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Here Lies Arthur

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 1,179 ratings · 261 reviews

Gwyna is just a girl who is forced to run when her village is attacked and burns to the ground. To her horror, she is discovered in the wood. But it is Myrddin the bard who has found her, a traveler and spinner of tales. He agrees to protect Gwyna if she will agree to be bound in service to him. Gwyna is frightened but intrigued-and says yes-for this Myrddin serves the you...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published November 1st 2008 by Scholastic Press (first published April 2nd 2007)

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Apr 30, 2009 Lesley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: britain, historical, king-arthur, gender-issues

There are eleventy billion books out there based on the King Arthur story, but this is one of the best I've read. It's one of the "realistic" ones: Arthur isn't a king or a hero; he's a thug who wants to take as much as he can from the other thugs of post-Roman Britain and Merlin is a smooth-talking PR man who's trying to convince everyone Arthur is the one who will save them from the Saxons. The author imagines believable origins for all the stories that have been passed down as glorious myths,...more

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May 26, 2012 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, all-kinds-of-fantasy, annoying-protagonist, scholastic, ya-kids-teen, mc-girl

3.5 stars

I read this book over two years ago, so it's definitely been awhile. What made me remember Here Lies Arthur was a conversation I overheard yesterday in which a mother was looking for more Arthurian tales to recommend to her 13-year-old, who "just loved 'The Mists of Avalon.'" When my eyes uncrossed themselves at the madness of a 13-year-old reading that ~~piece of crap~~ clearly adult novel or watching the miniseries (which I did - accidentally - at 13 and was incredibly disturbed/scarred b...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arthurian, fiction

My expectations for a fictional Arthur-type character are rather specific. I don't rate at all highly any back-projection of Malory, Tennyson or even Geoffrey of Monmouth into a sub-Roman context, with medieval concepts of round tables, grails and swords embedded in stones appearing anachronistically in Late Antiquity. And so my heart sank when I began reading a scenario involving a Lady in a Lake in this young adult fiction book.

But, dedicated Arthurian that I am, I persisted, and am very glad...more

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Jan 05, 2009 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-childrens-ya

Compelling read. With its super-short chapters, I found it incredibly difficult to put it down. I love books where the title and flap copy make the book appear to be about one thing but then, once you get into it, you realize that there is a much larger theme. In this case, the book appears to be about...well...the man who would be King Arthur. And Merlin, Lancelot, etc.

But it's so much bigger than that. Ultimately, the book is about the power of story to change history and change lives; people...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 10, 2008 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Writers frequently play with the legendary story and Reeve's version is about the how the legend might have come to be. He gives us an Arthur who isn't a very nice guy and a Merlin who was the orginal spin doctor - creating the stories that people wanted to hear about a king they yearned to believe in. The narrator, a scorned and abused peasant girl, tells an unflinching story of what life was really like and perhaps why the stories took on a life of their own. An intriguing take on the familiar...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Miss Clark rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology

Fans of the Arthurian legends should enjoy this fresh revisioning. Personally, I think his "Larklight" series is far better.

Almost three stars. A reinvention of the Arthurian myths, with a much more "authentic" feel than most, esp. the Roman and Welsh touches.

Here, Arthur was no hero, no great king. Nothing more than a bully and a tyrant, surrounded by men just as petty and small - minded as himself. It was Myrrddin, the bard, whose stories gave Arthur power and prestige. It was the idea of some...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Hayden rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adoption, adventure, country-outside-u-s, historical, teen

Gwynna is just a child when Myrddin (Merlin) takes her in after Arthur kills her master and all his household in a raid. He disguises her as a boy so that she can be his servant, following along on the adventures of Arthur and his warriors. But eventually the day comes when she can no longer be disguised as a boy, and everything changes.

