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Mordred's Curse
Raised by his witch-mother and an embittered foster father, Mordred of Orkney wants nothing more than to serve the uncle he idolizes, King Arthur. Discovering that he is Arthur's bastard son, not his nephew, Mordred confronts his beloved king. The king rejects him--turning Mordred's worship into an all-consuming hatred.
319 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 6, 2010
I was really into King Arthur as a kid and when I saw this book and it's sequel in the Science Fiction Book Club's flyer one day years later, I decided to give it a chance. King Arthur's story from Mordred's point of view? Sounded interesting.
Interesting was an understatement. The story is told by Mordred and he's bitter as hell about Arthur, his supposed father Lot, and has a strange relationship with his mother. Launcelot is nowhere in this book or its sequel. The things Launcelot is known for, ie romancing Guinevere right under King Arthur's nose, is done by Mordred. And Merlin, don't get me started. He's a half-demon and a pedophile.
The story is engaging, dealing with Mordred growing up on Orkney, eventually joining King Arthur and falling for Guinevere.
If you're looking for a new take on King Arthur, look no further. Plus, the second book in the series, Merlin's Gift, has my favorite opening line of any fantasy book ever.
Interesting was an understatement. The story is told by Mordred and he's bitter as hell about Arthur, his supposed father Lot, and has a strange relationship with his mother. Launcelot is nowhere in this book or its sequel. The things Launcelot is known for, ie romancing Guinevere right under King Arthur's nose, is done by Mordred. And Merlin, don't get me started. He's a half-demon and a pedophile.
The story is engaging, dealing with Mordred growing up on Orkney, eventually joining King Arthur and falling for Guinevere.
If you're looking for a new take on King Arthur, look no further. Plus, the second book in the series, Merlin's Gift, has my favorite opening line of any fantasy book ever.
March 25, 2012
As avid of a fantasy reader as I am and an English major, I do not enjoy the original Arthurian Legends. It's almost sacrilegious, isn't it? I do know that the stories are good, however, and you simply can't take two steps in a fantasy section of a bookstore without tripping over an Arthur tale. My point being, that since I'm not an Arthur fan, I was loathe to pick this up. It had been sent to me by a friend over a year ago, placed on my to-read shelf and was promptly forgotten about. Then while looking for something to read, I read the first two sentences, and I couldn't help but laugh and continue reading.
"I don't care what Guinevere and Gawain say; this won't be Mordred's Life of Arthur, but Mordred's Life of Mordred. Fuck them; they can chronicle my sanctimonious progenitor's exploits if they've got the stomach for it."
The story of Arthur, through the eyes of his bastard son, by his sister? Sounds neat, right? It certainly started interestingly enough. It was written in an interesting fashion and the characters were surprisingly three-dimensional. I say "were," because when The Big Secret comes out, everything changes.
Mordred changes into a whiny emo kid, and he never grows the fuck up. Sure, he's only supposed to be 18 or 19 in the book, but he was sullen, pompous, and obnoxious for the duration and it got old, real quick. Arthur becomes a total douche, and completely one-dimensional. Guinevere, who is usually one of my favorite characters in Arthur stories, simply acts like the sticky sweet girl-next-door. The entirety was reduced to this sort of sameness. It might as well have taken place in a high school!
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was just glad I didn't have to read about how much Mordred hated Arthur any longer.
"I don't care what Guinevere and Gawain say; this won't be Mordred's Life of Arthur, but Mordred's Life of Mordred. Fuck them; they can chronicle my sanctimonious progenitor's exploits if they've got the stomach for it."
The story of Arthur, through the eyes of his bastard son, by his sister? Sounds neat, right? It certainly started interestingly enough. It was written in an interesting fashion and the characters were surprisingly three-dimensional. I say "were," because when The Big Secret comes out, everything changes.
Mordred changes into a whiny emo kid, and he never grows the fuck up. Sure, he's only supposed to be 18 or 19 in the book, but he was sullen, pompous, and obnoxious for the duration and it got old, real quick. Arthur becomes a total douche, and completely one-dimensional. Guinevere, who is usually one of my favorite characters in Arthur stories, simply acts like the sticky sweet girl-next-door. The entirety was reduced to this sort of sameness. It might as well have taken place in a high school!
