In Camelot's Shadow

by Sarah Zettel

Book Overview

A magical fantasy romance set in Arthurian England from the Philip K. Dick Award-winning author of Reclamation and The Other Sister. An epic series featuring the women of Camelot begins with this tale... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373811128
• ISBN13: 9780373811120
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Harlequin Presents
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

An Original Tale of Camelot!

This is the story of Risa of the Morelands. Her father has promised her to an evil sorcerer, Euberacon, when she is of age. This was the pact made between these two to save the life of Risa's mother, who was dying at the time.As Risa is growing up she suspects something is wrong as her father refuses all of her suitors for marriage. When she finally finds out the truth she decides to run away and live elsewhere, anywhere but with Euberacon. On the way, she is saved by Sir Gawain of Camelot who vows to protect her with his life and bring her plight before King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. He also needs to inform them of the plot against them to take over Camelot by Euberacon and his minions. However, many adventures and nightmares await both of them along the way. The plot moves quickly and is a genuine page turner from start to finish. I've read probably every type of Arthurian fiction available and this novel was a true winner, in every sense! I can hardly wait until her next novel in this series is published in 2005!

An Intrepid Lady in King Arthur's Court

In Camelot's Shadow is an Arthurian tale. Lord Rygehil of the Morelands is traveling homeward from the coronation of Arthur as King of the Britons. The weather is wet and cold and his pregnant lady has been taken by a fever and is near death. The Morelands party all crowd into an abandoned Roman fort for shelter and find that a Byzantine sorcerer has already occupied the ruin. Euberacon offers to save the life of Lady Jocosa in exchange for the child and Lord Rygehil agrees.In this novel, Risa of the Morelands has grown to be a fair lady, but cannot get her father to agree to a betrothal. Lady Jocosa forces her husband to disclose his bargain with the sorcerer and Risa overhears the confession. Lord Rygehil refuses to consider any action to negate the promise, so Risa runs away to seek sanctuary with the holy sisters at the monastery of St. Anne. Whitcomb, the steward, had overheard the bargain so many years before and insists on accompanying her to the monastery. Hardly had they left the cleared fields for the forest road than they found the sorcerer waiting for them. The black magician spooks Whitcomb's horse, dumping the steward on the ground. When Euberacon moves over to the felled steward with a knife in his hand, Risa puts a arrow to her bow and draws on the sorcerer, but he only breaks her bow string and stabs Whitcomb. Then he accosts Risa, but a stranger rides out of the night and stabs Euberacon with his lance. Risa grabs the magician's knife from where he dropped it and stabs him. The sorcerer, however, heals his wounds and disappears in a cloud of smoke.The stranger is Sir Gawain, a champion of Camelot and heir to the king. Ten years past, Arthur's forces had defeated the Saxons at Mount Baden. Now the Saxons are plotting an uprising under Wolfweard, called Wolfget by many, who is being subtly manipulated by a sorceress named Kerra. Gawain is bringing word of the uprising to Camelot when he comes across the confrontation between Risa and Euberacon. After driving off the sorcerer, Gawain gets Risa on her horse and leads her out of the area with considerable haste.In this story, Euberacon has deliberately driven Gawain and Risa together to take advantage of Gawain's susceptibility to oppressed women. Gawain has blamed himself for a tragic incident between his father and his sister and has since fallen in love with numerous women having troubled marriages or other problems. The sorcerer knows that Gawain's weakness will cause dissension among Arthur's champions and thereby aid the Saxon offensive.Nonetheless, Risa is by no means a helpless woman like all of Gawain's other loves. When she has to defend herself, she shoots first and becomes sick after the fight is over. Gawain is sure that she is something special in his life.This story has a lot to say about the role of women in that time and place. Although ladies were cherished under the vows of chivalry, each is also bound to a male protector, first their father a

A FRESH APPROACH!

I've read as many versions of the Arthurian legend as I can find. While normally, I'm less interested in the story when surrounded by heavy fantasy, I found Zettel's approach refreshing and interesting. The story focuses on Risa - a young woman promised by her father into slavery to a dark wizzard. Attempting to escape her fate, she stumbles into the gallant hands of Sir Gawain. The remainder of the book revolves around their story - her desperate attempt to remain free of the wizzard and Gawain's struggle against propriety and social class restrictions to find true love. What I really liked about the book was the introduction of fresh new characters and situations. Yes, Arthur and Guenevere are in the story -barely. Yes Lancelot is mentioned - in passing. It is NOT the typical fly by night book reiterating the traditional story of Camelot. I liked it despite my normal preference for more historical strength and fewer fantastic aspects. I eagerly await the 2005 release of the sequel.

Good combination of old and new Arthurian fantasy

This is the type of book I was hoping the Luna line of books would publish. It's well-written fantasy, with characters that have some depth. It's also a good mix of that fantasy with some romance. This tale focuses on two Arthurian legends about Sir Gawain, the Loathly Lady and the Green Knight. But it takes the story and places them into the context of the life of a young noblewoman named Risa. She's a baron's daughter, but the baron has sold her to a sorcerer in exchange for his wife's life. When Risa flees home she encounters the sorcerer and then Sir Gawain, who of course saves her. Gawain in this book is a true Arthurian knight, brave and true and courteous, and he takes it upon himself to escort her to Camelot so the Queen may protect her. On the way there and afterwards they have to pass through some fires before the end of the book, as anyone who knows the legends involved will realize.I liked a number of things about the book. The dialogue was one, being the stilted formal speech of the myth that changes toward intimate patterns as the two come to know one another. The writing style was another, straightforward yet descriptive. I appreciated the way the women were pulled to the front of the story, shown in their strength, and yet reasonable characters for the times. I liked that the original intents of the stories were unchanged, for all the tales were told differently. The characters pleased me as well. Zettel made each of them, including all the villains of the piece into humans with good and bad sides. We saw their motivations, and they were understandable and felt human. The one exception was a villain I couldn't connect with who was kind of over the top, but even he was given a background and reasons for his actions.Lastly, I liked how the book was a combination of old legend and new, old style and new. I think that must have been difficult to write.But I appreciate the effort. : )A note at the end of the book implies that more Arthurian tales will be upcoming (I should say that this book is completely standalone). I am definitely looking forward to the next ones.

charming Camelot tale

When Risa was about to be born, her father Lord Rygehil, desperate to save the life of his beloved wife Jocosa, receives shelter from a storm from the evil sorcerer Euberacon. However, for his hospitality, the malevolent one demands payment placing a curse on the newborn daughter. Euberacon vowed to collect the debt when the baby was old enough.That baby is of an age for Euberacon to demand remittance. Refusing to be a pawn, a desperate, Risa flees her home though she believes no place is safe for her. Still with her skills, Risa hopes she can elude the abomination until he becomes wary of chasing after her. When she meets Sir Gawain on his way home to warn King Arthur of a plot to destroy his realm, Risa realizes that Camelot is the ideal locale to avoid Euberacon. However, Euberacon casts his lure to catch his frightened prey even as he employs spells to remove the King and destroy his Knights of the Round Table. Only Risa fighting the spell might save the kingdom, its monarch, and herself from wickedness with no scruples.Fantasy romance readers will love and appreciate this charming Camelot tale. The superb story line is loaded with intrigue, treachery, romance, sorcery, Arthurian legends, and a vile villain who though completely amoral makes the perfect challenge for the Round Table knights and the courageous heroine. Sarah Zettel effectively takes the risk of writing a rendition of the classic Sir Gawain and the Green Knight story with a terrific Camelot tale that will send readers to the moon seeking the Luna imprints as well as her back list (see the novels of Isavalta).Harriet Klausner