For Camelot’s Honor

For Camelot’s Honor (2005) Sarah Zettel

In a burst of paranoia, I held of reading this book, for fear that it wouldn’t be as good as the previous in this series, In Camelot’s Shadow. Once again I was proven to be just that–paranoid. I was pleased to discover that Sarah Zettel did a good job with this follow up, and the second book in what she says is to be a four book series.

Again, like In Camelot’s Shadow, the lovely thing about this book is that it stands by itself. Although characters from the previous book are mentioned, you don’t have to know what happened before to enjoy this book. Additionally, the story is complete by itself. (Although the epilogue in this book lets you know that Morgaine is still in play, she’s not doing anything, and so I could be content if I didn’t get to read another book in this series. Except, of course, for the fact that I’d probably be missing out on some good storytelling.

And once again, a gorgeous cover. It does not depict a scene from the book, but instead shows the major elements of the story: Elen, the hawk, and the spear. And it’s just a lovely looking cover. Of course it’s probably not a cover that Michael will want to be seen reading in public, but that’s a small price to pay.

In For Camelot’s Honor, Elen’s family is in the midst of negotiations with Arthur’s court, while their neighbor Urien is opposed to any treaty with Camelot, and lets Elen’s mother know that he will be greatly displeased if she makes such a treaty. One member of the party that has come to conduct treaty negotiations is Sir Geraint, a knight of the round table, and brother to Gawain (see In Camelot’s Shadow)

Like the previous book, For Camelot’s Honor is a romance, however it’s also very good fantasy–fantasy with strong female characters.

One odd thing about this book, however, was that I had forgotten that Morgaine is, in most Arthurian stories, rather evil. As I loved Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon, it’s always disconcerting to see Morgaine as evil. However, I got over it.

As with other books, Sarah Zettel’s writing is again excellent, as is her storytelling, as are her characters. It was enjoyable, and assuming that my grandmother enjoys In Camelot’s Shadow, I will loan her this as well, because I think that she’ll like it.
Rating: 8/10

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