Characters Books

This is one of those books you'll read and keep reading even though it is geared towards pre-teens. I find myself re-reading the story, and looking at the pictures to see if I can find something I didn't see before. It is a captivating story that introduces you to a legendary character. I would recomend this book to anyone.

I had to buy this book because my daughter (6) was checking it out from the library so often. It is an unusual look at Guinevere and offers a good, empowering role model for girls. We love the illustrations and have read it over and over. Unfortunately, the paperback version has not stood up to those many readings. The pages have all had to be taped back in because once one came loose, the rest followed. I don't blame the binding, it is just that a paperback cannot survive that much love.

This is a beautiful picture book for pre-teens rather than for really young children. It has a mythological tale of what young Queen Guinevere's life might have been like. It is well written by the talented Robert D. San Souci and is filled with symbolism and adventure and heroism. The illustrations are well done and are brightly colored like the pages in a medieval illuminated manuscript. Beautiful mythical creatures like a chimera and a unicorn and a werewolf help give this story its otherwordly feel and add to the mysterious and magical flavor we have come to know from other great Arthurian writers like Sir Thomas Malory, T.H. White, and Howard Pyle. This is a simple story that ends with foreshadowing of the world Guinevere will grow into and it makes a good introduction to this enigmatic character.

When I found this book, the artwork captivated me. The story is simple yet strong. I would buy this if I had a child. It is beautifully illustrated and told. Take/Borrow it and read it.

This book has the best illustrations that I have EVER seen. They draw you to the text and are partnered with the book perfectly. They have the quality of a photograph.

I am a student of Persian and have found this book to be an excellent source of short stories that are both enjoyable and relatively easy to translate. The binding is sturdy and the pages are heavy and durable, (Important if you're going to make lots of notes inside!) All the vocabulary I had to look up could be found in the Hippocrene Standard Persian-English Dictionary, also available on Amazon.

I grew up with Mulla's stories. You can not find an Iranian who does not know a few stories of Mulla. Even though his storues are very funny, still they have a philosophical value too. A must read for anybody and everybody.

I read Molla's stories in English not being fortunate to know enough Persian. I hope they translate more of these stories to English, because just mentioning Molla's name brings smile to the people who know him.

In the present times, in the US we have Woody Allen, and in the East the impaccable Aziz Nassin of Turkey whose very name make you smile.

Molla's Character is popular in the Middle East as well as the Indian subcontinent, the same way as another Persian storyteller, Scheherazade is. Molla, in the Persian culture is title for the learned men or teachers. When people saw someone with beard and turban, they already assumed he is a molla so they would throw their questions.

For instance, Once Molla was hammering the nail at the end of his donkey's bridle, as he was going to a teahouse. Someone asked him: "Molla, where is the center of the world." Molla said," The center of the world is where I just hammered the nail to my donkey's bridle." Someone said, " I don't believe this." Molla took a sip of his tea and said, " If you don't believe it, go measure it."

In the forties and fifties Molla became popular among British. Some English speakers, in the hight of tension, during Nationalization of Oil, used to quote Molla when they wanted to break the ice with their Persian counterparts.

The funny stories did not solve the problem, but opened the door for many translations in English, Franch, German and many other languages. I have seen the book translated in Arabic, Turkish, Ordu and Hindu. In each of these countries they have, in years, added more stories to the old ones, giving the character a native identity. I am sure the Arabic Molla has some particular stories and the Turkish one some other. Molla now belongs to every country in Asia, as Sheharazade does.

This book is, however, in Persian. As the English version was a lot of fun for me to read, I'm sure Persians, who have a great sense of humor, will find this book much funnier than the English translation. Enjoy it.--Khandeh dareh!

It's not the point that Hoca is a character of Turkey nor Iran. Hoca is one of the wisest man of all times. He makes us remember things everyone else has forgotten for ever and always. His sayings -jokes- guide us to the objective and practical knowledge of All.

Nasreddin Hoca is not an Iranian character!!!! He had lived in Aksehir,which is a small city in Anatolia(Turkey).I am a very surprised to see that an Iranian writer try to show Nasreddin Hoca as an Iranian character.Let's not forget that 2 or 3 years ago it was celebrated as the Nasreddin Hoca year in Turkey!

