I liked this book as much as the first book in Bradshaw's Arthurian trilogy, but not more. That is, this is still enjoyable, and I like the world and characters, but in the Arthurian sweepstakes, this just isn't in win, place or show. I like Bradshaw enough to mark her among my favorites, but I prefer her straight historical fiction--works such as The Beacon of Alexandria. It just might be she has such stiff competition in this subgenre, one I've read widely in. Bradshaw is a graceful, very readable writer, this was well-paced, and I tore right through it. She's a better writer for instance than Jack Whyte. Except Whyte distinguishes himself in his Arthurian series by eschewing any tinge of fantasy--his Excalibur is special because it's forged from a meteorite for example. Bradshaw's book is historical fantasy. Not anachronistic such as T.H. White--set in post-Roman Dark Ages rather than a Middle Ages that never was, but still very much a magical world where sorcery is real. Bradshaw is about as good a writer as Marion Zimmer Bradley from what I remember , and I prefer these books so far to Mists of Avalon--which I didn't like much for a number of reasons. Yet Bradley's is more memorable not just for her Pagan reinterpretation of the legend but for her emphasis on the female characters. And finally, Bradshaw just isn't as fine a writer as Mary Stewart in her Merlin Trilogy nor T.H. White whose Once and Future King is my gold standard.
Although as I said, this book really only suffers in comparison. I have nothing to really complain or criticize about this book--just that I don't feel it's a standout. The trilogy focuses on the figure known as Gawain in the legends (Gwalchmai here). In this novel he's been with Arthur for nine years. They story is told by his servant, Rhys ap Sion, who meets him when Gwalchmai is on a quest to find a lost love. Rhys shares Gwalchmai's dream to serve "the light" and decides to follow Gwalchmai. And actually, if I do have a complaint about the book it's just how much we hear about the "Light" and the "Dark" and how black and white many of the characters are as a result.
