SamoaPhoenix Guest Review/Reread: The Squire, His Knight, & His Lady

Title: The Squire, His Knight, & His Lady Author: Gerald Morris Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Pages: 232 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Squire Terence and Sir Gawain are off questing again, but this time their journey is overshadowed by their ultimate destination-- Gawain is to meet up with the Green Knight in a contest that could easily lead to Gawain's death. Along the way the two have a slew of hair-raising adventures and encounter the usual odd assortment of characters: the dreaded Huntsman of Anglesey; the eccentric Parsifal; and the evil Marquis of Alva, from whom they rescue the plucky Lady Eileen.  Sparks instantly fly between Terence and Eileen as she joins the squire and his knight on their travels As they weave their way between the world of men and the Other World, both Gawain and Terence discover much about themselves-- Terence learns more about his past and about what the future holds for him, and Gawain is forced to confront the true nature of courage and honor.

I have no idea what the summary on this book is blabbering about. That first sentence doesn't even make sense. It makes it sound like Gawain and Terence were already out adventuring when they met the Green Knight, but…well, never mind.

I would complain about just about every cover of the old editions of these books (these are the covers that I own) but I will refrain so I don’t repeat myself every time. I will say it only once: I find the weird cut-and-paste-heads-onto-bodies thing that the cover designers did for the first eight books disturbing. Terence looks like a dwarf on this cover, which he clearly is not. View the superior reprint version below (courtesy of goodreads):

The only old cover that I don’t mind is the one for Parsifal’s Page. It is bright and attractive, does not have someone’s head pasted onto someone else’s body, and is still a scene out of the book. There. I have complained once and will say no more about the old covers unless I really like something about one of the new covers and feel compelled to comment.

Back to the review.

Spoilers, etc…

Reread: The Squire, His Knight, & His Lady

Title: The Squire, His Knight, & His Lady Author: Gerald Morris Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Pages: 232 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Squire Terence and Sir Gawain are off questing again, but this time their journey is overshadowed by their ultimate destination-- Gawain is to meet up with the Green Knight in a contest that could easily lead to Gawain's death. Along the way the two have a slew of hair-raising adventures and encounter the usual odd assortment of characters: the dreaded Huntsman of Anglesey; the eccentric Parsifal; and the evil Marquis of Alva, from whom they rescue the plucky Lady Eileen.  Sparks instantly fly between Terence and Eileen as she joins the squire and his knight on their travels As they weave their way between the world of men and the Other World, both Gawain and Terence discover much about themselves-- Terence learns more about his past and about what the future holds for him, and Gawain is forced to confront the true nature of courage and honor.

Also known as 'The Continuing Adventures of the Sir Wozzells' (look, you can never have too many, alright?).

Warning for Spoilers

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review/Reread: The Squire's Tale

So, a couple days ago I received an angry e-mail from SamoaPhoenix demanding to know why I hadn't told her I was reviewing the Squire's Tales... to which I promptly responded with a screencap of the e-mail I had sent her with a link to my review of the Squire's Tale ;)  How we got here isn't what's important.  What's important is that SamoaPhoenix wanted in on the action.  This isn't a joint review and we probably aren't going to be posting our discussions (that was a lot of work and there are almost double the books in this series).  But you will be getting back-to-back reread reviews from us which hopefully won't be too similar as we both enjoy these books and SamoaPhoenix and I can be scarily in step with each other sometimes (see the Crystal Cave Reviews).

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Squire's Tale Author: Gerald Morris Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf (Random House) Pages: 212 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Life for the young orphan Terence is peaceful, spent with the old hermit Trevisant in a quiet wood.  That is, until the day a strange green sprite leads Terence to Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, who is on his way to Camelot in the hope of being knighted.  Trevisant can see the future and knows that Terence must leave to serve as Gawain's squire.  From that moment on, Terence's days are filled with heartstopping adventure as he helps save damsels in distress, battle devious men, and protect Arthur from his many enemies.  Along the way, Terence is amazed at his skills and newfound magical abilities.  Were these a gift from his unknown parents? As Gawain continues his quest for knighthood, Terence knows he won't rest until he solves the riddle of his own past.

