The Squire's Quest

November 1, 2009
Gr 6-9-Terence is still a squire in the service of Sir Gawain despite being older and more experienced than any of his fellow squires. However, he is more concerned about his inability to contact anyone in Avalon, the World of the Faeries and home of his father, Ganscotter. In addition, there is the distraction of a visit from Alexander, the ruler of the Byzantine Empire and a great admirer of Arthur, and his retinue, including his younger brother Cligés, who has become obsessed with the French traditions of courtly love. And there is another visitor at court, charming Mordred, whom Terence suspects to be more than he seems. While the story has much of Morris's trademark humor and rollicking adventure, it also includes some tragic happenings, such as the deaths of numerous innocent people. As with other books in the series, Morris misses no opportunity to poke fun at knightly traditions and the more ridiculous conventions of courtly love, but there is also a serious undertone here, foreshadowing events to come later in the Arthurian cycle. As the author notes in his afterword, much of "The Squire's Tale" is a reworking of a lesser-known story by the medieval French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Morris's treatment of the Byzantine Empire is also fresh and interesting. Fans of the series will definitely want this latest volume."Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
In this series entry, Terence again takes up the narrative reins. When Mordred arrives in King Arthur's court, Terence is one of few to suspect that the man's winning nature hides an evil purpose. With engaging characters and subplots both humorous and tragic, Morris credibly weaves some of the darker Arthurian tales into the series' thematically optimistic tapestry.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)