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Sign up todayThe Bright Sword
A Novel of King Arthur
Length
23 hours 9 minutes
Language
English
Narrators
Nicholas Guy Smith & Lev Grossman
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Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“The Bright Sword is nothing short of absolute brilliance! Lev Grossman has created a sharp and realized re-imagination of the classic Arthurian tale with whip-snap dialog, rich world-building, and an intriguing assortment of sundry characters that come together to create a story that is refreshing, exciting, thought-provoking, and downright entertaining. This is not your typical King Arthur tale. This is for the scoundrels, the scallywags, the bumbling buffoons, the non-so-honorable knights, the hopelessly loyal disciples, and all the non-heroes who are forgotten under the glory of the loved iconic heroes of the round table.I loved this book so, so very much!I mean... Grossman starts the book with a Monty Python quote, so you know it will be a good one! This is a great audiobook to listen to. I highly recommend!”
— Anna Rose • The Well-Read Moose
Bookseller recommendation
“The Bright Sword is a must-read (or listen!) for any fan of Arthurian legend, and will thrill anyone who loves a good adventure story. Filled with sly humor, almost-noble characters, magic, and fine quests, the central band of knights are captivating. Yet, amid the adventure are serious questions on the nature of empire, who gets to tell history and the nature of leadership. Nicholas Guy Smith, whose resume includes narrating such modern classics as A Gentleman in Moscow and The Remains of the Day gives the characters both regal and humble full voice. I couldn’t stop listening.”
— Claire • Honest Dog Books
Bookseller recommendation
“An expansive and epic adventure following the lesser-known knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. Buckle up, you’re in for some fun!”
— Jen • Owl's Nest Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Grossman had written THE Arthurian book of our generation. Full of adventure, humor, and heart, I both didn’t want to put it down and didn’t want it to end. I haven’t been able to stop recommending it to everyone I interact with, it’s just that good. ”
— Anna • Plumfield Books
Bookseller recommendation
“You know that feeling when you show up to a party just minutes after all your friends have been killed in an epic battle for the throne of England? Yeah. Hate when that happens. Young Collum arrives in Camelot to finally fulfill his dreams of becoming a knight of the Round Table. Unfortunately, King Arthur’s been dead for weeks, and most of his A-listers slain beside him. What remains is a despondent, ragtag crew of third-stringers whose stories are hardly the stuff of legend—but who, through magic and misfortune, will find themselves called to one last, great quest to save a nation that has already forgotten them. I loved every sentence of this intersectional, meticulously researched retelling of Arthurian legend for a 21st century audience. Funny, exciting, heartfelt, and brave, The Bright Sword has the honor and heart to make it worthy of a seat at the Round Table of fantasy canon.”
— Charlotte • Quail Ridge Books
Bookseller recommendation
“If you love the Arthurian legends, you won't want to miss this! Full of detail and storytelling, it felt like I flew through this book. ”
— Claire • Bright Side Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“A detailed and unique addition to Arthurian lore. Back stories on minor and made-up characters are clever and fulfilling. This will scratch the King Arthur itch for fans.”
— Kristine • Buttonwood Books and Toys
Bookseller recommendation
“You know a book’s good when it starts with a quote from Monty Python. I utterly loved it from the first page to the last. Witty, serious, magical, and with an amazing cast of characters, this is everything an Arthurian epic should be.”
— Emily Pate • Word After Word Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“This audiobook was an immersive delight! Grossman weaves a new world out of a familiar tale- complete with nuanced characters, myths, fairies, knights, and magic. Plot twists and turns abound- so I won't say any more! ”
— Sara • Reads & Company
Bookseller recommendation
“What happened to Britain after Arthur's fall at Camlann? A beautiful continuation of the Arthurian tale we all love; Grossman takes us to visit some of our old friends like Lancelot and Guinevere, and to meet new ones like Collum. A wonderful narrative, delightfully detailed, and thoroughly engrossing. Drawing on the likes of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon and Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle, this new addition to the legacy of the Round Table is fabulous! ”
— Yvonne • Author's Note
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A New York Times Editors’ Choice • The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Magicians Trilogy returns with a triumphant reimagining of the King Arthur legend for the new millennium
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, NPR, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, VANITY FAIR, TIME, OPRAH DAILY, TOWN & COUNTRY, LIT HUB, KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword stands out as the best fantasy of the year.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Grossman, who is best known for his The Magicians series, is at the top of his game with The Bright Sword.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A thrilling new take on Arthurian legend. . . . Marvelous.” —The Washington Post
“If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you’ll love Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don’t often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.” —George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones
A gifted young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot to compete for a place at the Round Table, only to find that he’s too late. King Arthur died two weeks ago at the Battle of Camlann, and only a handful of the knights of the Round Table are left.
