The Wicked Day (Coronet Books)
by Mary Stewart
published
September 1st 1984
(first published 1983)
by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
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binding
Paperback, 400 pages
isbn
0340352140
(isbn13: 9780340352144)
description
Born of an incestuous relationship between King Arthur and his half sister, the evil sorceress Morgause, the bastard Mordred is reared in secrecy....more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 898)
Read in January, 1985
The fourth volume of Mary Stewart's Arthurian series takes place after Merlin has left the story. It is told in Mordred's voice. According to the Annales Cambriae Medraut and Arthur fell at Camlann. That is the closest thing to a historical record 300 years after the fact that we have for the existence of someone that came to be known as Mordred. In early Welsh tradition he was not Arthur's son, but a noble who slapped Gwenhwyfar in a conflict that led to Arthur's fall, but the medieval t...more
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This is the story of Mordred, the boy and man who would be the down-fall of King Arthur. In the musical Camelot and in other Arthurian cycles, he is portrayed as a villian who Arthur only keeps around because he feels a responsibility to him. Here, however, he is portrayed as a young man who respects and loves his father, but is driven by a fate beyond his control. To some extent, that fate is partially his fault--he and Arthur have the same characteristics of ambition, ability to lead men an...more
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Read in January, 1987
recommended to Linda by:
Jane Lewisrecommends it for: Anyone who loves Arthurian legends
Mary Stewart wrote the quintessential Merlin/Arthur legends. I've read all the Arthur books I could find, from Le Morte Darthur, John Steinbeck's try at it (The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights) to Lawhead. Nothing written can stack up to Stewart's obvious background of the history of the British Isles, and her love for the land. She breathes life into these legendary characters and makes them hers. To prove their excellence--you can still buy the four books of the series in bookstores.
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Read in February, 2008
I did not know that this book existed till today. My copy is just the trilogy and I thought a trilogy stopped with 3....I must read.
OK, I finally got the last book in the Merlin/Arthur saga. I would have given it 5 stars, but it is such a tragic story. Mary Stewart is absolutely AMAZING. I love the authenticity of the books even though much of the story is speculation, she makes me believe that it couldn't have happened any other way. She makes each character live up to and beyond l...more
OK, I finally got the last book in the Merlin/Arthur saga. I would have given it 5 stars, but it is such a tragic story. Mary Stewart is absolutely AMAZING. I love the authenticity of the books even though much of the story is speculation, she makes me believe that it couldn't have happened any other way. She makes each character live up to and beyond l...more
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An interesting follow-up to the Merlin Trilogy. Told from the perspective of Mordred, who becomes a sympathetic character. If you know the Arthurian legends, you know how it's going to end, but I found myself wanting to change it all so that Mordred's story could be a happy one instead. What's really lacking, though, is Merlin. He's such a compelling character, and the way he observed things as he told his story made it that much more compelling. Stewart, using Mordred's voice this time, te...more
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Read in January, 2006
A sad ending to Mary Stuart's tales of Arthur and Camelot. This book back-tracks a bit from where the trilogy ends, starting with Mordred as a young boy first being introduced into Morgause's palace and web of intrigue.
A very pleasant book to read, the author has a very nice way of setting a scene and bringing the reader into it. I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't so recently read another tale on Arthur, Queen of Camelot. I came across many instances where the books were telling the...more
A very pleasant book to read, the author has a very nice way of setting a scene and bringing the reader into it. I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't so recently read another tale on Arthur, Queen of Camelot. I came across many instances where the books were telling the...more
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Read in March, 2008
I liked this book the least of the series, but maybe it was because it wasn't from Merlin's p.o.v. I did enjoy getting to understand Mordred better. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy(if all the stars were aligned properly):). This novel didn't move as quickly as the others, even though it was shorter, and I think it was due to a lack of excitement and mystery than the others contained. Maybe I just missed Merlin and didn't like to see him gone. Who knows?
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A great ending to an excellent series. The final chapter in the story of King Arthur is the only book not narrated by Merlin, but is no less captivating. It tells the story of Arthur's bastard son, Mordred, & how his presence changed a kingdom. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes the mystery, romance, & action of the King Arthur legend.
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Read in October, 2007
these are my favorite King Arthur, and this was my favorite of the series. mostly b/c it's from Mordred's point of view, and i'm surprisingly ok with Mordred. i like how he isn't just entirely, completely evil in this series. and i probably had a little crush on him with i was 12. what of it!
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It took me forever to read this book, because I knew the encing (who doesn't?) and I always want it to end differently. Mary Stewart, however has a very different take on what happens. Same sad ending, but a wonderful book, nonetheless.
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Well, if you know Arthurian legend, you know this can't end well. Despite that, Stewart gives a good sympathetic portrayal of Mordred and makes some kind of sense of the historical inaccuracies handed down through the years.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Everybody
I loved this saga. They're fantastic. Though the author admits to fabricating most of the stories they provide interesting stories about what could have happened. This book follows the life of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son.
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far from being the scourge of Arthur, his bastard son Mordred actually strives to resist Merlin's prophecy of doom. but he is thwarted but the schemes of his mother Queen Morgause and misunderstandings beyond his control.
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I devoured this series during my hardcore Arthurian phase in junior high. They influenced my writing and my illustration, and I remember them fondly. I'm afraid to revisit them, on the chance that they haven't held up...
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Read in January, 1996
recommended to Astrila by:
Roxyrecommends it for: Merlin fans
It's pretty good, although it doesn't have too much unusual in it. I've only read the series once I think, maybe some books twice. An easy read, but a little too conventional to be worthy of priority on your queue.
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Read in August, 2006
King Arthur / When I was younger (20s) I did not want to read this I wanted to keep the romance of Arthur and Guinevere sacred. When I grew up I wanted to find out what went wrong and why, so I started reading more.
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Read in January, 1979
This is the weakest of the four books, but still enjoyable. I'd read the others again, and this one also, but only because it's part of the quadrilogy.(?)
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Read in January, 1984
After seeing the Moving "Camelot" I wanted to know more about King Arthur and Merlin. So when Mary Stewarts books came out in the 70's I read them all.
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This was the weakest of the Arthurian Saga books by Mary Stewart. I liked it very much but it lacked something that the other three books had.
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Have started this book at least three times after reading the other books in the series and never managed to finish this one. Maybe some day!
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