Enemy of God (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = Enemy of God
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Bernard Cornwell
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Warlord Chronicles
genre = Historical, Fantasy novel
publisher = Michael Joseph & St Martins Press
release_date = 5 September 1996 (1st edition)
media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
pages = 416 pp (hardcover edition) & 472 p. (paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-7181-0051-4 (hardcover first edition) & ISBN 0-14-023247-8 (paperback edition)
preceded_by = The Winter King
followed_by =

"Enemy of God" is the second book in The Warlord Chronicles series by Bernard Cornwell. The trilogy tells the legend of Arthur seen through the eyes of his follower Derfel Cadarn.

Plot introduction

Plot summary

Chapter One:"Enemy of God" starts off where "The Winter King" left off. Arthur tells Derfel that he plans to marry Lancelot to Ceinwyn, and Derfel does not reveal that he is in love with Ceinwyn and wants her for himself. Derfel speaks with Merlin, and Merlin tells him that Arthur wants him to marry Gwenhwyvach, Guinevere's plain sister. Merlin asks Derfel to meet him and Nimue late one night on a hilltop, where Merlin has Derfel drink a hallucinogenic potion. Derfel hallucinates about Ceinwyn and sees a dark road and a ghoul, and he describes his vision to Merlin. Merlin tells him the ghoul was Diwrnach, a vicious Irish king of Lleyn, and he also asks Derfel to accompany him on the quest (which also requires the presence of a virgin) for a magical Cauldron, one of thirteen magical treasures of Britain, but Derfel is committed to taking his men to aid Arthur in his campaign to drive the Saxons out of eastern Britain. Merlin gives Derfel a bone, and tells him that all he has to do is break it and his wish will be granted, namely that Ceinwyn will choose him over Lancelot.

Characters in "Enemy of God"

*Derfel Cadarn – main protagonist, narrator, warrior and monk
*Arthur – son of Uther, protector of Mordred
*Guinevere – Princess of Henis Wyren
*Merlin – Lord of Avalon, druid
*Mordred – child King of Dumnonia
*Nimue – priestess, Merlin's lover
*Lancelot – King-in-exile of Benoic
*Galahad – Lancelot's illegitimate half-brother

*Ade – Lancelot's mistress
*Sagramor – Numidian commander in Arthur's service
*Morgan – Arthur's oldest sister, Merlin's ex-lover
*Tristan – Prince of Kernow, King Mark's son

Release details

*1996, UK, Michael Joseph ISBN 0-7181-0051-4, Pub date 5 September 1996, Hardcover 1st edition
*1997, UK, Penguin ISBN 0-14-023247-8, Pub date 3 July 1997, Paperback
*1997, USA, St Martins Press ISBN 0-312-15523-9, Pub date ? August 1997, Hardcover
*1998, USA, St. Martin's Griffin ISBN 0-312-18714-9, Pub date ? June 1998, Paperback