A series of questions guides you through a step-by-step discovery of the hows and whys of your approach to acting, exposing the "Hidden Acting Agendas"--those inner, emotional issues that sometimes keep even the most experienced actors from doing their best work. As an acting teacher, I find that this is an area often neglected in books about acting, usually only referred to when discussing "stage fright". Bill Howey's book offers a much deeper exploration of the causes without requiring you to be a psychotherapist. It's a resource I refer to again and again.

What I love about THE ACTOR'S MENU is that even after you've read it from cover to cover, you can go back to individual sections and target specific acting problems as they occur. As a director, I'm always looking of practical ways to communicate to actors how to make adjustments without forcing them "into their head." Bill Howey addresses acting problems in straightforward, no-nonsense, practical ways, without all the usual acting jargon found in so many acting books. And the most refreshing thing about it, is that it works!!!

As an acting coach, I'm always looking for the clearest, most jargon-free way to help actors find their way to their most personal work. The Actor's Menu is imminently practical and so always useable. From the questionnaire at the front of the book through the end, Bill Howey helps the actor talk to him- or herself genuinely and effectively, without any BS. The litmus test always comes back to whether the actor was able to bring themselves fully into their work. The result from a watcher's point of view is acting that touches us and is compelling to watch. I've recommended The Actor's Menu to all of my actors and it's provided us with a framework for communicating that's helped me teach and helped them learn. That's what you need a book to do.

This is one of the most unique and helpful books I've ever read on the art and craft of acting. It has great insight and very useful advice on the process of becoming a character. This guy writes with a clarity and directness you don't often find in acting books. I've recommended this book to new actors and experienced pros looking for fresh approaches. Some of the material on personal traits that get in the way of good acting is especially helpful to get out of ruts and take the next step up in exercising your talent.
I've been re-reading sections of the book lately to help me with auditions, and with my work on a character in an Albee play I just got cast in.

The Actor's Menu by Bill Howey truly breaks down the essential ingredients required for a tasty performance! Using a menu motif, Howey shows the actor how to bring out the unique qualities that reside deep within each actor, and blend them into performances worth watching. He gives guidelines to help one make choices that resound with authenticity and power. Easy to read and thought-provoking, The Actor's Menu is much more than fast food; it's a complete meal!

This was an excellent read. Although I really enjoyed Vol. 1, Vol. 2 mainly deals with the All-Star Squadron series, which is the series I read growing up. It was a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of one of my favorite super-hero teams. Highly recommended.

This book follows up on the All Star Companion, Volume One, and is a collection of articles and recollections of DC's golden age heroes (namely the Justice Society of America, and The All-Star Squadron). There are some unique insights and interesting stories about these classic characters, and the book is filled with some rare and intriguing art. The wrap-around cover by Carlos Pacheco is fantastic.

For me, the most interesting feature was a complete synopsis (issue by issue) of the All-Star Squadron comics, complete with cover reproductions and background notes. There were also supposed to be notes on the Young All-Stars comic, but space constraints pushed this material out of the book (though it will appear in volume three). This is nothing short of a phenomenal read for fans of comicdom's golden age.

Collections strong in comic book artists and art will find this history of the Justice Society of America and friends to be moving: it provides more secrets of the comic characters from the 1940s through the 1980s, surveying major issues and events, providing black and white reproductions of pages, and detailing behind-the-scenes influences on adventures and character appearances. An excellent companion for any who have followed the strip and seek more information on historical progression.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I have always been a huge fan of the JSA. In my younger days, I collected every issue of All Star Squadron. As I got older and married, I sold my collection to younger enthusiasts. Now, I can revisit my former passion in this book that describes all the issues of All-Star Squadron as well as interesting articles about the history of All-Star Comics and the JSA. If you are interested in greater understanding of the history of JSA, I heartily recommend this book.

