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The Dragon's Dove Chronicles #1
Dawnflight
Gyanhumara “Gyan” nic Hymar is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
413 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
17 people are currently reading
1609 people want to read
About the author
Kim Iverson Headlee
21 books340 followersOnly two generations removed from Russian nobility, Kim Headlee lives on a farm with her family, pets, fish, livestock & assorted wildlife in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 7, 2015
Knights, Chieftains, warriors, Kings, battles filled with the clanging of swords where the winner takes all, including the heads of the defeated leaders and women are a commodity to barter for peace, for power, for alliances, welcome to the world that legends are made from. Do names like Arthur Pendragon, Morgana, Merlin or Guinevere or even Lancelot sound familiar? Grab your warhorse, your sword and your shield, as Kim Iverson Headlee takes us back to live alongside these legends of history as war, politics and forbidden romance are all part of her enthralling tale, Dawnflight.
Steeped in a period of unrest, one woman refuses to stand down as a warrior, in spite of her betrothal to a foreign lord who wants her to warm his bed and give him children. Ahh, politics, when will fathers learn NOT to barter with the daughter they have raised to be a fierce warrior chieftainess, to command armies and fight alongside her m armies? Gyan will do her duty and marry the barbaric lord, until she looks into the eyes of Arthur, fierce, cold and calculating. Wars have been waged for love, women scorned have sought revenge, but the bond between the fiery Gyan and the lethal Arthur is a force neither wants to deny.
Kim Iverson Headlee tells us a tale of that time, and embellishes this love story with a feeling of authenticity that bounds off the pages with all of the ferocity of warring clans, countries and the barriers that exist through language, distance and beliefs. By using Celtic words, blending fact with fiction and the skill of a great story teller, Ms. Headlee will satisfy Arthurian fans, historical romance fans and even those who love a good sword fight! She has even given us flawed heroes, as the lines of morally right versus wrong are overstepped and legends come to life as real human beings. Definitely not a light read nor one for the delicate of constitutions, whether the battles are in the dining hall with words or on a bloody field, there are no holds barred, no prancing around, particularly where Gyan (Guinevere) is concerned.
Do you like historical fiction to feel brutally hard, where the battles are personal and up close? Do you want to imagine the sounds of swords singing in the air, metal to metal contact as well as feel the passion of two souls who call to each other? I highly recommend Dawnflight as a great escape that flows like a river over rocks and through the rapids of conflict.
I received this copy from Kim Iverson Headlee in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Dragon's Dove Chronicles - Book 1
Publication Date: February 25, 2013
Publisher: Lucky Bat Books
ISBN10: 1939051134
ISBN13: 9781939051134
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 415 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Promotions and all things Books visit: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Steeped in a period of unrest, one woman refuses to stand down as a warrior, in spite of her betrothal to a foreign lord who wants her to warm his bed and give him children. Ahh, politics, when will fathers learn NOT to barter with the daughter they have raised to be a fierce warrior chieftainess, to command armies and fight alongside her m armies? Gyan will do her duty and marry the barbaric lord, until she looks into the eyes of Arthur, fierce, cold and calculating. Wars have been waged for love, women scorned have sought revenge, but the bond between the fiery Gyan and the lethal Arthur is a force neither wants to deny.
Kim Iverson Headlee tells us a tale of that time, and embellishes this love story with a feeling of authenticity that bounds off the pages with all of the ferocity of warring clans, countries and the barriers that exist through language, distance and beliefs. By using Celtic words, blending fact with fiction and the skill of a great story teller, Ms. Headlee will satisfy Arthurian fans, historical romance fans and even those who love a good sword fight! She has even given us flawed heroes, as the lines of morally right versus wrong are overstepped and legends come to life as real human beings. Definitely not a light read nor one for the delicate of constitutions, whether the battles are in the dining hall with words or on a bloody field, there are no holds barred, no prancing around, particularly where Gyan (Guinevere) is concerned.
Do you like historical fiction to feel brutally hard, where the battles are personal and up close? Do you want to imagine the sounds of swords singing in the air, metal to metal contact as well as feel the passion of two souls who call to each other? I highly recommend Dawnflight as a great escape that flows like a river over rocks and through the rapids of conflict.
I received this copy from Kim Iverson Headlee in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Dragon's Dove Chronicles - Book 1
Publication Date: February 25, 2013
Publisher: Lucky Bat Books
ISBN10: 1939051134
ISBN13: 9781939051134
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 415 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Promotions and all things Books visit: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 29, 2014
*received for free through Goodreads First Reads
A very enjoyable tale of action, romance, and history. I loved many of the characters, especially Gyan and Angus. I thought the romance was believable and I appreciated that Gyan was a strong female that could kick butt. I thought the story stagnated a bit before Gyan left Argyll for Maun and the story was a bit heavy on religion at times. Overall though the plot kept me going and I cared about the characters and what would become of them.
A very enjoyable tale of action, romance, and history. I loved many of the characters, especially Gyan and Angus. I thought the romance was believable and I appreciated that Gyan was a strong female that could kick butt. I thought the story stagnated a bit before Gyan left Argyll for Maun and the story was a bit heavy on religion at times. Overall though the plot kept me going and I cared about the characters and what would become of them.
September 27, 2015
A retelling of the Arthurian legend, where the Guinevere character is a fantastic warrior chieftainess of Caledonia. I enjoyed this retelling, though it is by no means a light read. There is a made up language that is somewhat complicated. Note to reader: there is a pronunciation, dictionary and character guide at the rear of the book. Unfortunately I did not find this feature until after I read the book, so it didn't do me much good. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I would have known how to pronounce the words and knew what they referred to. Once I looked through the dictionary, I realized I didn't understand a lot of what I read (though some of it I was able to figure out from context).
In this story, Guinevere is Chieftainess Gyanhumara of Clan Argyll in Caledonia. She was a brilliant swordswoman and I had a perfect picture of this woad-painted warrior in my head. Although in this story she has copper red hair, I really kept seeing her as Keira Knightley's character in King Arthur. I really liked this version of Guinevere. I prefer to see her as the woaded warrior than the lusty wench going between Arthur and his men.
