The Matter of Britain: Book One
The Hawk and the Wolf
Britain, the Island of the Mighty, stands on the brink of war with the Roman Empire. Excalibur is lost—the sword forged by the gods in the dawn of days, which has been passed down through the generations of High Kings. Can Britain stand without the help of the gods? Young prince Emrys, nicknamed Merlin, knows his destiny is to find the lost sword of power, for the gods have given him a special gift to see into the heart of the world. He knows the rebel goddess Morgana will kill him to take Excalibur and become Queen of the Island of the Mighty, with a promise of days dark and bloody. In this fast-paced and violent tale, the world seems poised upon the brink of two possibilities: darkness and death . . . or the age of Arthur.
“Intriguing and original . . . myth, legend, romance, and history are inextricably entwined” (Tom Shippey, author of J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, for Arthuriana)
“Drawing simultaneously from history and legend, Mark Adderley skillfully weaves realistic detail into the Arthurian mythos. His characters inhabit a very tangible ancient world, where magic must compete with the mud and smoke of the everyday. He gives us a young, struggling Merlin whose travels around the Britonnic Isles provide us tantalizing glimpses of the mature wizard he’ll become. The result should prove satisfying for both scholars of Arthuriana and lovers of fantasy literature.” (Nathaniel Williams, AboutSF, University of Kansas)
“A worthy addition to the Arthurian Canon” (Bill Tolliver, Renditions of Camelot)
“Merlin’s Britain . . . is situated somewhere between the mystical world of legend and the cold world of modern historical imaginings. . . . Ripe reading material for Merlin enthusiasts and lovers of fantasy” (Jonathan Schindler, The Englewood Review of Books)
Reviews:
Tom Shippey, author of J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, for Arthuriana
Jonathan Schindler, for The Englewood Review of Books
Group Review for Renditions of Camelot |
