• The Saxon Shore

  • Camulod Chronicles, Book 4
  • By: Jack Whyte
  • Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
  • Length: 36 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (223 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Saxon Shore  By  cover art

The Saxon Shore

By: Jack Whyte
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $39.95

Buy for $39.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Merlyn Britannicus and Uther Pendragon - the Silver Bear and the Red Dragon - are the leaders of the Colony, lifeblood to the community from which will come the fabled Camulod.

But soon their tranquillity is in ruins, Uther lies dead from treachery, and all that is left of the dream is the orphaned babe Arthur. Heir to the Colony of Camulod, born with Roman heritage as well as the blood of the Hibernians and the Celts, Arthur is the living incarnation of the sacred dream of his ancestors: independent survival in Britain amidst the ruins of the Roman Empire.

When Arthur is adopted by Merlyn Britannicus, an enormous responsibility is placed on Merlyn's shoulders. Now he must prepare young Arthur to unify the clans of Britain and guard the mighty sword Excalibur.

And, above all, Merlyn must see that Arthur survives to achieve the rest of his ancestors' dreams, in spite of the deadly threats rumbling from the Saxon Shore.

©1998 Jack Whyte (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Saxon Shore

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    149
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    141
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    139
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

it's the beave and his dad!

The first 2/3 of this book is a BORING collection of anecdotes that do nothing to move the plot forward. The dialogues between the men sound like the Beave and his dad. Then there are the moralizing monologs of Merlin. Yawn. Whyte seems to enjoy killing off most of the strong female characters (although he does allow his aunt to live to a ripe old age). And while I'm at it, I thought it was just creepy that Merlin should admire some woman's 'teats'! Women have breasts, Mr. Whyte!

Whew! Had to get that off my chest. In conclusion, I must add that things finally pick up towards the end. This is my second listen and I have enjoyed most of the other books in the series. I just feel offended when one gets thrown in to sell an extra book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Tedious and Long Winded

What disappointed you about The Saxon Shore?

The story line is very detailed, much more so than it needs to be. The real action scenes are barely mentioned but the details are listed as an afterthought. Too much emphasis is placed on silly and non essential details such as someone bridging their nose with fingers, spitting, getting food poisoning, etc. These are details that are best left out of the story as they don't contribute to either character development or to moving the plot forward. As far as character development goes, this is virtually nonexistent.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jack Whyte again?

No, I've suffered through the first four books in the Camulod Chronicles, and have had enough. Once he had Merlyn come down with leprosy, I thought, that's it, I'm over this series. This plot contrivance was just too stupid for words.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Kevin Pariseau?

His style is very stilted, almost as though a fifth grader was reading the story. No, I would not consider listening to anything by this reader again.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Very few. If it had been shortened by about two thirds and had some actual characters in it, it might be worth reading or listening to.

Any additional comments?

The Merlin trilogy by Mary Stewart, unavailable in audiobook, is by far the best of the King Arthur books that I've ever read. Her prose is unsurpassed for shear beauty. This series just doesn't come even close. I can't imagine that anyone likes it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I like it

Listened to this 10+times.and something always niggled at me but I couldn't place it till just now. They say Arthur has cays nose and eyes.. How were they related again so he could inherit those traits?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The Saxon Shore?

I loved the first book in this series, the second almost as much, but was a bit disappointed by the third. This, the fourth, has some good moments, but this one is way wordy with sophomoric attempts ar Merlin acceptance of moral philosophy. I found myself resenting the time that it took to get Halfway through is book et alone finish it. As noted, there are good moments in the book, but Whyte must be paid by the word to stretch the story so far out of shape.
Merlin’s relationship with Sheila just seemed like a plot device for Merlin to ‘learn’ how to behave. There was just too much of bogus ‘learning’ for me to even vaguely enjoy a series that I had loved. Wow, this was hard to swallow
And Saxon Shore”? There are virtually no Saxon’s in this book, and the few shores are not Saxon. So much f-r truth in advertising.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I am invested…

The series is very good. Detailed, almost to a fault. I say “almost” because many may not have the patience for such a very detailed book. But for me, it’s not a problem, especially since it is the audiobook I’m listening to. With that said, this series could make for a great streaming series that could rival Game of Thrones.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love these books

I have read these books years ago, but listening to them now brings the story to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best Management Book in Print

Imagine being tutored and coached by the founders of Camalot, the great thinkers of Roman, and Merlin himself. If I can take the lessons and stories to heart, I will be a better husband, father, uncle, brother, friend, and leader.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

King Arthur and Rome series

When I first read these books a decade ago, I thought they were at the top of their game. They're still great for many reasons, but one thing I missed the first time around is the shear amount of exposition. Much of it is necessary, but most not necessarily so. It would be easy to argue that the primary narrative and story of the books are told in exposition. So if this author's previous works weren't enjoyed by you or you thought other works had too much exposition (like, say Pillars of the Earth) you might be wary. But, what the author does to make up for the amount of exposition is posit an entertainingly plausible story of how King Arthur stepped out of the world left by the fall of Rome. And I still enjoyed that story the second time around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

took a bit to get into

In the beginning I almost called to cancel, but kept listening finely started to get into it ,I wasn't happy with the reader in the beginning ,but got used to him

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good rendition of the book which I've read. s

story is well thought-out although by this point in the series it's a little tedious and wordy. but I still enjoy it I've read the whole series of books and now as I drive down the road I listen to the books years later

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!