Helpful Score: 2
Returning to the era of Arthur and his Camelot, Stewart has given life to two lesser-known characters from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. She enlarges upon and gives wonderful detail to Alexander, a young prince who sets off on a quest to avenge his father's assassination and to Alice, a gentle young lass who accompanies her father on pilgrimages to Holy shrines. Their stories are told in five alternating chapters until they meet, fall in love, and vanquish the foe in the exciting climax. Interwoven within the plot are background details on other characters and the complex legends of the period, especially evil Queen Morgan Le Fay, who detains Alexander for her own greedy purposes. A British map (same one several times) appears frequently to identify various locales, and one family tree assists readers, but there is no preliminary list of characters to help keep the participants in mind. The appended author's notes and the legend itself are interesting and help pull everything together once the story has concluded. A light fantasy for fans of this period
A story of adventure, love and sorcery! Mary Stewart returns to the world of Kind Arthur and Camelot--the magic era which she depicted in her enduring and highly acclaimed Merlin Trilogy: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment.
The prince, is named Alexander. He is by an infant when is father, Prince Baudouin, is murdered by the King of Cornwall in England. Aided by a trusted servant, Alexander's mother, escapes the same fate by fleeing with her son to a safe and secret haven. When Alexander comes of age he sets out to Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur and avenge the death of the father he never knew.
The pilgrim is named Alice. We first meet her when she is a child accompanying her father, a royal duke, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Whole growing up into a beautiful young woman, Alice also experiences many adventures. Among them is the rescue of a young French nobleman who has in his possession an enchanted silver cup. Many believe the chalice to be the mysterious and much-sought after Holy Grail.
Price Alexander is diverted in his quest for justice by the enchantments of Morgan LeFay, the seductive but evil sorceress. She persuades him to attempt the theft of the Holy Grail so that she can own it and thus gain power over King Arthur and his court.
As a wise man said, "Everyone has their own grail." Alexander's search for the mysterious cup, Holy Grail or not, leads him to Alice. Together the prince and the pilgrim find what they've really been seeking: love, the greatest mystery of all.
The prince, is named Alexander. He is by an infant when is father, Prince Baudouin, is murdered by the King of Cornwall in England. Aided by a trusted servant, Alexander's mother, escapes the same fate by fleeing with her son to a safe and secret haven. When Alexander comes of age he sets out to Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur and avenge the death of the father he never knew.
The pilgrim is named Alice. We first meet her when she is a child accompanying her father, a royal duke, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Whole growing up into a beautiful young woman, Alice also experiences many adventures. Among them is the rescue of a young French nobleman who has in his possession an enchanted silver cup. Many believe the chalice to be the mysterious and much-sought after Holy Grail.
Price Alexander is diverted in his quest for justice by the enchantments of Morgan LeFay, the seductive but evil sorceress. She persuades him to attempt the theft of the Holy Grail so that she can own it and thus gain power over King Arthur and his court.
As a wise man said, "Everyone has their own grail." Alexander's search for the mysterious cup, Holy Grail or not, leads him to Alice. Together the prince and the pilgrim find what they've really been seeking: love, the greatest mystery of all.
Helpful Score: 1
A sweet love story by the author of the Merlin Trilogy.
Helpful Score: 1
I liked this book, but Mary Stewart has written many that are better. Samantha Eggar does a wonderful reading of the abridged book.
