https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2020/05/2020058-serpent-rose-kari-sperring.html ( )

A very good knight's coming of age book in Arthurian times and legend. Sir Lamorak is the character we follow from the beginning of his knighthood. The Sagremore brothers are the others, especially Sir Gaheris. Quite a good novella that involves so many aspects of the Chivalric code and knighthood. I have always been fascinated by the tales of King Arthur and it is nice to see that others authors still find the subject interesting enough to write about. While Lamorak learns his knighthood ways from his teacher Gaheris, he comes to think more of him than just a teacher and the dependency is obvious, but Lamorak takes his vows, goes out for his year of adventuring and proves himself to be a true knight. He is a also as foolish as Lancelot when it comes to matters of the heart. Great story, nice unpredictable ending, thoroughly enjoyable knightly read. ( )

A highly enjoyable Arthurian retelling, centered on the knights Gaheris and Lamorak. I hadn't already been familiar with the particular episode retold in this novella, but context clues and a general knowledge of Arthurian myths were sufficient to give me a good idea of what the original story looked like and how Sperring's version departed from it.

Unsurprisingly for an Arthurian retelling, there's quite a bit of violence and tragedy in this story. However, it also made me laugh out loud during several scenes. The interactions between Gaheris and his brothers Gawain, Agravaine, Gareth, and Medraut in particular are frequently hilarious...when they aren't tense, ominous, and/or breathtakingly sweet.

I also really liked how historically grounded the story feels. I noticed two or three anachronisms (insofar as an Arthurian retelling can be said to contain anachronisms), but the overall impact is of a society appreciably different from modern Britain. The characters are very believable, but their concerns and manners and moral codes and belief systems are distinctly of another era. ( )

First of all, I would like to thank LibraryThing and the editor and publisher NewCon Press for giving me the opportunity to read this nice little (in length) novel in exchange for a honest review.

I’ve always liked Arthurian-themed/based stories, specifically Mallory’s “la morte d’Arthur”, where Lamorak and all the other appear, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

And, at the end, this is really a LOVE story, only NOT the typical love you’d expect to find on Arthurian lore (I won’t say anymore, because I don’t want to do any spoilers), it’s not the OFFICIAL story, but it’s logical and OK.

If Idetract one star it’s because I’ve had often to go back and re-read because of the two sets of names: Gawain-Gavin, Gareth-Gary and the main character Gaheris-Heris among others, for the Orkney clan, and Aglovale-Loval, etc., for the De Gallis., and so on; and because the story could have been told in a richer way, but it’s understandable because it’s from the point of view of Gaheris, the most often forgotten member of the Orkney clan. Of course there is also traitorous Medraut/Mordaunt/Mordred, supposedly brother or half brother of the other Orkney knights, and possibly son of his uncle Arthur (in other versions Mordred’s mother is Morgan).

Yes, there is the blood feud between the families, yes, there is the dishonor and death of the Orkney’s Mother Morgawse, King Arthur’s other half-sister apart from Morgan, but there the similarity ends, and the merit of this version is that it is so very plausible despite all.

It’s the first thing I read from this author, and she surely knows her way around Arthurian Legends and Myths. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. The characters were well-drawn and developed, the author showed a good grasp and interesting insight into the Arthurian legends. Spiced with a reasonable amount of humor and a creative view of medieval manners the tale spun out in a provocative telling. I recommend this book to fantasy and medieval romance lovers alike. ( )