The Singing Sword (The Camulod Chronicles, Book 2)

I'm a person who loves books about King Arthur and that period of time. This is an excellent book in my mind the thing that might give some people a problem is the sometimes racy scences. I read my first book by Jack Whyte called Knights of the Black and White and fell in love with that one and now I've fell in love with this series.

The Book, The Singing Sword, was the tale of life before King Arthur. This novel told of the fall of Rome and the hardships that the world had to live with. With the sword Excalibur being made, troubles come with the greatness of it. Jack Whyte is an incredible storyteller and this book is one of the best I have ever read.

Forget the romantic setting of ancient Roman Brittania! Jack Whyte's writing style is unmatched by most modern writers. He could write an entire novel about jelly donughts and make it read like a charm. I cannot put it into words exactly how Jack Whyte writes. All I can say is that his words are a pleasure. I ripped through all 547 pages of this paperback in a few days. What an ease and joy. Very relaxing. Very gratifying. It just cements my opinion about all the garbage that is being published today. People making millions on books that are horrible reads. Jack Whyte is the exception!Jack is obviously well schooled in the history of very ancient England. The Celts, Picts, Scots and Romans are all represented with stunning clarity and picturesque description.My father had this book laying around in his den. I picked it up and breezed right through it. I hadn't read anything by Jack Whyte prior. I was an instant fan from page one. I hadn't even read the first book "The Skystone" either.I guess one might want to read the books in order, but I know from experience that this isn't necessary! If you, too, have been put off by modern authors - give Jack a chance to reclaim your "gosh wow!"GaryFlorida

Still with a Roman view point instead of the tradional celtic retelling of the Authurian legends. Rivals Mary Stewart fine work.

Jack Whyte changes the focus of the Camulod Chronicles in The Singing Sword. Readers of The Skystone witnessed the results of years of research into the livestyles and military tactics of the Roman occupants of fifth century Britain. For those expecting more of the same, Whyte's second novel may disapoint. This feeling shouldn't last, however, as the reader realizes just what The Singing Sword is: an exposition and analysis of the trials and tribulations of the occupants of the colony of a dying empire. The characters of Publius Varrus and Caius Brittanicus will strike many as being ancient equivilants of America's own forefathers. This observation only comes to mind in the second novel, because the withdrawal of Rome's forces is so much closer to occuring. The happy-go-lucky soldiering of Book I is gone. It is replaced by familial responsibilty, political jostling for the sake of the new colony, and the introduction of the next generation of characters. Readers are able to witness firsthand the many temptations of Varrus which result in failures and victories both unabashedly. The Singing Sword does not provide the startling discoveries that Varrus and Brittanicus found in The Skystone, but the view into their psyches is a worthwhile device for bringing us the tranisition into the anarchy which should follow