Camelot's Shadow Dances A Fresh Tale

In Camelot's Shadow by Sarah Zettel

It is risky business as a writer to enter Camelot and try to claim its land. Most writers find that Arthurians have the territory well-defended and are sharp with their attacks against those they render unfit to walk the hallowed grounds of the Great King and his knights.

To successfully make such a foray, a writer must be well armored with research and wielding a sharp storytelling blade. It is a foray that Sarah Zettel makes with great gusto in her fantasy novel, In Camelot's Shadow.

Zettel, already established as a feminist science fiction writer with a fantasy series heavy in folklore under her belt, brings several women to the forefront of her Camelot tale. The tales are told by Sir Kay long after the events of the book. It is a device that lets you believe that the main characters are at risk throughout the novel's events. Kay must have had access to some diaries or mind-reading devices, though, as he relates a rather intimate portrait of the life of Risa, a woman drawn from the mythology of Dame Ragnell.

Combining Two Tales

Unlike the traditional tale, Risa first encounters Gawain as the beautiful lady, but a beautiful lady far outside his reach. Or rather, he is out of her reach. Before her birth, Risa's father bartered her hand in marriage to a sorcerer as the price of her mother's recovery. Risa learns of this evil pact and flees her home. It is during this flight that she meets Gawain and the two proceed to rescue each other from many dangers. The tale then takes us through the traditional ones of Gawain and the Green Knight and The Marriage of Gawain-but with Zettel's unique twists and interpretations.

Knowing the demands that her readers have, Zettel walks the fine line between faithfully reproducing every detail of the old tales and poems and infusing the stories with a fresh and unique voice. She is faithful to the theme and atmosphere of Gawain's stories, but she does more than just borrow the names and adapt them to her own tale. She changes enough that the novel is not a padded retelling of Mallory's poetry, but neither does it contradict or belie any of it.

What Does Every Woman Want?

One of the lines in the poem of the Loathly Lady weaves itself throughout In Camelot's Shadow. Risa asks herself what women want most and is ultimately faced with answering that question, a question that is key to her survival. The story is one of her struggle for freedom and her own will. Zettel does not try to make her a 21st Century woman. Instead, Risa struggles with autonomy within the framework of Arthur's England. Risa can look to other strong women as examples, but she also has limitations placed on her by both feudalism and chivalry.

This novel is a love story and while Risa earns most of the spotlight, it is not her story alone. In Camelot's Shadow also takes us on an intimate journey with Gawain and it is as much his story as it is Risa's. He has his own struggles with freedom and chivalry. He must find an answer for what it means to be honorable, for often doing the honorable thing seems counter to doing the right thing.

In one of his biggest challenges, Gawain must choose between generosity and faithfulness. He tackles the question about whether an "open" relationship (to use modern day terms) wouldn't be more chivalrous as it would allow him to come to the rescue of more women. There are many subtleties in the choices that he must make and Zettel dissects chivalry to better show us its sinews and strengths. She also asks questions as to whether the "rescuing" of a maiden isn't simply a form of male egotism and a tool that women can use to manipulate men.

Also Starring...

Zettel drapes new garb on many familiar characters, conveniently shoving Lancelot into the background while inviting us to sup with such celebrities as Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and Morgan Le Fay. Even the villains have their sympathetic moments as Zettel presents situations with no easy answers.

The tapestry of Risa and Gawain's love story is interwoven with the intricate political schemings both within Britain and between it and its neighbors on the Continent. Much of the book sets us up for the other novels in the series, novels that will focus on Gawain's siblings.

About the Author and Publisher

Sarah Zettel is an author whose first novels were science fiction. In the past several years, she's taken a turn into fantasy and folklore novels. All of her books are richly detailed with fascinating characters tackling difficult decisions.

While In Camelot's Shadow lacks the depth of her other works, it continues to meet Zettel's high standards of storytelling. It is clearly written and keeps us turning the pages, laughing and crying along with her protagonists. It isn't a book laden with heavy questions, but it is entertaining and worth the read.

In Camelot's Shadow is published by Luna, a new imprint of Harlequin. Their books are fantasies and science fiction novels that have women as the primary audience. Fans of Arthurian tales will appreciate Zettel's faithfulness to lore while lovers of fantasy will revel in the world of high magic where words hold a power as mighty as the ocean.