There was a lot about this that I liked. Here, Merlin is not a real magician (though he pretends to be one when it is useful) but a politician and a storyteller....more

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Feb 10, 2009 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, teen

A postmodern take on the Arthurian legends that brilliantly deconstructs these timeless myths through the eyes of a gender-bending narrator -- could there be a more perfect retelling of these stories for little ole postmodern-feminist me? Reeve's wonderful book cleverly demonstrates how the lives of ordinary, imperfect people become dazzling, entrancing myths -- and the high price that is paid to create them. In this version, Arthur is no gentle Christian king but rather is the brutish leader of...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Sam Piper rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For some reason, I cannot read this title without intuitively reading it in Latin hic iacit Arcturus.

I attended a literacy conference this week where Philip Reeve was - for wont of a better phrase - the keynote speaker and I was lent this book as an introduction to his work as - to my total shame - I've never read any! I've been aware of Mortal Engines and intending to read it - being a definite steampunk fan - but something's always got in my way!

So... onto hic iacit Arctururs which is obvious...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Billy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Arthur the thug...,

I will offer 2 concessions before reviewing this book: first, I didn't know this was young adult fiction when I ordered it (I saw Arthur and jumped); second, I've not read YA ficion in the past so my review is really not in relation to other YA titles (apologies).

The story on the whole is interesting, a different spin on the oft told Arthur tale and I like to read different versions (mainly because I love to read history or historical fiction of any kind that surrounds the dar...more Arthur the thug...,

I will offer 2 concessions before reviewing this book: first, I didn't know this was young adult fiction when I ordered it (I saw Arthur and jumped); second, I've not read YA ficion in the past so my review is really not in relation to other YA titles (apologies).

The story on the whole is interesting, a different spin on the oft told Arthur tale and I like to read different versions (mainly because I love to read history or historical fiction of any kind that surrounds the dark-middle ages). The lead character tells an interesting story that is probably more probable historically than most Arthur tales because it does not involve the mythical, magical, fantasy type elements of the usual Arthur fare. This seems to be a sore spot for some reviewers, but I like the more realistic depictions of history, the explanations for where and why these huge stories originate. Another issue some reviewers are complaining about relates to the depiction of the times; the fact that women were in a lower social status, but this is the way it was (not the way it is or the way the author is saying he wants it-this isn't a social commentary). Also, I read some complaints about violence (which was not only common, it was a given, during this time and I think the author did a pretty good job of keeping this "clean" for a younger audience (the descriptions are of war but nothing gratuitous).

Arthur is portrayed as "The Bear", a brutal and heavy-handed leader of a rag-tag bunch of would be warriors, and this is one of the historical figures that some trace to the REAL Arthur who spawned the stories of the mythical king. There are essentially 3 viable candidates from history that have the best chance of being the real Arthur (and one of the characters mentioned in the book is also a contender for the title of original Arthur, Ambrosius; a Roman commander who stepped in after the Romans left Briton, here portrayed as a native of Briton). But, basically, what you have here is a fanciful telling of what might have really happened instead of the ornamneted tales of what most would wish had happened.

At any rate, I think it is safe to say that if you like the fantastic and mythical Arthur, you can live without this. But, if you enjoy fiction surrounding this period and don't mind seeing Arthur as "human", you should enjoy this enough to make it worth it.

The biggest problem that I had with this book is that the narrator jumps back and forth from first person-presnt (a difficult thing to do and the author should be commended for portraying what he did in this context) and the first-person past. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the shift in tenses and that tended to make the tale slow and tends to lend to a lessening believability of the story as a whole (which I realize is fiction, but isn't the point to suspend belief?).

As an aside, I would recommend Cornwell's trilogy on Arthur for yet another "realistic" spin on the Arthur tale; they are The Winter King, Enemy of God, & Excalibur.(less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Dale rated it 3 of 5 stars

>A re-telling of the Arthur legend

Philip Reeve's re-telling of the Arthur legend has a ring of truth to it, although he openly admits in his notes that this re-telling is based on nothing more than his own imagination and is not a product of new research.

Intellectually, I appreciate his take on Arthur in Here Lies Arthur . I never have been a big fan of the Arthur legend. To me it is too puffed up, too self-important. You would think that this re-telling - a re-telling that includes a not-so-...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Brandy Painter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

3.5 stars really

Originally posted here.

I have been in an Arthurian sort of mood this week. If you should ever find yourself in an Arthurian sort of mood then Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve is one I would definitely recommend. Be warned that this is one of those stories that tries to place Arthur in his actual historical context. This not Le Morte d'Arthur. Not anywhere close, and that is actually my favorite thing about it. I like it when an author tries to separate the man from the myth, and...more 3.5 stars really

Originally posted here.

I have been in an Arthurian sort of mood this week. If you should ever find yourself in an Arthurian sort of mood then Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve is one I would definitely recommend. Be warned that this is one of those stories that tries to place Arthur in his actual historical context. This not Le Morte d'Arthur. Not anywhere close, and that is actually my favorite thing about it. I like it when an author tries to separate the man from the myth, and Reeve does this while adding a clever twist that speaks of the power of story.

Gwyna is a child when Arthur's war band comes and destroys her master's home. Fleeing the burning wreckage, she manages to escape by swimming away in the river. Little does she know she has been seen by Myrddin, a bard and storyteller, who travels with Arthur. Seeing that Gwyna will be useful to him in his quest to help Arthur rule all of Britain, Myrddin makes Gwyna his servant. Over the course of her years in Arthur's band, disguised as a boy, and then her years as a lady in waiting to Arthur's wife Gwenhwyfar, Gwyna receives a first class education in how to manipulate the populace and turn a man into a legend.

Arthur, in this version, is not a nice man. At all. He is a thief, a bully, a brigand. He is unpredictable, has a fierce temper, and is not a thinker. He leaves the thinking to Myrddin, who is compelled to see a united Britain and has chosen Arthur as the most likely to lead it. So Myrrdin advises him and in the meantime weaves stories about Arthur's splendid deeds and honorable demeanor. I love the way Reeve juxtaposes his actual Arthur and the Arthur of lore. Gwyna will relate some terrible scene Arthur has enacted and follow it with one of Myrrdin's tales.The tales refer to some of the more familiar legends while the actual Arthur scenes depict 5th/6th century Britain in all its bloody and savage glory.

In addition to the political manipulation aspect of the story Reeve introduces other interesting themes and concepts to ponder over and discuss. Religion is explored quite a bit. There is a split between those who practice Christianity and those who practice the old ways, with a great majority of people combining the two in some fashion. Myrddin, who doesn't believe in any of it, uses it to manipulate people to think what he wants them to. Gender roles are also explored, there are several instances where characters use the dress of the opposite sex to hide themselves in plain sight. In these instances it is stressed that it is about more than putting on the clothes and changing your hair. Reeve plays with this throughout the tale in different and interesting ways.

My only issue with it is the characters were not as well developed as I like. Myrddin was the most complex of the lot. Gwenhwyfar was also made interesting. Most of the others were types. Gwyna, as the main character, felt far too flat to me. She goes through so much and yet none of it seems to make an impression on her. She relates it all as though seeing it from a distance. She takes up the art of storytelling she learns from Myrddin so that may account for some of that, but in telling this, her true story, you would think she would be more invested. I also thought that the romance squashed into the end was rather unnecessary, not developed , and rather inexplicable. It may have made sense if it had been explored at all but it was just sort of tacked on to the mad rush to the end so left me with a "why is this even here" feeling.

Still, if you are someone who enjoys different takes on Arthurian lore or well done historical fiction you should find this enjoyable. It should be noted that this is very well done historical fiction. True, Reeve invented his own take on Arthur, but he nailed the setting perfectly.

Note on Content: This is definitely a book for teens or older. There is quite a bit of violence and blood (it was a violent and bloody time). Also, Gwenhwyfar's extramarital adventures play a big part in the plot (it is the story of Arthur). Nothing is described, but it is much alluded to.(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Marike added it · review of another edition

Shelves: youth-fiction

Here lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

A story about the legendary King Arthur from a different angle. Reeve says he did not try to contribute to Arthurian scholarship or history – his interest is in storytelling and perspective.

The narrator is young Gwyna, a child slave who flees her home village when it is attacked by Arthur’s soldiers. A chance encounter with Merlin – Arthur’s spin-doctor one can probably call him in today’s terms – changes her whole life. She becomes Merlin’s assistant boy Gwyn an...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Maureen E rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, young-adult

Opening: "Even the woods are burning."

I'm a big fan of Arthurian re-tellings, though I know I haven't read even a tiny portion of them. Often they focus on Arthur, or his knights, or at least one of the side characters in the original stories. In Here Likes Arthur, we have something different. This is Gwyna's story, the story of how she came to know Arthur and Myrddin. The characters she describes are self-consciously different from the usual depictions, and the whole book is on one level a kind...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're intrigued by the legend of King Arthur, this is a must-read. But even if you just like well-written historical fiction, I also highly recommend this book. There are not many facts about King Arthur, and this author creates an unusual spin on the existing tales. It is told from the point of view of a young girl taken in by Myrddin (Merlin - the names in this telling are from the Welsh) after Arthur burns the manor she works for. We meet all the main characters, but the story shatters th...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Hillari rated it 1 of 5 stars

What a disapointment. I expected to like this book--the cover is awesome, the summary on the back sounded intriguing, and it seems like most people on here thought it was pretty great.

This book about King Arthur makes him into a selfish, unlikeable thug and murderer. His character is so much worse than I can describe. I disliked him from the very first chapter, and I wondered how the author was possibly going to spin him into someone I would care about. In fact, the author just made him more hor...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Eniko rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My daughter is interested in the legend of King Arthur thanks to having seen the movie The Mists of Avalon. She checked this book out of the library but it is proving a bit difficult for her, so we will read it together. In the meantime, I thought I would read the first chapter yesterday, and I just kept on reading and finished it last night a bit after 10pm.

It is a well-written story, another tale of King Arthur. It is the second version I have read that is written from the point of view of a w...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got this book as an uncorrected proof through the Amazon Vine program. This was a really good book. It is a very unique take on the tale of Arthur and his "knights".

This book focuses around the life of Gwyna. When her village is burned down by Arthur and his warband she is pulled aside by Myrddin and asked to aid him in a ruse as the Lady of the Lake after Myrddin sees Gwyna swimming down the river from her village. Myrddin decides to keep Gwyna around after the ruse is accomplished and from t...more I got this book as an uncorrected proof through the Amazon Vine program. This was a really good book. It is a very unique take on the tale of Arthur and his "knights".

This book focuses around the life of Gwyna. When her village is burned down by Arthur and his warband she is pulled aside by Myrddin and asked to aid him in a ruse as the Lady of the Lake after Myrddin sees Gwyna swimming down the river from her village. Myrddin decides to keep Gwyna around after the ruse is accomplished and from there on Gwyna undergoes many transformations first to a boy and then to a handmaiden under her apprenticeship with Myrddin.

This was a very well-written book and a very unqiue retelling of the Arthur tale. I have to say that this is probably the most realistic and believable story of Arthur that I have ever read. I really could see Arthur's life and legend forming as it is described in this book; much more than I could actually believe the ancient tales themselves. Gwyna is a great character with a frankness, honesty, and intelligence that serves her well thoughout her tale.

Overall this is a great book. The only complaint I have about it is that it is listed as a children's book. Realistically this is not the first book on Arthurian legend that I would like to expose a child to. I think this is an excellent read if you are framiliar with the legend and the awe behind it. But, to put it bluntly, this story rips out any of the fantasy or awe of the legend of Arthur. It takes everything magical away from those tales and exposes it as the harsh reality that it more likely was. I personally would not want this to be my son's first experience with the tale of Arthur. I want him to believe in wizards, knights, princesses, and noble heros while he can. When he is older, if he wants to hear another version of this tale, then this would be appropriate. But why steal away the magic of the tale of King Arthur? I mean truthfully, although I liked this story and I know it is fictional, reading it made something magical fade for me. It was just too likely that this was the true story and personally I like to pretend that King Arthur really was the figure pictured in legend.

