Pendragon is the second book in the The Chronicles of Arthur series by Peter Gibbons I stumbled happily upon the author about 2 years ago with the release of his Saxon Warrior series and I’ve been hooked on the authors works ever since.

The first book in the series nicely laid the foundations. Leaving the reader with almost a sense of dread in the pit of your stomach as you know things were starting to heat up.

I was keen to see how the author would build on the story and how he would find time to develop the characters in such a plot driven tale.

Saxon invaders are pushing through Britian laying waste to everything Arthur holds dear. Uther Pendragon has the might to bring down upon the invaders but sits by as war wages on.

Merlin…ah Merlin.. he’s a clever one and Gibbons expertly shows how he is able to manipulate not only the people around him but also Arthur. Merlin knows what he wants to happen and weaves the tales around Excalibur to excite Arthur, breathing hope into a world where it’s almost been lost.

Merlin is great manipulator, that’s his real power, and as the story unfolds you can see just how much the people of Britain need him. Don’t get me wrong Arthur is brilliant but without Merlin would the fight have been taken to the Saxons….They need each other and their skills complement each other.

In what I’ve come to expect and love from the author the story is fast paced but Gibbons effortlessly seems to be able to add the character development I need to truthly become invested in a series along with adding beautiful details throughout allowing you to envisage the time, location, the people. I really don’t understand how the author manages to weave such a well-rounded tale bringing all the different needs together, adding in his magic sparkle into such a heaving plot driven tale it’s a real talent to actually make the characters themselves come alive.. especially the likes of Arthur, Merlin and Uther.. I think most people will know of these characters, myths.. legends.. there’s a wealth of tales that have been told so credit to the author to not only make a story that feels fresh and new but at the same time comfortable.. it’s like Gibbons has masterfully brought together all the little traits and details of these characters throughout the years and has skilfully added his own impressions to make these individuals really come to life.

I’m not going to spoil the action aspects of the story but for fans of the genre it’s got everything you need… battle with plenty of blood to be spilt.. it’s a boiling pot of tension and exhaustion.

The plot is fascinating and captivating but balanced perfectly with the character ark, things naturally progress rather than being forced along, neither overshadows rather so they support each other.

Overall what always impresses me with Peter Gibbons is within a well-established genre he keeps offering something new that demands your every ounce of being from the first page.

Book Review: Pendragon by Peter Gibbons

Pendragon, the latest instalment in Peter Gibbons' The Chronicles of Arthur series, is a captivating and action-packed journey into the brutal world of Dark Age Britain. If you're a fan of historical fiction and Arthurian legends, this is a book you won't want to miss. Gibbons masterfully weaves history, myth, and gripping action into a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story picks up in a crumbling Britain, where the kingdoms are fractured by blood feuds and rivalry, leaving them vulnerable to the relentless advance of Saxon invaders. The once-proud King Uther Pendragon, who has the power to unite the fractured land, refuses to lead his people into battle. Meanwhile, Arthur, the son of Uther, leads a small but determined warband in the lawless badlands, combating Saxon warlords and slowly building a name for himself.

Merlin's stirring of old legends and the spark of hope he brings to the hearts of men gives Arthur the courage to rise above his personal demons and take on the mantle of leadership. But to face the Saxons, Arthur must convince his father to unite the armies of Britain under the banner of the Pendragon and harness the power of Excalibur. The stakes are high, and the battle for the future of Britain is about to ignite.

Gibbons excels in creating a vivid, gritty portrayal of Dark Age Britain, where loyalty is hard-earned, and every battle is a brutal test of survival. The characters are rich and complex, from the headstrong Arthur, who matures into a warlord over the course of the series, to the enigmatic Merlin, who embodies the mystical and ancient power of the gods. The relationships between the characters are deeply woven into the fabric of the story, with Arthur’s struggle to lead, the looming threat of betrayal, and the unyielding spirit of the people driving the plot forward.

The action is intense and visceral, with battle scenes that are both brutal and cinematic, echoing the works of Bernard Cornwell. The pacing is relentless, and Gibbons doesn’t shy away from depicting the raw violence and political intrigue of the time. The book is a perfect blend of historical fiction and myth, with Arthur's transformation from a young, unsure leader to a powerful symbol of hope playing out against the backdrop of an impending war that will change the course of history.

What makes Pendragon stand out is its fresh take on the Arthurian legend. Gibbons brings new life to the familiar story by grounding it in a brutal and realistic historical setting. The legends of Excalibur and the mystical elements are subtly intertwined with the raw realities of war and politics, making them feel grounded and impactful.

