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The Retreat to Avalon (The Arthurian Age Book 1) Kindle Edition
After three generations of struggle against ruthless invaders, Britain has finally clawed its way back within reach of peace and prosperity. Across the sea, Rome is crumbling under an onslaught of barbarian attacks, internal corruption and civil war. Desperate for allies, Rome’s last great emperor looks to Britain and the rising fame of her High King, Arthur.
Arthur believes the coming war is inevitable, but many are opposed. Dissent, intrigue and betrayal threaten to tear the fragile British alliance apart from within, while the enemies of Britain wait for the first sign of weakness.
Meanwhile, Gawain, a young warrior craving fame, is swept up in Arthur’s wake as the king raises an army. While Gawain’s wife and kin face their own struggles at home, the young warrior finds himself taking on more than he bargained for, and heading into the greatest battle his people have faced in generations.
The Retreat to Avalon is the exciting beginning of the historical fiction trilogy The Arthurian Age, introducing readers to the origins of King Arthur and the world he lived and fought for.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateFebruary 12, 2021
- File size26.5 MB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Firmly based on historical and archaeological research, the story depicts a post-Roman Britain still preserving a tenuous unity under a charismatic leader: Arthur, the High King. As an ally of one of the later Roman emperors, he leads an army of Britons overseas. The author re-imagines the warfare of the time with authentic detail. Apart from the war, he skillfully reconstructs the ordinary life of the people of Britain, with much information about their food, their clothing, their buildings, their religion. He also gives credible glimpses of a place in Britain destined to inspire, long after, the romance of Camelot.
Told through a group of vivid characters, The Retreat to Avalon brilliantly opens up a world which historical research has only recently begun to discover.
- Geoffrey Ashe, MBE FRSL, historian and author of The Discovery of King Arthur
From the Back Cover
Product details
- ASIN : B08WKK44DL
- Publisher : Perseid Press (February 12, 2021)
- Publication date : February 12, 2021
- Language : English
- File size : 26.5 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 492 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 8494729896
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,737 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,404 in Historical Fantasy Fiction
- #1,414 in Arthurian Fantasy (Books)
- #5,482 in Historical Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Sean Poage has had an exciting and varied life as a laborer, salesman, soldier, police officer, investigator, instructor, computer geek and author. He’s lived all over the US and a few places overseas. Travelling the world to see history up close is his passion.
A history buff his entire life, he is most drawn to the eras of the ancient Greeks and Dark Ages Britain. His books, so far, have been historical fiction novels, but he has plans to branch out in the future.
These days he works in the tech world, writes when he can, and spends the rest of the time with his family, which usually means chores and home improvement projects. When he can find the time, he enjoys travel, scuba diving, and hiking in the beautiful Maine outdoors. He blogs about the historical subjects behind his writing at his website, seanpoage.com.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book enjoyable and well-researched. They appreciate the vivid descriptions and subtle details. The pacing is fast-paced, with exciting battle scenes and high-stakes moments. Readers enjoy the fresh take on the King Arthur legend and how people lived, loved, and played during that era.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and well-researched. They describe it as a detailed novel that keeps them interested throughout. The story allows readers to understand how legends are created and provides an interesting glimpse into life in the Dark Ages.
"...What’s also interesting is that there is a lot of focus on day to day life, how people lived, loved, and played in the era of King Arthur...." Read more
"...This is an Epic tale rooted in the dim and distant history of Britain full of cultural detail and military stratagems that makes for one jolly good..." Read more
"...in the series, but even if it was never written, this would be a phenomenal story and genuinely interesting to Arthur (and history) fans like myself...." Read more
"...well-researched history into a series that's enjoyable enough for a non-history geek to read; there's something here for both the geek and the..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's writing quality. They find the descriptions, subtlety, and rich detail engaging. The conversations are relatable and fun to follow. Readers appreciate the detailed information on equipment used by the army and the specifics of how people lived. The book is well-researched and masterfully written, providing a fresh view of the age.
"...This brings me to another example of the excellent subtlety of this book, it feels as though it’s very well researched...." Read more
"...an Epic tale rooted in the dim and distant history of Britain full of cultural detail and military stratagems that makes for one jolly good read...." Read more
"...This is a story that draws one in, from detailed world and honest character building to true, sometimes raw, human emotion...." Read more
"This book is really something special. An extremely well-researched and detailed novel giving a fresh view of the age of King Arthur, it easily..." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They find the battle scenes interesting and full of action, with high-stakes moments. The characters are described as grit and daring, making the tale historically accurate.
