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House Of Pendragon #1
The Firebrand
Despite the collar marking her as a slave of Dunn na Carraice, young Lin is fiercely determined to retain her pride and keep her family intact. That dignity bears a price, for Lin has drawn the wrath of Modred, the youngest prince of Orkney. His single-minded quest to break strong-willed Lin—by any means necessary—nearly succeeds. Although Lin is accustomed to the death, disease, rape and famine that runs rampant in the slave hovel she calls home, it is when her beloved brother Dafydd is placed on the auction block that her warrior spirit becomes apparent to all who challenge her, and the shocking secret of her lineage is finally revealed.
266 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2003
120 people want to read
About the author
Debra A. Kemp
2 books19 followersEver since seeing the movie Camelot in the mid-70s, Debra A. Kemp wanted to write her own version of the Arthurian legends. She could hardly disobey when King Arthur himself commanded: "Don't let it be forgot…" The idea of her main character was conceived that very night. She just wished she could remember the specific date of that important moment in her life. But what started as an innocent evening at the cinema turned into Debra's obsession. She read everything she could find on the topic, slowly building her now-extensive Arthurian library and quirky collection of artwork, movies, toys and figurines.
Before Debra took up her fountain pen to write however, she earned a nursing degree from Indiana University, married and raised two children. Originally from Highland, Indiana, Debra’s husband’s career in the United States Air Force sent the family to Louisiana, England, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. While in England, Debra felt a special connection with the land and especially a few sites that played key roles in her novels and stories.
Debra A. Kemp passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015. She was 57.
Before Debra took up her fountain pen to write however, she earned a nursing degree from Indiana University, married and raised two children. Originally from Highland, Indiana, Debra’s husband’s career in the United States Air Force sent the family to Louisiana, England, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. While in England, Debra felt a special connection with the land and especially a few sites that played key roles in her novels and stories.
Debra A. Kemp passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015. She was 57.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com
Lin is a slave girl whose family belongs to Queen Morgause and her sons. The slaves are treated cruelly, with frequent beatings, hard labor, little food, and the constant threat of being torn from loved ones and sold. Most of the slaves are resigned to their pitiful lives, but something in Lin prevents her from meekly accepting her lot.
She will not bow to her royal owners nor accept the authority of the harsh overseer, even though it means being whipped.
The difference in Lin has not escaped the notice of Queen Morgause's son, Modred. He delights in tormenting Lin, trying to break her iron will. Lin cannot understand why the cruel young prince has so much interest in her and why he won't just kill her as punishment for her defiance.
THE FIREBRAND is the first book in a series about a young girl who learns that she is much more than just an orphaned slave. This book's approach to the legends of King Arthur makes use of the perspective of a slave who has never seen the noble halls of Camelot. It shows how the dream of Camelot affects even people living far away in unspeakable oppression. This makes for an interesting approach to the legends.
THE FIREBRAND is an enjoyable book, whether the reader is familiar with Arthurian legends or not.
The avid reader of books about King Arthur and his knights will recognize names and places mentioned in this title and can fit them into an already familiar tapestry of stories and legends. Those who are unfamiliar with Arthurian lore should also enjoy this book. One need not be a fan of King Arthur to appreciate the story of a slave girl who longs for a better life. Anyone can feel for Lin's many sorrows and rejoice in her precious few triumphs. This book is also full of engaging, well-rounded characters who the reader cannot help but care about, which makes it a page-turner.
This book might not be appropriate for younger readers because it contains adult themes, including descriptions of rape and its aftermath, as well as some coarse language. The biggest problem with the book was that it strings readers along for a very long time with the hope of a final confrontation. Lin is defiant, so she's beaten. When she recovers, she is defiant again and is punished again, only worse. This frustrating pattern repeats itself over and over, while the reader waits for Lin to finally get fed up and fight back in earnest.
However, this is an entertaining book for both fans of Arthurian legends and readers of historical and fantasy fiction. It begins a series in which Lin learns of her true background and faces her destiny. Judging by Book #1 in THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON series, this should prove to be quite a story.
