Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Touchstone
Release Date: September 14th, 2010
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher.
I couldn’t help but feel that this book was overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike this book, but it was just “eh” for me. I guess this is just one example of how reading other reviews of a book before I’ve had a chance to form my own opinion can create unduly heightened expectations. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more had I read its predecessor in Elliott’s series, Twilight of Avalon. For the first 100 pages, I was thoroughly confused. I had to re-read passages multiple times, not because the language was so sophisticated, but because I was grasping at straws trying to get a sense of what had gone on in the previous book. I think the author struggled to provide summaries of her earlier work within this one, and ended up with redundancy that didn’t quite clear up for the reader (or, this reader, at least) exactly what went down prior to the start of this book. The part that got confusing for me wasn’t the redundancy but the constant skipping around from one thought to another that plagued the beginning chapters of the book.
There didn’t seem to be many sparks flying between Isolde and Trystan, either. Knowing their great love story from legend, film, and even the opera, I would have expected their characters to have much more chemistry between them. I understand that the whole point of the book would have been defeated had the author made the two declare their love for one another early on in the tale, but the constant restraint on both of their ends just read like an artificial plot device to me.
Maybe I’m just not meant to love Arthurian historical fiction. I want to get into this area of historical-fiction-based-on-legend, believe me, but so far I just haven’t found a book on the subject that quite grabs my interest. In this book’s defense, many bloggers totally loved this book, so it could be a matter of personal tastes (check out positive reviews by Swapna and by Daphne).
To end this review on a positive note, I will say that I did enjoy the historical/mythological tidbits of this book. The author did a great job of blending fable with real history, but other aspects prevented me from getting attached to the characters or their story. To learn more about the legend behind Trystan and Isolde, check out my author interview with Anna Elliott.
Purchase this book on Amazon | Purchase this book from The Book Depository
I have heard so much about this trilogy and I can see how reading so many other reviews might set expectations a bit too high. I am yet to read one of these books but I will be sure to start from the beginning… hopefully it will increase my chances of becoming hooked on this time period. Thanks for the review, Allie
Svea ~Muse in the Fog recently posted..Masterpiece Monday
I think reading the first book before starting this one is your best bet. I’d still be interested to read it at some point to see if it changes my perspective on this one. And, I am still looking for that one book to get me hooked, as well!
I think if you had read the first book it might have helped with this one. It has been a while since I read Twilight of Avalon and there were parts of this book (especially in the beginning) that I was still a little confused and glad I had read the first one!
I started reading Hollick’s Arthurian trilogy (starts with The Kingmaking) and I am really enjoying it – I have a hard time making myself put it down! (thanks for the link as well!).
Everybody seems to have really loved TWILIGHT OF AVALON, which was one of the reasons this one was so appealing to me. Coincidentally, the other book I link to from Authurian times that I didn’t love, A LAND BEYOND RAVENS, was also a part of a series where I felt I should have read the whole series in order to enjoy the book. I don’t think that this is necessarily always the case, but with certain books, such as those with lots of battles to keep track of, definitely!
I’m hosting Helen Hollick for a guest post in early December. I think I’ll have to try out some of her books! I’ve also heard Rosalind Miles’s Guenevere trilogy and her Isolde trilogy are both excellent.
I would second the recommendation for Helen Hollick’s trilogy. Other than I haven’t read a lot of Arthurian fiction, but I do have Twilight of Avalon at home to read at some point.
Marg recently posted..The Passionate Brood by Margaret Campbell Barnes
I’m afraid I’ve never read it and so can’t offer much that way. I will say, however, AAAHHH! You didn’t read the first one first? That’s just crazy!
Okay, so I’m a bit OCD with things like this. Reading a series out of order – or even reading a spin off before the original – gives me twitches.
Trisha recently posted..Book Review- The Odyssey Books 1-6
Thank you for your review; it balances out the positive ones I have seen and helped me make up my mind whether to go ahead and try this series or not. I will pass.
My reaction to Arthurian novels seems similar to yours in that I have yet to find one which convincingly depicts the era AND brings something new and fresh and appealing to the portrayal of the relationships (a coherent writing style goes without saying, whether a novel is the tenth book in a series or a standalone). The only Arthurian fiction that truly worked for me was Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists Of Avalon which explored the fantasy aspects of the legend. I read it a very long time ago, though, so who knows whether I would be as captivated today (fantasy is not one of my favourite genres).
Danielle C. recently posted..Ottoman Empire- Tears Of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
You are not alone sister! The first book was much though, and you probably should have read it first.
As for Rosalind Miles, I read books 1 and 2 of her Trystan and Isolde trilogy and enjoyed them but book 3 irritated the hell out of me! Like wanted to throw it against the wall iritated me. Trystan was a weenie, plain and simple. I did not finish the book.
Now I have heard her Guenevere trilogy is excellent, but I have been afraid to give it a try. I believe Danielle mentioned Mists of Avalon by Bradley….highly recommend it. Loved the book and would re-read it again any time. I like my fantasy
jennygirl recently posted..Review- Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani