My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone
Publication Date: Re-Released 2/14/20 – Originally Pubbed: 11/16/2007
Number of Pages: 186

If you like the fey, magic, and King Arthur, this might be just the book for you. The reimagined tale of Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Lancelot, etc. is interesting, but it just isn’t my cup of tea. So, I’ll tell you a bit about the story itself and not comment too much on my like (or not) of the overall story. I will also mention that I sort of felt as if the ‘story’ was just a means to tie the sexual interludes together. They were definitely a lustful lot.

The power and influence of the Goddess is waning and with the advent of most of the ‘human’ lands falling to the Christians, the faeries now exist on Avalon hidden behind impenetrable mists.

Morgaine, Queen of Faeries, is desperate to regain the Goddess’s faith in her and to protect Avalon – at all costs. She’ll manipulate and sacrifice anything or anyone to further the interests of Avalon – and that includes those she loves.

Morgaine and Lancelot have been lovers for years – and they do love each other. However, Morgaine keeps sending Lancelot away from Avalon on missions as a warrior to gain allies for Avalon – and Lancelot keeps going because he has a wandering, restless soul. Still – their love continues, no matter how often or how long Lancelot is away. That is – until a love potion goes horribly wrong.

Morgaine has orchestrated an alliance between Arthur and the Faeries. She will assure that Arthur becomes High King if he will take a queen from the Faeries. All is going as planned until Morgaine decides to assure they have a strong love bond by producing a potion for them to drink on their wedding day. Except – they aren’t the only ones who end up getting a sip of the potion. OOPS! Lancelot was just so thirsty after a bout of lovemaking with Morgaine that he sipped whatever liquid was sitting around. OOPS!

Lancelot couldn’t understand his intractable longing for Gwenhwyfar. He knows in his logical mind that he loves Morgaine – but – he feels mesmerized by Gwenhwyfar. Thus begins the betrayals and heartbreaks in this story. So many people – manipulated in so many ways – were hurt and even died.

This didn’t feel like a romance to me – and maybe it wasn’t meant to be. It felt more like a tragedy of sorts. While it sort of had a HEA – too many people died – and I really didn’t feel like Morgaine deserved a happy ending of any sort.

If you like a lot of steam and you also like Arthurian tales, you might like this read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.