The Hawk and the Wolf: The Matter of Britain Book One (Volume 1)

Britain, the Island of the Mighty, stands on the brink of war with the Roman Empire. Excalibur is lost-the sword forged by the gods in the dawn of days, which has been passed down through the generations of High Kings. Can Britain stand without the help of the gods? Young prince Emrys, nick-named Merlin, knows his destiny is to find the lost sword of power, for the gods have given him a special gift to see into the heart of the world. He knows the rebel goddess Morgana will kill him to take Excalibur and be-come Queen of the Island of the Mighty, with a promise of days dark and bloody. In this fast-paced and violent tale, the world seems poised upon the brink of two possibilities: darkness and death . . . or the age of Arthur.

Mark Adderley was born in the railway town of Crewe, England. Like many of his contemporaries, he grew up devouring the novels of C. S. Lewis and, later, Ian Fleming and J. R. R. Tolkien. It wasn't until he was studying at the University of Wales, however, that he discovered the passion for the Arthurian legend that has now lasted . . . well, a very long time. During his studies in Wales, Mark also met an American woman, Adrianne, whom he married. Moving to America, he got, in not very rapid succession, four children and a PhD in medieval literature from the University of South Florida. He has lived in Florida, Georgia, Montana, and Missouri, and now teaches writing and humanities at Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, Wyoming.