The Kingmaking - Helen Hollick

**** - A fascinating look at how King Arthur might truly have been. No magic, no fantasy, but real-life people with flaws and scars.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review The Kingmaking.

This is not a story that focuses on the Holy Grail, the love triangle with Lancelot or chivalrous notions of the Round Table. You won't find any of these here. Instead this is a gritty look at the betrayals, battles, and affections of a warlord seeking to unify Britain after the Romans left.

The Kingmaking begins in Arthur's youth when the boy accompanies Uthr Pendragon to Gwynedd (Wales) to meet with the powerful warlord Cunedda in order to bring down the tyrannous king Vortigern. While there, Arthur strikes up a (sometimes shaky) friendship with Cunedda's youngest child, the strong-willed hoyden (!) Gwenhwyfar. And the story follows him as he grows into a strong military leader, how he learns to hide his hatred for Vortigern in order to gain experience, and his tumultuous love for Gwenhwyfar.

Hollick's Arthur is not a chivalrous knight. He's a warlord - ruthless, cunning, brash and tactless. He's restless if he's not fighting. His personality and his charisma are larger than life, but he also carries a lot of emotional baggage. He sulks and rages, he wenches and drinks, but he also leads and inspires his men. It's easy to see why this Arthur would command men's loyalty. It's also easy to see how he makes it difficult to love him - but why Gwenhwyfar refuses to give up on him.

I loved Gwen as a character. It was lovely to see her headstrong and capable in a fight, but also vulnerable and hot-headed. Although her relationship with Arthur has a large bearing on the plot, I disagree with those who characterize this as a romance, or even as historical fiction with a romantic focus. First and foremost, this is a historical novel - the emphasis is on the battles, the manipulations at court, and shifting alliances. The focus of the novel is how Arthur grows to be king - and a large part of him becoming that kind of leader is his relationship with Gwenhwyfar because she's one of the very few people who has gained his trust.

Hollick's Kingmaking is quite the story. It sweeps you up and carries you along the hills of Gwynedd, across the stormy Channel, into battlefields, bedchambers, and castle keeps. It's not always easy to read - the characters' treatment of women can be difficult to stomach at times, though to be fair, it is always very much in keeping with the historical times and culture. Rape and sex as a weapon is a part of Middle Age life and warfare. The story isn't always easy, but it is worthwhile. I found myself drawn back to the text anytime I put it down, anxious to read further, to discover what happened. And I'll be just as interested in the sequels.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow when Helen Hollick has agreed to guest blog about her portrayal of Gwenhwfar!

The Blog Tour Continues:

http://harrietdevine.typepad.com/harriet_devines_blog/2009/02/the-kingmaking.html 2/20

http://lazyhabits.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/the-kingmaking/ 2/21 and interview 2/27

http://carpelibrisreviews.com/the-kingmaking-by-helen-hollick-book-tour-giveaway/ 2/23

http://www.historicalnovels.info/Kingmaking.html 2/23

http://www.historicalnovels.info/historical-novels-blog.html

http://www.bibliophilemusings.com/2009/02/review-interview-kingmaking-by-helen.html 2/23http://lilly-readingextravaganza.blogspot.com/2009/02/kingmaking-by-helen-hollick.html 2/23 and guest blog 2/25

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=484 http://chikune.com/blog/?p=488 2/24

http://booksaremyonlyfriends.blogspot.com/ 2/25 http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/ 2/26 and guest blog 2/27

http://webereading.blogspot.com/ 2/26

http://www.caramellunacy.blogspot.com 2/26

http://bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/ 3/1

http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/ 3/1

http://jennifersrandommusings.wordpress.com/ 3/1

http://rhireading.blogspot.com/ 3/1

http://passagestothepast.blogspot.com/ 3/2

http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/ 3/2

http://steventill.com/ 3/2

http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com / 3/2 and interview 3/3 http://www.carlanayland.blogspot.com/

http://readersrespite.blogspot.com/ 3/3 and interview on 3/5

http://libraryqueue.blogspot.com/ 3/4

http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/ 3/4

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/ 3/5

http://samsbookblog.blogspot.com 3/5

http://goodbooksbrightside.blogspot.com/ 3/5