By Force Alone

By Lavie Tidhar,

Book cover of By Force Alone

Book description

There is a legend...

Britannia, AD 535

The Romans have gone. While their libraries smoulder, roads decay and cities crumble, men with swords pick over civilisation's carcass, slaughtering and being slaughtered in turn.

This is the story of just such a man. Like the others, he had a sword. He…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked By Force Alone as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A brutal re-telling of the King Arthur legend, this novel reimagines the familiar story, retaining the feeling of weird magic, while pulling no punches about the characters. Arthur is a thug, Guinevere is no better, Merlin is a frustrated sprite beset by his female counterparts, and Britain is best described as a “clogged sewer that Rome abandoned just as soon as it could.”

The first of a five-book planned series to tell the story of the Matter of Britain, this is a ruthless and dark take that grabbed me from the beginning. I’ve always loved history, even a warped version…

Want books like By Force Alone?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like By Force Alone.

Browse books like By Force Alone

Book cover of A Game of Thrones
Book cover of Thunder Road
Book cover of Half the World

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Anglo Saxons, King Arthur, and Rome?

Anglo Saxons 51 books
King Arthur 62 books
Rome 339 books