Lin is a slave girl whose family belongs to Queen Morgause and her sons. The slaves are treated cruelly, with frequent beatings, hard labor, little food, and the constant threat of being torn from loved ones and sold. Most of the slaves are resigned to their pitiful lives, but something in Lin prevents her from meekly accepting her lot.
She will not bow to her royal owners nor accept the authority of the harsh overseer, even though it means being whipped.
The difference in Lin has not escaped the notice of Queen Morgause's son, Modred. He delights in tormenting Lin, trying to break her iron will. Lin cannot understand why the cruel young prince has so much interest in her and why he won't just kill her as punishment for her defiance.
THE FIREBRAND is the first book in a series about a young girl who learns that she is much more than just an orphaned slave. This book's approach to the legends of King Arthur makes use of the perspective of a slave who has never seen the noble halls of Camelot. It shows how the dream of Camelot affects even people living far away in unspeakable oppression. This makes for an interesting approach to the legends.
THE FIREBRAND is an enjoyable book, whether the reader is familiar with Arthurian legends or not.
The avid reader of books about King Arthur and his knights will recognize names and places mentioned in this title and can fit them into an already familiar tapestry of stories and legends. Those who are unfamiliar with Arthurian lore should also enjoy this book. One need not be a fan of King Arthur to appreciate the story of a slave girl who longs for a better life. Anyone can feel for Lin's many sorrows and rejoice in her precious few triumphs. This book is also full of engaging, well-rounded characters who the reader cannot help but care about, which makes it a page-turner.
This book might not be appropriate for younger readers because it contains adult themes, including descriptions of rape and its aftermath, as well as some coarse language. The biggest problem with the book was that it strings readers along for a very long time with the hope of a final confrontation. Lin is defiant, so she's beaten. When she recovers, she is defiant again and is punished again, only worse. This frustrating pattern repeats itself over and over, while the reader waits for Lin to finally get fed up and fight back in earnest.
However, this is an entertaining book for both fans of Arthurian legends and readers of historical and fantasy fiction. It begins a series in which Lin learns of her true background and faces her destiny. Judging by Book #1 in THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON series, this should prove to be quite a story.
February 3, 2014
This is the first novel in The House of Pendragon series. If it were not for the set up of this story I think I would have rated it as a 4 at least. As it was I think the book-end narration type was a real hindrance to the story. The novel begins with a grown up Lin in a battle that is vaguely talked about and really confusing for a reader who doesn't have any idea what is going on in the story yet. Then it skips ahead a number of years, explaining a bit more background as it goes, before finally getting to Lin telling her young son the story of her childhood as a slave. This brings us to the entire bulk of the story, which we remain in as readers until the very end where it again reverts back to the older story telling Lin.
I think the way the novel was set up was awkward and a disadvantage to the story. I know that as a reader, I nearly stopped reading it several times within the first part before it got to the real story. What's more, with the beginning the way it is, it basically gives away the entire surprise plot point of the ending. It's like telling the end of the story first. I'm not sure if Kemp felt that the real story couldn't stand alone and so she did it this way to give the story more structure and plot, however I found it disappointing. There was nothing I didn't know about how it was going to end and that was a major flaw in the story arc.
I personally think the story could stand on it's own. There was a little stiffness to the narration at first, and I don't quite believe in Kemp's version of how a six year old would think, but it smoothed out as the narration continued and Lin got older.
One last flaw of the set up that bothered me is, with her re-accounting her story, she produces full memory with complete narration. It stretched the believablity of her story telling. How could someone remember so much, so fully, so many years after the fact? Unless they had intense and frankly terrifying memory capabilities, they couldn't. This story would have worked much better if Kemp had simply started with Lin as a child and then narrated the story normally beginning to end.
All my complaints set aside though, I very much liked the story (as in the the middle part that the book actually focuses on). I read the book fast, and I am interested in reading the second book out in the series. I hope the structure of the second is a bit better though. I usually like books that take place in tandem to the Arthurian legends and I wasn't disappointed with this twist on the story, just the way it was set up.
