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Arthur Rex: Dux Bellorum
There will be time to crown a king, but first a warlord must rise.
Arthur’s battle summer is upon him, and he must be victorious if he is to claim his throne and rid the land of Saxon invaders.
The teenaged king has pulled the sword from the stone, but still the petty kings will not accept his rule. The Saxons are invading, Lot and Uriens are united against him, and he still has to prove himself as king to the common folk of the land.
Next stop: the mysterious standing stones of the Giants’ Dance and the Beltane ritual.
Warfare does not wait for the young king to catch his breath. Battle follows battle. Love is lost and found. Allies fall, enemies rise, and betrayals come to the young High King. If he stays strong, he can lead his people through a bloody summer. If not, all of Britannia will fall.
Arthur alone will be responsible for the glory or ruin to come.
No pressure.
Arthur Rex: Dux Bellorum is the third installment in an epic retelling of the King Arthur legend.
You only think you know the story.
Arthur’s battle summer is upon him, and he must be victorious if he is to claim his throne and rid the land of Saxon invaders.
The teenaged king has pulled the sword from the stone, but still the petty kings will not accept his rule. The Saxons are invading, Lot and Uriens are united against him, and he still has to prove himself as king to the common folk of the land.
Next stop: the mysterious standing stones of the Giants’ Dance and the Beltane ritual.
Warfare does not wait for the young king to catch his breath. Battle follows battle. Love is lost and found. Allies fall, enemies rise, and betrayals come to the young High King. If he stays strong, he can lead his people through a bloody summer. If not, all of Britannia will fall.
Arthur alone will be responsible for the glory or ruin to come.
No pressure.
Arthur Rex: Dux Bellorum is the third installment in an epic retelling of the King Arthur legend.
You only think you know the story.
- GenresFantasy
613 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2019
6 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Cummings
54 books77 followersI have been writing for as long as I can remember. It started on a snowy day near Christmas when I was three or four. I don't recall the impetus, but my older sister, whom I idolized and copied as much as possible, started writing a story. Not to be outdone, I started writing a story too. I've been writing ever since.
I am proud to have written the Rune Series books ("Rune Sword", "Rune Master", "Rune Hunter", and "Rune King's Daughter"), and I intend to continue my first series, Clans, which began with the novel "Nightchild". I'm currently working on an Arthurian retelling, "Arthur Rex".
I am proud to have written the Rune Series books ("Rune Sword", "Rune Master", "Rune Hunter", and "Rune King's Daughter"), and I intend to continue my first series, Clans, which began with the novel "Nightchild". I'm currently working on an Arthurian retelling, "Arthur Rex".
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October 27, 2019Arthur Rex: Dux Bellorum Book 3
This is the third book of this series and it is truly impressive. Pay attention to details from the maps, and in the back of the book, details on who is who. This is the most realistic series of books I have read. The maps outline Britania after the fall of the Roman empire. Changes are ocurring in many things. The old ways of worshiping in the old Pagens ways are being challenged by the Christian faith. Although Ulthur Pendragon fought and united all of Britania,, many years have passed and much of the once united kingdoms have been taken over by the strongest of the individual kings and invaders. Britania is broken up and only some kings are willing to recognize Arthur as the true heir to Uther Pendragon. He has enough trouble coming with the Saxons sailing to invade but not knowing where they might land. Not to mention the various kings who still choose to wage war against him and not recognize him as high king. As they are resting up they learn that the Saxans have landed and are determined to fight them before they get a foothold in Britana. They ride until they reach the river and sneak up on the 24 Saxons who were left to guard the 12 ships tied to the shore. They figure from the size of the boats that they will be facing over 450 Saxon warriors led by Colgren. That means they will be outnumbered but Authur is convinced that surprise will even it out. Authur is fighting a deep wound in his stomach that has not healed. In the meantime the Saxons are marching to take Lindum. They realize it is not going to be easy but use black magic to transport a siege builder thru a portal to there camp but threaten him with death if he does not build 7 ballasts with appropriate labor force to help. Authur decides they need to try to destroy the ballasts. He selects his own Seal Team 6 to sneak into the Saxon camp and try to destroy them. Merlin arrives before they leave and refuses to let Arthur go and forces him to select someone in his place. The christian warrior priest takes his place. He is captured and tortured when he accidently knock bottles of fire explosive on to one of the ballastas and sets it on fire. Merlin rescues him but he dies. Aurthur rides out to meet King Gugurest and he agrees that he and his warriors will go with Authur to save the town since the town was in his kingdom. After defeating the Saxons, Authur and his troops return with King Gugurest to rest at his castle. As they dine, Gugurest and his knights make jokes at Authur's expense seThe king has Authur hold court the next day to hear complaints from kingdom. Authur does and shows up the king for accusing a man of murdering his wife without any proof or investigation and frees him. The King is furious. However, Authur's trouble has just started because he gets word that King Lot is moving his men and all his allies and their men so they can engage Aurthors forces. As they draw closer, Authur tries to gather his forces but is betrayed.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Keep them coming!
