The Knight of the Sacred Lake: The Second of the Guenevere Novels (Guenevere Novels)

The second of the Guenevere novels.

As High King and Queen, Arthur and Guenevere reign supreme across the many kingdoms and islands of Great Britain. Reconciled with Arthur, Guenevere secretly mourns the loss of her beloved Lancelot, who has returned to the Sacred Lake of his boyhood, hoping to restore his faith in chivalry in the place where he first learned to be a knight. In a glittering ceremony at the annual feast of Pentecost, new knights are sworn to the Round Table, including Arthur's nephews, the cunning Agravain and his heroic brother Gawain. Camelot is reborn in all its glory, and after many years of strife, peace is restored to Guenevere's realm.

But betrayal, jealousy, and ancient blood feuds fester unseen. Morgan Le Fay, now the proud possessor of Arthur's only son, Mordred, has become the focus of Merlin's age-old quest to ensure the survival of the house of Pendragon at all costs. And from the east comes the shattering news that Guenevere may have a rival for Lancelot's love. A bleak shadow falls again across Camelot — and across the sacred isle of Avalon, where Roman priests threaten the sanctity of the Hallows and the life of the Lady herself. At the center of the storm is Guenevere, a proud and powerful queen torn between her love for her husband, her people, and her knight, Sir Lancelot of the Lake.

With rare and intuitive magic, Rosalind Miles brings to life a legendary woman's bravery and passion, and all the pageantry, heartbreak, violence, and beauty of an age gone by.

"The popular and prolific Miles injects the tale with poesy...an engrossing if unorthodox read. No doubt Miles's fans will be pleased with this lush, feminist take on the English epic." Publishers Weekly

"[The Knight of the Sacred Lake] offers a subtle feminist interpretation of the Arthurian legends as it continues the story of Guenevere, forced to choose between love and duty for the sake of her kingdom. Luminously evoking the sunny uplands of the Summer Country, the splendours of Camelot and the dark woods where the evil Morgan lurks, Miles celebrates a woman and a queen in her own right...the best kind of historical fiction, with characters who ignore the heavy hand of history and instead lead their own full and complex lives." Kirkus Reviews

In the follow-up to Miles's bestselling "Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country", the fate of the glorious realm of Camelot stands vulnerable to the dark designs of Arthur's half-sister, Morgan, and the irresistible power of the love shared by Guenevere and her young knight, Lancelot.

Last in a line of proud queens elected to rule the fertile lands of the West, true owner of the legendary Round Table, guardian of the Great Goddess herself . . . a woman whose story has never been told--until now.

As High King and Queen, Arthur and Guenevere reign supreme across the many kingdoms of Great Britain. Still, Guenevere secretly mourns the loss of her beloved Lancelot, who has returned to the Sacred Lake of his boyhood, hoping to restore his faith in chivalry in the place where he learned to be a knight. In a glittering Pentecost ceremony, new knights are sworn to the Round Table, including Arthur's nephews, Agravain and Gawain. After many years of strife, peace is restored to Guenevere's realm.

But betrayal, jealousy, and ancient blood feuds fester unseen. Morgan Le Fay, now the mother of Arthur's only son, Mordred, has become the focus of Merlin's age-old quest to ensure the survival of the house of Pendragon. From the east comes the shattering news that Guenevere may have a rival for Lancelot's love. A bleak shadow falls again across Camelot--and across the sacred isle of Avalon, where Roman priests threaten the life of the Lady herself. At the center of the storm is Guenevere, torn between her love for her husband, her people, and Sir Lancelot of the Lake.

With rare and intuitive magic, Rosalind Miles brings to life a legendary woman's bravery and passion, and all the pageantry, heartbreak, violence, and beauty of an age gone by.

ROSALIND MILES is a well-known and critically acclaimed English novelist, essayist, and broadcaster. Her novels, including Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country and I, Elizabeth, have been international best-sellers.