Gyan is betrothed to one of Arthur's men, Urien, due to a treaty that came into effect when the Caledonians were defeated by Arthur's troops. Urien is not a nice guy, and Gyan slowly realizes that. Not to mention, the chemistry sparks from her very first meeting with Arthur.
Arthur is portrayed as red-golden haired giant in his Roman uniform with a jeweled sword. He is not yet a king in this story, and there is no round table. He has just defeated Caledonia, and is still battling Scotland. Arthur is handsome and honorable and a strong fighter. I liked his character very much.
Merlin does appear in this story as a bishop and Arthur's advisor. Religion plays a big role in this retelling... Gyan struggles with her pagan religion and there is a lot of talk and legend about the One God, heretics and the varying beliefs across the land. I found the details about custom and religion to be interesting, and overall I liked the story. However, I did not like the made up language. That is just not my thing. It slows down my reading if I am trying to figure out how to pronounce every few words or trying to figure out what they mean. If I had known about the back section before reading, that would have been super helpful.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars / 2 flames. I will be reviewing the second book of the series next month.
Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.
In this story, Guinevere is Chieftainess Gyanhumara of Clan Argyll in Caledonia. She was a brilliant swordswoman and I had a perfect picture of this woad-painted warrior in my head. Although in this story she has copper red hair, I really kept seeing her as Keira Knightley's character in King Arthur. I really liked this version of Guinevere. I prefer to see her as the woaded warrior than the lusty wench going between Arthur and his men.
Gyan is betrothed to one of Arthur's men, Urien, due to a treaty that came into effect when the Caledonians were defeated by Arthur's troops. Urien is not a nice guy, and Gyan slowly realizes that. Not to mention, the chemistry sparks from her very first meeting with Arthur.
Arthur is portrayed as red-golden haired giant in his Roman uniform with a jeweled sword. He is not yet a king in this story, and there is no round table. He has just defeated Caledonia, and is still battling Scotland. Arthur is handsome and honorable and a strong fighter. I liked his character very much.
Merlin does appear in this story as a bishop and Arthur's advisor. Religion plays a big role in this retelling... Gyan struggles with her pagan religion and there is a lot of talk and legend about the One God, heretics and the varying beliefs across the land. I found the details about custom and religion to be interesting, and overall I liked the story. However, I did not like the made up language. That is just not my thing. It slows down my reading if I am trying to figure out how to pronounce every few words or trying to figure out what they mean. If I had known about the back section before reading, that would have been super helpful.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars / 2 flames. I will be reviewing the second book of the series next month.
Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.
January 30, 2015
A rather ambitious undertaking that was beautifully written. I love this re-telling of the Arthurian legend.
Pros: You are given the privilege of knowing the minds of very powerful and influential characters. Every move by these people who hold the fate of so many in their hands is thought out and put on to paper. You are never left guessing as to the motives of the characters even if others in the story are not privy to their thoughts. You even begin to see how Morghe came about her reputation as an enchantress. I appreciate the time and effort it took to tie everything together. The power of Gyan's conversion is stated so eloquently that it brought tears to my eyes. Her clan marriage to Arthur is beautiful and the delicate balance that she strikes between honoring her customs and his is very powerful.
Cons: Inherent in a retelling of this story is the use of names from that time and part of the world. I honestly found myself stumbling over the names at times. It is also not a fast-paced read. If you are looking for quick and easy entertainment, this is not the book for you. It is a descriptive re-working of the Arthurian legends. If you have some basic knowledge of them you will be able to readily recognize the key players (Gyan=Guinevere, Morghe=Morgana, etc.) and begin to understand that this one comes with it's own distinct point of view. If you are looking to pin the fall of Arthur squarely on Guinevere's shoulders then don't read this, but if you have an open mind you will thoroughly enjoy it! One loose end, Chieftainess Alayna, was notably absent at the end. Along with Morghe and Urien's impending union, it left me knowing that all would not remain peaceful for long.
Pros: You are given the privilege of knowing the minds of very powerful and influential characters. Every move by these people who hold the fate of so many in their hands is thought out and put on to paper. You are never left guessing as to the motives of the characters even if others in the story are not privy to their thoughts. You even begin to see how Morghe came about her reputation as an enchantress. I appreciate the time and effort it took to tie everything together. The power of Gyan's conversion is stated so eloquently that it brought tears to my eyes. Her clan marriage to Arthur is beautiful and the delicate balance that she strikes between honoring her customs and his is very powerful.
Cons: Inherent in a retelling of this story is the use of names from that time and part of the world. I honestly found myself stumbling over the names at times. It is also not a fast-paced read. If you are looking for quick and easy entertainment, this is not the book for you. It is a descriptive re-working of the Arthurian legends. If you have some basic knowledge of them you will be able to readily recognize the key players (Gyan=Guinevere, Morghe=Morgana, etc.) and begin to understand that this one comes with it's own distinct point of view. If you are looking to pin the fall of Arthur squarely on Guinevere's shoulders then don't read this, but if you have an open mind you will thoroughly enjoy it! One loose end, Chieftainess Alayna, was notably absent at the end. Along with Morghe and Urien's impending union, it left me knowing that all would not remain peaceful for long.
February 15, 2014
This is a well-written story of the romance between Arthur and Guinevere through her eyes.
Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
September 23, 2018
I was pulled in by the description of the book of an Arthur tale with a strong, honorable, warrior Guenevere rather than a betraying, insipid, backstabbing Guenevere.
That's pretty much what I got, along with what felt like a very realistic portrayal of life in 4th century AD Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans. The names of people and places are daunting in their Gaelic and Welsh-ness, but in my opinion you need to just roll with it--no one is there to care if you're pronouncing it wrong in your head.
This is truly an Arthur and a Guenevere who deserve each other--in a good way, for once, and who are worthy of each other, and in this re-imagining Guenevere is a Pictish chieftainess, so there's a new element of diplomacy, kingdom building and cross-cultural awareness that makes their romance all the more interesting. They are both heads of state, in a sense, who have a great amount of responsibility on their shoulders, which means they have a lot more to consider than just the fire in their loins.
There's also a strong element of religion in the story--obviously the Picts believe in the old Gods, and Arthur is a Roman Christian, as well as Merlin, which was a big surprise. Guenevere comes to believe that the Gods she grew up with are not particularly interested in her as a person, and is intrigued by the idea of the One God. It gets a bit heavy handed after a while, to the point where I considered tagging this as Christian fiction. In the end, though--it's a feature of the book, not the main thrust of the action.
