Morgain's Revenge

Grail Quest #2

by Laura Anne Gilman

King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table are preparing once again to set out in search of the legendary Holy Grail. This time Morgain le Fay is determined to stop them at any cost, and she knows exactly who is standing in her way. When she kidnaps Ailis, the servant girl whose untrained magical powers grow stronger with every passing day, her vengeance seems to be taking a terrifying turn. Gerard and Newt must work together again to rescue their best friend before it's too late...before Morgain turns Ailis to evil...before Ailis helps Morgain destroy Camelot. Ages 10+

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Arthurian, Historical

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Laura Anne Gilman’s work has been hailed as “a true American myth” by NPR, and praised for her “deft plotting and first-class characters” by Publishers Weekly. She has won the Endeavor Award for THE COLD EYE, and been shortlisted for a Nebula, (another) Endeavor, and a Washington State Book Award. Her work includes the Devil’s West trilogy, the Cosa Nostradamus urban fantasy series, the Vineart trilogy, and the story collection WEST WINDS’ FOOL. Her upcoming move, UNCANNY TIMES, will be out from Saga Books in 2022.

She lives in Seattle with a cat, a dog, and many deadlines.

Reviews

[Charlene - Coffee and a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book written in a way that it had really good pacing and kept me engaged throughout, but once I finished the book I realized very little actually happened. One of the three main characters from the first book is kidnapped and taken to a remote castle. The other two main characters and a knight of the round table set off on a quest to find her and deal with her kidnapper. Then most of the book is the three companions traveling to the castle, and the other character roaming the castle, meeting her kidnapper, and learning a bit about magic from her (of which we see very little). Like many middle trilogy books, this one feels like it’s mostly setting the stage and getting the characters in place for the events in book 3. It’s good and there’s nothing really wrong with it, there just wasn’t really much happening plot-wise and (as of yet) it doesn’t feel like we added much character growth following the first book.


Content:
• Drugs and Alcohol – one mention of drinking wine (by an adult and a minor)
• Violence – boys and a knight are attacked by the undead, a man is eaten by a sea serpent (seen from a distance)
• Themes – sorcery and magic

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Morgain magically kidnaps Ailis, Gerard and Newt set out to find her. Merlin supplies them with a lodestone, to locate Morgain's lair; while Arthur furnishes them with horses and a knight to protect them. While they make their way north to Scotland, Ailis explores Morgain's castle, and begins to learn more about the magic within her. And the longer she stays, the more she begins to question just who is right and who is wrong.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morgain magically kidnaps Alisis from Camelot and transports her to the Isle of Apples where Alisis starts to learn how to control her magical talents. Meanwhile, her friends Gerard and Newt start on a quest to rescue her fom Morgain's clutches before Morgain can turn her from her loyalty to King Arthur.

[Jessica Salt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Grail Quest Trilogy. I love this book very much. The best one I read. In this one!!! Alis has been kidnapped by Morgain Lafaye. I can remember Morgain teaches Alis to do magic. Gadierl and Newt has to save her from Morgain. It was an awesome story. I am not going to give too much away.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the first book either. In this book the maidservant Ailis is captured by the evil sorceress Morgain, and the squire Gerard and stableboy Newt try to save her.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

good contiuation of the plot...one of my favorite authors, even tho this is more of a kids book. interesting take on the tales of King Arthur.

[Laura Battle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good continuation of a unique take on the Camelot legend.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on vacation

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting sequel, though a bit of a title misnomer. Yes, it's often about Morgain, but there's not a lot of revenge, as least none that is concluded in this book. We may see it as "revenge" looking back from the perspective of book three, but this is more of an "Ailis begins to discover herself" book rather than a Morgain's revenge one. Still, titles aside, it remains a fun read, with some good plot twists and moderate character growth. I liked the first one better, though. I think the characterizations were a bit stale in this one; we knew who they were from book one, and they didn't change all that much in book two.