A Rise of the Cursed

The Sword of Avalon (The Rise of the Last, Book 1)

De: S.M. Clarke

Narrado por: Sasha Jones

Albion Bell has spent his life haunted by the fire that destroyed his childhood home and stole his father from him. Raised between foster homes and shadows, he believes the past is buried, until a violent rift tears open between worlds and drags him into a shattered Avalon, where myths bleed and history is a living weapon. In Avalon, Albion discovers he is the last scion of the Pendragon line, a bloodline long thought extinguished after centuries of betrayal, war, and sorrow.

Bound by ancient magic to the legendary Excalibur, Albion struggles against the crushing expectations of a broken world desperate for salvation. Torn between loyalty to friends and distrust of the powerful figures who claim to guide him, Albion must navigate a kingdom plagued by civil war, corrupted magic, and conspiracies older than the myths themselves. His reluctant allies include Winston, a stoic mentor scarred by his own losses; Adele, the enigmatic heir to a fractured Camelot; and Becca, a trusted companion hides dangerous secrets.

As Albion searches for his missing mother and discovers a sigil linked his family legacy—he is stalked by the manipulations of the Celeste Empire and the demonic forces unleashed by Avalon’s collapse. In a desperate confrontation, Albion after accepting his Pendragon birthright, faces the harrowing choice between becoming the hero Avalon demands or forging a new path that could doom both worlds. As the lines between past and present, love and betrayal blur, he must decide whether legacy is a chain to bear, or a sword to break. In a land where memory itself can be weaponized, Albion’s greatest battle will not be against the monsters without, but the ghosts within.

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Familiar yet disinctly different and fresh vision

"Oh, another Arthurian story? I bet it's the same as the other four I already read.", you might think. But you'd be wrong. This tale, set in a modern-day landscape with a disinterested protagonist stands alone in it's connection to the lost land of Avalon, it's depiction of the sword Excalibur, and the bindings of magic that pull at the fabric of space and time. Speaking of fabric, S. M. Clarke weaves elaborate patterns of descriptive prose throughout the story, providing extraordinary depth and richness to the characters and environments. Sasha Jones' narration is articulate, steady, and nuanced: capturing each interaction and encounter with crisp cadence and excitement (or dread) as appropriate. The opening credits threw me off with the quick change of 3 voices, but it was a singular occurrence. As someone who can often predict where a story will lead, I was pleasantly surprised more than a few times with the directions this one went. Bravo for catching me off guard. It was a fantastic listen. [Disclosure: I received this title for free and listened at 1.85x.]

Immersive

Lots of interesting turns. I was captivated throughout. The narrator also did a good job.