They called him unfit to rule, a lowborn, callow boy, Uther’s bastard. But his coming had been foretold in the songs of the bard Taliesin. And he had learned powerful secrets at the knee of the mystical sage Merlin. In order to bring about the Summer Kingdom—the reign of peace and prosperity foreseen by Taliesin—Arthur must first unite the petty British kings under his banner as High King and Pendragon of the Island of the Mighty. A period of intense warfare and considerable treachery follows with Arthur narrowly prevailing, greatly aided by Merlin’s guidance and counsel. But that is only the beginning… Wave upon wave of barbarian troops, traitorously assisted by some of the defeated British kings, batter Arthur’s depleted forces. Once again, following an epic struggle against terrible odds, the High King prevails. Peace reigns, the Summer Kingdom flowers, but only for a season. Soon Arthur will face his greatest test—a deadly trap set by the sorceress Morgian with his beloved Queen Gwenhwyvar as the bait…

Evocate . . . intriguing . . . enthralling. * Locus *

Stephen R. Lawhead is a multi-award-winning author of mythic history and imaginative bestsellers. In over thirty years of professional writing he has established an international reputation and is known for such works as the Pendragon Cycle—a historic retelling of the King Arthur legend—and the King Raven trilogy, a retelling of the Robin Hood legend.

Other notable books include the historical works Byzantium, Patrick, Avalon; fantasy series The Song of Albion and the Dragon King Trilogy; as well as works of science-fiction Dream Thief and Empyrion, and the five-book series Bright Empires. Lawhead makes his home in Oxford, England, with his wife.