Though it lagged at a few points--Guenevere's stay on the Isle of Maun is kind of tedious without Arthur, but all in all I thought this was a terrific book. If you're an Arthur junkie like me I think you'll love it.
That's pretty much what I got, along with what felt like a very realistic portrayal of life in 4th century AD Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans. The names of people and places are daunting in their Gaelic and Welsh-ness, but in my opinion you need to just roll with it--no one is there to care if you're pronouncing it wrong in your head.
This is truly an Arthur and a Guenevere who deserve each other--in a good way, for once, and who are worthy of each other, and in this re-imagining Guenevere is a Pictish chieftainess, so there's a new element of diplomacy, kingdom building and cross-cultural awareness that makes their romance all the more interesting. They are both heads of state, in a sense, who have a great amount of responsibility on their shoulders, which means they have a lot more to consider than just the fire in their loins.
There's also a strong element of religion in the story--obviously the Picts believe in the old Gods, and Arthur is a Roman Christian, as well as Merlin, which was a big surprise. Guenevere comes to believe that the Gods she grew up with are not particularly interested in her as a person, and is intrigued by the idea of the One God. It gets a bit heavy handed after a while, to the point where I considered tagging this as Christian fiction. In the end, though--it's a feature of the book, not the main thrust of the action.
Though it lagged at a few points--Guenevere's stay on the Isle of Maun is kind of tedious without Arthur, but all in all I thought this was a terrific book. If you're an Arthur junkie like me I think you'll love it.
March 9, 2014
***I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Dawnflight is a vivid re-imagining of the tale of King Arthur and Guinevere. In this version of the tale, which makes more historical sense given that King Arthur supposedly lived in the Dark Ages (and not the Renaissance, as most tellings depict), Guinevere is Gyanhumara (called "Gyan"), a Caledonian chieftainess, and Arthur is a Roman general who has recently become the Pendragon, supreme commander of all armies in the British territories.
Gyan is a spirited young woman trained as a warrior, though she has yet to see real battle. Her mother was the chieftainess before her, and she is looked up to by her people as a strong and capable leader. For the sake of peace, Gyan agrees to marry Urien, son of the leader of her clan's deadliest rival. However, though Urien is plenty strong and handsome, he proves to be a controlling brute who, unaccustomed to Gyan's more egalitarian culture, is appalled by her boldness and determined to put her "in her place."
Not long after the betrothal, Gyan meets Arthur, whose good looks, aura of authority, and intelligence steal her heart right away. What's more, he actually respects her strength, and he falls for her just as fast. But his own treaty with the British clans states that Gyan must marry a British nobleman, and he doesn't qualify. What's more, breaking the betrothal with Urien would mean civil war.
Lushly written and vividly described, Dawnflight brings Gyan and her world to life that had me believing every word. The language is beautiful, and each scene was visible in my head as I listened to the audiobook. Dorothy Dickson's narration is mesmerizing and perfectly captures the gorgeous descriptions and the internal monologues of each character.
The strengths of this book really lie in the setting and the characters. Each one is believable, and it's clear that Headlee did a lot of research to put this tale to paper. It reminded me of a combination between Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon and the 2004 King Arthur movie starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. Gyan is an intelligent and independent woman who is easy to sympathize with. My one issue with her is the sheer amount of time she spends agonizing over her Urien-or-Arthur dilemma.
Dawnflight is a romance at its core, with the bulk of the story focusing on the Gyan-Arthur-Urien love triangle. That there are political implications to Gyan's choice raises the stakes somewhat, although the fact that she has the right to marry whoever she wants and that Arthur, being the supreme commander, can rework any treaty he puts down, lowers the danger element. Still, Headlee is very good at describing emotion, and while I personally ran out of patience with Gyan a few times (being more of an action/adventure reader), lovers of romance will eat it up.
Arthur is portrayed as an upstanding yet open-minded leader. Charismatic and good-hearted, he is the ideal romantic lead for this story. His slight arrogance and unwillingness to express his true feelings make him human enough to be believable in this context. And his concern for the people he leads make him an admirable character.
Other notable characters are Gyan's fun-hearted half-brother Perador (or however you spell his name - audiobooks have that as a disadvantage), the young warrior Angus, who follows Gyan like a loyal puppy, Arthur's scheming sister Morge (again, apologies for misspelling), and the wise Merlin, who is a bishop in this story. Angus was my personal favorite - I found his genuine loyalty and desire to be the good guy absolutely adorable and was more distressed when he was in danger than when the bad guys attacked Gyan.
As for the plot - this is one of those slower-paced books that takes the time to really show each setting to its fullest. Toward the end, there is an attack by Scottish raiders on the island Gyan is staying at, which gives both her and Arthur the opportunity to show off their combat skills, but the bulk of the book is very calm when it comes to physical action (although plenty tumultuous in terms of emotional turmoil). The ending wraps things up nicely enough that this book could be read as a standalone, but definitely leaves room for more.
The historical setting of this book is what makes it stand apart from a lot of the other retellings of the King Arthur tale that exist. The book tells a "what if it really happened" kind of story, taking out all the fantastical and supernatural elements in favor of plausible "real world" explanations (such as Merlin being a bishop rather than a wizard).
All in all, Dawnflight was an enjoyable read, especially with Dorothy Dickson's narration bringing it to life (I credit her with saving me from road rage, as I was listening to this audiobook while stuck in rush hour traffic on the NJ Turnpike). This book will appeal to lovers of Arthurian retellings, fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, and those hungry for romance.
Dawnflight is a vivid re-imagining of the tale of King Arthur and Guinevere. In this version of the tale, which makes more historical sense given that King Arthur supposedly lived in the Dark Ages (and not the Renaissance, as most tellings depict), Guinevere is Gyanhumara (called "Gyan"), a Caledonian chieftainess, and Arthur is a Roman general who has recently become the Pendragon, supreme commander of all armies in the British territories.
