Books like 'The Bright Sword'
Readers who enjoyed The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy retellings historical-fiction arthurian
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La Vie de Guinevere by Paula Lafferty
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter the sudden death of her boyfriend, Vera would have been happy to spend the rest of her days curiously unnoticeable, washing bed sheets and cleaning toilets in present day Glastonbury... -
![The Hollow Crown by Jeff Wheeler]()
The Hollow Crown by Jeff Wheeler
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsFollowing the downfall of a tyrant, years have passed in prosperity for the kingdom of Ceredigion. Now, as the time comes to celebrate the new king’s nuptials, the specter of a new enemy emerges to destroy all that has been painstakingly built in those years.Tryneowy Kiskaddon has grown up learning military and diplomatic strategy from her father, one of the king’s closest advisors...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure audiobook book coming-of-age epic -
![Le Fay by Sophie Keetch]()
Le Fay by Sophie Keetch
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLady Morgan surveys her life at an unhappy marriage and a vengeful husband determined to keep their son from his queen’s clutches, a true love she can’t be with, a jealous rival in magician Merlin who has the ear of Morgan’s half-brother King Arthur, and strange but wonderful powers of her own she is still exploring... -
![The Forgotten Kingdom: A Novel by Signe Pike]()
The Forgotten Kingdom: A Novel by Signe Pike
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsFrom the author of The Lost Queen , hailed as “ Outlander meets Camelot ” (Kirsty Logan, the author of The Gloaming) and “ The Mists of Avalon for a new generation” (Linnea Hartsuyker, the author of The Golden Wolf), a “rich, immersive” ( Kirkus Reviews ) new novel in which a forgotten queen of 6th-century Scotland claims her throne as war looms and her family is scattered to the winds.AD 573...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure adult audiobook book family -
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![The Conspiracy at Meru by Shatrujeet Nath]()
The Conspiracy at Meru by Shatrujeet Nath
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsVICTORY IS TEMPORARY. THE BATTLE IS ETERNAL.Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine have fought valiantly to repel the rampaging hordes from Devaloka and Patala – but Avanti has been brought to its knees. Ujjayini lies battered its citizens are scared and morale is badly shaken... -
![He Who Lifts The Skies by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow]()
He Who Lifts The Skies by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPowerful imagery creates a 'you are there' immersion in the story of the post-Flood world. Kacy Barnett-Gramckow fans raved about her extraordinary job of bringing the Flood to life in the Heavens Before. Now, she continues to flesh out the Bible's brief account of the rise of Nimrod and the Babel rebellion with scintillating characters and a wealth of imaginative detail... -
![The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly]()
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe long siege of Troy, the battles fought over it, and the city's eventual capitulation and incineration are events which have often been retold since their first recitation by Homer. Seldom, however, will they have been narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle, to its reek and terror and pain, as in this startling account by Daniel Kelly... -
![The Singing Sword by Jack Whyte]()
The Singing Sword by Jack Whyte
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsWe know the legends: Arthur brought justice to a land that had known only cruelty and force; his father, Uther, carved a kingdom out of the chaos of the fallen Roman Empire; the sword Excalibur, drawn from stone by England's greatest king.But legends do not tell the whole tale... -
![Camelot by Giles Kristian]()
Camelot by Giles Kristian
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFollowing his acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller, Lancelot, Giles Kristian's new novel returns us to the realms of Arthurian legend . . . Britain is a land riven by anarchy, slaughter, famine, filth and darkness. Its armies are destroyed, its heroes dead, or missing. Arthur and Lancelot fell in the last great battle and Merlin has not been seen these past ten years...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure adult audiobook book fiction -
![Tarikshir: The Awakening by Khayaal Patel]()
Tarikshir: The Awakening by Khayaal Patel
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA small princely state in Rajasthan is the last bastion of resistance against the might of the British Empire. While unrest surrounding the sudden death of the king of Devangarh grows, young prince Rudra Pratap Chauhan prepares to ascend the throne.But the kingdom is in turmoil. The Devangarh army is outnumbered and the British forces are closing in... -
![Vikramaditya Veergatha Book 1 The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath]()
Vikramaditya Veergatha Book 1 The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.But was the Halahala truly destroyed?A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings action-adventure adult ancient-civilization book epic fiction -
![Anastasia by Sophie Lark]()
Anastasia by Sophie Lark
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAnastasia is the princess no one needs: the fourth daughter born to an emperor without a son, and the only royal lacking a magical gift.Until she collides with a young Cossack rebel, changing both their lives forever.Damien is taken from everything he knows and raised as a ward of the Romanovs.Anastasia develops a strange kind of magic shared only by the Black Monk Rasputin... -
![The Dragon Ring by Fil Reid]()
The Dragon Ring by Fil Reid
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe present day – 24-year-old librarian Gwen goes to scatter her father’s ashes on Glastonbury Tor and is kidnapped back in time to become King Arthur’s Dark Age queen – Guinevere...Categorized as:
historical-fiction arthurian retellings romance time-travel fantasy historical paranormal -
![The Children of Llyr by Evangeline Walton]()
The Children of Llyr by Evangeline Walton
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn stark, gaunt prose, it chronicles the years of Bran the Blessed - he who was so vast a man that no house could hold him nor ship bear his bulk - and of the tale of his beloved sister Branwen, his brother Manawyddan, and of his half-brothers Nissyen and the ghastly Evnissten... -
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![The Skystone by Jack Whyte]()
The Skystone by Jack Whyte
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsHow do you find a new way to approach a story as familiar as any in the English language? If you're Jack Whyte, you begin your retelling of the Arthurian saga by taking one giant step backward to the latter days of the Roman Empire in Britain, sometime between the first breaching of Hadrian's Wall and the legendary days of King Arthur... -
![Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch]()
Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn atmospheric, feminist retelling of the early life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, set against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.When King Uther Pendragon murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage, Morgan refuses to be crushed. Trapped amid the machinations of men in a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, she discovers secret powers... -
![The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic by Alberto Manguel, Gianni Guadalupi]()
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic by Alberto Manguel, Gianni Guadalupi
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsFrom Atlantis to Xanadu and beyond, this Baedeker of make-believe takes readers on a tour of more than 1,200 realms invented by storytellers from Homer's day to our own. Here you will find Shangri-La and El Dorado; Utopia and Middle Earth; Wonderland and Freedonia. Here too are Jurassic Park, Salman Rushdie's Sea of Stories, and the fabulous world of Harry Potter...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings 20th-century book children classics fairy-tale -
![Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn]()
Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish by Morgan Llywelyn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis is the tale of the coming of the Irish to Ireland, and of the men and women who made that emerald isle their own... -
![Karna: The Great Warrior by रणजित देसाई]()
Karna: The Great Warrior by रणजित देसाई
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratings'Who am I?' It was a question that had troubled him all his life. His whole life had seemed entangled in the answer. His dignity, his destination, his ambitions - they all seemed linked to that entanglement. The irony was that the truth, instead of liberating him, had made him rudderless. In the Mahabharata, Karna is known to be the only warrior who could match Arjuna... -
![Shiang by C.F. Iggulden]()
Shiang by C.F. Iggulden
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBecome one of the first to read the second book in the bestselling Empire of Salt trilogy the epic fantasy series, and pre-order today.___________IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK . . . THEY WOULD CALL FOR WAR.In Shiang, the young king rules without dissent. Mazer swordsmen stand watch on every corner, looking for the first sign of rebellion... -
![The Lance Thrower by Jack Whyte]()
The Lance Thrower by Jack Whyte
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsJack Whyte has written a lyrical epic, retelling the myths behind the boy who would become the Man Who Would Be King--Arthur Pendragon. He has shown us, as Diana Gabaldon said, "the bone beneath the flesh of legend." In his last book in this series, we witnessed the young king pull the sword from the stone and begin his journey to greatness... -
![The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde]()
The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWinner -- N.N.Light Award for Best Romance 2016.Bronze Medal Winner -- Circle Of Books Rings Of Honor Awards 2016Finalist -- The Golden Box Book Publishing Golden Book Award 2017“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure book family fiction historical -
![Out of Avalon by Jennifer Roberson, Tricia Sullivan]()
Out of Avalon by Jennifer Roberson, Tricia Sullivan
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWHERE MAGIC WAS BORN AND LEGEND LIVES ON...Avalon. Mist-shrouded, wrapped in magic. The legendary island of the Goddess, resting place of Arthur. This mystical island's legacy has remained strong over the centuries, becoming a symbol of hope and wonder...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings adult anthologies dragons fiction high-fantasy -
![The Heirs of Locksley by Carrie Vaughn]()
The Heirs of Locksley by Carrie Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"We will hold an archery contest. A simple affair, all in fun, on the tournament grounds. Tomorrow. We will see you there."The latest civil war in England has come and gone, King John is dead, and the nobility of England gathers to see the coronation of his son, thirteen-year-old King Henry III...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings action-adventure audiobook book family female-author fiction -
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![Olde Robin Hood by Kate Danley]()
Olde Robin Hood by Kate Danley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRebel. Outlaw. Hero. Exiled for an unjust crime and forced to use whatever means necessary to survive, a figure of hope emerges from Sherwood Forest. But what most people know about Robin Hood (the enemy of Prince John and nobleman loyal to King Richard) was an invention of a playwright nearly three hundred years after Robin Hood died. However, there are older stories about the real Robin Hood...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings action-adventure adult book coming-of-age fiction historical -
