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.
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