Fans of epic historical fiction will love Pendragon for its gripping narrative, vivid world-building, and rich character development. It's a thrilling ride through a turbulent time in British history, full of bloodshed, betrayal, and the indomitable will to fight for one's people. If you're craving a tale of legendary heroes, brutal battles, and complex relationships, look no further—Pendragon delivers on all fronts.

Rating: 5/5
A brilliant continuation of The Chronicles of Arthur, Pendragon is an action-packed, historical adventure that redefines the Arthurian legend. Peter Gibbons’ masterful storytelling makes this book a must-read for fans of historical fiction and epic sagas. The thrilling narrative and vivid characters will have you eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this exciting series.

Having read and devoured Excalibur, the first book in this series, I was over the moon to discover Pendragon and was hoping for a similar legendary experience of the great warrior, Arthur.
I was not disappointed. Pendragon continues the story where Excalibur left off. Arthur is leading the fight against the encroaching Saxons. And not only does the poor chap have to deal with the vicious invaders, he also has to wrangle with the various British kings, who, protective of their own territories, are reluctant to enter into all-out war. Apparently it ended badly last time!
Peter Gibbons has created an entirely credible version of Arthur, one borne out of the historic invasion of the Saxons and the building opposition from the English tribes. All the legendary characters are here; Uther, Guinevere, Morgana and Lancelot.
The Saxon invasion appears inexorable and Arthur must risk everything to unite the tribes; it is the only way the Britons can hope to beat the invaders. But holding those tribes together proves challenging.
What a fabulous adventure story!
The action was frenetic, the storyline string with many twists and turns and the characters leap from the page.
Storytelling at its best; looking forward to book number 3

In the second book in Peter Gibbons’ The Chronicles of Arthur series, readers explore the collapse of Dark Age Britain and the constant wars among Britain’s kings and against the Saxon invaders. With the only Pendragon, High King Uther, able to unite the armies and refusing to do so, the Saxon lords under Octha continue to advance and destroy the British kingdoms. With Arthur leading a single war band and bringing the fight to the Saxon warlords, readers join his camp as Merlin brings stories of Arthur, Excalibur, the old gods, and hope to those they meet along the way. With increasingly high stakes and wars on all fronts, readers will love the portrait of what Arthurian England might have been like that Gibbons brings to life in this fascinating and gritty historical fiction novel. The characters are the star of the novel, and readers will really appreciate and enjoy these interpretations of figures from Arthurian legend for their emotional complexity, relationships with other characters, and complex understandings of the politics and world they live in. Well-written and a fantastic sequel to continue the series, readers will love this gritty, detailed, and complex new historical fiction title about the mythical King Arthur.

I was enthralled with this book. It was so well written, and the depth of research required is evident in the quality of the novel. I couldn't put it down. It was an epic tale that revolves around the Arthurian legend and British history. I found it fascinating and gripping. It was a good read filled with battle, warriors, and so much more. I highly recommend this book to those history/historical fiction fans out there.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Boldwood Books

Gibbons follows his first book with another brutal, bloody and gripping story. Expanding on Arthur’s story Excalibur, we see Arthur rise to hold the ultimate power as Pendragon.

I really enjoy these versions of the Arthurian legend. Reading the author’s notes, it’s clear this novel is based on historical authenticity and research. He creates a Dark Age world that’s believable, steeped in clashes of power and religion. This is a landscape that is dark and unforgiving, and places Arthur as a battle lord and leader, rather than a king. Other characters such as Guinevere, Morgan and Uther are present, but their stories have been shifted slightly to create fresh new narratives.

There’s plenty of action and battles, with layers of power, politics and religion.

This is a beefy, gritty read that takes Arthurian sources and presents them in a new, authentic and compelling read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a much more realistic retelling of King Arthur. In this book Arthur doesn’t come across as a myth so much as as a regular man. If that makes any sort of sense. In other stories there is this unreal quality about him but here we see him more human than myth.

Peter Gibbons has taken the myth and fiction and intertwined it with facts to give us a story that is compelling and page turning. The battles are quite simply brutal and something you would see in a Hollywood movie or documentary. The detail and descriptions put you right there in the midst of them.


I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that Arthur wasn’t the young boy who pulled a sword out of the stone who became this great, shining, white knight of a king. The one who gave so much hope just by existing. Instead we see how much his story was manipulated by Merlin to get the people behind him. I’m not sure how I feel about Merlin as a whole. There were times that I liked him and other times that I just wasn’t sure about him. However, I think that is what made him such a great character.

