I read THE GRAIL KING and loved it, so when I saw this book I grabbed it right away.
Bad mistake.
Even though Joy Nash is a talented writer, who does wonderful research and creates interesting characters, this book really was hard for me to get through. There is way, way, way too much Arthurian lore, way too much comic relief (the Brothers Stupendous?) and way too little of the kind of steamy yet caring romance that made THE GRAIL KING a classic.
I'd love to know what Joy Nash was really thinking on how she shaped the story. It must have been like, "mm, another sex scene for Rhys and Breena, or watch Merlin turn himself into a fish? Mmm, man becomes fish, exciting! Another sex scene for Rhys and Breena or watch the Brothers Stupendous do fifth rate Arthurian vaudeville. Mmm, vaudeveille, exciting!"
Joy Nash is a heck of a talented romance writer -- but you'd never know it from this book.
Bring back the old Joy Nash!!!!