pickLoved this. Eons ago at university I did a half module on Arthurian legend of which I remember almost nothing! This story of the youngest daughter of the Duke of Cornwall fighting against a genuinely evil stepfather, seeking knowledge to heal to take control of her own destiny was a fabulous rich story and the introduction of Arthur‘s hints for interesting things ahead in this trilogy
pickArthur's story is very much not my thing and probably why it took me from February until now to finish. That being said, there are hints of humor and philosophical topics that lend it merit. Just be warned there is some pretty tough animal cruelty in the second segment.
pick🤫 don‘t wake Nikki.
This is a delightful 13-century Arthurian romance with a female knight, Silence, forced to hide her identity and act a man. Jealous kings, slain dragons, female healers and a wild-man version of Merlin. It was discovered in 1911, a single manuscript in Old French verse in a box marked “old papers - no value”.
Romance written in the 12-13th cent.
Silence is a girl brought up disguised as a boy so she could be her parents' heir. Of course, they are the most valiant, accomplished & virtuous person ever 😁
The King of England likes & values them, but after they reject the Queen's advances, she turns against them & tribulations start.
I thought their gender of birth would be uncovered in battle, as per trope, but no: something stranger & funnier happens 👏
So far:
- Hébain married the King of Norway's daughter
- Cador slayed the dragon terrorising Winchester, and earned the right to marry the maid of his choosing
- Eufémie cured Cador's illness and earned the right to marry the man of her choosing
- You guessed it: Cador and Eufémie married each other
- Eufémie gave birth to a girl, but they announced a boy - and therefore heir - to the world
Medieval romances FTW!
I'll stop bc spoilers 😋
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