*A note for any still interested in reading this novel. This is not a YA novel. It is rather graphic and sometimes very disturbing. It is a very intense and interesting story, but the faint of heart should tread carefully.
I think the way the novel was set up was awkward and a disadvantage to the story. I know that as a reader, I nearly stopped reading it several times within the first part before it got to the real story. What's more, with the beginning the way it is, it basically gives away the entire surprise plot point of the ending. It's like telling the end of the story first. I'm not sure if Kemp felt that the real story couldn't stand alone and so she did it this way to give the story more structure and plot, however I found it disappointing. There was nothing I didn't know about how it was going to end and that was a major flaw in the story arc.
I personally think the story could stand on it's own. There was a little stiffness to the narration at first, and I don't quite believe in Kemp's version of how a six year old would think, but it smoothed out as the narration continued and Lin got older.
One last flaw of the set up that bothered me is, with her re-accounting her story, she produces full memory with complete narration. It stretched the believablity of her story telling. How could someone remember so much, so fully, so many years after the fact? Unless they had intense and frankly terrifying memory capabilities, they couldn't. This story would have worked much better if Kemp had simply started with Lin as a child and then narrated the story normally beginning to end.
All my complaints set aside though, I very much liked the story (as in the the middle part that the book actually focuses on). I read the book fast, and I am interested in reading the second book out in the series. I hope the structure of the second is a bit better though. I usually like books that take place in tandem to the Arthurian legends and I wasn't disappointed with this twist on the story, just the way it was set up.
*A note for any still interested in reading this novel. This is not a YA novel. It is rather graphic and sometimes very disturbing. It is a very intense and interesting story, but the faint of heart should tread carefully.
May 28, 2010
This is a well-written book about a descendant of Arthur and one of the best Arthurian books on the market.
It is the story of a girl named Lin and her brother Dafydd and the courage she gives to all the slave she lives with. She and her brother were left alone after their mother died one night. Their mother was a slave of Arthur’s half-sister Morgause and thus they, too, were her possessions. Lin had seen a life of hard work, beatings, rape, famine and disease since she was old enough to notice.
The slaves’ treatment by all the members of the castle staff was worse than a dog, for dogs were well-fed and the slaves were not. Lin’s luck runs out when she sees the four older sons of Morgause torturing their much younger sibling. She feels pity for him and opens the door of the place where his brothers had jailed him. Instead of thanks, the younger prince, Modred, in his fury beat the girl and she became his personal hatred from that day forward.
Things worsen when Morgause gives Lin to Modred as a gift, and he brands her with a iron as his personal whore. He goes out of his way to single out the stubborn, by then twelve-year-old. She won’t lower her head to him, spat on him, drips dirty water on his boots, and knees him in his privates which results not only in her being whipped within inches of her death but also raped by the so-called prince. She almost gives up when the prince starts to persecute her soft spoken and gentle brother. Somehow something occurs to rekindle her hatred for Modred. Tired of her, the prince sends her and her brother to be sold to slavers and this action leads to happiness and freedom for the poor kids.
This enthralling tale had me glued to the pages with its struggles, fast paced writing, and great characterization.
It is the story of a girl named Lin and her brother Dafydd and the courage she gives to all the slave she lives with. She and her brother were left alone after their mother died one night. Their mother was a slave of Arthur’s half-sister Morgause and thus they, too, were her possessions. Lin had seen a life of hard work, beatings, rape, famine and disease since she was old enough to notice.
The slaves’ treatment by all the members of the castle staff was worse than a dog, for dogs were well-fed and the slaves were not. Lin’s luck runs out when she sees the four older sons of Morgause torturing their much younger sibling. She feels pity for him and opens the door of the place where his brothers had jailed him. Instead of thanks, the younger prince, Modred, in his fury beat the girl and she became his personal hatred from that day forward.