"...This is a high stakes moment of sport, and it’s highly believable that such a game might have been played in the Arthurian age, particularly in the..." Read more
"...Poage's Arthur is full of grit and daring, and the tale Poage weaves is one of political intrigue and large scale military conquests and defeats..." Read more
"...what if, based on true historical events that make it feel so grounded in reality, offering ideas on the Myth of Arthur, that you can totally see a..." Read more
"...giving a fresh view of the age of King Arthur, it easily pulls you through believable battles, subterfuge, love, and customs of this era...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's take on the King Arthur legend. They say it provides a fresh perspective on the era of King Arthur and how people lived, loved, and played during that time.
"...of focus on day to day life, how people lived, loved, and played in the era of King Arthur...." Read more
"There are many, many retellings of King Arthur, his knights, Merlin, and of the hope and fall of Camelot...." Read more
"...An extremely well-researched and detailed novel giving a fresh view of the age of King Arthur, it easily pulls you through believable battles,..." Read more
"Sean has written a great take on the King Arthur legend. He brings it down to reality and allows us to understand how legends are created...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2019Fans of Arthurian legend are going to be very happy with Sean Poage’s ‘The Retreat to Avalon.’ This is a novel that takes its reader by the hand for a detailed tour of the Arthurian Age. If modern novels are a Michael Bay novel with a million cuts and scene changes per second, ‘The Retreat to Avalon’ is ‘Chinatown,’ willing to dedicate five minutes to Jack Nicholson driving along in a convertible just because it’s awesome. Even though that sensibility lines up with my own preference, I still found it took me a minute to find my bearings in Sean’s novel. Once you let the symbiotic alignment happen, ‘The Retreat to Avalon’ takes you on a heck of a journey.
There are a lot of things this novel does really well, but most of them are subtle things. I respect the way Poage takes himself out of the storytelling and respectfully keeps the focus on the source material. The language is very straightforward, and so your attention isn’t on the writing but on the scenery. What’s also interesting is that there is a lot of focus on day to day life, how people lived, loved, and played in the era of King Arthur. This is a bold choice since Arthur himself doesn’t appear for the first third of the book. But the choice pays off when Arthur does arrive, because now the reader has been “in” the Arthurian age for a while and is granted something remarkable, a chance to see Arthur in a different way.
There are many novels that take on gigantic literary characters like King Arthur and seem to think that just invoking the name invokes all the prestige of the character. But I think that doesn’t work, the author must start with the reverence surrounding the character like Poage did. Actually, I’m reminded of ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ where it’s a long time before Arthur appears but when he does his entrance is memorable. I remember Twain’s description that emphasized the power and the barbarism of the man, but also the uncertainty and the burden of responsibility.
Poage’s version of Arthur is very good I think. The people that surround him treat him as legendary, and he knows he must play to that as a part of leadership, but he does so without arrogance. It’s hard to represent genuine humility because a character that is too aware of his humility ceases to be humble. Poage hits the right tone regarding Arthur, the humility is there, but Poage doesn’t hit you over the head with it. This is an example of the excellent subtlety of this novel that I mentioned before. Poage has a lot of respect for his readers, and the novel really works.
There is no shortage of action in this book either. The novel follows Gawain for the first part, and there is an exciting spear dual that will leave the reader captivated. Two men stand 50 paces apart and launch spears at each other, with the knowledge that if the opponent flinches, he loses his head. This is a high stakes moment of sport, and it’s highly believable that such a game might have been played in the Arthurian age, particularly in the case, as is here, of a group of soldiers pausing at a tavern on their way to war.
