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Guinevere #1
The Dragon Ring
The present day – 24-year-old librarian Gwen goes to scatter her father’s ashes on Glastonbury Tor and is kidnapped back in time to become King Arthur’s Dark Age queen – Guinevere.
Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series Guinevere from Dragonblade Publishing author Fil Reid!
Gwen, a twenty-four-year-old librarian, lives with her boyfriend, Nathan, in a small house, with all the accoutrements of modern living any girl could ask for. When her father dies, and with her ne’er-do-well twin brother on the other side of the world, it’s left to Gwen to fulfill her father’s wishes and scatter his ashes on the top of Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England. Stepping into the ruined church tower, a gold ring catches her eye – a ring embossed with a dragon emblem. When Gwen picks it up, she’s snatched into the dangerous world of the Dark Ages, where she discovers she’s expected to fulfill a prophecy, by marrying Prince Arthur and helping him become the king of legend.
Will she stay with Arthur?
Arthur, Prince of Dumnonia, and son of the ailing King Uthyr Pendragon, has ruled the hilltop fortress of Din Cadan for his father since he was a boy of sixteen. But he has an older brother who looks set to inherit both the kingdom and the High Kingship. Tall, handsome, ruthless, he’s less than convinced that any prophecy can decide his future, and he doesn’t think he needs a wife. But news comes that his father is at last dying in far-off Viroconium. Taking Gwen with him, further and further from the Tor where she had hoped to return to her own world, he sets off to outwit his brother.
Will he grow to love Gwen?
Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series Guinevere from Dragonblade Publishing author Fil Reid!
Gwen, a twenty-four-year-old librarian, lives with her boyfriend, Nathan, in a small house, with all the accoutrements of modern living any girl could ask for. When her father dies, and with her ne’er-do-well twin brother on the other side of the world, it’s left to Gwen to fulfill her father’s wishes and scatter his ashes on the top of Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England. Stepping into the ruined church tower, a gold ring catches her eye – a ring embossed with a dragon emblem. When Gwen picks it up, she’s snatched into the dangerous world of the Dark Ages, where she discovers she’s expected to fulfill a prophecy, by marrying Prince Arthur and helping him become the king of legend.
Will she stay with Arthur?
Arthur, Prince of Dumnonia, and son of the ailing King Uthyr Pendragon, has ruled the hilltop fortress of Din Cadan for his father since he was a boy of sixteen. But he has an older brother who looks set to inherit both the kingdom and the High Kingship. Tall, handsome, ruthless, he’s less than convinced that any prophecy can decide his future, and he doesn’t think he needs a wife. But news comes that his father is at last dying in far-off Viroconium. Taking Gwen with him, further and further from the Tor where she had hoped to return to her own world, he sets off to outwit his brother.
Will he grow to love Gwen?
324 pages, ebook
Published January 11, 2022
139 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Fil Reid
25 books64 followersAWARD-WINNING author, Fil Reid's first novel won a GOLD medal at the Readers' Favorites Awards in 2022.
Fil lives in Cornwall with her extremely supportive husband and where she's only minutes from the sea. She has a rescue dog from Romania called Bella.
She writes historical fiction and has a six book time travel series, GUINEVERE, out in which the heroine is a 21st-century girl kidnapped back to the Dark Ages to become King Arthur's Queen Guinevere. Lots of fun plot twists mixed in with some of the well-known and also the lesser known legends.
Her poor husband mostly sees the back of her head as she sits at the computer writing.
When she's not writing (which she does pretty much all of the time) she likes to walk the dog, visit sites of historical interest (preferably those connected to her writing), read, and sew.
She has Asperger's Syndrome, but she sees that as a plus as it helps her to be very focused on what she does.
Fil lives in Cornwall with her extremely supportive husband and where she's only minutes from the sea. She has a rescue dog from Romania called Bella.
She writes historical fiction and has a six book time travel series, GUINEVERE, out in which the heroine is a 21st-century girl kidnapped back to the Dark Ages to become King Arthur's Queen Guinevere. Lots of fun plot twists mixed in with some of the well-known and also the lesser known legends.
Her poor husband mostly sees the back of her head as she sits at the computer writing.
When she's not writing (which she does pretty much all of the time) she likes to walk the dog, visit sites of historical interest (preferably those connected to her writing), read, and sew.
