Review Page

Great review from Squidoo!

http://www.squidoo.com/susannaduffy-bookshelf-arthur

The Silurian : Book One The Fox and The Bear

by L.A. Wilson available from Lulu.com

Thank heavens for self publishing! Without it, we would have no chance of reading The Silurian from L.A. Wilson. But take my word for it, if this book is not snaffled by a publisher soon then I will eat my Easter Bonnet.

The Silurian is an adventure book, action and more action without being regaled by endless gore. I don't want to read a battle blow by blow, clot by clot, but I do like a clear picture of what opposing forces are doing. Are they engaged in single combat between Champions, Celtic style? Is one side rushing pell mell to overwhelm with numbers, brute force and bravery like the Saxons? Is there a plan with Roman military manoeuvres?

When I say 'adventure' I'm happy to say that there are no gratituous sex scenes. If I want to read a book with these scenes, then I will go out and buy one, something I do quite often. I just don't want to come across them unexpectedly in the middle of a novel when there's really no need for them at all. All the same this in an adult book, with adult themes of Love. The bond of comradeship between fighting men is a constant theme and the passions of Love are explored. " Men, women, boys and girls, and even the dogs loved him to madness. He did this to everyone who met him."

Wilson makes Arthur a Welshman, one of the Silures, a tribe which waged effective guerilla warfare against the Roman Occupation. (The Romans never forgave the Silures for harbouring Caratacus).

The story is told by Bedwyr, Prince of Dogfeiling, who prefers to be called simply Fox and I won't spoil the story by saying too much about the familiar Medraut. Fox is now a friend of mine, someone I feel that I know, for Wilson has that wonderful gift of bringing a character into real life.

Wilson's language is superb. Simple English, stark as the landscape and beautiful as only English can be without later borrowed European words. Reading this at home in a summer afternoon of 30 Celsius, I shivered with cold as much as with anticipation. The setting is so very, very real. Luguvalos ... I stood looking up the road into the darkness, at the dark brooding hills around me, the silence and the cold. I pulled my cloak tight and walked forward, so dark in these bloody hills. Much of the time it's cold in The Silurian, a freezing, stone-cold freezing. The kind of cold that was painful. Brrrr!

An excellent addition to my collection of Arthurian novels. I highly recommend it.

Susanna Duffy, on Squidoo.com

The Silurian - Not for the Faint at Heart

‘The Silurian – The Fox and the Bear’ is not for the faint at heart. It is very descriptive and adult geared with battle scenes and interior stories that will keep you reading until the very end. It is action packed with romance in amongst the struggles of the characters. I believe this to be a highly evolved piece of reading for those who are masters of the Saxon battling days of long ago. You must pay attention to this story in order to achieve the reading pleasure author L.A. Wilson has prescribed in this novel.

Mind Fog Reviews ~ Anastasia Cassella-Young

www.anastasiasbookattic.com 

NEW REVIEWS FROM BIBLIOTASTIC.COM:

BOOK ONE:

Could not stop reading...

Submitted by kohaver on 27 June, 2011

I was searching online for information on King Author and was linked to a site where this book was recommended and offered as a free download. Thus started my journey through "The Silurian" series of books. Fascinating! I could not stop reading. I have completed the first 9 books in the series and am anxiously awaiting the 10th and final book due out later this year. If you are looking for a fairy tale version of King Author and Camelot, look elsewhere. This is not it. This rendering is raw and compelling and will plunge you into the midst of a post-Roman Briton where you will become part of the action. I have seldom read anything that evoked as much emotion while reading as has "The Silurian". I can highly recommend these books.

fantastic!

Submitted by sueleeok on 24 May, 2011

What a brilliant book! I haven't enjoyed a book this much since 'Atonement' and that's saying something! Excellent characterisation and writing. Can't wait for Book 2 - hope it comes out very soon.

BOOK TWO:

Addictive and compelling

Submitted by sueleeok on 25 June, 2011

This second volume deals with Arthur's need to consolidate his position as Supreme Commander, fighting against a number of would-be invaders and raiders, the Picts and the Saxons. The story is darkly atmospheric and overshadowed by the characters' growing maturity and their respective internal struggles, personal and political as they try to establish Arthur of the Britons as a force for peace throughout the country.

Arthur's charismatic leadership is described in terms of its impact on those around him, particularly the Fox, his foster-brother. Theirs is a complicated relationship and the Fox himself displays complicated and paradoxical emotions as he tries to come to terms with his own feelings and responsibilities towards Arthur and the other key characters.

The young men have to learn to deal with loss and bereavement and the differences between justice and savagery, right and wrong. Some terrible mistakes are made, hard lessons are learned in a world where pleasure and happiness are fleeting and death and battle are constant considerations.

This a different approach to the Arthurian legend, well-written, evocative and haunting. Addictive and compelling.

Here is a link to the most recent review, this time for The King of Battles (B2):
http://awardsforebooks.com/book-writing-contest/fiction-historical-literature/the-silurian-book-two-the-king-of-battles/