Child of the Northern Spring

This is the first in a trilogy about Guinevere, written from her point of view. I found this series a while ago and really enjoyed it but have only ever read the first two until recently; despite being written in the late 1980s/early 1990s, they're already out of print. It's a shame because they are my favourite versions of the Arthurian legends and the best books I've read written about Guinevere. She's not the usual simpering, wishy-washy, shallow or two-dimensional kind of girl which is how she's usually depicted in most versions. She's written as a strong character, feisty and so proud of her Northern heritage. It's extremely well written and the attention to detail, in both setting and history is impressive. I heartily recommend show more these books as being one of the best versions of Arthurian legend I've read. show less

A rare reread of something I loved in high school that completely holds up. Beautifully written, tightly plotted, a meaningful update of the Matter of Britain that is simultaneously immaculately researched and sensibly feminist. Cannot recommend this highly enough.

Guinevere has never been a character I enjoyed. In fact, I often find her the spoiled and nettlesome one from Arthurian legend and much like Viviane says of her in of The Mists of Avalon, a bit of a ninny. Indeed, the only version of Guinevere I have ever found myself rallying behind was Angel Colby’s adaptation on BBC’s Merlin.

In my mind (and if the adage of a man only being as strong as the woman behind him holds true), Arthur—High King and unifier of a warring Albion—would not fall in love with a mollycoddled and sapless damsel. He would fall in love with someone with spirit, with fire, someone multi-faceted and with such devoted belief in him and his abilities to rule Britannia that he would never need doubt himself … and show more this is what Persia Woolley delivers in Child of the Northern Spring and why it has garnered itself a spot in my permanent collection.

As far as historical accuracy goes, Persia stayed true. We have a post-Roman England being invaded by the Saxons, England and Wales stand as two separate kingdoms and the pagan ways of the land are being tried by the new religion of Christianity. Child of the Northern Spring delivers the tale of Guinevere’s journey South to marry Arthur. On this journey Guin does a lot of reminiscing. As such, the book does include a great deal of flashbacks but it isn’t overly confusing or anything.

We learn that Guinevere is a very independent tomboyish girl, tempered with a kindness above her station as Princess of Rheged and sole heir, and loves to ride horses. Unlike what we have come to know as far as princesses go, Guinevere is known to give a hand to the servants and even helps commoners in the kingdom. This book did for Guinevere what The Mists of Avalon did for Morgan Le Fay: gave her a voice and showed us the events in Arthurian Legend as seen through her eyes.

Child of the Northern Spring is somewhat “and they lived happily ever after”, so if you are a fan of Arthur and Guinevere sans Lancelot, you will love this book. However, if you are like me and revel in angst and agony, you are very much looking forward to see what Persia does, if anything, with the infamous Lancelot/Guinevere/Arthur love triangle.

All in all, I am absolutely thrilled that Sourcebooks has revived this late 1980’s out-of-print trilogy for future generations (though I still cannot wrap my head around why such a strong novel would even go out of print to begin with), and I wait with bated breath for the next installment!

http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/historical/book-review-child-of-the-norther... show less

I downloaded this onto my Nook and had a great time sneaking in a few pages every time I had a few minutes no matter where I was. This is a refreshing telling of the days leading up to Princess Guinevere's marriage to King Arthur. You follow Guinevere through parts of her childhood and then the long journey from north to south to become queen. Rich details about the time period are woven in and both Guinevere and Arthur are well-developed as interesting people with many dimensions to their characters. Historical fiction at its best and I plan to search out more of Persia Woolley's works to read.

Child of the Northen Spring is the first of Persia Woolley's trio of Arthurian novels dealing with his queen, Guenevere. I first read this book when I was in the 6th grade and I have loved it ever since. Years later I realized that it was actually a trio and I was, as you can imagine, ecstatic! The second and third novels in the trio, Queen of the Summer Stars and Guenevere: Legend in Autumn, are both wonderful reads, as well, but this one remains my absolute favorite. The way the reader is introduced to Guenevere, her childhood, her home, friends and family, her first love and first heartbreak, her misgivings about marrying Arthur, her tomboyish ways...it's just an amazing read. I have laughed and cried more times than I can count show more while reading this book and I have loved every moment of it. I love the way Guenevere is portrayed, as a fun-loving, opinionated tomboy instead of the perfect beauty many think of her as. All of the characters--Arthur, Merlin, Gawain, Nimue, Pellinore, Kay--they are all given amazing personalities that the reader is able to connect with. Woolley is a genius in her portrayal of the Arthurian legend and of 6th century Britain...I highly recommend this read for those who enjoy this type of literature. show less

Absolutely fabulous - I got this one for free in kindle format, but I will be trying to hunt down the sequels. Guinevere (and her family) is probably technically too modern minded, but it didn't bother me. The author addresses language in the introduction and more or less says, "hey none of the english words would have existed in these forms then, so consider the whole thing a translation and get over it" which really I thought made a lot of sense. So those who want very historically accurate books - might not like it. But given that its going back to what is legend as it is, it just didn't bother me, and I really really liked the book. The whole format of giving Guinevere's childhood memories as she recalls them along the ride to meet show more King Arthur I think worked very well. (Oh and King Arthur may be a bit too modern minded as well, although I like to think that even if society didn't view women as anything but fragile flowers and with nothing to contribute to "male topics" that there would have been a few enlightened men then too) show less

Guinevere, a young woman barely 18 years-old and while a strong and intelligent person, she’s out of her element when it comes to practices of the court. The chosen bride of the newly minted King Arthur, she’s leaving her father and the only home she’s ever known to meet him and prepare to be his wife and queen. Their first meeting a few years prior to the marriage arrangement left her interested but not fully convinced she was the right woman for him. Without a better marriage offer and wanting to protect her homeland, she undertakes the journey to become his partner.

Arthur and Guinevere’s match is a good one --- they’re both strong people and have an affinity for each other. When the Saxons, always a threat to the country at show more this time, decide to attack, Arthur moves his armies to meet them and they both find out what it means to be king and queen and husband and wife.

I prefer Arthurian legend stories with a touch of historical reality rather than magic. There is some magic in Child of the Northern Spring but it’s more in the form of religion and gods which is fine. Merlin does make an appearance and there are moments when he calls down the gods and their wrath and the same can be said for Arthur’s sister, Morgan. I’m all right with magic in that capacity though. For as much as I adore fantasy, I don’t always like it mixed with my Arthur and Guinevere. Go figure.

This book does move slowly and is told in more flashbacks than I felt necessary but it provides a nice background and history for Guinevere and who she is as a person. I like that she isn’t a meek woman in this story and even though she’s unsure of herself, some of that is due to her age and that she’s never lived at court or even ran her father’s household after the death of her mother. It’s a lack of confidence and she begins to gain more at the end of the book.

Child of the Northern Spring is the first in the Guinevere trilogy and with my ability to never walk away from a series, especially one that involves Arthur and Guinevere, I see myself reading more. If you enjoy Arthurian legend, this one is worth a look. show less