Things worsen when Morgause gives Lin to Modred as a gift, and he brands her with a iron as his personal whore. He goes out of his way to single out the stubborn, by then twelve-year-old. She won’t lower her head to him, spat on him, drips dirty water on his boots, and knees him in his privates which results not only in her being whipped within inches of her death but also raped by the so-called prince. She almost gives up when the prince starts to persecute her soft spoken and gentle brother. Somehow something occurs to rekindle her hatred for Modred. Tired of her, the prince sends her and her brother to be sold to slavers and this action leads to happiness and freedom for the poor kids.
This enthralling tale had me glued to the pages with its struggles, fast paced writing, and great characterization.
March 27, 2008
The Firebrand is the touching story of Lin, a girl born into slavery on the Isle of Orkney. After the untimely death of her mother, Linn and her older brother Dafydd must take care of themselves. Neither child resembles the typical slave. Dafydd is a gentle caring boy with the soul of a bard. Linn is the brash warrior always finding a way to get herself yet another beating. They survive the hard work, beatings, and hunger each day by holding onto a dream about Camelot and a King called Arthur.
The Firebrand is a tale about Camelot. Often such stories are riddled with holes where the author adds characters or character traits to the well known Camelot story without explaining how and why these changes occurred. The Firebrand, however, does a fairly good job explaining these modifications. Furthermore, these explanations fit into the story seamlessly without stopping for dry bits of narrative. I look forward to reading the second book of this series to see where the action leads next.
The Firebrand is a tale about Camelot. Often such stories are riddled with holes where the author adds characters or character traits to the well known Camelot story without explaining how and why these changes occurred. The Firebrand, however, does a fairly good job explaining these modifications. Furthermore, these explanations fit into the story seamlessly without stopping for dry bits of narrative. I look forward to reading the second book of this series to see where the action leads next.
July 6, 2022
Not too bad, but not great. Doesn't resonate as it should. Needed to move faster.
Book 1 of the House of Pendragon. Lin only knows a life of slavery in Orkney. Owned by Queen Morgause, she loses her mother when she is very young. Her one lifeline is her brother Dafydd. Something within her keeps her resisting the yoke of slavery--no matter the beatings or the floggings.
On her 12th birthday, she's given as a gift to Prince Modred, who makes her life Hell. REgular rapes don't help. Eventually, she and Dafydd are sold, but the manage to stay together. Luckily, Cai happens upon them, and they are freed. It is then discovered that Lin is Helin, the lost and presumed dead daughter of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar.
Told in flashback. Present is 12 years after Camlann and Arthur's death.
Book 1 of the House of Pendragon. Lin only knows a life of slavery in Orkney. Owned by Queen Morgause, she loses her mother when she is very young. Her one lifeline is her brother Dafydd. Something within her keeps her resisting the yoke of slavery--no matter the beatings or the floggings.
On her 12th birthday, she's given as a gift to Prince Modred, who makes her life Hell. REgular rapes don't help. Eventually, she and Dafydd are sold, but the manage to stay together. Luckily, Cai happens upon them, and they are freed. It is then discovered that Lin is Helin, the lost and presumed dead daughter of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar.
Told in flashback. Present is 12 years after Camlann and Arthur's death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2009
THE FIREBRAND is the story of Lin and her brother Dafydd, slaves in the castle of King Arthur’s sister Queen Morgause of Orkney and her sons. From the moment Dafydd is collared, on his twelfth birthday, Lin’s unbending defiance flares like a call to arms... http://www.reviewers-choice.com/the_f...
to-read-owned
July 6, 2016Purchased for my Kindle app on Debra's birthday, March 7. So sad to hear about her sudden death on Feb. 8, 2015. I look forward to reading these. I enjoyed getting to know Debra a bit in the Yahoo group Renditions of Camelot.
Series info:
House of Pendragon
1. The Firebrand
2. The Recruit
Series info:
House of Pendragon
1. The Firebrand
2. The Recruit
December 5, 2010
I'm always interested to see how authors write King Arthur stories. My favourite is the trilogy by Bernard Cornwell but this is very good & well written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews