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Pendragon
- Dark Age, Book 1
- Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
- Length: 15 hrs and 58 mins
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Pendragon
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Summary
Here is the beginning of a legend. Long before Camelot rose, a hundred years before the myth of King Arthur was half formed, at the start of the Red Century, the world was slipping into a dark age....
It is AD 367. In a frozen forest beyond Hadrian's Wall, six scouts of the Roman army are found murdered. For Lucanus, known as the Wolf and leader of elite unit called the Arcani, this chilling ritual killing is a sign of a greater threat.
But to the Wolf the far north is a foreign land, a place where daemons and witches and the old gods live on. Only when the child of a friend is snatched will he venture alone into this treacherous world - a territory ruled over by a barbarian horde - in order to bring the boy back home. What he finds there beyond the wall will echo down the years.
A secret game with hidden factions is unfolding in the shadows: cabals from the edge of the empire to the eternal city of Rome itself, from the great pagan monument of Stonehenge to the warrior kingdoms of Gaul, will go to any length to find and possess what is believed to be a source of great power, signified by the mark of the Dragon. A soldier and a thief, a cutthroat, a courtesan and a druid, even Emperor Valentinian himself - each of these has a part to play in the beginnings of this legend...the rise of the House of Pendragon.
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What listeners say about Pendragon
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 23-07-17
A Twisted Root of Arthurian Legend
Whatever you do don't shake your head and mutter "Oh no not King Arthur AGAIN!". Historical-based fantasy is very much in vogue within the genre and where better to start than a hundred years before the Arthurian legends? James Wilde has done just that and presented us with a Dark World lit only by the dying embers of the Roman Empire. Something dark and troubling is brewing just North of Hadrian's Wall, war is afoot, ancient magics and Gods are infiltrating the world once more and of course there is a prophecy of epic proportions about to reveal itself.
The Dark Ages are of course ripe for such novels and James Wilde is the latest author to populate a largely unknown part of our history with a quality bit of fantasy. He gives us a decent set of characters to follow and in conjunction with David Shaw-Parker treats us to a fast-moving plot of no little interest. I really enjoyed it and think it ends well suggesting this will grow into an enjoyable series as he gives us a genuinely new twist on the roots of Arthurian legend.
For me personally it didn't quite hit the heights of the very best in the genre with some of the characters feeling all too familiar and occasionally the combination of author and narrator generating the melodramatic rather than genuine excitement. It would be harsh to damn the whole thing because of that though. I got a lot out of it and I think it has real potential to develop into a very entertaining series.
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25 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. M. J. Ryder
- 05-09-24
A lovely romp through Britannia
A fresh take on the Arthur legend and enjoyable to plot their journey across the country. Loved the twist and set it up for a rivalry in the next book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr Bill Dunn
- 19-08-17
Just missed the mark
Plenty of content but story just didn't hold together for me, couldn't get to know the characters quick enough so kept losing interest, sorry but not personal or gripping in either character formation or storyline.
Passed a few afternoons while it rained but easily put down.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-09-17
great story brought to life by a masterful narator
the narator has the ability to bring to life the characters but also invoke the scenes set by the author, sinister forests, beautiful countryside vistas, lively towns, barracks life. Great story very well told
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- B L.
- 11-06-19
A Great Listen
Great story and fantastic voices to go with it. Looking forward to the next book and ordering it straight away.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- shadowspirit
- 09-11-17
Loved this book
I loved this book. Great story, great narrator, it kept me going through many a sleepless night. Especially enjoyed the story about the Scottish Picts, its not often they are included in books. Will definately look for books by James Wilde again.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- 29-01-20
Slow , so slow
Really slow to get going. Can’t work out if its the book or the narrator. He’s not bad but just doesn’t fit the story. And he reads slowly which only exaggerated the plodding pace of the plot. I rarely give up on a book but this one is really tested my patience and I did give up half way through.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- graham
- 18-09-20
A mixed bag is this nonesense
Bernard Cornwell this aint.
the storyline is fairly good. It draws you in despite the pantomimical characterisation by the narator. However as the story drags on i found myself questioning the authors ability. The dialogue between the characters was quite simply awful..it was like a 1970s kids tv programme - Arthur of the Britons with Brian Blessed.
I am urrently 3/4 way through. Ive looked at book 2 and read some reviews..I'm not whether to count my losses and dump the book now...as there are 3 books in the series and i just dont think i can suffer that amount...or persevere to the end of this book ..knowing it will not resolve.
my advice to potential buyers...honestly..try something else.
stick with Cornweĺl..or try Judson Roberts for an unknown. there are a lot better books than this...shame because the plot is good, its just poirly written and poorly characrerised by narator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TheFluffyViking
- 02-05-19
Great listen!
Mesmerising and rumbling voice of narrator, paired with a wonderful story made this a delicious listen. Colorful characters, blood spilled, intrigues and plots. Perfect!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colin Bailey
- 11-06-20
Fantastic
The story is gripping informative historic I loved it. David Shaw-Parker keeps you involved that you feel that you are there. I am getting Volume 2 now.
I never leave reviews but compelled to do so with this. Enjoy!
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