If you liked All-Star Companion vol.1, you'll enjoy vol.2. More info on the Justice Society, plus an issue by issue review of The All-Star Squadron. I'm looking forward to vol.3!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

[[ASIN:0978906004 Angel Bear Yoga Main Lesson Book- A complete children's yoga program book featuring kid's yoga poses, breathing exercises, nature activities, character building and more! It's Angel Bear Yoga!]
My students look forward to doing our daily yoga lesson. I have used yoga in my classroom for several years, but these lessons tie together character traits and yoga movement. I notice that my students remember the character traits and remind each other of these during the day. The lessons are easy to follow and are well written. At the end of each lesson all those participating feel calm and ready to start our day!! I highly reccomend this book of lessons for anyone wanting to do yoga with children, it is a great book.

We started by using the Main Lesson Book ad found that the kids loved the poses and stories that went along with them. They were engaged and intrigued by it all, and this became an important way for us to connect. Great fun too!

Christi Eley, founder of Angel Bear Yoga, brings a multi-sensory and multi-modality approach to children's yoga. Her approach is fresh, creative and developmentally appropriate for young children. As Angel Bear and Sweet Pea gently lead the way through yoga poses, they encourage children to make connections with the natural world. Angel Bear Yoga encourages positive character traits through story, creative visualization, and poses. Angel Bear Yoga offers high quality products that are colorful and playful. Christi has succeeded in offering a parent and teacher friendly guide to children's yoga, that can make it possible to individualize instruction for every child. Angel Bear Yoga offers endless opportunities for spending quality time with your child.
Suzanne Banks, M.S. Educational Media

Both of my sons have benefited from Angel Bear Yoga, though they were 7 and 10. This is a program that I would recommend to others, both parents and educators based on my experiences as a parent, Special Educator and Parent Educator.

Children are excited and interested in the poses and story and during this experience, the stage is well set for future discussion of values and attitudes in a way that is appropriate for young children. In addition, the program improves physical fitness and coordination and successfully provides an outlet for physical energy and movement that children need. For parents, Angel Bear Yoga provides a wonderful opportunity to share time and love with their childeren.

Once again, an Angelina winner! My granddaughter's favorite character, after Angelina herself, is Alice so she is delighted to find a whole book about just the two of them. As usual, a small crisis (a hiccup the Aussies would call it) and then as usual, a happy ending. Loud applause from a delighted child and her grandmother.

Don't pay $45 dollars for this new book with character doll. I was told it was discontinued by a local book store today, 12/7. I went to two other stores and found 1 Angelina and Alice with the character doll. There were a couple Angelina Ballerinas left too. It only cost me $27.95. Shame on the book store listed on this website charging $45! Check your bookstores they are going fast.

This is a wonderful book and we have enjoyed it very much. I have checked it out of the library repeatedly. So I very much wanted the book with the doll to give to my daughter for Christmas. Thankfully, I didn't give up today!

beautifully illustrated, heartwarming childrens stories. Even though the Angelina stories are geared towards girls, my little boy, at 8, enjoyed these as well, especially when mom read to him. These are good stories to read to your child at bedtime.

The artwork is detailed and delightful to look at-you'll see new things each time you look, and children love that that every scene is filled with many little mice.

This Angelina story deals with how it feels when we are sometimes left out, bullied, or when a "best friend" chooses to play with other children. Each book is filled with wonderful life lessons told in a gentle, non preachy way.

I highly recommend this series for any child.
5 stars!

Whoa, has Amazon got the age range wrong here. I think some teenage girls might even enjoy this story. Certainly my children did -- 3 and 5 years of age.

"Angelina and Alice" is a lovely story about friendship and how even the best of friendships can hit a bump or two along the road. In this tale Angelina is made fun of because she can't do a decent handstand. The older girls hurt her feelings by laughing at her efforts on the playground, but what really makes her sad is when Alice joins the other girls in making fun of her.

We don't know what thoughts Alice has, but soon she repents her harsh actions and is back to help Angelina as she practices and practices to get the handstand just right. And when the school puts on a show at the Village Festival even the older girls have to give a hand to the great performance of Angelina and Alice.

Five Stars. A good read-aloud and a fine story of friendship. I particularly like the fact that importance of practicing is emphasized. And far from being a book for preschoolers, I think this is a book for 5 year olds on up. In fact, even a mommy can enjoy it.

