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Merlin's Gift
While King Arthur campaigns to conquer all of Europe, his unhappy bastard son, Mordred, forsees the king's downfall and plots with Queen Guinevere to overthrow Arthur, sparking a civil war and the return of the exiled Merlin. Original.
251 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 6, 2010
Right off the bat, this book has my favorite opening line of any book ever. I'd relate it here but I don't want to spoil it. Never the less, it was what made me decide I was going to enjoy this book and its predecessor, Mordred's Curse.
Merlin's Gift was a great sequel and a logical follow up to the first book. It's ten years later and Mordred and Guinevere are keeping things on the down low after the climax of the last book. Guinevere's sister is changing and Mordred goes to Merlin for help. Little does he know the size of the can of worms he opens in the process, leading to the end of Camelot.
To sum up: Interesting take on the Arthurian legend, full of black humor, and finished in just two short books.
Merlin's Gift was a great sequel and a logical follow up to the first book. It's ten years later and Mordred and Guinevere are keeping things on the down low after the climax of the last book. Guinevere's sister is changing and Mordred goes to Merlin for help. Little does he know the size of the can of worms he opens in the process, leading to the end of Camelot.
To sum up: Interesting take on the Arthurian legend, full of black humor, and finished in just two short books.
November 2, 2008
Better than Mordred's Curse.
Mordred is less bitter, and his view of the characters are more likeable.
Still vulgar and full of profanity, it is worth the read if you enjoy alternate Arthurian works.
Mordred is less bitter, and his view of the characters are more likeable.
Still vulgar and full of profanity, it is worth the read if you enjoy alternate Arthurian works.
December 22, 2015
This second novel is about the end of Camelot and Mordred's story but also Guinevere and Nimue's story. I liked it more than the first novel mostly for the fact that the first novel seemed a bit disconnected in little pieces of plots instead of a whole book. Still, it all seemed... very cold.
I liked Mordred and Guinevere together and I especially loved the fact that Mordred's war against Arthur is not about Arthur, this time, but about trying to be with Guinevere and just that. Still I was a little disappointed by Mordred's coldness towards Arthur (indifference, as Arthur's attempts to reconcile were mostly met with indifference) and... well, everything else. Even his great love for Guinevere sometimes came off as a little detached.
I won't talk about the way the books was written... at most of the metaphores and crude sentences I could only roll my eyes and wonder "Is this really necessary?"
I also have to admit that many parts of the books seemed more like fillers than useful to the plot. For example the whole part about Cadog, which was also quite a long part, felt a bit useless. It was original and well written, but it didn't make sense in the long run (while the first parts were useful at least to explain which would once day be Mordred's allies against Arthur).
In general, it was a fun reading which managed to give quite a new if crude reinterpretation of what lead Arthur to Camlann, from Mordred's point of view, and also showed a Mordred who was clearly able to understand his own fault (more than once he admits that many of the things that happened were actually his fault). I only wish the author had spent more time on the end, making it more tragic. But maybe this was the result he wanted from it.
January 17, 2009
Right off the bat, this book has my favorite opening line of any book ever. I'd relate it here but I don't want to spoil it. Never the less, it was what made me decide I was going to enjoy this book and its predecessor, Mordred's Curse.
Merlin's Gift was a great sequel and a logical follow up to the first book. It's ten years later and Mordred and Guinevere are keeping things on the down low after the climax of the last book. Guinevere's sister is changing and Mordred goes to Merlin for help. Little does he know the size of the can of worms he opens in the process, leading to the end of Camelot.
To sum up: Interesting take on the Arthurian legend, full of black humor, and finished in just two short books
Merlin's Gift was a great sequel and a logical follow up to the first book. It's ten years later and Mordred and Guinevere are keeping things on the down low after the climax of the last book. Guinevere's sister is changing and Mordred goes to Merlin for help. Little does he know the size of the can of worms he opens in the process, leading to the end of Camelot.
To sum up: Interesting take on the Arthurian legend, full of black humor, and finished in just two short books
June 27, 2020
This has the same cover as the bluish one. But this has the correct ISBN number.
