Synopses & Reviews
Review
Influenced by names and events from the Welsh legends and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Thomson writes this story as historical fiction rather than as the fantasy readers may associate with King Arthur. Even though she has created these tales herself, the historical nature of this story seems to give credence to the more familiar fantasies, and because unfamiliar characters are doing the talking, the legends have new life and clarity. Nimue is a ferryman's daughter who falls in love with the bard Myrddin. They serve in Uther Pendragon's court, and their baby is mistakenly killed instead of Arthur. Myrddin then takes baby Arthur into hiding. The next story is that of Morgan, Arthur's half sister whom he marries. However, she leaves him, not telling him she's pregnant with twins. Years later, Arthur comes to her and claims one of the boys who will be raised as his nephew and heir. At a convent, Elen, Arthur's other half sister, and Luned; her handmaiden, raise the son Arthur took from Morgan. Finally, Medraud, the son left with Morgan, is raised by his mother to destroy Arthur. His appearance at court sets in motion a chain of events that means the end of Camelot. Fantasy and historical-fiction readers alike will enjoy the new perspective offered by this gritty, substantial novel; it's almost an "Aha! So that's why that happened."
---School Library Journal, July 2001
Synopsis
A grieving mother, an embittered former wife, a loyal servant, and a bloodthirsty son each recall their particular roles in the rise and fall of England's King Arthur. Drawing from the earliest surviving stories of the legend, the author includes characters who disappeared in later retellings of the story. A Junior Library Guild Selection.