The Pendragon Cycle
The Pendragon Cycle is a series of historical fantasy books written by Stephen R. Lawhead that was inspired by Arthurian legend. The cycle was originally planned as a four-book series, but the original publisher opted to stop after the first three books, resulting in an abrupt ending to Arthur and the existence of many unfinished stories and plotlines; the first three books were thus originally called "The Pendragon Trilogy". Lawhead moved to a new publisher a few years later, and it was decided to expand on the trilogy by finishing the series, with two additional books planned. These books, Pendragon and Grail, are set in between earlier published portions covered in Arthur. Lawhead later wrote a final book, Avalon, which takes place in the same world, centuries after the original books. The film and television rights to the books were purchased by DailyWire+ in November 2022 and adapted into a television series, with the first planned season based on Taliesin and Merlin, subtitled Rise of the Merlin, and premiering January 2026. A seventh book, Aurelia, was published in January of 2025.
Overview
The series is a work of fiction that takes place in the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries and attempts to present the Arthurian legends in a historical setting while presenting the story with a reality the reader can connect with. Lawhead bases his stories on the Mabinogion, the History of the Kings of Britain and other works of Geoffrey of Monmouth, the writings of Taliesin, Gildas, and Nennius, and several other legends that he interweaves into the Arthurian legend.The books, with the exception of Taliesin and Avalon, are narrated in the first-person, and, except for Pendragon, Grail, and Avalon, are each split into three sections. Merlin and Pendragon are narrated by Myrddin. The first third of Arthur is narrated by Pelleas, the second by Bedwyr, and the third by Aneirin/Gildas. Grail is mostly narrated by Gwalchavad, with a short narration by Morgian at the beginning of most chapters. Taliesin follows Taliesin and Charis, alternating in each chapter; Avalon mostly follows James Stuart, Merlin, and the fictional Prime Minister Thomas Waring.
Novels
Main series
- Taliesin
- Merlin
- Arthur
- Pendragon
- ''Grail''
Sequel
The series proceeds as told in the following descriptions:''Taliesin''
Tells simultaneously the story of the fall of Atlantis, the subsequent travel of Princess Charis and her family to Ynys Prydein, and the discovery and training of Taliesin as a druid/bard. The two eventually meet and marry, and Myrddin is born just weeks before a tragedy brought about by Charis' jealous half-sister, Morgian.''Merlin''
Narrated by Myrddin. Tells of Myrddin's dual upbringing among the druids and Christian priests, his capture and mystical training among the Hill Folk, and his brief time as a king of Dyfed. He experiences a doomed romance with Princess Ganieda and long years of madness as a wild man of the woods before finding his destiny, helping the brothers Aurelius and Uther in turn become the High King of Britain, ultimately leading to the birth of Arthur.''Arthur''
Narrated by Pelleas, Bedwyr, and Aneirin. Tells of Arthur and Myrddin's attempt to create the paradisaical "Kingdom of Summer". Arthur is made Duke and Battlechief of Britain after drawing his father's sword from a stone, but must fight back the Saecsens and other barbarian invaders and unite the peoples of Britain before he can be accepted as High King.''Pendragon''
Narrated by Myrddin. Tells of an invasion of Ireland and Britain by the Vandal army of Twrch Trwyth, the Black Boar, and a subsequent plague that sweeps across Britain, threatening Arthur's Kingdom of Summer while it is still newborn.''Grail''
