The Broken Kingdom – my homage to King Arthur
A new hero. An ancient enemy. A timeless story . . . Earlier this year, I published a “low” fantasy novel about King Arthur called The Broken Kingdom. Set in a chaotic post-Roman Britain filled with many warring petty kingdoms, Arthur, son of Uthur the Pendragon, with his band of loyal warriors, struggles to unite the fragmented, war-torn island in the face of an invasion of Saxon warriors fleeing their drowned homeland and the appearance in the far north of a rapacious dragon and his mutant Wormkind offspring.
The response has been a bit muted, to be honest. It is not selling particularly well, and I have had very few reviews. I am trying to work out why. I think it’s a good, exciting yarn, with plenty of action, a tragic love story, heroic characters, a dash of magic, big battles and even the spice of incest, and while some people have said nice things, not many of them have engaged with the book since it came out in July.
This could be because I released it in five episodes between November 2023 and June 2024, each episode a small chunk of story about 20,000 words long. Then I published there whole thing in July, which is why on the cover above it says “All Episodes”. It seemed like a good idea at the time – I could write a small part of the story (about one fifth of it) and publish it between my other commitments. It wasn’t terribly economic because I had go through the publishing process five times, and pay for five covers (six including the one above). Now I would like to ask your opinion, dear reader, on the matter.
First of all, should I continue with the story? Maybe Arthur has been done to death and the public appetite is sated for old-fashioned stories like this. Should I just stop, abandon the whole Arthur project and get on with other things? If you think so, tell me using the Contact button on the top of the page.
Secondly, should I continue to write it in this manner, episode by episode? I have just sent off a big piece of work to my publisher (a whole Mongol novel) and I have a bit of time to write another Arthur episode, if people want me to, before starting Book 2 in that Mongol series. The alternative is waiting till I have written the second Mongol book (deadline is in May), and then writing the whole of the new Arthur story. That would mean publishing Wormkind 2 in December 2025 as a whole book. What do you think I should do? Tell me via the Contact form above. Or the Comments below, if you have already been in touch.
Finally, should I leave it be and get on with my new Robin Hood novel, which I have started but not got very far with? That would mean no new King Arthur book (or episodes) till 2026.
I hope you will be kind enough to take the time to tell me what you think of the book (or episodes), your feedback is invaluable. A short review would be really appreciated for The Broken Kingdom, if you feel so inclined. Also, if you would like to read the book episode by episode (each one is only 99p), start with Arthur’s Bane, and tell me what you think. I still believe The Broken Kingdom is some of my finest work.
In other news
Blood of the Bear, the fifth and final Fire Born novel, came out about a month ago, and you can now get it in paperback, eBook and audio versions. Templar Traitor – the Englishman who fought for Genghis Khan (my first Mongol novel, which is based on an extraordinary true story) will be published by Canelo in April 2025 but you can pre-order a copy from Amazon, if you’d like to (and that would be extremely helpful).
Enjoyed the book but struggled with it dropping in episodes. Would be happy to see more, but as a complete book. But also looking forward to more Robin!
Cheers, Nick! Helpful as always. Thanks mate! Angus
When Stephen King wrote The Green Mile I waited to read until I had all the episodes. I do that with many serial stories. I did that with your Robin Hood series and loved it. I would rather read “all episodes” then wait for each to come out and possibly lose the thread. BTW, there can never be enough King Arthur!!!!!!
Thank you, Linda Very useful advice. Appreciated. Regards, Angus
Hope you continue the Arthur series. However, I would prefer it in one volume rather than monthly episodes. I’ve read the first four parts and didn’t realise the fifth chapter had been released.
OK, thanks for the feedback, David. Sorry you didn’t realise the fifth one was out. I think I am not going to do the next Arthur book in episodes, if that helps. Regards, Angus
I much prefer them as complete books. Have to be honest I feel the Arthur genre is very over saturated. I personally would always read your books, and think you’ve approached this in new way that makes it different. Would love to know what happens next. BUT I can imagine other people not wanting to read another Arthur story.
Thanks for the feedback, Kieran. Very useful. I think you may be right about over-saturation. Cheers, Angus