Grail Prince [Paperback]

The battle of Camlann is over, Arthur is dead and Britain is shattered into pieces once again. Guinevere has retired to a nunnery and a heart-broken Lancelot returns to his Kingdom across the sea. Lancelot's young son Galahad was charged by Arthur to find the buried treasures that can reunite Britain once again and is joined by his twelve-year-old cousin Percival, now King of Gwynedd upon his father's death (although his uncle rules as regent). The lads are soon following the clues and legends of the hill men, the *ancient ones*, hoping to find the grail and spear of Macsen Wledig that can reunite Britain and make it whole again.

"If I cannot love my fellow-men, however dirty their hands, how can I love the God who made them?"

The book then backtracks to Galahad's childhood, when he was raised by an embittered mother and a vicious priest with an agenda of his own to hate his father and Queen Guinevere (see more of Elen's story in the first book, Queen of Camelot). Lancelet eventually brings Galahad to Camelot to train for his knighthood and his hatred of Guinevere continues to grow and spreads to a disdain for all women, especially those who have been *cheapened* by unclean acts - including rape. The third part of the book backtracks to events leading up to the Battle of Camlann covered in the previous book in the series, albeit this time from Galahad's viewpoint.

The latter part of the book continues as Britain is rudderless upon the death of Arthur and the Saxon threat continues to grow. The wheel of fortune spins around once more and Galahad finds himself committing the very sin in the flesh that he has so loathed his father for desiring only in his heart, and in doing so dishonors his greatest friend and ally. Galahad continues to wander Britain without purpose until he can face his true self and turn the circle 'round again - will there be happiness or sorrow at the end of end of his quest? Can he find the grail and spear and reunite Britain?

This was a highly entertaining follow-up to the first in the series, Queen of Camelot, and I found it the perfect blend of myths and legends, dreams and just a *wee* bit of magic. Highly recommended for Arthurian fans, although I recommend you leave a goodly period of time between this and book one as there's a lot of story back-tracking in the middle. A solid four star read until the last 100 or so pages, I was riveted and needed the tissue box handy for a few of them. Despite this being part of a trilogy this book covers enough of the previous history that it could stand well enough on its own. The third book in the series is called Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte. 4.5/5 stars.

This is the tale of Galahad, son of Lancelot. In the beginning, Galahad, poisoned in mind against Lancelot, learns to hate his father. His mother Elaine, with the help from a "priest" Aidan, work together successfully to turn Galahad against him. While Elaine has her own reasons, some of them her own fault, for hating Lancelot, she enlists Aidan in her plans to shame him, not knowing that he has his own reasons for revenge.

From all of this, Galahd has learned to despise his father and desires to avenge himself on Lancelot for the perceived cruelness imposed on his mother over the years. He finally breaks free to go to Camelot to serve Arthur, the High King, but peace eludes him there also. Eventually, he learns that all he was taught by his mother and Aidan was false and he then turns his mind against women, judging them all to be liars and the weaker of the sexes. He also continues to hate his father but after awhile of gradual maturing he comes to understand Lancelot but finds it difficult to forgive him until he himself commits the same mistakes as his father did.

He goes on a quest for Arthur to find the treasures that will heal Britain and once again make her invincible to invaders. For awhile, he travels with his cousin Percival who worships him as a hero figure. Galahad's pompous, aloof behavior changes when he meets Dane, the twin sister of Percival.

Things then begin to change his preconceived ideas and he learns to eventually love and to quest for something more tangible and earthly to bring him peace of mind. The novel switches back and forth between Galahad's past and his present life and shows how he matures in mind and body over the years.

This is a real page turning yarn that will delight and enthrall any follower of Arthurian Literature. I thought this would be a boring saga of the saintly character Galahad, but was pleasantly surprised to find it anything but. Galahad is portrayed as a man struggling with what he has always been taught to believe is right and what the true reality really is. A totally believable human being is showcased here with faults of his own that he must learn to conquer in order to find true happiness. Read it, you will not be disappointed!

I liked this book well enough to recommend it - however, not without a couple criticisms...
Galahad's wanderings help you to understand this character and his evolution from an overly pious finatic to a kind-hearted and loving man. However, I thought there was a bit much recounting of the battle of Camlann and the days of Arthur. I don't disagree that understanding these moments are important in understanding Galahad himself. I simply wonder if the authur lacked confidence in the character and believed that the book would hold no interest without re-introducing Arthur in such great detail. I read through the Arthur-filled chapters EAGER to get back to Galahad's quest for the grail and for inner peace.
It also seemed that as the book wrapped, the author did a huge role reversal with Ninianne. I was left completely confused as to her true intentions. This character along with the Merlin character from Queen of Camelot, were poorly developed and left little impression other than simple confusion. Tristan was also introduced for about 4 lines and then vanished. Perhaps he will be the subject of her next work???
Overall, however, I found the book captivating and the evolution of Galahad to be believable and heart-warming.