She has Asperger's Syndrome, but she sees that as a plus as it helps her to be very focused on what she does.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 9, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I haven't read a time-travel romance in a while, so I was excited when I happened across THE DRAGON RING, a time-travel romance involving Arthurian legend. Action, adventure, and romance all set in 5th century Britain involving King Arthur and his court? Sign me up!
The story begins with Gwen, a twenty-four-year-old librarian who is in current day and grieving the passing of her father. Since he was an Arthurian legend scholar and obsessive, he's requested that his ashes be spread at Glastonbury Tor, located in Somerset, England. After scattering the ashes, she hears a high-pitched note, touches a golden ring that she spots on the ground, and is transported to 5th century Britain, straight into the heart of Arthurian legend. As her adventure unfolds, she must decide whether or not to embrace her new life, or to try to return to the one she's always known.
What worked for me in this book was the accurate and detailed descriptions of what life would have been like in the Dark Ages. Things were bleak. In particular, the description of poverty in the village that would later be modern day Bath comes to mind. Those poor, bedraggled, starving children! Another example is how important one's horse was in that time. The care and feeding of a horse is something I know little about and it was interesting to learn more about it.
Having never studied Arthurian legend or the detailed history of 5th century Britain, many of the details in this book were new to me. If you're a history buff, or want to learn more about this time, THE DRAGON RING surely delivers!
That said, for me, there was an overload of historic information that pulled me out of the book several times. It messed with the pacing. For example, there's a conversation Arthur and Gwen have early on in the book that not only feels info-dumpy to me, much of the information doesn't seem relevant to the overall plot of the book.
While I liked the idea of a modern day woman standing in for the legendary Guinevere, the romance aspect of this novel didn't hit the beats I expect in romance. Other than learning how to manage life in 5th century Britain, Gwen didn't change much as a person. There really wasn't any conflict keeping her and Arthur apart. Gwen didn't really have much agency, but I suppose that's true of all women during that time in history.
All in all, I think this book has a lot of components that come together to form a cohesive story. Pick this book up if you are interested in learning about what life was like during the Dark Ages, and specifically about Arthur and the politics and geography of the time as seen through the eyes of a modern day woman.
I haven't read a time-travel romance in a while, so I was excited when I happened across THE DRAGON RING, a time-travel romance involving Arthurian legend. Action, adventure, and romance all set in 5th century Britain involving King Arthur and his court? Sign me up!
The story begins with Gwen, a twenty-four-year-old librarian who is in current day and grieving the passing of her father. Since he was an Arthurian legend scholar and obsessive, he's requested that his ashes be spread at Glastonbury Tor, located in Somerset, England. After scattering the ashes, she hears a high-pitched note, touches a golden ring that she spots on the ground, and is transported to 5th century Britain, straight into the heart of Arthurian legend. As her adventure unfolds, she must decide whether or not to embrace her new life, or to try to return to the one she's always known.
What worked for me in this book was the accurate and detailed descriptions of what life would have been like in the Dark Ages. Things were bleak. In particular, the description of poverty in the village that would later be modern day Bath comes to mind. Those poor, bedraggled, starving children! Another example is how important one's horse was in that time. The care and feeding of a horse is something I know little about and it was interesting to learn more about it.
Having never studied Arthurian legend or the detailed history of 5th century Britain, many of the details in this book were new to me. If you're a history buff, or want to learn more about this time, THE DRAGON RING surely delivers!
That said, for me, there was an overload of historic information that pulled me out of the book several times. It messed with the pacing. For example, there's a conversation Arthur and Gwen have early on in the book that not only feels info-dumpy to me, much of the information doesn't seem relevant to the overall plot of the book.
While I liked the idea of a modern day woman standing in for the legendary Guinevere, the romance aspect of this novel didn't hit the beats I expect in romance. Other than learning how to manage life in 5th century Britain, Gwen didn't change much as a person. There really wasn't any conflict keeping her and Arthur apart. Gwen didn't really have much agency, but I suppose that's true of all women during that time in history.
All in all, I think this book has a lot of components that come together to form a cohesive story. Pick this book up if you are interested in learning about what life was like during the Dark Ages, and specifically about Arthur and the politics and geography of the time as seen through the eyes of a modern day woman.
January 6, 2022
I wasn't looking for THE DRAGON RING, but the title and cover jumped out at me as I was browsing the NetGallery catalogue. Then I learned it involved time-travel back to the Camelot legends, and I was all in.