This is the third book of this series and it is truly impressive. Pay attention to details from the maps, and in the back of the book, details on who is who. This is the most realistic series of books I have read. The maps outline Britania after the fall of the Roman empire. Changes are ocurring in many things. The old ways of worshiping in the old Pagens ways are being challenged by the Christian faith. Although Ulthur Pendragon fought and united all of Britania,, many years have passed and much of the once united kingdoms have been taken over by the strongest of the individual kings and invaders. Britania is broken up and only some kings are willing to recognize Arthur as the true heir to Uther Pendragon. He has enough trouble coming with the Saxons sailing to invade but not knowing where they might land. Not to mention the various kings who still choose to wage war against him and not recognize him as high king. As they are resting up they learn that the Saxans have landed and are determined to fight them before they get a foothold in Britana. They ride until they reach the river and sneak up on the 24 Saxons who were left to guard the 12 ships tied to the shore. They figure from the size of the boats that they will be facing over 450 Saxon warriors led by Colgren. That means they will be outnumbered but Authur is convinced that surprise will even it out. Authur is fighting a deep wound in his stomach that has not healed. In the meantime the Saxons are marching to take Lindum. They realize it is not going to be easy but use black magic to transport a siege builder thru a portal to there camp but threaten him with death if he does not build 7 ballasts with appropriate labor force to help. Authur decides they need to try to destroy the ballasts. He selects his own Seal Team 6 to sneak into the Saxon camp and try to destroy them. Merlin arrives before they leave and refuses to let Arthur go and forces him to select someone in his place. The christian warrior priest takes his place. He is captured and tortured when he accidently knock bottles of fire explosive on to one of the ballastas and sets it on fire. Merlin rescues him but he dies. Aurthur rides out to meet King Gugurest and he agrees that he and his warriors will go with Authur to save the town since the town was in his kingdom. After defeating the Saxons, Authur and his troops return with King Gugurest to rest at his castle. As they dine, Gugurest and his knights make jokes at Authur's expense seThe king has Authur hold court the next day to hear complaints from kingdom. Authur does and shows up the king for accusing a man of murdering his wife without any proof or investigation and frees him. The King is furious. However, Authur's trouble has just started because he gets word that King Lot is moving his men and all his allies and their men so they can engage Aurthors forces. As they draw closer, Authur tries to gather his forces but is betrayed.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Keep them coming!
September 30, 2019
Arthur Pendragon has been acknowledged by many as the High King. But not everyone is ready to accept him as such, and he must fight to subdue those who oppose him. War is here, and there is no avoiding it. He has much to do if he is to win and retain his kingdom. Arthur inspires loyalty and respect in many, but not everyone is ready to consider him a friend, let alone their king. He is still young, and while he is very inspiring, he also still has much to learn before he can become the man he is destined to be.
When looking at the page count, one might be hesitant at first to pick it up, but don’t let the length of this one scare you away from reading it. Once you start reading, it doesn’t feel like it is anywhere near as long as it claims to be. The story really grabs you and sucks you in, making this a very difficult book to put down.
This was the third book in this series and upon finishing it, my first thought was “Wow!” Most folks know by now that I really enjoy reading a good King Arthur story. Well, this one was probably one of the best I’ve read in quite a while. This author has definitely put her own spin on the myths and legends that surround Merlin, Arthur, Guinivere, and all of the Knights of the Round Table, while at the same time retaining the familiar aspects that we would expect to see in any Arthurian tale.
I do need to warn anyone reading this book that there are some rather graphically detailed sex scenes as well as a rape contained within these pages. (It is definitely not a book meant for younger readers.) But the more adult scenes were all very necessary parts of the story and not something that could have been left out or ignored. (There is more that I would like to say about this, but doing so would give away too much that you really do need to read for yourself. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.)
Ms. Cummings clearly has a talent for teasing us throughout her story with hints of what is likely to come in the future without really giving away any specific details. The characters are extremely well written and will make you want to laugh and cry with them, and the ending of this book will leave you waiting impatiently for book 4. Highly recommended, especially for those who enjoy a good King Arthur tale.
When looking at the page count, one might be hesitant at first to pick it up, but don’t let the length of this one scare you away from reading it. Once you start reading, it doesn’t feel like it is anywhere near as long as it claims to be. The story really grabs you and sucks you in, making this a very difficult book to put down.
This was the third book in this series and upon finishing it, my first thought was “Wow!” Most folks know by now that I really enjoy reading a good King Arthur story. Well, this one was probably one of the best I’ve read in quite a while. This author has definitely put her own spin on the myths and legends that surround Merlin, Arthur, Guinivere, and all of the Knights of the Round Table, while at the same time retaining the familiar aspects that we would expect to see in any Arthurian tale.
I do need to warn anyone reading this book that there are some rather graphically detailed sex scenes as well as a rape contained within these pages. (It is definitely not a book meant for younger readers.) But the more adult scenes were all very necessary parts of the story and not something that could have been left out or ignored. (There is more that I would like to say about this, but doing so would give away too much that you really do need to read for yourself. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.)
Ms. Cummings clearly has a talent for teasing us throughout her story with hints of what is likely to come in the future without really giving away any specific details. The characters are extremely well written and will make you want to laugh and cry with them, and the ending of this book will leave you waiting impatiently for book 4. Highly recommended, especially for those who enjoy a good King Arthur tale.
October 17, 2019
This is where some of the bigger players fates get decided. I forgot how much fun reading these retelling could be there's just enough old with the new. I'm excited to see the coming twist and betrayal that is sure to come.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews