Gwendolyn's Sword

by E. A. Haltom

Overview

Cornwall, England, 1193. Eleanor of Aquitaine, the indomitable dowager queen, has ordered all of England onto a war footing while her son King Richard languishes in a German dungeon. Gwendolyn de Cardinham, the defiant wife of an absent crusader, protects and defends her estate, Penhallam, with her sword and the garrison of men that she commands. While travelling to deliver a captured mercenary of would-be usurper Prince John to a nearby gaol, her constable takes her on a detour to the local prior, who gravely informs her that King Arthur’s mythical sword, Caliburn, is destined to be hers. When Gwendolyn discovers that Prince John has been hunting for Caliburn, she realizes she is in a unique position to end the wayward prince’s rebellion. Determined to protect Penhallam and its tenants at any cost, Gwendolyn travels to London to present herself to the dowager queen, placing herself in the middle of the brothers’ duel for the throne. But Gwendolyn has kept a secret from even her constable that could put all of Penhallam—and herself—at risk if the queen discovers it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996307314
Publisher:	Wisdom House Books
Publication date:	05/14/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	888 KB

About the Author

E. A. Haltom lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and children, and (at last count) one dog, four cats, and six chickens. She has enjoyed careers as a criminal prosecutor, a grocery clerk, a massage therapist, a technology lawyer, a mother, and most recently, a novelist. She has lived in, worked in, studied in, and/or traveled in Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Kenya, Nepal, India, and Tibet, although it is the adventures of the heart that she has taken with her family that have brought her the highest joys—and the deepest sorrows. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and planning excursions with her family.

Editorial Reviews

06/22/2015
Haltom’s debut novel weaves Arthurian fantasy into the vivid reality of 1193 Cornwall and London. Gwendolyn de Cardinham, whose husband is imprisoned with King Richard, decides to learn sword fighting so that she can defend her estate of Penhallam. The discovery that her husband’s ambitious brother is allied with the rebellious Prince John leads Gwendolyn to a local prior, who claims that she is the descendant of King Arthur and destined to wield the fabled sword Caliburn. With the assistance of her constable, William, sworn to protect her since she was a child, and the onetime mercenary Nigel, Gwendolyn travels to London to pledge her sword to the dowager queen Eleanor, using her position as the supposed heir of Arthur as bait for John’s rebels. The historical aspects are very well done, and Gwendolyn and William sit comfortably alongside well-known royals and schemers. The fantastical elements are more unexpected but do not distract from the strength of the main characters. The ending satisfies while setting up a sequel. (BookLife)

Publishers Weekly

2015-03-23
Haltom's debut novel follows Gwendolyn de Cardinham, who, upon discovering that she may be King Arthur's fabled heir, finds herself caught in the middle of a clash of crowns. In defiance of proper ladylike behavior, Gwendolyn not only carries a sword, she knows how to use it. Upon encountering a band of mercenaries loyal to the would-be usurper Prince John, she draws her sword in protection of her estate, Penhallam. While on their way to deliver one of the captured mercenaries to a nearby gaol, Gwendolyn's taciturn constable William Rufus takes her to see an aged prior, who gravely informs her that she is the descendant of King Arthur and thus the rightful heir to his mythical sword, Caliburn. When Gwendolyn discovers that Prince John, angling for his brother King Richard's crown, has been hunting for Caliburn, she realizes that she's uniquely poised to thwart John's rebellious efforts. Under the command of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the dowager queen, Gwendolyn puts herself in the middle of the brothers' duel for the crown. The queen's plan takes Gwendolyn and William on a perilous journey to the castle of Arundel, where Gwendolyn must ultimately confront her own skepticism about her mythical heritage. Haltom creates likable heroes (feisty Gwendolyn and loyal William stand out) and enjoyably detestable villains. The author shows a meticulous concern for historical authenticity, evident in the little details, such as Gwendolyn's struggle to conceal a sword in a lady's gown. Though history buffs will undoubtedly appreciate Haltom's thoroughness, the attention to detail can at times reduce the novel's pace to an almost agonizing slowness, particularly in the many traveling scenes. Despite these shortcomings, the author's writing style is smoothly readable throughout, especially in scenes heavy with action and dialogue. As Gwendolyn's story builds to its tension-filled climax, Haltom draws the storylines together into a cohesive, largely enjoyable whole. The addition of magical elements in the forms of William's visions and an evil sorcerer add a welcome layer of adventure and intrigue. Plus, Haltom wisely leaves room for a sequel. Well-written, well-plotted, and mostly well-paced, a feisty addition to the historical fantasy genre.

Kirkus Reviews