Having not read the first book I can say you can easily read this on it’s own and if you love historical adventure then this is the book for you. It was a great read that kept me enraptured from beginning to end.

The second book in Peter Gibbons, The Arthurian Chronicles, Pendragon, was no less fascinating than the first!

This is historical fiction that kept me turning the pages. A retelling of King Arthur but with more reality than you would expect. Arthur is so vivid and definitely human in these books. Peter Gibbons has yet again created a story that entwines fact, fiction, and fables together in such a way that I couldn't tell where the facts ended and the fiction began.

The battles are depicted in all the brutality you would expect from this era. The action makes it a gripping read. I am getting used to this with Peter Gibbons writing. I always wonder if I will enjoy his newest book as much as his previous work. I don't even understand why I think like this! He always has the best 'recipe' to tick every box.

Pendragon swept me back in time so easily that I was unwilling to return to 2024 until I read every last word. I find I always learn something when I read historical fiction, and this makes me feel a little more educated with every book that I glean new facts from. Pendragon fulfilled that for me, too.

Such a rich and vivid instalment in this series. I am looking forward to his next book!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book to write my honest review for the book tour.

Second in the series of the Arthurian legend. Arthur has spend 2 years fighting the Saxons. This is a thoroughly engaging retelling of the story of Arthur, Merlin and the men fighting with him. It is brutal and bloodthirsty at times but the strength of the writing and story carry you over that. A fantastic story of Arthur's fight for Britain.I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical novels.

I appreciate how this story mixes myth, fantasy, and historical fiction keeping the barbaric parts and the darkness which plays an important part in the Arthurian cycle.
Arthur is not the knight in shining armour, the symbol of all that was great and good in being a knight. Merlin is great manipulator and able to make people hope in a sort of messianic king and a better future.
The Arthur/Merlin relationship made me think of Dune and how the Kwisatz Aderach is a mix of things and there's a specific goal.
This is a fast paced and action-packed novels, a page turner that keeps you reading till you turn the last page.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Wow wow wow!!! This was such a ride. The character development and world building was top notch. This is a must read!!

"Pendragon" by Peter Gibbons: Gibbons shows well the duplicitous and contentious nature of the kings of the British Celts, puts a spin on Arthur's love life and Lancelot. Arthur is a poor tactician and leader, who is a legend only due to Merlin's skills as a bard.

This is the second book in the series and it helps to have read the first, Excalibur. It's a retelling of Arthur and Merlin and keeps to the fables whilst detailing the great battles. Some of the myths are explained as hype to get the people behind the people's champion. Arthur's treatment of Morgan made me loose my sympathy for Arthur and I would have hoped in the modern day there would have been a way to re-tell that part of the story. I mean, if there is a way around excaliber coming from a stone, surely there is a way to tell Morgans story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series! I had a little trouble with the first book holding my attention, but "Pendragon" moves at a decent clip with action deserving of a warlord. It's interesting to see how the author brings in the different aspects of Arthur and his cohorts and if you know the stories of King Arthur and Camelot you get a thrill at piecing things together while these new writings unfold. It's also fun to figure out where all the ancient names relate to, especially if you're a diehard Celt/Briton/Pict & Viking like me. I highly recommend this read for all King Arthur and Historical enthusiasts!

Arthur and the Britons are trying to push back the Saxon hoardes.
An entertaining and believable retelling of the Arthur Legend.
You can feel the tension anxiety and fear in the pages as Arthur seeks to bring the Saxons to battle without being overwelmed and on unfamiliar territory.
Live through the terror relief and exhaustion of battle as shield walls clash in a violent shoving match as each side seeks to break the other which will lead to slaughter and mayhem.
Readers of Benard Cornwall and Mathew Haffry will enjoy the battle scenes portrayed by the author.

The second instalment in the series follows Arthur across Britain in search of his destiny. The book is one of Britain trying to fight back against the Saxon hoards from across the sea, with Arthur right in the thick of it. Bravery, betrayal, magic, brotherhood abut above all, love. In true Gibbons fashion, heavy on the battle depictions with no filter on the details! Fantastic!

A great read from start to finish and I can’t wait for the next one.

An irresistible slice of escapism and a joy to read. Compelling, absorbing and highly entertaining. Fast-moving and fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ loved all the action!

My only complaint about this book is I have to wait until l late November to get the audiobook!!
Bloody good in every sense of the word

This uses the historical adventure element perfectly, I loved the use of King Arthur and how everything worked in the story being told. Peter Gibbons has a strong style for the genre and how I was expecting the characters to work. I really enjoyed how good this worked with the series and other book that I read in this series.