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Macsen's Treasure #2
In the Shadow of Dragons
It is said that long before the Dark Age king of the Britons called Arthur was ever heard of, his golden reign was prophesied, and after decades of invasion and civil violence had wracked post-Roman Britain, his presaged leadership was a rare promise of future peace. Events leading to that time, some of them full of hope, more often full of sacrifice, inevitably began to fall into place...
When the mysterious druid Myrddin Emrys, known in legend as Merlin the Enchanter, is certain the high king is in imminent danger of yet another assassination attempt, he summons iron-willed spy and master of disguise Marcus ap Iorwerth to unearth the conspirators and destroy their plots. Marcus reluctantly agrees to help after his wife Claerwen, driven by her otherworldly gift of visions, insists that she must accompany him on the quest.
It is soon discovered that Pascentius, the youngest son of an earlier and well-hated king, is allied with dreaded Saxon mercenaries and readily poised to reclaim his father's throne. But before Marcus and Claerwen can spoil his plans, a second conspiracy of personal revenge closes in on them. Falsely declared fugitives by the very ones they had sought to help, they become trapped in a labyrinthine intrigue between their accusers and the traitors. In a desperate race against time, they must endure hardship and profound personal loss, while pushing Britain towards freedom, peace and the future called Arthur.
In the Shadow of Dragons continues the spectacular four-part Macsen's Treasure series, blending Dark Age Celtic history, Arthurian legend and extraordinary original characters into an unstoppable, heart-thumping adventure.
About the Author
Celtic writer Kathleen Cunningham Guler has published numerous historical articles and essays as well as short stories and poetry. Her first novel, Into the Path of Gods, published in 1998, introduced the four-part Macsen's Treasure series set in early Arthurian Britain, and was very well received by reviewers.
The author has studied Celtic history and Arthurian legend for nearly twenty years in both Great Britain and the United States. A descendant of the Celtic nations of Wales and Scotland, she is currently working on the third book of this series.
When the mysterious druid Myrddin Emrys, known in legend as Merlin the Enchanter, is certain the high king is in imminent danger of yet another assassination attempt, he summons iron-willed spy and master of disguise Marcus ap Iorwerth to unearth the conspirators and destroy their plots. Marcus reluctantly agrees to help after his wife Claerwen, driven by her otherworldly gift of visions, insists that she must accompany him on the quest.
It is soon discovered that Pascentius, the youngest son of an earlier and well-hated king, is allied with dreaded Saxon mercenaries and readily poised to reclaim his father's throne. But before Marcus and Claerwen can spoil his plans, a second conspiracy of personal revenge closes in on them. Falsely declared fugitives by the very ones they had sought to help, they become trapped in a labyrinthine intrigue between their accusers and the traitors. In a desperate race against time, they must endure hardship and profound personal loss, while pushing Britain towards freedom, peace and the future called Arthur.
In the Shadow of Dragons continues the spectacular four-part Macsen's Treasure series, blending Dark Age Celtic history, Arthurian legend and extraordinary original characters into an unstoppable, heart-thumping adventure.
About the Author
Celtic writer Kathleen Cunningham Guler has published numerous historical articles and essays as well as short stories and poetry. Her first novel, Into the Path of Gods, published in 1998, introduced the four-part Macsen's Treasure series set in early Arthurian Britain, and was very well received by reviewers.
The author has studied Celtic history and Arthurian legend for nearly twenty years in both Great Britain and the United States. A descendant of the Celtic nations of Wales and Scotland, she is currently working on the third book of this series.
Hardcover
First published January 28, 2002
44 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Cunningham Guler
8 books22 followersNovelist Kathleen Cunningham Guler is the author of the multi-award winning Macsen’s Treasure series that includes Into the Path of Gods, In the Shadow of Dragons, The Anvil Stone and A Land Beyond Ravens. She has studied Celtic history and Arthurian legend for almost thirty years in both the United States and Great Britain and has published numerous articles, essays, reviews, short stories and poetry. A descendant of the Celtic nations of Wales and Scotland, the author is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the International Arthurian Society.
