The Legend of the King

Starred review from July 15, 2010

Morris pulls off a spectacular conclusion to his humane and witty Squire's Tales series as destructive intrigues both provide a backdrop for a fan-pleasing reunion of favorite figures from past episodes and lead up to the final battle between Arthur and his brilliant, hideously warped son Mordred. Though the enchantress Lynet and her wise, mild husband, Sir Gaheris, have set out to find the murderous sorceress Morgause, a series of forged letters reopen old rifts between Arthur and Lancelot while Mordred's knights, disguised as Arthur's, lay waste to the country in a cunning terror campaign. Meanwhile, others, from heroic Sir Gawain and his faerie ex-squire Sir Terence to Morgan Le Fay and the saintly hermit Guinglain, step in to show what true loyalty, honesty, honor, love and courage look like. Those—along with, of course, stirring deeds of knightly prowess—are what the entire series has been about. Though the author doesn't shy from depicting the legend's tragic end, he does display authorial mercy in a set of aftermath scenes that ease the pain with a focus on healing and the future. Well done. (end note, cast list) (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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October 1, 2010

Gr 5-8-Camelot is in ruins, nearly all the famous Knights of the Roundtable are dead, and Arthur is no longer on the throne. Or is Camelot just waiting to rise again? In this final title in the series, Morris once again makes the adventure, excitement, and magic of King Arthur and his court accessible to every reader. Arthur's illegitimate son, Mador, born to the great sorceress Morgause, has raised an army, the White Horsemen, and is massacring people across the countryside and blaming it on Arthur's knights. At the same time, Camelot is infiltrated by spies and the scandal of Lancelot's affair with the queen causes a division between Arthur and the great knight, though that is soon healed. And the door between the human and magical world closes. Through the mayhem, Arthur's England triumphs, but at the cost of nearly everyone who has appeared throughout this series. Yet the ending is hopeful and still possesses the magic of the legends. As with the earlier titles, Morris does not shy away from love or violence, but instead stays true to the feel and premise of the original tales while building on them. Reading the previous books is a necessity to understand all of the characters, although a list of them and the books in which they appeared is helpful. An excellent end to a worthwhile and well-written series that can be recommended to reluctant and skilled readers alike.-Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

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