I WILL be reading this one again. I consider this to be the TRUE story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Very close to the move, Excaliber. If you like stories of that era, you will love this book... Enjoy! ( )

Enemy of God is the second book in the Warlord series by Cornwell. It picks up where The Winter King left off with Derfel telling the story of Arthur to Queen Igraine of Powys, his patron.

In The Winter King, Arthur was working to protect the child Mordred, the eventual leader of Dumnonia, and to secure peace in the land he loves. In Enemy of God, that peace has been secured but there are still battles to be fought --- some with the Saxons and many with Arthur's own family and friends.

Derfel, who has an everlasting trust in Merlin, goes with him in search of Britain's greatest treasure, the Cauldron of Clyddno Eiddyn, which Merlin believes will bring the gods back to the land. Derfel is reunited with his love, Ceinwyn, during this time and while it's not always a happy or easy life for him, you can't help but admire him and want to hear his story.

We also learn more about Arthur and Guinevere, their sad love story, and how it brings the ruin of what many people, but mostly Guinevere, referred to as Camelot. Oddly, you'll also notice that the 10 years of peace that Arthur brings to the land are still rife with fighting, just smaller scale but it's still there and Derfel doesn't let the reader forget it was a rough life. The ending is full of betrayal and brings about a change in Arthur, less kind and more brutal but justified --- the emergence of the warlord leader you have been waiting for. He is no longer protecting the land for Mordred who is now grown and assumed the thrown, but fighting in his own name for his own cause.

The rise of Christianity and the fall of the Pagan gods drives a good portion of the story. I found the small rituals that each character performs to ward off evil and ill-luck from the other religion fascinating. I don't think I've read about so many people spitting, crossing themselves, and touching iron in any other book. The good part here, is that it's part of who these characters are and adds to the story without distracting attention.

I'm working my way through this series and I'm loving it. I've had the pleasure of being able to read all three book back to back which has kept the story going without interruption making it very easy to just open the book and get lost. If you're looking for a good historical read, Cornwell delivers with this series. Even if you're not an Arthur fan, it still works very well providing a picture of life that's just brutal but so satisfying. ( )

Book 2 in the Arthur saga. Here we see the true stripes of Lancelot, the King without a kingdom who presumes to be Arthur's friend in spite of evidence to his true nature. Lord Derfel Cardarn, one of Arthur's "made men" is narrating this memoir, and from their first meeting, he had never liked Lancelot, whom he brands as a coward.

Several other "Arthurian" tales cross paths in this book. Merlin's quest for a druidic cauldron of great power starts off the book. The fateful story of the doomed lovers Tristan and Iseult is told as well, in this case Arthur's commitment to justice at the expense of an old ally drives a temporary wedge between himself and Derfel. The real source of evil in this book is the Christian church, or, more precisely, it's scheming bishop who contrives to send Arthur and Derfel on a trivial errand that ends in ambush (the only corpses from the encounter being fanatical Christian ones) and then while they were presumably being killed, Mordred, Arthur's' nephew and now King, is attacked while hunting and also presumed dead. Meanwhile, the duplicitous Lancelot, who earlier averted a Saxon civil war that would have helped the Britons, seized power while his Saxon friend launched an attack on Arthur's frontier forces. When it becomes apparent Arthur is indeed not dead, Lancelot summons him under the threat that something unfortunate will happen to Guinevere and Arthur's son. Arthur, under the guise of a peace mission to gain the support of the other Saxon lord, instead circles back to capture his wife and son. Lancelot isn't the only snake, however, and Guinevere is found in a compromising position with one of Lancelot's druids during a religious ceremony dedicated to Isis and Osiris (during which they all hailed Lancelot as king).

The story ends with the cauldron again recovered (the cauldron and other treasures were stolen and given to Guinevere), Lancelot fleeting with his tail between his cowardly legs, the Saxons turned away at the border, except for possessing some of what used to be Lancelot's kingdom, and Guinevere in chains. Arthur is supremely pissed...he won't usurp the throne from Mordred, but has decreed that Britain would be ruled by council and Mordred king in name only. Derfel nominates Arthur to be Emperor (king of kings); this time Arthur does not dismiss it, but neither does he embrace the title. The army and most of the lords have long wanted Arthur to declare as king, they are happy now, although the riotous Christian's are seething under the prospect of tyranny under the "Enemy of God." ( )

The 2nd in the Arthurian legend.

Taking up from the end of The Winter King, after Arthur’s astonishing victory at Lugg Vale, Enemy of God continues with Cornwell’s highly imaginative reconstruction of the Arthurian legend. Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur was romantically based more on his interpretation of the legends, setting them more in the 11th and 12th century. and giving them a “modern” (15th century) interpretation with chivalry, Knights of the Round Table, and all the trappings of medieval fantasy. 5th century reality--the reality of Arthur’s time--was quite different. No knights, no chivalry; Arthur’s ideas of a brotherhood of kings to throw the Saxons out of England were far ahead of his time and actually detrimental to the safety of the kingdom he handed over to Mordred. Cornwell continues to do a beautiful job with elements of the Mallory version; his account of the Round Table is extremely entertaining. Mallory’s Grail quest becomes something quite different and quite grippingly done in Cornwell’s hands; it’s one of the best parts of an outstanding book.

