as a touch patronising to the reader. It felt as if Lawhead didn’t really have much idea how to get from one world to another at this late stage and threw everything at the novel to see what stuck and it all felt like a bit of a mess, as well as lazy writing.
Ultimately, much of what happens in “The Endless Knot” reminds me a little uncomfortably of Lawhead’s “The Dragon King Saga”, which I had been disappointed with. There was a lot of dead space in the plot and no sense of scale or excitement in the journey aside from the odd moment and no characters you could get involved with. Had this trilogy opened with this novel, I probably would have put it aside and never continued, but that may have made the poor ending after two very good novels even more of a disappointment than doing that would have been, as I did at least get 2/3 of a very good fantasy trilogy this way.
The trilogy opens with “The Paradise War”, focussing on Lewis Gillies, a graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his research, but allows himself to be distracted by his flatmate, Simon, who should also be studying, but as part of a rich family, has no real need to graduate and earn a living. So when Simon hears a story of an ancient creature being found dead in modern day Scotland, he insists that they check it out. During their visit, Simon steps into an ancient cairn and disappears, with Lewis convinced that his friend is playing a trick on him and wanting no part of it.
But as he returns to Oxford alone, further strange things keep happening to Lewis. He had already seen a Green Man on the road to Scotland, but then he comes across a wolf in the streets of Oxford and gets trapped in a Celtic symbol drawn on the pavement. He is rescued by Professor Nettleton, who believes his story and feels that the distance between the modern world and the mystical world of Albion on which much of Celtic legend is based is shrinking and he can help Lewis get back there and bring Simon home again.
Carrying on immediately from the events of “The Paradise War”, this second novel, “The Silver Hand” takes up the story of the bard Tegid and his growing friendship with Llew, who was Lewis in our world, but is now fully established in Albion. So established, in fact, that Tegid has determined that he will be the new King after Meldryn Mawr, a decision that does not sit well with Prince Meldron, who has been told by Siawn Hy, formerly Simon, that he is entitled to the throne, but Tegid has seen him treat the King with a lack of respect that shows he is not deserving to rule.
After the two men escape from captivity, Prince Meldron takes his revenge on all who may assist them, committing a mass murder of all the remaining bards so that there are none to speak out against his rule. He then removes sight from Tegid and a hand from Llew, as a man with such a blemish could never be King and sets both adrift in a boat so that the seas will kill them and he will be blameless. However, the prophecy of Albion has not finished with either man and through the assistance of both men and gods, the survive and start to rebuild not only themselves, but Albion.
As with the second, “The Endless Knot” follows on immediately from the events that preceded it. This means that the land of Albion is currently at peace and the people have accepted Llew as their King. However, as the land had been blighted by Prince Meldron and his army, Tegid the bard has suggested a tour of the land so that all the people who survived can see that there is now peace in Albion and they can return to how life was before, or as closely as they can manage.
Upon his return, however, Llew’s wife Goewyn goes missing, along with Cynan’s new bride Tangwen. Suspecting that they have been kidnapped by Paladyr, a former enemy who has been exiled to Tir Aflan, they set out to rescue them. Tir Aflan is a land separate to Albion, where no-one knows what to expect, as no-one who has set foot there has ever returned to talk about what they found. It soon transpires that the land is home to many different types of danger unknown to those of Albion and the journey will be neither short nor easy.
The first two novels in the trilogy were a vast improvement on the previous works I had read from Lawhead. With Lewis as an often-bewildered storyteller in the first novel, the reader is allowed to grow into the mysteries alongside him and Nettleton acts as the introduction many of us may need into Celtic cultures and legends. With this done, Lewis returns to Albion and we get to see the life of Albion through his eyes, as he first stumbles through things and then learns to live in the culture and then thrive.
The building of the story from the bottom up means that the reader feels more involved than in many such works, as it is not entirely without reference points, thanks to Lewis. Celtic lore may not be something many of us are familiar with, but there are links to our own cultures. This helped me feel more engaged in the story and the characters as a reader and I found the novel much easier reading than his previous pure fantasy works, which were frequently hard work to get through.
As good as the first was, the second was even better, although it was a tougher read in some ways. For one thing, the writing is improved and this is helped by the story being told almost entirely by Tegid using a first-person narrative. As Tegid spends much of the novel without his eyesight, he is restricted on how much he can see and has to experience events differently from everyone else. This is a brave decision the part of the author, but he writes this different approach incredibly well and it doesn’t take much adjustment on the part of the reader.
