The House Of Pendragon, Book I: The Firebrand [Paperback]

Debra A. Kemp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2003

Despite the collar marking her as a slave of Dunn na Carraice, young Lin is fiercely determined to retain her pride and keep her family intact. That dignity bears a price, for Lin has drawn the wrath of Modred, the youngest prince of Orkney. His single-minded quest to break strong-willed Lin-by any means necessary-nearly succeeds. Although Lin is accustomed to the death, disease, rape and famine that runs rampant in the slave hovel she calls home, it is when her beloved brother Dafydd is placed on the auction block that her warrior spirit becomes apparent to all who challenge her, and the shocking secret of her lineage is finally revealed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Highly readable, highly enjoyable and highly recommended." -- Prof. Dr. Roland Rotherham

"...Skillfully blends history, legend and fiction in a story that illuminates one of the darkest corners of the Arthurian legend." -- Kathleen Cunningham Guler, author of In the Shadow of Dragons

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (October 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592798837
• ISBN-13: 978-1592798834
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,560,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ever since seeing the movie Camelot in the mid-70s, Debra A. Kemp has wanted to write her own version of the Arthurian legends. She could hardly disobey when King Arthur himself commanded: "Don't let it be forgot..." The idea of her main character was conceived that very night. She just wishes she could remember the specific date of that important moment in her life. But what started as an innocent evening at the cinema turned into Debra's obsession. She read everything she could find on the topic, slowly building her now-extensive Arthurian library and quirky collection of artwork, movies, toys and figurines.

Before Debra took up her fountain pen to write however, she earned a nursing degree from Indiana University, married and raised two children. Originally from Highland, Indiana, Debra's husband's career in the United States Air Force sent the family to Louisiana, England, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. While in England, Debra felt a special connection with the land and especially a few sites that play key roles in her novels and stories.

Debra currently lives near Indianapolis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Tales 5 Star Review, March 3, 2004

By 

"tteditor" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House Of Pendragon, Book I: The Firebrand (Paperback)

by Chere

THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON: FIREBRAND begins right after the battle of Camlann. Both Arthur and Modred are dead. Lin, Arthur's daughter, has no idea what she is going to do now, with both her father and her half-brother dead. There are only five Knights of the Round Table left; her, Bedwyr, Cai, Gaheris and Lancelot. Lin has her father's ring. He wanted her to take over the kingdom after his death. She knows, with Arthur's death, there no longer is a kingdom, so Lin decides to go into exile. Her foster brother, Dafydd, and Gaheris go with her.

Lin eventually marries Gaheris and they have children, with another on the way. Her firstborn was a boy and they named him Arthur, but call him Bear. Their journey has now come full circle and Lin and her brood are at Camelot, which is now deserted. Dafydd and Gaheris entertain the girls while Lin and Bear enter Camelot. Lin has decided it's time to tell her son about his forefathers.

She starts the tale with the death of her mother, a slave belonging to Queen Morgause. One cold night, she died while the slaves were sleeping. The next morning, the overseer had her body removed and set Dafydd and Lin to working. One of Lin's duties was to slop the pigs, which she really didn't mind doing as she could watch the Princes of Orkney practice on the training field. Lin always felt sorry for the youngest of Queen Morgause's brood, Prince Modred. His older brothers always picked on him. On one such trip to the pigs, she heard a yelling and screaming from the privy. There was a board lodged under the door to prevent it from being opened from the inside and Prince Modred was screaming to be let loose. Lin managed to get the door open and Modred immediately began taking out his rage and anger on her. After all, she was only a slave.

And so it began, the conflict between Modred and Lin. The more Modred tried to beat Lin into submission, the more Lin resisted.

THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON: FIREBRAND is a very unique look at Arthurian legend. This story by Debra A. Kemp is the first I have read wherein Arthur and his queen have a daughter. It's also a very realistic look at the inhumanity of slavery and how life really was for a slave back in Arthur's time period. It's also an amazing look at the courage and conviction of one young girl and how she refuses to submit to being a slave. It was a brutal time period on Orkney. I was taken back to the time of Arthur from the very beginning of the story. The characters all fit with Arthurian legend. This is not a light, or a very easy read, but it is one I cannot recommend highly enough. I can't wait for the next installment in THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great twist on a mythic tale, May 24, 2006

By 

Leah L. Leach (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House Of Pendragon, Book I: The Firebrand (Paperback)

This is an amazing story of a young girl who struggles with her own personal demons and her heart-wrenching journey into slavery. Having a young daughter of my own I was drawn in to Lin's character feeling each setback and struggle along with her. A page turner. A compelling story. A great read. I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever felt alone as they battle against the world.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Twist To An Old Legend!, November 20, 2003

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House Of Pendragon, Book I: The Firebrand (Paperback)

This is the story of Lin, slave of Queen Morgause, in Dunn na Carraice in the Orkney Islands. She is a proud girl determined not to bow to the slavemasters and Modred who takes special delight in tormenting her in horrible ways. The realism is very stark and brutal, but there are also moments of gentlenss and tenderness from her "brother" Dafydd in their daily, drab, overworked lives. Is she really just Dafydd's younger, brave sister? Or is she something more that no one could ever have imagined? Some of Lin's strengths are also her weaknesses, but her indominable spirit eventually triumphs for both her and Dafydd.

This was an extraordinary read! I can't recommend it highly enough! The stark reality of slave life is portrayed heartbreakingly but also with dignity and compassion. Lin's determination to not lose her humanity or soul to those in power over her is incredibly amazing and admirable. This is the beginning book of a trilogy, the second will be titled The House of Pendragon, Book II: The Awakening, and a portion of it may be viewed at www.bardsongpress.com