Christianity continues to come off looking like a bad idea, but again, Cornwell remains faithful to what is known of those times, and certainly the scenes he describes in england and Wales certainly occurred elsewhere in the world as well.

What is particularly good about this book is Cornwell’s continued deconstruction of Lancelot, and the “truth” behind the affair with Guinevere. Guinevere herself, as are just about all the important female characters in Cornwell’s books, is an intelligent, strong woman frustrated by the subservient role that even royal women had to play. One of Cornwell’s real contributions to the genre is the continued development of his characters. They are not stick figures who simply exist as an excuse for action, but complex and believable people who react believably to their experiences.

Cornwell continues to write the most fascinating historical action-adventure novels around, and his research is meticulous. The only quibble with the book is that there is no map; it’s a good idea to scan the one in The Winter King and print it out to use as a place reference.

But, other than that, it’s a terrific read. Highly recommended. ( )

This second book in Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy is every bit as good as the first, though it jumps around a good deal. ( )

Cornwell's second entry in this series is as strong as his first (see my review for [Winter King] for my opinion of his general approach to Arthurian legend). There's lots of action and great characters, and Cornwell's usual great storytelling. Can't wait to read the next one! Oh wait, I already am. ( )

Enemy of God -- Bernard Cornwell

The second installment in what has become my favourite version of retellings of the Arthurian legends. Cornwell mixes a intoxicating potion of historical fiction and myth.

Arthur as told in the apt style of the warrior-voice of Derfel Cadarn has really enthralled me. Cornwell manages to make plot twists that you should see coming from a mile of seem fresh, surprising and een brutal.

I had a bit of trouble getting into the Winter King, but Enemy of God was just one big 5th century roller coaster. Highly recommended.

--A-- ( )

The second installment in this entertaining take on the King Arthur legend. I did enjoy the way the story took on the Christian vs. pagan populations as King Arthur tried to unite both populations against the Saxons. The battles are believable and enlightening compared to more current techniques. I do not envy the lack of better armor. Durfel continues to be one of my favorite heroes, despite his oafishness, he always tends to do the right thing for the right reasons. ( )

Second in the Warlord Chronicles, his Arthurian trilogy, told from the viewpoint of Derfel Cadarn, a Saxon slave boy who has now become one of Arthur’s greatest warriors. A heady blend of historical fiction and fantasy with the retelling of the Arthurian legend in a very plausible way, without a whole lot of romantic nonsense—there are love stories within the story, but it’s primarily a tale of war, greed, and hunger for power, which makes it (in my opinion) a much more likely scenario than the fairy tale type Arthur stories. I particularly enjoyed Cornwell’s treatment of Arthur’s “Round Table.” LOL It’s impossible to begin to talk about this book very much without giving away too much. I can only advise anyone who enjoys Arthurian legends to check this series out—it truly is excellent and has a place firmly on my Keeper shelf. ( )

He made Gweniver's betrayal a surprise. The revenge on the druid twins was great. Touching and well written. ( )

i didn't find this one quite so easy to read as the first one, but still a fantastic book and a really interesting take on the well-known Arthurian legend. ( )

Artur, Rei Artur, Lendas Arturianas

The second in the series about King Arthur and it lives up to the promise of the first one. It picks up where the first book leaves off and continues up to Guinevere's betrayal with Lancelot. You know she is going to do it, but it is still a shock to discover she has.

Dervel has such a happy marriage to his bright star and you wish it would last forever. He also has to journey to the Isle of the Dead to rescue Nimue. No one has ever left the Isle alive and it is filled with those who are insane and are a danger to themselves and others becomming part canible and violent.

Cornwell doesn't skimp on the horrors, physical and emotional, yet you are still left wanting more. ( )

An excellent second entry in the Warlord Chronicles. Mr. Cornwell rather than being pedantic and overblown as some authors in this genre can be, adds his own twist to the Arthurian legend that stands out of the crowd. Arthur's inner and outer turmoil, the religious turmoil of Britain, and obvious turmoil of the book's hero (not Arthur mind you) makes for some interesting and fantastic reading. Mr. Cornwell definitely adds to the legend without losing any of its magic. ( )

great Dark Ages read! ( )

The finest Arthurian novel I have read, I think. Cornwell weaves a compelling tale that is not necessarily true to the legend, but explains the legend in a manner that is truthful and intriguing. This second volume makes us truly hope for something that can never be, for a king without a crown. The conflicts here ring true, and sets us up nicely for the final battle. ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5... ( )