Book wasn't as bad as The Wicked Day , but wasn't as good as Mordred's Curse which was more of a thriller. This book is tying up either loose ends or a token book of saying things we already know. At times it mirrors that of The Wicked Day. I almost think they must have been sourcing the same material. Not Malory but the French one that came before him. Really don't know. I took what I thought was a simple read , 251 pages an it took me nearly 20 days to read because it really never held my interest. I don't know what it was but it was no page turner. I preferred Mordred's Curse. Which was also more fleshed out and sourced. This again seems like either token book, or a book written purely for money. Yeah he has his language which seems to turn some people off. Meh. the words have been said before in others. Just not as much. Mind you this is being told from the view of Mordred so the author may have wanted that included to show he was no saint. I'd have to add, Nimue was possibly (well if Merlin was far removed then she's even more so) was totally out of it. She came into her own towards the end. Had hints of Mary Stewarts take on her. I prefer the one with Sam Neill and Isabella Rossellini. The trilogy based on the movie was amazing. This again it has it's moments when Mordred and Gwen are together but everything else. Hey I've warned you.
Book wasn't as bad as The Wicked Day , but wasn't as good as Mordred's Curse which was more of a thriller. This book is tying up either loose ends or a token book of saying things we already know. At times it mirrors that of The Wicked Day. I almost think they must have been sourcing the same material. Not Malory but the French one that came before him. Really don't know. I took what I thought was a simple read , 251 pages an it took me nearly 20 days to read because it really never held my interest. I don't know what it was but it was no page turner. I preferred Mordred's Curse. Which was also more fleshed out and sourced. This again seems like either token book, or a book written purely for money. Yeah he has his language which seems to turn some people off. Meh. the words have been said before in others. Just not as much. Mind you this is being told from the view of Mordred so the author may have wanted that included to show he was no saint. I'd have to add, Nimue was possibly (well if Merlin was far removed then she's even more so) was totally out of it. She came into her own towards the end. Had hints of Mary Stewarts take on her. I prefer the one with Sam Neill and Isabella Rossellini. The trilogy based on the movie was amazing. This again it has it's moments when Mordred and Gwen are together but everything else. Hey I've warned you.
September 12, 2019
This book is firmly targeted at immature males. The author clearly wants to educate the reader about everything he thinks he knows about the historical period, so he drops factoids into run-on sentences. His large vocabulary is edited down in places to find excuses to use the words "dick," "fuck," "boobs," and "cunt," apparently to appear edgy and appeal to his (again) immature audience. The alternate Arthur story is OK, but the book is a tedious read.
March 2, 2025
Better than the first book, Mordred’s Curse. Still dislike the authors version of Merlin.
August 22, 2025
Elegant Writing; Less Than Pleasant Content
After my cold awakening at the start of the last book as to the nature of McDowell’s writing, I knew more of what to expect from this book, though he still seems to write to achieve some level of disbelief and discomfort in his readers, always choosing the more grotesque option. It’s a sort of dark humour that I can understand but not quite appreciate. If not for the quality of his writing otherwise, I’d have given this book three stars.
Again as a coming-of-age sort-of autobiography, Mordred is our first-person narrator, speaking directly to the reader, though less so than the first book. He separates the tale into sections, then further into chapters. In this book, the beginning depicts the end, then goes back in time and tells the events leading up to it. Because of this, you know some of the biggest plot points right at the start, but not all of them, which gives a general sense of anticipation while still allowing the reader to be surprised.
Our main character, Mordred, picks up where he left off from the last book, and he immediately gives us some context. Nimüe was first mentioned in Mordred’s Curse, so she’s not a character that comes out of nowhere. My main issue with Mordred (and Guinivere by proxy) is that he keeps up the deception with Arthur, sleeping with his wife behind his back.
This deception is not born of hate, however, but rather of love, and I found it interesting how integral love was to this novel. Love is what caused such strife amongst the characters, while simultaneously causing such joy. It’s hard to say whether love was worth it by the end, as it is left open-ended for the reader to decide.
Again I was astounded by the drastic contrast between his elegant descriptions of nature and the more grotesque aspects of the writing. McDowell maintains his 90s grunge tone, with modern slang thrown in everywhere, but the medieval way of life is still very vivid. Though being able to capture the times, McDowell includes anachronisms in the work, though more for effect than lack of research. I also found a few stubborn typos that made it through editing, which made me giggle.
