Pendragons Banner (Pendragon's Banner Series #2)

by Helen Hollick

Overview

Who was the man
...
who became the legend
...
we know as

KING ARTHUR?

Pendragon's Banner is the second book in Helen Hollick's exciting King Arthur trilogy, covering 459-465 A.D. This is not a fairy tale or fantasy. There is no Merlin, no sword in the stone, and no Lancelot. This is the most accurate Arthurian legend ever written, based on historical evidence and meticulous research.

At age twenty-four, King Arthur has the kingdom he fought so hard for and a new young family. But keeping the throne of Britain-and keeping his wife and three sons safe-proves far from easy. Two enemies in particular threaten everything that is dear to him: Winifred, Arthur's vindictive first wife, and Morgause, priestess of the Mother and malevolent Queen of the North. Both have royal ambitions of their own.

In this story of harsh battles, secret treasonous plots, and the life-threatening politics of early Britain's dark ages, author Helen Hollick boldly reintroduces King Arthur as you've never seen him before.

PRAISE FOR PENDRAGON'S BANNER:

"Hollick's interpretation is bold, affecting and well worth fighting to defend."

Publishers Weekly

"Weaves together fact, legend, and inspired imagination to create a world so real we can breathe the smoke of its fires and revel in the Romano- British lust for life, love and honour."

Historical Novel Review

"Camelot as it really was... a very talented writer."

Sharon Kay Penman, bestselling author of Devil's Brood

PRAISE FOR THE KINGMAKING:

"Hollick juggles a cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill."

Publishers Weekly

"If only all historical fiction could be this good."

Historical Novels Review

"Stripped of its medieval trappings, the story of Arthur's rise loses none of its legendary power… this [is a] well-researched, skillfully constructed trilogy opener."

Library Journal

Helen Hollick lives in northeast London with her husband, daughter, and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats, and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy-the early eighteenth century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402227998
Publisher:	Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Series:	Pendragon's Banner Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	496
Sales rank:	282,307
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Helen Hollick lives in northeast London with her husband, daughter and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman / Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy--the early eighteenth century.

Read an Excerpt

Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp.

Horrid Henry was practicing his elephant dance.

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap.

Perfect Peter was practicing his raindrop dance.

Peter was practicing being a raindrop for his dance class show. Henry was also supposed to be practicing being a raindrop.

But Henry did not want to be a raindrop. He did not want to be a tomato, a string bean, or a banana either.

Stomp Stomp Stomp went Henry's heavy boots.
Tap Tap Tap went Peter's tap shoes.

"You're doing it wrong, Henry," said Peter.
"No I'm not," said Henry.
"You are too," said Peter. "We're supposed to be raindrops."

Stomp Stomp Stomp went Henry's boots. He was an elephant smashing his way through the jungle, trampling on everyone who stood in his way.

"I can't concentrate with you stomping," said Peter. "And I have to practice my solo."
"Who cares?" screamed Horrid Henry. "I hate dancing, I hate dance class, and most of all, I hate you!"

This was not entirely true. Horrid Henry loved dancing. Henry danced in his bedroom. Henry danced up and down the stairs. Henry danced on the new sofa and on the kitchen table.

What Henry hated was having to dance with other children.

"Couldn't I go to karate instead?" asked Henry every Saturday.

"No," said Mom. "Too violent."
"Judo?" said Henry.
"N-O spells no," said Dad.

So every Saturday morning at 9:45 a.m., Henry and Peter's father drove them to Miss Impatience Tutu's Dance Studio.

Miss Impatience Tutu was skinny and bony. She had long stringy gray hair. Her nose was sharp. Her elbows were pointy. Her knees were knobbly. No one had ever seen her smile.

Perhaps this was because Impatience Tutuhated teaching.

Impatience Tutu hated noise.
Impatience Tutu hated children.

But most of all Impatience Tutu hated Horrid Henry.

This was not surprising. When Miss Tutu shouted, "Class, lift your left legs," eleven left legs lifted. One right leg sagged to the floor.

When Miss Tutu screamed, "Heel, toe, heel, toe," eleven dainty feet
tapped away. One clumpy foot stomped toe, heel, toe, heel.

When Miss Tutu bellowed, "Class, skip to your right," eleven bodies turned to the right. One body galumphed to the left.

