The Squire's Tale

This is my favorite Arthurian fiction of all time, and I readily admit that it's entirely because Gerald Morris shares my stance on the original tales: the Celtic stories are fabulous, and the French stories are...kind of irritating. I love that his Arthur has a sense of humor; I love that his Faerie is slightly threatening; most of all I love that Gawain is the main character.

2nd read: I think I would describe this as a dignified, clean, Arthurian version of Shrek.

1st read: It all begins with a stewpot! Gerald Morris's humor is both physical and verbal, as Camelot is examined through the eyes of Terrence, a humble squire, and his no-nonsense master, Sir Gawain. I still reread them...

It took me a couple of chapters to really get into this book, but once I caught on to the kind of story Morris is trying to tell, I couldn’t put it down. Morris reimagines Arthurian legend in a way that’s fun, creative, and more than a little humorous. I quite enjoyed the characters; it was interesting to see figures like Gawain and Arthur given more dimension. The magical element is also intriguing, and I’m interested to see what role the magic-inclined narrator, Terence, plays in future stories. Overall, The Squire’s Tale is a very quick read - obviously meant for a younger audience - but I found it entertaining nonetheless. It’s a fast-paced, delightful romp. I look forward to reading more of Morris’ tales.

A fun look at Sir Gawain and a new character in the time of the Round Table. While the humor abounds, I do wonder about the juvenile label. The themes seem a little mature (not "mature") for most kids to enjoy at the middle school age. I also liked how Terence comes of age with more wisdom and respect from his elders. Terence and Sir Gawain will haunt my thoughts until I revisit their further adventures in this series.

"I have always liked the legend of King Arthur. Everyone has heard different versions of the same story, but that’s the beauty of the Arthurian legends: they grow and change with time, as they were meant to. In The Squire’s Tale, Gerald Morris takes an interesting approach, as he states in his author’s note. He is “trying to restore the reputation of this most honored of all knights on earth.” It’s not Lancelot, but Gawain.



It is not Gawain, but Terence, his squire, who tells his story. Terence himself is a great character: the son of unknown parents with the ability to see faeries. He doesn’t seem all that remarkable in the beginning, but he goes through a wonderful development as he embarks with Gawain upon his quests. show more However, Terence is the one that readers will most likely relate to because this book is aimed at younger teens and he is very much the voice of adolescent uncertainty.

The plot moves quite faster than I’m used to in books incorporating the Arthurian legends, but it suits the author's writing style. There are really no places where the plot sags, not even in the beginning when we are introduced to Terence. The characters are quirky and memorable and there’s plenty of humor to offset some of the serious elements. Overall, a fitting retelling of the Arthurian legends, except for the ending. Gerald Morris kind of stuck Morgause in there at the last minute and I felt that the ending scene was rushed, even though it makes sense. This is one series that I will be reading more of, for certain.

The Last Passage

Gawain knelt and said, ""Our service is always yours, sire.""
""Even in my dreams?"" Arthur asked.
""Especially there, O king,"" Terence murmured, bowing.
As he raised his head again, Terence caught his breath. He suddenly realized that without thinking he had bowed to King Arthur slightly and from the waist only, as a great lord might bow to an equal, not deeply and bending the knees, as a servant bows o his master. He prepared to stammer an apology, but before he could speak the king returned his bow, with exactly the same inflection. Gawain raised his eyebrows, but Arthur only smiled again and took his leave.
""I'll stir up the fire and fetch some more wine, milord,"" Terence said hurriedly.

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A modern update on Arthurian legends, with a twist of comedy. Filled with the classically random, weird encounters while on quest. Where running into a crazy night and having to kill someone seems everyday.

I enjoyed the main Character Terence very much, and the message of standing up for women and allowing people to choose their own destiny is well done.

Good starter for Arthurian Knight stories, if you know you don't like those, skip it.

Terence becomes the squire to Sir Gawain of King Arthur's Round Table. As they travel on their quest, Terence becomes aware of gifts that he has and he uses them to help in their quest. Sir Gawain becomes the Maiden's Knight.

I enjoyed this book. Some of the tales made me laugh out loud. Some sobered me up. I liked Terence and Sir Gawain. Some of the characters they meet are a hoot. I am going to track down more of the series.