The pacing was quite excellent, despite being slowed by the depth of his descriptions of the setting. “Mordred” has quite an elegant way of speaking of nature and weather. The plot itself was well put together, each scene either setting up the next or closing an opened path. The introduction to the characters, political climate, and mentality of everyone in the novel all reaches the conclusion, which easily allows the reader to predict what will happen, even though the actual novel ends before then.
Like with the first book, this is a story for adult readers who enjoy dark humour—on the grotesque side of things. It’s an enjoyable tale, interwoven with beautiful writing and less-than pleasant (filthy) content.
After my cold awakening at the start of the last book as to the nature of McDowell’s writing, I knew more of what to expect from this book, though he still seems to write to achieve some level of disbelief and discomfort in his readers, always choosing the more grotesque option. It’s a sort of dark humour that I can understand but not quite appreciate. If not for the quality of his writing otherwise, I’d have given this book three stars.
Again as a coming-of-age sort-of autobiography, Mordred is our first-person narrator, speaking directly to the reader, though less so than the first book. He separates the tale into sections, then further into chapters. In this book, the beginning depicts the end, then goes back in time and tells the events leading up to it. Because of this, you know some of the biggest plot points right at the start, but not all of them, which gives a general sense of anticipation while still allowing the reader to be surprised.
Our main character, Mordred, picks up where he left off from the last book, and he immediately gives us some context. Nimüe was first mentioned in Mordred’s Curse, so she’s not a character that comes out of nowhere. My main issue with Mordred (and Guinivere by proxy) is that he keeps up the deception with Arthur, sleeping with his wife behind his back.
This deception is not born of hate, however, but rather of love, and I found it interesting how integral love was to this novel. Love is what caused such strife amongst the characters, while simultaneously causing such joy. It’s hard to say whether love was worth it by the end, as it is left open-ended for the reader to decide.
Again I was astounded by the drastic contrast between his elegant descriptions of nature and the more grotesque aspects of the writing. McDowell maintains his 90s grunge tone, with modern slang thrown in everywhere, but the medieval way of life is still very vivid. Though being able to capture the times, McDowell includes anachronisms in the work, though more for effect than lack of research. I also found a few stubborn typos that made it through editing, which made me giggle.
The pacing was quite excellent, despite being slowed by the depth of his descriptions of the setting. “Mordred” has quite an elegant way of speaking of nature and weather. The plot itself was well put together, each scene either setting up the next or closing an opened path. The introduction to the characters, political climate, and mentality of everyone in the novel all reaches the conclusion, which easily allows the reader to predict what will happen, even though the actual novel ends before then.
Like with the first book, this is a story for adult readers who enjoy dark humour—on the grotesque side of things. It’s an enjoyable tale, interwoven with beautiful writing and less-than pleasant (filthy) content.
August 4, 2012
This is a very satisfying conclusion to the two-part series that begins with "Mordred's Curse."
I like this book better than the first, partly because Mordred has moved beyond his bitterness toward the world and especially his father, Arthur. This book doesn't get bogged down with Mordred's youthful narcissism and self-pity the way the first book does; as a result, Mordred is a more sympathetic character, though still not entirely likeable.
The extent of Merlin's depravity, only hinted at in the first book, is on full display here, and it is truly terrifying. Yet the author manages to make even Merlin somewhat sympathetic by explaining why he is the way he is. The way Merlin's story becomes central to the novel's climax is fantastic.
In fact, the plot and action in general make this book much more of a page-turner than the first book, with Mordred being sent off on various missions in Arthur's service and being forced to rely on his ingenuity and cleverness to complete them successfully.
McDowell is very good at painting a picture of the sights, sounds and smells of life in that era (perhaps a little too good for some readers; this is not stuff for the queasy).
My main problem with this book and its predecessor is that I sometimes get the impression that McDowell delights a bit too much in the explicit sexuality and violence, and that the novel would have been better served if he'd pulled back a bit, if only to make that material not seem gratuitous at times.
Also, despite reading both books, I never became 100% accustomed to the modern tone of the dialog. I'm not saying the characters should sound Shakespearean, but in the end I feel like the anachronistic dialog never allows the reader to become totally immersed in the novel's setting.
