Arthurian Books reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 262 Reddit reviews across 6 subreddits and 22 posts to rank the best Arthurian Books brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/suggestmeabook, r/Fantasy, r/books, r/booksuggestions, r/Arthurian. Top-rated brands include Mary Stewart (4.7/5), Bernard Cornwell (4.8/5), Marion Zimmer Bradley (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews262
Subreddits6
Posts22
Brands73
Products97
262 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Mary Stewart
4.7
(29)
"Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave series focuses more on Merlin, with Arthur introduced later. They're older novels, but my absolute favorite adaptation of Arthurian legend."
"Mary Stuart wrote some good stuff featuring Merlin's view of it all. The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills are the titles."
"The Mary Stuart books are excellent."
"The Mary Staurt books are excellent."
"Mary Stewart's books are wonderful!!"
"Mary Stewart's Merlin series is great. The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment."
"Mary Stewart's Merlin books, beginning with The Crystal Cave, are much less "fantastic" then any other Arthurian fiction that I can think of - and I mean that in a good way. The writing is enchanting."
"The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart"
"Try The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart she was one of the first "real" Arturian books that I read."
"Mary Stewart's Merlin books, beginning with The Crystal Cave, are much less "fantastic" then any other Arthurian fiction that I can think of - and I mean that in a good way. The writing is enchanting"
#2
Bernard Cornwell
4.8
(28)
"+1 for The Warlord Chronicles, by Bernard Cornwell"
"I just read the Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell a month ago and loved it so much. Wonderful characters and such great storytelling."
"Seconding The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell (The Winter King, Enemy of God, Excalibur). A great revisionist Arthur trilogy with a much more (likely) accurate time period and setting and really interesting twists on the familiar tropes and plot points and characters."
"I also really enjoyed The Winter King and subsequent books in the trilogy by Bernard Cornwall, especially the depiction and development of Guinevere."
"Check out the warlord chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. It's a different version of the story and it's fantastic."
"Bernard Cornwell's The Winter King and it's two sequels are fantastic."
"You should consider The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell."
"Try Bernard Cornwell's series (The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur). Also second the vote for John Steinbeck and TH White's The Once and Future King."
"I read the first book in The Warlord Chronicles (the Winter king) by Bernard Cornwell recently and enjoyed it."
"Warlord Chronicles. GRRM praised it so you know its good."
#3
Marion Zimmer Bradley
4.6
(19)
"Xplore The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley which reimagines Arthurian legend through the lens of its female characters, particularlyy morgaine."
"The Mists of Avalon. Aww Yeah. Fucking Morgana."
"Mists of Avalon is the greatest novel I've ever read."
"The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley"
"I like The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley"
"Mists of Avalon is from a different viewpoint, but is steeped in the legend. I really enjoyed it, and was going to suggest it as well."
"Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley."
"The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley"
"Ever read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley ?"
"Mists of Avalon was just too damned good. Probably one my favorite Arthurian books."
#4
T. H. White
4.8
(16)
"The Once and Future King, natch."
"*The Once and Future King* by T. H. White"
"*The Once and Future King* series by T.H. White has been a pretty influential modern re-telling of the legends."
"I really liked The Once and Future King by TH White. It is a classic."
"The Once and Future King by TH White"
"Le Morte d'Arthur
The Once and Future King"
"For a classic, try The Once and Future King by T H White"
"I second TH White. It's where I started and I loved it so much."
"The Once and Future King is the only answer."
"The Once and Future King by White is pretty standard, very accessible."
#5
Thomas Malory
4.5
(15)
"Go for the real deal and the original: Le Morte de Artur by Sir Tomas Mallory. Good version on audible too."
"The OG of all of them, Le Morte D’Arthur."
"Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory - dates to the late 1400s and is, I believe, the earliest compilation of Arthurian legends."
"Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory is sublime, and the most important work about Arthur and the myths surrounding him."
"Le Morte D’Arthur by Mallory is long and there are several versions, it is more or less the primary source/benchmark for our literary understanding of King Arthur."