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was just glad I didn't have to read about how much Mordred hated Arthur any longer.
November 2, 2008
Written from the perspective of the the usually villainous Mordred in the form of his journal, it is a unique take on the tale of Arthur and the dynamic between Arthur and Mordred. From childhood to adulthood we are privy to Mordred's thoughts and feelings, many which are unkind and vulgar.
While many of my beloved characters are reduced to petty ambitions and traits, we are shown the ugliest aspects of personages normally held in high esteem.
While this novel has no redeeming qualities, I enjoyed it nontheless.
Not for young readers at all.
While many of my beloved characters are reduced to petty ambitions and traits, we are shown the ugliest aspects of personages normally held in high esteem.
While this novel has no redeeming qualities, I enjoyed it nontheless.
Not for young readers at all.
January 3, 2009
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this. It's light, easy to read, and completely irreverent. If you favour the courtly love version of Camelot, you'll be disappointed with this book. It's a very gritty, dirty, realist view of things. Mordred has a potty-mouth, and that's an understatement. There's also a lot of incest and things that are just plain gross, for example Merlin wanting to fuck a younger Mordred, and vivid descriptions of a coracle/boat made out of human skin. I quite liked it. It's interesting to see Mordred given a voice, and a human, sympathetic one at that. His confused feelings about his father and mother are well-expressed. My only trouble with the narrative is that it's sometimes a bit too light, a bit too off-hand. It's also sometimes very easy to get thrown out of the story when Mordred constantly points out that he's writing down his story, and refers to things that haven't happened yet, spoiling any surprises. It reminds me a little of Martin Amis' narrator in Money, John Self. It's the same kind of artificiality, along with the semi-obscenity, I think. Although Mordred's a tad more aware of the fictional nature of the narrative all the way through than John Self is. Regardless...
The characters seem to me to be mostly quick sketches rather than in-depth studies -- which is fine by me. A quick sketch often holds more life and vibrancy anyway. I liked Gawain a lot: he's just sensible, and trying to make the best way he can. He seems like the kind of guy anyone could get along with. Arthur himself is a difficult character. In some ways you can understand why other characters and a younger Mordred hero-worshipped him; in others, you kind of want to hit him for being a self-righteous twit. Which makes him a more realistic character, I suppose!
Also pleased to note that Arthur's court must be in Caerleon, since it's close to Caerwent. Overall, this is much closer to the original Welsh setting and feel, if not the storyline, rather than the French versions.
Looking forward to seeing what more McDowell does with all this in Merlin's Gift.
The characters seem to me to be mostly quick sketches rather than in-depth studies -- which is fine by me. A quick sketch often holds more life and vibrancy anyway. I liked Gawain a lot: he's just sensible, and trying to make the best way he can. He seems like the kind of guy anyone could get along with. Arthur himself is a difficult character. In some ways you can understand why other characters and a younger Mordred hero-worshipped him; in others, you kind of want to hit him for being a self-righteous twit. Which makes him a more realistic character, I suppose!
Also pleased to note that Arthur's court must be in Caerleon, since it's close to Caerwent. Overall, this is much closer to the original Welsh setting and feel, if not the storyline, rather than the French versions.
Looking forward to seeing what more McDowell does with all this in Merlin's Gift.
April 28, 2010
I'll only say this before i read Robert Devereaux's Santa Steps Out this was the most screwed up and off the wall book I'd ever read.
December 19, 2015
I am not sure what to say about this novel. I can't say I completely disliked it, but the parts about the plot I liked were mostly overshadowed by vulgarity.
I am deeply confused by how much I liked it and how much I did not. I love the theme of Mordred loving/hating Arthur and there is not enough Guinevere/Mordred in novels, so I was extremely glad when I found out that Guinevere and Mordred would become lovers. I also loved how Mordred was much more shaped by Lot and Morgause than by Arthur, thing that usually doesn't happen even in novels about him. Not to talk about Morgause as actually a good mother. I loved how she cares deeply for both her son, Gawain and Mordred, even if, of course, it had to become quite disturbing during the novel.
