We all know the legend of King a glorious series of romps through mythological Britain, drenched in gratuitous violence and sprinkled with a touch of romance. We’ve all heard of Merlin, the kindly wizard, Lancelot, the invincible knight, and Morgan, the mysterious enchantress. Here’s the catch… it’s all a lie.
The real King Arthur was a Roman monarch bent on subduing his rivals, the witches of Avalon. Morgan was Avalon’s queen, a bitter rival of Arthur and Merlin. Lancelot was a powerful warrior corrupted by the influence of Morgan’s sorcery, and Merlin was the force behind it all. The novel "Mordred" tells the story of a simple fisherman’s son who is caught in the middle of the two sides. When the boy loses both his parents and his home, he begins to realize that nothing is as it seems. The war between Arthur and Morgan is a war between Heaven and Hell!
I'm the author of a few books and the drinker of many smoothies. My interests in writing are primarily fantastic things and true things. I suppose you could call that Good Stories and Theology. If I had to pick a favorite genre, it would be fantasy, but there are good books in nearly every corner of the library, so to speak.
After the brutal slaying of his father and capture of his mother, Mordred vows to exact revenge on all those involved including King Arthur himself. Hunted by Arthur’s knights and the evil wizard Gnimu whose abilities include morphing himself into hideous creatures as well as commanding the forces of darkness, Mordred allies himself with Vivien – one of the witches of Avalon – to both stay alive as well as potentially alter the very future of Camelot.
Most Arthurian legend novels I’ve read take place during the rise and early reign of Arthur. Some, like “Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend” and “Sons of Avalon” explore the early lives of some of the other key characters in this genre. “Mordred”, by John Downs, takes the reader many years into Arthur’s reign where the old king struggles with maintaining his power and influence without the aide of his confidant and advisor Merlin. All the while, some of those closest to him plan his very demise.
Downs wonderfully paints his tortured characters and their possible paths to redemption while keeping the overall pace quick relying on the relentless pursuit for Mordred as the novel’s main story arc. Magical creatures, sorcery, and epic battles add to the intrigue rounding out this complex world. I enjoyed this interesting take on a well tread genre. Mordred is fresh and well written and at only 99 cents on Kindle is a must read!
Note: A complementary copy of this work was provided in return for a review.