Book Review: The Dragon Queen

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Dragon Queen     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Alice Borchardt
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   ShapeShifter
Series: Tales of Guinevere # 1
Del Rey, Oct 2001, $25.00, 480 pp.

Descended from the sorcerer queen Bodiccia and born to a powerful pagan practicing mage, She becomes a pawn to fate. Raised by a druid, shapeshifter, and his family, everyone knew she was destined to become queen. Merlin and Igraine (Arthur’s mother) sought to control her, but her family hid her so she would have time to grow and mature.

At their first meeting, Guinivere knows Arthur is her true love, but she is not ready to be his queen. She escapes Marlin’s machinations and performs a service for the Goddess Athena. Arthur struggles with the pressures placed on him by his mother and Merlin her lover, but knows he must prove worthy in order for Guinivere to agree to become his queen.

THE DRAGON QUEEN is rich in historical text, but loaded with fantasy species and actions. The deep story line includes some whimsy to soften the epic tale that clearly is on a par with Tarr and Radford. The only drawback is that fans will have to wait for the adventures of Guinivere and Arthur separately and together to continue in the next installment of this three book saga.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner