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#242 ~ Twilight of Avalon
Twilight of Avalon: A Novel of Trystan & Isolde
Published by: Simon and Schuster
Published on: May 2009
Page Count: 448
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Review copy sent to me by the author
Availability: paperback and eBook
Giveaway: See the end of this review for more information
My Review
England is in upheaval. It is still trying to recover from the double cross that ended with King Arthur’s death. Constantine, Arthur’s heir, was just a boy when he became the High King and married to Isolde, the daughter of Arthur’s traitor. Isolde is distraught when Con dies in a war with the Saxons and Lord Marche has planted himself and his troops in such a way as to be named the next High King. Isolde has reason to be suspicious of her husband’s death and has barely a friend in the world because of her father and her supposed ties to witchcraft. She tries to keep sane by tending to the wounded and dying troops, but even they distrust her because of her past. She longs to save her country but, being a woman without the protection of a husband, faces more obstacles than she thinks she can withstand. Could the connection she makes with one of the Saxon prisoners be the key to saving her country and herself?
I liked the following aspects about this novel:
- You can tell by the writing that Anna Elliot is passionate about her characters and the subject matter.
- Trystan was such a great character. His sense of honor and justice felt right for that time period.
- The way that Isolde used caring for the wounded soldiers to take her mind off of her troubles and the troubles of England. I also admired the way that she bore the combined burdens left to her by her father and her husband.
- Brother Columba was hands down my favorite character. I loved the simplicity that grew out of what was most likely a very tough and violent past.
- Lord Marche was an interesting villain. It’s interesting how men will be suspicious of a woman manipulating them in whatever means available to her, but readily take the snackiest of men at face value.
- The cover is lovely, isn’t it? It certainly sets the mood for the novel very well.
The following were issues for me:
- Isolde was always getting the cold shivers. I understood why, but it got old after a while.
- Although she apparently did, I never really understood why or found it believable that Isolde loved Con. Perhaps she loved what he meant to England, but I never got a sense of her love for him as a man.
- The time period. I can’t help it. This story had all the elements that would normally interest me. I am not sure what it is about this time and place. This is by far my biggest complaint, but I really can’t fault the book for the time period in which it takes place. It is what it is.
My Final Thoughts
Arthurian England just is not very interesting to me. I kind of hit the same wall while reading Helen Hollick’s The Kingmaking. This is a personal preference, though. I never thought to set the book aside and not finish it. As you will see in my Other Voices section, I am well in the minority here. Readers loved this novel.
+++++++
This review is my first for Caribousmom’s Random Reading Challenge! I found it to be a lot of fun to leave my next read up to the Random Number Generator on Random.org. I book down, 5 to go by August. I wonder what the ol’ Random Number Generator will scare up for me next.
Giveaway
Twilight of Avalon is the first novel in Anna Elliot’s trilogy about Isolde and Trystan. I would love to send my gently read copy of this novel to someone who loves this story or Arthurian England. It just might be perfect timing, because Dark Moon of Avalon, the second book in this trilogy, is being published in May. To enter this giveaway, tell me what your favorite novel is from this time period. Leave your comment here by 11:59 PM EST. I’ll announce the winner later that week. Good luck!
Other Voices
Trish’s Reading Nook
S. Krishna’s Books
things mean a lot
Devourer of Books
Book Nut
Medieval Bookworm
Charlotte’s Library
#215 ~ Stardust
by Tristran Thorn has an interesting background. His father was born in Wall, behind it’s wall. His mother was born in Faerie and has never been to Wall. The closest she came was to the Market that resides just outside of Wall every nine years. When Tristran was born, he was left by the wall with only his name. His father and his new wife took Tristran in and raised him. Tristran grows up in Wall not knowing of how he got there. On the brink of adulthood, he falls in love with the most beautiful girl in Wall and, in an attempt to win her love, he vows to go out into the world in search of the star they saw fall from the sky. Stardust is the story of Tristran’s journey through Faerie and back.
Stardust did not capture my imagination and heart the way that The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, or even Coraline did. I liked Tristran’s character and what woman wouldn’t want a man to promise to go out and bring back a fallen star to her as proof of his love and worthiness? For whatever reason, something was missing for me with this novel. It had such imaginative people and places. I thought the sub-plot with the nasty sons of Lord Stormhold was interesting and I liked how that story and others were weaved into Tristran’s travels. It even contained the tree that Neil wrote for Tori Amos. It isn’t that I didn’t like the book. I just never got into it the way I had hoped. There isn’t one concrete thing I can point to that explains this. Perhaps it’s just that I don’t typically read four books by the same author in such quick succession or that I’m tired in general. All in all Stardust may not have been the strongest Neil Gaiman I have read this month, but it is as good if not better than much of what I have read this year.
To enter for a chance to win the prizes for this theme month, leave a comment here and then go to the Neverwhere and Beyond page and use the following code: N&B-R4.
Other Voices:
The Bluestocking Society
Becky’s Book Reviews
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#154 ~ Keeper of Light and Dust ~ Blog Tour & Giveaway
There were certain aspects of the story I was able to predict, but since the subject matter as a whole was new to me, that predictability actually helped me feel more grounded in the story. That was important because the world of martial arts, chi, and mysticism were all new to me. I enjoyed all of the details about the martial arts that Mia studied and how it differed from the fighting techniques Nick used in his training. While the more mystical vogues were a world apart from the fighting grunts, they made Scorpio gym complete. Yin and Yang. This information was important to keep in mind as Mia moved closer to confronting the force that threatened her life and the lives of those she protected.
I really enjoyed Keeper of Light and Dust. It made me realize that I enjoy fantasy a lot more than I had thought. Without giving anything away, I would have liked to have had a stronger ending for Mia. The way the ending was written works, but I wanted a more decisive ending. In some ways, it is as if what happened came down to a sudden change of heart instead of the outcome of the clash between the Keeper and the Theif. Despite my feelings about the ending, I strongly recommend this book. It would be a wonderful book to read as during the summer and may even inspire us to get more fit and healthy in mind and body. Most of all, I found it to be a lot of fun. Who can’t use a dose of reading pleasure while waiting for winter to finally and completely make way for spring?
*******
To buy this book, click here
Literary Escapism – April 7th
Wrighty’s Reads – April 14th
Peeking Between The Pages – April 17th
Saavy Verse & Wit – April 21st
Jo-Jo Loves to Read – April 28th
Now for the giveaway…
One of my lucky readers has the opportunity to win a copy of Keeper of Light and Dust. To enter simply leave a comment here and tell me what you think about fantasy or fiction with a mystical twist. If you really think that this is the book for you, I have found a wonderful way to get you into the proper mindset. Natasha has a wonderful game on her website. Check it out. Come back and leave a comment here with your results for three additional entries in the contest. Who knows, you might also win a wonderful prize from the author (can anyone say Kindle?). The deadline to enter this contest is tax day, April 15th. I’ll announce the winner on the 16th. Good luck!!!
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Book Blogger Con
Have you heard about the 1st Annual Book Blogger Convention that will be held in NYC during the BEA? You should check it out. I know it will be a fantastic experience. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend due to family obligations, but I'll be trolling blogs for up to the minute news.
WE Magazine’s A Woman Blogger to Watch
Literate Challenges
What's in a Name? 3
Random Reading Challenge
