Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Queen of Camelot
Book Review: Review
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was recamended to me by a friend and fellow lover of everything medieval. The true beauty of this book lies in the fact that it takes you to another place. McKenzie mentions offhand traditions and holy days that give you clues into the culture of the times. Her portaryal of daily life for the characters is so clear, and her descriptions of detail like clothing show a lot of attention to detail, which is what I think makes a really great work of historical fiction. The chatacers are also portrayed well, so that you get the feeling that prehaps McKenzie had interviewed them about their thoughts. All of this really does make you feel like you understand the character of Guenevere so much better. I have always loved her story, and I have always loved that time-period in history, but never has it all been captured so well and at the same time.Book Review: Riveting Arthurian retelling!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have searched and searched for a great Arthurian retelling and have been disappointed with the ones I have ventured into reading. I was somewhat skeptical when I picked up Nancy McKenzie's Queen of Camelot. This two-novels-in-one compilation is based on Guenevere, from her point of view, in first person narrative, and is 623 pages long in very small print. I didn't want to waste my time reading something this big only to be disappointed at the end. I nevertheless gave the book a whirl. Glad I did! This is one of the most compelling and beautifully told retells I have ever read! McKenzie gives us a detailed story about Guenevere from her point of view. She tells us about the prophecy on the day she was born, how she spends her childhood as an adventurous tomboy, how people fear her and treat her differently as she grows up, how the knights around her battle with the Saxons, and how all of the prophecies come true. She meets Arthur, marries him and later has a love affair with Lancelot, something based on the original tale. But the novel has so much more than that. You will see how this story of magic, prophecies, love and betrayal transpires in an altered, detailed and beautiful light. There are many twists throughout the novel.
Guenevere is developed in such an abundant, three-dimensional way in this novel. She is no longer just the pagan beauty who marries a Christian, betrays him and destroys all of Camelot as a result. She is a complex character with flaws as well as virtues in this offering. Arthur is also written in a more interesting, compelling way here, but it is Lancelot that once again blows me away. I have always romanticized Sir Lancelot and McKenzie does not disappoint me in her version of the loyal, chivalrous knight. Merlin and Morgan Le Fay are written with much complexity and nuance as well. This novel, however, does not focus so much on the love triangle between Guenevere, Arthur and Lancelot as much as her inability to supply an heir for Arthur and her affection for Arthur's bastard son, the traitorous Mordred. The overall story is magnificent. Once again, I say that McKenzie did a wonderful job bringing Guenevere to life. She turns this character into a strong, intelligent, complex, three-dimensional, flesh and blood woman, someone you will feel a great deal of affinity with. She is not portrayed as a simple-minded, traitorous hussy in this one! I loved the fanciful storytelling style that made me turn the pages until the wee hours of the night. Some of my friends who read the book along with me complained about it being too long-winded. I didn't think it was long-winded at all. In fact, I wish it had been longer. I loved this book and I look forward to giving Grail Prince a whirl.
Book Review: Shockingly Breathtaking
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was by far the best book I have ever laid my hands on. I have read many science fiction and fantasy novels, and this by far out does them all! This book explains many aspects of the Arthur-tales, and it made me spend hours of my spare time reading and re-reading it. It's taken fromt he eyes of Guinevere, from the moment she was born. It shocked me how easily this book lured me into its depths! The days that I had it with me, it never left my side! It stayed on my bed stand during those few hours of sleep I could conjur up. McKenzie explains to the readers how much Guinevere really DID love Arthur, and it kept me at ease to hear that. I fell in love with all the characters in the novel, and I believed that they had come to life between the crisp pages of the book. I cried with Guinevere, laughed with her, grew angry at those who spoke ill of Arthur and had my heart captured by the High King. I fear reading it again will just remind me that I can do nothing to change their fates at the end. I'm only saddened to hear that there aren't any more books out there that are even close in quality to this one. I HIGHLY recomend this book to anyone who loves fantasy or anyone who wants something wonderful to read. NOW GO READ IT! <3Book Review: Strength of the Woman
Summary: 4 Stars
The book's greatest strength is its complex portrayal of Guinevere. The author succeeded in giving her believable strength and utilized it beautifully in the setting we know and love so well as Camelot. Arthur, a strong character himself, was not undermined and Mordred, undoubtedly a significant presence in the book, embodied the depth in which Guinevere's strength of character took. It is a fresh look at the old legend wrought with failure and betrayal.Perhaps the only weakness I could find was the *inherent* Mary Sue-ishness of the entire thing. Though it is apparent that nothing could be perfect, even in Camelot, things always work out except for the inevitably bitter end. Even the problems characters faced were handled with great grace. Make no mistake. I'm not saying this book has a bunch of Mary Sues and Gary Sues. Most of the characters are complex; imperfect, but there was still something terribly ideal about all of them in spite of it. However, I must say that I still enjoyed the book very much. In spite of the moments where everyone was just too disarmingly polite if not entirely evil, I would recommend this book for a wonderful new perception of Guinevere.
Ms. McKenzie is a brilliant writer and I look forward to reading more from this series.
Book Review: Swept me away!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel swept me away into Arthurian legend. The month previous to reading this, I read The Mists of Avalon and did not like it at all!!! But I was still intrigued by the story, so I starting reading this book! This is soo much better than M of A!! I cried in the end! Gwen is a queen you grow to respect and I just LOVE King Arthur in the book. He is amazing! So much better than Lancelot! I also really enjoyed getting to know Mordred a lot better. This book is truly thrilling and keeps the pages turning even though I basically knew the outline of the story! I will forever recommend this book to friends and I am looking forward to the next book in the series!