See my blog: http://kathleenguler.blogspot.com
See my blog: http://kathleenguler.blogspot.com
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June 22, 2016On In the Shadow of Dragons, Second in the Macsen’s Treasure Series, by Kathleen Cunningham Guler
This wonderfully detailed book explores the historical setting of the King Arthur legend by describing the prelude that led to the birth of Arthur through the eyes of Marcus ap Iorwerth, Prince of Dinas Beris, a spy working to save the native Celtic kingship from invading Saxon assassins, and his wife Claerwen, a seer who has a deadly skill with a bow. The novel also introduces us to more familiar characters from Arthurian legend: Myrddian Emerys (Merlin the Enchanter), a druid who is the son of the High King Ambrosius, and Myrddian’s uncle Uther.
Marcus and his wife are also trying to recover the various treasures of Macsen, ancient relics believed to confer onto their owner the rightful ruler ship over Britain. Marcus begins by tracking down Octa, a Saxon who worked with the previous high king Vortigern killed by Myrddian’s father and who wants to regain the power he lost along with revenge for his father’s death. Marcus discovers that Octa is working with Pascentius, Vortigern’s youngest son, to assassinate Ambrosius, and that Pascentius possesses one of the treasures of Macsen’s Treasure, his spearhead. Disguising himself as Bhruic, a blacksmith, with his wife acting as a slave girl named Glan, Marcus is able to wound Banawr, Pascentis’ second in command, but he is unable to prevent the assassination of Ambrosis, leading to Uther being made high king.
Now he has to save Uther from a similar assassination attempt, even though Uther believes that Marcus is the killer. Can Marcus fulfil his duty to the Celtic crown and prevent the Saxons from regaining control of Britain? Also, who is this redheaded woman, Daracha, and the mysterious Iron Hawk? What is the importance of the boy Sinnoch and Lord Engres, along with his daughter Drysi? These are some of the question the reader may be asking him or herself, the answers to which may only be found by reading the novel to the end.
I enjoyed how the novel was authentic to the Celtic names of people and places, and how the imagery placed the reader into to these times of Britain after the fall of Roman occupation. The author used many different resources written about the time period as research for her novel (Guler Bibliography) I also liked the description of how Marcus used disguise to help him in his quest to try to save Uther, even though Uther was trying to arrest him because he thought Marcus had murdered his brother. The best disguise, in my opinion, was when he portrayed his wife as the exiled noblewoman Lady Riona from Iwerddon (Eireann), and himself as her seneschal Faolan. The love between Marcus and Clarwen was also rich and exciting, as Marcus would often have to rescue his beloved Clarwen and Clarwen would often free her husband when he was arrested by both their enemies and those they were trying to protect.
The only aspect that was not very realistic was the use of Clarwen’s visions, a fact admitted by the author in her notes (Guler 11). But these visions laid the foundation of Arthur, and with the introduction of Lady Ygerna, wife of Uther’s right-hand man Lord Gorlois, it’s inevitable that Arthur will be introduced in a future entry of the series. Overall, I found the novel very realistic based on our knowledge of the time period, and used much of the historical elements know known about the legend of King Arthur. For instance, the use of the name Ambrosis, which has often been found in historical records from the time and is believed to be associated with Arthur. I would recommend this book to anyone who is fascinated with this time period and the use of authentic Celtic names, as I am.
This wonderfully detailed book explores the historical setting of the King Arthur legend by describing the prelude that led to the birth of Arthur through the eyes of Marcus ap Iorwerth, Prince of Dinas Beris, a spy working to save the native Celtic kingship from invading Saxon assassins, and his wife Claerwen, a seer who has a deadly skill with a bow. The novel also introduces us to more familiar characters from Arthurian legend: Myrddian Emerys (Merlin the Enchanter), a druid who is the son of the High King Ambrosius, and Myrddian’s uncle Uther.
