Shadowland

[Flora]

I gave this one 5 stars
This was an wonderful tale. It is a story told within a story by an old storyteller by a fireside. Two old men relive their lives in a time long past. Usher Vance tells the story of Uther Pendragon, father of King Author. As he relives his past in the telling of the story we are transported to a time long in the past. The characters and the story is wonderfully brought to life in a way that keeps you interested from start to finish.

I was not as familiar with the story of Uther Pendragon as I was with the story of King Author. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of how things came to pass in the time before Author. The weaving of the magic of the druids into the is tale made it even that much more interesting. We see the parts that Merlyn played as well as other well known characters. Each of the characters had a depth and life of their own. We learn why Author grew up to be such a great king after getting to know who his father was. Uther understood what it took to unite a kingdom after such personal losses amidst the war and turmoil of the time. The horrors of war are all too real even today, and we are reminded that warriors on both sides are brothers, fathers, and husbands to someone who loves them and looks for them to come home.

This is a wonderful pre-Aurthurian tale. If you enjoy stories about King Author you should give this one a try. If you like historical fiction, woven with a bit of fantasy this one definitely fits the bill. I loved it and hope that I get a chance to re-read this one again sometime.

[Vered]

I also loved this book! Well written and very creative.