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The Shards of Excalibur #1
Song of the Sword: Shards of Excalibur 1
Ariana’s life is already pretty difficult when she starts to hear the singing – her mother suddenly disappeared, she’s trying to get used to living with her aunt after bouncing around a series of foster homes, and she’s taking a lot of grief from the clique of “in” girls at school. But she’s also dealing with these sudden premonitions about the future, things seem to get weird whenever she touches water, and now someone, somewhere is singing to her. Soon, she’s met the famed Lady of the Lake – who turns out to be an ancestor – UNDER Wascana Lake, has acquired a nerdy sidekick, and is sent on a dangerous mission that pits her against otherworldly forces. Can she figure out what it all means, much less survive the challange?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2010
7 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Edward Willett
165 books117 followersEdward Willett is an award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 5, 2023
An Arthurian legend in the modern world!
I'm not sure how to feel about this book. Let's start with some positives: The cover is beautiful; the main characters (and story in general) give me a weird specific sense of nostalgia for the stories my friends and I wrote when we were younger; and I like that it's set in Saskatchewan because there's not a lot of represenation in the literary world for us Sask folk. The sibling relationship between Wally and Flish was pretty accurate too, a nice break from the awkwardly written siblings in a lot of other books.
Okay, now for some more critical stuff. I'm having a hard time deciding whether this book is supposed to be middle grade or young adult. Some things, like how over-exaggerated the 'bully' characters are, come off as middle grade. Other things, like the central characters' ages, seem more suited to young adult. I haven't found anything to indicate which age category the author intended the story to fall into, so I'm choosing to view it as middle grade, since ultimately the writing style seemed more geared to a younger audience.
Finally a point I really want to make: THAT'S ENOUGH ELLIPSES.
They were overused an impressive amount, I cannot exaggerate this. There were ellipses in every chapter, and they were not used effectively. In fact, the sheer amount of ellipses diminished the story (in my opinion). They were also, more than once, misused. An ellipsis is not a comma, and it is not a full stop, you should not use it in place of either. It was used in place of both in this story.
Alright, Song of the Sword *was* interesting enough to make me want to read the next book, which I can't always say of books that have grating issues like all those ellipses. So, good job, and onward I go to the rest of the series.
I'm not sure how to feel about this book. Let's start with some positives: The cover is beautiful; the main characters (and story in general) give me a weird specific sense of nostalgia for the stories my friends and I wrote when we were younger; and I like that it's set in Saskatchewan because there's not a lot of represenation in the literary world for us Sask folk. The sibling relationship between Wally and Flish was pretty accurate too, a nice break from the awkwardly written siblings in a lot of other books.
Okay, now for some more critical stuff. I'm having a hard time deciding whether this book is supposed to be middle grade or young adult. Some things, like how over-exaggerated the 'bully' characters are, come off as middle grade. Other things, like the central characters' ages, seem more suited to young adult. I haven't found anything to indicate which age category the author intended the story to fall into, so I'm choosing to view it as middle grade, since ultimately the writing style seemed more geared to a younger audience.
Finally a point I really want to make: THAT'S ENOUGH ELLIPSES.
They were overused an impressive amount, I cannot exaggerate this. There were ellipses in every chapter, and they were not used effectively. In fact, the sheer amount of ellipses diminished the story (in my opinion). They were also, more than once, misused. An ellipsis is not a comma, and it is not a full stop, you should not use it in place of either. It was used in place of both in this story.
Alright, Song of the Sword *was* interesting enough to make me want to read the next book, which I can't always say of books that have grating issues like all those ellipses. So, good job, and onward I go to the rest of the series.
February 26, 2018
This is a perfectly fun YA novel of the Arthurian Legend's, Lady in the Lake, set right in Saskatchewan's capital city, Regina.
In the middle of the city, is Wascana Lake, and that's where the Lady's avatar resides... Yes, Avatar, and Merlin is actually the antagonist. What a brilliant move, taking an old trope and turning it into something fresh and special!
Ariane is a typical, teenage girl whose life has been turned upside down, and now, the Lady has chosen Ariane to go on a magical quest. Ariane's been provided a 'side-kick' of sorts, a nosey kid named Wally... The quest? To find the broken shards of Excalibur, and stop Merlin from getting his hands on them!
Wally is completely gung-ho! A magical quest is what he's always dreamed of, but Ariane isn't quite so sure about the whole deal. She's still dealing with her mother having gone missing, a new school (including bulles), and moving in with her Aunt!
Elizabeth Klett did a fantastic job presenting the story!
Get the story to find out if they accept the quest, or do they even have a choice?
In the middle of the city, is Wascana Lake, and that's where the Lady's avatar resides... Yes, Avatar, and Merlin is actually the antagonist. What a brilliant move, taking an old trope and turning it into something fresh and special!
Ariane is a typical, teenage girl whose life has been turned upside down, and now, the Lady has chosen Ariane to go on a magical quest. Ariane's been provided a 'side-kick' of sorts, a nosey kid named Wally... The quest? To find the broken shards of Excalibur, and stop Merlin from getting his hands on them!
Wally is completely gung-ho! A magical quest is what he's always dreamed of, but Ariane isn't quite so sure about the whole deal. She's still dealing with her mother having gone missing, a new school (including bulles), and moving in with her Aunt!
Elizabeth Klett did a fantastic job presenting the story!
Get the story to find out if they accept the quest, or do they even have a choice?
October 21, 2018
Very cool idea! Ariane and Wally are great characters in a wild and fantastical world, with King Arthur, the Lady in the Lake and Camelot thrown in. Very creative and fun book, really enjoyed it!! What an adventure.
Well written and well narrated - I enjoyed it from start to finish and now am excited to move onto Book 2.
I definitely recommend this to anyone, it's a joy to listen to!
This is a series that I bet will be wildly popular :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Well written and well narrated - I enjoyed it from start to finish and now am excited to move onto Book 2.
I definitely recommend this to anyone, it's a joy to listen to!
This is a series that I bet will be wildly popular :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 13, 2018
When the author contacted me to see if I would review the audio version of this book, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. But I was pleasantly surprised with this young adult spin on the King Arthur legend.
As the blurb notes, the protagonist in this book is Ariana, a girl who has had a rough start to her life. Her father is not in the picture, her mother mysterious disappeared years earlier, she was then placed in foster care because her aunt had been going through cancer treatment. Now her aunt is well and able to care for her, she finds herself in a new school that is ruled by a group of mean girls who have singled her out to be bullied. When she fights back she finds herself suspended. Then things take an interesting twist.
Ariana befriends Wally, and unexpected nerdy sidekick, who looks younger than he is. Wally is still waiting impatiently for his adolescent growth spurt to kick in. As they both try to evade Wally's older sister (ringleader of the mean girls), they find themselves in the woods where they encounter a supernatural presence who identifies as The Lady of the Lake and who claims Ariana is her heir. She then tasks them both with a quest to find the broken pieces of Excalibur before the evil Merlin can do so.
This was the type of book my kids would have loved when they were younger. The characters are believable and real, the story is full of adventure and danger, and the re-imagining of the Arthur legend is entertaining. In addition, Willett has set his series in Canada, which was a nice bonus to the book. Song of the Sword has a Harry Potter-like feel to it. Willett has a real gift for capturing the young adult voice.
I really enjoyed this novel. I'm looking forward to seeing where Ariana and Wally go on their next adventure in Book 2.
As the blurb notes, the protagonist in this book is Ariana, a girl who has had a rough start to her life. Her father is not in the picture, her mother mysterious disappeared years earlier, she was then placed in foster care because her aunt had been going through cancer treatment. Now her aunt is well and able to care for her, she finds herself in a new school that is ruled by a group of mean girls who have singled her out to be bullied. When she fights back she finds herself suspended. Then things take an interesting twist.
Ariana befriends Wally, and unexpected nerdy sidekick, who looks younger than he is. Wally is still waiting impatiently for his adolescent growth spurt to kick in. As they both try to evade Wally's older sister (ringleader of the mean girls), they find themselves in the woods where they encounter a supernatural presence who identifies as The Lady of the Lake and who claims Ariana is her heir. She then tasks them both with a quest to find the broken pieces of Excalibur before the evil Merlin can do so.
This was the type of book my kids would have loved when they were younger. The characters are believable and real, the story is full of adventure and danger, and the re-imagining of the Arthur legend is entertaining. In addition, Willett has set his series in Canada, which was a nice bonus to the book. Song of the Sword has a Harry Potter-like feel to it. Willett has a real gift for capturing the young adult voice.
I really enjoyed this novel. I'm looking forward to seeing where Ariana and Wally go on their next adventure in Book 2.
