Sit back and prepare yourself to be
amazed as first time author Kim Headlee recreates an
amazingly believable tale of Arthur and
Guinevere in "Dawnflight".
For centuries these lovers have created great controversy spawned
countless theories and became amazing legends. Many authors
have written their own interpretations of the Arthurian legend,
but none so clever as Ms Headlee's. She takes this legend back
to its roots, back before the mighty Great Britain was established,
back to when Rome was Europe's super power and the Pope ruled
man and country with a heavy hand. We see Arthur not as the
knight in shining armor but a Roman warlord. Guinevere is not
the demure wife of Arthur whose heart is tugged at from both
sides but as Gyanhumara nic Hymar, chieftainess of Clan Argyll
of Caledonia and a Pict warrior-queen.
The battle of Aber-Glein sees Gyan's country
of Caledonia fall into the hands of Roman warlord Arthur map
Uther, Pendragon of Brydein. In the treaty that has been drawn
up, Gyan is obliged to marry a Brytoni noble in order to keep
peace in Caledonia. Barely given a choice she finds herself
betrothed to Brytoni nobleman Urien map Dumarec, the son of
her clan's worst enemy, Clan Moray of Dalriada. She must honor
this treaty or suffer the Pendragon's wrath. When she consults
with the clan priests she's told of a grave prophesy and battles
within herself how to change the its ultimate end. But when
her gods refuse to listen to her cries for help Gyan finds
herself looking for answers in other religions, which could
ultimately cause her fall from power and be branded as a heretic.
When both Urian and Gyan are summoned to Cael
Lugubalion to join Arthur's legions it's there that Gyan learns
of Urien's true crueler nature. And it's here that she meets
the man she's vowed to loathe until her dying breath, Arthur
himself. But there's "something" about him that
she finds alluring and she can't help herself as she falls
deeply in love with him. She must now find a way to break
her betrothal to Urien without her clan suffering the retaliation
Urien's is sure to exact. He wants her and she knows just
how badly. Gyan's choice is made though. She must marry a
Brytoni noble of her choice by Arthur's own treaty, and Arthur
is that choice. And it's Arthur who has the final word on
the treaty, and it's Arthur who must approve of Gyan's choice,
regardless of who she chooses.
Arthur the Pendragon is a mighty Roman hero
of legendary proportions. Though still young he's a man to
be reckoned with as his position carries much power. Add to
that his mighty sword, Caleberyllus, with its mystical powers
and it would be a fool's journey to cross Arthur's path. Bastard
son of Uther the Pendragon, Arthur has been denied his rightful
heritage and has been forced to carve a life for himself.
This he has done, and very well. It's a brave and noble Pict
chieftainess who will be his undoing though. He's watched
her in battle training, engaged her in intelligent conversation
and has been bested by her in a sparing match, and his heart
has been pierced by her cupid's arrows. Thoughts of her fill
his mind to distraction, which could be his gravest mistake
should Urien have his way. It's no secret how Arthur feels
for Gyan. She is the bravest and most noble woman he's ever
met and he's vowed to have her for his own, and Urien is none
too pleased about it. How to get Urien to break the betrothal
agreement peacefully while trying to convince Gyan that he
loves her will be one of the most difficult battles Arthur
has ever had to face. He doesn't know that Gyan is thinking
the same thing as he.
"Dawnflight" is as seamless a story
as they come. Historical and legendary facts blend as one with
the creative use of Celtic terms to give this story a richness
rarely seen in a recreation. This story takes us back to a time
nearly forgotten 1400 years in our past. Back to when the Celts
ruled the lands we know as Great Britain and Ireland. The Roman's
brought the word of the One God. And lands were overtaken by
warlords on a whim. Brilliantly this telling enfolds all of
the characters that we've come to love, as well as hate, in
the more common legends of Arthur and Guinevere. Merlin is Arthur's
cantankerous advisor and Bishop who goes by the name of Merlinus
Dubricius Ambrosius. Morghe is a disguised Morgana, half sister
to Arthur and rival of Gyan's. And Lancelot is a wee lad by
the name of Angusel, a member of Gyan's clan and her greatest
admirer, only second to Arthur. First time readers of Arthurian
legend will find "Dawnflight" packed full of action
and adventure with a generous dollop of romance. Well read readers
of this legend will find themselves enthralled, sitting back
to contemplate the validity of the this new theory on Guinevere's
legend, as well as Arthur's. "Dawnflight" has been
compared to "Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley;
no truer a compliment. All I can say is "Wow!!"
