Books 149-150: Fire of Merlin and Hostage Queen
Book 149: The Fire of Merlin (The Return to Camelot #2.
Author: Donna Hosie, 2013.
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy. Arthurian Legend. Young Adult.
Other Details: ebook. 233 pages.
Seventeen-year-old Natasha Roth and her older brother, Arthur, are reunited once more with the Knights of the Round Table. Unfortunately their joy is not shared by Arthur’s girlfriend, “Slurpy” Samantha, whose hatred of Natasha has not been lessened by time or distance since the Roth family relocated to London. But Natasha’s happiness is short-lived. The knights come with ill news from Logres: a magical darkness has fallen over the land. The Lady of the Lake, Nimue, is battling against her former lover, Merlin, whom she imprisoned before the enchanted sleep. He has been freed and Natasha soon discovers that her own actions the previous year unlocked more than just a gateway between the past and the present. When “Slurpy” disappears, a frantic Arthur decides they must leave the 21st century once more and return to Camelot. - synopsis from author's blog.
Thankfully Natasha appears to have grown up a little since The Search for Arthur and has curbed her jealousy to some degree. There was enough to like here though by no means is this series going to become a classic of Arthurian literature. Far too much of the plot and characterisation just doesn't seem thought out even for a fantasy. Certainly it hasn't been made clear why the son of a USA diplomat has been hailed as the returned King Arthur. Is it just because his name is Arthur and he is a blond jock? As a long champion of the Lady of the Lake/Nimue I wasn't pleased for her to be cast as the baddie.
So despite some fun moments this just felt weak . I may continue on to Book 3 as I would like to see how things play out though some reviews of Book 3 mention it ending on another cliffhanger and this doesn't encourage me. I like a trilogy to have an ending, rather than feed into another series. Fine if its quality but not so if mediocre.
Book 150: Hostage Queen.
Author: Freda Lightfoot, 2010.
Genre: Historical Fiction. France 16th Century.
Other Details: Hardback. 260 pages.
Marguerite de Valois, the most beautiful woman in the French Court, is the subject of great intrigue. She loves Henri of Guise, but is married off to Henry of Navarre, which (her mother hopes) will bring peace to the realm. But, within days, the streets of Paris are awash with blood, and Marguerite and her new husband are held hostage by her own family. Can they ever hope to escape alive? In a court rife with murder, jealousy and the hunger for power, it will not be an easy task . . . - synopsis from author's website.
After reading C. M. Gortner's novel about Catherine d'Medici I wanted to read a novel featuring her daughter Margot but didn't wish to read Dumas. I found this novel rather lacklustre. While some sections were fine and the author does write the love scenes very well too much of the book felt like reading non-fiction making for a rather patchy pace. Catherine is so obviously the baddie here and the ending just sort of happened. I would have appreciated an author's note rounding out Margot's history after those last sentences. While reading this novel it struck me as amazing that the people of France didn't rise up and start chopping off the heads of their aristocrats two hundred years before the French Revolution.
Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.