Arthur's Legacy

by Tyler R. Tichelaar

All his life, Adam Morgan has sought his true identity and the father he never knew. When multiple coincidences lead him to England, he will not only find his father, but mutual love with a woman he can never have, and a family legacy he never imagined possible. Among England’s green hills and crumbling castles, Adam’s intuition awakens, and when a mysterious stranger appears with a tale of Britain’s past, Adam discovers forces are at work to bring about the return of a king.

Genres: Fantasy, Arthurian

477 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2014

Reviews

[Arthurianmaiden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells two stories: the story of Adam, an American young man looking for his father in England and the story of King Arthur and his kingdom.
I had very different expectations when I've read the blurb and I was sort of very surprised when, nearly at the end of the book, I found out these expectations couldn't be more different from the reality.
I will write the whole review under spoilers because I am going to talk about the end of the novel and what the various characters find out.
I'd also like to underline the fact that this review is written in relation to what I like to read, to what I prefer from arthurian novels and that there may be reader out there who would absolutely love this book, at least more than how I liked it.

I will start saying that I expected a story about a reincarnated Arthur or Mordred looking for their past and that is not what this book is about. Even if Adam's story may be similar to Arthur's one (he sleeps with his half sister, also if later they find out she is not really his sister; he meets Merlin; the sister is called Anne liked Anne Morgause; he never met his father etc.) Adam is not a reincarnation. As Morgana and Arthur themselves tell him later (when Adam meets them in Avalon) Adam is just one of their descendent and his role is to bring back the saviour of Britain with his kids.
I admit I personally was a bit saddened by it. When I read arthurian books I want to read arthuriana and I don't care much for tales of descendants or people who are not immersed in arthurian times or who are not arthurian characters. Also, the author decided to write all Arthur's story in his first book, everything which was a mistery for me (was Mordred evil? What happened to Guinevere? Was she in love with Lancelot, here Bedwyr?) has already been revealed and I wonder if there is still something about arthurian times in the next books.
But as I said, many readers may like this kind of story which has still the misteries of the rings and the Treasures of Britain to talk about and how Adam's children will save Britain.

About the part of the plot in arthurian times I have mixed feelings.
I will say it immediately: I loved Guinevere. And I loved her relationship with Morgana. It doesn't happen every day to read a novel where Morgana and Guinevere are friends and help each others and worry for each others, especially in novels where Arthur is in love with Morgana and, as in this case, has a son with her. Guinevere was amazingly human, I felt for her so much and I admired her during the whole book.
It was also a nice and refreshing chance to see Mordred as a loved son and respected heir and not have him as a traitor. Also if my personal preference is to analyze the reasons that lead Mordred to betray his father, it was wonderful to see him interact awkwardly with his father, loving with his wife and his children and to act for the good of Britain and his family.
About Arthur I have to say that he seemed also very human to me. I usually don't like cruel/egoistical Arthur, but the author managed to describe him as a realistic mix of feelings. I particularly loved him by the end of his life, when he manages to overcome the awkwardness towards his son.
I quite liked the others characters too but I am still not sure about Bedwyr and Guinevak.
Bedwyr here is used as Lancelot and is the most awful sexist character that has ever written, a rapist who doesn't care for anything but himself. I am the first to admit I don't like Lancelot character but I found it a bit unrealistic that Arthur would not notice him, letting him have his wife convinced Guinevere is happy with Bedwyr. Arthur seemed a bit blind and egoistical but I doubt he would have let Bedwyr rape his wife so I wonder why Morgana never told him about it if she so wanted to help Guinevere.
Another character that I had mixed feelings about was Guinevak (Gwenhyvach). She is the main villain of the novel (along with Constantine, and I love villain!Constantine). I adore the story of the false Guinevere and Tichelaar managed to adjust it masterfully in the plot along with other arthurian events (the was against Romans, burning Guinevere, Bedwyr saving her). Still I felt a bit uncomfortable about how Guinevak's powers were so sexualized (she charms Constantine with sex, she tries to seduce Mordred, her scenes with Constantine are mostly about their savage sexual relationship etc.). I also was disappointed by how a part of the plot was developed. The kidnapping of Mordred ended out of "screen" and I was really curious about the adventurous tone that would come out of Mordred's escape or Morgana saving him.

Said this, I think people who like to mix fantasy with arthurian descendants will love this book also if it's not really my thing. Also the book has a very nice characterization of Guinevere and Morgana and their friendship and it uses some arthurian plots that are usually absent from novels (false Guinevere, Guinevere's sons Llacheu and Gwydre, Constantine etc).

[Mary Enck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the first book, The Children of Arthur series, titled Arthur's Legacy, is written in a style that I can only describe as one which characters speak in an erudite way. The poetic quotations at the beginning of chapters add to this and quite a few of them are favorites of mine. Since I have always felt I was the only one who still loved to read poetry, I came to a realization. I should get out more instead of being somewhat reclusive to the point where my ego assumes the written word is just for me and not a universal part of many lives. Ergo so is the life of a writer.

At the end of Chapter One, the characters begin to interact and it becomes a fascinating story with intrigue that begs to be explained. This was the compelling device that beckoned to me and drew me along with it until I commenced to feel as though I were part of the story. There is a mysterious elder man who appears in a passionate tirade and then inexplicably disappears. I loved that bit, and even more so once he appears again. Further, in the writers explanation of the musings of the main character, the introduction of the theory of genetic memory is a subject that is completely believable and fascinating. Later, the past comes to life in a dream as a descendant of King Arthur becomes fully immersed in the telling's of Merlin.

At a certain point, I began to see a new and refreshing story unfolding. A story that I had never read of the many that illuminated the times of King Arthur. We see that beloved king through a prism that portrays him as more of a man with human qualities. He has his failings, his relationships are strewn with problems stemming from his inability to be loving to those closest to him. Even his professed love of Britain is shadowed by his resentment of those who try to tell him how to live his life which cost him so much.

By altering the roles some of the characters play in contrast to the original story, as it is commonly depicted, the author weaves an unknown progress through the tale. Characters familiar to us in a certain role now come to us in an opposite guise. It is a new and refreshing view that creates a story the author reveals which carries us further into the realm of the future of the king so many believe will come to pass. This proves that when King Arthur and his promise is revealed in the final pages of the novel, that these are the standards all should aspire to achieve. It is a beautiful ending full of grace and compassion.

[Cheryl Carpinello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tichelaar's Arthurian Characters Make This Story

Once in a while an old story meets a writer who is not afraid to twist it in an entirely new direction. Tyler Tichelaar, the award-winning author of Narrow Lives, does just that with King Arthur’s Legacy. He deftly moves readers between Medieval England and the modern world, but it is his characters that make this King Arthur story so intriguing.

Tichelaar’s characters immediately engage and draw readers into their lives. Queen Guinevere is in every way a modern woman even though she lives in Medieval times. She has lost her and Arthur’s two boys, is deeply in love with her husband and king, and does not know what to do to keep from losing him to another. Morgana, the half-sister of Arthur who long ago gave him up for Britain, is not vicious or out for revenge here. In fact, she may be Arthur’s last hope. Sir Bedwyr is still Arthur’s closest friend, maybe even too close.

It is, however, the characters of Mordred and King Arthur and their relationship that set King Arthur’s Legacy apart from all previous novels of its kind. Mordred, still the son of Arthur and Morgana, is seen as the loyal son willing to do anything for his father and the attention he so craves. And King Arthur, he is portrayed as he has never been or will be again. Before King Arthur's Legacy, Arthur was seen as a shell of a man. Writers were almost afraid to touch the legend. Even T.H. White, who gave readers the young Wart and the wise old King, didn’t stray too far from the legendary Arthur. It is Tichelaar who brings the legend face to face with reality. Tichelaar shows us a King Arthur who is a human being with many of our faults and desires, trying to find where he belongs, and longing for what he thinks is love.

King Arthur’s Legacy by Tyler Tichelaar is a unique blend of medieval fantasy, modern intrigue, and Tichelaar’s own twists on the lore that will keep readers engaged and questioning until the very end.

Book Three, especially, illustrates the depth of Tichelaar’s knowledge about Arthurian lore and will test the most devoted Arthurian fan. However, it is the development of the characters that make this story memorable and one of the top King Arthur stories of all time. Tyler’s abililty to bring these ancient characters so alive to modern-day readers attests to his writing skill and the ever-lasting popularity of the King Arthur Legend.

[Bob Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known the Arthurian legend since my teenage years, and have read several books on the theme. However, time and again, Tyler Tichelaar’s version surprised me. On each occasion, I checked on the web, and found his writing to be correct, or as plausible as the commonly accepted versions. Also, his notes at the end of the book are illuminating.
However, this is a novel, not a historical treatise. A novel is about people, put into greatly challenging situations, so that we as readers can identify with their emotions. Tyler has done this superbly well.
The story starts with an ancient double murder, then switches to the late 20th Century, where, after a while I realized, essential elements of the Arthurian myth were repeated. Then a major character went to sleep, and had a dream, which provides the device for transitioning to the bulk of the story: what actually happened at Camelot.
Tyler has clothed the stereotyped characters of myth with real, three-dimensional personalities, and has given strengths and faults to each. This is what makes the story so engrossing. Although it is a long book, I found it difficult to stop reading, and even when doing other things, found my thoughts returning to Arthur’s world... well, Tyler’s world about Arthur. It was hard to remember that this is fiction, despite the magical and mystical elements.
Every good book is more than entertainment. The message beneath the story is, “...but whether God or Goddess, everyone in this life is servant to Him-Her for we are ourselves all part of the great Supreme Being that governs this universe. We are all servants in our duties to one another. Each human has a specific life task to fulfill, but sadly, most people are too selfish to accept the work given to them, and when their work goes undone, much trouble is left for those who come after. Such people are like children who never learn to clean up their messes.” (p 189).
I was delighted to find out at the end of the book that four sequels are waiting.

