When his woodcutter guardian is viciously murdered and his home burned to the ground, Tog is running for his life. It’s freezing, he’s lost everything, there’s a man with a knife on his tail, and all he has to survive are his wits, his fighting skills – taught to him by his woodcutter guardian but never before tested – the motley travelling companions he gathers on the way, and a garbled message – the woodcutter’s last, gasped words – STONE, ORCHARD, MOON. Are they clues? The ravings of a fading mind? So begins a journey through a land ruled by robber barons, though they call themselves lords and kings – towards a destiny – or choice – at first dimly perceived, growing stronger and more terrifying as his journey nears its climax.
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Reviews
'I Am The Blade is a thrilling adventure that captures your attention and won't let go.'
A dense and complex tale with many strong elements. With intelligent prose, interesting references, high adventure and a love story, this should prove to be a popular and rewarding read
'Wholly compelling and very funny.'
'The story of King Arthur is ingeniously reworked in JP Buxton's I am the Blade... This stirring account stops before the disintegration of the Round Table: its sequel next year should be well worth waiting for.'
[An] atmospheric mixture of adventure, humour, sophistication and nail-biting fight scenes.
One of the best new Arthurian adventures I've read for a long time. A terrific breakneck tale
'More than just a historical novel ... It succeeds in being a novel set in the past. This is achieved by Buxton's confident control over the many subtle strokes which make up his layered narrative, and by his adroit handling of the story.'
A riveting version of the Arthur story...a thrilling adventure that captures your attention and won't let it go. Thoroughly recommended
A modern fairy story ... Buxton is possibly the best of the new supernatural writers.
There are typescripts...that send a tingle up my spine, that trap me in their world, hanging around in my mind long after, setting a kind of benchmark of writing...I am the Blade is one of these. Wholly original...full of richness
This new and original take on the old enchanting story
'One of the best new riffs on Arthurian legend... the grittiest as well as one of the most exciting new renditions of the myth.'
'With intelligent prose, interesting references, high adventure and a love story, this should prove to be a popular and rewarding read.'
Praise for his adult novels: 'Wonderfully well-written.'