Customer Reviews

The Eagle and the Sword: An Arthurian Epic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The eagle and the sword proved to be a very entertaining continuation of Mr. Attanasio's very literate version of the Arthurian legend; however, I must say that it did not fully live up to it's predecessor, the dragon and the unicorn. The book has less of the beautiful mysticism and focuses more on the life of Arthur (I suppose it is Arthurian legend after all). To me, the best ingredient in this book is the character of The Demon Lailoken, aka Myrddin, aka Merlinus, aka Merlin. The characters of Arthur, Morgeu the Fey, and The Furor are well thought out and vivid, but Merlin and Prince Bright Night(a prince of the Daoine Sid) steal the show. For me, the most fabulous section of the story was when Hannes (an unlikely apprentice of Merlin) enters the shadowy twilight world of the "hollow hills" to bring back Excalibur. The preternatural, eerie scene almost wails it's otherworldly ululation right off the page. Overall, the book is a very interesting read. I reccomend it (and the series) for anyone interested in Arthurian Legend that is tired of the same old, worn out stories endlessly circulating through the halls of bookstores everywhere. This is a fresh, creative and ingenious new take on the once and future King. Finally, I must say that the archaic and oft difficult to comprehend language of The Dragon and the Unicorn is not carried over to the Eagle and the Sword. This book is a bit easier to read, but just as entertaining.

This book is a thousand times better than the mojority of others in the same genre. It was masterfully written, blending pure fantasy with the traditional Authorian legend. It painted vivid pictures and presented complex personalities. The most entertaining book I have read in a long time and the best Authorian based novel I've read since "The Once and Future King".

Lailoken, a.k.a. Merlin, Aquila Regalis Thor, a.k.a. Arthor, and Morgue the Fey are the three main characters in the book. In this book, a demon-turn wizard in a human guise, creates the glorious kingdom of Camelot, while looking for a true king, despite complications by the powerful sorceress Morgue who seeks to avenge her father who had accidentally been killed by Merlin. However, as Arthor takes his title as king, Merlin discovers that Arthor is but a callow youth whose only joy is killing and destroying; can he be stopped? I was greatly entertained by this fantasy novel with all of its action and suspense. The way the author displayed the legendary events in Arthor's time was very detailed and vivid; it allowed the book to come to life. I could see and feel Merlin's long battles with Morgue. It felt like I had a front row seat as a spectator when Arthor pulled the sword Excaliber out from the giant stone! I also enjoyed how the author created distinct, unique, and bold personalities for each of the main characters in the story. What the characters wore was interesting because their attire had come to symbolize each of them: Merlin with his glamorous and magical robes, Arthor with his sharp and heavy suit of armor, and Morgue with her light and seemingly swift sheets, appearing and disappearing with the wind. I thought the characters were magnificently done. So, I would like to conclude my review of The Eagle and the Sword by congratulating the author, A.A. Attanasio, on doing a great job of compiling all of the widely known, as well as some not-so-well known, characters and events into one fabulous book. I highly recommened reading this book to anyone at or above the age of 12! I assure you that you will enjoy this book as much as I did!

A.A. Attanasio is a wonderful writer I loved all the arthur books, the dragon and the unicorn, the eagle and the sword, the wolf and the crown, and the serpent and the grail. I have talked to him many years ago he's very nice he even sent me a signed copy of The Wolf and The Crown before it hit the shelves! He is very good at capturing your imagation and sending you into where he's writing about. I would recomend his books to anyone even young adults that's when I got started. Attanasio is very good and telling every detail of the fantasy world.

The Dragon and the Unicorn was nothing less than mind-blowing in scale and ambition. In contrast, The Eagle and the Crown was ...not. It maintained the same character names, and some of the same vocabulary, but without the worlds-spanning grand vision of the first book. The very chapters were longer and more majestic in the first work.

Instead, this book is just a chapter at a time view of some greatly diminished characters, with comic relief at times by Merlin and others. The difference is night and day - as if Frank Herbert wrote the first book, and Brian Herbert cranked out the sequel.

This book was OK in the "I want to know what happened to the characters" sense, but definitely did not scratch the same itch that the original book of the series did.

'The Eagle and the Sword' is an incredibly heavy-handed dull book. Attanasio uses a running narrative for the entire 340 pages, so that instead of feeling like a part of the action, the reader is treated to a history lesson. (Example: This happened, then this happened..and then this happened..That's the basic gist of it)

At several points I found myself wondering whether English is Attanasio's original language, or whether this book had been translated from another tongue. It's hard to believe that this is the same author responsible for the stunning Adam Lee 'Dominions of Irth' trilogy.

The Dragon and the Unicorn Dragged on and on and on. But this sequel is much better. The original approach to King Arthor is excellent. Sure it's no A Game of Thrones, but it's a lot better than a lot of stuff you'll find out there.

I can't seem to find a copy of this one! I don't understand, because the other three are almost always available at the local bookstores. It's a great series, and it's upsetting to be missing the second of four books.

Grumble. . . grumble. . .