I didn't expect to pick up the book and race to the end, but that is exactly what I did. While some tense moments were resolved pretty quickly, there's surely plenty more suffering to come and the book left a great deal to be explored, making for the promise of a great series. If you are into anything right now that appears to be from the dark ages (The Last Kingdom, Witcher, even GOT--though I'm not comparing this book to that, but just with that old, lost feel), I think you'll enjoy it, too.
Here's the premise: A modern day Guinevere has the sad task of spreading her historian father's ashes on his favorite Old Ye Englishe hill. Being his beloved daughter, of course she knows the historical significance of the hill, and has been there many times. Turns out, once when she was there as a younger girl, she "met" a funny dressed man and "found" a bracelet, that seemed to be an authentic treasure from years past. Now, as she's remembering this, she sees another shiny gold thing . . . Well, I can't tell you the rest without spoiling it, so you'll just have to read to find out. But you can see how this is intriguing. We somewhat know what is going to happen (but which of the many myths will the author chase?), but we want to see it unfold. Reid does a good job of world building and showing us that olde worlde. Such a good job that I read the book in just a couple of nights. Reid also doesn't meander, so that is good, but as I hinted, some of the resolutions felt too rushed for me to become too emotionally involved. At the same time, it was super fun and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Well done. Thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't expect to pick up the book and race to the end, but that is exactly what I did. While some tense moments were resolved pretty quickly, there's surely plenty more suffering to come and the book left a great deal to be explored, making for the promise of a great series. If you are into anything right now that appears to be from the dark ages (The Last Kingdom, Witcher, even GOT--though I'm not comparing this book to that, but just with that old, lost feel), I think you'll enjoy it, too.
Here's the premise: A modern day Guinevere has the sad task of spreading her historian father's ashes on his favorite Old Ye Englishe hill. Being his beloved daughter, of course she knows the historical significance of the hill, and has been there many times. Turns out, once when she was there as a younger girl, she "met" a funny dressed man and "found" a bracelet, that seemed to be an authentic treasure from years past. Now, as she's remembering this, she sees another shiny gold thing . . . Well, I can't tell you the rest without spoiling it, so you'll just have to read to find out. But you can see how this is intriguing. We somewhat know what is going to happen (but which of the many myths will the author chase?), but we want to see it unfold. Reid does a good job of world building and showing us that olde worlde. Such a good job that I read the book in just a couple of nights. Reid also doesn't meander, so that is good, but as I hinted, some of the resolutions felt too rushed for me to become too emotionally involved. At the same time, it was super fun and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Well done. Thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2022
You would be forgiven for thinking you had just read an illustrated edition of Fil Reid’s, Guinevere: The Dragon Ring, such was the incredible quality of her world-building and historical detail. There’s a fine line when it comes to historical fiction and flights of fantasy like time-travel, and often that line is crossed in such tales when historical accuracy takes second place to fantastical storylines. Fil, however, has surpassed any responsibility she might have felt to depict the period setting with any measure of truth. She has diligently researched the era and the result is an intricately believable depiction of a world where the remarkable characters could well have played out their legends.
In truth, the narrative of Arthur, Guinevere and Merlin has been well used in countless books, films and TV shows, as has the trope of time-traveling heroes and heroines who struggle with the choice of one world over the other; what separates The Dragon Ring for me is Fil’s beautifully descriptive writing. While reading, I couldn’t help thinking that the author would make a phenomenal travel writer with her gift for visualizations.
Guinevere’s story has all the ingredients necessary for an adventure such as this. There’s intrigue, romance, battles, and enough good versus evil moments to keep the reader engaged in the characters. Though it starts quite slowly, it gathers pace and I was drawn to keep reading until the end.
For those who like their historical fiction to be rooted firmly in realistic depictions of period life, Guinevere: The Dragon Ring is highly recommended. A worthy five stars.
In truth, the narrative of Arthur, Guinevere and Merlin has been well used in countless books, films and TV shows, as has the trope of time-traveling heroes and heroines who struggle with the choice of one world over the other; what separates The Dragon Ring for me is Fil’s beautifully descriptive writing. While reading, I couldn’t help thinking that the author would make a phenomenal travel writer with her gift for visualizations.
Guinevere’s story has all the ingredients necessary for an adventure such as this. There’s intrigue, romance, battles, and enough good versus evil moments to keep the reader engaged in the characters. Though it starts quite slowly, it gathers pace and I was drawn to keep reading until the end.
