Camelot Burning

Gr 9 Up—By day, 17-year-old Vivienne is the lady-in-waiting to the future queen Guinevere; at night, she is an apprentice to Merlin. The famed wizard has given up magic and is teaching her the secrets of alchemical machines. Guinevere and Arthur are to be married soon, and Vivienne is kept busy during the preparation for the wedding. Her feelings for Marcus, a knight in training, are a welcome distraction to her double life. Suddenly, Morgan Le Fay returns to attack Camelot and claim the throne. Vivienne soon learns that magic always comes with a price. At the exact moment she begins her attack, Merlin's protection spell begins to expire, and he must be careful not to resort to magic. The novel has the perfect blend of romance and action. Readers will be racing through the pages during the battle scenes and swooning over the teen's romance with Marcus. Vivienne is a strong female character who holds her own against evil Morgan Le Fay as the fate of Camelot hangs in the balance. This book would be a natural pick for fans of BBC's Merlin and the steampunk genre. This debut fantasy novel will have readers clamoring to find out what happens next.—Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, RI