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whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
4.0
I really did not care for the beginning section of the book. It was boring. Once it got past the initial stage, I really enjoyed it. The story is told as the memories of Publius Varrus, a former Roman soldier of noble blood who is also a blacksmith. Much of it concerns his relationship with Caius Brittanicus, an even higher noble who is his military commander for years and becomes a very close friend. The title comes from a rock which fell to earth thirty years prior from which Varrus' grandfather made him a dagger of an unknown, extremely hard metal. Both Britannicus and Varrus become obsessed with the hunt for more of these stones. Their search takes place against the backdrop of a Britain preparing for the Fall of the Empire. Overall, an excellent story. I look forward to continuing the series.
mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this. Was it amazing? No. However, it was surprisingly lighthearted and somewhat fun, but most importantly about a time period that you basically never see anyone try to write speculative historical fiction about (375AD Britain, from the perspective of Romans). Perhaps the biggest minuses are that it (1) paints this time period in an overly happy/tech forward light, when the reality is that it probably was a lot closer to the dark ages that followed it, and (2) the book doesn't teach you all that much about the historical context, even though it probably could. I can sort of forgive these though - it's hard to write about a world and a time we can barely fathom, when a seemingly timeless political and military power was on the decline, and years of regression on the horizon. Interested to see where the series goes from here
agirlcalledal's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
this book got me on the wikipedia for sub-roman times, so that was interesting.
overall, very slow. political intrigue is boring and a bit predictable.
overall, very slow. political intrigue is boring and a bit predictable.
ultan_library's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
wildfaeriecaps's review against another edition
3.0
When I started this book I wasn't sure that I would be able to finish it. The beginning is filled with boring (to me) military jargon and background information. It was really tough to get through. Once the story picked up, I was hooked. Completely hooked.
However, three quarters through I started wanting to smack the main character. With a brick. You know when you watch a character do something and you know it's going to end badly, and they know it's going to end badly.. it was hard to force myself to read through it happening.
This book is the very beginning of Arthurian legend. It was amazing seeing how they were going to tie it all in. The ironsmithing stuff was oddly fascinating, the relations with locals, and even the political garbage (yes, this is my scientific term for what people might call "political intrigue") was interesting. But in the end, I'm not sure I'll continue with this series. It's really one of those "it's not you, it's me" situations. I'm sure the series is great, but I'm just not up for it right now.
However, three quarters through I started wanting to smack the main character. With a brick. You know when you watch a character do something and you know it's going to end badly, and they know it's going to end badly.. it was hard to force myself to read through it happening.
This book is the very beginning of Arthurian legend. It was amazing seeing how they were going to tie it all in. The ironsmithing stuff was oddly fascinating, the relations with locals, and even the political garbage (yes, this is my scientific term for what people might call "political intrigue") was interesting. But in the end, I'm not sure I'll continue with this series. It's really one of those "it's not you, it's me" situations. I'm sure the series is great, but I'm just not up for it right now.
bahoulie's review against another edition
4.0
That was a fun and new way to begin going about getting a King Arthur. I will definitely read the rest of the series.
After finishing book 4, I've gone back and increased my # of stars for the first 3 books. I have down grading them just for being fantasy rather than "literature," but they're great, so I upped their ratings.
After finishing book 4, I've gone back and increased my # of stars for the first 3 books. I have down grading them just for being fantasy rather than "literature," but they're great, so I upped their ratings.
jbferraro's review against another edition
4.0
In this series Whyte weaves the Arthurian legend into the chaotic time following the fall of the Roman empire in Britain. He paints such a vivid picture of the lives of the families and the surrounding areas. Whyte does a wonderful job telling the story without the fantasy that many times comes with the Arthurian legend.
jhouses's review against another edition
2.0
Quizá se le podía haber puesto 3 estrellas. Reconozco que soy un poco cicatero, pero me atengo al subtítulo de las estrellas y el libro "está bien". ¿me ha gustado? Vaya. Se deja leer, pero tampoco engancha. Por un lado el protagonista/narrador es un poco Mary Sue, rudo y fornido, pero Mary Sue. Es un fiero sargento primera (perdón centurión) que sabe más de metalurgia que todos los herreros romanos juntos (porque le enseño su abuelo), fiero, leal, de palabra, inteligente, leído, habil comerciante, bien relacionado, amante extraordinario capaz de pasar de la impotencia a hacer suplicar que pare a una bella joven (ejem)..., geólogo...
Por otro lado yo buscaba una historia Artúrica más en la línea de Excalibur o Camelot, no tengo especial gusto por las historias seminales del mito que se centran en el revival celta y se empeñan en llenar los nombres de los caballeros y Damas de la Tabla Redonda de w y y ch. Esta historia se acerca más a las segundas que a la primera aunque, en realidad se deja a los celtas atras y se remonta a la ocupación romana. Que esa es otra, tiene un punto survivalista norteamericano que echa un poco para atrás, en plan "se va a acabar el mundo, fundemos una comuna de hombres libres en Waco, Texas (perdón, Salisbury UK) que sea capaz de mantener la luz de la civilización frente a las hordas bárbaras y tal..." Y ya si nos da tiempo forjamos Excalibur (spoiler, no les da).
Igual me leo otra pero solo porque con la Rueda del Tiempo estuve a punto de dejarlo en el primer libro y hubiera sido un error.
Por otro lado yo buscaba una historia Artúrica más en la línea de Excalibur o Camelot, no tengo especial gusto por las historias seminales del mito que se centran en el revival celta y se empeñan en llenar los nombres de los caballeros y Damas de la Tabla Redonda de w y y ch. Esta historia se acerca más a las segundas que a la primera aunque, en realidad se deja a los celtas atras y se remonta a la ocupación romana. Que esa es otra, tiene un punto survivalista norteamericano que echa un poco para atrás, en plan "se va a acabar el mundo, fundemos una comuna de hombres libres en Waco, Texas (perdón, Salisbury UK) que sea capaz de mantener la luz de la civilización frente a las hordas bárbaras y tal..." Y ya si nos da tiempo forjamos Excalibur (spoiler, no les da).
Igual me leo otra pero solo porque con la Rueda del Tiempo estuve a punto de dejarlo en el primer libro y hubiera sido un error.