Sara L. Thomson’s debut is a fresh rendition of the Arthurian legend, rooted in the earliest surviving stories about Arthur from medieval Welsh tales and blended with elements of later versions. In her brief introduction, Thomson write, “I wanted to give a voice to characters who don’t often get to speak for themselves.” And so her telling of this most famous story comes in four parts — each from a different point of view, each moving the story along its fateful path. First comes Nimue, the ferryman’s daughter who falls in love with Myrddin, the bard blessed — or plagued — with visions of the future. Then there is Morgan, half-sister and first queen of the prophesized king, who is banished from Arthur’s life by Myrddin, but who gives birth to Arthur’s twin sons, Gwyned and Menaud The handmaiden Luned continues the story, describing how Arthur’s heir, Gwyned, came to be raised by her lady in the midst of great heartache. Finally Arthur’s other son, Menaud, finishes the story of how his father came to die by his own hand, his lifelong bitterness dissolving into grief. Deft handling of the complex plot and intriguing characters makes for a richly detailed story. (Age 12 and older)

A grieving mother, an embittered former wife, a loyal servant, and a bloodthirsty son -- each with an unforgettable voice -- recall their particular roles in the rise and fall of England's King Arthur. Born into land splintered by rivalries, King Arthur was conceived in cruelty and survived infancy only through the sacrifice of another. His marriage to his half sister was short-lived -- but long enough for him to father twin sons. Raised apart, one boy was brought up gently by his aunt; the other, trained in revenge by his wild mother. No wonder that Arthur's reign, which began with such lofty ideals of peace and harmony, ended in shattering ruin. Breathing passionate new life back into characters that have long captured our imaginations, this is an exceptional first novel.