Dragon Lord

Could be called sword and sorcery, Arthurian retelling, Irish mythology.... Whatever you call it, this tale of two very different but well matched mercenaries, trying to stay alive and true to each other and what they believe (or don't believe), despite the forces of history and the machinations of warlords, magicians, witches, and mythic monsters -- it held my attention each time I picked it up. I don't have many books of this sort on my shelf, but I know I will continue to reread this one every few years as I have for over fifteen years, so I'm looking for a hardcover edition. NOTE: Where I learned the meaning of 'I've got your back' even though it's never said. Read when you want to restore your faith in less-than-perfect but still-the-best friends.

An excellent blend of history and period detail carries a cast of savage warriors to a bloody showdown in Arthur's kingdom.

The thing about David Drake is that he absolutely refuses to be bound by sentimental genre restrictions that he hasn't agreed to. And this is a typical, albeit early, example of him doing that. His Arthur isn't the doomed romantic of T.H. White; he's a historically believable conqueror, every bit as credible -- and unsavory -- as Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, or Ibn Saud. Drake's protagonists, while capable of some personal nobility, aren't cookie-cutter heroes, or even the more complex (and also thoroughly enjoyable) ones from White -- they're the sorts of folks who simply don't let cutting a few throats bother them.This is probably the most original take on the whole Arthurian thing that I've ever read, and I've read quite a few.

This is not a typical King Arther tale in which the king is the primary character. Arther plays a role but it is minor compared to the two main heros in the story. It has an interesting take on the personality and the physical characteristics of Arther. An fun book to read because it is not the same old thing.