- Hardcover: 560 pages
- Publisher: Headline Review (4 Feb 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755348710
- ISBN-13: 978-0755348718
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.8 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 330,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
King Arthur: The Bloody Cup: Book Three
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Product Description
Product Description
The third book in an exciting, brand-new Arthurian trilogy
For many years, the people of Briton have enjoyed peace and prosperity under the reign of King Artor and the Union of Kings. Having spurned the despotism of his predecessor, Uther Pendragon, Arthur has ruled with a strong sense of duty, goodness and honour.
Artor is now weakening with age, however, and the seeds of discontent are being sown. Seeking to cleanse the land of Christian belief, dissenters need a symbol with which to legitimise their pagan claim and gather malcontents together into a cohesive weapon. These shadowy, subversive elements seize upon the ancient cup of Bishop Lucius of Glastonbury as a way of fragmenting Artor’s hard-fought-for kingdom. But first, they must lay their hands on the relic and, in doing so, unleash a force for evil from which murder and violent mayhem ensue.
But it emerges that the ultimate threat to Artor’s rule lies far closer to home; Artor is betrayed by kin. Celt will slay Celt and the river will run with blood.
For many years, the people of Briton have enjoyed peace and prosperity under the reign of King Artor and the Union of Kings. Having spurned the despotism of his predecessor, Uther Pendragon, Arthur has ruled with a strong sense of duty, goodness and honour.
Artor is now weakening with age, however, and the seeds of discontent are being sown. Seeking to cleanse the land of Christian belief, dissenters need a symbol with which to legitimise their pagan claim and gather malcontents together into a cohesive weapon. These shadowy, subversive elements seize upon the ancient cup of Bishop Lucius of Glastonbury as a way of fragmenting Artor’s hard-fought-for kingdom. But first, they must lay their hands on the relic and, in doing so, unleash a force for evil from which murder and violent mayhem ensue.
But it emerges that the ultimate threat to Artor’s rule lies far closer to home; Artor is betrayed by kin. Celt will slay Celt and the river will run with blood.
About the Author
M.K. Hume is a retired academic and is married with two sons.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a huge fan of MK's writing it was a with bated breath that I had to wait to see if the third part in the series would live up to my expectations. Whilst I severely hoped that it would, there's always a nagging doubt in the back of the readers mind that it really will flop and do it badly especially when you feel that you've already been spoilt with the first two.
What occurs within is not only a fitting tribute to perhaps the reality of Arthur (as MK Hume sets the tale in Roman times) but perhaps a great example of an author who loves her work so much that she'll go the extra mile to make sure that it will please the reader. The prose are ideal, the writing crisp and above all the characters feel real enough for the reader to greet in person. Not only are they likeable but they also have issues that need dealing with emotionally as well as physically. It's a great offering and whilst some will think that this sees the end of the road, remember that MK has the first novel in her Merlin series out in October for readers to travel a more unfamiliar road. A truly great series in the historical fiction world and one that I really can't recommend enough.
What occurs within is not only a fitting tribute to perhaps the reality of Arthur (as MK Hume sets the tale in Roman times) but perhaps a great example of an author who loves her work so much that she'll go the extra mile to make sure that it will please the reader. The prose are ideal, the writing crisp and above all the characters feel real enough for the reader to greet in person. Not only are they likeable but they also have issues that need dealing with emotionally as well as physically. It's a great offering and whilst some will think that this sees the end of the road, remember that MK has the first novel in her Merlin series out in October for readers to travel a more unfamiliar road. A truly great series in the historical fiction world and one that I really can't recommend enough.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a great fan of the Arthur legends and have devoured many fantastic takes on the subject from the very Celtic rendition from Stephan Lawhead (The Pendragon Series)Arthur (Book III of the Pendragon Cycle),the 12th century chivalrous tales by Chrétien de Troyes to the dark ages version from Bernard Cornwell (The Warlord chronicles) The Winter Kingand I must say this one ranks up with them as one of the best.