The survivors aren’t the heroes of legend like Lancelot or Gawain. They’re the oddballs of the Round Table, like Sir Palomides, the Saracen Knight, and Sir Dagonet, Arthur’s fool, who was knighted as a joke. They’re joined by Nimue, who was Merlin’s apprentice until she turned on him and buried him under a hill.
But it's up to them to rebuild Camelot in a world that has lost its balance, even as God abandons Britain and the fairies and old gods return, led by Morgan le Fay. They must reclaim Excalibur and make this ruined world whole again—but first they'll have to solve the mystery of why the lonely, brilliant King Arthur fell.
The first major Arthurian epic of the new millennium, The Bright Sword is steeped in tradition, complete with duels and quests, battles and tournaments, magic swords and Fisher Kings. It's also a story about imperfect men and women, full of strength and pain, trying to reforge a broken land in spite of being broken themselves.
Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which has been published in thirty countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY. He is also a screenwriter and the author of two children’s books, The Golden Swift and The Silver Arrow, and his journalism has appeared in Time, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, among many other places. He lives with his wife and children in New York City.
Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which has been published in thirty countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY. He is also a screenwriter and the author of two children’s books, The Golden Swift and The Silver Arrow, and his journalism has appeared in Time, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, among many other places. He lives with his wife and children in New York City.
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Reviews
Praise for The Bright SwordA BEST SUMMER READ: The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Vulture, Esquire, Boston Globe, Elle, Town & Country, Seattle Times, New York Post, Lit Hub, Cosmopolitan, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Paste, BiblioLifestyle, E! Online, AARP, BookBub, BookRiot
“Lev Grossman’s new novel, The Bright Sword, joins 1,400 years of storytelling and resoundingly earns its place among the best of Arthurian tales. . . . Grossman, who is best known for his The Magicians series, is at the top of his game with The Bright Sword, which is full of enviable ideas and execution. Few authors could accomplish what he has, grounding such an ambitious novel in so much tradition and history while still making it accessible and deeply affecting.”
—Kiersten White, The New York Times Book Review
“If T.H. White’s The Once and Future King is the legend of King Arthur for the twentieth century, The Bright Sword is King Arthur for the twenty-first.”
—Oprah Daily
“A thrilling new take on Arthurian legend. . . . Marvelous. . . . As Grossman’s splendid, offbeat quest reaches its conclusion, we see Arthur’s waves of Saxon invaders and their many predecessors refracted in a different light, one that helps illuminate our own tumultuous, battle-torn age in the way that only the best epics can.”
—Elizabeth Hand, The Washington Post
“Just as he did in the Magicians trilogy, Grossman creates a fully absorbing and believable world populated by intriguing spins on well-established fantasy archetypes. The novel feels both classic and contemporary, and progressive in a refreshingly low-key way. A TV adaptation is already in the works; maybe it’ll be the Game of Thrones follow-up we deserve.”
—Vanity Fair
“The Knights of the Round Table are ragtag oddballs in this fresh retelling of the King Arthur tale. With fairies, wizards and Excalibur, it’s part history, part fantasy and all fun.”
—People magazine
“Epic . . . Wonderful . . . An adventure and a picaresque . . . The Bright Sword tells a tale as old as (post-Roman) Britain that continues to delight.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“I was very excited to get my hands on this book — and it did not disappoint. . . . I recommend it whether you are a huge King Arthur head or not.”
—Wailin Wong, NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour”
“For anyone who’s ever craved a seat at the Round Table. Utterly enchanting.”
—Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame
“If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you’ll love Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don’t often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.”
—George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones
“A radiant reimagining of Arthurian legend. . . . The Bright Sword made me love fantasy again. . . . A must-read.”
—Emily Price, Paste
“If you’re looking for a humorous yet simultaneously heartfelt, funny story from the world of Camelot, The Bright Sword may be the pick for you.”
—Kendra Winchester, BookRiot
“A novel that is as much about the Matter of Britain as it is our own florid and layered imaginings of it. Breathlessly weaves themes of faith, duty, and selfhood with a classic sword-and-sorcery adventure—this is why we read fantasy.”
—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
“A beautifully written, suitably weird, very human take on King Arthur that feels both modern and ancient. Reminded me of the joy and wonder I felt as a kid reading about King Arthur, when the world was bright, and full of dares...”
—Joe Abercrombie, via X/Twitter
“Here’s the big one, the tentpole, the book I’ve been waiting for nearly a decade: Lev Grossman’s Arthurian epic, clocking in at nearly 700 pages and absolutely worth lugging to the beach/the mountains/the park/wherever else you might be vacationing. I’m happy to report that this book is not only one of the best of the year, but it’s one of the best Arthurian novels ever. Stand it up against The Once and Future King or The Mists of Avalon and I’d be willing to bet that it will come away the victor—it’s that good.”
