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A review by bennettanneb
Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit by Mercedes Lackey
4.0
I've read only Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms books; this is the first book outside that series.
I enjoy Arthurian fiction -- I've read a number of Arthur books, and still love Mary Stewart's trilogy as well as Mists of Avalon. I've found some I didn't love so much, and it had been a while since I tried any -- the last one was "Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country" and I didn't particularly care for that.
I really enjoyed the character of Gwenhwyfar Lackey portrays -- a woman, blessed by Epona, becoming a woman warrior. Her character is so very well developed, as well as the world she's growing up in.
My difficulty came when she was married to Arthur. Two thirds of the book had passed, and I was beginning to wonder how this marriage could possibly happen. The Gwenhwyfar that was present could never have been made a queen -- she was too highly thought of as her father's warchief, a valued scout and leader of his forces, keeping his kingdom safe. Arthur was clearly a Roman, disdaining military contributions by women, seeing only their role as breeders of heirs which he desperately needed.
I could not buy the logic that wedded Gwenhwyfar to Arthur -- it seemed too much of a stretch for her father to have given her up for a trade of horses. I felt let down, that Gwen was betrayed by the people who knew her value the most keenly.
Once I could get past that, the book again picked up the roaring pace, and came to a swift and bitter end, as all Arthurian tales eventually do. Her worth is finally recognized, yet it is too late. Had Arthur wanted her for what she was, there might have been happiness, but happiness is fleeting for her -- only seven stolen days with a man who comes to count those days as a betrayal of his dearest loyalty to his king.
If you can get past the weakly supported bargain that brings Gwenhwyfar to be crowned Queen, then this is a great book. That the book's only real weakness is a bit of "deus ex machina" seeming plot point is overall a great credit to the story.
I enjoy Arthurian fiction -- I've read a number of Arthur books, and still love Mary Stewart's trilogy as well as Mists of Avalon. I've found some I didn't love so much, and it had been a while since I tried any -- the last one was "Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country" and I didn't particularly care for that.
I really enjoyed the character of Gwenhwyfar Lackey portrays -- a woman, blessed by Epona, becoming a woman warrior. Her character is so very well developed, as well as the world she's growing up in.
My difficulty came when she was married to Arthur. Two thirds of the book had passed, and I was beginning to wonder how this marriage could possibly happen. The Gwenhwyfar that was present could never have been made a queen -- she was too highly thought of as her father's warchief, a valued scout and leader of his forces, keeping his kingdom safe. Arthur was clearly a Roman, disdaining military contributions by women, seeing only their role as breeders of heirs which he desperately needed.
I could not buy the logic that wedded Gwenhwyfar to Arthur -- it seemed too much of a stretch for her father to have given her up for a trade of horses. I felt let down, that Gwen was betrayed by the people who knew her value the most keenly.
Once I could get past that, the book again picked up the roaring pace, and came to a swift and bitter end, as all Arthurian tales eventually do. Her worth is finally recognized, yet it is too late. Had Arthur wanted her for what she was, there might have been happiness, but happiness is fleeting for her -- only seven stolen days with a man who comes to count those days as a betrayal of his dearest loyalty to his king.
If you can get past the weakly supported bargain that brings Gwenhwyfar to be crowned Queen, then this is a great book. That the book's only real weakness is a bit of "deus ex machina" seeming plot point is overall a great credit to the story.