Gyan is a spirited young woman trained as a warrior, though she has yet to see real battle. Her mother was the chieftainess before her, and she is looked up to by her people as a strong and capable leader. For the sake of peace, Gyan agrees to marry Urien, son of the leader of her clan's deadliest rival. However, though Urien is plenty strong and handsome, he proves to be a controlling brute who, unaccustomed to Gyan's more egalitarian culture, is appalled by her boldness and determined to put her "in her place."
Not long after the betrothal, Gyan meets Arthur, whose good looks, aura of authority, and intelligence steal her heart right away. What's more, he actually respects her strength, and he falls for her just as fast. But his own treaty with the British clans states that Gyan must marry a British nobleman, and he doesn't qualify. What's more, breaking the betrothal with Urien would mean civil war.
Lushly written and vividly described, Dawnflight brings Gyan and her world to life that had me believing every word. The language is beautiful, and each scene was visible in my head as I listened to the audiobook. Dorothy Dickson's narration is mesmerizing and perfectly captures the gorgeous descriptions and the internal monologues of each character.
The strengths of this book really lie in the setting and the characters. Each one is believable, and it's clear that Headlee did a lot of research to put this tale to paper. It reminded me of a combination between Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon and the 2004 King Arthur movie starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. Gyan is an intelligent and independent woman who is easy to sympathize with. My one issue with her is the sheer amount of time she spends agonizing over her Urien-or-Arthur dilemma.
Dawnflight is a romance at its core, with the bulk of the story focusing on the Gyan-Arthur-Urien love triangle. That there are political implications to Gyan's choice raises the stakes somewhat, although the fact that she has the right to marry whoever she wants and that Arthur, being the supreme commander, can rework any treaty he puts down, lowers the danger element. Still, Headlee is very good at describing emotion, and while I personally ran out of patience with Gyan a few times (being more of an action/adventure reader), lovers of romance will eat it up.
Arthur is portrayed as an upstanding yet open-minded leader. Charismatic and good-hearted, he is the ideal romantic lead for this story. His slight arrogance and unwillingness to express his true feelings make him human enough to be believable in this context. And his concern for the people he leads make him an admirable character.
Other notable characters are Gyan's fun-hearted half-brother Perador (or however you spell his name - audiobooks have that as a disadvantage), the young warrior Angus, who follows Gyan like a loyal puppy, Arthur's scheming sister Morge (again, apologies for misspelling), and the wise Merlin, who is a bishop in this story. Angus was my personal favorite - I found his genuine loyalty and desire to be the good guy absolutely adorable and was more distressed when he was in danger than when the bad guys attacked Gyan.
As for the plot - this is one of those slower-paced books that takes the time to really show each setting to its fullest. Toward the end, there is an attack by Scottish raiders on the island Gyan is staying at, which gives both her and Arthur the opportunity to show off their combat skills, but the bulk of the book is very calm when it comes to physical action (although plenty tumultuous in terms of emotional turmoil). The ending wraps things up nicely enough that this book could be read as a standalone, but definitely leaves room for more.
The historical setting of this book is what makes it stand apart from a lot of the other retellings of the King Arthur tale that exist. The book tells a "what if it really happened" kind of story, taking out all the fantastical and supernatural elements in favor of plausible "real world" explanations (such as Merlin being a bishop rather than a wizard).
All in all, Dawnflight was an enjoyable read, especially with Dorothy Dickson's narration bringing it to life (I credit her with saving me from road rage, as I was listening to this audiobook while stuck in rush hour traffic on the NJ Turnpike). This book will appeal to lovers of Arthurian retellings, fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, and those hungry for romance.
June 16, 2013
A reworking of Arthurian legend unlike any I have ever read, Headlee has managed to incorporate research, a compelling story and characters that breathe life into their ancient traditions. Starting with Gyanhumara, a chieftaness of the Picts: she was delightfully unlike the common misrepresentation of the women of the time. Fiercely loyal, intelligent and highly trained as a warrior in her own right, Gyan’s exuberance and curiosity are only tempered by the weight of her clan’s expectations and safety. We get to spend much time with Gyan – in fact she is the primary narrator of the story,, and she quickly will become a favorite character: her personality and good heart are that apparent.
Urien is less likable; in fact he is very much like a spoilt child with a bad temper. He works hard to mask his true disdain for Gyan’s people and family, condescending and jealously possessive. His true grasping for power and control, and his lack of tolerance for those he considers beneath him all hint to an increase in his treacherous and even traitorous behavior is coming.
Arthur is not perfect, but a leader who truly cares for his people: although still early in his rise to power, the threats are coming from all angles – the wars for the unification of Briton are in their early stages, and clans, nationalities and marriage beds have created several threats to his rule.
Until these three meet, the story is quietly moving forward as it incorporates a side story of the growing movement of Christianity within the Brytons and Gyan’s fascination with the religion after feeling her own gods failing her. Exploring traditions, utilizing languages that include Manx, Gaelic and Latin as well as a combination of the three, presents these early clans as separate entities, steeped in their own traditions and fiercely independent. The “feel” of the story and the language used to describe the scenes present lovely word pictures that enhance the story and present each reader with a clear understanding of the ‘look’ of the characters.
Other secondary characters are well introduced and presented, with development that ranges from completely filled out to just outlined with a sense that their presence will increase for good or bad further on. Nearly everyone is familiar, at least in a basic sense, of the legends that surround Arthur, this book is taking them to a different space and giving the characters a depth and life that I haven’t seen in other works. I will say that after starting a bit slowly the need to know more of the story took over and the book moved quite quickly. For the first in a series, the ending was perfectly positioned and has me anxious to read the next book.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Urien is less likable; in fact he is very much like a spoilt child with a bad temper. He works hard to mask his true disdain for Gyan’s people and family, condescending and jealously possessive. His true grasping for power and control, and his lack of tolerance for those he considers beneath him all hint to an increase in his treacherous and even traitorous behavior is coming.
Arthur is not perfect, but a leader who truly cares for his people: although still early in his rise to power, the threats are coming from all angles – the wars for the unification of Briton are in their early stages, and clans, nationalities and marriage beds have created several threats to his rule.
