Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is the first of two books called the Sorcerer; part two is subtitled: Metamorphosis These are parts five and six of what I think is the most entertaining and plausable retelling of the Authurian legend I have ever read. My only comment is that they should both have been part five. There was a fair bit of unnecessary material in both books, that if edited out, would have made an outstanding single book.

Besides this, volume 5 continues like the others to be a very engrossing read. The story of post-Roman Britons remaking their society in a land being overun by invaders is facinating. I highly suggest reading it along with all others in the series.

Thank the heavens for Jack Whyte. As a student of the Arthuian legends, I find Whyte's books a fantastic read, especially his new one, "Fort" I'm looking forward to Metamorphosis, and find my self waiting like a child at christmas. To all who may read Whyte or has yet to discover this mans talents, good luck and good reading!!!

What a wonderful series! Finally a series about the fabled king arthur that takes the legend and makes it real - so real you can really believe it - steeped in real history, this author takes the legends we've all heard and makes them plausible, makes them breathe with a new life. I'm so impressed and I'll never think of "Camelot" again without thinking of Mr. Whyte's take on the situation. a fascinating series of books... start at the beginning and read all six. you won't be sorry you did!

About six years ago I got Jack Whyte's "The Fort at River's Bend" as a gift along two other books in the Camulod series, recently I decided to reread this one, the fifth book in the series. This was actually the first book I read in the series, and for me it really took me too another place, another age, another time. On rereading this I found that there are some dry areas, where there is far too much description for the average reader, for example maybe somebody with real intrest of swords would like all the description, but pages of description on the same topic can be too much. For those sections I found myself scanning them, till I came to other areas of more intrest. I really like the characters in this book, they really grow on you like Connor Mac Athol, Derek of Ravenglass, Ambrose and of course the main character Caius Meryln Brittanicus who we get to follow intimately in the narrative. We also get to follow a young Arthur, I find this particularly intresting as I think its important to follow characters as they grow, and once you have read the follow up book to this the second in the Sorcerers series "Metamorphsis" there is much more continuity. I Also like the settings of Ravenglass and Mediobogdum, there is something that appeals to me in the idea of a very small community up in the hills in an old roman fortress living in temporary peaceful isolation. I guess some readers also thrive on continous action, and this book has less then others in the series, however I found the limited battle scenes in this book captivating. I have noticed some other reviewers have felt differently about this book, I guess it all depends on how familar you are with the genre and the series, being relatively new to it, I thorougly enjoy it.

Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, but has lived in Canada for the last forty odd years. He is the author of the Camulod series of books and has just had published the first in a trilogy about probably the most famous Order of knights, ever to come through the pages of history, the Knights Templar.

This is the fifth volume in the continuation of the Camulod Chronicles a series of novels about the Arthurian legends. But anyone expecting the conventional, or a Hollywood slant on the legend of Arthur, i.e. knights riding around on destriers in full body armour, something that was invented several hundred years after Arthur had gone to his grave, if he ever existed in the first place, will be in for a sharp shock.

The books are set in the 5th century AD a much more likely time for Arthur to have existed, a time when Britain, although free of the Romans, who had gone back across the channel to Rome, was still very much influenced by their occupation. Because of their different interpretation of the Arthurian legend some reader's may not take to the series. Personally I found the books a refreshing change and much more in line with my own feelings on Arthur and whether he ever existed or not. I certainly found the author's approach to the subject more plausible than many.

The title of this book makes it sound like a Western novel, but in fact is the name of the place, a ruined fort, where Merlyn has taken Arthur and his boyhood companions after a failed attempt on Arthur's life. Merlyn is faced with the task of educating Arthur, the young man whose destiny is to be the future king of the Britons.

Another of Jack Whyte's masterpieces! You'll fall in love with the characters, and be on the edge of your seat through the entire book. Lucky for us, there are already more in the series!

Whyte uses this book to develop Arthur into the future king. This book does not have near the blood and guts of the other books in the series, although it still has plenty. I found, however, that I was intrigued by the new "roles" certain characters played. Read this book only after you have read the previous books in the series. It will make certain parts much more understandable.