The Other Merlin

A funny Arthurian romance remix.

Arthur is a bookish scholar and reluctant warrior.  Lancelot’s a disinherited nobleman with advanced martial skills and an eye for handsome young men.  Guinevere is a canny politician, Sir Kay is an oaf, and Sir Gawain is a foppish yet charming spy.  Then there’s Emery, teenaged daughter to Merlin, the powerful wizard who has vanished from Camelot.  When her ne’er-do-well twin brother is called to court to begin training as the “new” Merlin, the lad is indisposed, so Emery disguises herself as a boy and takes his place.

Given the shaky historical status of anything to do with Camelot (historians can’t even agree on  King Arthur's existence), the author gives free rein to her characters, and if that means they sometimes sound and act like 21st century teenagers in chainmail and headscarves, it’s all part of the fun.  There’s some strong language here, and plenty of breathy though not-overly-explicit romantic interludes, so this may not be for younger teens.  But otherwise, this is a fast-moving Medieval adventure spiced up with great costumes and snappy dialogue.