The Lion of Wales: The Complete Series, Books 1-5

by Sarah Woodbury

Love. Magic. Faith. By the autumn of 537 AD, all who are loyal to King Arthur have retreated to a small parcel of land in North Wales. They are surrounded on all sides, heavily outnumbered, and facing near certain defeat.

But Myrddin and Nell, two of the king's companions, have a secret that neither has ever been able to Each has seen that on a cold and snowy day in December, Saxon soldiers sent by Modred will ambush and kill King Arthur.

And together, they must decide what they are willing to do, and to sacrifice, to avert that fate.

The Lion of The Complete Series, Books 1-5 is also available as five individual Cold My Heart, The Oaken Door, Of Men and Dragons, A Long Cloud, and Frost Against the Hilt.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery

Audible Audio

Published October 14, 2020

About the author

With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. Although an anthropologist by training, and then a full-time homeschooling mom for twenty years, she began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded that she let them out. While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time at university. She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.

Sarah is a member of the Historical Authors Fiction Cooperative (HFAC), the Historical Novel Society, and Novelists, Inc. (NINC).


She makes her home in Oregon.

Reviews

[Mark Evans]

“What you never understood was that for Wales, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”

OMG what a saga… We cannot know what is truth and what is fable, but this is a riveting read; I read it fast and with a real sense of thrill. Ms Woodbury, thank you for a fantastic interpretation of the history of Arthur. Right or wrong, true or embroidery, you have given us 5 fabulous volumes…

[Ruth Proctor-Cannon]

Wow a wonderful blend of ballad battle and fiction

As a child my Welsh grandmother found some English translations of old Welsh ballads, these 5 books have taken me back to a time when I believed in what I read.

Sarah Woodbury is a weaver of legend, of a story that's easy to read this is a believable tale of the leadership of King Arthur and those who believed in him written in chapters that tell us of Nell, Myridin ( sorry about the spelling) and Huw and their history and abilities and of invasion and war. Sarah has written of battles that bring a Saxon invader close to taking Wales: The last stronghold of the British: And the actions of the Welsh and some Saxons in defending their homes.

I have read all five books in a few days and found them drawing me on like that child who first read those ballads, pity that I'm half Welsh, but don't speak the language.

[PR]

The Best So Far...

This Series all in one made reading it so much easier and more impactful. I LOVED IT !!! Love King Arthur Stories over the years...have read so many!... This one, from Welsh history and legend is as good as the best I have read. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves this history as much as I do. What a wonderful series from a scholarly and profoundly reliable author, Sarah Woodbury. This new perspective on an old story was satisfying, colorful, suspenseful. And terrifically readable. Ten Stars!!!!

[Angelcia Carol]

Wonderful and Exciting Series

The people and the adventures of King Arthur fighting for their country of Wales was brilliantly put together and made including historical facts that it was hard to put the book down. That’s the trouble with finishing off the series without having another book to follow right behind it. Always hated a series to end. This author will keep you on your toes through anything she writes and maybe she can surprise us with a sequel to “The Lion of Wales” and also “The Wonderland Series”!

[Holly Lenz]

The Lion of Wales is a great historical fiction series loosely based on the Arthurian legends with more emphasis of historical than on myths and legends. The books contain some brutal violence including rape, so reader discretion is advised. I would advise getting the whole series and not attempting to just read or listen to one book.

The narrator of the series does a great job bringing the books to life.

[Dee Goulet]

I really enjoyed the story. The writing has some fopar's as it is obviously written by an American rather than someone from Wales. For example, using the term "I guess" after a sentence is very American and not something that would be said by someone from the UK. I am from the UK and indeed was born in Wales. However, I was impressed by the overall story which stayed away from the common narratives of the Arthurian tales.
A worthy read.

[Marilyn Hay]

This is truly excellent series, with wonderful characters. As always, Woodbury has captured 5th and 6th century Wales, bringing to life an older, mature, but undaunted King Arthur. Though this is his story, it is even more the stories of the knight and the former nun who have had lifelong visions of a terrible day, now only a few weeks ahead into their future. There are twists and turns galore, surprises and suspense, and a most satisfactory ending. I highly recommend the series.

[Nick]

I very much enjoyed this imagining of the King Arthur story at in Wales. It had great characters and used Welsh source material instead of the typical Mort d' Arthur basis. Highly recommended. Note that the 5 books are really one single long book, not five distinct novella stories (of you read the first novella do not expect any sort of conclusion).

[Lisa Coulter]

Very enjoyable

A lovely Welsh adventure / romance set in the time ok Arthur. ( 6th c ). Sarah Woodbury has done research on the era and legends as well, which brings added depth to her take of Myrdden, Nell and their companions.

[sarah McConnell]

Fab series of books

Loved this series, very addictive, couldn't put it down. Being Welsh myself I knew most of the places in these books. Very well written and really entertaining.

[Vidar]

love Sarah’s Welsh fantasies

This five very short books series, the equivalent of one longish book, is a wonderful contribution to Arthurian legend. I lost an entire day to it, a great escape from the gray winter weather. Highly recommend!

[Bob Hobbit]

to many damn books to buy .should have been one book or two at a fair price. A fine read.

[Susana]

I really liked it! fantastic version of the legend of Arthur. One can not help fly through the pages and find out it is too short.

[Tenjey Wright]

The Lion of Wales

Loved this story. The characters are very believable and story line good. I could barely put these books down! Would highly recommend!

[Susanna Duffy]

Historically interesting

[Sue Houghton]

Excellent

I really enjoyed reading this series and look forward to reading many more of her books thank you Sarah Woobury

[Elsbeth Kwant]

A story that reads as an adventure story - set in historical Wales, it portrays Arthur between legend and history.

[Dian Burns]

Very well written, don't let the complex pronunciation of the names overwhelm you.

[Teri B]

Book 1 - novella, Cold My Heart:
Dipping back into the King Arthur legends, I just went through this first part of the story as told by Sarah Woodbury. It's full of scare, premonition and death.