Until these three meet, the story is quietly moving forward as it incorporates a side story of the growing movement of Christianity within the Brytons and Gyan’s fascination with the religion after feeling her own gods failing her. Exploring traditions, utilizing languages that include Manx, Gaelic and Latin as well as a combination of the three, presents these early clans as separate entities, steeped in their own traditions and fiercely independent. The “feel” of the story and the language used to describe the scenes present lovely word pictures that enhance the story and present each reader with a clear understanding of the ‘look’ of the characters.
Other secondary characters are well introduced and presented, with development that ranges from completely filled out to just outlined with a sense that their presence will increase for good or bad further on. Nearly everyone is familiar, at least in a basic sense, of the legends that surround Arthur, this book is taking them to a different space and giving the characters a depth and life that I haven’t seen in other works. I will say that after starting a bit slowly the need to know more of the story took over and the book moved quite quickly. For the first in a series, the ending was perfectly positioned and has me anxious to read the next book.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
March 10, 2015
ONE TERRIFIC BOOK... KIM HEADLEE IS A AUTHOR YOU WILL WANT TO READ IF YOU LIKE HISTORICAL BOOKS
I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST OPINION AND THIS IS MY OPINION
I have long loved stories of King Author, and it didn't matter if it was his boyhood or old and time for his son to take over when he died. This has been one of the best, Kim Headlee has certainly researched for historical authenticity and details. She has also managed to keep Gyan (Guinevere) as a warrior since by birth and training she is a Caledonian Chieftainess but due to Authors deafening her people she was to marry a Brytoni. With hardly much time for choice she found herself betrothed to Urien ,son of her clans deadliest enemy. Though he tries to hide the contempt he feels for her and her family and clan. Early warnings to maybe not trust him..he wants to break her spirit because she is as confident on the battlefield as in the room full of ladies. Gyan is to go to school on the Isle of Maun, when finished she is to be wed. But she meets Author and they fall in love, though it is Author's own law that has her betrothed to Urien, since Author's mixed blood stops him from leading his mother's clan. But he is determined to have her for his own, even if the cost is conflict, or can he get him to call it off. When Gyan gets to the school ,she runs into Morghe (Morgana, Authors half sister) ,Angusel (Lancelot). When the Irish attack the school Gyan,Author, Urien, Morghe, and Angusel were forced to help defend it. There is where Gyan really started noticing what Urien was really like, but even though she had been warned that she would die from a Brytoni man she was going to but she wanted Author. There is a worse problem a Scots Laird wants their lands so Author, Gyan and Urien must band together or lose all they love and hold dear. Kim uses lots of descriptive quotes, phases of the time period, three languages. It is a terrific job of keeping it as true to the time as she could . I look forward to more of her stories.
I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST OPINION AND THIS IS MY OPINION
I have long loved stories of King Author, and it didn't matter if it was his boyhood or old and time for his son to take over when he died. This has been one of the best, Kim Headlee has certainly researched for historical authenticity and details. She has also managed to keep Gyan (Guinevere) as a warrior since by birth and training she is a Caledonian Chieftainess but due to Authors deafening her people she was to marry a Brytoni. With hardly much time for choice she found herself betrothed to Urien ,son of her clans deadliest enemy. Though he tries to hide the contempt he feels for her and her family and clan. Early warnings to maybe not trust him..he wants to break her spirit because she is as confident on the battlefield as in the room full of ladies. Gyan is to go to school on the Isle of Maun, when finished she is to be wed. But she meets Author and they fall in love, though it is Author's own law that has her betrothed to Urien, since Author's mixed blood stops him from leading his mother's clan. But he is determined to have her for his own, even if the cost is conflict, or can he get him to call it off. When Gyan gets to the school ,she runs into Morghe (Morgana, Authors half sister) ,Angusel (Lancelot). When the Irish attack the school Gyan,Author, Urien, Morghe, and Angusel were forced to help defend it. There is where Gyan really started noticing what Urien was really like, but even though she had been warned that she would die from a Brytoni man she was going to but she wanted Author. There is a worse problem a Scots Laird wants their lands so Author, Gyan and Urien must band together or lose all they love and hold dear. Kim uses lots of descriptive quotes, phases of the time period, three languages. It is a terrific job of keeping it as true to the time as she could . I look forward to more of her stories.
November 4, 2013
What a beautifully compelling journey I've just taken! I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and I am so pleased I had the opportunity to read this story.
Before reading this book, I chose not to spend much time looking into its content matter--I just dove right in. The first several chapters were a struggle for me, though, due to the plethora of foreign surnames and the density of the language used. That said, however, once the story began to really unfold, I found myself unable to put the book down because I desperately wanted to learn what was to happen next.
Not only was I impressed by the intricacy of the details presented in this story and how well-researched they were, but the language and flow were hauntingly beautiful, as well. Headlee possesses the rare talent of being able to turn some of the most banal phrases into works of art.
I developed intimate relationships with every character I encountered during the course of this story: some were good, and some were bad. Headlee's descriptions have created vivid images in my head that have led to equally vivid dreams.
Chieftainess Gyan, the protagonist of this story, possesses a strength that I would love to emulate. On some level, all women have strength that does not always show itself outwardly. The feminist nature of Gyan and her tribe inspired me to think of myself beyond the constraints of society and to embrace the strength that exists within me. Gyan would be an incredible friend to have!
A question occurred to me partway through the book, which I will leave obscured in the interest of creating a spoiler-free review. I was happy to receive an answer to my query in the author's notes at the end of the book; after understanding her rationale, I rather enjoyed having a chance to figure out the story on my own.
I sincerely thank Ms. Headlee for allowing me the honor of reading her book. I am eagerly awaiting the accompanying titles!
Before reading this book, I chose not to spend much time looking into its content matter--I just dove right in. The first several chapters were a struggle for me, though, due to the plethora of foreign surnames and the density of the language used. That said, however, once the story began to really unfold, I found myself unable to put the book down because I desperately wanted to learn what was to happen next.
Not only was I impressed by the intricacy of the details presented in this story and how well-researched they were, but the language and flow were hauntingly beautiful, as well. Headlee possesses the rare talent of being able to turn some of the most banal phrases into works of art.
I developed intimate relationships with every character I encountered during the course of this story: some were good, and some were bad. Headlee's descriptions have created vivid images in my head that have led to equally vivid dreams.
Chieftainess Gyan, the protagonist of this story, possesses a strength that I would love to emulate. On some level, all women have strength that does not always show itself outwardly. The feminist nature of Gyan and her tribe inspired me to think of myself beyond the constraints of society and to embrace the strength that exists within me. Gyan would be an incredible friend to have!
A question occurred to me partway through the book, which I will leave obscured in the interest of creating a spoiler-free review. I was happy to receive an answer to my query in the author's notes at the end of the book; after understanding her rationale, I rather enjoyed having a chance to figure out the story on my own.
I sincerely thank Ms. Headlee for allowing me the honor of reading her book. I am eagerly awaiting the accompanying titles!
March 19, 2014
free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Gyanhumara “Gyan” nic Hymar is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
This is a good read that keeps you turning pages until the very end. It's not my usual type of book but it's full of everything that keeps things interesting...lots to keep you entertained. I really enjoyed it. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm interested in reading more.
Gyanhumara “Gyan” nic Hymar is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
This is a good read that keeps you turning pages until the very end. It's not my usual type of book but it's full of everything that keeps things interesting...lots to keep you entertained. I really enjoyed it. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm interested in reading more.
June 26, 2014
For over a thousand years, people have been creating stories about King Arthur and his companions. For most of that time, the stories have centred on the deeds of the men of The Arthurian mythos (not that there haven't been women in these stories, but with a few exceptions, such as Arthur's sisters Morgana and Morgause, the main function of women in these tales has been to be the reason that the men go off and do things). In the last few decades, this has changed, as more and more writers have begun to tell stories of the women in Arthur's world. One emerging group of stories, of which Dawnflight is a fairly early example, focuses on Arthur's wife Guinevere, reimaging her as a warrior queen in her own right.
Dawnflight is the first book of a projected multi-volune series; the author, Kim Headlee, published this first volume in 1999 and has only recently brought out its first sequel. The newly released 2nd version follows Guinevere - here named Gyanhumara up to her marriage to Arthur. Gyan, as she is known, is a Pictish chieftainess, raised in a matrilineal society where power is shared between male and female; Arthur is Romano-British, from a culture in which women are rarely warriors or leaders. As the novel follows their inexorable coming together, we met many of the familiar characters of Arthurian legends, their traditional natures fleshed out and fitted into Headlee's vision of Arthur and Guinevere's world. A mixture of history, mythos and myth (the Irish hero Cuchulainn makes an appearance), it's an interesting take on the old stories and I'm looking forward to reading further volumes.
Dawnflight is the first book of a projected multi-volune series; the author, Kim Headlee, published this first volume in 1999 and has only recently brought out its first sequel. The newly released 2nd version follows Guinevere - here named Gyanhumara up to her marriage to Arthur. Gyan, as she is known, is a Pictish chieftainess, raised in a matrilineal society where power is shared between male and female; Arthur is Romano-British, from a culture in which women are rarely warriors or leaders. As the novel follows their inexorable coming together, we met many of the familiar characters of Arthurian legends, their traditional natures fleshed out and fitted into Headlee's vision of Arthur and Guinevere's world. A mixture of history, mythos and myth (the Irish hero Cuchulainn makes an appearance), it's an interesting take on the old stories and I'm looking forward to reading further volumes.
June 26, 2013
At first I had a hard time with this book. However, thanks to the guides in the back, I was able to catch on very easily.
Dawnflight is the story of Gyanhumara (Gyan), a Caledonian chieftainess and warrior. She is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, who right from the start is not the right man for her. At one point he makes a comment about how she will calm down after the children are born, to which she pretty much tells him that is not going to happen. Her betrothal is part of a treaty to help form alliances.
Gyan is prepared to spend her life with Urien for the good of her people, when she meets Arthur. Arthur is her soul mate, and there is no denying their attraction. She faces living unhappy with Urien for the sake of her people, or bringing about war to be with Arthur.
There was a lot of action in this book, from Gyan being kidnapped to Arthur and Urien battling for the right to be Gyan's consort. I enjoyed that this was told from Gyan's point of view as more often than not historical stories are more about the men. Gyan was a strong character, and I really liked her.
The guides in the back of the book (one a 'who's who' of the characters and one a glossary) were very beneficial. I was able to flip back when I was confused about who someone was, or to get the right pronunciation of names.
I look forward to reading more by Kim Headlee, especially more of Gyan and Arthur's story.
Dawnflight is the story of Gyanhumara (Gyan), a Caledonian chieftainess and warrior. She is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, who right from the start is not the right man for her. At one point he makes a comment about how she will calm down after the children are born, to which she pretty much tells him that is not going to happen. Her betrothal is part of a treaty to help form alliances.
Gyan is prepared to spend her life with Urien for the good of her people, when she meets Arthur. Arthur is her soul mate, and there is no denying their attraction. She faces living unhappy with Urien for the sake of her people, or bringing about war to be with Arthur.
There was a lot of action in this book, from Gyan being kidnapped to Arthur and Urien battling for the right to be Gyan's consort. I enjoyed that this was told from Gyan's point of view as more often than not historical stories are more about the men. Gyan was a strong character, and I really liked her.
The guides in the back of the book (one a 'who's who' of the characters and one a glossary) were very beneficial. I was able to flip back when I was confused about who someone was, or to get the right pronunciation of names.
I look forward to reading more by Kim Headlee, especially more of Gyan and Arthur's story.
March 20, 2015
I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST OPINION
Dawnflight (The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Let me start by saying that I am not a big fan of history.I never liked it in school and i always managed to fail it. But all I can say is WOW. With that being said lets just say the book captivated me from the beginning.Its like you are right there.It weaves religion, status, and nationality in there that you don't actually mind.
This actually puts a woman heroine in it and that is a nice change from the norm. Gyanhumira Hymar a.k.a Gyan is a Caledonion chieftaness by birth. She is also a trained warrior.
She ends up betrothed to Urien Dumarec which is the son of her deadliest enemy. Otherwise there will be a war.
Then Gyan meets Arthur Uther. When he and Gyan met i felt that they have a deep connections. You can tell by the flow of words written. They believe that they are soul mates.
There is a treaty in place that states Gyan can marry any man she wants to as long as he is a Brytoni Nobleman. Here lies the problem. Arthur doesn't fit the bill.
