Contained is my original review from 2018, and my thoughts on my reread, as I finished just a few days ago. I always find it interesting how rereads can change an opinion on a book!

Nov 2025 Reread - Wow I've reached the end of this reread. It has been so interesting visiting this series six years after my first time around. It was such a formative experience, continuing my love of Arthurian Legend and opening up the potential of historical fiction. I am loving it equally the second time around, but for different reasons. The pain has stayed the same on this reread, perhaps even more so with the dramatic irony of where the story is going. That is the mark of an excellent book. I enjoyed Excalibur even more this time around, and it has eclipsed the spot of my favourite instalment of this series, over Enemy of God. Expectations are subverted, moments of incredible satisfaction delivered, as well as traumatic moments that stay with you. Tragedy and heroism are intertwined, and they are both present aplenty in Excalibur. A masterpiece of the historical fiction (or historical fantasy) genre.

“Tell your father” I said, “That I loved him to the end.”

Excalibur is the third and final book in The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. In short, it is one of the best endings to a series I have ever read, and one of my favourite books of all-time. I really hope you pick up this series if you have not already.

“This tale of Arthur, my Lord, my friend and the deliverer of Britain.”

Excalibur was utterly brilliant just like its predecessors. It is the finale of a story that has immersed me into the lives of the characters as my feelings became the victims to the scale of emotions experienced, from euphoria to misery.

“Only a fool wants war, but once a war starts then it cannot be fought half-heartedly. It cannot even be fought with regret, but must be waged with a savage joy in defeating the enemy, and it is that savage joy that inspires our bards to write their greatest songs about love and war.”

Excalibur contained the largest scale conflicts of the trilogy, with Arthur and his warriors forced to repel a Saxon invasion that far outnumbers them. One of the best duels I have had the pleasure to read was in this, and it was mesmerising, the tension and description moulding together to make the scene truly incredible, I will remember that duel for many years to come.

So many acts of heroism were performed that had me physically grinning and then there were the despicable actions that had me weeping as the characters I have so grown to love fell victim to those whose ambitions are insatiable. Some of my most loved characters and most hated were in this trilogy, Derfel and Arthur being two who I will genuinely miss. One of Cornwell's lessons is the grim reality that usually heroes fail because of their goodness. It is painful, but also delivers a grittiness that lends real substance and power to this series.

While Excalibur had its fair share of tragedy to say the least, it was also complete with moments of bitter satisfaction that we had been begging for since book one. These softened the blow slightly, but not enough to stem the tears….

“So, in the morning light, where they flapped in the drying wind, the bear and the star defied the Saxons.”

*Nov 2025 contribution - Excalibur was certainly a five-star rating for me, I would give it more if I could. It was a wonderful, brutal, heart-wrenching, beautiful story about friendship and loyalty. Despite the message that bad often prevails, it still inspires you to be good. To stand by your friends. To oppose evil and ambition, but to also understand that most people do not commit evil for the sake of being evil, and often have their own justifications.

The Warlord Chronicles is one of my all-time favourite series that has left me with a serious book hangover that will surely take a while to overcome. But now I must say farewell to the novel and all its contents, so goodbye to Derfel and his inspiring loyalty, Merlin and his wisdom, Galahad and his kindness and of course, Arthur, the Lord and saviour of Britain.
Farewell.

Short note on if this is historical fiction or historical fantasy... the argument for historical fantasy is most compelling in the series when pointing at Excalibur, but this is a chronicler's story from an elderly, unreliable man. Whilst I would probably on a reread go with calling this final instalment historical fantasy, there is still an argument that these aspects are only there to represent Derfel's own beliefs that have shrouded the reality of his memory... an interesting topic!