An excellent book! Definitely makes me want to check out more books by Reeve!(less)

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Oct 03, 2010 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've always loved the King Arthur stories, ever since I was very, very young. In fact one of my most treasured picture books when I was probably 5 or 6 was an illustrated copy of one of the Arthurian legends. Later my mom would introduce me to Mary Stewarts Merlin-centric books and it got me into the genre all over again. I was obsessed and went on to read many series involving the legends from a variety of angles including some of the historical information.
So it only seemed natural that I woul...more

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May 17, 2010 Travis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve- This novel is a different story about the King Arthur legend.

The story follows a girl named Gwyna, who is running away from her home, which is in flames. During her escape she meets a man named Myrddin (who is Merlin) who takes pity on her and allows her a place to stay for a while. However, Myrddin has another use for little Gwyna, she becomes the Lady of the Lake and is the one who gives Arthur his sword Caliburn (Excalibur). After Gwyna gives the sword to Art...more Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve- This novel is a different story about the King Arthur legend.

The story follows a girl named Gwyna, who is running away from her home, which is in flames. During her escape she meets a man named Myrddin (who is Merlin) who takes pity on her and allows her a place to stay for a while. However, Myrddin has another use for little Gwyna, she becomes the Lady of the Lake and is the one who gives Arthur his sword Caliburn (Excalibur). After Gwyna gives the sword to Arthur, Myrddin makes her into a boy so she would be able to come with them. During the war-bands travels, Gwyna, now Gwyn, met a girl her age named Peri (who is really a boy named Peredur, or better known as Perceval). The duo play a trick on a “holy man” that causes the holy man to become more holy. Later the war-band takes over the city Aquae Sulis, making it Arthur's capital. There Arthur meets Gwenhwyfar, whom he is really forced into marrying him. By this time, Gwyna is starting to look more and more like a young woman than a man. Myrddin seeing this decides to change Gwyn back into Gwyna and she goes into to serve Gwenhwyfar. Things slowly goes from bad to worse, almost shadowing the legend. This story is a different viewpoint and a whole different take on the legend of King Arthur.

Negatives:
1) Myrddin. He goes from likable, to vile, to just delusional. The problem I have is that he has all these various mood swings and it throws the reader off. But it's more than that. For the longest time, I thought that Myrddin seemed to be really likable and enjoyable. Then he just changes and becomes a bitter, vile man. Then later on, you learn that the reason he becomes this way seems like a hurried explanation. Because of this, you realize that he was always lost within his own false stories he made up about Arthur. He's still an interesting character, however.
2) Children Story? I saw that this was short-listed for some children story award. Is this really meant to be a children's story? Really? With all the nudity, sex, graphic bloodshed, and the curse words, this really doesn't seem to be child friendly. Unless the children stories have changed from when I was young to today.

Positives:
1) Pacing. The story was a really fast read. It really kept me entertained and excited when I was reading. In fact, I really didn't want to put the story down to long. The chapters were short and quick, only lasting a few pages. The story wasn't bogged down in fancy wording or unimportant details. Gwyna's narration was simple, yet riveting. It was like I was listening to own of Myrddin's tall tales.
2) Villainous Arthur. Arthur was a villain! Seeing him as someone who I really hated was a shock but a shock I really enjoyed. Everyone thinks that Arthur is some sort of immortal hero, always just and true. Yet here, he is a vile, hateful, stupid, cruel man. I have to say I enjoy him like this than as a good man.
3) Dark. The whole story had a darker feel to it. From the beginning, seeing Gwyna's home burn is dark. Then you have the tragic parts of Gwenhwyfar, Bedwyr, and Cei. On top of that Arthur isn't noble and kind. It just felt dark. But it felt so right.

Side Notes:
1) Movies. It really seems that Philip Reeve took a lot, a lot of inspiration from movies like 1981's Excalibur. There are some scenes from Excalibur that are, for the most part, taken word for word in this story, the best example the endings are very similar.
2) Legends to Characters. It was fun to try to figure out who was who from the legend to the story. Some were very obvious; Cei was Kay, Myrddin was Merlin, and Peredur was Perceval. Some where harder to figure out, but it still was interesting seeing who was who.
3) Cover Art. Simple, yet interesting. It seems clean. Seeing Caliburn being held by the Lady of the Lake reminiscent of the movie Excalibur really works well.

Overall: 5/5
Final Thoughts:
This was a fun take on King Arthur's legend. The reason why I thought it was fun is because of how unlike the legend it is. Seeing Arthur as a vile character was different and I thought it works really well. Gwyna is an interesting character, going from girl to boy to girl again and how she deals with everything was fun to read about. It just was a fast paced story and exciting like nothing else.(less)

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May 24, 2009 Eva Mitnick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya, children

I don’t know what took me so long to get to this book, seeing as how I’m a huge fan of both Reeve’s Immortal Engines quartet and practically anything even remotely Arthurian (including books that simply take place in the cold and mucky England of yore – very long-ago yore).

Here Lies Arthur was well worth the wait. After Myrddin the bard rescues young Gwyna from the aftermath of one of war-band leader Arthur’s slash-and-burn raids, she is transformed from a slave who just tried to get through eac...more I don’t know what took me so long to get to this book, seeing as how I’m a huge fan of both Reeve’s Immortal Engines quartet and practically anything even remotely Arthurian (including books that simply take place in the cold and mucky England of yore – very long-ago yore).

Here Lies Arthur was well worth the wait. After Myrddin the bard rescues young Gwyna from the aftermath of one of war-band leader Arthur’s slash-and-burn raids, she is transformed from a slave who just tried to get through each day to a person who suddenly has the opportunity and perspective to think about the world around her and even to change the course of events.

It starts with a cliché of many historical novels with strong female characters – Gwyna must be disguised as a boy, not only to ensure her safety in a rough, male-dominated world, but also to conceal the fact that she took part in a Myrddin-designed ruse to convince Arthur’s soldiers and enemies that the Lady of the Lake (little Gwyna, actually) gifted him with an ancient and powerful sword.

Although Gwyna is forced by her own growing body and by circumstance to change from Gwyn to Gwyna and back again several times, this is not the focus of the tale. Rather, it is Gwyna’s observations of Arthur’s small fiefdom, of the ways of its men and women, and most of all of the way people see mainly what they expect to see that form the backdrop of this tale. There are some small and brutal battles, but mainly Gwyna is able (as a girl) to avoid being in the thick of these. However, what she can’t avoid is the knowledge that the kingly, heroic Arthur created by Myrddin’s songs and tales is very different from the actual power-hungry, thoughtless Arthur who lives to hunt and raid.

Myrddin wants to be a king-maker, not through any desire for power of his own but because his own childhood, spent as a Saxon slave after his village was destroyed, convinced him of the urgent necessity for safety and order in Britain. Myrddin is smart and clear-eyed – he knows that Arthur is just as brutish and short-sighted as any other petty leader of an insignificant warband. However, his status as the son of Uther is one advantage Arthur has, and the other is having Myrddin as his advisor. Myrddin has a keen understanding of human nature and politics, and he hopes that the legends he spreads throughout Britain will take on a life of their own and sweep the real, less-than-perfect Arthur along with them until all of Britain is united and strong under his rule.

That nothing quite works out as Myrddin plans, and that he has to set in motion several nefarious schemes in order to get closer to his grand goal, is one of the tragedies of the book. Not only do people lose their lives and loves, but his plan fails – and Gwyna is disillusioned in her old mentor, who she discovers too late has always loved her like a father.

The tension between the relatively new Christian religion and the old gods is underscored in many key ways throughout the book, with Myrddin providing a third (and very modern-feeling) perspective with his disbelieving and cynical views. To believe in nothing is freedom, he says, as he isn’t shackled by the fear and superstition that hamper other people and thus he can manipulate them more easily.

Gwyna’s story was so engrossing and so vividly told that I was absolutely bereft when she and her companion buy passage on a ship called Hope, “outbound for somewhere better.” I want to know what she does next and what her life is like. Whether she becomes a wandering bard herself or finds a safe croft in which to settle down and raise a family, I’m sure Gwyna will continue to observe the world around her closely and to come to her own conclusions.

