Customer Reviews

The Singing Sword (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 2)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While not the "Grabber" that The Skysone was, Whyte has managed a solid second book in what must now be considered an ongoing series leading up to, and including, the Arthurian period. Traditionally, second books in a series seem to fall short of the first, but Whyte's The Singing Sword does not miss by much. He is historically accurate, bringing in actual events like the Pelagian heresy, the final withdrawal of the legions from Britain in the early Fifth century, and the tangled succession crisis of a divided empire. Whyte's long suit is character development and his ability to create flawed human beings with which the reader can identify. Also, the book moves along with plenty of action to propel the story forward. Critics may argue that Whyte places the genesis of the Arthurian period too early, but there is no solid historical basis to the contrary. Whether neo-Roman, Celt, tribal Briton, or some combination of all, we can only speculate about whom Arthur's ancestors may have been. Whyte's explanation is plausible. The Singing Sword is an excellent "bridge" to The Eagle's Brood. Thanks to Jack Whyte for a first rate "read". petucker@aol.com

Jack Whyte continues his tale of Publius Varrus and Caius Brittanicus and their formation of the "colony" of Camaloud. In this, the second novel in the series, the Legions have departed and Arthur's Great Grandparents are struggling for their survival.

Whyte's strong suit is his faithfulness to historical detail. From the departure of the Legions to the Pelagian Heresy, from life in a divided and crumbling Empire to the invasion of post Roman Britain by the Saxons and other "barbarians."

Once again, as in the first installment, Whyte's description and detail of adult sexual situations makes it a novel not for the young or those who easily blush. However, this isn't a condemnation of Whyte or his novel. It is simply more "adult" oriented than the average fantasy novel.

Another strong suite for Whyte is his character development. Each character grows and expands as the story evolves. Furthermore, Whyte doesn't make his characters caricatures so common to most fantasy novels. For example, Publius is certainly a flawed hero and we are shown his more "human" side.

You like Action? There is plenty of action moving the story along. Before you know it, the novel is done and you are dying to read the next installment.

This series does an amazing job bringing the world King Arthur would be born into to life. It may not be what really happened, but it is certainly possible. Just be warned, this novel will leave you hungry for the next intallment.

Forget the romantic setting of ancient Roman Brittania! Jack Whyte's writing style is unmatched by most modern writers. He could write an entire novel about jelly donughts and make it read like a charm. I cannot put it into words exactly how Jack Whyte writes. All I can say is that his words are a pleasure. I ripped through all 547 pages of this paperback in a few days. What an ease and joy. Very relaxing. Very gratifying. It just cements my opinion about all the garbage that is being published today. People making millions on books that are horrible reads. Jack Whyte is the exception!

Jack is obviously well schooled in the history of very ancient England. The Celts, Picts, Scots and Romans are all represented with stunning clarity and picturesque description.

My father had this book laying around in his den. I picked it up and breezed right through it. I hadn't read anything by Jack Whyte prior. I was an instant fan from page one. I hadn't even read the first book "The Skystone" either.

I guess one might want to read the books in order, but I know from experience that this isn't necessary! If you, too, have been put off by modern authors - give Jack a chance to reclaim your "gosh wow!"

Gary
Florida

The Book, The Singing Sword, was the tale of life before King Arthur. This novel told of the fall of Rome and the hardships that the world had to live with. With the sword Excalibur being made, troubles come with the greatness of it. Jack Whyte is an incredible storyteller and this book is one of the best I have ever read.

I love these books! The Camulod Chronicles are, by far, my favorite version of the King Arthur legends. Jack Whyte gives us a beautifully illustrated vision of Briton shortly before the departure of Rome's legions. His characters are a pleasure to follow. I am particularly impressed with the historical accuracy of these novels. There is no magic in these tales, only the strength and courage of people seeking to survive the dissolution of the Pax Romana. I cannot recommend these novels highly enough.

Why then only 4 stars? Because despite Mr. Whyte's wonderful writing, he has a habit that drives me crazy. His villians are 1) unkillable, and 2) ALWAYS sure to return and cause maximum damage. Over and over in these novels (most glaringly in The Singing Sword) a protagonist has an oppurtunity to dispatch a truly horrid villian. Inevitably, the villian escapes or survives to then return and wreak havoc on our incompetant heroes. Worse, our heroes are always ruthless and intellegent EXCEPT when dealing with their greatest enemies! It's a bit frustrating.

Anyway, my rant notwithstanding, all of the Camulod Chronicles are worth reading by anyone interested in Arthurian legend or Briton's fate after the departure of Rome.

Jack Whyte changes the focus of the Camulod Chronicles in The Singing Sword. Readers of The Skystone witnessed the results of years of research into the livestyles and military tactics of the Roman occupants of fifth century Britain. For those expecting more of the same, Whyte's second novel may disapoint. This feeling shouldn't last, however, as the reader realizes just what The Singing Sword is: an exposition and analysis of the trials and tribulations of the occupants of the colony of a dying empire. The characters of Publius Varrus and Caius Brittanicus will strike many as being ancient equivilants of America's own forefathers. This observation only comes to mind in the second novel, because the withdrawal of Rome's forces is so much closer to occuring. The happy-go-lucky soldiering of Book I is gone. It is replaced by familial responsibilty, political jostling for the sake of the new colony, and the introduction of the next generation of characters. Readers are able to witness firsthand the many temptations of Varrus which result in failures and victories both unabashedly. The Singing Sword does not provide the startling discoveries that Varrus and Brittanicus found in The Skystone, but the view into their psyches is a worthwhile device for bringing us the tranisition into the anarchy which should follow

I'm a person who loves books about King Arthur and that period of time. This is an excellent book in my mind the thing that might give some people a problem is the sometimes racy scences. I read my first book by Jack Whyte called Knights of the Black and White and fell in love with that one and now I've fell in love with this series.

Still with a Roman view point instead of the tradional celtic retelling of the Authurian legends. Rivals Mary Stewart fine work.

The fist novel in the series was quite good. This one, the second, is bloated and slow going, with little action and page after page of windy, tedious, and oftentimes wholly unnecessary dialogue. Characters telling each other---in stilted, monologue fashion---what they're going to do followed by the author then describing in detail that very thing being done, which is redundant, unnecessary, and irritating enough early on, and over the course of this 300-plus page novel, infuriating. One hopes that the rest of the novels in the series will be better.

Jack Whyte changes the focus of the Camulod Chronicles in The Singing Sword. Readers of The Skystone witnessed the results of years of research into the livestyles and military tactics of the Roman occupants of fifth century Britain. For those expecting more of the same, Whyte's second novel may disapoint. This feeling shouldn't last, however, as the reader realizes just what The Singing Sword is: an exposition and analysis of the trials and tribulations of the occupants of the colony of a dying empire. The characters of Publius Varrus and Caius Brittanicus will strike many as being ancient equivilants of America's own forefathers. This observation only comes to mind in the second novel, because the withdrawal of Rome's forces is so much closer to occuring. The happy-go-lucky soldiering of Book I is gone. It is replaced by familial responsibilty, political jostling for the sake of the new colony, and the introduction of the next generation of characters. Readers are able to witness firsthand the many temptations of Varrus which result in failures and victories both unabashedly. The Singing Sword does not provide the startling discoveries that Varrus and Brittanicus found in The Skystone, but the view into their psyches is a worthwhile device for bringing us the tranisition into the anarchy which should follow