So a bit of background before my review begins. I was one of the ones who lobbied hard for Story to read this series back when we were in college and I am eager to join her on her read-through. I discovered these books at my local library back when I was fourteen. Only the first two books were published then, The Squire’s Tale and The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady. I was a casual YA fantasy reader, and Arthurian fantasy was as good as any other. It was also about this time that I discovered and read T.A. Barron’s Lost Years of Merlin series, Jane Yolen’s Sword of the Rightful King, and a few other Arthurian titles. I even gave The Once and Future King a try, and gave up in disgust after reading Book 1. If all Arthurian readers had back in the mid twentieth century were that and Mary Stewart’s Merlin series, well…let’s just say I’m glad I wasn’t alive then.

But I digress. Anyway, long story short I fell in love with this series. I eagerly waited for each new installment to be published all the way through high school, college, and beyond until the series wrapped up with Legend of the King in 2010. Gerald Morris has had a profound impact on my worldview in general. Along with J.K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce and Diane Duane, he was one of the most important authors to me during my formative high school years. He views life with such wisdom and humor. He made my journey through classic medieval works like The Canterbury Tales (from which the series takes its title) and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight enjoyable, because I felt like I knew secrets about the characters my bored classmates could never guess at. Just so you’re aware, I might be a bit biased in my reviews of some of my favorite Squire’s Tales, as they rank among my all-time favorite books. I don’t like all of them, and I will try to be as honest as possible and not just view them through my nostalgic rose-colored glasses.

On to the review!

Wait, one last thing: I have always wondered what was up with this cover. Having read the book, the scenario on the cover never comes close to occurring so I’m not sure what the heck the publishers were thinking on this one. I guess they wanted to indicate this is a humorous tale full of misadventure and folly…who knows. The reprint cover that is currently available through Amazon is way better in every aspect.

Warning for Spoilers 

Reread: The Squire's Tale

Title: The Squire's Tale Author: Gerald Morris Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf (Random House) Pages: 212 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Life for the young orphan Terence is peaceful, spent with the old hermit Trevisant in a quiet wood.  That is, until the day a strange green sprite leads Terence to Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, who is on his way to Camelot in the hope of being knighted.  Trevisant can see the future and knows that Terence must leave to serve as Gawain's squire.  From that moment on, Terence's days are filled with heartstopping adventure as he helps save damsels in distress, battle devious men, and protect Arthur from his many enemies.  Along the way, Terence is amazed at his skills and newfound magical abilities.  Were these a gift from his unknown parents? As Gawain continues his quest for knighthood, Terence knows he won't rest until he solves the riddle of his own past.

It's the Squire's Tales!  Here we are at the beginning of a ten book series by Gerald Morris that chronicles King Arthur's reign through the adventures of his knights.  These are some of my absolute favorite Arthurian retellings, but they're also fast reads.  So reviews should be coming pretty fast for a while is all I'm saying.

Warning for Spoilers

Muppet King Arthur Chapter Three Review

Title: Muppet King Arthur, Chapter Three Written By: Paul Benjamin and Patrick Storck Artist: James Silvani Colors: Eric Cobain Letterer: Deron Bennett Assistant Editor: Jason Long Editor: Aaron Sparrow Designer: Erika Terriquez Cover: David Petersen Publisher: Boom Kids! Pages: 22 Synopsis: (from the publisher trade) A Tale of Chivalry, adventure, chickens, and magic!  The tale of King Arthur has been told many times over the centuries, but never before has it included robots, knock-knock jokes, and boomerang fish!  The Muppets bring you this beloved classic in their signature style, adding twists and turns to the quest for the Holy Grail that would make a sane driver pull over and ask for directions!  Will the Frog King save his beloved England from the curmudgeonly Sam of Eagle?  Will the Lady of the Lake get back on the festival circuit?  Will they find a carpenter capable of making a round table?  Find out in MUPPET KING ARTHUR!

More Muppets!

Warning For Spoilers and General Silliness

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: By Camelot's Blood

Title: By Camelot's Blood Author: Sarah Zettel Publisher: Prologue Books Pages: 339 Synopsis: (from the publisher) An evocative and highly engaging romantic fantasy set in the evocative time of King Arthur. Laurel Carnbrea, Queen of Cambryn, arrives at Camelot to marry a man she has never met - Sir Agravain, the brother of the renowned Sir Gawain.  Laurel has heard that Agravain is a reserved and cold man, but marriage to King Arthur's nephew will give vital protection to her own lands.  However, before the marriage can be consummated, Laurel's new husband receives news that his father, King Lot, is dying, and he must return to his homeland of Gododdin in the north. King Lot has been mad for many years - tormented by the sorceress Morgaine, Arthur's half-sister and deadliest enemy.  Agravain and Laurel arrived to find the land of Gododdin in disarray and under threat of invasion from the Picts - led by Morgain. Laurel has powers of her own, inherited from her grandmother, the Sea, and is prepared to use them to save the land of the new husband she is learning to love.  By pitting herself against Morgaine she will face the gravest danger; and Agravain risks losing the woman who has finally managed to reach his heart.

