Taliesin

The Pendragon Cycle, Book 1

By: Stephen R. Lawhead

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 19 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

It was a time of legend, as the last shadows of the mighty Roman conqueror faded from the captured Isle of Britain. Meanwhile, across a vast sea, bloody war shattered a peace that had flourished for 2,000 years in the doomed kingdom of Atlantis.

This is the remarkable adventure of Charis, the courageous princess from Atlantis who escapes the terrible devastation of her land, and of the fabled seer and druid prince Taliesin, singer at the dawn of the age. It is a story of an incomparable love that joins two astonishing worlds amid the fires of chaos, and spawns the miracles of Merlin, and Arthur the king!

This is the first book of The Pendragon Cycle.

©1987 Stephen R. Lawhead (P)1995 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Highly recommended... Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis." (Library Journal)

"A fine storyteller, he brings the Arthurian characters to life without sacrificing any of the haunting pleasures of the legends." (Omaha World Herald)

Outstanding!

I felt obligated to give a 5 star review for this book because it absolutely deserves it. I feel the rating is weighted down due to the heavy Christian elements especially towards the end, and perhaps it rubs non believers the wrong way, but you know... whatever.

The writing is superb. It is like reading a dream and poem at times, but very accessible, engaging and towards the end it is packed with unbelievable suspense, romance and drama. Absolutely exquisite. I have read plenty of books from the classics like war and peace, grapes of wrath to newcomers like Brandon Sanderson and the way of kings. Taliesin seems to somehow merge these two types of styles into something really special. (I loved all the above mentioned books by the way)

It's always fun when u spend a credit not really expecting much and end up being totally floored. I have not read the rest of the series yet but have already purchased Merlin with my next credit.

narrator is fantastic as well. reminds me of Davina Porter. I enjoy listening at a slower speed .80 because you can soak in the story better that way imo, but obviously that's a personal preference thing.

Bravo Stephen Lawhead!

Mamouth!!!

I loved this book until the last 15%, then, for me, it went off the edge. A silly, vindictive girl messes things up just to work some more suspense into the plot. Made me crazy.

What us this accent

I am listening as I write. What exactly is this accent supposed to be? Liking the story but don’t know if I’m going to be able to listen much longer.

A Different Version of Arthur and Merlin

This is kind of a critique I have for items in the whole series so far.
1) Christian book
2) Each book is written from different character view, mostly. I like that.
3) Sometimes book are fairly exciting, sometimes they're like watching paint dry
4) Most of the violence is not graphic
5) Important, Some of you are suggestible, like I was when young. THESE BOOKS ARE FICTION
6) This was author's choice, of course, but he left out how tumultuous and violent the introduction of Christianity from Rome
7) Every one was a barbarian. Anyone who is different from us is a barbarian. I won't give examples, you already know some
8) The Picts were not blue. They did, however, have multiple tattoos which they died with wode.
9) These are some of the things that I "nit picked" from the books.


I enjoyed the narrators. One I had to put on 1.25 speed, but after that, he was great! I'm a sci-fi/fantasy reader. These books don't really fit in the fantasy catt, but I'm glad I'm reading them. I'm in the middle of Pendragon.

Excellent story

I loved getting to see a different take on the seeds of Arthurian legend. Highly recommended.

I really didn't think the narrator was bad-

much better sounding/ less pretentious than the guy they got to read the next couple. Not being Christian, I found the series annoyingly skewed. It might have been the author?s intent, but occasionally it kinda beats you over the head with the Jesus theme. All the books in this series do. I?m sure there had to be a more subtle way to get the job done. It's a very well written fantasy series though; it's worth all of the 5 stars- even with its cultural biases.

Nice Twist on the Author Legend

Extremely slow and long beginning. You will need to read/listen at least 1/2 of the book before it gets even remotely interesting. Then it reallys picks up but lapses back into boredom and finish strongs.

Lawhead does it again.

Stephen Lawhead is a amazing author. He can write in soo many different catagoeries and make you want more. And not care if its a catgoerie that you don't like your going to like it if you like Lawhead. I can't wait to get book two. I highly reccomend Lawhead if u like books that keep u guessing,laughing,crying.

👍

Excellent foundational work to proceed the Arthurian legend & makes the reader appreciate Merlin's lineage.

Solid beginning, well narrated

This is a great beginning as a lead up to the traditional Authurian tale. The narrator wasn't what I expected, having said that she did a very good job and I found myself charmed by her. Very good all around.