Cover of Sword at Sunset

Sword at Sunset

The Dolphin Ring Cycle seriesNext:Three Legions(1980) →

This brilliant reconception of the Arthurian epic cuts through the familiar myths and tells the story of the real King Arthur: Artos the Bear, the mighty warrior-king who saved the last lights of Western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century.

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Artos here comes alive: bold and forceful in battle, warm and generous in friendship, tough in politics, shrewd in the strategy of war - and tender and tragically tormented in love.

Out of the braiding of ancient legend, fresh research, soaring imagination and hypnotic narrative skill comes a novel that has richly earned its reputation as a classic.

Audience
childrensyoung adultadult
Length
long · 512 pages

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Liked Sword at Sunset? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Sword at Sunset. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. The Kingmaking Shares historical fiction, Arthurian, fantasy
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  3. Firelord Shares Arthurian, historical fiction, fantasy
  4. The Road to Avalon Shares Arthurian, historical fiction, fantasy

“People who read Sword at Sunset tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere
  2. The Coming of the King
  3. In the Shadow of the Oak King
  4. Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn

“If you want more of the same (historical fiction about arthurian), start with these.”

  1. The Bloody Cup
  2. Dragon's Child
  3. Web of Deceit
  4. Dark Moon of Avalon

“If it was the Arthurian that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country
  2. Child of the Northern Spring
  3. Queen of the Summer Stars
  4. Twilight of Avalon

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam
  2. King Arthur: Dark Age Warrior and Mythic Hero
  3. The New Barbarians
  4. Eldest