Scan barcode
A review by christinecc
The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere by Phyllis Ann Karr
5.0
Dear King Arthur (or more specifically, the Morte Dartur) fans, you will love this book.
So here's the deal: this book is a genre blend. The narrator, Kay, is the closest we ever get to a jaded noir detective, and quite frankly he plays the role to grumpy perfection. Next, the book takes its characters straight from the human level: everyone has a problem, a grudge, a secret, and it all stems from Thomas Malory's source material! But best of all, it doesn't fall into the stereotypical portrayal of arthurian characters. Sure, I don't completely love how Gareth doesn't seem to be a favourite of the author's, but this version of him was still well-written and made sense given the other Orkney brothers' characterization. Also I just love how Kay's perspective makes everything just a bit less glamorous and ideal in an "The Office" way. No matter how dramatic Mordred gets, Kay remains down to earth and stuck in the mud (I say this with affection, it's not Kay's fault he's so practical!).
Finally, this is just a great mystery with a compelling cast and engaging writing. If you're a fan of the middle ages, King Arthur, or just love a fun adventure-mystery, you deserve to have a good time while reading this book.
So here's the deal: this book is a genre blend. The narrator, Kay, is the closest we ever get to a jaded noir detective, and quite frankly he plays the role to grumpy perfection. Next, the book takes its characters straight from the human level: everyone has a problem, a grudge, a secret, and it all stems from Thomas Malory's source material! But best of all, it doesn't fall into the stereotypical portrayal of arthurian characters. Sure, I don't completely love how Gareth doesn't seem to be a favourite of the author's, but this version of him was still well-written and made sense given the other Orkney brothers' characterization. Also I just love how Kay's perspective makes everything just a bit less glamorous and ideal in an "The Office" way. No matter how dramatic Mordred gets, Kay remains down to earth and stuck in the mud (I say this with affection, it's not Kay's fault he's so practical!).
Finally, this is just a great mystery with a compelling cast and engaging writing. If you're a fan of the middle ages, King Arthur, or just love a fun adventure-mystery, you deserve to have a good time while reading this book.