Helpful Score: 3
The last of the four novels Mary Stewart has written about the Arthurian saga.
This book is told from the viewpoint of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Morgause. Because of this, the book takes a different tone and is therefore a little disconcerting to read, since I was used to listening to Merlin's take of the story.
Still, there are hints of Merlin's voice that help guide the plot which, in the end, makes it very enjoyable.
This book was a great end to the series and very fulfilling read.
One thing I have to comment about is that although these novels are written by a woman, they take a very chauvinistic stance. Women are used as means to an end and thrown away with the trash when their usefulness runs out. Mordred, Arthur, Uther and even Merlin himself use and mistreat most of the women in their lives as if they mean nothing. This was very annoying at times to read.
This book is told from the viewpoint of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Morgause. Because of this, the book takes a different tone and is therefore a little disconcerting to read, since I was used to listening to Merlin's take of the story.
Still, there are hints of Merlin's voice that help guide the plot which, in the end, makes it very enjoyable.
This book was a great end to the series and very fulfilling read.
One thing I have to comment about is that although these novels are written by a woman, they take a very chauvinistic stance. Women are used as means to an end and thrown away with the trash when their usefulness runs out. Mordred, Arthur, Uther and even Merlin himself use and mistreat most of the women in their lives as if they mean nothing. This was very annoying at times to read.
Kristin K. (escapeartistk) -
'The Wicked Day' is suspenseful and well-paced. Stewart has taken, literally, the stuff of legends and made the conflicts and characters realistic and relatable. This is easily my favorite of her four Arthurian novels, and it could be read as a stand-alone.