—Drew Broussard, Lit Hub’s “18 New Novels You Need to Read This Summer”
“[An] epic tale of survivors and magic.”
—The Boston Globe
“Like the best of Grossman’s work, [The Bright Sword] is funny and sweeping . . . the medieval-romance structure allows Bright Sword even more space to capitalize on Grossman’s talent for digression, dawdling, and finding unexpected trapdoors inside stories.”
—Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture's “22 Books We Can’t Wait to Read this Summer”
“The Magicians author Lev Grossman took on what seemed the impossible: making the Arthurian legend feel fresh. Miraculously, he’s done just that with The Bright Sword, which answers what came after King Arthur’s fall. . . . Fans of classic fantasy and ancient magic will devour this one.”
—Elle’s “Best New Books to Read in Summer 2024”
“A magical, enthralling tale that you won't be able to put down.”
—Town & Country’s “39 Must-Read Books of Summer 2024”
“The fantasy epic of the summer features an unexpectedly brilliant twist on one of the most famous stories of all time. The Bright Sword is a rousing, imaginative continuation of the King Arthur myth. . . . Magic and murder abound in this rollicking adventure, a thrilling addition to Arthurian lore.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“This is storytelling at its purest: glorious, propulsive, and dramatic. Drawing on every aspect of the Arthurian mythos (and more besides), Grossman presents us with fairies, giants, gods, angels, spellcasters, and elemental forces. The magical battles and the sword fights are all imbued with a cinematic quality while still maintaining a sense of the real, of metal parting flesh, of death and bone-crunching violence. . . . In opening the Arthurian legend to other forms of representation, Grossman recasts the narrative as a story about change.”
—Ian Mond, Locus
“Call it the millennial experience transposed onto Camelot; arriving in the big city full of hopes and dreams to find the economy is in freefall, all your heroes are dead or awful, and no one is coming to save you. Even with only one previous trilogy of adult fantasy under his belt, the premise is indelibly Lev Grossman.”
—Joshua Rivera, Polygon
“Once I picked this novel up, I could not stop reading. The Bright Sword is compulsively readable and expertly told. Lev Grossman transports the reader with such assurance and finesse. Just pick it up and lose yourself inside these pages. You won't want to leave until the tale is done.”
—Victor LaValle, national bestselling author of Lone Women
“A rollicking, magical ride through Arthurian legend! Grossman intimately understands the medieval source material and wields it with playful ease. A joyful new addition to the Arthurian canon—a delight.”
—Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam
“A doorstopper of an Arthurian retelling from the author of The Magicians trilogy, The Bright Sword offers a fresh take on the story by considering what comes after King Arthur.”
—Paste
“Satisfyingly epic but also fast-paced, this novel captures everything that’s grand and magnificent about the age of King Arthur while picking at its edges and delving into its darker depths. All fantasy and mythology fans will want to make time for this moving, entertaining epic. . . . This epic fantasy is sure to be a hit.”
—Booklist (STARRED review)
“A breathtaking tale that honors past iterations while producing something entirely unexpected. . . . Grossman does a remarkable job of pulling together these disparate strands while providing enough combat and magic to keep the pages turning. Epic fantasy fans will hang on every word.”
—Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
“Highly recommended for readers who can’t resist a story featuring brave knights, stalwart queens, and magic.”
—Library Journal (STARRED review)
“The story of King Arthur has been told and substantially altered many times over the centuries, and explored by a multitude of contemporary novelists, but the author of the Magicians trilogy makes room for himself here. . . . Very few writers have explored post-Arthurian Britain or focused quite so much on developing the stories of the minor characters in the saga. . . . A fresh take.”
—Kirkus Reviews (STARRED review)
“Readers willing to savor the book over many nights will find each chapter a neatly arranged, miniature adventure of its own. Traditionally minimal side characters in the story of Arthur—like Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides and even Dagonet the Fool—receive intricate, deep backstories that erase the mythological buildup around each figure, viewing them instead in a far more human and often more modern light. At once full of desperate hope and grievous loss, The Bright Sword is a moody reflection on Arthur’s tale.”
—Ralph Harris, BookPage
Praise for Lev Grossman's Magicians Trilogy
"The Magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea. Hogwarts was never like this."
—George R. R. Martin
"The Magicians may just be the most subversive, gripping and enchanting fantasy novel I've read this century."
—Cory Doctorow
"Lev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along."
—Erin Morgenstern
"The best fantasy trilogy of the decade."
—Charles Stross
"Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy."
—Joe Hill
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