There is also a heart of cooperation in the novel which is rare to find, as whilst fantasy frequently has stories of companions on a quest and they work together, it’s not often focussed on collaborating over a new home. When this is combined with characters who are well written and have a plausible backstory and motivation, it gives the story a new heart and direction which are incredibly welcome. Despite parts of the plot being rather static, it also means that there is always something going on and the pace of the novel is surprisingly high considering how the story progresses at points.
The issue I had with the trilogy was that it ended particularly poorly, as “The Endless Knot” spent an awful lot of time travelling, but never really getting anywhere. The whole journey was poorly written and there was little sense of danger or threat as they wandered from one incident to the next. The pacing was far slower than in the earlier novels which made for a hard read, especially as there was little in the way of character building along the way, as we already knew them all. One of the strengths of the trilogy was that the reader was made to care about the characters and so when bad things happened, it had an emotional impact, but that feeling didn’t happen here, as I felt less involved in the novel this time around.
Perhaps the worst part for me was the ending, which happened in an awful rush after the story plodded to its conclusion after taking the long way around. There was a hint of a low-budget C. S. Lewis in the ending, but Lawhead then felt the need to add in more to really make the point, which felt unnecessary as well as a touch patronising to the reader. It felt as if Lawhead didn’t really have much idea how to get from one world to another at this late stage and threw everything at the novel to see what stuck and it all felt like a bit of a mess, as well as lazy writing.
Ultimately, much of what happens in “The Endless Knot” reminds me a little uncomfortably of Lawhead’s “The Dragon King Saga”, which I had been disappointed with. There was a lot of dead space in the plot and no sense of scale or excitement in the journey aside from the odd moment and no characters you could get involved with. Had this trilogy opened with this novel, I probably would have put it aside and never continued, but that may have made the poor ending after two very good novels even more of a disappointment than doing that would have been, as I did at least get 2/3 of a very good fantasy trilogy this way.
February 14, 2025
4 Stars
The Song of Albion Collection is a fantastic Box Set which contains all three books in The Song of Albion Series by Stephen R. Lawhead.
The Box Set Contains:
'~The Paradise War (Book #1) ~
Lewis Gillies is an American graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his life. Yet for some reason, he finds himself speeding north with his roommate Simon on a lark—half-heartedly searching for a long-extinct creature allegedly spotted in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis accidently crosses through a mystical gateway where two worlds meet: into the time-between-times, as the ancient Celts called it. And into the heart of a collision between good and evil that's been raging since long before Lewis was born.
~The Silver Hand (Book #2) ~
The great king is dead and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne.
Lewis is now known as Llew in this Otherworld and has become a threat to the usurper Meldron. Exiled and driven from the clan, he must seek the meaning behind a mysterious prophecy—the making of a true king and the revealing of a long-awaited champion: Silver Hand.
~The Endless Knot Book #3) ~
Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. In the midst of it, Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. As the last battle begins, the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life . . . and Llew Silver Hand will face a challenge that will test his very soul.'
This is a well-woven story with fantastic worldbuilding, which really made the story come to life. It is an historical fantasy adventure with plenty of action, mythological elements, mystery, and other intriguing developments that will ensure that you keep flipping the pages to find out how everything plays out in the end.
Well worth the read.
My full review is still to come.
The Song of Albion Collection is a fantastic Box Set which contains all three books in The Song of Albion Series by Stephen R. Lawhead.
The Box Set Contains:
'~The Paradise War (Book #1) ~
Lewis Gillies is an American graduate student in Oxford who should be getting on with his life. Yet for some reason, he finds himself speeding north with his roommate Simon on a lark—half-heartedly searching for a long-extinct creature allegedly spotted in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis accidently crosses through a mystical gateway where two worlds meet: into the time-between-times, as the ancient Celts called it. And into the heart of a collision between good and evil that's been raging since long before Lewis was born.
~The Silver Hand (Book #2) ~
The great king is dead and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne.
Lewis is now known as Llew in this Otherworld and has become a threat to the usurper Meldron. Exiled and driven from the clan, he must seek the meaning behind a mysterious prophecy—the making of a true king and the revealing of a long-awaited champion: Silver Hand.
~The Endless Knot Book #3) ~
Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. In the midst of it, Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. As the last battle begins, the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life . . . and Llew Silver Hand will face a challenge that will test his very soul.'
This is a well-woven story with fantastic worldbuilding, which really made the story come to life. It is an historical fantasy adventure with plenty of action, mythological elements, mystery, and other intriguing developments that will ensure that you keep flipping the pages to find out how everything plays out in the end.
Well worth the read.
My full review is still to come.
August 7, 2017
Really, really disappointing. I found the Robin Hood series very engaging, a fresh perspective on an old tale. So I looked forward to reading this series. I've only read the first book of the trio, but had that been my first experience with Lawhead's writing I would not have read another book!
