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D. Bonam

A Magical Retelling of the Making of King and Kingdom

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2011

Verified Purchase

I must preface by stating, that despite "Ivanhoe" being my favorite book, this genre is not my typical reading fare. However, I was intrigued enough by the cover and brief description to take a chance and purchase the Kindle version. I am quite glad that I did. For me, the two criteria for whether I consider a book not only worth reading but enjoyable is whether my attention is completely captured and whether I become interested in and engrossed in the characters. Carol Weakland not only captures my attention with her lush and vividly descriptive writing but has created characters so engaging you are loathe to put the book down - in short, she has left me wanting more!

This is inspired and unique retelling of the legend that is King Arthur and the fantastic characters that surround his kingdom of Camelot. Although many have attempted to bring King Arthur and his feats to life on stage, in film or screen and of course, in poetry and prose; Weakland has meticulously woven factual and historical together with fantasy and romance that many are unable to do without coming across as trite or hokey. She paints a lyrical romance destined across all time and place never before imagined for the most famous of literary (and legendary) kings. Although the character of Morgen is often portrayed in literature as the magical force surrounding King Arthur, she is done so more often than not with evil intent. "Morgen of Avalon: Dreamspell" is far from evil as Weakland introduces her readers to the Queen of the Fairies who will, through undying and predestined love, ensure Arthur unites all of Britannia in peace and establish himself as the King of all Kings.

Although the first in a planned trilogy, Weakland presents the characters of Arthurian legend like Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere with a host of new and not so well known characters - magical and human. Her ability to craft a poetically beautiful work while balancing the fantasy, romance and imagery that too often is a recipe for over-sentimentality and hokiness is a treat and just reward for the reader. Whether a great lover of this genre, an Arthurian fan or a curious yet reluctant reader, "Morgen of Avalon: Dreamspell" is a delight to read and one that will have the reader, like me, anxiously awaiting the second installment.

Susanne Lakin

A beautiful, evocative tale!

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2012

Morgen of Avalon, Dreamspell, is a beautifully written tale that plunges you into the heart of Arthurian legend with Morgen of Avalon distraught as Brittania is falling around her and as Arthur, King of Camelot, lies dying from a sword wound in her arms. For some reason her magical healing powers have faded, and she is the only one who can save him. With Merlin the wizard imprisoned in a hawthorn tree, the only way Morgen can help save Arthur, who somehow unconsciously resists her attempts to heal him, is to send him into the world of dreams, and she has only three nights in which she can journey into his past in this dreamworld to uncover what must be found to save him--for the key lies in his past.

Carol Weakland's writing is so lyrical and appropriate for the Arthurian style, and her writing reminds me of Stephen Lawhead's. It takes a special writer of great talent to do this iconic world justice. If you love the Camelot legends, don't miss this novel!

Daniel A.

Review for Carol Weakland's Morgen of Avalon: Dreamspell

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2012

The first thing I noticed about Ms. Weakland's Arthurian-themed novel is the quality of the writing. It seemed to me the author MUST be British, for she uses the English language more beautifully than one usually finds to be the case with Americans. If not British, surely she has long read - and treasured - the classics of English literature.

Being an Arthurian enthusiast and independent scholar, I naturally would have approached the story of Morgen le Fay differently. However, the most marvelous quality of the Matter of Britain is its infinite capacity for reinterpretation. Ms. Weakland tackles Morgen from a woman's perspective, of course. However, she does so in a unique way, managing to avoid some of the pitfalls of her predecessors. You will not find in her pages the strident (and woefully misdirected) feminism of, say, Zimmer-Bradley. Nor will you find excessive sentimentality, even though, technically, Dreamspell could be categorized as a historical romance/fantasy.

What you will encounter is a keen imagining and poetic invocation of the earth and goddess-centered magic that is at the center of the protagonist's universe. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for most of us living in the modern, mundane world to conceive of a time and place where everything was potently sacred. Equally as alien to us now is the concept of divine kingship and its relationship to the prosperity - indeed, to the very continuation - of the land and its myriad forms of life. Weakland does an admirable job of helping us to rediscover this lost world of enchantment and the important personages who cast their spell over it and thus become the stuff of dream. Her Morgen - and her Arthur - may not be "real" people, but in every way that matters, they transcend the strictures of reality and remind us that once upon a time, certain special individuals could achieve something beyond specious immortality and give birth to legends. Such individuals had vitally important destinies to fulfill, and despite the vagaries of the human heart, they ultimately remain true to their lofty ideals. Compared to them, our modern leaders are Hollow Men, their headpieces filled with straw.

I highly recommend Ms. Weakland's novel, and look forward to successive volumes in the series.

Ken Farmer

MAGICAL!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2012

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful and magical. I think I will add captivating also. Morgen of Avalon, Dreamspell is an unusually fresh look at the oft visited tale of King Arthur. Weakland does a masterful job of pulling the reader into the magical world of Camelot and old Britannia. She makes you want to stay there with her complex weaving of old and new characters, of fact and of fantasy. Outstanding entertainment. Loved it... Now, when is the next one?