Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Camelot's Honour

by Sarah Zettel

      Anybody who has read and enjoyed Camelot's Shadow (also reviewed on this site) and who loves Arthurian tales ought to enjoy this second outing for the Round Table knights. If you haven't then it won't matter, as this is a separate story centering on how Geraint gets to win his spurs and a fair lady. Elen is the daughter of a Welsh chieftain whose father is dead, but whose mother now rules. Another local chieftain, Urien thinks that they should form an alliance with him but instead Lady Adara looks towards a possible alliance with Camelot. When Elen is summoned across the magic bridge between worlds to the realm of the Fae to serve as a midwife, she thinks her life might be improved with fairy gifts - but she returns to find her mother and household slaughtered. In thrall to Urien (who is in turn in thrall to Morgaine, Arthur's evil sorceress of a sister), she is reluctantly wedded to Geraint who has come to save her. But as they flee Urien, they find themselves prisoners of a far more dangerous enemy, the immortal sorcerer known as The Little King.

        Fans of the Malloryesque Mediaeval dreamworld and those who prefer the more accurate Celtic portrayal will probably applaud this blending of the two. Zettel knows her folk tales, and there are several in here alongside the Arthurian elements. I truly enjoyed losing myself in this romantic tale of fair maidens, evil magic, bold knights, and fairy folk mingling with the world of Celts and Romans. So far it all sounds as though it could have been written a hundred years or more ago, but this is a book to appeal to modern readers. Elen is a feisty woman who manages to do more than just get rescued, and Geraint is a man many women would like to spend time with. There isn't a lot to say about this book as it can surely be easily imagined, but there is plenty of incident crammed in here and despite this it is a fast, easy, and well paced read. More please!

The Book

Harper Collins
6 June 2004
Trade Paperback
000715869
Fantasy [521 AD, Various Arthurian locations]
More at Amazon.co.uk
Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2005
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© 2005 MyShelf.com