Still, all in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy lit and especially anyone who likes Arthurian legend and wants to read a fresh and interesting take on it.
I like this book better than the first, partly because Mordred has moved beyond his bitterness toward the world and especially his father, Arthur. This book doesn't get bogged down with Mordred's youthful narcissism and self-pity the way the first book does; as a result, Mordred is a more sympathetic character, though still not entirely likeable.
The extent of Merlin's depravity, only hinted at in the first book, is on full display here, and it is truly terrifying. Yet the author manages to make even Merlin somewhat sympathetic by explaining why he is the way he is. The way Merlin's story becomes central to the novel's climax is fantastic.
In fact, the plot and action in general make this book much more of a page-turner than the first book, with Mordred being sent off on various missions in Arthur's service and being forced to rely on his ingenuity and cleverness to complete them successfully.
McDowell is very good at painting a picture of the sights, sounds and smells of life in that era (perhaps a little too good for some readers; this is not stuff for the queasy).
My main problem with this book and its predecessor is that I sometimes get the impression that McDowell delights a bit too much in the explicit sexuality and violence, and that the novel would have been better served if he'd pulled back a bit, if only to make that material not seem gratuitous at times.
Also, despite reading both books, I never became 100% accustomed to the modern tone of the dialog. I'm not saying the characters should sound Shakespearean, but in the end I feel like the anachronistic dialog never allows the reader to become totally immersed in the novel's setting.
Still, all in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy lit and especially anyone who likes Arthurian legend and wants to read a fresh and interesting take on it.
January 3, 2009
This sequel is again written from Mordred's point of view. He's still the same average guy, not quite a hero, but nothing terrible either. It's interesting how he gets Lancelot's role in this, but then, this book definitely isn't the kind in which our courtly lover would exactly fit. The fact that Mordred is starting to like Arthur again after all his bitterness toward him in the first book is realistic, and introduces a bit more conflict into it.
The first line of the book makes me snicker: "None of this would have happened if Guinevere's little sister hadn't grown a penis." It's actually exactly what happens, but it's still a funny first line. The storyline with Nimue being a guy is actually pretty interesting, even if it deviates from all the Arthurian canon I know of. Nimue's feelings toward Gawain are so cute. I wish Gawain had been in it more: he's the kind of character it's easy to like. Mordred, Arthur, Guinevere... they're all a little bit too complex, I guess. Gawain's simpler, and that makes him a bit more likeable. For me, anyway. The end makes me very, very sad, for this reason. Gawain deserved better. Although it was quite interesting, the two brothers meeting and talking for the last time, and then riding into battle against each other.
I enjoyed reading these two books. Not sure I'll read them again, but it was interesting to get this Mordred-orientated modern-flavoured view so soon after reading Malory's Le Morte Darthur.
The first line of the book makes me snicker: "None of this would have happened if Guinevere's little sister hadn't grown a penis." It's actually exactly what happens, but it's still a funny first line. The storyline with Nimue being a guy is actually pretty interesting, even if it deviates from all the Arthurian canon I know of. Nimue's feelings toward Gawain are so cute. I wish Gawain had been in it more: he's the kind of character it's easy to like. Mordred, Arthur, Guinevere... they're all a little bit too complex, I guess. Gawain's simpler, and that makes him a bit more likeable. For me, anyway. The end makes me very, very sad, for this reason. Gawain deserved better. Although it was quite interesting, the two brothers meeting and talking for the last time, and then riding into battle against each other.
I enjoyed reading these two books. Not sure I'll read them again, but it was interesting to get this Mordred-orientated modern-flavoured view so soon after reading Malory's Le Morte Darthur.
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March 4, 2018The second book, which starts with one hell of a sentence (which has stuck in my head in spite of many years and tons of other books) and keeps going from there. right up to the inevitable ending.
Not so sure if I'd enjoy it so much these days as I did when I was a teen. As there was a lot of profanity and some things seemed only to have been put in there to be shocking. Though I did appreciate an offhand remark that made it normal(and ok) that Guinevere doesn't shave her legs.
Not so sure if I'd enjoy it so much these days as I did when I was a teen. As there was a lot of profanity and some things seemed only to have been put in there to be shocking. Though I did appreciate an offhand remark that made it normal(and ok) that Guinevere doesn't shave her legs.
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