That's exactly what this book is. Cute. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the story is enjoyable. Angelina and Alice are both mice. One day they meet each other and become friends because they both like the same things. When other kids (mice) at school begin making fun of Angelina, Alice joins in. Angelina is left with no friends, and no partner in gym. I won't tell you what happens in the end. You'll have to find out for yourself.

I recommend this book to children and adults alike.

Somebody has killed an aging American veteran and Wesley Peterson has to find out who--and why. Old animosities between the U.S. soldiers and the English people uprooted from their homes come into play, but a psychic claims that the Armada Boy--a survivor of the Spanish Armada is the one to ask.

Kate Ellis writes a fine mystery but what makes this book so compelling is her descriptions of the people and countryside of England. Wesley Peterson, with his pregnant wife suffering from hormone overload, Detective Inspecter Heffernam, with is love for sailing and his need to escape from people yet desire to bond with them, and Detective Constable Rachel Tracey with her ambition, all make sympathetic characters you'll root for as they struggle forward.

The mystery is sufficiently complex and interesting. Ellis's approach of weaving the three eras together proves effective and, ultimately, the fabric of the story proves to be woven together more closely than would at first appear. This is an excellent novel.

Rest easy Ms Christie, your succesor has come through with another great mystery story. I can not wait for the next installment of Wesley's detecting prowess. Thank you Miss Ellis for a very entertaining series.

I have just finished reading this novel and could not put it down, it is superb! I feel that I must disagree with the above review by Kelly Flynn - if anything this book is more engaging tham "The Merchants House"

In Kate Ellis, British literature has a champion to contend with the commercial american heavyweights churning out their tuppenny paperbacks. In the Armada Boy, Ellis successfully produces three narratives of different periods of time, all around the same West Country area. She interweaves these timeframes in a refreshing fashion that rather than slowing and disrupting the flow and pace of the story make the novel flow seemlessly and intelligably between ages. The author maintains the characters from the previous novel but manages to find the right blend of introduction and continuity meaning no readers are alienated in terms of character development. The novel's star characters would appear to be the Americans who I assure you, after spending several hours in the presence of some American Vets. on Christmas Eve are spookily realistic. The interaction amongst the detectives is impressive, with real depth and life which adds to the novel rather than drawing away from the pace of the book.

Bottom line: A great read as either a stand alone novel or part of a sucessful series.

This novel grabbed my attention from the first scene and held it to the last. It is a truly great read.

For me, the real joys of 'The Armada Boy' are the fascinating blend of modern and historical crime; the rich diversity of characters (my personal favourite being Detective Constable Rachel Tracey - a real star in the wings who deserves a novel of her own); and the way in which three completely separate periods of history are woven together so effortlessly. Oh yes, and as with all great crime novels, I would never have guessed 'whodunnit'!!

I hardly put this novel down from the moment I picked it up.I couldn't wait to see what the next page would bring. I inherited my love of crime fiction from my late Grandmother who was a real connoisseur of the genre and as I read this novel I thought often of her. How she would have loved it!

I was impressed with both the quality and contents of this book. Mr. Kishimoto not only provides readers with amazing art (colorful and huge!), but also a variety of thoughts and concepts behind each of the 75 drawings (how they relate to the overall Naruto world, technical art details, etc.) There are also bonuses: a detailed description of how the cover art was made, a gallery (small, greyscale) of Shonen Jump covers featuring Naruto, and interview material. Believe it!

Short and sweet: If you like the artwork of Naruto, you won't be disappointed with this book. I especially liked Masashi Kishimoto's walkthrough of the cover art and his interpretation of squad 7 as a rock band (although I would have made Sasuke the guitarist as the guitarist and singer are always vying for the camera's attention but that's a personal choice). Several of the pieces would be excellent poster fodder. Highly recommended!

My daughters (pre-teens and teens) likes these types of books. It's not my favotite but it's theirs. And to encourage their love in reading, I do allow them to read some books of their choices in additional to the more academic choices books.

This book's art is top notch. Kishimoto's full color panels are collected here and they don't disappoint. What really makes this book worthwhile though is the Q&A and commentary from Kishimoto and the step by step guide through his creative process. Well worth the price.