July 22, 2018
It is young adult and reminiscent of Percy Jackson stories by Rick Riordan. It’s not an intense story but a fun one. Together with a kid from her school, Ariane has been set on the quest to find the five shards of Excalibur. Merlin, diminished in magic, has been attempting to recover them for himself. We get hints there might be more to the story portrayed by the Lady of the Lake. Is the line a bit fuzzy between the seemingly evil and well-intentioned? Guess we need to find out in the next book(s). This is not a stand-alone novel.
I never rant, but seriously reviewers....why can’t Merlin be in Canada? What’s wrong with everyone else? Do you realize how many Brits have populated Canada? If Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief happened in the USA not Greece, why not Canada? Not every storyline has to happen in or be solved by Americans!! Besides, give Seattle, New York or Los Angeles a break!
This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another. In fact, I have the next book in my queue. I’m looking forward to listening to more of this storyline.
This is the fifth book I’ve listened to by this narrator and I would listen to another. I previously listened to the boxed set Olento Research. She gives each character a distinct voice and expression. When she narrates you are listening to someone “tell the story” not “read a book”. The story comes to life.
There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review
I never rant, but seriously reviewers....why can’t Merlin be in Canada? What’s wrong with everyone else? Do you realize how many Brits have populated Canada? If Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief happened in the USA not Greece, why not Canada? Not every storyline has to happen in or be solved by Americans!! Besides, give Seattle, New York or Los Angeles a break!
This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another. In fact, I have the next book in my queue. I’m looking forward to listening to more of this storyline.
This is the fifth book I’ve listened to by this narrator and I would listen to another. I previously listened to the boxed set Olento Research. She gives each character a distinct voice and expression. When she narrates you are listening to someone “tell the story” not “read a book”. The story comes to life.
There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review
July 13, 2015
This is the second YA book I've read in as many days where the female protagonist has to live aunt because her parents are missing or dead. In the book, the aunt was strict but not evil, so the story worked much better. Also the protagonist wasn't perfect and was proactive, so that also worked much better.
I'm not sure how I feel about the heavily infused Arthurian legend -- I grew up with the Arthurian legend, so, while amusing, I even find Spamalot a little painful at times. Still the writing and the pacing are very good, and I plan to read more from this series.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, but I round up -- especially during bikini season.
I'm not sure how I feel about the heavily infused Arthurian legend -- I grew up with the Arthurian legend, so, while amusing, I even find Spamalot a little painful at times. Still the writing and the pacing are very good, and I plan to read more from this series.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, but I round up -- especially during bikini season.
November 25, 2018
“The Song of the Sword” is the first book in Edward Willett’s Shards of Excalibur young adult fantasy series. It’s a great and exciting read and if you’d like to listen to audiobooks instead, Elizabeth Klett’s soothing voice brings the story to life. Just sit back, turn the lights out, and put the ear buds in. And enjoy! I certainly did.
May 20, 2025
I enjoyed this book aimed at teens. It was exciting and hard to put down, funny in places, and not without food for thought. It's a quick and easy read. This is the first in a five-book series - it has a reasonable ending with no cliff-hangers, but the heroine Ariane has only completed the first of five steps in her quest.
Having just read Malory's Morte Darthur it was odd to see the legends through such a different perspective, though there are hundreds of variations on the Arthurian matter, of course, all so different. This one has an evil Merlin, who nevertheless means well, sort of - he thinks his dictatorship of both Faerie and our world will be good for both. On the whole I prefer good Merlins, but I can be flexible - I even enjoyed Here Lies Arthur, which has an evil Arthur! (I once read some YA novels with a good Mordred (!) who had gone to Africa and married an Ethiopian princess or someone. The books I read were mostly about their son. I wish I could find them again.)
Here as in Malory, the Ladies of the Lake are clearly faerie and there is not just one. Ariane is shocked to learn that she is one of them. (Her family heritage may also be connected to her mother's disappearance long ago.) She is despised and persecuted at her high school because she was in foster homes for a while. The mean girls are scarier than Merlin. Her sidekick, Wally Knight, is a slightly younger boy who is very nerdy and sweet. He's a good brave friend who formulates Rules of Sidekickery. He may have a crush on Ariane.
I like that Ariane's aunt, who is her guardian, is eventually let in on the secret and has no trouble believing it because similar things happened to her sister, Ariane's mother, before she disappeared. Ariane notes that this is not like the usual situation in children's fantasies, where the adults are oblivious - I enjoyed her observation.
