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The Camelot Inheritance Series

By Rosie Morgan

Book 1: The Golden Sword

Series: The Camelot Inheritance

Paperback: 198 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 4 edition (March 21, 2014)

ISBN-10: 1497402247

ISBN-13: 978-1497402249

Approximate Lexile: 1080

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

          Arthur Penhaligon is under the illusion that he’s just an ordinary skateboarder but, unknown to him, his destiny is calling and it involves a sword - of the legendary variety. Skateboarding might have to take second place.

Arthur and his friends find themselves sucked into an epic world of magic, mystery and danger.

A world where people travel through time, animals take control, and where rivals are willing to resort to murder.

Myth and legend, fantasy and adventure have never seemed so real, or so dangerous.

Excalibur is waiting.

The Golden Sword is a teenage adventure fantasy, packed full of mystery, for boys and girls age10 and up.

Book 2: The Time Smugglers

Series: The Camelot Inheritance

Paperback: 274 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (July 20, 2014)

ISBN-10: 1500531626

ISBN-13: 978-1500531621

Approximate Lexile: 1080

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

          Arthur Penhaligon is a skateboarder (usually). He also happens to be a Guardian, knighted by Excalibur.

It’s been a year since Arthur and his friends first met a shape-shifting cat and defeated a murderous rival intent on stealing Arthur’s birth-right.

But now, far below the Cornish hills, the deep magic is stirring again - summoning Arthur’s enemies to the contest for Cornwall’s crown.

It’s time to get back to the challenges of time-travel and the undeniable reality of myths and legends.

On a Cornish path a tiny, green-stone dragon stretches a claw.

In a churchyard a carved angel tests his wings.

And at sea an emerald-encrusted pocket watch chimes once… and slips through time.

Camelot is calling; Excalibur is waiting… and an epic world of magic, mystery and danger beckons.

 

My Thoughts:

My first thought is not kind: This author has no concept of how commas work. The higher Lexile on this series is in large part due to runon sentences that would benefit from the use of commas to separate the phrases and clauses. When she does use commas, they’re where a semi-colon is necessary.

So much for the highly technical part of this review.

As a fan of Arthurian myth and modern-day adaptations, I enjoyed the overall premise of this series. The narrative suffers from a lot of long descriptions of what’s happening or what characters are feeling and an occasional lack of action and showing emotion through dialogue and action.

Much of the main trio’s discovery of unfolding events is through overhearing adults talk. They seem to figure out very little through their own initiative. Indeed, the protagonist, Arthur, rather passively accepts his role as Guardian of Wales, as do his friends of their own parts in the preservation of their country.

Speaking of main trio—a boy who is the chosen one. His best friends, one goofy male and one smart female—who also have roles to play in defeating evil. Sound familiar?

The author obviously loves her homeland. I may even be (very distantly) related to her, given that my Morgan ancestors emigrated from Wales in the 1600s. Her artistic representations at the beginnings of chapters are lovely.

While middle-grade literature doesn’t need to be super-sophisticated, the narrative here is just a little too basic to be really engaging. I will probably read others in the series, because I hate to leave a story unfinished, but I am not sure I would recommend that anyone go out of their way to find these.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Children in perilous situations. Some frightening bits—especially the Crow Man. Children occasionally disobey adults. Fantasy elements, if you are opposed to such things. No cursing.

 

Who Would Like This Book:

Fans of Arthurian myth, those who enjoyed the Harry Potter group dynamic. While the protagonist is male, Tamar is definitely a strong female character. There are many other female characters, both good and evil. People who can disregard poor conventions and storytelling and just enjoy the plot. It’s aimed at 10-14, and I’d say that’s about right.

 

Thank  you, NetGalley, for the advance reader e-books.