Hooray for e-books! On a whim I was poking around Amazon and happened to come across the entire quartet for only $3 each. I own the first three in the series so I eagerly bought the last one so that I could continue my reviews. I will get around to For Camelot’s Honor eventually.

There seems to be some discrepancy about the names of the books in this series. One set of editions are simply titled ‘Camelot’s ---’, another set with slightly longer titles. Hence, this book is either titled By Camelot’s Blood or just Camelot’s Blood. Likewise this series is alternately known as “Paths to Camelot” or the “Two Ravens Saga”. Why this is, I can’t tell.

Warning for Spoilers

Gabbiebii Guest Review: Idylls of the Queen

Hello!  I'd like to welcome the newest member of the Guest Review Team, the fabulous Gabbiebii!  Gabbiebii answered the call I put out a few weeks ago asking for guest reviews.  She is a great lover of the Arthurian mythos and a Galahad super-fan (often finding herself disappointed with the lack of care authors give him).  We have sparred often over the deep and profound question of whether or not Lancelot adds anything of merit to the legends ( :-P), but as far as I'm concerned, she's A-Class and I love our debates.

Gabbiebii begins her time here reviewing one of my favorite retellings, Phyllis Ann Karr's The Idylls of the Queen.  Please give her a warm welcome and enjoy her review!

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Idylls of the Queen Author: Phyllis Ann Karr Publisher: Wildside Press Pages: 341 Synopsis: (from the goodreads) The arrangements for the dinner party were overseen by Queen Guenever herself. She selected the apples with her own hands. And before the evening ended, a young knight lay dead ... and Arthur's beloved, unfaithful queen stood branded as a murderess and condemned to death! Phyllis Ann Karr has taken Celtic legendry and given it a fresh new twist in this magical murder mystery of knights and sorcery, romantic entanglements and courtly intrigues. This is a tale that explores the passions and motivations of the men and women who stride through the pages of Mallory's romance: Sir Kay, the sharp-tongued seneschal; Nimue, the elusive Lady of the Lake; Morgon le Fay, Merlin's complex nemesis; the tormented sons of Lot and Morgawse; and Mordred, Arthur's own bitter, terrified son.

I started reading this book because an internet friend suggested it to me. She said it was one of her favourite books, and one of the best Arthurian retellings so far. I was curious, so I bought it. While it has been a pretty slow read (English is not my mother-tongue and so it took twice the amount of time I’d have put in if I had read it in my mother-tongue) it has definitely been a really pleasant one. I have to agree with my internet friend, it is one of the best retellings so far. 

The cover is not so appealing, though.  It has nothing to do with the plot at all. I’ve seen that there’s a better cover, featuring the poisoned apple but…unfortunately, I got the edition with the bad cover. I’m sad for this.

No Spoilers Here.  Read without Fear.

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: Kingdom of Summer

Title: Kingdom of Summer Author: Gillian Bradshaw Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Pages: 347 Synopsis: (from Goodreads) On the path toward greatness, even a hero makes mistakes. Armed with his magical sword and otherworldly horse, Gwalchmai proves himself the most feared and faithful warrior of Arthur's noble followers. But while defending the kingdom, he commits a grave offense against the woman he loves, leading her to disappear from his life and haunt his memories. With his trusted servant, Rhys, a commonsense peasant, Gwalchmai tries to find her in the Kingdom of Summer, where Arthur has sent him. But an unexpected and most malevolent force of evil and darkness is loose-that of his mother, the witch-queen Morgawse-and Gwalchmai finds that the secrets of his past may deny him peace... In the second book of Gillian Bradshaw's critically acclaimed trilogy, Sir Gawain comes to life as Gwalchmai, startlingly human yet fantastically heroic. .