This is a good story, but not great literature. If the other four books were available at our county public libraries, I would get them out and read them, but I don't think they're really worth requesting through ILL from hundreds of miles away. If they were all available inexpensively for sale, I might buy them, but I only found a few and they were pricey. So I think I'm going to donate our book instead. I would like to find out what happened to Ariane's mother and see how Merlin takes defeat, but I can live without it.
Having just read Malory's Morte Darthur it was odd to see the legends through such a different perspective, though there are hundreds of variations on the Arthurian matter, of course, all so different. This one has an evil Merlin, who nevertheless means well, sort of - he thinks his dictatorship of both Faerie and our world will be good for both. On the whole I prefer good Merlins, but I can be flexible - I even enjoyed Here Lies Arthur, which has an evil Arthur! (I once read some YA novels with a good Mordred (!) who had gone to Africa and married an Ethiopian princess or someone. The books I read were mostly about their son. I wish I could find them again.)
Here as in Malory, the Ladies of the Lake are clearly faerie and there is not just one. Ariane is shocked to learn that she is one of them. (Her family heritage may also be connected to her mother's disappearance long ago.) She is despised and persecuted at her high school because she was in foster homes for a while. The mean girls are scarier than Merlin. Her sidekick, Wally Knight, is a slightly younger boy who is very nerdy and sweet. He's a good brave friend who formulates Rules of Sidekickery. He may have a crush on Ariane.
I like that Ariane's aunt, who is her guardian, is eventually let in on the secret and has no trouble believing it because similar things happened to her sister, Ariane's mother, before she disappeared. Ariane notes that this is not like the usual situation in children's fantasies, where the adults are oblivious - I enjoyed her observation.
This is a good story, but not great literature. If the other four books were available at our county public libraries, I would get them out and read them, but I don't think they're really worth requesting through ILL from hundreds of miles away. If they were all available inexpensively for sale, I might buy them, but I only found a few and they were pricey. So I think I'm going to donate our book instead. I would like to find out what happened to Ariane's mother and see how Merlin takes defeat, but I can live without it.
November 15, 2019
I liked the cover. That’s about it. The first clue I had was that the format was weird- it only showed one paragraph on each page. It was annoying, but if it’s a good book I can deal with superficial things like that. However, the writing style was... underwhelming. I didn’t feel engaged. Some authors could write a 300-page novel about a fictional character cooking eggs and I would still love it solely for the descriptions and writing style. Not so with this one.
Next came the random Arthurian references. I usually love references, but these felt forced. The MC talks about her cat’s weird name- “Pendragon”. If you’re going to include an obvious, random reference like that, explain it! Why was her cat named Pendragon? Is she a King Arthur fan? And Wally Knight? Seriously? He might as well be named Lance, short for Lancelot.
Finally, last but certainly not least, content. Swearing and awkward tension. Honestly, even without the content, this felt like a poorly-written middle-grade novel. With the content, it feels like a weak book that is trying to compensate for it with swearing- which, of course, makes it weaker, in my opinion.
Needless to say, I dnf’d it around chapter four or so, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe it got better. But honestly I didn’t want to stick around to find out.
(Apologies- I feel like this review was very badly worded, but hopefully you still got the point! And I usually try not to be this mean. But I have my moments.)
Next came the random Arthurian references. I usually love references, but these felt forced. The MC talks about her cat’s weird name- “Pendragon”. If you’re going to include an obvious, random reference like that, explain it! Why was her cat named Pendragon? Is she a King Arthur fan? And Wally Knight? Seriously? He might as well be named Lance, short for Lancelot.
Finally, last but certainly not least, content. Swearing and awkward tension. Honestly, even without the content, this felt like a poorly-written middle-grade novel. With the content, it feels like a weak book that is trying to compensate for it with swearing- which, of course, makes it weaker, in my opinion.
Needless to say, I dnf’d it around chapter four or so, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe it got better. But honestly I didn’t want to stick around to find out.
(Apologies- I feel like this review was very badly worded, but hopefully you still got the point! And I usually try not to be this mean. But I have my moments.)
October 10, 2017
The first book in a five-book series, Song of the Sword gives a fresh take on the Arthurian legends, bringing the Lady of the Lake, Merlin, and Excalibur to Regina, Toronto, and Yellowknife. Wascana Lake plays a pivotal role in the magical beginnings of the heroine's story, as do bathroom showers and kitchen sinks, but the action isn't ruined by the sometimes silly circumstances. The humour is part of what makes the book enjoyable. The two main characters are relatable, and from the beginning, you're rooting for them to win. They have a long road ahead of them (four more books of adventures), but they're off to a good start.
August 9, 2021
As far as Ariane knew there wasn't anything special about her, until she met the Lady of the Lake and her adventure began. She meets and befriends Wally, (a nerdy boy) who wants to help her, but they are up against a dangerous adversary who is willing to do much to stop them. I enjoyed this interesting tale that involves the broken Excalibur and a couple kids with a quest to stop another's plans to take over. I look forward to what happens next.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received, and giving my thoughts and opinions on it.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received, and giving my thoughts and opinions on it.
September 5, 2010
"Song of the Sword" is ultimately a chase book reworking the Arthurian legend into contemporary time guised in the genre of teenage fantasy. You really have to suspend belief to get into this story, especially as it's set in Regina, Saskatchewan. That aside, Willett has constructed an exciting plot that features a teenage orphan (Ariane) and her scrawny but smart sidekick (Wally). The two set out on a quest to prevent Merlin, in human form known as Rex Major, from acquiring the first shard (the point) of the sword Excalibur. If Merlin can gain all four shards as well as the hilt, then he can control the world.
April 19, 2012
Don't you just love it when an author starts by saying, "Remember that old story we all know and love? Well, what if it had actually happened, but then it got mangled over the years in the retelling? What do you suppose really happened, and what was really going on?"
Well, that's exactly what Ed Willett has done here. I've read dozens of different books based on the legend of King Arthur, his sword, and his band of merry men, but this one stands out as a refreshing remix of that old tale, with plenty of gasps, twists and turns for readers of any age, that will have you flipping the pages at a frenzied pace.
And best of all, the adventure is just beginning.
Well, that's exactly what Ed Willett has done here. I've read dozens of different books based on the legend of King Arthur, his sword, and his band of merry men, but this one stands out as a refreshing remix of that old tale, with plenty of gasps, twists and turns for readers of any age, that will have you flipping the pages at a frenzied pace.
And best of all, the adventure is just beginning.
November 7, 2013
I've always found the Arthurian legend to be intriguing. I picked this book up for that very reason but it was a let down.
I'll be honest and say that I didn't have high expectations for Song of the Sword in the first place but yet it still didn't meet them.
I lost interest very quickly and it just went downhill from there.
They say "don't judge a book by it's cover", this one is an exception. The book is as dull as the cover art is juvenile. And the writing is grade school level at best.
I'll be honest and say that I didn't have high expectations for Song of the Sword in the first place but yet it still didn't meet them.
I lost interest very quickly and it just went downhill from there.
They say "don't judge a book by it's cover", this one is an exception. The book is as dull as the cover art is juvenile. And the writing is grade school level at best.
May 5, 2016
This book was both full of tropes and unique which is a very weird mix! I really liked it... I though Ariane was a cool protagonist and Wally a wonderful best friend(so smol, so precious, too sweet). The world built in this book can go far and I expect the other books to go more in detail about some characters or pieces of plot. It's always fun to read a book set where you live and I really could picture Ariane walking to the Central Library and eating pizza in the foodcourt of the Cornwall Mall.
If you ever feel like reading a short fantasy book, I would recommend picking this one up!
If you ever feel like reading a short fantasy book, I would recommend picking this one up!
March 2, 2014
Love the twist on this story. Instead of coming up with your own story idea, take a classic legend and twist it around for a more effective grab on people's attention. I loved this book because of the wit that this girl and her side-kick share.
wish-list
December 26, 2010This looks interesting. I think it's something I'd like to put on my to-read list.
Unfortunately, the cover looks like it ought to go on the year's ten-worst list.
Unfortunately, the cover looks like it ought to go on the year's ten-worst list.
April 19, 2011
What an awesome story!!!! I can not wait for book 2. Really, really great!!!
November 21, 2011
A modernized take on the Lady of the Lake and surrounding characters. Not a favorite genre of mine, the fantasy that is hidden in our world.
November 8, 2012
Recommended for ages 12-15
November 24, 2015
Very enjoyable. Great for weak reading teens. Merlin-fantasy merged with today's world issues. Nice!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews