Child of Saturn (Green Lion Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

Browsing through the college bookstore one day over a decade ago, I found my eye drawn to the spine of *Child of Saturn.* Thinking vaguely about Roman gods, I took the book from the shelf and grimaced at the cover, an all-too-standard hodge-podge of the usual fantasy elements: a dwarf, a long-haired warrior brandishing a sword, a glamorous raven-haired sorceress holding a chalice in the shape of a skull, and a sinisterly bubbling cauldron. Nothing new here, I thought, as I flipped open the front cover for a cursory peek.I could not have been more mistaken. A few pages into the first chapter I was well and truly hooked. In her opening paragraphs Teresa Edgerton established an elegant, yet otherworldly atmosphere many fantasists strive in vain to capture, with her description of the wizard Glastyn's mysterious disappearance from the Kingdom of Celydonn and its effects on the court he has long served--"He left behind him: a whimsical, inconsistent king; an order of jaded, disillusioned knights; and a realm slipping slowly back into the chaos from which he, Glastyn, had rescued it some fifty years before." The parallels to Arthurian legend are unmistakable. Like King Arthur bereft of Merlin, King Cynwas must now reign without the counsel of his most trusted advisor, a situation made all the more difficult by the sloth and complacency of his court. The heroes of yesterday have sunk into lazy, even dissolute middle-age, caring little now for deeds of valor and glory. The arrival at court of Princess Diaspad, the King's stepsister, contributes still further to the decay of the chivalric ideal.The best hope for the future lies with a small band of young knights, as yet unaffected by the corruption spreading through the court. Chief among them, is Ceilyn macCuel, the passionate, idealistic Queen's Champion, who senses all is not well with the kingdom, especially not with Diaspad on the prowl.Frequently mocked and derided by his companions and the Queen's ladies for his rigorous sense of honor and formidable conscience, Ceilyn acquires an unexpected ally in Teleri ni Pendaren, the childlike apprentice Glastyn has left behind him. Shy, retiring, and colorless, Teleri at first seems an unlikely choice to be Glastyn's successor; yet her quiet nature hides unsuspected depths of power and knowledge. United in their shared distrust of Diaspad, Ceilyn and Teleri set out to uncover the truth of the Princess's schemes, before all of Celydonn falls victim to her sinister charms. In the process, their alliance deepens into something rich and strange, that transforms both their lives.*Child of Saturn* marks the beginning of Edgerton's acclaimed Green Lion Trilogy, a series that breathed new life into the conventions of the fantasy genre. Edgerton displays a mature, polished style, a gift for character development, and a genuine feel for the British and Celtic legends that flavor her work. Once read, *Child of Saturn* is not forgotten, and one eagerly anticipates the five additional books featuring Edgerton's wonderful cast of characters. It has been, however, five years since the publication of *The Moon and the Thorn*; whatever else Ms. Edgerton has planned, I hope a return to Celydonn is slated for sometime in the foreseeable future.

On the outside: A raven-haired sorceress, holding a skull, dressed in a 1980's prom gown. A sword-wielding hunk, dressed in a ruffled, billowing "poet's shirt" from the 1800's. A wizened dwarf stirring a cauldron. And of course, a cat. (The cat is possible the only figure in the cover art who actually resembles a character in the book.)

On the inside: An enchanting tale that captures the spirit of Arthurian legend--but without actually being a retelling of it. Yes, parallels can be seen between some characters and events, but this is essentially an original work. The plot involves the King's spiteful sister Diaspad, who sows discord at court, and the Queen Sidonwy, who falls into disgrace as a result of Diaspad's machinations. Our hero and heroine are an idealistic knight who wants to restore the kingdom to its earlier glory and chivalry, and a shy sorcerer's apprentice who doesn't think she has any power. The plot is simple but compelling; the characters grow so real that I literally wanted to slap one of them when he broke my heart. You'll know the scene when you read it.

Two gripes only:
(1) Court dramas, because of the sheer volume of characters, generally benefit from having a "Dramatis Personae" in the front of the book that the reader can refer to if s/he has forgotten who so-and-so is and what his agenda is.
(2) Series-itis! It is frustrating to get emotionally involved with a novel only to find that it doesn't really have any closure. _Child of Saturn_ ties up some of the loose ends of the plot, but leaves enough hanging that this book can't really stand on its own. This is especially annoying since Edgerton's books are hard to find. It looks like I'll probably have to collect them gradually and read them out of order.

I bought this book at a grocery store counter when it first was published, about a decade ago, or possibly longer. The trilogy of which it was the first volume remains my favorite work of fantasy. The characters are memorable, and Edgerton's writing sparkled with wit, grace, delicacy and charm. Edgerton went on to write six more books about tormented young men of genius and the excellent women they love, all are readable, but the first trilogy is some of the best fantasy ever writen.