Marcus and his wife are also trying to recover the various treasures of Macsen, ancient relics believed to confer onto their owner the rightful ruler ship over Britain. Marcus begins by tracking down Octa, a Saxon who worked with the previous high king Vortigern killed by Myrddian’s father and who wants to regain the power he lost along with revenge for his father’s death. Marcus discovers that Octa is working with Pascentius, Vortigern’s youngest son, to assassinate Ambrosius, and that Pascentius possesses one of the treasures of Macsen’s Treasure, his spearhead. Disguising himself as Bhruic, a blacksmith, with his wife acting as a slave girl named Glan, Marcus is able to wound Banawr, Pascentis’ second in command, but he is unable to prevent the assassination of Ambrosis, leading to Uther being made high king.
Now he has to save Uther from a similar assassination attempt, even though Uther believes that Marcus is the killer. Can Marcus fulfil his duty to the Celtic crown and prevent the Saxons from regaining control of Britain? Also, who is this redheaded woman, Daracha, and the mysterious Iron Hawk? What is the importance of the boy Sinnoch and Lord Engres, along with his daughter Drysi? These are some of the question the reader may be asking him or herself, the answers to which may only be found by reading the novel to the end.
I enjoyed how the novel was authentic to the Celtic names of people and places, and how the imagery placed the reader into to these times of Britain after the fall of Roman occupation. The author used many different resources written about the time period as research for her novel (Guler Bibliography) I also liked the description of how Marcus used disguise to help him in his quest to try to save Uther, even though Uther was trying to arrest him because he thought Marcus had murdered his brother. The best disguise, in my opinion, was when he portrayed his wife as the exiled noblewoman Lady Riona from Iwerddon (Eireann), and himself as her seneschal Faolan. The love between Marcus and Clarwen was also rich and exciting, as Marcus would often have to rescue his beloved Clarwen and Clarwen would often free her husband when he was arrested by both their enemies and those they were trying to protect.
The only aspect that was not very realistic was the use of Clarwen’s visions, a fact admitted by the author in her notes (Guler 11). But these visions laid the foundation of Arthur, and with the introduction of Lady Ygerna, wife of Uther’s right-hand man Lord Gorlois, it’s inevitable that Arthur will be introduced in a future entry of the series. Overall, I found the novel very realistic based on our knowledge of the time period, and used much of the historical elements know known about the legend of King Arthur. For instance, the use of the name Ambrosis, which has often been found in historical records from the time and is believed to be associated with Arthur. I would recommend this book to anyone who is fascinated with this time period and the use of authentic Celtic names, as I am.
March 14, 2010
This is the second book in a series based on the King Arthur legends. It takes place in the days before King Arthur, and the main characters are a spy and his wife. They are enlisted by Merlin to foil a plot to have the high king assassinated, but it ends up going wrong.
I enjoyed this book a little more than the first one as it seems more closely tied in with the King Arthur legends. The romance between the two main characters felt more natural, and the plot flowed more evenly. I was annoyed at times with particular phrasings the author used, and one of the major plot twists was so obvious I'm pretty sure I yelled, "come on!" at the book, but there was still enough going on to keep me surprised until the end.
I enjoyed this book a little more than the first one as it seems more closely tied in with the King Arthur legends. The romance between the two main characters felt more natural, and the plot flowed more evenly. I was annoyed at times with particular phrasings the author used, and one of the major plot twists was so obvious I'm pretty sure I yelled, "come on!" at the book, but there was still enough going on to keep me surprised until the end.
January 24, 2011
Loved it!!!! Even though I partially knew the ending because I have read the fourth book, the ending was still powerful with great emotionally charged writing.
You cannot help but fall in love with the characters, and the delicate weaving of Arthurian legend is done magnificently. It is truly its own story with the beautiful hint of traditional Arthur stories.
I cannot wait to read the third novel!
You cannot help but fall in love with the characters, and the delicate weaving of Arthurian legend is done magnificently. It is truly its own story with the beautiful hint of traditional Arthur stories.
I cannot wait to read the third novel!
December 23, 2016
If it has one star I liked it a lot
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot
If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot
If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing
May 22, 2009
None stop twisty-turny adventure set in historically accurate Arthurian Britain.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews