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The Knight With Two Swords
Before Arthur, There was Uther.
Before Lancelot, There was Balin The Savage.
Before the Holy Grail could be found...it had to be lost.
Balin grows up revering the memory of his father, a storied knight of the High King Uther's time. He is held back from following in his footsteps by his mother, a priestess of the old religion whose capitol is the Isle of Avalon. When she is burned at the stake as a witch by fanatics, Balin blames the corrupting influence of Avalon and sets himself against all that is pagan.
A new high king arises; Arthur, whose rule must unite pagan and Christian alike. Sir Balin, now known as The Savage for his ferocity in battle, answers the king's call for champions, but in his heart, questions the presence of the shadowy wizard Merlin beside the throne. When a vengeful enchantress comes to Camelot bearing a cursed sword that will make Balin the greatest knight in all Albion, but doom him to slay his beloved king, Balin sets out on a long quest that will veer between God and glory, love and madness, justice and revenge, and change the land forever.
Before Lancelot, There was Balin The Savage.
Before the Holy Grail could be found...it had to be lost.
Balin grows up revering the memory of his father, a storied knight of the High King Uther's time. He is held back from following in his footsteps by his mother, a priestess of the old religion whose capitol is the Isle of Avalon. When she is burned at the stake as a witch by fanatics, Balin blames the corrupting influence of Avalon and sets himself against all that is pagan.
A new high king arises; Arthur, whose rule must unite pagan and Christian alike. Sir Balin, now known as The Savage for his ferocity in battle, answers the king's call for champions, but in his heart, questions the presence of the shadowy wizard Merlin beside the throne. When a vengeful enchantress comes to Camelot bearing a cursed sword that will make Balin the greatest knight in all Albion, but doom him to slay his beloved king, Balin sets out on a long quest that will veer between God and glory, love and madness, justice and revenge, and change the land forever.
- GenresFantasy
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2018
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Edward M. Erdelac
80 books114 followersEdward M. Erdelac is the author of thirteen novels including the acclaimed Judeocentric/Lovecraftian weird western series Merkabah Rider, Rainbringer: Zora Neale Hurston Against The Lovecraftian Mythos, Conquer, Monstrumfuhrer from Comet Press, Terovolas from JournalStone Publishing, and Andersonville from Random House/Hydra.
Born in Indiana, educated in Chicago, he lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife and a bona fide slew of kids and cats.
Born in Indiana, educated in Chicago, he lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife and a bona fide slew of kids and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Want to read
December 16, 2019I am a fan of Edward M. Erdelac, and yes, this is well written, but I just can't get into it (or anything right now to be honest). Maybe I will finish the 2nd half once I feel the urge to step back into a Knights of the Round Table tale.
March 16, 2019
Originally posted by Dann Lewis on Grimdark Magazine.
Ever since reading Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, I was instantly mesmerised by the tales of King Arthur, his legendary knights of the round table, and the wisdom of Merlin and Avalon. There is a magic in the legends, a magic that flows from the antiquated script into the hearts and souls of the many thousands of readers and viewers of such texts. Though ancient, the legend of King Arthur endures, and Edward M. Erdelac’s novel, The Knight with Two Swords, is indicative of why such myths persist, especially in the technological age we reside in.
Erdelac’s novel is centred around twin brothers, Balin and Brulen, boys who have grown up revering their fallen father, a celebrated knight. They are kept from following their father’s steps, that is until their mother is killed for worshipping the old ways. With Balin submitting to the will of the Christian god and Brulen, a staunch follower of the ways of his mother, declares war on the priesthood, the twins take divergent paths onto becoming knights.
What is most apparent to the reader when they first delve into Erdelac’s novel is his careful attention to detail. The language that is employed is nothing short of remarkable as it feels extremely reminiscent of elder Arthurian texts. There were times that I felt as if I was reading a page from Le Morte, Mists of Avalon, and even The Once and Future King. I was immersed into a storied world that felt genuine and authentic. It may sound basic, but to write in an authentic Arthurian manner throughout the course of an entire novel is nothing short of astounding. There were no times I felt that Erdelac faulted in writing in this manner.
