• The Singing Sword

  • Camulod Chronicles, Book 2
  • By: Jack Whyte
  • Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
  • Length: 22 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (458 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 Singing Sword  By  cover art

The Singing Sword

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

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $26.59

Buy for $26.59

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

We know the legends: Arthur brought justice to a land that had known only cruelty and force; his father, Uther, carved a kingdom out of the chaos of the fallen Roman Empire; the sword Excalibur, drawn from stone by England's greatest king.

But legends do not tell the whole tale. Legends do not tell of the despairing Roman soldiers, abandoned by their empire, faced with the choice of fleeing back to Rome, or struggling to create a last stronghold against the barbarian onslaughts from the north and east. Legends do not tell of Arthur's great-grandfather, Publius Varrus, the warrior who marked the boundaries of a reborn empire with his own shed blood; they do not tell of Publius's wife, Luceiia, British-born and Roman-raised, whose fierce beauty burned pale next to her passion for law and honor.

With The Camulod Chronicles, Jack Whyte tells us what legend has forgotten: the history of blood and violence, passion and steel, out of which was forged a great sword, and a great nation. The Singing Sword continues the gripping epic begun in The Skystone: As the great night of the Dark Ages falls over Roman Britain, a lone man and woman fight to build a last stronghold of law and learning - a crude hill-fort, which one day, long after their deaths, will become a great city...known as Camelot.

©1996 Jack Whyte (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Singing Sword

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    329
  • 4 Stars
    99
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    284
  • 4 Stars
    88
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    287
  • 4 Stars
    88
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    3

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

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

Jack Whyte's masterpiece finally gets on Audible

I have waited a long time for the Camulod Chronicles to get on Audible. I was furious that these were supposed to be released in early June, then on the day of release without any explanation , the release date was switched to August 20. I looked everywhere for a reason and there was nothing on any of Jack's or Audible's fan sites. I guess it will be a mystery forever. It also took a ridiculous amount of time to get them released on the kindle.

This is one of those rare books that is served well in audio format. I actually liked the audio performance better than the reading the book. Kevin Pariseau does an admirable job with the different characters. I look forward to hearing the Eagles Brood

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

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

Great series and narration.

I love Arthurian sagas and Jack Whyte’s is one of the best. I’m on my second trip through and enjoying the Audible version very much. A wonderful companion while working, commuting, relaxing, etc.

I’m a DIYer and love the aspects of creating order from chaos that this series describes many times. I’d say it’s a little more “adult” than some of the other Arthur series out there, but the historical fiction thrown alongside the fictional drama more than compensate.

Enjoy!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • J.
  • 12-08-14

Interesting approach to Aurthorian legion, but...

This is not your T.H.. White or Disney Camelot. Though fictional, it is rooted in historical fact and depicts an Arthurian legion denuded of its magical trappings. In that sense Whyte's version is refreshing. Even before the first book of the series is done, however, the reader begins asking. "Can't we move things along a bit faster?" By the end of this second volume it's clear Whyte is needlessly stretching what should be at most a trilogy into a meandering and plodding saga of nine (and counting) books each about 25 hours in length. Aside from its slow pace, the dialogue has an anachronistic flavor and the supporting characters are one dimensional. Pariseau is a competent narrator and I like his reading of John Barth's work, but Arthurian legion demands a Brit.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

King Arthur comes from Rome

When I first read these book 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!

2 people found this helpful

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

This story has it all!

I bought this before understanding that it is part of a series. I need to go back and listen to the first. It's such a lovely story that I'll listen to it again after listening to the first. War. Sex. Love. Loyalty. Death. Near death. Torture. Care. This book has it all!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Good story, rough reading.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sure, why not. The description of Roman Britain was really interesting and i was looking forward to this as I read and enjoyed the first book. I just found the reading of the book was stilted and didn't add to my enjoyment of the 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
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved historical accuracy !

Loved the evolution of the characters! The different traditions and cultures represented was always so interesting and written in a way that tells the story in an unbiased way. Loved and learned to appreciate the skill, imagination, and art of sword making . Excalibur does not disappoint in that respect. The drama was great! can't wait to read the next book!

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

Greatest Series Ever Written

I read this chronicle during my time in the Marines years ago. Listening to now brings back a rush of memories that I’ll forever be grateful for.

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

The tale of Excalibur as told by Jack Whyte

The Camelod Chronicles are my favorite series. This is my Favorite Novel of that series. listening to this masterful story is better than any movie could be.


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

It’s almost as if this story was historically true…

Having read The Sky Stone (the first book in the series,) and The Singing Sword, I’m convinced that this backstory leading up to Uthur and Merlin most certainly could have happened the way Mr. Whyte has written it. The detail… I mean, THE DE—TAIL! It maybe too much detail for some readers. I myself like detail—especially when it comes to character development. This story is also the most plausible series of events leading to the myths and legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I highly recommend this book—if you are a fan of these kinds of stories.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!