Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Synopsis: Gwyna is just a girl who is forced to run when her village is attacked and burned to the ground. To her horror she is discovered in the wood. But it is Myrddin the bard, a traveler and spinner of tales who has found her. He agrees to protect Gwyna if she will agree to be bound in service to him. Gwyna is frightened but intrigued - for this Myrddin serves the young, rough and powerful Arthur. In the course of their travels, Myrddin transforms Gwyna into the mysterious Lady of the Lake,  a boy warrior and a spy. It is part of a plot to transform Arthur from the leader of a ragtag warband into King Arthur the greatest hero of all time. If Gwyna and Myrddin's trickery is discovered,  what will become of Gwyna? Worse, what will become of Arthur? Only the endless battling, the mighty belief of men and the sheer cunning of one remarkable girl will tell.

First of all this is not a historically accurate novel. Little is actually known of the real King Arthur as records have been wishy-washy and not really accurate. Legend has it that King Arthur was a mighty and Majestic being who fell in love with Guinevere and was betrayed by his knight Lancelot. Who knows if that legend and myth is actually true. More importantly who knows if Merlin, the kind wizard who took Arthur under his wing as a boy, was actually magical. Nevertheless this novel was a good read and gave an interesting insight to the tales of old. Arthur is not who you thought he was. Guinevere is not who you thought she was. And Merlin is not the wizard we know from the fairy tales. Enter Gwyna the fourth person who gives a different perspective. This is not your Disney movie fairy tale. However if you have an interest in King Arthur and would like a different aspect about his life and the lives of others around him this is a great book.

5 out of 10.