![Island of the Mighty by Evangeline Walton]()
Island of the Mighty by Evangeline Walton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTricked into giving birth to him, the sorceress Arianhod swore that the child should be nameless until she named him...that he should not bear arms until she herself bestowed them...and that he should never love a woman of the human race.But her brother and lover Gwydion tricked her into bestowing a name, Liew...and Gwydion's wiles brought her to arm him.. -
![Dark Age by James Wilde]()
Dark Age by James Wilde
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBridging the gap between 'Game of Thrones' and Bernard Cornwell comes the second chapter in James Wilde's epic adventure of betrayal, battle and bloodshed set during the darkest of times - a time when civilisation itself was foundering, when Britain was facing a Dark Age and in desperate need of a hero.. -
![Il cuore di Derfel by Bernard Cornwell]()
Il cuore di Derfel by Bernard Cornwell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTorna l'attesa voce di Derfel Cadarn, il guerriero fattosi monaco, un tempo protetto di Merlino e paladino fedele di Artù, per accompagnarci lungo un nuovo capitolo delle sue memorie, che lo vede impegnato a lottare su due fronti ugualmente insidiosi: l'amore e la guerra... -
![La spada perduta by Bernard Cornwell, Gaetano Luigi Staffilano]()
La spada perduta by Bernard Cornwell, Gaetano Luigi Staffilano
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings... -
![Summertide by Charlotte E. English]()
Summertide by Charlotte E. English
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOn the edge of the town of Kottow stands the tallest (and oddest) Tree in the land. It’s a staid and solid arbour — until the Tree picks up its mighty old roots and wanders off, taking its resident band of misfits away with it. Whither goes the Tree? Not even the wizard can say.'There is something mighty fey about all this, or my name ain't Diggory Stokey... -
![The Song of Rhiannon by Evangeline Walton]()
The Song of Rhiannon by Evangeline Walton
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsA retelling of The Mabinogion in novel form. Manawydon finally unites with Rhiannon - an aspect of the Goddess - but his happiness is shaken by the appearance of the Gray Man, who seeks vengeance against the living and especially against one who would claim the Goddess... -
![Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané]()
Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of Karna's Wife, comes this book about Urmila, Sita's sister and the neglected wife of Lakshman, and one of the most overlooked characters in the Ramayana. As Sita prepares to go into exile, her younger sisters stay back at the doomed palace of Ayodhya, their smiles, hope and joy wiped away in a single stroke...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings adult book feminism fiction historical literary-fiction -
![Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless]()
Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the author of the Gael Song trilogy, an epic new historical fantasy set in the tumultuous, magical world of medieval Ireland during the time of the Norman invasion.Over a hundred years after she went missing, Isolde, born to the family of a famous Irish king and a powerful immortal, inexplicably reappears.Her mother's kin, the Descendants, are one of the two magical races of Ireland... -
![Soldier of Arete by Gene Wolfe]()
Soldier of Arete by Gene Wolfe
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsOf all mortals, Latro was the least favoured - or the most.The wound that had destroyed his memory had given him the ability to see the unseen: the world of the gods, the demi-gods and the fabulous.Each day events were entered on a scroll so that the next morning he could know his friends, his rivals and have some understanding of what had gone before... -
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![King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Joshua E. Hanft, Howard Pyle]()
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Joshua E. Hanft, Howard Pyle
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFor generations, readers have enjoyed classic literature. They have delighted in the romance of Jane Austen, thrilled at the adventures of Jules Verne, and pondered the lessons of Aesop. Introduce young readers to these familiar volumes with Great Illustrated Classics. In this series, literary masterworks have been adapted for young scholars...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure book children children-books classics -
![The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike]()
The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKing Arthur and his contemporaries are boldly reimagined in this “mystical, epic, and captivating” (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author) series that resurrects the real historical figures who inspired one of our most enduring legends... -
![Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman]()
Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant sequel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Blackbeard.Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings action-adventure book fiction historical multi-pov outlaws -
![Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy]()
Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProudly dedicated to both J. R. R. Tolkien and Richard Wagner, Rhinegold is a tour de force that will enthrall devotees of either master of magic, casting a fascinating new light on the stories they have told. What The Mists of Avalon did for Celtic culture, Rhinegold does magnificently for its Nordic counterpart... -
![Dark Empress by S.J.A. Turney]()
