The Squire's Tale

Gerald Morris

Apr 2008 · The Squire's Tales Book 1 · Sold by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

About this ebook

First in the medieval fantasy series set in Camelot. “This Arthurian adventure is all heart—and humor.”—Publishers Weekly
 
Growing up an orphan in an isolated cottage in the woods, young Terence never expected much adventure. But upon the arrival of Gawain, his life takes a surprising turn. Gawain is destined to become one of the most famous knights of the Round Table. Terence becomes Gawain’s squire and leaves his secluded life for one of adventure in King Arthur’s court. In no time Terence is plunged into the exciting world of kings, wizards, knights, wars, magic spells, dwarfs, damsels in distress, and enchanters. As he adjusts to his new life, he proves to be not only an able squire but also a keen observer of the absurdities around him. His duties take him on a quest with Gawain and on a journey of his own, to solve the mystery of his parentage. Filled with rapier-sharp wit, jousting jocularity, and chuckleheaded knights, this is King Arthur’s court as never before experienced.
 
“The author leaves some tantalizing questions, and the tale is filled with knightly derring-do.”—The Horn Book
 
“Well-drawn characters, excellent, snappy dialogue, detailed descriptions of medieval life, and a dry wit put a new spin on this engaging tale.”—Booklist
 
“If your readers are looking for some notable swashing and buckling with a little chivalrous slapstick thrown in, this retelling of Arthurian legend is the book for you.”—The Bulletin
 
“There are plenty of sword fights and flashes of sorcery to delight readers, while the plot moves at a swift clip.”—Kirkus Reviews

Ratings and reviews

Well, this was not your usual Arthurian tale. Many things just appear out of thin air ... literally. While this was fun, I would have liked a little more character development (unusual I know) especially background info on Terence and really the world in general. All-in-all this was a good start for the series that probably develops over time.

I bought this to read to my kids, per the recommeded age range and reviews. The first few chapters are excellently written and drew our whole family into the story. However, as the heroes go on their first quest, the story quickly took a turn toward unrealistic, gratuitous violence, including the killing of knights, dogs, a horse, and a woman. This includes single blow decapitations, which reminds me of the ridiculous Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, except that this books tries to take itself seriously. I thinks this book needs its recommended age range adjusted, as most parents of 9-12 year olds probably aren't comfortable with their kids being entertained by unnecessary offhand slayings of humans and animals.

This book was exiting and interesting. It never got dull! There is also some humor in this book, making it a great book for almost everyone! Adventure and fantasy lovers will especially enjoy this book. This book is about a boy who lives in the woods with a hermit, who sees the past like we see he future. When a knight want to be come into the woods, the boy is taken as his squire to King Arthur's court.

About the author

When Gerald Morris was in fifth grade he loved Greek and Norse mythology and before long was retelling the stories to his younger sister and then to neighborhood kids. He began carrying a notebook in which he kept some of the details related to the different stories. The joy he found in retelling those myths continued when he discovered other stories. According to Gerald Morris, “I never lost my love of retelling the old stories. When I found Arthurian literature, years later, I knew at once that I wanted to retell those grand tales. So I pulled out my notebook . . . I retell the tales, peopling them with characters that I at least find easier to recognize, and let the magic of the Arthurian tradition go where it will.” Gerald Morris lives in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his wife and their three children. In addition to writing he serves as a minister in a church.