The Hallowed Isle Book Two:: The Book of the Spear (Hallowed Isle, Bk 2) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "WIND GUSTED AROUND THE FEASTING HALL, SHRILLING through the thatching and shaking the pillars..." (more)
Key Phrases: high king, other grandfather, Naitan Morbet, Portus Adurni, Bendeigid Brannos (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This addition to the Matter of Britain is an omnibus volume of the first two (of four) novels in Diana L. Paxson's Hallowed Isle series. The first novel begins in the chaos of early fifth century Britain: the Roman legions have left, and the Romano-British aristocracy, along with various Picts and Scotti, and a few assorted Teutonic tribes, are circling the power vacuum like vultures. The heart of the matter is, of course, Arthur (or Artor, as he is known here). Paxson surrounds Artor with all the usual suspects--Cei, Merlin, Betiver and so on--and sends him down the by-now standard path to his destiny. Her Once and Future King is smart and likeable, has equally good sword and people skills, and loves to infuse his followers with his own personal vision of peace, unity, and civility for all. Where Paxson departs from the usual fare is in her consideration of the Saxons (and Angles and Jutes and Frisians, etc.) as people with their own goals and beliefs and lives, rather than as stock barbarians who exist only to destroy what is left of Roman civilization.

The sword and spear of the novel titles are totemic objects of the Romano-Britains (in particular Artor), and the Teutonic Myrgings (in the person of Oesc) respectively: humming with fantasical properties and mystical significance. Paxson uses them to full effect. There are battles (of will, of weapons, of religion), prophecies, and lots of intriguing historical tidbits. The author has obviously done her homework, and equally obviously relishes immersing her characters, and readers, in the dirt and poverty and epic heroism of a still not well-understood age. --Luc Duplessis --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

YA-Part two of a four-part Arthurian saga that focuses on the diverse and conflicting cultural groups occupying fifth-century Britain, this volume tells the story of Oesc, a Saxon warrior whose magical spear opposes Arthur's famous sword. Those who enjoyed the first book will not want to miss this continuation of Paxson's highly original version of the great legend.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Eos (April 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380805464
• ISBN-13: 978-0380805464
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,881,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun reading, but adds nothing new, April 26, 2000

By	K. Freeman (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Hallowed Isle: The Book Of The Sword And The Book Of The Spear (The Book of the Sword and the Book of the Spear, Books 1 and 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've read the works of Rosemary Sutcliff and Gillian Bradshaw, as well as perhaps Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, you've read this book only better done. The only element which Paxson adds to the Arthurian story is her greater understanding of Saxon culture and magic. She does a good job of basing her reconstruction on near-contemporary texts, and is an engaging, though not "literary", writer. I'd recommend her other books, but this one is only for Arthur fans who can stand to hear the same thing yet again.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight!, April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hallowed Isle Book One: The Book of the Sword (Book of the Sword/Diana L. Paxson, Bk 1) (Paperback)

This fresh new version of the King Arthur story is a very enjoyable and intriguing new take on the old legend. If you liked Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, or Gillian Bradshaw's Island of Ghosts (I did!), this is the book for you. This one concentrates on Merlin's origins, ending where Arthur draws the sword from the stone; there will be three more volumes, each viewing the story from a different cultural perspective - a lot to look forward to (and I do)!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you read Book I, you'll want to read this, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

I loved Book One (the Book of the Sword) so I was eager to read this one. My feeling about it was that it was a good follow-up to Book One, but on its own, not the book Book One was. If you like the first one (and it was great) you'll definitely want to read this one too. Maybe it's suffering from "weak second act" syndrome - I hope so, and that Books Three and Four fulfill the promise of the first book. Or that, when all four books are read, Book Two will fall into place and become better. Anyway, compared to most fantasy fiction and historical fantasies, even a weak second act by Diana Paxson is better than most other books!