Everything sort of gets on the disturbing side of things. I have no idea why Mordred's favorite sentence for expressing disgust is "I'd rather have an enema". I actually went to google when the word enema was born and if it was sensible to use it in a novel placed in older times (it was). But still, a very peculiar expression that made me quite uncomfortable like many other things in the novel. I feel some kind of dissonance as I can look at the plot, the way the characters are meaning to be described and the relationships and think: Yes, this is the book for me. But then, while reading, it was all very cold and gritty and crude.
I was in particularly confused by Mordred. A part of me liked his character while on the other side he was so vulgar and cold to become quite detestable. I can only wonder how the second book will be but I will read it for sure as I still want to know what will happen between Guinevere, Mordred and Arthur.
(Just a brief thing more, this book would deserve all these three stars even just for te description of Kay as a cold dangerous and powerful man).
I am deeply confused by how much I liked it and how much I did not. I love the theme of Mordred loving/hating Arthur and there is not enough Guinevere/Mordred in novels, so I was extremely glad when I found out that Guinevere and Mordred would become lovers. I also loved how Mordred was much more shaped by Lot and Morgause than by Arthur, thing that usually doesn't happen even in novels about him. Not to talk about Morgause as actually a good mother. I loved how she cares deeply for both her son, Gawain and Mordred, even if, of course, it had to become quite disturbing during the novel.
Everything sort of gets on the disturbing side of things. I have no idea why Mordred's favorite sentence for expressing disgust is "I'd rather have an enema". I actually went to google when the word enema was born and if it was sensible to use it in a novel placed in older times (it was). But still, a very peculiar expression that made me quite uncomfortable like many other things in the novel. I feel some kind of dissonance as I can look at the plot, the way the characters are meaning to be described and the relationships and think: Yes, this is the book for me. But then, while reading, it was all very cold and gritty and crude.
I was in particularly confused by Mordred. A part of me liked his character while on the other side he was so vulgar and cold to become quite detestable. I can only wonder how the second book will be but I will read it for sure as I still want to know what will happen between Guinevere, Mordred and Arthur.
(Just a brief thing more, this book would deserve all these three stars even just for te description of Kay as a cold dangerous and powerful man).
November 9, 2010
Mordred's Curse starts with what I felt was like a slap in the face. It took me by surprise, both due to the language and the intensity of it. It goes like this:
These first sentences are a great synopsis of the book, much better than the one found on the back cover. After the initial surprise was gone, the book proved to be both enjoyable and memorable.
First, I have to say I'm not a fan of the Arthurian Legend – I mean, I like it well enough, but I don't go out of my way to get books on the subject (in short, meh...). This happens mostly because I don't really care for Arthur. Or Guinevere. And even Merlin doesn't interest me that much. The one character I do like, mostly because of his complexity in terms of relationships (and also because no-one likes him), is Mordred. So this book was like an early Christmas: a book about Mordred, told by Mordred, just like his autobiography.
But despite this, I was actually amazed by how much I enjoyed this book.
Like I said before, Mordred's Curse tells the story of Mordred, even though this is not complete, and about his relationship with the other characters. Truth be told, most of the appeal of the book was how Mordred related to others (and others to him), and not so much about his deeds and adventures (although those are good too).
Most of these relationships are with members of his family: with Lot, his “father”, where there is no love, and much hate; with Morgawse, his mother, that is heavily influenced by her relationship with Arthur; with Gawain, the older brother; with Guinevere, in a role usually given to Lancelot (who is absent in this tale).
And of course with Arthur. This played a very important role in the story, and I really loved to see all the variations and shifts. A lot of Mordred's actions are a result of Arthur's attitude towards him – first as his uncle, then as his father.
But, concerning character development, it seems that Arthur and Merlin (who makes only a brief appearance) seem to have drawn the shortest straw. Their characterisation didn't convince me as much as the others characters did.
Going back to the language, Mordred's Curse is full of cursing (pun intended). As well as the swear words, there are a lot of innovative ways to insult someone. Add the fact that the descriptions are quite vivid, and Mordred does describe some gory and gross things, this book may not be everyone.
I really liked it, though, and will try to find a copy of the second book – Merlin's gift.
Also at Spoilers and Nuts
“I don't care what Guinevere and Gawain say; this won't be Mordred's Life of Arthur, but Mordred's Life of Mordred. Fuck them; they can chronicle my sanctimonious progenitor's exploits if they've got the stomach for it.”
These first sentences are a great synopsis of the book, much better than the one found on the back cover. After the initial surprise was gone, the book proved to be both enjoyable and memorable.
First, I have to say I'm not a fan of the Arthurian Legend – I mean, I like it well enough, but I don't go out of my way to get books on the subject (in short, meh...). This happens mostly because I don't really care for Arthur. Or Guinevere. And even Merlin doesn't interest me that much. The one character I do like, mostly because of his complexity in terms of relationships (and also because no-one likes him), is Mordred. So this book was like an early Christmas: a book about Mordred, told by Mordred, just like his autobiography.
But despite this, I was actually amazed by how much I enjoyed this book.
Like I said before, Mordred's Curse tells the story of Mordred, even though this is not complete, and about his relationship with the other characters. Truth be told, most of the appeal of the book was how Mordred related to others (and others to him), and not so much about his deeds and adventures (although those are good too).
Most of these relationships are with members of his family: with Lot, his “father”, where there is no love, and much hate; with Morgawse, his mother, that is heavily influenced by her relationship with Arthur; with Gawain, the older brother; with Guinevere, in a role usually given to Lancelot (who is absent in this tale).
And of course with Arthur. This played a very important role in the story, and I really loved to see all the variations and shifts. A lot of Mordred's actions are a result of Arthur's attitude towards him – first as his uncle, then as his father.
But, concerning character development, it seems that Arthur and Merlin (who makes only a brief appearance) seem to have drawn the shortest straw. Their characterisation didn't convince me as much as the others characters did.
Going back to the language, Mordred's Curse is full of cursing (pun intended). As well as the swear words, there are a lot of innovative ways to insult someone. Add the fact that the descriptions are quite vivid, and Mordred does describe some gory and gross things, this book may not be everyone.
I really liked it, though, and will try to find a copy of the second book – Merlin's gift.
Also at Spoilers and Nuts
March 14, 2009
Arthurian, but with Mordred as the central character, and Lancelot's role as well as his own. Bitter twisted heroic Mordred, and even more twisted religious Arthur. I liked it. Mordred's an antihero I can enjoy.
The only change to the standard legend that bothered me was the loss of Gawain's other brothers. Probably justified in the source material, but I miss them.
Gawain is very much like White's Gawain, and all the other Gawains, despite the change in his family. I guess he must go far back.
The only change to the standard legend that bothered me was the loss of Gawain's other brothers. Probably justified in the source material, but I miss them.
Gawain is very much like White's Gawain, and all the other Gawains, despite the change in his family. I guess he must go far back.
June 15, 2014
I read this as a teen. I remember it showing Merlin as a sexually starved pervert who was also a lover of King Arthur. I was turned off from this book in just a few pages. I love Arthurian legend and though I can appreciate McDowell giving a darker version of our beloved hero, his words were too vulgar and bitter for my liking.
September 4, 2011
This is a rather dark take on the Matter of Britain written from the perspective of King Arthur's bastard son, Modred.
April 16, 2010
a little different take on Arthur's legend, from Mordred's view...
December 30, 2012
Wickedly fun version of the Arthurian legend, from the point of view of Mordred, illegitimate son of Arthur and lover of Guinevere.
February 13, 2017
The one where Merlin is a pedophile and Mordred is a pottymouthed edgelord with no discernible personality. Pass.
August 21, 2019
Where to begin? I have hungrily devoured all Arthurian stories I can get my hands on. As an Arthurian fan, like Luchasaurus, since middle school when I read L'Morte d'Arthur, hardly a children's novel, and grew up with the names of the legends from the AD&D 1st edition sourcebook Legends & Lore, I can appreciate the expansion of some of the heroic deeds of Mordred that are in this book. The author takes a lot of liberties with expanding upon the incestuous desires of Mordred's mother, Arthur's half-sister, as well as the cheating of Guinevere. In some really messed up ways, but the author explains his liberties in the foreward. I don't begrudge him for changing things to how he thought they would best make sense, but the changes don't sit well with me, or many other readers. He doesn't even try to explain why he made Merlin into a pedophile, but he might in his book he did on Merlin, which I haven't read. Overall, I think Ian McDowell would be great for doing some Game of Thrones style spin-offs of gritty fantasy worlds, but perhaps not so great at trying to expand on the Arthurian stories.
