The Kingmaking - (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy; Bk. 1) by Helen Hollick (Paperback)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>An exciting new talent delivers a gripping and imaginative retelling of the classic story of King Arthur. In this first installment, Arthur and Gwenhwyfar become pawns in a political triangle and Arthur is forced to choose between his kingship and the woman he loves.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p>Compelling, convincing, and--ultimately--unforgettable.--<strong>Sharon Kay Penman, Bestselling Author of <em>Devil's Blood</em></strong></p><p><strong>Who was THE MAN<br> Who became THE LEGEND<br> We know as KING ARTHUR?</strong></p><p><em>You are the Pendragon, rightful Lord of Dumnonia and the Summer Land; Lord of less Britain. By all that is right, you ought be seated where Vortigern sits...You ought to be King.</em><p>Here lies the truth of the Lord of the Summer Land. </p><p>This is the tale of Arthur flesh and bone. Of the shaping of the man, both courageous and flawed, into the celebrated ruler who inspired armies, who captured Gwenhyfar's heart, and who emerged as the hero of the Dark Ages and the most enduring hero of all time.</p><p>This is the unexpected story of the making of a king -- the legend who united all of Britain.</p><p><strong>Praise for <em>The Kingmaking</em>: <br> </strong>If only all historical fiction could be this good.<b>--Historical Novels Review<br> </b>Helen Hollick has it all. She tells a great story -- <b>Bernard Cornwell<br></b>Hollick's interpretation is bold, affecting, and well worth fighting to defend. --<b>Publishers Weekly</b></p><p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br>It is a festive day in 450 A.D. when Uthr Pendragon's ships arrive at Gwynedd, the kingdom of his old ally Cunedda. Uthr has come to join Cunedda in a plot to oust the evil Italian tyrant Vortigern. He has brought with him many loyal to the Pendragon Banner, including Arthur, the son of a serving girl. In the chaos of the ending of the Roman empire, the British are left at Vortigern's mercy - until Arthur, protected since birth by a false identity, is revealed as the new Pendragon. Destined to lead the rise of the Saxons, Arthur must first endure a hard apprenticeship in the army of his enemy. Feisty and beautiful, Cunedda's only daughter Gwenhwyfar is captivated by Arthur from the moment they meet. Barred because of her sex from taking the oath of loyalty to the Pendragon Banner like her brothers, she pledges to Arthur an even greater gift: her undying love and unborn sons. Determined to fulfill his ultimate goals, regaining his kingship and marrying Gwenhwyfar, Arthur is put to the test when he and Gwen become pawns in a political triangle and he must choose between his kingship and the woman he loves.<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>A complex story full of intrigue, drama, emotion, and more, I was swept away by the story as Ms. Hollick brought this legendary figure to life. - <strong><em>Jennifer's Random Musings</em></strong><br><br>A story of human love, hatred, loyalty, betrayal, war and politics. - <strong><em>Carla Nayland's Blog</em></strong><br><br>Helen Hollick has made it pretty clear that she's thrown out the Arthurian legends and attempted to re-imagine this as it really would have been, using the original Welsh poems. I think that's awesome. - <strong><em>Medieval Bookworm</em></strong><br><br>Helen Hollick's writing is fantastic and the story is enthralling. - <strong><em>Peeking Between the Pages</em></strong><br><br>Here you will find rich, multi-layered characters, breathtaking drama and aching sadness. A complex, compelling story and a refreshing look at the origins of a legend. - <strong><em>The Tome Traveller </em></strong><br><br>Hollick has a deep understanding and love of her characters -- and one of the most exciting parts about reading the novel is that you can never guess what's going to happen next. Hollick does a tremendous job of keeping the story unpredictable. - <strong><em>Medieval History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Writing Fiction </em></strong><br><br>Hollick's complex character development, plot pacing, and attention to historical details while any afficianado of Athurian legend should appreciate this original vision of the myth. This is first-rate writing, indeed. - <strong><em>A Reader's Respite</em></strong><br><br>Hollick's writing is smooth and beautiful. She seamlessly transports her readers back to the Dark Ages. - <strong><em>So Many Precious Books, So Little Time </em></strong><br><br>I am looking forward to the next books in the series - <strong><em>Lazy Habits of Thinking</em></strong><br><br>I found myself drawn back to the text anytime I put it down, anxious to read further, to discover what happened - <strong><em>A Hoyden's Look at Literature</em></strong><br><br>I found Helen Hollick's more realistic approach to this beloved legend refreshing and eye-opening. - <strong><em>Library Queue</em></strong><br><br>I happened to really enjoy The KingMaking and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. Grade A+. - <strong><em>Musings of a Bibliophile</em></strong><br><br>I liked the depiction of the characters daily lives in a down to earth way, the familiar family dramas such as sibling rivalry and the conflicts between paganism, Christianity and the monarchy. - <strong><em>Susan's Art and Words </em></strong><br><br>If readers are engaged by books with intrigue, battles, and strategy, this novel will not disappoint. - <strong><em>Savvy Verse and Wit</em></strong><br><br>If you are looking for an engaging read with great characters and plot, plenty of backstabbing and a dash of romance, you will enjoy this book. - <strong><em>The Bookworm</em></strong><br><br>If you're looking for an engrossing Dark Ages tale with action and romance or you'd simply like to take another look at the legend of Arthur I highly recommend this book! - <strong><em>RhiReading</em></strong><br><br>It is a journey filled with blood and battles, love and redemption, and so many other things that make up a great novel. I mean this is historical fiction at its' best and I was entranced. - <strong><em>Sam's Book Blog</em></strong><br><br>Lots of darkness, fighting, betrayal and war...all the great elements of historical fiction. - <strong><em>My Friend Amy</em></strong><br><br>Most impressive of all is Hollick's ability to lose the reader in her craft of storytelling. Scenes come alive, jumping off the page and engaging the reader. - <strong><em>Carpe Libris Reviews</em></strong><br><br>Readers who enjoy historical romance with a hefty dollop of warfare stirred into a setting of barbaric splendor will find much to relish. - <strong><em>Historical Novels Book Review</em></strong><br><br>The <i>Kingmaking</i> was a fabulous novel, hard to put down and Helen Hollick's writing is fantastic. - <strong><em>Passages to the Past </em></strong><br><br>The <i>Kingmaking</i> was an amazing read that any fan of historical fiction will enjoy, even those unfamiliar with Arthurian lore. Despite its size, readers will race through the novel, eager to discover what happens to Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. The only disappointment comes in the fact that it ends. - <strong><em>S. Krishna's Books</em></strong><br><br>The realistic treatment of the subject matter is what sets this book apart. - <strong><em>Books are my only friends </em></strong><br><br>This book was both educational and entertaining. - <strong><em>Books Ahoy! </em></strong><br><br>With Hollick's imagination, knowledge and apparent passion, the author pulls the reader into the whirl of life, warring, revenge, loyalty and love. - <strong><em>Reading Extravaganza </em></strong><br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><p><strong>Helen Hollick</strong> lives in London, England with her husband, daughter, and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats, and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy--the early eighteenth century. Her particular pleasure is researching the facts behind the small glimpses of history and bringing the characters behind those facts to full and glorious life. She has an Honours Diploma in Early Medieval History and is co-scriptwriter for the movie project <em>1066</em>.</p>
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