The Enchantresses

by Vera Chapman

Arthur's half-sisters, Morgause, Vivian, and Morgan, born into witchcraft, are given to Merlin to educate them in the crafts of healing and magic—and to try to intercede in the future he forsees for Arthur. All three women have their part to play—one to help, one to hinder, and one to destroy.

Genres: Fantasy, Arthurian, Mythology

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Vera Chapman, also known as Vera Ivy May Fogerty or, in The Tolkien Society, as Belladonna Took. She founded The Tolkien Society, and also wrote a number of psudeo-historical and Arthurian books.

She was born in Bournemouth, England on the 8 May 1898 and lived in South Africa until she went to Oxford where she was one of the first woman to matriculate as a full member of Oxford University. She founded the first Tolkien Society of which she was secretary. She persuaded J R R Tolkien to become the society's honorary president. She wrote her first novel in 1975 and continued writing until her death in 1996.

Reviews

[Magrat Ajostiernos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un relato de los mitos Artúricos que resulta curioso y entretenido para los amantes de estas historias pero que aporta poco.
Lo más interesante es descubrir los acontecimientos a través de los ojos de Viviana, pero llegado un punto tanto Merlín como Arturo toman mayor protagonismo y la historia se vuelve menos interesante.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's because this is the only Vera Chapman book I've read so far, but it seemed very incomplete. It also seemed like she told us more than she showed us - I would have liked more detail and more dialogue. Although, maybe she does it to be more in the vein of oral storytelling that often lacks detail.

[David Fackelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Three Enchantresses by Vera Chapman is a retelling of parts of the King Arthur legend. The book is an easy, quick read. Chapman’s prose is simplistic and her composition is bare by my standards. Her style is more suited to adolescent or pre-teen readers. The story also reads like a shorthand version of the covered events. Chapman manages to twist the legends just slightly to add some new facets but still overall the story is even more predictable than one would expect even considering you are reading one if the most familiar stories in western literature. I will not continue with her follow-on books about the world of King Arthur. The Three Enchantresses isn’t exactly a waste of time because it’s so short and fast but it’s not exactly a satisfying read either. There are many more rewarding versions available from the last 900 years including by Chretien de Troy, Thomas Mallory, Mary Stewart, Gillian Bradshaw, Marion Zimmer Bradley, John Steinbeck, Howard Pyle and others.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juraría que era diferente el libro. Lo recordaba de otra manera. Aunque cierto es que hace ya varios años de que lo he leído.

Creo que necesito leer los demás libros de Vera Chapman referentes al Rey Arturo para entender la tercer parte del libro, que es centrada en Arturo y Merlín. Bastante decepcionante la manera en que Arturo cae una y otra vez en el mismo tipo de esquemas.

Lo que si es que disfrute más de la historia de Viviana, las primeras dos partes del libro. Aunque no tanto de su romance con Merlín, hay tantas cosas que... como sea, el libro es viejo y para el año en que salió supongo que esta bien.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the three daughters — Morgause, Vivian, and Morgan — of Gorlais and Ygraine, half-sisters of Arthur. In this version, they are triplets (or are they?), and as they grow, each becomes adept at magic in their own ways; and each has her role to play in the story of King Arthur. Quick-paced, and well-plotted. Recommended.

[Stheffany Jiménez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Estuve demasiado tiempo leyendo este libro (Solo lo hacía cuando iba a ciertos lugares), y no sé qué pensar.
Me gustó la parte inicial, y la parte de la historia de Arturo. Pero nada más.

Aunque admiro la capacidad de compactar información. Yo me lanzaría al menos 4 libros en esa misma historia.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this version of Arthur Pendragon, Vivian, Morgan and Morgause are triplet sisters born to Ygraine. Good storytelling and worthy of a read who like this old tale of good and evil, magic and kingdoms.

[Madeleine]

Vera went absolutely buck wild and I love her for it.

[Luciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente! Ojalá se pudiesen conseguir los demás libros de ella. Éste lo encontré por casualidad. Una hermosísima prosa que combina muy bien la magia y la psicología en la trama.

[elsalmon L · Rating 3 out of 5]

From mists of myths and magic, the classic stories of King Arthur's half-sisters and Merlin.