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For a good many years, I have been unable to read or think about the story of King Arthur without some prose or action calling to mind Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, or Monty Python. I cannot help but respect an author who can bring fresh life to this timeless legend. Diana L. Paxson has managed to do just that.
The series is called The Hallowed Isle and book one, The Book of the Sword begins in 424 A.D with Artoria Argantel, The Lady of the Lake and her cousin, Maderun discovering a village that has been destroyed by Hibernian raiders. This carnage prompts Argantel to perform the Ceremony of the Sword. The sword is imbedded in a stone in a chapel on the Isle of Maidens and has a god of war inside it, waiting to serve the Defender. During the ceremony, Argantel is told that Maderun will give birth to the man who will protect and teach the future king. She is also told that while this great king will not be her own son, he will be her descendent.
Eleven years later, Argantel gives birth to Igierne, the daughter who will be mother of the savior of Britain. At the same time, her cousin Maderun becomes lost in the woods and bears a child whose father is not human. He will eventually become Merlin. Argantel’s daughter Igierne eventually lays with King Uthir and gives birth to a son named Artor, who will one day pull the enchanted sword from its stone altar.
We’re all familiar with the basic plot. Expect Paxson’s book to stray from that simple story in the first book and you will be disappointed. It is the way she tells the story that makes it so unique. Each major event in the book is told from a different perspective. The first bit of the novel is given to us by Argantel, then by Maderun, then by half-wild boy Ambrose, until the day he changes his name to Merlin. Then Igierne tells the story, bringing the reader to that final scene when the boy-king is crowned, standing before his people wielding a sword almost as large as he is.
Paxson’s narrative is simple and straightforward, which is a blessing considering how many characters one has to keep track of. Luckily, Paxson includes an appendix at the end giving the name and significance of every character. She also includes a neat little chart for name pronunciations. I found this extremely useful, since I am pronunciation challenged.
I would have preferred the book to have been longer. Time jumps ahead very quickly when fifty years of war and hope is covered over a mere 175 pages. I also would have liked to have read more about Argantel and Maderun, especially Maderun’s relationship with the being who fathered Merlin. Merlin is the most three dimensional character in the story. So different is he from the wizened old man we are typically shown. He is neither man nor beast, and is powerful physically as well as mentally. We are shown very little of the boy Artor and his mystical powers – just a few glimpses. Perhaps his power will become all the more apparent in the second book, which I’ll no doubt have to run out and get when it’s released. But even more anticipated is the third book; I can’t wait for Paxson’s take on Guenivere and Lancelot.
Grade: B
Book Type: European Historical Romance|Historical Romance
Sensuality: Subtle
Review Date: 17/01/99
Publication Date: 1999
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.