December 11, 2021
This was a retelling of the story of Arthur’s son Mordred, from his life growing up in Orkney to him finding a place in Camelot and love with Guinevere. Irreverent, grotesque, ironic, yet intermixed with deep emotion and some gorgeous descriptions of even the most austere landscapes, Mordred’s Curse breathed new life into a familiar story. I also think McDowell did an excellent job weaving historicity with a world of magic. He also didn’t back down from the truly wretched, which felt appropriate for such a violent world. Apparently there is a sequel, which I definitely want to read. As a huge fan of everything King Arthur-related, I enjoyed McDowell’s take on things, and his turn to the older versions of the story before the introduction of the Lancelot character.
September 21, 2019
I’ve had this book for over 20 years, as it came from my grandfather’s library and he died in 1997. It never really called to me, but for sentimental reasons I couldn’t give it away without reading it. So finally 2019 is the year. Even though I barely remember the details of the Arthurian saga (clearest to me when I read The Mists of Avalon as a teenager). I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Mordred’s character and perspective are engaging, and evoke empathy as the author intended. His narration is also quite entertaining, without sparing the reader any vulgarities. On the downside, the typeface/setting of this book is a bit weird - the lines seem jammed together.
May 14, 2024
DNF
Far too vulgar for my liking, which is something I don't usually expect (and definitely don't want to read again, at least in this manner) in Arthurian stories. The same goes for Merlin, I don't even want to ask what went through the author's head there - this must be one of the most heinous versions of him.
I'm also absolutely no fan of a relationship between Guinevere and Mordred, even though it's one of the older versions. It just always felt very off-putting, but that one is on me.
Far too vulgar for my liking, which is something I don't usually expect (and definitely don't want to read again, at least in this manner) in Arthurian stories. The same goes for Merlin, I don't even want to ask what went through the author's head there - this must be one of the most heinous versions of him.
I'm also absolutely no fan of a relationship between Guinevere and Mordred, even though it's one of the older versions. It just always felt very off-putting, but that one is on me.
December 5, 2022
Honestly, this books wasn't as great as the last time I read it. It is still a very unique take on the Arthur story from an unusual view point, but this book made me want to edit it. Some of the language used didn't flow well and some of the plot points seemed a touch unpolished. Still liked it though. A fun read that I'll probably pick up again despite its flaws.
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June 9, 2022It’s not a bad book, jus not for me. I left off at the ship made of mutilated bodies. That’s something I just can’t stand.
February 25, 2023
Okay so I made it through 40 pages of this book. The book has lots of terrible language and I stopped after Merlin tried to rape Mordred.. Ya he is a pedophile in this book.
February 22, 2025
I wanted to like this book. 2.5 . Too off-story from all I’ve read about King Arthur and much too crude. Though I only picked this up to read the next, Merlin’s Gift, which I hope to like better.
August 22, 2025
Beautiful Imagery; Shocking Content
Mordred’s life is not a happy one, and it all stems back to his mother, Morgawse. As a sorceress, she uses dark and ugly magic, reviving the dead, calling storms, and summoning grotesque creatures. She’s also a little too doting on her youngest son.
As a coming-of-age sort-of autobiography, Mordred is our first person narrator, telling the tale of his youth from the moment he meets Arthur for the first time, to when he’s about twenty-years old (spanning sixteen years of his life). The book itself is split into several parts, which I could sum up to be “the worship”, “the disillusionment” and “the indifference”.
Mordred is obviously our main character, and he speaks to the reader as if he, the twenty-eight-year-old, is writing his story down with the intention of being read. He’s a product of his parents and his upbringing, and it shows in his actions and thoughts and decisions. He’s also a product of the times, which were quite dark indeed, where women could not simply go into the market without a male escort at the risk of being attacked. Mordred is crude and crass and impolite at times, but he’s also courageous and loyal and passionate in this retelling.
Mordred hates King Lot, and he and his mother have the oddest relationship, but the bond of brotherhood he has with Gawain cannot be matched, even if Gawain is often away on the mainland. The evolving relationship Mordred has with Arthur has a depth to it that is unmatched within this story, and his eventual friendship and deeper bond with Guinivere is based on mutual respect and interest.
It’s interesting how gruesome other parts of the book can be when McDowell is so elegant with his descriptions of nature and beauty. He writes in a very 90s grunge sort of way, with modern slang and aspect, but is still able to immerse the reader in the dark ages when the book takes place. There are, of course, anachronisms and historically inaccurate pieces, as admitted by the author himself, who says his world is no more real than Middle Earth, which can be excused as the reader gets lost in the story.
As this is a coming-of-age tale, it tells the story of Mordred’s life from the time he was eight to when he’s twenty; he, the narrator, is twenty-eight as he writes and reflects. As such, the novel can be separated into sections by his age, and thus the pacing felt justified. It never spent too long on a scene, nor did I feel like the narrative dragged on – aside from when they first entered Camelot and needed to describe the entire city in detail, which was less appealing to me than lengthy depictions of the ocean or hillsides. (It was interesting enough, but dense.)
I recommend this book to adults who enjoy the legends, could use a laugh, and don’t mind a bit of crudeness. It’s an interesting new take on the tales of King Arthur and his knights, as told by Mordred.
Mordred’s life is not a happy one, and it all stems back to his mother, Morgawse. As a sorceress, she uses dark and ugly magic, reviving the dead, calling storms, and summoning grotesque creatures. She’s also a little too doting on her youngest son.
As a coming-of-age sort-of autobiography, Mordred is our first person narrator, telling the tale of his youth from the moment he meets Arthur for the first time, to when he’s about twenty-years old (spanning sixteen years of his life). The book itself is split into several parts, which I could sum up to be “the worship”, “the disillusionment” and “the indifference”.
Mordred is obviously our main character, and he speaks to the reader as if he, the twenty-eight-year-old, is writing his story down with the intention of being read. He’s a product of his parents and his upbringing, and it shows in his actions and thoughts and decisions. He’s also a product of the times, which were quite dark indeed, where women could not simply go into the market without a male escort at the risk of being attacked. Mordred is crude and crass and impolite at times, but he’s also courageous and loyal and passionate in this retelling.
Mordred hates King Lot, and he and his mother have the oddest relationship, but the bond of brotherhood he has with Gawain cannot be matched, even if Gawain is often away on the mainland. The evolving relationship Mordred has with Arthur has a depth to it that is unmatched within this story, and his eventual friendship and deeper bond with Guinivere is based on mutual respect and interest.
It’s interesting how gruesome other parts of the book can be when McDowell is so elegant with his descriptions of nature and beauty. He writes in a very 90s grunge sort of way, with modern slang and aspect, but is still able to immerse the reader in the dark ages when the book takes place. There are, of course, anachronisms and historically inaccurate pieces, as admitted by the author himself, who says his world is no more real than Middle Earth, which can be excused as the reader gets lost in the story.
As this is a coming-of-age tale, it tells the story of Mordred’s life from the time he was eight to when he’s twenty; he, the narrator, is twenty-eight as he writes and reflects. As such, the novel can be separated into sections by his age, and thus the pacing felt justified. It never spent too long on a scene, nor did I feel like the narrative dragged on – aside from when they first entered Camelot and needed to describe the entire city in detail, which was less appealing to me than lengthy depictions of the ocean or hillsides. (It was interesting enough, but dense.)
I recommend this book to adults who enjoy the legends, could use a laugh, and don’t mind a bit of crudeness. It’s an interesting new take on the tales of King Arthur and his knights, as told by Mordred.
