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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, The Sacred Band Saga by James MacTavish began five years ago, offers a timely and unique fantasy exploration of LGBTQ+ history and socio-political themes, challenging stereotypes through a sweeping narrative of significant past events.
The Sacred Band Saga
James MacTavish’s The Sacred Band Saga is an ambitious and sprawling epic that weaves together Arthurian legend, historical upheavals, and timeless human struggles into a richly imaginative narrative. Spanning centuries and continents, the series reimagines the eternal conflict between mythic forces—the White Dragon and Red Dragon knights, the Sacred Band warriors, and descendants of the Round Table—while grounding their battles in the complexities of real-world events.
From the American Civil War to the rise of the Third Reich, and from a modern plague to the streets of 1980s Ireland, MacTavish crafts a saga that is as much about the human spirit as it is about swords and sorcery.
The Sacred Band: Union – A Nation Divided, A Myth Reborn
The saga begins with Union, set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Lady Morgan Worthington, a modern incarnation of Morgan le Fay, emerges as a visionary wielding the Palladium—a mystical artifact tied to the birth of empires. Leading her six White Dragon Knights, she seeks to forge a new empire in the United States, a nation teetering on the edge of division. Opposing her is the Red Dragon, guided by the bloodline of Sir Galahad and the secretive ‘Secret Six,’ who brandish the legendary Excalibur to halt her ambitions. Caught in the crossfire is the wielder of the King’s Blade, descended from Sir Bedivere, torn between loyalties as the war rages.
At the heart of Union lies the Sacred Band, a group whose leader and his partner grapple with the era’s defining moral conflict: slavery. As tensions over race and creed threaten to fracture the nation, their personal stakes mirror America’s broader struggle for equality. MacTavish deftly blends historical realism with mythic grandeur, setting the tone for a series that thrives on the interplay between legend and humanity.
The Sacred Band: Destiny – A Fight Against Tyranny
In Destiny, the saga leaps to World War II, where the fires of war engulf Europe under the Third Reich’s shadow. The White Dragon Knights, ever tied to empire-building, align with the Nazi regime, wielding the Palladium to fuel its genocidal ambitions. Standing against them are the Red Dragon Knights, led by a British government official and a French Resistance soldier, who unite to combat the spread of hate. The Sacred Band faces a new trial as they become targets of persecution, their resilience tested in the face of unimaginable horror.
A standout character emerges in Adam Drobinski, a Polish fighter pilot and concentration camp escapee. Fleeing to Britain, Drobinski discovers that his sexuality—long a source of personal shame—becomes his greatest strength, a beacon of defiance and hope. Destiny elevates the series’ emotional depth, intertwining the fight against fascism with a deeply personal journey of self-acceptance, making it a poignant reflection on courage in dark times.
The Sacred Band: Severance – A Plague of Mythic Proportions
Set eight years after an event known as “the Trinity,” Severance finds the Sacred Band and the descendants of the Round Table working in uneasy harmony under the leadership of Adam Allen. Their unity is shattered by a new threat: a selective, deadly virus reminiscent of the Black Death. Behind this scourge are the twin children of Queen Niobe, descendants of the House of Thebes, whose vendetta against gods and mortals alike drives the chaos.
Severance shifts the saga into a speculative realm, blending ancient Greek mythology with a modern pandemic. The virus’s mysterious selectivity raises questions of fate and morality, challenging the Sacred Band to confront an enemy unlike any they’ve faced before. MacTavish’s knack for merging myth with contemporary fears shines here, offering a gripping allegory for resilience in the face of existential crises.
The Sacred Band: Armada – The Return of the Right Hand
In Armada, the focus turns to Manresa, Spain—fabled as the site of Castle Corbenic, home of the Fisher King. The blade of the Thirteenth, tied to Sir Percival, King Arthur’s steadfast Right Hand Knight, resurfaces, its cursed power threatening the world. While the city appears untouched by the devastation wrought by Niobe’s son Damasichthon in Severance, the source of its protection unnerves the Sacred Band and the Round Table’s heirs.
This installment delves deeper into Arthurian lore, exploring Percival’s legacy and the haunting weight of duty. The contrast between Manresa’s eerie calm and the global turmoil beyond its borders creates a suspenseful mystery, positioning Armada as a pivotal chapter in the saga’s unfolding tapestry.
The Sacred Band: Donnelly – A Forging in Fire
The short story Donnelly offers an intimate look at Iain Donnelly, one of the Sacred Band’s most enigmatic and ruthless members. Set in the Republic of Ireland during the 1980s and 1990s, amid the turmoil of The Troubles, Donnelly’s origin tale is a crucible of faith, identity, and violence. Navigating a society riven by conflict and intolerance, his journey shapes him into a formidable figure whose destiny lies at the saga’s core.
Though shorter in scope, Donnelly adds a vital layer to the series, grounding its mythic sweep in the raw, personal struggles of its characters. MacTavish uses this entry to explore how individual pain can fuel a broader fight for justice, making Donnelly a compelling linchpin for the larger narrative.
A Saga of Legacy and Humanity
The Sacred Band Saga is a testament to James MacTavish’s ability to fuse the grandeur of myth with the grit of history. From the American Civil War to the streets of Manresa, the series charts a course through humanity’s darkest moments, illuminating them with the enduring light of courage, love, and redemption. The interplay between the White and Red Dragon Knights, the Sacred Band’s evolving role, and the Round Table’s legacy creates a dynamic conflict that resonates across time.
At its core, the saga is a celebration of the outsider—the enslaved, the persecuted, the misunderstood—who rise to shape the world. Whether through Adam Drobinski’s defiance or Iain Donnelly’s forged resolve, MacTavish reminds us that strength often lies in what society deems weak. As the series continues to unfold, it promises to challenge readers with its blend of epic stakes and intimate truths, cementing its place as a modern myth for turbulent times.
James MacTavish
I want my heroes to actually inspire and lead in my readers’ heads, not just be accepted for who they are, particularly in terms of their stories of coming out. It’s all about challenging stereotypes and working to help people find their place in the world, and live as their best self. I found that previous attempts to do this were helpful, but the gay characters were still chock-full of stereotypes that may suit some, but certainly not all. I wanted, leaders, fighters, warriors – and recognised as such, as opposed to endless tales of struggle.
Each story is a creative and unique mix that will have any reader questioning who they are and what they should believe. Spoiler alert – it’s loyalty, duty and the love of their friends and family, not for those that purely wish to read hyper-sexualised fantasy books that again, do little to change a well worn stereotype.
-James MacTavish
James MacTavish is a writer with a direct, no-nonsense approach, shaped by a personal frustration that emerged over twenty years ago when he came out as gay. Finding no TV, movie, or book heroes in the LGBT community who truly spoke to him—often seeing only clichés of struggle, pity, or flamboyance—he set out to create his own. A lover of history and mythology, MacTavish draws from over two thousand years of the past to craft role models he felt were missing, aiming to inspire young gay men with characters who lead and transcend rather than merely seek acceptance.
As a competitive swimmer, he brings themes of strength and discipline to his work, championing the idea that difference is a virtue, not a flaw. Rejecting cultural stereotypes, his debut fiction blends Ancient Greece, Arthurian legend, and historical settings into gripping narratives. MacTavish’s mission is clear: to offer heroes who don’t just survive but shape their worlds, providing a bold, authentic voice for those tired of predictable portrayals.
Find more from James MacTavish now:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/41y4YsJ
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FxhfGj
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