[Sage Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camelot meets Game of Thrones

If you love the mystical magic of Camelot but thrive on the excitement and tribulations of Game of Thrones, this book is for you. Tichelaar encompasses the familiarity of contemporary times and skillfully interweaves history and mysticism into the Arthurian legend that has withstood the test of time, and brings the characters all to life.

This story is so full of twists, turns, and delightful surprises, it will keep you up late at night turning the pages. Tichelaar writes in a style that is easy to read, yet incorporates a philosophy that will have you pondering this tale for days. It offers a great message and demonstrates how our lives are all interwoven and connected by threads that rival the strength of a spider's illustrious web.

[Robert burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is what I knew about King Arthur before reading this book. Had a sword taken from a stone, had a round table with do-good Knights, then his sword was returned to the Lady of the Lake when he died.
Well after reading book 1 of The Children of Arthur, 'Arthur's Legacy' I know quite a bit more. Tyler Tichelaar has written a historical fantasy about King Arthur blends modern times with the era of Arthur seamlessly. He has manage to flesh out Arthur into a person rather than a one dimensional figure. The research that the author is fantastic and the reader can see why he has taken this approach in tell this story.
I recommend this novel to anyone who is an expert or, like me, a novice on the
history of King Arthur.

[Scott Telek · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the delights of a familiarity with Arthurian legends is that it makes reading Arthurian literature even more interesting. You can enjoy the story for what it is, but knowing the legend adds another dimension, as you can appreciate the way in which the author took the familiar characters and stories and spun them in a new direction, playing with or against what we know about them from the stories of old. Tyler R. Tichelaar’s first book in his Arthur’s Legacy series, Children of Arthur, Book One, provides both a new, present-day story and an intelligent reimagining of the classic Arthurian legend of lore, making it a delightful read for anyone who loves to immerse themselves in mythic stories and how they still resonate in the present day.

After a brief prologue describing the final moments of Arthur’s grandchildren, we move to 1994, where we meet Adam and Devin, two young men with intriguing parental histories and an interest in Arthurian scholarship. They attend a lecture in which a strange man, later revealed to be named “Merle Remington,” raves that Mordred was actually a hero, and has received a terrible rap through history. From there, we are off on a whirlwind adventure of romance and intrigue as Adam meets his long-missing mother, and both friends learns a great deal about their entwined fates and the details of their parentage. Adam meets the charming Anne, and Merle works a bit of magic to get them to enjoy a night together. Soon after, Adam sees a man on a “Great Castles of Europe” TV show and realizes—this man may be his long-lost father! He travels to England, he meets the man, he realizes that he is the man’s son and he is arranged as the heir to the whole lot! And then….

Merle (who attentive readers will recognize as Merlin) takes Adam, in a dream, back to Arthurian times. The novel then shifts gears entirely, and we are treated to a very informed, knowing retelling of the later years of the Arthurian legend. Author Tichelaar has written scholarly, nonfiction books examining the legend, and what one senses as we read his remix of the story is that he had done a very intelligent job of rearranging (and sometimes using lesser-known names for) the characters and bringing out less well-known aspects of the legend. For example, if you’re familiar with the tale of the two Guineveres (it was left out of Le Morte D’Arthur), you’ll find a wonderful and vivid imagining of how that tale could have played out. The last half of the novel is this Arthurian story, in which we get to know Arthur and Guinevere in depth, as well as Morgana, Bedwyr (a new take on the Lancelot character), Mordred (now noble and sympathetic) and many less familiar characters. They go through events of the legend as we know them, now rearranged in such a way to make the tale entirely new.

The novel is fun and jam-packed with secrets, lies and unexpected twists. Again, if you are familiar with the legends, including some of the lesser-known tellings, you’ll find a very informed reimagining of the story, but if not, you still get an exciting, action-packed story—in fact, two of them. I really liked the wild, unpredictable nature of the novel and that the author had the courage to set up a situation and then just run with it, throwing in complications and twists and unexpected detours that keep the mood fun and buoyant even as you’re trying to sort through all the complications.

What Tichelaar has done is provide a present-day story that plays on the way the Arthurian legend has resonated through the centuries, then immerse us in the gravity and the emotions of the legend itself. He offers a vision of a fleshed-out Arthur and shows us a view of his mind developing in a way that makes him the leader that he was (Arthur’s journey to the isle of Avalon is a standout in this regard). We also get a very fierce and determined Guinevere who we get to know far better than we ever do in the sources, as well as a convincing and complicated Mordred. His vivid versions of characters both well-known and less familiar make for an enthralling read.

The end of the novel brings the two stories together and sends our contemporary heroes on their way with a fascinating send-off that unites past and present. In that way, this book becomes the kick-off to a new series, and I am eager to learn where our characters end up in the next book.