This brings me to another example of the excellent subtlety of this book, it feels as though it’s very well researched. When considering Arthurian legend, we’re always left with speculation, but even very sincere speculation can often seem fantastical. ‘The Retreat to Avalon’ approaches the Arthurian age with the diligence of a scholar, and the reverence of a poet. Arthurian legend has become a massive library of stories and legends with varying artistic interpretations. However, to my knowledge there aren’t any other treatments like ‘The Retreat to Avalon,’ and this work fills a significant hole in the vast tapestry of Arthurian legend that I wasn’t even aware existed. This is a book to be read and discussed, and it’s going to be of particular interest to Arthurian scholars. A fine achievement.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020There are many, many retellings of King Arthur, his knights, Merlin, and of the hope and fall of Camelot. Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" series spun it as a children's adventure full of magic and fantasy. Mary Stewart's "The Crystal Cave" series focused on the life of Merlin bringing historical context to the tale while maintaining aspects of the fantastic. T. H. White's "The Once And Future King" is a classic retelling of the legend, a work of myth and poetry that begins in fancy and fun and ends in tragedy. And Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists Of Avalon" recasts the tale of Arthur from the female perspective exploring the experiences of Ygraine, Guinevere and Morgan Le Fay on the mythical Isle of Avalon where the Divine Feminine rules. These are only a few of the many creative and captivating imaginings of Arthur's story. With "The Retreat To Avalon", Sean Poage has given us something new. This is a sincere and exciting re-imagining of the late 5th century and a historical King Arthur who could have existed. As his source of inspiration Poage has turned to the earliest known references of Arthur and his retinue which are found in middle-Welsh tales such as Culhwch ac Olwen, Preiddeu Annwfn, and The Mabinogion, among others. Here Poage has imagined for us an Arthur who is more coarse, more unrestrained, and more impassioned than the romance Arthur of Chrétien, Malory, and Tennyson. Poage's Arthur is full of grit and daring, and the tale Poage weaves is one of political intrigue and large scale military conquests and defeats that sweep up the various tribal peoples of medieval Britannia into the global struggles of a desperate Roman empire in decline. This is an Epic tale rooted in the dim and distant history of Britain full of cultural detail and military stratagems that makes for one jolly good read. I enjoyed Poage's tale immensely, and I am now eagerly awaiting book 2. Get this book and join the fun!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2018I have always been fascinated by Arthur tales, but have been constantly disappointed every time I see a book, television show or movie based in the universe. They are usually annoyingly fantastical and magical, feeling like a late middle-ages Dungeons and Dragons story, or some unconnected tale that purports to be "the real story," which doesn't feel connected to the Arthur legend at all (I'm looking at you, Clive Owen).
I've been desperately wanting something that feels *real* but also feels a part of the Arthurian ethos. Something that is based in reality and also legend. Something that is Dark Ages, instead of borderline renaissance. Something that doesn't have Dues ex-Merlin and the magical elements overwhelming the character and stories. And such a story doesn't seem to really exist.
That is, until I was given this book and gave it a read. It was pitch perfect, and EXACTLY what I wanted. It was clear the history was researched extensively, and that the author understood both the legend, and the dark ages world it was set it. This story, focusing on Gawain, really combines all the elements I was looking for, and I can't say enough good things about it.
I am genuinely looking forward to the next story in the series, but even if it was never written, this would be a phenomenal story and genuinely interesting to Arthur (and history) fans like myself. Thank you for writing, Sean.
Top reviews from other countries
- ABmonkeyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the reader
Gawain is a young warrior, newly married, restless for battle and excitement beyond his settlement but also dutiful to his family and his clan. The Romans have left Britain, but their influence remains. Other forces vie for control and intrigue and alliances are ephemeral.
This is Gawain’s coming of age, in many ways, fulfilling a duty for another man’s cause and finding battle and politics are bedfellows. He’s a complex character – tender to his wife, loyal to his friends and leaders but also headstrong, creative and brave. The author does not shy away from the grimness of battle, the emotions of the men, far away from home and in dangerous territory. There is humour, there is grief. There are conflicting thoughts and needs. There is a land left in limbo, with warlords grabbing what they can.
There is Arthur.
King Arthur is a warrior – charismatic to an almost supernatural degree, yet a man, with a man’s weaknesses – rage, impatience, even hubris. He is a legend but a fragile one. He is the ultimate warrior-king. There is no magic, at least no obvious magic. Merlin appears, he is a mysterious figure with many allies and legends of his own. This is a time when Christianity was new to Britain and many of the old ways and believes lingered. Merlin knows it. Is he a wizard? Yes. Does he cast any obvious magic? No, but that makes him more intriguing and I really hope he appears in later books.
The author weaves a building tale of loyalty and what price that demands. His worldbuilding is detailed and rich, with the complexities of a society finding a new identity in an uncertain world. It’s far more historically accurate than many of the Arthurian legends and tales.
The emotive characters capture the reader and bring to life the trials of living in such a world as this and such a time as this.
Some of the scenes are long, perhaps a little too detailed – such as the training scenes and day to day camp business, but overall a really good read.
- TonyReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable
We met the Author who was doing a whistle stop tour of Britain to make sure of the accuracy of what he was writing and getting a feel for each of the scenes - that's dedication. Thought I'd try the book, loved it from the first page - understand it's a trilogy, looking forward to reading the rest of the set.
- Edwin DeadyReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Ride with Arthur
A fresh and invigorating take on the legend of Arthur. Follow an ordinary tribesman of post Roman Britain abroad and into battle and more. If you love the romance of Arthur but want to get near the real history of the times then read this.