The Fort at River's Bend (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 5) [Hardcover]

Jack Whyte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

Fearing for the life of his nephew Arthur when an assassination attempt goes awry, Merlyn Britannicus takes his young charge to embark on a journey that will take them to the ruins of a long-abandoned Roman fort -- far from Camulod and the only place where Merlyn feels they will be safe. It is there that Merlyn will enlist the help of a close-knit group of friends to help Arthur learn the skills of a warrior and the tough lessons of justice, honor, and the responsibilities of leadership. Arthur is just a boy, but the day is not far off when he will claim the sword that is his birthright: Excalibur.

But how can Merlyn prepare young Arthur to be a ruler of men if he continues to train him in isolation? Does the advantage of taking him back to the world out-weigh the threat to his life from those who would stop at nothing to see him dead? The life of young Arthur Pendragon is at a crossroads for new forces are rising to threaten the tenuous peace the countryside.

In the end Merlyn must decide to risk the dream -- and the life of his young charge -- if a united Britain is ever to be made real.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fearing for the life of his nephew, eight-year-old Arthur Pendragon, after an assassination attempt in their beloved Camulod, Caius Merlyn Brittanicus uproots the boy and sails with an intimate group of friends and warriors to Ravenglass, seeking sanctuary from King Derek. Though Ravenglass is supposed to be a peaceful port, danger continues to threaten and it is only through the quick thinking of the sharp-tongued, knife-wielding sorceress Shelagh that catastrophe and slaughter are averted. Derek, who now realizes the value of the allegiances Merlyn's party bring to his land, offers the Camulodians the use of an abandoned Roman fort that is easily defensible. The bulk of the novel involves the growth of Arthur from boyhood to adolescence at the fort. There he is taught the arts of being a soldier and a ruler, and magnificent training swords are forged in Excalibur's pattern from the metals of the Skystone. While danger still lurks around every corner, this is a peaceful time for Britain, so this installment of the saga (The Saxon Shore, etc.) focuses primarily on the military skills Arthur masters, as well as on the building and refurbishing of an old Roman fort. Whyte has again written a historical fiction filled with vibrant detail. Young Arthur is less absorbing a character than many of the others presented (being seemingly too saintly and prescient for his or any other world), but readers will revel in the impressively researched facts and in how Whyte makes the period come alive.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In the fifth installment of the Camulod Chronicles, Caius Merlyn Britannicus has fled Camulod after a failed assassination attempt on young Arthur. Arriving in the neutral port of Ravenglass, Merlyn discovers that the king is Derek, the man who killed Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father, and raped Ygraine, his mother. He wisely suppresses his emotions and bargains for the use of an abandoned Roman fort located in the hills above the town. To ensure the group's safety, and to keep Arthur's presence secret, Merlyn and his young charge publicly board a ship leaving the harbor, then trek back overland to the fort, where "Cay" and his apprentice are welcome. Over the next few years, Arthur begins to grow into the man who will become the legend and one day wield the sword smelted out of skystone just for him: Excalibur. Until then, Cay must keep him alive and hidden from his enemies. Not as bloody as some of its predecessors in this series, Whyte's latest continues to bring the myth convincingly to life. Melanie Duncan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031286597X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312865979
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Whyte is an actor, orator, singer, and poet and the author of the critically acclaimed Dream of Eagles series. He lives in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is only the first half, April 8, 2007

By 

2shoes (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fort at River's Bend (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 5) (Paperback)

It's worth knowing that this is only the first half of the novel called The Sorcerer as it was written by Jack Whyte. It was split into two parts (this one and Metamorphosis) and renamed by marketers. So, if the book doesn't seem to have a satisfying resolution for some, that should explain it. I got this information from an FAQ on the author's website.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Skip this one, January 2, 2001

By 

Daniel Dean (Myrtle Beach, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fort at River's Bend: The Sorcerer, Book 1 (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was captivated by Whyte's first four Camulod novels (4 stars each) and was of course looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it was hands down, the most unrewarding book I've read in a LONG time. Nothing interesting at all.

Merlyn and young Arthur hide in an old abandoned Roman fort (at River's Bend). They fix up the fort, Arthur grows up, Merlyn falls in love, and they hear a few rumors from back home in Camulod. That's pretty much all that happens in 461 pages.

Take my advice and skip this one. His next book, SORCERER, begins with a short prologue (one and a half pages) that recaps the events of FORT AT RIVER'S BEND perfectly and saves you quite a bit of time.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the calm before the storm, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fort at River's Bend (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 5) (Hardcover)

Somewhat slow paced, readers of the series will still find this book very interesting. It just seemed a necessary task to set up what is to come. I personally enjoyed it for I find the 'daily life' of people very interesting during these periods of great historical significance.