The Winter King

The Warlord Chronicles, Book 1

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 19 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WAR LORD COMES AN EPIC RETELLING OF THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND

In the Dark Ages, a legendary warrior arises to unite a divided land . . .

_________

Uther, the High King of Britain, is dead.

His only heir is the infant Mordred. Yet each of the country's lesser kings seek to claim the crown for themselves.

While they squabble and spoil for war, a host of Saxon armies gather, preparing for invasion.

But no one has counted on the fearsome warlord Arthur.

Handed power by Merlin and pursuing a doomed romance with the beautiful Guinevere, Arthur knows he will struggle to unite the country – let alone hold back the Saxon enemy at the gates.

Yet destiny awaits him . . .

From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions.

©1995 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Superb narration

Although this is not the author’s, best work, the narrator more than compensates for the occasionally tortured prose.

Historical Fiction at its Finest

A wonderfully rich interpretation of the Arthurian legend, infusing common themes and characters with the gritty reality of 5th century Britain.

Captivating Arthurian Audiobook that Shines with Emotive Narration and Abundant References!

Title: Audiobook Review: Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

I recently listened to the audiobook version of Winter King by Bernard Cornwell, and I must say, it was the best performance I have ever heard. The narrator did an exceptional job of bringing the text to life with emotions, including laughter and character voices that added depth to the story.

One aspect that stood out to me was how the author incorporated the Arthurian mythos into the story. It felt like reading a well-written fanfic, as the author clearly had a deep understanding and imagination for living in that world. The relationships between the characters and their connections to Arthurian legends, real historical figures, and other British origins were evident and made for an intriguing read.

Another highlight of the book was the sheer amount of references and easter eggs scattered throughout the story. I found myself constantly searching for familiar names and discovering how they were related to the Arthurian legends or other historical contexts. It was a delightful treasure hunt that added depth to the storytelling.

One aspect that could have been improved upon was the use of "deus ex machina" resources, which almost ruined a great moment for me. However, this was a minor issue in an otherwise captivating story.

I also appreciated the exploration of the relationships between different religions and cultures in the book. The interactions between the Saxons, Irish, and other groups provided a fascinating perspective on the historical context of the Arthurian era.

Overall, Winter King is definitely worth listening to, even if you have read other Arthurian books before. The narrator's performance is outstanding, and the unique take on the Arthurian mythos, coupled with the abundance of references and easter eggs, make it an engaging and enjoyable listen. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, Arthurian legends, and those who enjoy a fresh take on familiar stories.

Breath Taking

loved it, what else can I say? need at least 15 words, well...Good book, very well narrated

Fantastic!!!

The book is amazing. kept me gripped from start to end. Jonathan Keeble is amazing too, I shall look out for his narrated books

Long in the tooth...BUT!

Admirably done
A great take on an old story. Made you do some research on pre-Roman Briton. Takes the fictional literary yarn of Author much more human.
Twas a bit long but gripping in the end. Bernard Cornwell delivers for me.

adored it.

I've been running the King Arthur Pendragon tabletop roleplaying game for a while and thought I'd read this as a fun inspirational read after stuff like Mallory.

Holy crap this book gutpunched me and had me in its grips entirely til it was over. It was so much more than what I expected. From the first debut of Arthur in the eyes of a 14 year old to the great battle I was enchanted in its story.

I had no experience with the author's writings prior but the narrator I knew from other books, like Helsreach. And the booming voice of him is exactly the melodramatic flair this book required. absolutely perfect.

Slow and boring

Story was so slow, i almost stopped in many occasions. The accents were poor and really annoying. I had high hopes as I love the sharpe series by Bernard Cornwall, but I will not be getting the second in the series.