SamoaPhoenix Guest Review: For Camelot's Honor

Title: For Camelot's Honor Author: Sarah Zettel Publisher: Luna Books Pages: 384 Synopsis: (from the publisher) A quest of hidden shadows, old gods and immense power—and the battle for Britain continues! Elen believed nothing could withstand her retribution against her family’s killer. The daughter of a Welsh chieftan, Elen would wield her growing powers to destroy her enemy and win back her lands. But then she learned the power behind the invader—the fearsome sorceress Morgaine, who’d vowed to destroy Camelot… Rather than attack Elen directly, Morgaine created an elaborate plan to cause Elen to betray all she held dear, including her new ally, the High King. Still holding fast to hope, facing deadly foes seen and unseen, Elen traveled through the wild mountains to find a magical weapon to strike down the sorceress. Sir Geraint, her only companion, would risk life and love to complete their quest—but never honor. Yet will Elen choose honor and the future over revenge and a shattered past?

 Yes, it’s finally the last book in the Paths to Camelot quartet! This is technically the second book of the series, but I inadvertently read book three (Under Camelot’s Banner) and then I wanted to find out what happened to Laurel and Agravain (By Camelot’s Blood). As it turns out, it doesn’t really matter that I read this book last. The events described have little to no bearing on the final outcome of the battle between the Orkney brothers and Morgan le Fay, though I fault the abrupt ending of book four more than anything wrong with this book.

Spoilers, etc…

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

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

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