The Legends of King Arthur, by Tracey Mayhew and illustrated by Mike Phillips, is a 10-book
retelling of the Arthurian legends, intended for children aged 7-9. Each book is 95 pages long and has illustrations on every page. The volumes:
- No Ordinary Boy
The boy Merlin is of supernatural parentage; taken to King Vortigern, he displays his power and predicts the coming of Arthur.
- The Dark Sorceress
Morgan is the daughter of the Duke of Gorlois and his wife, Igraine. One day, Morgan's world is turned upside-down when King Uther declares war on the Duke. Sent to a nunnery for safety, Morgan is horrified to learn of her father's death—and her mother's subsequent marriage to the king who killed him. And then, a baby boy—Arthur! Morgan's rage is uncontrollable. She recognizes a power in her and trains in it. She becomes Morgan le Fay, dark sorceress. And she will see Arthur fall.
- The Sword in the Stone
Arthur and his older brother, Kay, chase away robbers attacking an old man. Through him, they learn of a tournament in Londinium. They attend, and when Arthur forgets Kay's sword, he grabs one in the town square that will change his life forever.
- Twelve Rebel Kings
Arthur puts down a rebellion against his rule, acquires Excalibur, and defends King Leodegrance from an attack. He meets and marries Guinevere, the King's daughter, and receives the Round Table as a wedding present.
- Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain gets more than he bargained for when a mysterious giant offers a 'blow for blow' contest. Will he prove true?
- Tristan and Isolde
Tristan saves King Mark and Cornwall from the Irish, only to require healing at their hand. There, he meets the beautiful Isolde . . . with tragic consequences.
- Lancelot
Raised by the Lady of the Lake, Sir Lancelot was introduced to Arthur's court when he turned 18. He has various adventures away from Camelot, is tricked into being with Elaine, goes mad, and returns to his senses (and Camelot) as he faces his greatest love (and fear): Queen Guinevere.
- The Quest for the Holy Grail
Lancelot has a son! Galahad shows up at Camelot one day, and his name appears at the Round Table. And the end is near; his arrival heralds the quest for the Holy Grail. As Arthur's knights pursue this adventure, only three will prove worthy enough to find it, and only one to drink from it.
- The Death of Merlin
Merlin meets a mysterious girl, Nimue, in the forest one day. Over the ensuing months, he trains her and teaches her much. But all is not as it seems . . . and his downfall is near.
- The Fall of Camelot
Guinevere has been kidnapped. After her rescue, she and Lancelot fall in love and are caught. Spurred on by Mordred's and Morgan's hatred, the kingdom divides. It—and Arthur—will fall.
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I was happy to see a children's version of the Arthurian stories. They read quickly and cover the basics, though they do make some changes (like Merlin living until near the end). I will say that these tales are often robbed of their potency to make them shorter and suitable for a young audience. That disappointed me—I think it is important to teach kids the good and bad of the world—but the books were fine otherwise.
Rating: B
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