"The absolute classic original, Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory"
"I’ve read Le Morte d’Arthur which many see as close to canon on Arthur."
"Mort D'Arthur by Mallory and Connecticut Yankee by Twain are both essential."
"*Le Morte D'Arthur* by Thomas Malory is a common source for a lot of modern tellings of the Arthur legend."
"Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. An easier version of the basic stuff is The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle."
#6
T.H. White
4.8
(13)
"T.H. White's The Once and Future King is a must read."
"T.H. White's the Once and Future King is a must read."
"The Once and Future King by T.H. White."
"The Once and Future King by TH White."
"The Once and Future King by T.H. White. A classic."
"The classics would be The once and future king"
"The Once and Future King! One of my favorite books."
"Seconding The Once and Future King. Reading it right now and it’s really good"
"I also recommend The Once and Future King!"
"The once and future king by T H White is the go to."
#7
Jack Whyte
4.9
(12)
"The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte. Totally different spin."
"Jack Whyte Skystone series was pretty amazing in my opinion."
"The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte, 1st book The Singing Stone."
"The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte, 1st book The Singing Stone."
"The "A Dream of Eagles" Series by Jack Whyte. I suggest starting with The Eagles Brood and continuing from there."
"I’ve read a ton of this stuff and basically all the selections here are good. Special shout out to Jack Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles."
"I'm actually on my 3ed reading of the series now, can't recommend it more highly. The level of detail and historical accuracy that Whyte invests in the background of the story is really amazing."
"Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte. Also known as A Dream of Eagles depending on where you live. 9 books that start at the end of the Roman occupation in Britain."
"The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte is kind of a historical fiction take on it and I really really enjoyed them. Highly recommend them."
"My favorite telling of the Arthurian legend comes from Jack Whyte, known to me as the Camulod Chronicles."
#8
Gillian Bradshaw
4.6
(10)
"Gillian Bradshaw has a trilogy called Down the Long Wind that is very different to the usual Arthur lore."
"Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw is based around Gwalchmai, one of the Knights of the Round Table."
"The hawk of may trilogy by Gillian Bradshaw is a really interesting and novel take on the Arthur story."
"Gillian Bradshaw's Down the Long Wind trilogy draws more from earlier Welsh and Celtic traditions than the more Mallory style knights and chivalry."
"Can't recommend them enough, probably my favourite trilogy."
"Hawk of May series by Gillian Bradshaw. Hawk of May, Kingdom of Summer and In Winter's Shadow."
"Gillian Bradshaw’s Down the Long Wind trilogy (first book Hawk of May) is about Sir Gawain."
"I loved the trilogy starting with Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw."
"They're great. And quite mature for 'children's' books. Definitely worth it."
"Gillian Bradshaw has a trilogy that focuses on Gawaine's point of view: Hawk of May, Kingdom of Summer, and In Winter's Shadow. They're written for young adults, but pretty enjoyable."
#9
Stephen Lawhead
4.3
(9)
"The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead, 1st book Taliesin."
"The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead, 1st book Taliesin."
"Stephen Lawhead has a great series that sets the legends in Wales and even dovetails in the legends of Atlantis as well."
"Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle."
"Stephen Lawhead's Arthurian cycle"
"Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle"
"I really liked Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle."
"The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead or The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart may interest you."
"Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle is pretty good."
#10
Parke Godwin
4.7
(7)
"*Firelord, Beloved Exile,* and *The Last Rainbow* (prequel) by Parke Godwin"
"*Firelord* and *Beloved Exile* by Parke Godwin."
"Firelord by Parke Godwin"
"My favorite Arthurian novel is Firelord by Parke Godwin"
"*Fire Lord* and *Beloved Exile* by Parke Godwin."
"Firelord by Parke Godwin."
"Firelord and its follow-on, Beloved Exile, by Parke Godwin."
#11
Nicola Griffith
5.0
(4)
"Spear by Nicola Griffith place Camelot in historical medieval Wales rather than in a fairytale version of history."
"Spear by Nicola Griffith is about a girl raised in a cave who is determined to become one of King Arthur's knights. Short but fantastic."
"Spear by Nicola Griffith! Fantastic, recent, pretty short."
"*Spear* by Nicola Griffith started as a story for that anthology...and then it grew wildly out of control and is now a fantastic book."
#12
Chrétien de Troyes
4.0
(5)
"Chretien de Troyes introduced Lancelot to Arthurian legend, here's some of his work."
"Chrétien de Troyes is entertaining"
"I second the recommendation of Chretien de Troyes poetry."
"Check out the romances of Chretien de Troyes and Marie de France."
"Arthurian Romances by Chrétien de Troyes and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are good."
#13
Guy Gavriel Kay
4.3
(4)
"Guy Gavriel Kay- The Fionavar Tapestry is an epic trilogy. It’s dope af. Much better than The Winter King imo"
"I also found the Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay incorporates Arthurian characters in a clever way."
"The Fionavar Tapestry is a trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay that is basically a LoTR + Arthurian Legend mashup."
"The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay. It takes place in the world of archetypes, of which Earth and all other Worlds are imperfect versions, and it's largely centred about Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot."
#14
Signe Pike
4.3
(4)
"I second Signe Pike’s series! It’s about who history believes the real Arthur/Merlin/etc to have been."
"I really recommend The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. It's historical fiction, but because of the time and setting it feels like fantasy. And it's a fresh look at the Arthurian legend!"
"I’d recommend the Lost Queen by Signe Pike."
"The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom, both by Signe Pike, are a retelling of who they think the real historical figures behind these characters were, including Merlin’s twin sister Languoreth."
#15
John Steinbeck
4.0
(4)
"He followed Malory's structure and retained the original chapter titles, but he explored the psychological underpinning of the events, and tuned the use of language to sound natural and accessible to a Modern English speaker"
"Steinbeck’s version is quite good! Language is very accessible."
"There's a partial translation into modern English by John Steinbeck (of all people!) that's supposed to be good."
"Steinbeck's rewrite of The Acts of Arthur is good."
#16
A. A. Attanasio
3.8
(4)
"A. A. Attanasio's The Perilous Order of Camelot series was very interesting take on this subject."
"If you want something a bit more out there check out the Dragon and the Unicorn by A.A. Attanasio."
"A. A. Attanasio's The Perilous Order of Camelot (4 books) is a bold retelling of the Arthurian cycle with magic and dark romance."
"Found it overall a good read but so damn depressing."
#17
Rosemary Sutcliff
4.7
(3)
"Rosemary Sutcliff’s King Arthur trilogy is probably the best adaptation of Malory and other medieval sources into one streamlined saga for modern audiences."
"The King Arthur Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff. You can buy versions that are 3 in 1."
"The Sword and the Circle by Sutcliff was my go-to."
#18
Tracy Deonn
4.3
(3)
"Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is a fantastic YA fantasy about Arthurian legend that's centered around a female protagonist."
"I second Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, it provides a unique perspective on the Arthurian legend."
"Legendborn is a modern fantasy book that tells about a group of people that are descendents of Arthur and the knights."
#19
Howard Pyle
4.3
(3)
"King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle"
"Howard Pyle wrote and illustrated a few King Arthur books. I loved them when I was a kid. The language is a bit archaic, but the illustrations are very beautiful."
"The Story of King Arthur and his Knights by Howard Pyle"
#20
J.R.R. Tolkien
4.3
(3)
"I recommend the Tolkein translation of Gawain."
"The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun by Tolkien may not specifically be Arthurian but may scratch that itch. It’s an epic poem centered on Celtic mythology."
"The fall of Arthur, by Tolkien, is pretty nice."
#21
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
4.0
(3)
"Also: Tennyson’s poems Idylls of the king."
"Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson"
"Idylls of the King by Tennyson and The misfortunes of Elfin by Thomas Love Peacock."