Writing is pedestrian and often boring. Spending paragraph after paragraph describing the scene adding little to moving the story along. And when he does remember we have real characters that need to speak it's a sentence or two before diving back into some useless descriptive text. So much space is wasted on telling us how glorious the scenery, the food, the color of some woman's hair, her voice, etc. Everything is perfect or the freshest or life altering.
Oh and the characters. Ouch. When they do speak its at the level of 10 year olds. They spend most time arguing about whether or not they understand something that was said or the why they don't know what is going on. This pattern repeats over and over and over. I understand trying to build suspense but making your characters ignorant or clueless to even the most obvious is really just bad writing. And seriously, how is that one day Lewis and Simon are roomies and friends but in a heartbeat become enemies in what seems like overnight? Ok that can happen but shouldn't you spend time helping the reader see this evolution? Oh wait, you needed those pages for describing how dark a tunnel is, or how succulent the roasted meat was.
I started book 2 in hopes that things would improve. No such luck. Can't imagine finishing the series. So if you've never read Lawhead, skip this series and go straight to the Robin Hood series!
Writing is pedestrian and often boring. Spending paragraph after paragraph describing the scene adding little to moving the story along. And when he does remember we have real characters that need to speak it's a sentence or two before diving back into some useless descriptive text. So much space is wasted on telling us how glorious the scenery, the food, the color of some woman's hair, her voice, etc. Everything is perfect or the freshest or life altering.
Oh and the characters. Ouch. When they do speak its at the level of 10 year olds. They spend most time arguing about whether or not they understand something that was said or the why they don't know what is going on. This pattern repeats over and over and over. I understand trying to build suspense but making your characters ignorant or clueless to even the most obvious is really just bad writing. And seriously, how is that one day Lewis and Simon are roomies and friends but in a heartbeat become enemies in what seems like overnight? Ok that can happen but shouldn't you spend time helping the reader see this evolution? Oh wait, you needed those pages for describing how dark a tunnel is, or how succulent the roasted meat was.
I started book 2 in hopes that things would improve. No such luck. Can't imagine finishing the series. So if you've never read Lawhead, skip this series and go straight to the Robin Hood series!
August 9, 2018
3/5
Lawhead writes compelling prose. If you're familiar with any of his work, you'll notice his prose is always beautiful and compelling, and it's reflected in these stories. It's written from an almost bardic perspective and the characters, though never fully developed are enjoyable. The heroes are heroic and you want to root for them, and the villains are truly despicable.
That being said, as a fan of Lawhead, I must sadly say that this trilogy is one of Lawhead's weakest entries. Too much time is spent in descriptions that are wordy to a point where they become asinine and the character development is barely there. Basically all covered in one chapter in the first book. After that, there's next to no more character development.
Overall, the story is engaging and despite the weaknesses stated above, it constantly pulls you forward and is overall an enjoyable read and is beautifully written with an almost lyrical style. I highly recommend most of Lawhead's books, but these can't compare to some of his highlights such as Byzantium or The King Raven trilogy.
Lawhead writes compelling prose. If you're familiar with any of his work, you'll notice his prose is always beautiful and compelling, and it's reflected in these stories. It's written from an almost bardic perspective and the characters, though never fully developed are enjoyable. The heroes are heroic and you want to root for them, and the villains are truly despicable.
That being said, as a fan of Lawhead, I must sadly say that this trilogy is one of Lawhead's weakest entries. Too much time is spent in descriptions that are wordy to a point where they become asinine and the character development is barely there. Basically all covered in one chapter in the first book. After that, there's next to no more character development.
Overall, the story is engaging and despite the weaknesses stated above, it constantly pulls you forward and is overall an enjoyable read and is beautifully written with an almost lyrical style. I highly recommend most of Lawhead's books, but these can't compare to some of his highlights such as Byzantium or The King Raven trilogy.
February 27, 2021
I have read this trilogy five times, and five times I have cried all the way through the third book. In Myth, it is easier to see the intangible realities of life, without the confusion of our own wishes and confounding struggles. Lawhead uses Celtic myth to weave a story so rich, so full of meaning, that it is hard to endure when the protagonist leaves that mythic world and returns to this world. It is a device I have never experienced before in fiction. And with the protagonist, we get to see the real things that are behind and inside all the tangible things we live with every day. I will be reading this trilogy again and again for the rest of my life.
