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A review by bairdy1985
Pendragon by Peter Gibbons
5.0
Pendragon is the second book in the The Chronicles of Arthur series by Peter Gibbons I stumbled happily upon the author about 2 years ago with the release of his Saxon Warrior series and I’ve been hooked on the authors works ever since.
The first book in the series nicely laid the foundations. Leaving the reader with almost a sense of dread in the pit of your stomach as you know things were starting to heat up.
I was keen to see how the author would build on the story and how he would find time to develop the characters in such a plot driven tale.
Saxon invaders are pushing through Britian laying waste to everything Arthur holds dear. Uther Pendragon has the might to bring down upon the invaders but sits by as war wages on.
Merlin...ah Merlin.. he’s a clever one and Gibbons expertly shows how he is able to manipulate not only the people around him but also Arthur. Merlin knows what he wants to happen and weaves the tales around Excalibur to excite Arthur, breathing hope into a world where it’s almost been lost.
Merlin is great manipulator, that’s his real power, and as the story unfolds you can see just how much the people of Britain need him. Don’t get me wrong Arthur is brilliant but without Merlin would the fight have been taken to the Saxons....They need each other and their skills complement each other.
In what I’ve come to expect and love from the author the story is fast paced but Gibbons effortlessly seems to be able to add the character development I need to truthly become invested in a series along with adding beautiful details throughout allowing you to envisage the time, location, the people. I really don’t understand how the author manages to weave such a well-rounded tale bringing all the different needs together, adding in his magic sparkle into such a heaving plot driven tale it’s a real talent to actually make the characters themselves come alive.. especially the likes of Arthur, Merlin and Uther.. I think most people will know of these characters, myths.. legends.. there’s a wealth of tales that have been told so credit to the author to not only make a story that feels fresh and new but at the same time comfortable.. it’s like Gibbons has masterfully brought together all the little traits and details of these characters throughout the years and has skilfully added his own impressions to make these individuals really come to life.
I’m not going to spoil the action aspects of the story but for fans of the genre it’s got everything you need... battle with plenty of blood to be spilt.. it’s a boiling pot of tension and exhaustion.
The plot is fascinating and captivating but balanced perfectly with the character ark, things naturally progress rather than being forced along, neither overshadows rather so they support each other.
Overall what always impresses me with Peter Gibbons is within a well-established genre he keeps offering something new that demands your every ounce of being from the first page.
The first book in the series nicely laid the foundations. Leaving the reader with almost a sense of dread in the pit of your stomach as you know things were starting to heat up.
I was keen to see how the author would build on the story and how he would find time to develop the characters in such a plot driven tale.
Saxon invaders are pushing through Britian laying waste to everything Arthur holds dear. Uther Pendragon has the might to bring down upon the invaders but sits by as war wages on.
Merlin...ah Merlin.. he’s a clever one and Gibbons expertly shows how he is able to manipulate not only the people around him but also Arthur. Merlin knows what he wants to happen and weaves the tales around Excalibur to excite Arthur, breathing hope into a world where it’s almost been lost.
Merlin is great manipulator, that’s his real power, and as the story unfolds you can see just how much the people of Britain need him. Don’t get me wrong Arthur is brilliant but without Merlin would the fight have been taken to the Saxons....They need each other and their skills complement each other.
In what I’ve come to expect and love from the author the story is fast paced but Gibbons effortlessly seems to be able to add the character development I need to truthly become invested in a series along with adding beautiful details throughout allowing you to envisage the time, location, the people. I really don’t understand how the author manages to weave such a well-rounded tale bringing all the different needs together, adding in his magic sparkle into such a heaving plot driven tale it’s a real talent to actually make the characters themselves come alive.. especially the likes of Arthur, Merlin and Uther.. I think most people will know of these characters, myths.. legends.. there’s a wealth of tales that have been told so credit to the author to not only make a story that feels fresh and new but at the same time comfortable.. it’s like Gibbons has masterfully brought together all the little traits and details of these characters throughout the years and has skilfully added his own impressions to make these individuals really come to life.
I’m not going to spoil the action aspects of the story but for fans of the genre it’s got everything you need... battle with plenty of blood to be spilt.. it’s a boiling pot of tension and exhaustion.
The plot is fascinating and captivating but balanced perfectly with the character ark, things naturally progress rather than being forced along, neither overshadows rather so they support each other.
Overall what always impresses me with Peter Gibbons is within a well-established genre he keeps offering something new that demands your every ounce of being from the first page.