Continuing on with my habit of reading Gawain stories...for some reason I am uninspired to read For Camelot's Honor. I'll get to it eventually. Maybe it's because what I really want to know is how Agravain and Laurel get together. I already know them from Camelot's Banner and Camelot's Shadow and they seem an unlikely couple, but of Sarah Zettel's Paths to Camelot quartet, Camelot's Blood is the one book I don't own and can't seem to get my hands on. To make it up to you, here instead is the second book in Gillian Bradshaw's Down the Long Wind trilogy. I reviewed the first book, Hawk of May, several months ago. Whether I will get around to reading the third book, In Winter's Shadow, is a difficult question because it's the tale of Camelot's downfall told from Guinevere's perspective rather than anyone connected with Gawain, and from what I understand doesn't really focus on him. In short, I seem to be unable to complete the reviews of a series...for now. Stay tuned!

SamoaPhoenix

Warning for Spoilers

Rude Tales and Glorious Review (TRIGGER WARNING!)

Title: Rude Tales and Glorious Author: Nicholas Seare aka Trevanian aka Rodney William Whitaker whose other aliases include Beñat Le Cagot and Edoard Moran. Illustrator: William Bramhall Publisher: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. Pages: 207 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Picture a wintry night in a remote corner of Wales-- sleet and rain lashing the great stones of the castle of Dolbadarn.  Within, imagine a baron sitting comfortably before a roaring fire with his wife, his fulsome daughter and their guest, the new clerick.  But the Baron is restless.  the clerick is a dull fellow, good only for 'confessing' the women in the upper chambers.  What the Baron yearns for are stories.  When a scurvy beggar and an ancient hag gain entrance claiming that they are in truth Sir Lancelot and the Fair Elaine, the Baron is only too glad to listen.  Fortified by good food and drink, Sir Lancelot begins telling the tales of Sir Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they "really happened." We meet the Knights milling about trying to decide how to choose their King.  Merlin, a bearded, sly old man with a magic act, announces that the matter will be settled by a contest called the Sword and the Stone.  He contrives for his assistant, Arthur, to win not only the adorable Gwen, known for her generosity in granting her favors far and wide.  We meet Sir Gay and Sir Gervais, each blinded by the beauty of the other, and the Black and Red Knights-- will they ever find out what the grail is?  We meet the marvelous Percival and his "flaw", a physical distinction "like the clapper of a great bell", and we follow his travels that, despite his affliction, finally earn him his place at the Round Table.  What brave deeds were done by these honorable fellows! These wonderful tales and more, so different from the ones in our history books, were penned in the fourteenth century by a forebear of the author, Nicholas Seare, who clearly has a sense of the ribald and satiric.  Seare has at least seen fit to share them with us all.  Medievalists will be edified, the general reader, amused and delighted. Nicholas Seare*, author of 1339 or So is a Welsh literature scholar.  Reclusive in the extreme, little is know of his history or current activities.  He lives in Caernarvonshire, Wales. * Nicholas Seare is actually the second pen name of a well-known author.

I really, really hate it when the summary screws stuff up.  If you're going to go that detailed into what the book is about, maybe you, publishers, could actually put in some effort into making sure that information is correct.  Of course, doing that probably requires reading the book and I understand why any sane person would give up halfway.

So, I've gotta put the trigger warning for discussions of rape and sexual assault up here before the review even starts.  The book basically reads like a badly told rape joke.  So, there's going to be a lot of ripping into talk about Nicholas Seare Trevanian Rodney William Whitaker's handling of that subject matter.

You people are just lucky I'm doing this review alone.  I almost invited Waldorf and Statler to come back and help me out.  The only reason I was able to get through this book was by imaging them dryly yelling "Funny, Funny, Funny," every time Seare Trevanian Whitaker used sexual assault as a punchline.

Warning for Spoilers and Trigger Warning for Discussions of Rape and Sexual Assault

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: Knights of the Round Table: Gawain

SamoaPhoenix sent me this review way back in April but due to personal things happening at the time, I had to put care and maintenance of Camelot's Library on hold while I got my head on straight.  That took a lot longer than I thought it would, but with the Muppet King Arthur review, this guest reivew and hopefully another review this weekend of a truly awful book, I think I'm back!

~Storyteller Knight

Title: Knights of the Round Table: Gawain Author: Gwen Rowley Publisher: Jove Pages: 320 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Sir Gawain is a knight as good as his word. Fiercely loyal to Arthur, he will do anything to serve his king. So when a hideous crone promises to give Arthur the answer to a riddle that will save his life in exchange for Gawain’s pledge to marry her, the knight does not hesitate. But the loathly lady is not who she appears to be. In truth, she is the lovely Aislyn, former apprentice to a sorceress. She was once desperately in love with Gawain, who rejected her because of her magic—or so she believes. Now she has transformed herself so she may exact her revenge. Yet Gawain’s gallantry and courteous treatment soften Aislyn’s bitter heart, and she is horrified to discover she has actually been enchanted. Only a kiss given with love can break the spell and restore her to the beautiful maiden she truly is…

I interrupted myself in the Paths to Camelot series to read yet another Gawain book. This one seemed like a good Spring Break choice as it is a bit more lighthearted than Paths to Camelot and lighter physically as well. The cover is, well…it’s a romance cover, let’s be honest. At least it’s obvious the cover designer read the book—they got that Gawain is really tall and the hair colors of Aislyn and Gawain are just about right. I don’t plan to read the other two books in the series.