Naturally, no one wanted to dance with Henry. Or indeed, anywhere near Henry. Today's class, unfortunately, was no different.

"Miss Tutu, Henry is treading on my toes," said Jumpy Jeffrey.

"Miss Tutu, Henry is kicking my legs," said Lazy Linda.
"Miss Tutu, Henry is bumping me," said Vain Violet.
"HENRY!" screeched Miss Tutu.
"Yeah," said Henry.
"I am a patient woman, and you are trying my patience to the limit," hissed Miss Tutu. "Any more bad behavior and you will be very sorry."

"What will happen?" asked Horrid Henry eagerly.

Miss Tutu stood very tall. She took a long, bony finger and dragged it slowly across her throat.

Table of Contents

Editorial Reviews

This colorful second installment of Hollick's King Arthur trilogy (following The Kingmaker) continues the bloody legend as the young king of Britain tries to keep his throne amid traitors, rivals and deadly treachery. This is a period of savage brutality, deceit, feud, greed and lust for power, with Arthur, the Pendragon, as merciless and cunning as his challengers. Arthur is 24, married to his second wife, the beautiful Gwenhwyfar. His hostile first wife, Winifred, schemes to unseat Arthur and put her own son on the throne, but other women are also pregnant by Arthur, and familial royal murder plots abound. When Arthur is not bedding his wife, mistress, prostitutes or female spies, he is busy chopping up foes with sword and battle-ax, while doing his own scheming to outwit and destroy his arch enemy, Morgause, who harbors a bitter hatred for Arthur and his family and is the only enemy Arthur fears. Refreshingly, Hollick's Arthur is no Hollywood hero; he's a vicious opportunist, devious and manipulative, a lusty master of expedient decision and action. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"A vivid portrayal... A great novel for those looking for a darker alternative history of Camelot." - Hollywood Today

"This novel is an ambitious twist on the well worn tale of Arthur Pendragon, and it succeeds because Hollick has made Arthur human and accessible. Written as history rather than myth," - Historical Novel Reviews

"A vividly alive portrait of England in the Middle Ages
" - The Tome Traveller's Weblog

"Pendragon's Banner is a rich and gripping tale, but not without its light and often comical moments which the author interjects throughout the novel.

" - Enchanted by Josephine

"Hollick gave us a nitty-gritty, flawed, courageous, even - inadvertently perhaps - sexy Arthur. Perhaps, in our opinion, one of the very best portrayals of this legendary warrior King." - A Reader's Respite

"Pendragon's Banner is a story of human love and conflict" - Carla Nayland Historical Fiction

"I just love all the elements of convoluted relationships and kinships. I think that's one of the more fascinating facets of the Pendragon tales; how the characters are inter-related one way or another." - Found Not Lost

"Hollick's version brings an added dimension to the King Arthur tale and will fascinate you as well. " - Jenny Loves to Read

"I appreciate that Hollick decided to write dialogue in a more sophisticated and style." - The Courtier's Book

"Helen Hollick has an amazing ability to paint the perfect picture with her descriptive prose." - He Followed Me Home

"I was stoked to find that not only is this trilogy pointy-hat free, but it's centered around the world in which a real Arthur would have lived." - livejournal

"I was pleasantly surprised with this book because it really transformed the Arthurian legend for me and made me very interested in the history, the romance and the action.

" - Books Like Breathing

"Hollick brings Arthur to life in a way I haven't read before. If you are looking for a book that keeps you glued to the pages and up all night, this is the one for you." - She Read a Book

"I found this to be a brilliant twist on the traditional lore and an excellent read." - Rundpinne

"Each chapter is short but powerful, Hollick's descriptions will open up all of your senses to which you will smell blood, feel stress, lift with power, and see the battles and watch the children grow. " - Revenge of the Book Nerds!

"What I think I like best about Helen Hollick's writing is her ability to make me feel like I'm living in the pages of the novel. " - Peeking Between the Pages

"Hollick's fight scenes are gripping and well done." - Starting Fresh

"Pendragon's Banner is an excellent continuation to a series about King Arthur that has an authentic feel to it, with great characters and a plot that will have its readers turning pages rapidly." - Medieval Bookworm

"Hollick is a talented writer, and her trilogy is worth the read. She has a strong grasp on early medieval Britain and the man who was Arthur." - StevenTill

From the Publisher