He is the son of a Roman father and his mother is Brytoli . Whatever shall they do? If she doesn't marry Urien they will go to war.If she marries him she will lose out on the love of her life, Arthur.
Now thats all Im going to write about the story. You will have to read it to see what happens. There is so much more to the book. I just gave you the plot so to speak.
Dawnflight (The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Let me start by saying that I am not a big fan of history.I never liked it in school and i always managed to fail it. But all I can say is WOW. With that being said lets just say the book captivated me from the beginning.Its like you are right there.It weaves religion, status, and nationality in there that you don't actually mind.
This actually puts a woman heroine in it and that is a nice change from the norm. Gyanhumira Hymar a.k.a Gyan is a Caledonion chieftaness by birth. She is also a trained warrior.
She ends up betrothed to Urien Dumarec which is the son of her deadliest enemy. Otherwise there will be a war.
Then Gyan meets Arthur Uther. When he and Gyan met i felt that they have a deep connections. You can tell by the flow of words written. They believe that they are soul mates.
There is a treaty in place that states Gyan can marry any man she wants to as long as he is a Brytoni Nobleman. Here lies the problem. Arthur doesn't fit the bill.
He is the son of a Roman father and his mother is Brytoli . Whatever shall they do? If she doesn't marry Urien they will go to war.If she marries him she will lose out on the love of her life, Arthur.
Now thats all Im going to write about the story. You will have to read it to see what happens. There is so much more to the book. I just gave you the plot so to speak.
August 9, 2016
Gyanhumara “Gyan” nic Hymar is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien map Dumarec, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
Arthur map Uther is the bastard son of two worlds, Roman by his father and Brytoni by his mother. Denied hereditary rulership by the elders of Chieftainess Ygraine’s clan, Arthur has followed Uther’s path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
March 9, 2015
If I had not looked at the reviews before I started reading this story I would not have guessed it was about Arthur and Guenevere. The author did a wonderful job taking a classic tale or Arthurian legend and making it her own. The twist of having Gwen be a warrior chieftain expanded the options the author could use and made for an intriguing, engaging tale sure to appeal to the most avid follower of this famous couple. I enjoyed the portrayal of the well know characters such as Merlin and Morgana and was please to see some others from other depictions of this tale. The storyline was well researched, well thought out, well written and the characters were very developed. I am an avid lover of all things related to this tale and have read several versions. This is not a quick easy read. It is is sometimes very slow due to the amount of information and history that is presented. I found myself stopping several times to wrap my head around the information that was just presented and adjusting to the differences in the tale I am familiar with. However, I have to say that is one of the most enjoyable renditions of Arthur and Gwen I have read and it is worth the time it takes to read
May 8, 2015
Gyan, daughter of Ogryvan, lost her mother when she was born. Growing up, her father taught her to be a good warrior. With a treaty in place for her clan and Urien's clan to be civil, she is betrothed to Urien. At one point, Gyan meets Arthur and though they don't say anything they see an attraction to one another. Neither of them acts on it as neither knows how the other feels. Will they be able to be together in the end? Or will Gyan marry Urien, the person she thinks will be the death of her, who wants her to also just stay home and bare their children. She worries if she doesn't marry Urien, he could retaliate and attack her people, is that worth the risk to be with the one you love? I am not much of a Urien fan, he doesn't seem like a decent person let alone decent husband to be. Then again it is a different time period where men are probably more prone to not think of women as more of an equal. This is what will keep you wanting to read the story. Sometimes it was hard to follow with the different names we aren't used to but this was also the first time I read something in the time period the story takes place. Interested to see what happens in the second book of this series.
May 16, 2013
Gyan is chieftainess of a tribe, and betrothed to Urien, she feels something is not right with him, but she shrugs it off. she travels off to meet up with him and when she sees Arthur, they both are struck by lightening. They feel they found their soul mate and know nothing can be done she is promised to Urien. Gyan will do anything to keep her people safe.
First she goes to the Isle of Maun to study, but bad things follow her, the Scots try to take over the isle and kidnap her to use her to get Urien out of the city. Arthur is warned and goes quickly to safe her and his sister. Will he be on time, will they find each other and is their love finally be able to grow.....
Great debut book for Kim Headlee, I so enjoyed it and look forwards to more stories from her.
I received a copy of this book for a honest review
First she goes to the Isle of Maun to study, but bad things follow her, the Scots try to take over the isle and kidnap her to use her to get Urien out of the city. Arthur is warned and goes quickly to safe her and his sister. Will he be on time, will they find each other and is their love finally be able to grow.....
Great debut book for Kim Headlee, I so enjoyed it and look forwards to more stories from her.
I received a copy of this book for a honest review
April 4, 2015
Kim Iverson Headlee is one of the best contemporary Arthurian novelists, case in point, her Dragon’s Dove Chronicle series. Book One Dawnflight, takes the Arthurian legends into another realm. It’s a contemporary take on the legends leading with Gyan (chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader, better known in traditional Arthurian legends as Guinevere) Arthur and Gyan are star crossed lovers battling not only falling in love but a common enemy. For us lovers of Arthurian Romances, this novel is intriguing with it’s twists and turns and I promise you’ll be picking up the sequel Morning’s Journey as soon as you finish book one of this series!
May 24, 2013
DawnFlight is such an intense, action packed read that is fully descriptive and detailed. The reader gets swept into the story as the scenes unfold on the pages and playful banter and fighting play out in your head. Gyan is such a great character. She is strong and yet feminine, a warrior and a maiden. She is my favorite character throughtout the book along side Angus. Honorable, trustworthy and loyal, Angus should get his story told (hint, hint) =)
Kim definitely did an outstanding job on creating such a thrilling and intense read. I really enjoyed reviewing DawnFlight and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Kim definitely did an outstanding job on creating such a thrilling and intense read. I really enjoyed reviewing DawnFlight and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
April 4, 2015
Mama's Thoughts on Dawnflight:
This was a very interesting take on the Arthurian legends, which have always captured my interest. Headlee writes with a wonderful grasp of both history and early languages. Dawnflight is one of those excellent books with a strong female character who isn't perfect, but isn't in need of rescuing (for the most part.) When I thought I knew what to expect, a wonderful twist would wrench me into the next few pages, although this isn't a suspenseful tale I would say that there is an heir of mystery, as all good fantasy tends to contain. 5 stars for this epic read!
