Great re-telling of the Arthurian story | Queen of Camelot

Mixed, but enjoyable | Queen of Camelot | Nancy Mckenzie

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	• Queen of Camelot Nancy Mckenzie Del Rey, 2002 - 640 pages average customer review:based on 54 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Fairy Tale Beautiful

I confess to having had some misgivings about reading yet another version of the Arthurian legend. After reading the very wonderful Mists of Avalon years ago, I wondered why I should bother reading another woman's view of the same tale. This one answered that question, as it is an excellent retelling in its own right. Told in the first person by Guinevere herself, although the details of the plot are standard, the writing is beautiful, the episodes move quickly, the depictions of the characters are quite human and believable and, best of all, the love triangle is beautifully and compassionately depicted. There is nothing sordid or salacious in the love affair between the Queen and Lancelot, and King Arthur is clearly drawn as the lynch pin and central focus of all the action. The writing is restrained, yet lovely, and McKenzie avoids lapsing into flowery rapturous descriptions of passionate clinches and like cliches. Plus, there is enough "action and suspense" apart from the primary interaction between the main characters to keep the reader entertained. Never hysterical; always credible; very enjoyable.

I am a "hard grader" but this one deserves an A - - the full 5 stars.

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Great re-telling of the Arthurian story

This book was great in that it was different from many of the other King Arthur tales I have read. For the first time I was able to like Guenevere, because she wasn't portrayed as a helpless and religious fanatic. I loved how Gwen's and Lancelot's relationship was handled, as well as the relationship between Mordred and everyone else. Another nice thing was that the quest for the Holy Grail wasn't really a part of the story at all. This let the author focus on many of the other important and interesting aspects of the Arthur stories.

I recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested. But I also HIGHLY recommend The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. No Arthurian legends reading list is complete without that book. It is THE book to read if you're interested in anything King Arthur.

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Mixed, but enjoyable

I had misgivings about this book, but overall, by the end I really really enjoyed it. At times I skipped whole chapters and didn't miss much, but the parts I read in depth were well told for the most. As has been said, the dialogue is...scary at times and the beginning drags but I liked it.

The book has a striking resemblance to "The Wicked Day" by Mart Stewart, which is one of my favorite arthurian retellings. From the whole Morgause murder to Arthur choosing a new puppy and naming it Cabal after his old dog, this book is basically a rewrite of Stewart's, which in turn took a lot of pointers from "Once and Future King". But, some new things are added, which keep it new, but I was disappointed in Mekenzie's lack of imagination especially on those point, even though she does say int he introduction that she was influenced by Stewart (to say the least).

My chief complaint is that Guinevere's actions do not match the other characters' supposed admiration of her. She's praised for being strong and beautiful, but every other page she's crying for some ridiculous reason and Arthur is telling her "you're so great, everyone loves you," or "I could never live without you, you make me a better man.." and of course, it always ends with him getting laid. Pretty predictable after a few chapters of the same crap.

BUT that aside, Mordred is pretty well played out, the intrigues with Morgause and Morgan are very interesting, and the Elaine subplot is well tied in. It's a nice read if you like Arthuriana, but if you're just looking for a well-rounded, nicely-developed book, then this probably isn't it.

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Weeping and trembling aside, a good read

Nancy McKenzie has created a masterpiece. Her lengthy research into a romantic historic era has definitely paid off.

So why only 3 stars? Partly because there isn't a "half" star available or it would have been 3 1/2.

Mainly I was annoyed by the many, many, many references to our heroine's compulsive trembling and tears. What is she? A valiant girl grown to womanhood or a chihuahua? This book could easily have been 50 pages shorted without all the retelling of Gwen's weaknesses and childlike attributes.

All that said, this is a masterful read. I LOVE the author's interpretation of the characters and their relationships! She showed even Arthur as a wonderful human being, demi-god, proud leader, and tender father. He has warts, but the legend shines through.

It is also nice to see Guinevere as someone other than a slutty wench. Compassionate, passionate, tender, intelligent, naive and occasionally care-free.(though that last one tends to land her in terrible straits...)

Great cast of characters, particularly the Orkney boys. I can easily visualize the rowdy, dirty, rough bunch of scamps....and then there is Mordred...

Some folks here say they will definitely read the Grail Prince, the continuation of Galahad's story. But the author protrayed Lancelot's son as such a single-minded freaked-out JERK that I cannot get excited enough to buy the book.

All in all, a good read. Too long for its overall content, but well done!

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?Guinevere comes alive?a strong, resourceful, and compassionate woman, accessible to modern folk . . . McKenzie makes a quantum leap in defining the character of Guinevere as a real, flesh-and-blood woman. The Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle comes alive as well?believable, poignant, and bearing the seeds of tragedy.?
?KATHERINE KURTZ

On the night of Guinevere?s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur?s spell.

At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur?s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy?and the key to her ultimate downfall.

Return to a time of legend?the days of Guinevere and Arthur and the glory that was to become Camelot

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