Warning for Spoilers

Muppet King Arthur Chapter Two Review

Title: Muppet King Arthur, Chapter Two Written By: Paul Benjamin and Patrick Storck Artist: James Silvani Colors: Eric Cobain Letterer: Deron Bennett Assistant Editor: Jason Long Editor: Aaron Sparrow Designer: Erika Terriquez Cover: David Petersen Publisher: Boom Kids! Pages: 22 Synopsis: (from the publisher trade) A Tale of Chivalry, adventure, chickens, and magic!  The tale of King Arthur has been told many times over the centuries, but never before has it included robots, knock-knock jokes, and boomerang fish!  The Muppets bring you this beloved classic in their signature style, adding twists and turns to the quest for the Holy Grail that would make a sane driver pull over and ask for directions!  Will the Frog King save his beloved England from the curmudgeonly Sam of Eagle?  Will the Lady of the Lake get back on the festival circuit?  Will they find a carpenter capable of making a round table?  Find out in MUPPET KING ARTHUR!

Been a while, hasn't it?  You know the drill-- it's Muppets, so everything goes out the window.

Warning For Spoilers and General Silliness

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: Under Camelot's Banner

Title: Under Camelot's Banner Author: Sarah Zettel Publisher: Luna Pages: 560 Synopsis: (from the publisher) When war threatens the kingdom of Camliard, sisters Lynet and Laurel find themselves in the heart of the darkening crisis, with only one way to restore peace. While her older sister remains as a hostage, Lynet must bring back the last heir of Camliard’s ancient royal house—the High Queen Guinevere. But Lynet’s quest is not so easily achieved. Once in Camelot, she must deal with the politics of court as well as country. One ally is Gareth, youngest brother of the brilliant Sir Gawain, who aches to achieve knighthood and fame by his own hand. But Gareth soon finds this quest is no game, and that Lynet is no maid to be toyed with. With the machinations of the sorceress Morgain threatening their future, only Lynet and Gareth’s strength and love together can save the queen’s hereditary kingdom from a tangled web of magic, treachery and war. And that strength is failing…

I seem to have accidentally read book three of this series before book two. Oops. It doesn’t really seem to matter except for passing references to Geraint being married. Neither Risa nor Elen are mentioned by name.

Again, the blurb above lies to you. Guinevere’s hereditary kingdom is called Cambryn in this book, not Camlaird. At least the title is appropriate to the book’s content this time.

Warning for Spoilers

The Prince and the Pilgrim Discussion

This is part 3 of 3 in SamoaPhoenix and my joint review/discussion of Mary Stewart's The Prince and the Pilgrim.  My review can be found here and SaomoaPhoenix's review can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight


Last review!  And we're both so happy to be done with this series!

Warning for Spoilers of The Prince and the Pilgrim, The Paths of Camelot series, and Spamalot

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: The Prince and the Pilgrim

Part 2 of 3.  My review can be found here and the discussion of the book between myself and SamoaPhoenix can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Prince and the Pilgrim Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: William & Morrow Co. Pages: 292 Synopsis: (from the publisher) A story of adventure, love and sorcery! Mary Stewart returns to the world of King Arthur and Camelot—the magic era which she depicted in her enduring and highly acclaimed Merlin Trilogy: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. The prince, our hero, is named Alexander. He is but a tiny infant when his father, Prince Baudouin, is brutally murdered by the King of Cornwall in a remote corner of England. Aided by a trusted servant, Alexander’s mother escapes the same fate by fleeing with her son to a safe and secret haven. When Alexander comes of age he sets out to Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur and avenge the death of the father he never knew. The pilgrim is named Alice. We first meet her when she is a pretty child accompanying her father, a royal duke, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. While growing up into a beautiful young woman, Alice also experiences many adventures. Among them is the rescue of a young French nobleman who has in his possession an enchanted silver cup. Many believe the chalice to be the mysterious and much sought after Holy Grail. Prince Alexander is diverted in his quest for justice by the enchantments of Morgan le Fay, the seductive but evil sorceress. She persuades him to attempt a theft of the Holy Grail so that she can own it and thus gain power over King Arthur and his court. A wise man once said, “Everyone has their own grail.” Alexander’s search for the mysterious cup, Holy Grail or not, leads him to Alice. Together the prince and the pilgrim find what they’ve really been seeking: love, the greatest mystery of all.