This was a very interesting take on the Arthurian legends, which have always captured my interest. Headlee writes with a wonderful grasp of both history and early languages. Dawnflight is one of those excellent books with a strong female character who isn't perfect, but isn't in need of rescuing (for the most part.) When I thought I knew what to expect, a wonderful twist would wrench me into the next few pages, although this isn't a suspenseful tale I would say that there is an heir of mystery, as all good fantasy tends to contain. 5 stars for this epic read!
June 21, 2015
Dawnflight is a book that falls outside my typical comfort zone, but I'm thrilled that I tried something new here. Although it was a little slow at points for my taste (there's tons of history and details, perfect for the story), the re-telling of this Arthurian legend is fantastic. I love how Kim Iverson Headlee brings these characters to life, offers you an alternate version and connects you to these tales from the past. I would say that this book would not be for everyone, those that have very set views of these legends or those looking for a fast paced tale, but if you can look past those things, this book has it all with love and enough action to go around.
September 5, 2015
What an enjoyable novel, so intriguing with many twists and turns. Such a wonderful page turner! I found this book to be a very well-written romance between Arthur and Guinevere through her eyes. Loved her character, she was a strong fierce warrior. It was so rich with character development and great detail in the time period. I have to say the storyline was well researched and truly thorough. Yes this tale has been written and rewritten many times but as a reader the enjoyment was Guinevere’s point of view with her journey through life among a new people, language, and acceptance of her new religion, Christianity. Fan of Arthurian legends are in for a treat.
July 16, 2014
I was one of the lucky first readers of the original edition of Dawnflight some years ago, having gotten an advance copy through an acquaintance with the author online.
I was very impressed by her different take on the Arthurian legends. This second edition makes some changes, particularly in the language used, but still delivers on making you look at Guinevere in a completely new light.
Read my full review: http://spychocyco.blogspot.com/2014/0....
I was very impressed by her different take on the Arthurian legends. This second edition makes some changes, particularly in the language used, but still delivers on making you look at Guinevere in a completely new light.
Read my full review: http://spychocyco.blogspot.com/2014/0....
October 17, 2013
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. As I saw it put elsewhere a free book does not equal a five star review.
I found this to be a strongly written re-imagining of Arthurian legends. Gyan (or Guinevere) is a strong fierce warrior who made this one of my favorite books read this year. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. :)
I found this to be a strongly written re-imagining of Arthurian legends. Gyan (or Guinevere) is a strong fierce warrior who made this one of my favorite books read this year. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. :)
March 31, 2014
I won a copy on goodreads giveaway of Dawnflight in exchange for an honest review*
Wow, this book was intriguing and very well written. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself considering I do not read much in this genre. Boy was I wrong, I loved the characters and liked reading about the world. Fast paced, fun, and definitely a awesome must read!
Wow, this book was intriguing and very well written. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself considering I do not read much in this genre. Boy was I wrong, I loved the characters and liked reading about the world. Fast paced, fun, and definitely a awesome must read!
July 24, 2013
Loved it! It is a fantastic version of the legend of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere. Couldnt put it down once I started. Took every chance possible to read a few pages or even a couple of words. Great work goes to Kim for this book.
September 30, 2018
What if King Arthur's queen was every bit as heroic as he was? Immerse yourself in the “intense” (USA Today) and “compelling” (The Dallas Morning News) story of the power couple whose courage and conviction would shape the destiny of a nation.
Gyan is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Roman by his father, Brytoni by his mother, and denied hereditary rulership of his mother's clan because of his mixed blood, Arthur has followed his father's path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
But there is an even greater threat looming. The Laird of the Scots wants their land and will kill all who stand in his way. Gyan, Arthur, and Urien must unite to defeat this merciless enemy who threatens everyone they hold dear.
Gyan is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true.
Roman by his father, Brytoni by his mother, and denied hereditary rulership of his mother's clan because of his mixed blood, Arthur has followed his father's path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time.
When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever.
But there is an even greater threat looming. The Laird of the Scots wants their land and will kill all who stand in his way. Gyan, Arthur, and Urien must unite to defeat this merciless enemy who threatens everyone they hold dear.
November 23, 2018
I have always been fascinated by Arthurian legend, so was thrilled when I received a Kindle edition of this in a Goodreads drawing. This is a very interesting retelling of the story, placing it firmly in the period after the withdrawal of the Roman legions, when the isle of Britain suffered incursions from every direction. As battle leader, Arthur sets up his headquarters in Northern Britain; after winning a battle against the Caledonian troops, the provisions of the treaty include the marriage of young Chieftainess Gyanhumara with a Brytoni nobleman. The story is told mostly from her point of view, although a few sections feature other points of views. Almost immediately Gyan regrets agreeing to the betrothal with Urian — especially after she meets Arthur. But what can she do, that won't plunge her clan back into war; a war they probably cannot win? For once, the Guinevere character is a very active participant in the story. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Highly recommended.
November 13, 2019
Review of Dawnflight:
Originally published in February of 2013, they are now being re-released with new covers and cleaner text. As much as I love Arthurian legends, I only had time to read one of the series right now and chose book #1, Dawnflight.
The basic premise is what if Arthur's bride is as heroic as he is? Phewww!! Mind blown!! What a fantastic idea. In today's day and age, there is no reason the female roles cannot be fabulous just like the men, sometimes more. This book was extremely well written. Ms. Headlee truly understood the original story plus is extremely talented in writing exciting and multidimensional characters and the story is quite exciting.
It will appeal to fantasy, fiction and even a fair amount of history lovers.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Originally published in February of 2013, they are now being re-released with new covers and cleaner text. As much as I love Arthurian legends, I only had time to read one of the series right now and chose book #1, Dawnflight.
The basic premise is what if Arthur's bride is as heroic as he is? Phewww!! Mind blown!! What a fantastic idea. In today's day and age, there is no reason the female roles cannot be fabulous just like the men, sometimes more. This book was extremely well written. Ms. Headlee truly understood the original story plus is extremely talented in writing exciting and multidimensional characters and the story is quite exciting.
It will appeal to fantasy, fiction and even a fair amount of history lovers.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
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