Queen of None

The Queens of Fate Trilogy, Book 1

De: Natania Barron

Narrado por: Deborah Balm

First in a sumptuous female-led Arthurian Fantasy Romance trilogy

"Through all the ages, and in the hearts of men, you will be forgotten."

Married at twelve, and a mother soon after, King Arthur's sister Anna did not live a young life full of promise. She bore three strong sons and delivered the kingdom of Orkney to her brother by way of her marriage. She did as she was asked, invisible and useful—for her name, her dowry, and her womb.

Now, twenty years after she left her home, Anna is summoned back to Carelon with the crown of her now-dead husband, to face the demons of her childhood: her sisters Morgen, Elaine, and Morgause; Merlin and his scheming priests; and Bedevere, the man she once loved.

Carelon is changing, and Anna must change with it. New threats lurk in the shadows, and a strange power begins to awaken in her. If she is to be more than a pawn in others' plans, she must bargain her own strength, and family, in pursuit of her ambition-and revenge.

©2020 Natania Barron (P)2024 Tantor

This is what has always been missing

Like many lovers of Celtic lore, I have encountered and sought out tellings of the the Arthurian legend. From my childhood well-worn VCR copy of Disney's The Sword in the Stone, to the cumbersome Le Morte d'Arthur, even Sam Neill's Merlin, Monty Python, and, of course, the music of Camelot. My favorite travel memories are in Cornwall, chasing the ruins of my ancestors from pagan stones in farm fields to winds at Tintagel Castle.

This is the first time in all of these stories that I have heard the telling shaped to give life to the women of lore, told through them and about them. So much is familiar and so much is startling in Natania's creative vision. The new connections between the characters and definitions of weapons had me nodding and thinking, "Of course, this makes perfect sense." In particular, Natania's marvelous reinvention of the Lady of the Lake and her origin and gifts, but also with many more characters and places in delightful ways I do not wish to spoil for future readers.

The book is from a sisterhood that calls to me: tell me more of the women behind the men in my legends. This is what has always been missing from the telling.

Beautiful Story

This was such a beautiful story. The author's words flowed in such a heavenly way. The characters were dynamic and complex in a way that made them relatable, but also mysterious. I really like when characters are not singularly "good" or "evil" and Queen of None delivered. The author made you feel compassion for even the most hated character in the book. Truly lived it! And the narrator did a lovely job of bringing this story to life. What a splendid read!