MK Hume manages to include most aspects of the legend with her own particuler descriptive style, making it dark and exciting, yet keeping away from being overly magical. Most characters from the various takes of the legend make an appearence through one or more books of the trilogy. These include the not always remembered: Taliesan, Gareth, Tristan (Trystan) and Iseult, Nimua and the warrior twins Balan and Balyn as well as some of the more known including Perceval, Galahad, Merlin and Uther. Without giving anything away, what I particularly enjoyed was how Hume made her own clear take on the characters, much the way Bernard Cornwell did with his very varied characters. Those who have read his books may know what I mean. For example Gawayne, Galahad and Nimua all have aspects of their better known chracters, but with some very subtle differences. None of which are quite how I had imagined them to be. Which was a good thing!
The one notable absence was Lancelot, but his character was included in a combination of two other popular figures of legend Gawayne and Bedwyr. I have read books before with one or the other but never both!! Lancelot was not included in the legend until much later anyway and is often associated with one or both of the above characters.
Her characters are very well rounded and believable and her writing style gritty and pacy. She does not shy away from grim and dark subject manner on occasion which leaves just the right level of chill and tension. She allows you to feel for the characters and either mourn or rejoice at their passing depending on who it is. Her trilogy encompases three major parts of Arthurs (Artors) life. The first two books cover his fostership at Ectors house and rise to the throne (Book One), his wars with the Saxons and development of his inner circle of warriors and ladies (book two). The final book (this one) covers his descent into old age alongside his warriors pursuit of the grail culminating with the end of his reign (book 3).
Hume wound the trilogy up very efficiently (although a little swiftly hence the four stars) and I am very happy to hear she has a Merlin series in the offing. One I will gladly lap up!
MK Hume manages to include most aspects of the legend with her own particuler descriptive style, making it dark and exciting, yet keeping away from being overly magical. Most characters from the various takes of the legend make an appearence through one or more books of the trilogy. These include the not always remembered: Taliesan, Gareth, Tristan (Trystan) and Iseult, Nimua and the warrior twins Balan and Balyn as well as some of the more known including Perceval, Galahad, Merlin and Uther. Without giving anything away, what I particularly enjoyed was how Hume made her own clear take on the characters, much the way Bernard Cornwell did with his very varied characters. Those who have read his books may know what I mean. For example Gawayne, Galahad and Nimua all have aspects of their better known chracters, but with some very subtle differences. None of which are quite how I had imagined them to be. Which was a good thing!
The one notable absence was Lancelot, but his character was included in a combination of two other popular figures of legend Gawayne and Bedwyr. I have read books before with one or the other but never both!! Lancelot was not included in the legend until much later anyway and is often associated with one or both of the above characters.
Her characters are very well rounded and believable and her writing style gritty and pacy. She does not shy away from grim and dark subject manner on occasion which leaves just the right level of chill and tension. She allows you to feel for the characters and either mourn or rejoice at their passing depending on who it is. Her trilogy encompases three major parts of Arthurs (Artors) life. The first two books cover his fostership at Ectors house and rise to the throne (Book One), his wars with the Saxons and development of his inner circle of warriors and ladies (book two). The final book (this one) covers his descent into old age alongside his warriors pursuit of the grail culminating with the end of his reign (book 3).
Hume wound the trilogy up very efficiently (although a little swiftly hence the four stars) and I am very happy to hear she has a Merlin series in the offing. One I will gladly lap up!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the third volume of the trilogy, with Arthur descending into old age with no heir, plagued with his once-beautiful wife, the spoilt, self-centered, somewhat stupid and nymphomaniac Wenhafer, from which he is estranged. It finishes with his last victory and death, as ke kills Modred, his kin who is trying to "take the throne from him".
One of the most interesting feature of this book, and of the previçous ones, is the author's take of the well-known characters of the Arthurian legends:
- unlike in Cornwell's books where he is both a coward and the arch-traitor, Lancelot is absent, because he was a latter addition.
- Gwaine is the philandering son of King Lot of the Otadini (historically Votadini, situated originally just North of Hadrian's walls) who has all of Lancelot's martial qualities but cannot resist a pretty face. His son is a self-rightous, prude, cruel and fanatically Cristian Galahad, a mighty warrior
- The twins, Balan and Balyn, are presented as Arthur's grandchildren, with Taliesin being Merlin's eldest son with Nimue (who is all-good and perfectly well-balanced, unlike in Cornwell)
There are however a number of elements that are a stretch and difficult to believe. Here are a few:
- If Arthur did have some 20 years of peace, it is unbelievable that he would not have done something about producing (and designating) his heir during all that time
- if his relations with his wife were as atrocious as described in the book, and she had failed to produce that heir while dragging into her bed numerous lovers, it is simply unbelievable that Arthur would have nothing to dispose of her, perhaps brutally and permanently, especially since nowhere in the trilogy is he presented as being in love with her. His fears of getting to ressemble his father are unlikely to have swayed him.
- the role ascribed to the "bloody cup" is interesting. Inferring that it was the cup used during the Last Supper is likely to have been a latter addition, just like the claims surrounding Glastonburry and regarding Joseph and early Christians that would have arrived in Britain during the first century AD: extremely unlikely
- the relations between Church, King (or warlord, rather), tribes and Roman settlements are hardly mentioned in any detail at all. Cornwell does a much better job and more credible here
- it is also very unlikely that Artor, once knowing what Modred was up to, would have failed to execute him and let him escape to lead his uprising. Such a blunder is hardly credible from such a caracter that had survived so long against all odds
- another element: the final battle pits Modred's Brigantes, the Picts and King Mark's troops against Artor's men, together with the Ordovices, Cornovii and a few others. Although presented as vastly outnumbered, this may be a bit of an exaggeration since Artor would have had no qualms in drawing troops from all of the forts and from the South after beating the Saxons...
One of the most interesting feature of this book, and of the previçous ones, is the author's take of the well-known characters of the Arthurian legends:
- unlike in Cornwell's books where he is both a coward and the arch-traitor, Lancelot is absent, because he was a latter addition.
- Gwaine is the philandering son of King Lot of the Otadini (historically Votadini, situated originally just North of Hadrian's walls) who has all of Lancelot's martial qualities but cannot resist a pretty face. His son is a self-rightous, prude, cruel and fanatically Cristian Galahad, a mighty warrior
- The twins, Balan and Balyn, are presented as Arthur's grandchildren, with Taliesin being Merlin's eldest son with Nimue (who is all-good and perfectly well-balanced, unlike in Cornwell)
There are however a number of elements that are a stretch and difficult to believe. Here are a few:
- If Arthur did have some 20 years of peace, it is unbelievable that he would not have done something about producing (and designating) his heir during all that time
- if his relations with his wife were as atrocious as described in the book, and she had failed to produce that heir while dragging into her bed numerous lovers, it is simply unbelievable that Arthur would have nothing to dispose of her, perhaps brutally and permanently, especially since nowhere in the trilogy is he presented as being in love with her. His fears of getting to ressemble his father are unlikely to have swayed him.
- the role ascribed to the "bloody cup" is interesting. Inferring that it was the cup used during the Last Supper is likely to have been a latter addition, just like the claims surrounding Glastonburry and regarding Joseph and early Christians that would have arrived in Britain during the first century AD: extremely unlikely
- the relations between Church, King (or warlord, rather), tribes and Roman settlements are hardly mentioned in any detail at all. Cornwell does a much better job and more credible here
- it is also very unlikely that Artor, once knowing what Modred was up to, would have failed to execute him and let him escape to lead his uprising. Such a blunder is hardly credible from such a caracter that had survived so long against all odds
- another element: the final battle pits Modred's Brigantes, the Picts and King Mark's troops against Artor's men, together with the Ordovices, Cornovii and a few others. Although presented as vastly outnumbered, this may be a bit of an exaggeration since Artor would have had no qualms in drawing troops from all of the forts and from the South after beating the Saxons...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Awsome
Brilliant version of a doomed legend! Hume fits the facts, fiction and legend perfectly. In this section of the story Hume makes arthur human, displays his faults and mortality but... Read more
Published 4 months ago by James howard
Trulyawful
From start to end nothing has actually happened in this trilogy. I bought all three books together so I have forced myself to read them. Read more
Published 14 months ago by M. Livings
disappointing
This is the third book in the series, and it came with pages 169 to 201 missing. Amazon quickly replaced it, even sent it to my French address! Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by R. Fletton
EXCELLENT SERIES!!
All three in the series were excellent! It was a new "take" on the Arthur legend and was VERY well written! I thoroughly enjoyed them all. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2010 by Nana
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