Best Arthurian Fiction
Discover the best Arthurian fiction books with our curated list of timeless tales and modern retellings. Explore legendary knights, Camelot, and Excalibur in these top-rated novels.
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Hawk of May
by Gillian Bradshaw
"Intelligent and imaginative...even the magic convinces." -Mary Renault, author of The King Must Die On The Path Toward Greatness, Every Hero Makes a Choice Legends sing of Sir Gawain, one of the most respected warriors of King Arthur's reign and one of the greatest champions of all time. But this is not that story. This is the story of Gwalchmai, middle sonof the beautiful, infinitely evil sorceress Morgawse, and gifted student of her dark magical arts. A story of an uncertain man, doubting his ability to follow his elder brother's warrior prowess and seeking to find his own identity by bonding with his frightening and powerful mother. Disappointed in himself and despised by his father, Gwalchmai sets out on a journey that will lead him to the brink of darkness... A tale of loss, redemption, and adventure, Hawk of May brings new depth and understanding to Sir Gawain, the legend of King Arthur, and the impact of choices made-and the consequences that follow. "A welcome new light on the horizon of popular Arthurian legend...delightful...a strong sense of love and mysticism...a ripping adventure tale." -Booklist "Will appeal to those who have enjoyed Tolkien's works." -Library Journal "Compelling...splendid...vibrant...exhilarating...a novel that seduces us into accepting sorcery and sanctity in King Arthur's England." -New York Times Book Review
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The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Retells the legend of King Arthur as perceived by the women central to the tale, from the zealous Morgaine, sworn to uphold her goddess at any cost, to the devout Gwenhwyfar, pledged to the king but drawn to another.
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Prophet of Israel
by Timothy S. Wilkinson
As the Iron Age dawns in Palestine, darkness threatens to consume the nation of Israel. The visionaries who had once guided the people are gone. High Priest Eli allows corruption to infect even the Tabernacle, the holiest place in the land, home of the Eternal Flame and the sacred Ark of the Covenant. Hordes of Philistines ravage the countryside, led by a merciless warlord and bolstered by the might of a race of giants. As the legendary warriors of the children of Abraham challenge their enemies in sprawling battlefields, fortified cities, and dark forests, the key to their survival waits, ignorant of his destiny, in the Tabernacle. A child. A Seer. A Prophet of Israel.
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The Sword in the Stone
by T. H. White
"Learn. That is the only thing that never fails."--Merlyn the Wizard Before there was a famous king named Arthur, there was a curious boy named Wart and a kind old wizard named Merlyn. Transformed by Merlyn into the forms of his fantasy, Wart learns the value of history from a snake, of education from a badger, and of courage from a hawk--the lessons that help turn a boy into a man. Together, Wart and Merlyn take the reader through this timeless story of childhood and adventure--The Sword in the Stone. T.H. White's classic tale of the young Arthur's questioning and discovery of his life is unparalleled for its wit and wisdom, and for its colorful characters, from the wise Merlyn to the heroic Robin Wood to the warmhearted King Pellinore. Golden Kite Honor artist Dennis Nolan has loved The Sword in the Stone since childhood, and he imbues White's tale with magic and mystery in his glowing illustrations. Readers who know Arthur or are meeting him for the first time will delight in this beautiful rendering of one of the greatest stories of all time.
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The Winter King
by Bernard Cornwell
It takes a remarkable writer to make an old story as fresh and compelling as the first time we heard it. With The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell finally turns to the story he was born to write: the mythic saga of King Arthur. The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant. As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again.