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Kinley MacGregor’s new series based on the Arthurian legend explores what might have happened after Arthur’s final battle had the legend lived on in other people throughout the centuries. In MacGregor’s world, the good knights of Round Table and Morgen le Fay’s evil minions continue to do battle. It’s an interesting premise and for the first part of the book, I was completely hooked. Unfortunately, it all started to unravel about a third of the way into the book and it just kept coasting downhill from there.
Seren is an apprentice weaver in Medieval England. Hers has been a simple and rather spartan existence and, as an orphan apprenticed to a rather stern master, her only dream is to become a master weaver in her own right. When her sample is rejected by the guild, she is heartbroken. As she leaves the guild hall, however, her life is changed forever when she is accosted by two people who tell her a fantastical tale about being Knights of the Round Table, then insist that she come with them. Seren is understandably afraid of these strangers and flees, only to be rescueby Kerrigan, whom she believes will keep her safe.
Kerrigan, however, is Morgen’s right hand and a demon lord. Far from being a rescuer of the desperate, he is meant instead to take Seren to her death in a Camelot now ruled by Morgen. The initial scenes between Kerrigan and Seren are actually very well done. Seren’s light and Kerrigan’s darkness are well-drawn and as I read, I prepared myself for a most unusual story for the barriers between Seren and Kerrigan would be quite a bit to overcome.
Seren is so full of goodness and Kerrigan so lacking in it that it would seem difficult to imagine a relationship between them ever working. However, instead of what could have been a powerful story of change and compromise, the tone of the book changed abruptly after about the first third or so. More than a couple of characters change their basic natures so profoundly (and so quickly) that it almost gives the reader whiplash. This shift in tone and character personality makes the book seem almost like two separate stories. There is the first dark, well-drawn, albeit melodramatic, third of the book, followed by two-thirds of grand adventure laced with treacle, all culminating in an epilogue so saccharine that it just does not seem belong to this book (indeed, it probably should not belong to any book).
I also feel compelled to throw in a word here about something that is not in the story. As her fans know, Kinley MacGregor is also Sherrilyn Kenyon, but this may not be common knowledge to the general public. This particular book contains a cover quote from Sherrilyn Kenyon praising the book. This may appear cute to some, a little too precious to others. However, I have to admit that this “endorsement” makes me a little uneasy as it may be misleading for those customers outside the online romance community who likely have no idea that Sherrilyn Kenyon and Kinley MacGregor are, in fact, the same person.
This novel had a promising start, but the remainder of it rendered it merely an ordinary read. The setting and premise of this tale are unusual and I desperately wanted to like it. However, as it degenerated into an ordinary wallpaper romance, I just could not enjoy it enough to give any kind of recommendation.
Grade: C
Book Type: Fantasy Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 16/03/06
Publication Date: 2006/04
I enjoy spending as much time as I can between the covers of a book, traveling through time and around the world. When I'm not having adventures with fictional characters, I'm an attorney in Virginia and I love just hanging out with my husband, little man, and the cat who rules our house.
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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.