Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) When a giant green knight barrels into the Christmas feast at Camelot and issues a bloody challenge, Terence finds himself at the beginning of another quest as Sir Gawain's squire. Picking up several years after The Squire's Tale (rev. 7/98) leaves off, this Arthurian fantasy weaves several adventures into one, as Terence and Gawain face numerous adversaries, both dangerous and droll, on their way to finding the Knight of the Green Chapel. When Gawain is captured by a murderous marquis, Terence conspires with the lord's plucky niece to free him. Lady Eileen seizes the opportunity to escape from her hated uncle by joining the men for the remainder of their adventure, which leads them into the land of faery, the Other World. There they meet up with a cannibal hag, the legendary hero Cucholinn, a sea monster, and the Green Knight, who owes Gawain a deadly blow. Terence and his companions are spirited characters who face each setback with courage, if not always common sense. Although the novel builds upon plot elements and characters found in the first volume, the story stands well alone. Laced with magic, humor, and chivalry, this reworking of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," in which Gawain learns humility and Terence discovers his true place in the world, provides an engaging introduction to the original tale. anne st. john From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
This sequel to The Squire's Tale (1998) finds Morris's affable young hero, Terence, still serving the legendary Sir Gawain. The kingdom of Camelot, where they are living, is in despair over Queen Guinevere's affair with Sir Lancelot; when Gawain is challenged to meet the Knight of the Green they set off on a new quest. Terence is still young, but he is no longer the novice of the previous novel; when Gawain is imprisoned by the treacherous Marquis of Alva and scheduled for execution, it's up to Terence to save not only his knight, but the beautiful and spirited Lady Eileen. The three of them come upon an enchanted castle, where the lord of the realm turns out to be the Green Knight in disguise: Gawain is forced to pass two additional challenges in order to regain face. There is a well-crafted but tumultuous unfolding of events, and an author's note is which Morris explains his abiding affection and respect for Gawain; this personal touch may send readers straight off to Chaucer. Even Arthur and Guinevere make up in this engaging adventure, an ideal follow-up to the first book and just as full of characters who are brave, loyal, and admirably human. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.