Jack Whyte continues his long, thoughtful exploration of one of our most resonant myths, the legend of Camelot. The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis is the sixth book in his Camulod Chronicles, and it takes up the story just as Arthur makes the transition from boy to man. Whyte's focus, however, is on Caius Merlyn Britannicus. Merlyn, descended from Britain's Roman rulers, is one of the co-rulers of Camulod, a stronghold of civilization under perpetual threat from invading Saxons and Danes. Merlyn leads an eventful yet happy life: he has a loving fiancjée, Tressa; a fine ward, Arthur; a magnificent black horse, Germanicus; many allies; and grand plans for Camulod's expansion and Britain's safety. Merlyn's reflections on one campaign sum up his easy victories throughout the first half of the book: "It was slaughter--nothing less. One pass we made, from west to east, and scarce a living man was left to face us."

But even the mightiest ship must one day be tested on the shoals. The suspense gains momentum when Whyte breaks Merlyn free of his brooding, reactive role and propels him and his companions into danger. In despair, Merlyn takes a new, subtler tack against his archenemies Ironhair and Carthac ("And then I truly saw the size of him. He towered over everyone about him, hulking and huge, his shoulders leviathan and his great, deep, hairless chest unarmoured").

Whyte shines at interpreting the mythos of Camelot in a surprising yet believable way. He can squeeze a sword out of a stone without opting for the glib explanations of fantasy-land magic. The Camulod Chronicles, and The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis in particular, provide an engaging take on the chivalric world of knights and High Kings. --Blaise Selby


From Library Journal
As the forces of Peter Ironhair threaten the land of Camulod, Merlyn Britannicus realizes that the time has come for his ward, Arthur Pendragon, to claim the skystone sword Excalibur and take his rightful place as High King of Britain. The latest volume of Whyte's epic retelling of the Arthurian cycle marks the end of Arthur's childhood training and the beginning of the legend that surrounds his career. Whyte firmly grounds his tale in historical detail, personal drama, and political intrigue, combining realism and wonder in a fortuitous blend. Compellingly told, this addition to Arthurian-based fiction belongs in most libraries. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Volume VI of the Arthurian saga The Camulod Chronicles follows hard upon the previous installment, The Fort at River's Bend (p. 256). The series focuses at first on the discovery of the ore from which Excalibur is forged, the twilight of the Roman occupation of Britain, and the formation of the Camulod colony by Merlyn Britannicus and Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon. In the fourth volume, orphaned Arthur was still a child; in the fifth, as a result of a failed assassination, he was taken to an abandoned Roman fort, where Merlyn prepared him as a warrior to receive Excalibur at last. In that episode, young Arthur showed a commanding ability, wisdom, and common sense, but Merlyn's old enemy back in Cornwall, Peter Ironhair, posed a formidable threat. Now, in Volume VI, the long-awaited metamorphosis takes place, with Arthur assuming his role as a Christian king ready to fight off all invaders. Merlyn's beloved Tressa dies, and the magician himself comes so close to death that he must go in to a two-year retreat to recover his health. During that period, Arthur grows from youth to man while leading his troops against Carthac, wielding a sword he does not know is a stand-in for Excalibur. When he draws the true Sword from an altar stone at novels end and girds Camulod to fight a massive fleet of new invaders, the metamorphosis is complete. The slow pace is necessary in creating the dense experience Whyte intends. Jump in here, now that Arthurs in motion, and you can always go back to earlier volumes if this look at the legends subtext grabs you. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"From the building blocks of history and the mortar of reality, Jack Whyte has built Arthur's world, and showed us the bone beneath the flesh of legend." --Diana Gabaldon

"The Camulod Chronicles [continue] with this finely crafted, altogether satisfying book. When Arthur takes the sword from the stone and makes it 'sing,' we are there with him and the legend becomes fully fleshed. The best book in a series that started strong and just kept getting better. Read this book even if you haven't read the others in the series." --Salem Statesman-Journal



Book Description
Throughout the widely praised Camulod Chronicles, Merlyn Britannicus has been driven by one sacred dream--to see Britain united under one just, powerful king. In The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis, it is time for the Sorcerer to fulfill his promise--to present the battle-proven Arthur as the Riothamus, the High King of Britain. When Arthur miraculously withdraws the Sword of Kingship from the stone in which it is set, he proves himself the true and deserving king--sworn to defend the Christian faith against invaders, and to preserve Britain as a powerful, united force.

The Sorcerer has fulfilled his promise. The King is crowned, Britain is united--and the face of history and legend is forever changed.



About the Author
Jack Whyte is a Scots-born, award-winning Canadian author whose poem, The Faceless One, was featured at the 1991 New York Film Festival. The Camulod Chronicles is his greatest work, a stunning retelling of one of our greatest legends: the making of King Arthur’s Britain. He lives in British Columbia, Canada.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Throughout the widely praised Camulod Chronicles, Merlyn Britannicus has been driven by one sacred dream--to see Britain united under one just, powerful king. In The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis, it is time for the Sorcerer to fulfill his promise--to present the battle-proven Arthur as the Riothamus, the High King of Britain. When Arthur miraculously withdraws the Sword of Kingship from the stone in which it is set, he proves himself the true and deserving king--sworn to defend the Christian faith against invaders, and to preserve Britain as a powerful, united force.

The Sorcerer has fulfilled his promise. The King is crowned, Britain is united--and the face of history and legend is forever changed.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

As the forces of Peter Ironhair threaten the land of Camulod, Merlyn Britannicus realizes that the time has come for his ward, Arthur Pendragon, to claim the skystone sword Excalibur and take his rightful place as High King of Britain. The latest volume of Whyte's epic retelling of the Arthurian cycle marks the end of Arthur's childhood training and the beginning of the legend that surrounds his career. Whyte firmly grounds his tale in historical detail, personal drama, and political intrigue, combining realism and wonder in a fortuitous blend. Compellingly told, this addition to Arthurian-based fiction belongs in most libraries. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Volume VI of the Arthurian saga The Camulod Chronicles follows hard upon the previous installment, The Fort at River's Bend (p. 256). The series focuses at first on the discovery of the ore from which Excalibur is forged, the twilight of the Roman occupation of Britain, and the formation of the Camulod colony by Merlyn Britannicus and Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon. In the fourth volume, orphaned Arthur was still a child; in the fifth, as a result of a failed assassination, he was taken to an abandoned Roman fort, where Merlyn prepared him as a warrior to receive Excalibur at last. In that episode, young Arthur showed a commanding ability, wisdom, and common sense, but Merlyn's old enemy back in Cornwall, Peter Ironhair, posed a formidable threat. Now, in Volume VI, the long-awaited metamorphosis takes place, with Arthur assuming his role as a Christian king ready to fight off all invaders. Merlyn's beloved Tressa dies, and the magician himself comes so close to death that he must go in to a two-year retreat to recover his health. During that period, Arthur grows from youth to man while leading his troops against Carthac, wielding a sword he does not know is a stand-in for Excalibur. When he draws the true Sword from an altar stone at novel's end and girds Camulod to fight a massive fleet of new invaders, the metamorphosis is complete. The slow pace is necessary in creating the dense experience Whyte intends. Jump in here, now that Arthur's in motion, and you can always go back to earlier volumes if this look at the legend's subtext grabs you.