The Book of Cauldron and the Book of the Stone (The Hallowed Isle, Books 3 and 4)

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Moving
Review: I picked up this book on a whim, not having read the first two books of the series, and not a particular fan of Arthurian fantasy. .... But I was caught up in these characters and the Goddess-magic that surrounds their lives - sometimes subtly, sometimes obviously. The characters are sympathetically portrayed, even Morgause and Mordred. Arthur and Guinevere are real people bearing the burden of larger-than-life roles. The plotting isn't complicated, but the emotions of the characters and their awareness of the profound consequences of their choices, adds a depth and richness to what might have been a simple story. I'm sure that reading the first two books would have added to my appreciation of these two - but the pair stand alone very well.