I was interested to note that the blurb on this book makes no mention of The Wicked Day. I have no idea why the publishers would make this choice, as of the four previous books Wicked Day is the best, in my opinion. But people seem not to know what to call this series. Lots of people refer to it as The Merlin Trilogy even if they are aware of the existence of Wicked Day. No one seems to know Prince and the Pilgrim exists, even people who have read the other four and liked them. The reaction when I told people Story and I were reading all five Mary Stewart Arthurian books was usually: “Oh, I thought there were only three/four!” Thus, here is the review of the oft-overlooked fifth book.

Warning for Spoilers

The Prince and the Pilgrim Review

Review number five in SamoaPhoenix and my five part review series of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy which is actually five books.  SamoaPhoenix's reivew is found here and our discussion of the book can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Prince and the Pilgrim Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: Fawcett Crest Pages: 308 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Eager, burning and young, Alexander sets off towards Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur for the murder of his father.  But he is diverted from his quest by beautiful, sensual Morgan Le Fay, who persuades the young prince to attempt a theft of the Holy Grail Alice has lived a life of lively adventure, accompanying her father, a royal duke, on his yearly pilgrimage.  Now she has come under the protection of a young prince brothers were murdered, a prince who is in possession of an enchanted silver cup believed to be the Holy Grail. And so the state is set for two young seekers to meet-- and find the greatest treasure of all...

What?  What!  That is a horrible synopsis.  That's so bad and wrong and incorrect I can't even laugh at it the way I laughed at The Hollow Hills synopsis.  Thank you for ruining my expectations Fawcett Crest.

Warning for Spoilers

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: In Camelot's Shadow

Title: In Camelot's Shadow Author: Sarah Zettel Publisher: Luna Pages: 507 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Fleeing from the knowledge that her father had promised her to an evil sorcerer, Risa of the Morelands refused to be a sacrifice. Armed with her bow and her confidence, she swore to evade the wicked Euberacon’s claim. And when she stumbled upon Sir Gawain, returning to Camelot to warn of a plot against the kingdom, she thought she’d discovered the perfect place to hide. Surely the sorcerer Euberacon would not approach her at court? Now ensnared with court and political intrigue, Risa is out of her element. And Euberacon has forced a strong transformation spell upon her. There might be one chance left to save kingdom and soul—but it would take all the strength and power she had…

This book is the first in a series about the romances of the four Orkney brothers (Gawain, Agravain, Geraint and Gareth in this version). This book is Gawain’s, whose love life of the four is probably best known in legend. I currently own three of the four thanks to the local used book store and plan to review them all for you. If I can’t find book four (Agravain’s) then at some point I will borrow Story’s copy so as to complete the set.

Also, I do not understand the blurb above. The first paragraph is accurate enough, but there’s not a lot of “court and political intrigue”. And “save the kingdom”? That’s a side plot at best, and in the end the main series bad guy is only inconvenienced so I’m not sure either Gawain or Risa saved the kingdom. One more thing…the book is not all about Risa the way the blurb makes it sound. It is Gawain and Risa’s story and how they both overcome obstacles to come together.

Finally, um, what’s up with the title? It has nothing to do with what happens in the book other than it has the word “Camelot” in it. Odd.

Warning for Spoilers

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: Hawk of May

Title: Hawk of May Author: Gillian Bradshaw Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (Kindle Version) Synopsis: (from Goodreads) On the path toward greatness, every hero makes a choice. Legends sing of Sir Gawain, one of the most respected warriors of King Arthur’s reign and one of the greatest champions of all time. But this is not that story. This is the story of Gwalchmai, middle son of the beautiful, infinitely evil sorceress Morgawse, and gifted student of her dark magical arts. A story of an uncertain man, doubting his ability to follow his elder brother’s warrior prowess and seeking to find his own identity by bonding with his frightening and powerful mother. Disappointed in himself and despised by his father, Gwalchmai sets out on a journey that will lead him to the brink of darkness…a tale of loss, redemption and adventure, Hawk of May brings new understanding to Sir Gawain, the legend of King Arthur, and the impact of choices made—and the consequences that follow.