Highly recommended for grades 5 and up.
(less)

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May 17, 2009 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With his newest book, Reeve jumps into the past and presents a modern re-imaging of the Arthurian legends. The story is told through the eyes a girl named Gwyna, who starts of the book at the young age of nine. Arthur is leading an army against the manor in which she lives. All there are crushed, and she is one of the few survivors. Myrddin, who me have come to call Merlin, finds her and takes pity on her. He also sees a chance to use her.

While England has become a Christian land, many of its in...more With his newest book, Reeve jumps into the past and presents a modern re-imaging of the Arthurian legends. The story is told through the eyes a girl named Gwyna, who starts of the book at the young age of nine. Arthur is leading an army against the manor in which she lives. All there are crushed, and she is one of the few survivors. Myrddin, who me have come to call Merlin, finds her and takes pity on her. He also sees a chance to use her.

While England has become a Christian land, many of its inhabitants still hold to the old ways and gods. Myrddin has become a master of using trickery and storytelling to set up a mystical aura around himself and those around him. As such, he convinces Gwyna to hide in the lake and hand Arthur a sword that is supposed to be the famous Caliburn. It proves to be a success.

Rather than cast Gwyna aside, Myrddin decides to take her into his household as a servant. He fears that she would be recognized, particularly by Arthur's brother Cai and other men who were in the military force at the lake. She takes on the clothes and mannerisms of a boy with the name of Gwyn. In order to explain her familiar looks, Gwyn is the brother of Gwyna.

From here on, Gwyn/Gwyna shares her first-hand experiences of living in Arthur's court. Many familiar names play major roles such as Bedwyr (Bedevere), Gwenhwyfar (Gwenivere), Peredur (Perceval), and Medrawt (Mardred), but things are quite different from the tales many of us grew up with. Camelot does not take on that utopian center of chivalry that we have come to know. It is full of political intrigue and a touch of reality.

In his Author's Note, Reeve is clear in that he used much of what we know about Camelot from lore and the skimpy historical record, but he really meant this to be a unique viewing of the Arthurian legends. As such, many fans could be disappointed because our traditional heroes are not as they are supposed to be. They are filled with human failings such as greed and power-mongering. That does not mean that it was not enjoyable, though. I couldn't put this one down!(less)

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Apr 17, 2009 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You can find almost every kind of fantasy within the Arthurian tradition, such as classic fantasy (The Once and Future King), feminist fantasy (The Mists of Avalon), and semi-historical fantasy (The Crystal Cave). "Here Lies Arthur", perhaps, represents something new: anti-fantasy. Despite the pretty unicorn sticker affixed to my copy's spine by the Oakland Public Library, "Here Lies Arthur" contains not a single fantastic event. Reeves bursts just about every bubble in the Arthurian soap. Merli...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Beth Bonini rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I admired this book more than LOVED it, but it is a cleverly imagined premise more than competently carried out. Reeve attempts to deconstruct the Arthurian legends by imagining how they were made -- not from a glorious Camelot, but rather from the rough and tumble of post-Roman England suffering from a power-vacuum. Not only does the book imaginatively "suppose" how various aspects of the well-known legend might have evolved, but it also addresses the idea of why "we" (humans, societies) need s...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Sherrie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: already-read, 2011-reading-challenge

Do you believe King Arthur was real or a myth? I myself am a believer. But then again I'm a fairy tale believer too. Who doesn't believe in happily ever after or at least wants to think there is a happily ever after. This book is written beautifully. I truly believed I was there with Gwen, Myrrdin and Arthur. But this story doesn't end the way you think or want it to. It's a different perspective on the story of Arthur. This is told through the eyes of Gwynna, a little girl who is saved my Myrrd...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Edward rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

Really, really, really great re-imagining of King Arthur from Philip Reeve. Rather than being written in the third person, or from Merlin's or Arthur's point of view, the book is actually from the perspective of a young girl throughout the book.