Narrated by Gwalchavad and Morgian. Tells of Arthur building a shrine to house the Holy Grail and how the beautiful and mysterious Morgaws joins his court. When treachery follows, Arthur's warriors brave the Wasteland of Lyonesse to retrieve the sacred relic.''Avalon: The Return of King Arthur''
In Portugal, the reprobate King Edward the Ninth has died by his own hand. In Britain, the British monarchy teeters on the edge of total destruction. And in the Scottish Highlands, a mystical emissary named Mr. Embries—better known as "Merlin"—informs a young captain that he is next in line to the throne. James Arthur Stuart is not the commoner he has always believed himself to be; he is Arthur, the legendary King of Summer, reborn. The road to Britain's salvation is dangerous, however, and powerful enemies wait in ambush. Arthur is not the only one who has returned from the mists of legend, and Merlin's magic is not the only sorcery that has survived the centuries.''Aurelia''
Narrated by the hitherto unseen mother of Aurelius and Uther, telling her life story to Myrddin around the time period of Merlin.Characters
Many historical characters exist in the cycle, alongside fictional characters: Taliesin, Magnus Maximus, Theodosius, Ambrosius Aurelianus, Vortigern, Constantine III, Myrddin Wyllt, Clovis I, Gwyddno Garanhir, Elffin ap Gwyddno, Horsa, Hengest, Cerdic, Aelle, Gildas, and Aneirin.| Series character | Historical and legendary bases |
| Aneirin | Gildas |
| Arthur/Artos/Artorius ap Aurelius | King Arthur |
| Avallach | Fisher King/Avalloc |
| Aurelius | Ambrosius Aurelianus |
| Bedwyr | Bedivere |
| Cai/Caius | Kay |
| Caledvwlch/Caliburnus | Excalibur |
| Charis | Lady of the Lake |
| Cymbrogi i.e. "Companions" | Knights of the Round Table |
| Cymry | Welsh |
| Dafyd | St.David of Wales |
| Ector/Ectorius | Sir Hector |
| Fergus mac Guillomar | Leondegrance/Fergus mor |
| Gereint | Gareth |
| Ganieda | Ganieda |
| Gorlas | Gorlois |
| Gwalchavad | Galahad |
| Gwalcmai | Gawain |
| Gwenhwyvar | Guinevere |
| "Joseph's Thorn" | Holy Thorn |
| Llwch Llenlleawg/Llencelyn | Lancelot |
| Macsen Wledig | Magnus Maximus |
| Medraut | Mordred/Mapon |
| Morgaws | Morgause/Guinevere |
| Morgian | Morgan le Fay/Nimue/Modron |
| Myrddin | Merlin |
| Ogryvan | Agravaine |
| Paulinus/Paulus | St. Paulinus of York |
| Rhys | Sir Robin |
| Saecsens | Saxons |
| "Sea Wolves" | Scotti |
| Urien Rheged | Urien |
| Ygerna | Igraine |
Locations
A listing of the locations and place names used in the series, and their modern equivalents :| Series name | Modern name |
| Afon Treont | River Trent |
| Albion | England |
| Armorica | Brittany |
| Avallon | Isle of Man/Avalon |
| Ynys Avallach | Glastonbury Tor/Annwn/Avalon |
| Baedun | Mons Badonicus |
| Britannia | Great Britain |
| Caer Alclyd | Glasgow |
| Caer Dyvi | Aberdyfi |
| Celyddon | Caledonia |
| Connacht | Connacht |
| Cymry | Wales |
| Dal Riata | Dál Riata |
| Danum | Doncaster |
| Deva | Chester |
| Dumnonia | Cornwall |
| Eboracum | York |
| Caer Edyn | Edinburgh |
| Edyn Rock | Arthur's Seat |
| Ffreincland | France |
| Gaul | France |
| Glevum/Caer Gloiu | Gloucester |
| Guaul | Antonine Wall |
| Ierne/Eirinn | Ireland |
| Caer Legionis | Caerleon |
| Caer Lial | Carlisle |
| Lindum | Lincoln |
| Lloegres | Logres |
| Londinium/Caer Lundein | London |
| Londinium Road | Watling Street |
| Llyonesse | Isles of Scilly |
| Maridunum | Carmarthen |
| Caer Melyn | Camelot |
| Mor Hafren | Bristol Channel |
| Muir Éireann | Irish Sea |
| Muir Nicht | "The Narrow Seas" |
| Caer Myrddin | Carmarthen |
| Orcades | Orkney |
| Pictland | Scotland |
| Ynys Prydein | "Isle of the Mighty" |
| Rotunda | The Round Table |
| Saecsen Shore | Saxon Shore |
| Saecsland | Jutland |
| "Shrine Hill" | Glastonbury Abbey |
| "The Summerlands" | Somerset |
| Caer Uisc | Exeter |
| Uladh | Ulster |
| Vandalia | Andalusia |
| Venta Belgarum/Caer Uintan | Winchester |
| "The Wall" | Hadrian's Wall |
| Ynys Witrin | "Isle of Glass" |