Hello everyone! It’s me again, back on my chosen calling of reviewing books about Sir Gawain. If I ever doubted his awesomeness after reading Mary Stewart’s Wicked Day, my faith is restored to me now.


Warning for Spoilers

The Wicked Day Discussion

This is part 3 of 3 in SamoaPhoenix and my joint review/discussion of Mary Stewart's The Wicked Day.  My review can be found here and SaomoaPhoenix's review can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight


SamoaPhoenix and I have just swapped our reviews of the book and she has just finished reading my take on the book.

Warning for Spoilers

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: The Wicked Day

Part 2 of 3.  My review can be found here and the discussion of the book between myself and SamoaPhoenix can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Wicked Day Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: William Morrow and Co Pages: 447 Synopsis: (from the publisher) The Wicked Day is the gripping story of Mordred, bastard son of King Arthur by incest with his half-sister Morgause, witch-queen of Lothian and Orkney. Morgause sent the child to the Orkney islands to be reared there in secret, in the hope that one day he would become, as Merlin the Enchanter had prophecied, the doom of her hated half-brother. When Mordred is taken from his rude life as a fisherboy in the islands and suddenly thrust into the full panoply of the High King Arthur’s court, he learns of his true parentage and rises to a position of trust in his father’s kingdom. But, as the plots and counterplots of the last part of Arthur’s reign unfold, Mordred is drawn into a tangled web of tragedy that is the climactic drama of Arthurian legend. The Wicked Day breathtakingly displays Mary Stewart’s extraordinary gift for bringing the obscure past to life. Her characters are unforgettable: the young Mordred, whose close bond with his father arouses dire jealousies in the High Court at Camelot; his malevolent mother; her four unruly sons by King Lot; King Arthur himself, his Queen, Guinevere, his trusted friend Bedwyr; and the warring factions that seek to bring down the bastions of Arthur’s new confederation of Britain. As she did in her earlier Arthurian novels, Mary Stewart challenges the accepted legends in this stirring and danger-ridden tale. Was Mordred in truth a traitor—or the victim of implacable fate? Mary Stewart’s view brings tremendous emotions impact to the drama, as Merlin’s prophecy hangs broodingly over each moment and the action plays itself out inexorably to the final, wicked day…

I recently joined goodreads.com and on a whim looked up Mary Stewart's Arthurian books. The number of resoundingly positive reviews is astounding. People seem to think these books are the greatest thing since sliced bread; a lot of them called them their favorite books ever. I do not understand this attitudes. This book was the best of the four so far by far, but that doesn't make them great. They summarize far too much and the characters are barely sympathetic at best. They're certainly not very lively.  I feel sorry for anyone reading fantasy in the 70s and 80s if this was the best there was to offer.

Warning for Spoilers

Reread: The Wicked Day Review

Review number four in SamoaPhoenix and my five part review series of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy which is actually five books.  SamoaPhoenix's reivew is found here and our discussion of the book can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight

Title: Wicked Day Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton Pages: 350 Synopsis: (from the publisher) The Wicked Day tells the story of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son by incest with his half-sister Morgause, witch-queen or Lothian and Orkney.  Morgause sent the child to the Orkney islands, to be reared there in secret, in the hope that one day he would become, as Merlin had prophesied, the doom of her hated half-brother How Mrdred fought to deny that destiny, hoe he rose at length to a position of trust in his father's kingdom, becoming Arthur's regent and eventually his heir, is the substance of this story.  That he did so is not denied even by the romancers who make Mordred the 'black treacherous villain' or the Arthurian legend. The Wicked Day does not make Mordred into a 'hero', but it does show him as a real human being, fallible rather than evil, a powerful and ambitious man whose actions are reasonable, not (as in legends) inconsistent and often foolish. The Wicked Day comes as a postscript to Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy, and in it, as before, a dark age of history is brought to vivid life, and a tangled mass of legend made plausible.  The story of the hidden prince, the witch's curse, the wild doings of the Orkney princes, the plots and counter-plots of the last part of Arthur's reign, is a colorful and exciting one, moving inexorably towards the climax of the last battle, where 'Arthur and Medraut fell'.  But even this unavoidable ending, as it is handled here, leaves the reader with a sense, not of tragedy, but of tranquil leave-taking. For thousands of readers who enjoyed Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy The Wicked Day is a magnificent storytelling bonus, a novel of passions and purposes told with the clarity of detail of an illuminated page from a medieval Book of the Hours.  A marvelous book from an enchantress of an author.

