It’s been a while since I’ve read anything that’s King Arthur related, and I have to say that I am very glad that this was the book I picked up to get back into it. A light summer read this is not, the book is built like a brick, but the story within is one that seeks a deeper meaning to what King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table represent. This book challenges the idealism of having a hero who can do no wrong, while delving into the lives of some of the knights that may not be as well known by readers. I highly encourage you to pick this up if King Arthur is your jam because it’s a refreshing take on a myth many of us love.
This story begins with Collum, a talented young knight whose goal is to compete for a spot on the Round Table. Unfortunately for Collum, he’s arrived two weeks too late, and King Arthur is gone, and the Round Table’s few surviving members aren’t the shining heroes that the legends have been built on. Palomides, the Saracen Knight, Sir Dagonet, Arthur’s fool, and Merlin’s apprentice Nimue are all that’s left of Arthur’s Camelot. This unlikely group has banded together to rebuild the Camelot that Arthur has left behind. However, Arthur’s death has torn a massive rift within Britain, shining light on a brewing war amongst rival factions, fairies, monsters, and the conquerors lying in wait for this very moment. Collum and his companions will have to learn the truth of Arthur’s fall and set Britain to rights once more.
What an incredible story this was to read. Arthurian legend is always fascinating to read, but even more fascinating to dissect. Everyone knows the famous stories of both King Arthur and some of his most famous knights, but what Lev Grossman has done here is a phenomenal exploration of characters that are lesser known, but just as pivotal to the story. I feel that there has been a lot of care taken with worldbuilding, and a lot of research to do this story justice. I will warn you that while the worldbuilding is a bit dense, it is so worth it for the full picture that you get to see. Collum is such a fascinating character, armed with the idealistic picture of what it will be like to become part of the round table and his own tragic past, it’s a recipe for trouble. He’s looking for the opportunity to write his own story, but it seems that life has been reluctant to offer him the opportunity.
The knights of the Round Table were even more fascinating, because I feel like readers get to delve beyond surface level details and explore topics like mental health, sexuality and gender identity, cultural difference, and religion. I relished getting to know a new knight with each chapter that I read, and resonated with each one just a little more than the last. The biggest reason for this seemed to be that of the knights that were left, they were the odd ducks. Not necessarily out of place because they belonged, but there was a certain loneliness to each of them that had me wanting to transcend the pages of the book to give each character a hug. I think Sir Dinadan’s history tugged at my heartstrings the most, but each knight held my heart in their own way.
Even more fascinating to me than the amazing characters was the cultural and political struggle at play. Christianity and Paganism are both large parts of Britain’s history, as well as the Romans invasion and subsequent abandonment of Britain play a large role in some of the conflicts that are arising with Arthur’s demise. This book did not shy away from questioning the role that Christianity played in shaping a narrative that was designed to help people fall in line, by aggrandising the idea that Arthur was a legend because of his faith. When that legend falls you have to question, did you follow a faith because you believed, or because of a man?
Ultimately, Grossman has created a well-rounded story that is evocative, introspective, and nuanced. It’s light-hearted and darkly gritty at the same time. The storytelling is beautiful and I found myself falling deeper into the story the further I got into it. It’s quite the beast of a book, so give yourself some time, but I hope that you go into this story loving it just as much as I did.
The Bright Sword is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A gifted young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot to compete for a spot on the Round Table, only to find he’s too late. The king died two weeks ago at the Battle of Camlann, leaving no heir, and only a handful of the knights of the Round Table survive.
They aren’t the heroes of legend, like Lancelot or Gawain. They’re the oddballs of the Round Tables, from the edges of the stories, like Sir Palomides; the Saracen Knight; and Sir Dagonet, Arthur’s fool, who was knighted as a joke. They’re joined by Nimue, who was Merlin’s apprentice until she turned on him and buried him under a hill. Together this ragtag fellowship will set out to rebuild Camelot in a world that has lost its balance.
But Arthur’s death has revealed Britain’s fault lines. God has abandoned it, and the fairies and monsters and old gods are returning, led by Arthur’s half-sister Morgan le Fay. Kingdoms are turning on each other, warlords are laying siege to Camelot, and rival factions are forming around the disgraced Lancelot and the fallen Queen Guinevere. It is up to Collum and his companions to reclaim Excalibur, solve the mysteries of this ruined world and make it whole again. But before they can restore Camelot they’ll have to learn the truth of why the lonely, brilliant King Arthur fell and lay to rest the ghosts of his troubled family and of Britain’s dark past.