Turns out King Arthur wasn't that nice a guy after all: according to Reeve he was actually a petty warlord, running round razing villages, stealing cattle, and then lying back in his (stolen) town and enjoying his spoils. However, Arthur had a bit of a t...more

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Apr 29, 2009 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, dark, historical, not-graphic, ya

“They’re only stories,” he would say, “What do stories matter?” But he wasn’t stupid. He knew as well as Myrddin that in the end stories are all that matter.
--Here Lies Arthur

“The heroes, the Trows--the stories that bind us, Halli. The stories we live by, that dictate what we do and where we go. The stories that give us our names, our identities, the places we belong, the people we hate.”
--Heroes of the Valley

Story seems to be the theme of my reading lately (see here for more), and these two boo...more

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Dec 27, 2008 Roxanne Hsu Feldman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, 4-6grade, 6-8grade, childrensbooks, bestbooks, historicalfiction

This is a book for the Arthurian Legends enthusiasts, and I happen to be one. Having read many re-imagined Arthurian tales, I was completely delighted by this fresh take on the “true story” behind the legends. Reeve’s conceit is a fabulous one: it is all about the power of stories, storytelling, and story tellers. The title alone is worthy of much examination, with its double meanings of "lying dead" and "telling lies."

At the beginning, I was perplexed by the switches between past tense and pres...more This is a book for the Arthurian Legends enthusiasts, and I happen to be one. Having read many re-imagined Arthurian tales, I was completely delighted by this fresh take on the “true story” behind the legends. Reeve’s conceit is a fabulous one: it is all about the power of stories, storytelling, and story tellers. The title alone is worthy of much examination, with its double meanings of "lying dead" and "telling lies."

At the beginning, I was perplexed by the switches between past tense and present tenses. Slowly, I realized the why and when of such passages. This is a meta-fiction in a slightly different form and it really works for me.

I imagine that, though, this might not be as much fun for some others. If you don’t find piecing together pieces of a complex story puzzle (who’s who and which event eventually “became” which well known tale,) then, you won’t be having as much fun as I do. If you are not usually a sucker for stories that “discuss” the underlying philosophical elements of story-telling or humans’ needs for such elaboration, then, you probably won’t like this book as much as I do. And if you are not totally loving the meta-fiction genre, then you definitely will not enjoy it as I do. Also, if you only want a story with magic and valor, (that’s what I expected, before reading the actual text) then, you definitely will be disappointed. This is one Arthurian tale, featuring heavily the prototype character or Merlin (Myrddin) that definitely has NO magic whatsoever!

What’s even more impressive with this tale is Reeve’s ability to actually tell a cohesive story, with a highly believable and admirable main character, set against a convincing backdrop. (Although one might say that the language of the telling is fairly contemporary 21st century, it is to be excused because the teller could be anyone in any time – everything is apparently made-up anyway.)

To say that I am highly impressed is to put it lightly. I hope many others (especially middle school readers) will find this an intelligent and satisfying read!
(less)

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May 19, 2010 vcheung rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went into this book with essential no prior knowledge of anything Arthurian-related other than whatever I'd read in Mists of Avalon, so I didn't (and still don't) know about most of the other versions of the myths out there. From what I know/have gathered, this isn't the traditional Arthurian legend, and the Arthur portrayed in this book is far from noble. The characters were interesting and Reeve developed them really well; I have to admit, I was initially a little put-off with the Reeve's Ar...more

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Dec 11, 2008 Tami rated it 5 of 5 stars

We’ve all heard the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. A young Arthur learns of his kingly destiny by pulling the sword from the stone. He is a fair and much loved ruler who weds the beautiful Guinevere. We also know of Guinevere’s betrayal and her deep love for Lancelot.

It’s a fabulous story but what if that’s all it is? Maybe it’s not the true story at all. Perhaps the real story is much grittier and far less polished.

Here Lies Arthur tells of an alternative Arthur and...more

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About Philip Reeve

Philip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.

Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.

Philip has been writing stories...more

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Books by Philip Reeve

Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles, #1)

Predator's Gold (The Hungry City Chronicles, #2)

Infernal Devices (The Hungry City Chronicles, #3)

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Quotes from Here Lies Arthur

“The one thing worse than an enemy is a friend turned false.” — 29 people liked it

“That's the trouble with a story spinner. You never know what's real and what's made up. Even when they are telling the truth, they can't stop themselves from spinning it into something better; something prettier, with more of a pattern to it.” — 7 people liked it

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