Camelot's
Destiny
by
Cynthia Breeding
A magnificent Arthurian
romance, faithful to the
medieval tradition yet new in its insights.
Since most
readers already know the
Camelot story in one fashion or
another (both a romance and tragedy), in lieu of a plot summary, I will
simply state that Cynthia Breeding's CAMELOT'S
DESTINY is faithful to
the literary and historical tradition in the most minute details and
yet her romance adds psychological details and a carefully recrafting
of the details in a new context. Her fictional imagination adds
insights merely hinted in the original texts. The Grail Quest, only a
hint here in CAMELOT'S DESTINY,
finally makes sense within the context
of the whole Arthurian story thanks to Cynthia Breeding. If a medieval
enthusiast ever wonders what the modern genre of medieval historical
romance could add to the medieval literary tradition, CAMELOT'S DESTINY
would be a superb example of the importance of historical romance today
and the effect it might have on renewing an interest in both
historical romance and medieval literature.
Cynthia
Breeding
incorporates the later literary romance tradition
in the true medieval sense of roman arthurien (which translates as
Arthurian romance), and adds back into the Arthur story the chronicle
tradition and historical and tone of the histories written closer to
the actual events. Even better, Cynthia Breeding adds her own fictional
imagination to the great Arthur story, allowing fans to see the love,
romance, and jealousies that threatened this great king and his realm.
By adding the story of the women, the non-pagan tradition to the
Christian one and the details of the personal lives of the Camelot and
Avalon world, Arthurian lovers see the real tensions and romance
underlying the political world of knights and kings. Cynthia Breeding
expands upon the details of the friendship between Arthur and Lancelot,
as well as their rivalry, which are there but never fully explicated in
the medieval texts. We see Gwenhwyfar as a person and woman beyond her
role as queen and the literary courtly traditions surrounding her. The
author brings together the whole world of Vivien, Nimue and Avalon in a
way that enlightens some of the tensions and loyalties at Camelot. The
psychological portraits of Medraut (known as Mordred in some medieval
tales) and Galahad add true insights into some of the events
surrounding Camelot. For one of the first times, we see maybe a bit of
the psychological reasons behind his madness within that motivates him
to destroy Camelot. Readers will love Galahad here thanks to Cynthia
Breeding. In the Old French grail quest version, Galahad is the perfect
spiritual knight but so grating on the nerves. Here he is also
spiritual but his relationship to his father adds a giving quality to
his Christian calling rather than the sanctimonious preachy perfect
beyond human way the Old French cleric wrote him.
Don't expect an
idealized Hollywood version of Camelot here.
Although these versions are fun to read as well, Cynthia Breeding
relies on the actual medieval historical and literary records. Camelot
is a world teetering on the brink of darkness and destruction as the
Saxon invasion nears. Nevertheless, among this darkness and internal
pain within the characters, there is a happy ending that actual feels
more whole and encompassing than a simplistic ending could ever be. Can
those forced to love through duty somehow find a love of the heart?
Here Cynthia Breeding adds that special twist that only modern day
historical romance can give back to the medieval tradition, as hearts
find wholeness. While remaining faithful to the modern romance genre
conventions, Cynthia Breeding still finds a special twist for the
ending to the delight of medieval enthusiasts! Camelot's Destiny is a
welcome addition to the Arthurian canon, one that tells the story of
tension and love at Camelot from the point of view of not just king,
knights and queen but of men and women.
Buy Camelot's
Destiny Here
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Book Description:
Britain,
Fifth Century A.D.—a time of Pagan magic and Christian piety, a
place
of mystery, treachery and dark enchantment. Here the legend of Camelot
was born, and with it, bold passions and forbidden desire…
Young,
lovely, and willful, Gwenhwyfar is chosen by Arthur to be his
wife and
future queen of Britain—an honor she reluctantly accepts. Soon,
however, she cannot ignore the awakening passion Britain’s new king
ignites. He is a lover who delights her with his touch, yet whose
desires are not shared with her alone.
Seared
by the forbidden kiss of Arthur’s most trusted warrior, Lancelot,
Gwenhwyfar is swept up into a world of unbidden passion, torn by
loyalty and love for a husband who betrays her, and a man she cannot
have. But in a time where good and evil clash, where magic and chivalry
reign...love will prove as fierce a weapon as any sword...
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