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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I love excessive descriptions of food and lists of medieval chores probably much more than the average reader. But I do not love shallow characters, unnecessarily complicated plots, Mary Sues, and casually described rape.
I've always enjoyed the various series by authors around the character and times of King Arthur and his knights. This new book is no exception.
This novel is told from the point of view of Gwenhwyfar, third daughter of a Celtic king. Lackey has gone back to Welsh myths and found a story of Arthur having three queens in succession with the same name. This Gwenhwyfar is the third queen. While a dutiful princess, Gwenhwyfar also knows her own mind from a very young age. Although blessed with the power of the Goddess, she feels a strong pull to be a warrior and idolizes a woman warrior in her father's kingdom, Braith. Acknowledged by Braith and encouraged by her father, who has no sons, she begins her warrior training with her mother's reluctant approval.
We see the young girl grow into the strong warrior, helped by others to recognize her particular strengths and using them to the best advantage of both her father and the High King, Arthur. She excels in the life she as chosen and is respected by both the war chiefs and Arthur's chief strategist, but in the end, she is still the daughter of a king and must conform to the duty required of her as a princess.
The character of Gwenhwyfar is made to come alive more than in most other Arthurian books I've read where she is often a peripheral figure. Here, she is central to the action, and speaks her own mind when it matters.
This book is well written and engaging and allows us to see many of the other well-known characters in this world in a new light.
This novel is told from the point of view of Gwenhwyfar, third daughter of a Celtic king. Lackey has gone back to Welsh myths and found a story of Arthur having three queens in succession with the same name. This Gwenhwyfar is the third queen. While a dutiful princess, Gwenhwyfar also knows her own mind from a very young age. Although blessed with the power of the Goddess, she feels a strong pull to be a warrior and idolizes a woman warrior in her father's kingdom, Braith. Acknowledged by Braith and encouraged by her father, who has no sons, she begins her warrior training with her mother's reluctant approval.
We see the young girl grow into the strong warrior, helped by others to recognize her particular strengths and using them to the best advantage of both her father and the High King, Arthur. She excels in the life she as chosen and is respected by both the war chiefs and Arthur's chief strategist, but in the end, she is still the daughter of a king and must conform to the duty required of her as a princess.
The character of Gwenhwyfar is made to come alive more than in most other Arthurian books I've read where she is often a peripheral figure. Here, she is central to the action, and speaks her own mind when it matters.
This book is well written and engaging and allows us to see many of the other well-known characters in this world in a new light.
I've been a fan of Mercedes Lackey for a long time (but have actually managed to read few of her more recent books), as well as a fan of Arthurian-age novels since I first read The Once and Future King way back in my teenage years.
So when I spotted this book in the "new" section of the library, I picked it up to see Lackey's take on an old familiar story.
She did a great job. Taking the point of view of Guinevere led to a wonderful narrative, and following her from her childhood through Arthur's death was an excellent storytelling strategy.
There is lots of evil in Lackey's Britain: both in the traditional evil of Mordred and Morgana, as well as within her own family. Life is never easy, despite the honor and righteousness that Gwen consistently demonstrates. That tension truly helps to propel the story, and makes for a great read.
4/5 stars.
So when I spotted this book in the "new" section of the library, I picked it up to see Lackey's take on an old familiar story.
She did a great job. Taking the point of view of Guinevere led to a wonderful narrative, and following her from her childhood through Arthur's death was an excellent storytelling strategy.
There is lots of evil in Lackey's Britain: both in the traditional evil of Mordred and Morgana, as well as within her own family. Life is never easy, despite the honor and righteousness that Gwen consistently demonstrates. That tension truly helps to propel the story, and makes for a great read.
4/5 stars.
Well if you expect a novel about Camelot, that's not this. Gwenhwyfar doesn't even meet Arthur until the last hundred or so pages. However, if you're looking for a historical novel about a woman warrior - of the type that have made Lackey so famous, this is more your style. Inspired by the works of her friend Marion Zimmer Bradley (author of The Mists of Avalon) Lackey uses historical references to three different Gwenhwyfars (plus a Gwenhwyfach) to create a tale spanning Arthur's reign, through the eyes of the third of the Gwenhwyfars.
Lackey expands beyond her usual fare to a more straightforward historical book. I liked the twist of 3 Gwens explaining some of the inconsistencies of legend. Good for those who like Mists of Avalon and Mary Stewart. I wasn't sure what to expect (I love the Valdemar series, but am well aware of its literary faults), but was pleasantly surprised.
I had been interested in reading this book for a few years as I have an interest in Arthurian retellings but hadn't really read any yet. Needless to say, I didn't particularly enjoy this book. It was ok but it just wasn't really my type of book to be honest. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly I didn't like about this book but I think as a whole I just didn't find any part of this book to be interesting.
Exactly as you might expect from Mercedes Lackey, a well-researched look into the noriom of 3 Guineveres and a false queen informed by prechristian Welsh societak structures and the Mabinogion. a fabulous read, and a welcome look into the queen's view of the legend.