The attention to detail did not stop there. Names and naming conventions were elegant and well-conceived. The world itself was wonderfully and artistically depicted akin to a stroke of ink from an artisan calligrapher. There is magic in the pages of Erdelac’s novel, and I would be remiss if I did not recommend the novel for the mere fact that it feels real and feels special to lose oneself in.
The theme of duality is strong in Erdelac’s novel and was something I felt worked well. Christianity and Paganism, righteous and corrupt, good and evil, though black in white in visage, Erdelac carefully analyses such concepts and does so subtly with his characters. Balin is the exemplar of the pious knight in the beginning but is made to question not only himself, but the foundation of his faith throughout the course of the novel. Brulen is the opposite to his brother, but like Balin, the reader is made to question and ponder the nature of his variant of chivalry.
Though there are many things to praise Erdelac for, there are some niggling qualms that hindered my enjoyment of the novel. It was a little difficult to start and at times felt borderline documentarian. This is typical of most academically accepted Arthurian texts but it does so at the cost of some investment. I found myself glossing over many of the paragraphs, the melodramatic dialogue, and even had to reread some chapters again. This is not to the fault of Erdelac but the writing style itself. It does add to the authenticity of the work itself, but it is antiquated and also quite difficult to parse at times.
The novel, being split into three distinct parts, also felt disjointed. The first part, The Adventurous Sword, is the most compact and deals with Balin, his treachery, and the siege of Carhaix. It is a mix of melodrama, politicking, and action-packed fantasy, all of which kept me intrigued and yearning for more. But as the story progressed throughout the second and third parts, I found my interest waning until the final few chapters. This is perhaps due to the fact that the plot pried Balin and his brother away from King Arthur and his knights for the majority of these sections, and I wanted more insight into Arthur through action, not just third-hand knowledge.
But these are, as mentioned, quibbles and the fault of the style itself, not the writer. It may be a little difficult to start and read at times, but the writing is eloquent and at times, majestic. When the action hits its stride, blood and magic roil through the Arthurian landscape with the arc of the reaper’s scythe. It is brutal, it is savage, and it feels real. Authenticity is the key word of this review and is more than enough reason to snag and read The Knight with the Two Swords. A must read for any Arthurian fan, especially in the academic sphere.
Ever since reading Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, I was instantly mesmerised by the tales of King Arthur, his legendary knights of the round table, and the wisdom of Merlin and Avalon. There is a magic in the legends, a magic that flows from the antiquated script into the hearts and souls of the many thousands of readers and viewers of such texts. Though ancient, the legend of King Arthur endures, and Edward M. Erdelac’s novel, The Knight with Two Swords, is indicative of why such myths persist, especially in the technological age we reside in.
Erdelac’s novel is centred around twin brothers, Balin and Brulen, boys who have grown up revering their fallen father, a celebrated knight. They are kept from following their father’s steps, that is until their mother is killed for worshipping the old ways. With Balin submitting to the will of the Christian god and Brulen, a staunch follower of the ways of his mother, declares war on the priesthood, the twins take divergent paths onto becoming knights.
What is most apparent to the reader when they first delve into Erdelac’s novel is his careful attention to detail. The language that is employed is nothing short of remarkable as it feels extremely reminiscent of elder Arthurian texts. There were times that I felt as if I was reading a page from Le Morte, Mists of Avalon, and even The Once and Future King. I was immersed into a storied world that felt genuine and authentic. It may sound basic, but to write in an authentic Arthurian manner throughout the course of an entire novel is nothing short of astounding. There were no times I felt that Erdelac faulted in writing in this manner.
The attention to detail did not stop there. Names and naming conventions were elegant and well-conceived. The world itself was wonderfully and artistically depicted akin to a stroke of ink from an artisan calligrapher. There is magic in the pages of Erdelac’s novel, and I would be remiss if I did not recommend the novel for the mere fact that it feels real and feels special to lose oneself in.
The theme of duality is strong in Erdelac’s novel and was something I felt worked well. Christianity and Paganism, righteous and corrupt, good and evil, though black in white in visage, Erdelac carefully analyses such concepts and does so subtly with his characters. Balin is the exemplar of the pious knight in the beginning but is made to question not only himself, but the foundation of his faith throughout the course of the novel. Brulen is the opposite to his brother, but like Balin, the reader is made to question and ponder the nature of his variant of chivalry.
Though there are many things to praise Erdelac for, there are some niggling qualms that hindered my enjoyment of the novel. It was a little difficult to start and at times felt borderline documentarian. This is typical of most academically accepted Arthurian texts but it does so at the cost of some investment. I found myself glossing over many of the paragraphs, the melodramatic dialogue, and even had to reread some chapters again. This is not to the fault of Erdelac but the writing style itself. It does add to the authenticity of the work itself, but it is antiquated and also quite difficult to parse at times.
The novel, being split into three distinct parts, also felt disjointed. The first part, The Adventurous Sword, is the most compact and deals with Balin, his treachery, and the siege of Carhaix. It is a mix of melodrama, politicking, and action-packed fantasy, all of which kept me intrigued and yearning for more. But as the story progressed throughout the second and third parts, I found my interest waning until the final few chapters. This is perhaps due to the fact that the plot pried Balin and his brother away from King Arthur and his knights for the majority of these sections, and I wanted more insight into Arthur through action, not just third-hand knowledge.
But these are, as mentioned, quibbles and the fault of the style itself, not the writer. It may be a little difficult to start and read at times, but the writing is eloquent and at times, majestic. When the action hits its stride, blood and magic roil through the Arthurian landscape with the arc of the reaper’s scythe. It is brutal, it is savage, and it feels real. Authenticity is the key word of this review and is more than enough reason to snag and read The Knight with the Two Swords. A must read for any Arthurian fan, especially in the academic sphere.
January 18, 2019
The first Arthurian-themed story I had read in decades was an absolute delight! Really, it transported me to my childhood when I read all within my grasp about Arthur, Robin Hood and all those legends.
Weaving strands from across all interpretations of British folklore and legend, Ed Erdelac immerses us in a fun and fantastic retelling of all the saga told by the point of view of Balin, a knight caught between the conflict of Christendom vs Paganism. A completely fantastical tale that brings us an interpretation of Merlin way outside the standards, this one is definitely worth your time!
Extremely recommended!
Weaving strands from across all interpretations of British folklore and legend, Ed Erdelac immerses us in a fun and fantastic retelling of all the saga told by the point of view of Balin, a knight caught between the conflict of Christendom vs Paganism. A completely fantastical tale that brings us an interpretation of Merlin way outside the standards, this one is definitely worth your time!
Extremely recommended!
June 25, 2020
This is quite possibly the most beautifully done Arthurian era tale that I've read. The story centers around one knight, so the world becomes the background and it's balanced perfectly. Instead of the focus being all religious, all political, or nothing but battle sequences, we get to experience the entirety. The characters are flawed and credible. I hope that at some point, Erdelac decides to write the story of Sir Brulen to complement this book.
My only real issue is with a couple of editing errors. There aren't many, but they cause you to stop and reread the section a few times to see if you've misunderstood what's going on. Just expect to find a couple and it won't be a problem.
My only real issue is with a couple of editing errors. There aren't many, but they cause you to stop and reread the section a few times to see if you've misunderstood what's going on. Just expect to find a couple and it won't be a problem.
September 27, 2019
You've probably encountered this author's tales set in the Old West. If so, you know that he transports you to the place and time, usually depositing you down in the mud to sweat and bleed with his characters. This epic fantasy is no different - the conditions are often grimy, the circumstances desperate, all serving to root the magic and Arthurian lore to fully fleshed out characters.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
April 11, 2019
Action packed and fast paced, The Knight With Two Swords does a remarkable job of capturing the insane feel of Arthurian legend, putting the reader in the knight's perspective, and also the geography when the British isle felt like world (or a significant part of it).
February 23, 2018
Sometimes it seems like we've heard a story so many times that we can recount it by heart. Sometimes we can become bored with a book before we even start reading it because it is so familiar. Some authors try to turn legends on their heads or try to give it an extra dimension. The Knight With Two Swords attempts this.
The Arthurian legends are one that is so very indelibly tied to the Anglo-Saxon culture. We have seen it told in various ways and through various eyes like Excalibur, First Knight, The Sword in the Stone and Legion. Essentially they all end up doing the same thing, just recounting something we already know. It is a difficult task to attempt. Is it possible to make an age-old story interesting again?
Erdelac attempts to do this by initially shifting the focus away from Arthur and on the twins Balin and Brulen. They grow in a tumultuous time in Britain, where various powers are battling for control of the entire island. It is a war not only between men but also religion. The old ways from Avalon and Christianity. The brothers end up on opposite side of the spectrum when their mother is burned at the stake. Brulen accuses the Christians and Balin Avalon.
When a sword is pulled from the stone, by the young Arthur, the land becomes divided and the twins more so, born from Brulen's distrust of the demonic Merlin. Balin gets behind Arthur and his plan to unify the land and a desire to weed out the old. When Balin is promised to be made the greatest knight in the realm in exchange for the death of Arthur he may very well bring the entire world down upon them.
Erdelac's saga is one of opposition. Balin is constantly torn between two decisions, two worlds and this is what drives the story forward. Like The Mists of Avalon, we get to see the Arthurian tale told through the eyes of someone close to the events. Unfortunately little is added to the mystique of it all. The Arthurian legend is extremely fragmented and there have been several who have tried to connect it or even just focus on a fraction of it. Cullen Bunn's Unholy Grail offers a new take on it by suggesting it all being orchestrated by Merlin himself. Erdelac instead tries to offer details in the tale that might not have been addressed before. Creating a historical setting and humanizing the people surrounding Arthur and the events leading up to the fall of Camelot.
One might argue that there has never truly been a book which has been successful in re-telling the myth of Avalon. TH White may have come close, but he blended the classic story with modern aspects, placing it in another category, also very much bastardized by Disney. The allure of King Arthur and his Knights is the legend of it all. That we never truly get the entire tale. We do not need to have details because all of a sudden it makes it all too real and it then tends to become more of a historical document.
The Knight with Two Swords would work for someone unfamiliar with the Arthurian legend. Where every aspect of the book comes as a surprise, but then it would need more details initially. To answer the question whether one can make the legend of King Arthur interesting, one would have to say that Erdelac tries, but is not entirely successful.
The Arthurian legends are one that is so very indelibly tied to the Anglo-Saxon culture. We have seen it told in various ways and through various eyes like Excalibur, First Knight, The Sword in the Stone and Legion. Essentially they all end up doing the same thing, just recounting something we already know. It is a difficult task to attempt. Is it possible to make an age-old story interesting again?
Erdelac attempts to do this by initially shifting the focus away from Arthur and on the twins Balin and Brulen. They grow in a tumultuous time in Britain, where various powers are battling for control of the entire island. It is a war not only between men but also religion. The old ways from Avalon and Christianity. The brothers end up on opposite side of the spectrum when their mother is burned at the stake. Brulen accuses the Christians and Balin Avalon.
When a sword is pulled from the stone, by the young Arthur, the land becomes divided and the twins more so, born from Brulen's distrust of the demonic Merlin. Balin gets behind Arthur and his plan to unify the land and a desire to weed out the old. When Balin is promised to be made the greatest knight in the realm in exchange for the death of Arthur he may very well bring the entire world down upon them.
Erdelac's saga is one of opposition. Balin is constantly torn between two decisions, two worlds and this is what drives the story forward. Like The Mists of Avalon, we get to see the Arthurian tale told through the eyes of someone close to the events. Unfortunately little is added to the mystique of it all. The Arthurian legend is extremely fragmented and there have been several who have tried to connect it or even just focus on a fraction of it. Cullen Bunn's Unholy Grail offers a new take on it by suggesting it all being orchestrated by Merlin himself. Erdelac instead tries to offer details in the tale that might not have been addressed before. Creating a historical setting and humanizing the people surrounding Arthur and the events leading up to the fall of Camelot.
One might argue that there has never truly been a book which has been successful in re-telling the myth of Avalon. TH White may have come close, but he blended the classic story with modern aspects, placing it in another category, also very much bastardized by Disney. The allure of King Arthur and his Knights is the legend of it all. That we never truly get the entire tale. We do not need to have details because all of a sudden it makes it all too real and it then tends to become more of a historical document.
The Knight with Two Swords would work for someone unfamiliar with the Arthurian legend. Where every aspect of the book comes as a surprise, but then it would need more details initially. To answer the question whether one can make the legend of King Arthur interesting, one would have to say that Erdelac tries, but is not entirely successful.
March 16, 2019
Ever since reading Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, I was instantly mesmerised by the tales of King Arthur, his legendary knights of the round table, and the wisdom of Merlin and Avalon. There is a magic in the legends, a magic that flows from the antiquated script into the hearts and souls of the many thousands of readers and viewers of such texts. Though ancient, the legend of King Arthur endures, and Edward M. Erdelac’s novel, The Knight with Two Swords, is indicative of why such myths persist, especially in the technological age we reside in.
Erdelac’s novel is centred around twin brothers, Balin and Brulen, boys who have grown up revering their fallen father, a celebrated knight. They are kept from following their father’s steps, that is until their mother is killed for worshipping the old ways. With Balin submitting to the will of the Christian god and Brulen, a staunch follower of the ways of his mother, declares war on the priesthood, the twins take divergent paths onto becoming knights.
Continue the review here: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/revi...
Erdelac’s novel is centred around twin brothers, Balin and Brulen, boys who have grown up revering their fallen father, a celebrated knight. They are kept from following their father’s steps, that is until their mother is killed for worshipping the old ways. With Balin submitting to the will of the Christian god and Brulen, a staunch follower of the ways of his mother, declares war on the priesthood, the twins take divergent paths onto becoming knights.
Continue the review here: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/revi...
March 21, 2021
One of the most favourite tales, retold. Magnificent! A great read .
Edward Erdelac tells the tale of King Arthur, Merlin & Avalon in a new raw expressive manner. Glory, greed, honor, war, magic, betrayal, and, twists within well planned plots the age old story is given new life.
Beautifully gruesome yet somehow true and beautiful it becomes believable, the tale captures your imagination and you can't put it down! I
I wanted something different but hungered for a well written book. I was fed a banquet. Will now persue further novels of this amazing author.
Edward Erdelac tells the tale of King Arthur, Merlin & Avalon in a new raw expressive manner. Glory, greed, honor, war, magic, betrayal, and, twists within well planned plots the age old story is given new life.
Beautifully gruesome yet somehow true and beautiful it becomes believable, the tale captures your imagination and you can't put it down! I
I wanted something different but hungered for a well written book. I was fed a banquet. Will now persue further novels of this amazing author.
January 31, 2023
I had honestly never heard of this Arthurian tale until I read Erdelac's novel. This novel takes an ancient tale and makes it easily accessible to the modern reader. It was full of gripping tension, sweeping landscapes, and high adventure. This is easily a must have book for any fan of Arthurian legend.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews