Interesting fictional take on medieval Wales with elements of history included. Unexpected plot twist (please note that I do not often see them coming) Enjoyable read, worthwhile to get the series. ( )

Having the first 3 books of the After Cilmeri series, I wanted to try the Gareth and Gwen Series. So I read Book 1 - The Good Knight.

There is a lot of backstory to be told since this is classed as Book 1 in this series. A Novella that covers the backstory was eventually written, but I dont have access to that right now.

This series was set in Gwynedd, Northern Wales in the 1100s - about 1 century before the After Cilmeri books.

The 2 main characters are Gwen and Gareth. These two together solve murders and mysteries. The Good Knight refers to Gareth. In the backstory he was a soldier for King Owain ap Llewelyn of Gwynedd. He had no prospects, no money, no land and he was not from the aristocracy.

Gareths best friend used to be a girl named Gwen. She was the daughter of Meilyr, the court Bard for King Owain. Gwen had grown uo in the court of King Owain and had actually shared lessons with Owains son Hywel, which means that Gwen learnt to read and write Welsh, Latin and some French.

When Gwen was 16 and Gareth 23, something happened which meant that Gareth was transferred away from the royal court to the court of Owains brother Cadaladwr. Cadaladwr was the overlord of Ceredigion (Cardigan). He was also jealous of his brother Owain and of Owains many sons. What noone knew was that Cadaladwr had become a bully and was now treating his soldiers with contempt and paying them as little as possible. Gareth felt that he could no longer work under these conditions and so he left the employ of Cadaladwr with no prospects of ever finding a new job. He found employment back at King Owains court, and after explaining why he had left Owains brother, he was knighted.

At the beginning of this book, The Good Knight, Gareth and Gwen happened to meet up again while they were both travelling to the castle of King Owain. Gwen's father Meilyr had been invited to sing and be the entertainment for a wedding. The groom for that wedding was named Anarawd. He was to marry one of Owains daughters.

Gwen and Gareth were very happy to meet up again after a 5 year absence, although Meilyr was not so happy. He had denied Gareths first request to court Gwen, because the young man had no prospects at that time. Anarawd was murdered during the trip, along with some of his guards and most of the attackers, who turned out to be Danes from Dublin.

The dead bodies were carted to Owains castle and the investigation proper begins. Until Gareth is accused of Murder and flung into a jail cell.

The twists and turns that happen to both Gareth and Gwen over the next few days and weeks, are a delight to read. There is a surprise twist right at the end when the real murderer is uncovered.

I read this book in 1 day. I give it 4 stars. I am definitely planning to read more books in this series.
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In the year 1143 King Owain intends to marry his daughter Elen to King Anarawd. Unfortunately Anarawd is killed on the way to the wedding. So Hywel, son of Owain sends Sir Gareth, and his spy Gwen, to seek the truth.
An enjoyable mystery, and I look forward to reading more of their exploits. ( )

Five years after Gareth walked away from Gwen in disgrace, she encounters him in the aftermath of an ambush, standing over the body of a murdered king. Although it isn't exactly the reunion Gwen had dreamed of, she and Gareth join forces against the treachery and intrigue rife within the court of Gwynedd.

And once blame for the murder falls on Gareth himself, Gwen must continue her search for the truth alone, finding unlikely allies in foreign lands, and ultimately uncovering a conspiracy that will shake the foundations of Wales.

This was so fun to read! I love that the research was so thorough. I learned so much about Wales. What a terribly hard language. This book will not disappoint you if you are a lover of castles, kings and knights. ( )