For those who like their historical fiction to be rooted firmly in realistic depictions of period life, Guinevere: The Dragon Ring is highly recommended. A worthy five stars.
January 15, 2022
Generally speaking, I stay away from historical fiction involving time travel. Nonetheless, I decided to give this book a try and enjoyed it a great deal. I should say upfront that I am not all that knowledgeable about this particular era of British history. Consequently, there are probably many readers who can connect with this material on a deeper level than me. Having said that, I think it's still possible to enjoy the book even without having a deep knowledge of Arthurian history. After all, the author has clearly done a lot of research regarding the book series so it's pretty easy to follow the story. And when I say a lot of research, I mean a lot of research. She even researched oral hygiene in Arthurian England! Dental matters aside, there's quite a bit to enjoy with the story. The combination of magic, palace intrigue, and sword fights will be more than enough to keep most readers engaged, not to mention the romantic sub-plot involving Guinevere and the hunky King Arthur. Readers should keep in mind the novel is at times violent. However, the violence is never gratuitous in my opinion and plays a fairly minor role in the story. All in all, I think the book is a strong read and recommend it to anyone interested in the Arthurian era.
September 9, 2022
Oh boy. Where to start?
Maybe I'll begin with the fact that this book was not ready to be published. It is a first draft. The author also marketed it as "traditionally published" when in fact there is no mention of an editor, agent, production team, or publishing company in the acknowledgements. Instead she references some beta readers. And don't get me wrong, beta readers are a crucial part of the editing process, but they are absolutely not the only part of it. I'm willing to bet that this book was self-published without feedback from a professional editor, which was unwise. I understand the author may be new to writing a novel and perhaps was unaware of these things, but at the end of the day, it was her job to put forth her best work -- and this was not it.
Worldbuilding / Gwen's home life:
I had a huge issue with the way Gwen's family, friends, and boyfriend were introduced, mostly because THEY WEREN'T. We never meet Nathan, her boyfriend. We never meet Artie, her brother (which, it's kind of weird to me that her brother and love interest have the same name? I'm sorry but that's not at all appealing). We are also told that Gwen is a librarian, but we never once see her working in a library. It makes you wonder why all of this was mentioned when it had no importance to the story.
As for the Dark Ages section of this book, I am genuinely disturbed by the portrayal of both the serfs and their lifestyles. The author literally describes them as dirty, dumb losers with absolutely no intelligence or personality whatsoever. It's honestly so upsetting that she relies on these stereotypes of history and then people in the reviews call it "accurate". It's not. People in the Middle Ages, including serfs, visited bathhouses and (sometimes) nearby rivers to bathe. They weren't stupid either -- they created special combs to remove lice, wrote beautiful chants and poetry in monasteries, created elaborate gowns with gravity-defying headdresses, and the list goes on. But the author reduces them to a few characters with missing teeth and a horrible version of English -- which, if she was going to make the dialogue as accented as she did, she might as well have just written half the book in Old English.
Prose:
This might be where the most work was needed. The author makes the mistake of "telling" instead of "showing". Sometimes there were endless paragraphs of Guinevere detailing her every thought -- and while I want to know what a protagonist is thinking, I don't want it blatantly listed out. Prose is supposed to be something that is exciting to uncover. It can be dissected and interpreted in different ways. When you tell instead of show, that doesn't happen. I think if the author had an editor to assist her this issue would've been better addressed. It's kind of a shame that it wasn't done.
Another thing that bothered me was the incessant reminder that Gwen is a "21st century woman". Literally read the book blurb and you will find this phrase multiple times. Again, this is telling. Calling your character independent does not convince me that they are independent. It would've been better if the author showed Gwen trying to do things on her own without attaching all these adjectives to her.
Additionally, the author uses wayyyy too many adverbs. Way too many. Using big words does not necessarily elevate a book's diction -- in some cases, it lowers it. I wish she'd tried using stronger verbs and nouns, rather than so many unnecessary descriptive words.
Characters:
Guinevere -- After 300 pages I still didn't have a good sense of her personality. She doesn't really have any interests / noticeable traits except praising herself for everything. Honestly, I don't think the author intended for her protagonist to come across as stuck up and self-centered -- but she did. Gwen constantly describes herself in a manner that gives off "I'm better than you" vibes, probably because the Dark Ages people are about as developed as a piece of blank paper. Also, this girl CHEATED ON HER BOYFRIEND and it's just dismissed b/c she's "in love"??? How am I supposed to root for a character that lacks empathy and common sense???
