King Arthur Movie Tristan

title: The Kingmaking

author: Helen Hollick

pages: 591

published: March 2009 ARC

genre: historical fiction

first line: He was ten and five years of age and, for the first time in his life, experiencing the exhilaration of the open sea and, for this short while, the novelty of leisure.

rated: 4 out of 5

A novel of Arthur as he really was.


In the first book of this exciting trilogy, author Helen Hollick brings to life Arthur Pendragon as he really might have been. Leaving behind the fairy-tale element of Merlin's magic and the improbable existence of Lancelot, Hollick instead transports the reader to the early years of Britain circa 455 AD and tells the Arthurian legend in a solid and believable way.


For one, Arthur does not pull a sword from a stone using superhuman strength; rather, he is named heir to Britain (if he can win it from the tyrant Vortigern) while standing near a "hallowed stone, the symbol of a warrior's strength and the chieftain's right of leadership." Later, a sword won in battle signals his place as Britain's King.


This is a story of harsh battles, secret treasonous plots, and the life-threatening politics of the dark ages of early Britain. Intertwined through it all is the often-tested love of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere in Welsh - her name as it really would have been) as they struggle to survive and conquer to see Pendragon become King.

The Kingmaking is Helen Hollick's novel about Arthur Pendragon's life. The story starts off in the year 450 AD, during the Dark Ages in Britain, Arthur is 15 years old when he comes to live with Uthr Pendragon. There he meets feisty and beautiful young Gwenhwyfar, and slowly falls in love with her. When Uthr dies in battle, Arthur rises to claim the throne. It was a little known secret that Arthur was Uthrs son.

Each held an idea as they assembled beside the men of Gwynedd before the hallowed Stone, the symbol of a warrior's strength and the cheiftan's right to leadership. The whetstone, with its spiral carvings and score marks from many a warriors blade had come with Cunedda from the North. An ancient thing this Stone, given, it was said, by the gods to the first of the Votadini. It was here, with a hand upon this scared, carved rock that loyalty was vowed, promises exchanged and oaths sworn; here that Cunedda had proclaimed Gwynedd as his own. It was before such stones, in the time before and before the coming of the Romans, that kings were made.

Arthur wants Gwenhwyfar for his own, he vows to marry her one day. But that is not in the plans for them. Gwenhwyfar winds up being bethrothed to another and Arthur ends up having to marry Princess Winifred in order to keep the peace.


This was a great read with plenty of twists and turns. It was a bit different from what I usually think of when I think of King Arthur. There was no magic involved, no Merlin, or Lancelot. I won't give away any more of the plot, so as not to spoil the book for those who haven't read it yet, but there's plenty of drama to this story. I really enjoyed reading this one. A few times I found myself shocked at the twists and turns the plot was taking. This book takes off and keeps on going until the very last page.








Funny enough, I disliked Arthur in this version of his story. I didn't like that he was spoiled and arrogant. He sleeps around with several women, and doesn't even know how many illegitimate children he might have as a result of his infidelities. But it also seems that in that day and age that was the norm. He even hits his wife and forces himself on her. Despite Arthur's unlikeable traits, this story was very well told. You can see that Helen Hollick has a great knowledge of Arthurian history and did her research for this book. I loved how she set the mood in several scenes, like this:

The purple malevolence of storm darkness was gathering in the northern sky, louring down into the western night-cluster of violent red sunset-tinged cloud. Sitting alone in her chamber, Gwenhwyfar aimlessly combed out the tangles in her hair, watching fascinated as the storm loomed closer above the reds and greys of Londinium's jumbled rooftops. A streak of lightning ripped across the blackness, followed by the boom of thunder. She sighed: there would be not much sleep if that was going to be trumpeting all night.

I did like Gwenhwyfar's character. She was a tough, smart heroine. You want her to be alright and overcome the many obstacles she faces. When I interviewed Helen Hollick she said:

I am passionate about bringing my characters to life. To me, they are real people.

An this is exactly what she does in this book, she makes these characters seem like they were real people at one time, as if this story was something that really happened. Reading this book, you really want to know what happens to these people.





This is the book I was staying up late into the night reading. The storyline was interesting and the characters well written. If you are interested in Arthurian fiction, I recommend this book. Of 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. I definitely want to read the rest of the books in the series.






Special thanks to Paul Samuelson over @ Sourcebooks.com for this opportunity.