#22
Jo Walton
4.0
(3)
"Jo Walton's The King's Peace and sequels. Alternate universe Arthuriana, with different but decipherable names."
"Jo Walton's the King's Peace is fairly magical. It's alternate-universe Arthuriana with the names changed."
"Jo Walton's _The King's Peace_ is alternate universe Arthuriana."
#23
Tim Powers
4.0
(3)
"Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers. An interesting take on it."
"Drawing of the Dark - Tim Powers. Rather interesting take on it."
"The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers has Arthurian elements."
#24
Lavie Tidhar
4.5
(2)
"I am a sucker for Lavie Tidhar's *By Force Alone.* Raunchy but excellent."
"I *really* liked Lavie Tidhar's By Force Alone."
#25
Alice Borchardt
4.5
(2)
"Her absolutely gorgeous world building for The Dragon Queen (Guinevere) and The Raven Warrior (Lancelot) I've always thought were the best I've read about the Arthurian cycle."
"How about the Tales of Guinevere series by Alice Borchardt? That’s a very different take."
#26
Geoffrey of Monmouth
4.0
(2)
"The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth"
"The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey Monmouth"
#27
Kevin Crossley-Holland
4.0
(2)
"Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur series, beginning with The Seeing Stone."
"I read the Seeing Stone trilogy in 6th grade and loved it then."
#28
Jack Vance
4.0
(2)
"The Lyonesse trilogy by Jack Vance has some proto-arthurian themes."
"Jack Vance's Lyonesse is Arthurian fantasy taking place one or two generations before the birth of Arthur. As a bonus, Vance is a tremendous writer."
#29
Molly Cochran
4.0
(2)
"It's my favorite Arthurian work of all time."
"Forever King by Molly Cochran is sort domed interesting ... more about the Return of King Arthur in modern times."
#30
Giles Kristian
4.0
(2)
"Lancelot by Giles Kristian, and the recently released sequel Camelot"
"Giles Kristian Lancelot"
#31
T.A. Barron
4.0
(2)
"As a kid I really enjoyed 'The Lost Years of Merlin' series by T A Barron which provides a coming of age tale about Merlin."
"The Merlin Saga by T. A. Barron is really good, apparently. I've read half of book one and it was *really* good."
#32
David Drake
5.0
(1)
"David Drake's Time of Heroes series, plus his standalone novel The Dragon Lord, provide two different takes on Arthurian legend."
#33
Alex Myers
5.0
(1)
"The Story of Silence by Alex Myers was amazing"
#34
John Matthews
5.0
(1)
"The Great Book of King Arthur by John Matthews"
#35
Henry Gilbert
5.0
(1)
"I thoroughly enjoyed King Arthur’s Knights by Henry Gilbert."
#36
Caleb Howells
5.0
(1)
"King Arthur: The Man Who Conquered Europe by Caleb Howells."
#37
James Knowles and Howard Pyle
5.0
(1)
"The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by James Knowles and/or The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle."
#38
Roger Lancelyn Green
5.0
(1)
"Roger Lancelyn Green's King Arthur book probably does the best job of telling all of the major stories while still preserving the source texts' feeling."
#39
Carolyn P. Hobbs
5.0
(1)
"Seconding Idylls of the Queen! Has the not-very-common feature of taking all of Malory completely literally."
#40
Sharan Newman
5.0
(1)
"*Guinevere, The Chessboard Queen*, and *Guinevere Evermore* by Sharan Newman"
#41
Kierstan White
5.0
(1)
"The Camelot Rising trilogy by Kierstan White follows Guinevere and has an interesting take on the story! It’s a YA series but don’t let that dissuade you, the characters are really well thought out and the magic system is cool."
#42
Gene Wolfe
5.0
(1)
"Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Knight is a wonderful book. Wolfe paraphrases and interprets Arthurian fantasy masterfully. Highly recommended."
#43
Kieron Gillen
5.0
(1)
"Great comic book called Once and Future by Kieron Gillen regarding a modern day fun and scary undead take on the legend!"