Kishimoto Masashi's /Naruto/ art book is just as it sounds: Another manga \ pictures from the creator art book. It's been done before. The only people who would probably appreciate it are art students interested in comics, or fans of the popular Naruto series. However, for those who do buy this book, well, it's beautiful, to say the very least.

The book separated into sections, each containing a poem or snippet I assume was written by Kishimoto-san. For the publishers, VIZ Media, what I praise most about this book is the fact that they left the original Japanese print that went along with some of the pictures and translated off to the side. For some, this might be a nuisance, but for a student of the language, it's a good way to test themselves.

Now, onto the book itself. Most of the pictures are cover spreads or pictures that have appeared on the cover of /Shonen Jump/ magazine. Thus, they have more than likely been seen by fans before. However, these pictures are uninterrupted by the text that goes on the covers of that magazine, and have - in the back of the book, sort of like the index - an explanation from Kishimoto-san himself explaining the thought processes and work that went into every picture. The art showcases pictures drawn up to volume twenty-four of the manga.

The extras include an interview with Kishimoto-san basically speaking more of the creation of Naruto and ideas he puts into motion. Also, there is a step-by-step feature of how to draw the front cover using the same tools as Kishimoto-san himself.

In the end, this book is a great buy for Naruto fans and those who want to learn from Kishimoto-san's style. Or for those who just respect the art. However, in the end, it was made for fans of the series, just as all manga art books are.

Hip, young journalist, Alex Bernier and her co-workers at the Gabriel Monitor have seen their fair share of excitement. But nothing like the "frankenfoods" debate.

When protesters at the local university gather to protest genetically modified food research, Alex is on the scene to cover the demonstration. What she didn't count on was having to report that the school's agriculture building exploded and that a prominent university spokeswoman had been beaten to death in her lab.

Alex also didn't count on having to solve the murder mystery herself.

Using her widely acclaimed Gen-X writing style, Beth Saulnier takes an issue from today's headlines and turns it into a fast-paced, thrilling mystery. Alex Bernier is as fun and irreverent as always as she wades deeply into the politics of protest and the corridors of university power.

A great addition to Saulnier's catalogue.

I read this book because the review claimed that the town of Gabriel is really Ithaca, NY and that Benson College is in reality Cornell University, my alma mater. After reading Bad Seed I'm hooked on the charachter of Alex Bernier. She,s tough and intelligent and just insecure enough to make her lovable. Surrounded by her nutty but loyal friends and coworkers she wise cracks her way through this intriguing and suspenseful mystery about a new strain of rice being developed at the Ag School and the mayhem and murder that ensue. I've already ordered Saulnier's previous three books and look forward to the publication of the next Alex Bernier mystery. This story was a great read whether or not you attended Cornell University or lived in Ithaca, but add a star if you did.

A complex and involving plot line; an engaging protagonist; and an atmospheric setting. The fourth book in the Alex Bernier series, and the first in hardcover, brings the sharp and irrevent reporter into harm's way as she tries to solve two bombings and a brutal death on the local college campus. She pits her investigative skills, and those of her newpaper cohorts, against a group of shadowy bioterrorists. Filled with great characters, snappy writing, and a compelling story. Couldn't put it down. A great sequel to "Reliable Sources," "Distemper," and "The Fourth Wall," although it can stand alone. A new, young writer to watch.

I loved it! I have now flown through all four of Saulnier's books found each of them smart, funny and a terrific read. In Bad Seed, poor Alex Bernier, who seems to have an excess of death in her life, is caught up in a finely woven web of science, zealotry and current events. Through basic, hard nosed reporting she stumbles to the bottom of a global plot nestled in the little town of Ithaca. Talk about think global, act local- this one could literally be "ripped from the headlines." I pre-ordered it after reading the first three in the series and am now hoping she keeps this series going. Definitely worth picking this one up.

By the way, I was really disheartened by the Publishers Weekly review but decided to read the book anyway. Did they ever get it wrong! This book is fun and good.

When a murder in academia leaves Benson College PR person Lane Freeman dead by poison and his wife (the Dean of Agriculture) in prison, no one in small-town Gabriel is surprised, since they were an extremely unhappy couple. Nor does anyone take particular note of the protest happening outside a conference at the school on agricultural biotechnology, until a few bombs destroy part of the campus, and the school's popular and revered head biotech professor is found beaten to death.