March 18, 2025
Mordred’s Curse is, in part, an amalgamation of previous short stories by Ian McDowell (The Storming Bone, Son of The Morning, In The Kingdom of Teeth) that were gradually turned into this full length novel. This is fabulous, shocking and densely written Arthurian fiction. Ian McDowell’s prose is lively and ribald with meticulously researched period details. It’s worth noting that, as this was published in 1996, the author did not have the advantage of Google or Wikipedia at his talented fingertips. The scholar’s prose in Mordred’s Curse demonstrates McDowell’s in-depth knowledge of The Middle Ages down to expletives, food, weaponry (his usage of historical weaponry is rarely matched in fiction) and clothing. This type of detailing simply cannot be duplicated in the digital era. The geography of Medieval England (roughly 1066-1485) is perhaps the most unique feature of the prose. Rivers, lakes, territories, mountains and lands dominated by each respective warrior caste, ruler or King, are laid out in intricate detail.
The punctilious work that went into the final product isn’t all that sets Mordred’s Curse apart. The unconventional narrator is an attractive anti-hero. Just as we are getting used to despising Mordred for his intrinsic callousness, he commits acts of heroic bravery. Mordred is a highly sexual, angry, cruel, self deprecating, proud atheist, with a sardonic sense of humor.
We first meet Mordred as he’s looking back on the events of his youth. He skewers Merlin, a literary sacred cow, as a devious sex offender and child predator. Morgawse, Mordred’s mother is a powerful sorceress with her own perversions and his father Lot, despises him. He looks toward Arthur Pendragon, the British Worthy and the King of The Britons, as a beacon of hope to someday leave Orkney and ascend to a higher station. However, these four older figures who dominate Mordred as he refuses to eke out a mechanical existence as a low level royal in the hinterlands, come to represent the brunt of his rage and confusion. It will be his love for Guinevere that at least in some part resolves not only the story arc but the character himself.
As a reader of Greek and Roman mythology, prior to MORDRED’S CURSE, I had never ventured into the Arthurian Canon/The Matter of Britain beyond film, children’s literature and the basic references in popular culture. I’m glad that I cut my teeth on this rather than the hagiographic, Christian deity Arthur Pendragon of countless books as this is much more fun and at times shocking. We not only get the smells, diseases, serfdom and violent degradation of the Middle Ages, but we also get the colorful, romantic and the voluptuously sexual.
Highly recommended.
The punctilious work that went into the final product isn’t all that sets Mordred’s Curse apart. The unconventional narrator is an attractive anti-hero. Just as we are getting used to despising Mordred for his intrinsic callousness, he commits acts of heroic bravery. Mordred is a highly sexual, angry, cruel, self deprecating, proud atheist, with a sardonic sense of humor.
We first meet Mordred as he’s looking back on the events of his youth. He skewers Merlin, a literary sacred cow, as a devious sex offender and child predator. Morgawse, Mordred’s mother is a powerful sorceress with her own perversions and his father Lot, despises him. He looks toward Arthur Pendragon, the British Worthy and the King of The Britons, as a beacon of hope to someday leave Orkney and ascend to a higher station. However, these four older figures who dominate Mordred as he refuses to eke out a mechanical existence as a low level royal in the hinterlands, come to represent the brunt of his rage and confusion. It will be his love for Guinevere that at least in some part resolves not only the story arc but the character himself.
As a reader of Greek and Roman mythology, prior to MORDRED’S CURSE, I had never ventured into the Arthurian Canon/The Matter of Britain beyond film, children’s literature and the basic references in popular culture. I’m glad that I cut my teeth on this rather than the hagiographic, Christian deity Arthur Pendragon of countless books as this is much more fun and at times shocking. We not only get the smells, diseases, serfdom and violent degradation of the Middle Ages, but we also get the colorful, romantic and the voluptuously sexual.
Highly recommended.
April 4, 2016
AWESOME! I want to find "Merlin's Gift."
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March 4, 2018Read this back when I was a teen and was drawn to it because it was a very different take on the Arthurian story. And possibly because it was also a very gritty version with some very modern language.
I was also intrigued to learn from the author note at the end that in older versions of the stories Lancelot didn't exist and so the bits with the adulterous romance with Guinevere used be associated with Mordred, and thus give more reason to the tragic endings.
I was also intrigued to learn from the author note at the end that in older versions of the stories Lancelot didn't exist and so the bits with the adulterous romance with Guinevere used be associated with Mordred, and thus give more reason to the tragic endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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