Dark Empress by S.J.A. Turney
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe nomads of the southern deserts have a saying: “When something is broken it should never be discarded. So long as the pieces remains, the whole can be remade.”A time of trials, war and terror is coming to the desert city of M’Dahz, the Empire’s southernmost outpost. As Imperial power falters, then withdraws, the population lives in constant fear of invasion by vicious Pelasian satraps... -
![Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth]()
Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA spellbinding reimagining of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ set amongst the wild bohemian circle of Pre-Raphaelite artists and poets.The Pre-Raphaelites were determined to liberate art and love from the shackles of convention. Ned Burne-Jones had never had a painting lesson and his family wanted him to be a parson. Only young Georgie Macdonald – the daughter of a Methodist minister – understood...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings romance historical fiction fantasy fairy-tale audiobook -
![The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges, Trina Schart Hyman]()
The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges, Trina Schart Hyman
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsNoble Gareth defeats a dreaded knight and wins the hand of a fair maiden...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure adult ancient-civilization book children -
![Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin]()
Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhimsical and poignant, Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights tells the story of Thomas Farmer who dreams of becoming a knight, sets out to save his brother from the hands of an evil Baron, and uncovers a plot that threatens Camelot itself... -
![Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol by Tom Mula, Larry Wojick]()
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol by Tom Mula, Larry Wojick
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Scrooge? I have to redeem old Scrooge? The one man I knew who was worse than I was? Impossible! I'll never be able to..."DICKENS ONLY GAVE US part of the story! Chained, shackled, and condemned to a hellish eternity, Ebenezer Scrooge's mean, sour, pruney old business partner has only one chance to free himself: to escape his own chains, he must first redeem Scrooge...Categorized as:
historical-fiction retellings book children-books fiction ghosts historical holidays -
![Ikimetsien sydänmailla by Mikko Kamula]()
Ikimetsien sydänmailla by Mikko Kamula
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Äkkiä Heiska kavahti taaksepäin. Naisen selässä oli jotain kovaa ja kyhmyräistä. Hän tuijotti Heiskaa kaipaavasti mutta selvästi varuillaan, olkapäät jännittyneinä. Muistutti jälleen villiä kissaeläintä. Silloin Heiska ymmärsi. Nainen ei ollut ihminen."Mitä tiedät suomalaisesta mytologiasta? Metsänhaltijoita, maahisia, jättiläisiä, noitia, tietäjiä ja nykyään jo lähes unohtuneita jumalia... -
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![Guinevere's Gamble by Nancy McKenzie]()
Guinevere's Gamble by Nancy McKenzie
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe second book in the Chrysalis Queen Quartet, starring the young Guinevere.Much has changed over the last few months in Gwynedd, but Guinevere is still uncertain where her future lies. She recently made the unsettling discovery that she has been guarded all her life by a pagan tribe who believes she is destined to save them—they believe she and the great king will one day wed...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings action-adventure book children fairy-tale female-mc -
![Laurel: By Camelot's Blood by Sarah Zettel]()
Laurel: By Camelot's Blood by Sarah Zettel
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA powerful queen and an Arthurian knight risk their lives and love for their kingdoms in this romantic fantasy from an award-winning author. Romance and Arthurian legend combine in this epic series featuring the women of Camelot... -
![Last Sword of Power by David Gemmell]()
Last Sword of Power by David Gemmell
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBLOOD KINGThe Goths followed a bloodthirsty new leader, one who sought to open the Gates of Hell: Wotan. His immortal power stemmed from human sacrifice and dark sorcery, and no sword could touch him. He rode the winds on a leather-winged steed, while his armies cut a deadly swath across the northern kingdoms. Even death's icy hand could not stop them. Only Uther Pendragon could save Britannia...Categorized as:
arthurian historical-fiction retellings 20th-century action-adventure adult book epic -
![The Child Queen: The Tale of Guinevere and King Arthur by Nancy McKenzie]()
The Child Queen: The Tale of Guinevere and King Arthur by Nancy McKenzie
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe story of a love and a treachery that would live for all time. Guinevere and Arthur... -
![The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere by Phyllis Ann Karr]()
The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere by Phyllis Ann Karr
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn The Idylls of the Queen, Phyllis Ann Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy.Queen Guenevere is giving a dinner to honor King Arthur's knights when one guest, Sir Patrise, falls dead of poison... -
![The Serpent and the Grail by A.A. Attanasio]()
The Serpent and the Grail by A.A. Attanasio
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe boy-king Arthor has beaten back the berserker wolf warriors of the Saxon god, uniting his island kingdom -- but at a terrible cost. For the Grail, the chalice of the Last Supper and the magical shield of Britain, has been stolen.Without the Grail's protection, Britain lies parched and barren, a demon-haunted landscape where sulfurous vapors taint ther air...
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