#44
Mark Twain
4.0
(1)
"Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court is hilarious. (The audible version is read by Nick Offerman. It's worth it just for Offerman.)"
#45
Vera Chapman
4.0
(1)
"The Three Damosels by Vera Chapman"
#46
Lev Grossman
4.0
(1)
"The Bright Sword might be up your alley. Lev Grossman."
#47
Steinbeck
4.0
(1)
"The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by Steinbeck."
#48
Swapna Krishna
4.0
(1)
"Our book club read Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices."
#49
Liam Perrin
4.0
(1)
"Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin is a short, sweet and very funny book about young man coming of age in Camelot."
#50
Brigid Kemmerer
4.0
(1)
"I really enjoyed Legendborn, it's a YA fantasy set in the modern world with Arthurian legend elements."
#51
Susanna Clarke
4.0
(1)
"Susanna Clarke's *Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell* is also Arthurian albeit not by name."
#52
Phyllis Ann Karr
4.0
(1)
"The Idylls Of The Queen by Phyllis Ann Karr"
#53
Nancy Springer
4.0
(1)
"I Am Mordred and I Am Morgan Le Fay by Nancy Springer"
#54
David Gemmell
4.0
(1)
"Ghost King by David Gemmell."
#55
Jonathan Moeller
4.0
(1)
"I recommend Jonathan Moeller's Frostborn novels where the grandson of Arthur leads his followers through a portal opened by the Keeper of Avalon to another world."
#56
Adam Ardrey
4.0
(1)
"Finding Merlin and Finding Arthur by Adam Ardrey are both facsinating!"
#57
James Wilde
4.0
(1)
"Dark age trilogy by James Wilde ,it is a beginning to the Legend"
#58
M. K. Hume
4.0
(1)
"M. K. Hume has a trilogy on King Arthur and another one on Merlin. Her books have good reviews on Google books."
#59
O.J. Padel
4.0
(1)
"Arthur in Medieval Welsh Literature by O.J. Padel."
#60
Chrétien de Troyes and Thomas Malory
4.0
(1)
"I can only recommend you the real shit. Original ones. Chretien is good but also everything Thomas Malory wrote."
#61
Sharon K. Penman
4.0
(1)
"My husband loves Cornwell, and he recommends Sharon K. Penman for some Arthurian tales!"
#62
Elizabeth Wein
4.0
(1)
"I really enjoyed The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein."
#63
Gerard Morris
4.0
(1)
"The Squire's Tales by Gerard Morris is heavily based on Arthurian Legend from the perspective of a young squire, and it low-key satirizes some aspects of it."
#64
Gerald Morris
4.0
(1)
"The Squire’s Tales series by Gerald Morris."
#65
Miles Cameron
4.0
(1)
"The Red Knight, by Miles Cameron, is noticeably but loosely based on Arthurian Legend."
#66
Alan Lupack
4.0
(1)
"The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend by Alan Lupack"
#67
Kazuo Ishiguro
4.0
(1)
"I'll add to the recs *The Buried Giant* by Kazuo Ishiguro."
#68
Joseph Campbell
4.0
(1)
"Romance of the Grail by Joseph Campbell"
#69
Richard Monaco
4.0
(1)
"Richard Monaco's Percival series is good. It's no-nonsense sweat, blood, poo and sexy time."
#70
Helen Hollick
4.0
(1)
"I really enjoyed Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick."
#71
Andre Norton
4.0
(1)
"Arthrian legend from a point of Merlin, so BBC tv series is similar to it: Merlin's Mirror by Andre Norton"
#72
Aprilinne Pike
3.0
(1)
"Wings by Aprilinne Pike. It's not really about Arthus and Merlin and stuff, but the fairies and all that stuff is closely related with Oberon, Arthur and his Excalibur"
#73
Mark J. Ferrari
3.0
(1)
"It's quite a twist on Arthurian characters (and also includes God/Lucifer/Job themes), but I enjoyed The Book of Joby, by Mark J. Ferrari."
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