Not satisfied with the obvious explanations for the murder, Alex Bernier (a saucy twenty-something newspaper reporter whose nose for news puts her right in the thick of things) does a little digging, and comes up with a gaggle of suspects and secrets, including a plan to introduce genetically modified food to an unsuspecting populace. But those who wish their secrets to remain secret will stop at nothing to save themselves.

This book is a super five star treat that I think you'll enjoy very much, and you'll more than likely even get a chuckle or two out of it.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

A few months ago, I read a novel called Queen of Camelot by Nancy Mckenzie, a recreation of the King Arthur story that centers on Guinevere. I thought that the retelling was very interesting and showed Guinevere as a flesh and blood, three-dimensional, kind woman and not the treacherous, adulteress that is shown in the original story. Beloved Exile, however, shows quite a different take on Guinevere, one of an ambitious, treacherous woman that would do anything for survival and to rule as queen with results as interesting as the one in Queen of Camelot. Guinevere is the Medieval/fantasy Scarlett O'Hara in this retelling. After King Arthur dies, Guinevere, along with Lancelot and Gareth, tries to bring Camelot to its previous glory, but things don't turn out that way, to say the least. Instead, she becomes a Saxon slave, and her struggles has just begun. But Guinevere is an intelligent, scheming woman, and she will do just about anything to reign again. There are various twists throughout the novel.

Beloved Exile takes quite a departure from the original King Arthur tale and the results are incredible. Parke Godwin gives Guinevere the sort of depth and layers that is absent in King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. And the anti-heroine here is also a departure from Queen of Camelot. Both of these novels show a very interesting portrayal of Queen Guinevere in very different ways and I cannot decide which one is the best one of the two. In this adaptation, Guinevere is an unsympathetic protagonist, but has enough complexity to make her compelling at the same time. That is why I compare her to Scarlett O'Hara, for she made me feel the same way when I read Gone with the Wind. This Guinevere is very interesting indeed. I just loved the complexity and many dimensions of this character. Mr. Godwin has created a wonderful and unique portrayal of this classic character. And he added gothic undertones to boot! I cannot recommend this gem enough!

This is my favorite depiction of Guinevere. Godwin portrays her as a powerful woman whose strengths (as is often the case) are also her weaknesses--and her undoing. Godwin's Guinevere is frequently hard to sympathize with, but she isn't hard to understand. I'm impressed with how dramatically (but believably) her character changes and grows between Firelord and this book. Note: Read this book carefully, and you'll notice that a character from Firelord, so minor that she had neither name or dialogue, is crucial to the events and attitudes in Beloved Exile.

Traditional versions of the Arthur myth focus mainly on the men. Other versions like Mists of Avalon, which I enjoy immensely, focus women characters and not much, really, on the weepy, very Christian Guinevere.

Beloved Exile is a smashing alternate view of the possibilities, given the times. Guinevere in this version is not construed as a saint, a hystrionic weeper, nor is she totally lovable, but is very human. She is a strong, unforgettable character.

Highly recommended!

This is a worthy sequel to the exciting "Firelord." It tells the story of the rest of Guinevere's life after Arthur's death, and she is even more of a vivid and strong personality than she was in that enthralling novel. Godwin's account of her captivity as a Saxon slave, and her adaptation to that way of life, is purely imaginative, but who could mind? It relates a sensitive and entertaining account of how this proud queen grows to maturity in her adjustment to a jarring change in her fortunes. Guinevere has never seemed more real, alive and captivating than in these pages.You can well believe that a woman this remarkable has captured popular imagination for 1500 years. Someone, please--put this book back into print! It deserves it.

More historical fiction than fantasy, you will not find any magic swords or sorcery in this gritty and realistic story of Guenevere and Britian after the death of Arthur. When the story begins, Guenevere is already middle aged, and Britian is on the brink of chaos. As the story progresses we learn of the maturing of Guenevere as a person and as a queen.

The novel starts off fast and furious with battles and betrayals. Then it settles down into a serious character study as it builds towards a strong and satisfying climax. Sometimes slow, but always interesting, this was worthwhile reading.