February 3, 2024
First read this series back in the mid-90's and loved it. Have read it again several times since and still love it. Lawhead isn't on the same level of world building as Tolkien, but nobody is. The first book is admittedly a little slow but the second book in the series is all action. If you're into fantasy books, give it a try. It's a spin on the celtic mythos with a touch of Catholic sensibilities thrown in.
February 13, 2019
Fantastic series!
I read this book 15 years ago and immediately fell in love. But what really shocked me, is that when I reread it recently, it resonated just as much as it had the first time. Epic in its sweep, allegory, and nod to Celtic history, this trilogy has the power of pure escapism and absolute inspiration.
I read this book 15 years ago and immediately fell in love. But what really shocked me, is that when I reread it recently, it resonated just as much as it had the first time. Epic in its sweep, allegory, and nod to Celtic history, this trilogy has the power of pure escapism and absolute inspiration.
January 27, 2021
So Meaningful, Life Changing
I am changed--body, heart, mind and soul by this trilogy in ways maybe I will never comprehend. Reading Truth I know I know, but had forgotten. Salutes and loyalty and honor to Stephen Lawhead for being the vessel through which the Stream of Life flows through.
I am changed--body, heart, mind and soul by this trilogy in ways maybe I will never comprehend. Reading Truth I know I know, but had forgotten. Salutes and loyalty and honor to Stephen Lawhead for being the vessel through which the Stream of Life flows through.
May 20, 2024
Engaging Trilogy
I’ve enjoyed a few of Lawhead’s books. This would be top tier in his legacy books. Other authors attempt to capture this genre, but theirs pale in comparison. The detail and character development throughout the story captivate and draw the reader into their world. I will be jumping back in to reread this one.
I’ve enjoyed a few of Lawhead’s books. This would be top tier in his legacy books. Other authors attempt to capture this genre, but theirs pale in comparison. The detail and character development throughout the story captivate and draw the reader into their world. I will be jumping back in to reread this one.
June 4, 2018
It was a very entertaining book. I loved the concept but at times things were explained in so much detail that I started skimming through it. But all and all loved the story line and it kept me coming to go finish it.
April 1, 2021
This is my favorite fantasy trilogy up to this point.
I deeply enjoy and am still affected by Lawhead's description and exploration of Albion. The potential beauty and goodness of life and nature and community and growth are stunningly portrayed.
I deeply enjoy and am still affected by Lawhead's description and exploration of Albion. The potential beauty and goodness of life and nature and community and growth are stunningly portrayed.
August 9, 2022
Highly recommended
Amazing book of fiction so engrossing hard to put down. Loved the characters. A tale told beautiful with a great command of the English language. You are in for a treat!! Highly recommended!! Loved the use of clean language very refreshing. Thank you.
Amazing book of fiction so engrossing hard to put down. Loved the characters. A tale told beautiful with a great command of the English language. You are in for a treat!! Highly recommended!! Loved the use of clean language very refreshing. Thank you.
October 13, 2024
I have read this series cover to cover more times than I can count over the last 30 years. Every format imaginable. Paperback, hardcover, kindle, audible, I've experienced it in every medium and It never gets old!
November 2, 2017
Great read
Awesome story with characters that keep you spellbound. I would highly recommend these books. They would make a welcome addition to your library.
Awesome story with characters that keep you spellbound. I would highly recommend these books. They would make a welcome addition to your library.
December 16, 2018
Could not finish the series. I just grew to really dislike the characters.
June 7, 2019
Slows down quite a bit after the first; good beach read though!
September 25, 2019
I finished book 1 and started some of book 2. I just can't get into these books. They are not my cup of tea.
January 28, 2020
Read this a long time ago, and enjoyed the re-read.
August 2, 2021
Why Read It?
It is not at all my cup of tea. Too fanciful and too unreal to allow any kind of connection to reality, to believe it could be anything other than fantasy.
It is not at all my cup of tea. Too fanciful and too unreal to allow any kind of connection to reality, to believe it could be anything other than fantasy.
March 19, 2024
If you’re looking for a LOTR vibe with Celtic lore, check this out! New favorite…. 🤩
Read
March 11, 2022One of his best series!!
April 21, 2018
Good but not great. It seems like he was trying to write this as a Celtic bard’s tale- and he probably succeeded- but it doesn’t quite play well to modern ears. There’s something slightly discordant, as if the notes are in the wrong scale.
March 26, 2016
Initially, I was really interested in the books. The story was intriguing, but I had to put it down partway through the third book because it got a little too gruesome for me.
October 4, 2020
I liked how each book built and twisted in unexpected ways.
May 4, 2025
I have read the first two books in the series. I have enjoyed the experience very much and look forward to reading the last book soon
Want to read
May 1, 2017$2.99
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