1. I, personally, do not know what the publisher is going on about with the ending not leaving the reader with a sense of tragedy.  I may or may not have been crying at the end of this book.  Just saying.  

2. Slightly different format for the review because this is a reread for me.  Since this is my first reread/review I thought I'd add something about my feelings on the book the last time I read it and what they are now.  It ended up getting pretty personal.  I'm not sure if that's because it's the first one of these or it's going to be a thing.  We'll see.  

3. I also own this cover:

Warning for Spoilers 

Arthurian Generations: We Write What We Are

This is something I've been working for a while and it covers a lot of ground within the Arthurian mythos.  It's probably horribly America-centric and not really researched with any sort of depth.  This has just been trends I have noticed over the past year while blogging and thinking critically about Arthurian literature.  There may be some small spoilers in this for Persia Woolley's Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn.  My thanks to DarkAngelKiely for doing some beta work and Lucre-Noin for helping me figure out Galahad's role in all of this.

The Last Enchantment Discussion

This is part 3 of 3 in SamoaPhoenix and my joint review/discussion of Mary Stewart's The Last Enchantment.  My review can be found here and SamoaPhoenix's review can be found here.

The first three books were over.  Merlin was no longer the narrator and the story was no longer his.  It was time to celebrate!

Warning for Spoilers

SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: The Last Enchantment

Part 2 of 3. My review can be found here and the discussion of the book between myself and SamoaPhoenix can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight 

Title: The Last Enchantment Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: William Morrow & Company Inc Pages: 536 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Merlin, whom men call “enchanter” is the narrator of this magnificent and haunting novel of Dark Age Britain, which begins with Arthur now King by right, having drawn the sword Caliburn from the stone. He instantly plunges into fierce warfare against the Saxon enemy, fighting to achieve the “small miracle” of unity and independence that Britain alone attained among the dependencies of a crumbling Roman Empire. But Merlin’s story focuses on a different kind of warfare against more subtle and dangerous enemies. Of these the chief is Morgause, rose-gold witch and half-sister to Arthur, whom she once snared incestuously to her bed, an act resulting in the birth of a son, Mordred, who will be the most dangerous of all. In fact, the book begins with the desperate and bloody attempt to find and murder this child. It fails, and one by one Merlin’s other prophecies are realized: the passion and grief of Arthur’s marriages; his betrayal by friends and kinfolk; Merlin’s overpowering but short-lived love. The account of Merlin’s own enchanting is not, however, a tragic one. In the dark ebb-tide of his gift he finds that he is not totally deserted by the god who bestowed it. Struggling for resignation, he finds a fulfillment that even he had never dreamed of. His power and bright vision will be there at the King’s services as long as Arthur lives, and as he believes, long after. The Last Enchantment is a richly woven tapestry peopled by princes and soldiers, grave-robbers and goldsmiths, innkeepers and peasants and witches, in a finely described landscape where each forest, lake and hill is charged, not only with the natural life of the countryside, but with the twilight spirits of older mythologies—multiple threads merging into the bright promise of the future, and linked through Merlin in the archetypal themes of a fast, exciting and powerful story. A magnificent novel to put beside Mary Stewart’s best-selling The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills.

This book was hard to get through. At least the cover is more interesting than the last two and has something to do with what happens in the book. The title is also apt, unlike Hollow Hills for book 2.

Warning for Spoilers

The Last Enchantment Review

Review number three in SamoaPhoenix and my five part review series of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy which is actually five books.  SamoaPhoenix's review is found here and our discussion of the book can be found here.

~Storyteller Knight

Title: The Last Enchantment Author: Mary Stewart Publisher: EOS (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) Pages: 513 Synopsis: (from the publisher) Arthur Pendragon is King!  Unchallenged on the battlefield, he melds the country together in a time of promise.  But sinister powers plot to destroy Camelot, and when the witch-queen Morgause-- Arthur's own half sister-- ensnares him in an incestuous liaison, a fatal web of love, betrayal, and bloody vengeance is woven

This is going to be an exercise in how one moment can change your entire perception of a book.  I was reading a long and The Last Enchantment was going down in flames.  I was all set to give it One Star.  And then, in the course of a single page, my entire perception of the book changed and I find that I really enjoyed it.  

Warning for Spoilers