Arthur -- the brother, or the husband? Who knows. I guess I'll stick to the latter. Gwen pretty much drools over him having ragged hair and a "masculine scent" -- wtf??? -- and he's lowkey kinda misogynistic which, I'll admit, is somewhat historically accurate. Other than that he doesn't have much development except for a semi-tragic backstory abt his family and some anger issues.
Nathan -- Gwen's boyfriend. I said this earlier, but we never meet him, which makes it REALLY hard for me to feel any conflict between him, Gwen, and Arthur. All I felt was upset because he got cheated on. Nathan deserved better.
Merlin -- I really, really wish the author did more with this character. He easily could've been such a cool character because he already WAS a cool character. There's so much history about it, and yet this book features none of it. He kind of comes across as a creep. In fact, in the beginning of the novel he literally STALKS A CHILD and says she's gonna marry someone??!!!!! WTF?? Other than that he just sat around spying on people and doing nothing.
The rest of the characters honestly needed more development, even as side characters. I don't know what else to say.
Pacing:
This was another area where an editor would've really helped the author. The pacing was just not consistent. Sometimes there'd be paragraphs upon paragraphs of Guinevere telling the reader her every thought. Other times there'd be reallyyyyy long descriptions of a journey through the country in which nothing happened. There's a lot of scenes that could've been trimmed down or cut entirely. Overall this book needed a lot more editing.
Review: 0.5 stars
I will give Fil Reid credit for writing a novel. Regardless of the improvements that needed to be made, she wrote at least 300 pages, and that's not easy. But she really needed to analyze her writing more and be honest about the quality of certain sections. This was not ready to be published.
I find it interesting that this book has good reviews -- this was actually what made me read it in the first place. To be honest, I think the author should've presented this book more for adults. She doesn't seem to adhere to a specific audience, but from reading the reviews, it's clear that many grown adults found some value in reading it. And that's fine. But I'm not an adult. I genuinely had the impression that this was a YA book -- IT IS NOT. Some scenes are too detailed for YA appropriate literature, and some scenes are kind of immature (reading from Gwen's perspective, at least).
I want to emphasize that this book had potential. The concept itself is very interesting: a woman goes back to the Dark Ages and lives among real historical people. That's awesome. What wasn't so great was the execution. I truly believe that an editor and a publishing team would've improved the writing SO MUCH. It's a shame that didn't happen.
Maybe I'll begin with the fact that this book was not ready to be published. It is a first draft. The author also marketed it as "traditionally published" when in fact there is no mention of an editor, agent, production team, or publishing company in the acknowledgements. Instead she references some beta readers. And don't get me wrong, beta readers are a crucial part of the editing process, but they are absolutely not the only part of it. I'm willing to bet that this book was self-published without feedback from a professional editor, which was unwise. I understand the author may be new to writing a novel and perhaps was unaware of these things, but at the end of the day, it was her job to put forth her best work -- and this was not it.
Worldbuilding / Gwen's home life:
I had a huge issue with the way Gwen's family, friends, and boyfriend were introduced, mostly because THEY WEREN'T. We never meet Nathan, her boyfriend. We never meet Artie, her brother (which, it's kind of weird to me that her brother and love interest have the same name? I'm sorry but that's not at all appealing). We are also told that Gwen is a librarian, but we never once see her working in a library. It makes you wonder why all of this was mentioned when it had no importance to the story.
As for the Dark Ages section of this book, I am genuinely disturbed by the portrayal of both the serfs and their lifestyles. The author literally describes them as dirty, dumb losers with absolutely no intelligence or personality whatsoever. It's honestly so upsetting that she relies on these stereotypes of history and then people in the reviews call it "accurate". It's not. People in the Middle Ages, including serfs, visited bathhouses and (sometimes) nearby rivers to bathe. They weren't stupid either -- they created special combs to remove lice, wrote beautiful chants and poetry in monasteries, created elaborate gowns with gravity-defying headdresses, and the list goes on. But the author reduces them to a few characters with missing teeth and a horrible version of English -- which, if she was going to make the dialogue as accented as she did, she might as well have just written half the book in Old English.
Prose:
This might be where the most work was needed. The author makes the mistake of "telling" instead of "showing". Sometimes there were endless paragraphs of Guinevere detailing her every thought -- and while I want to know what a protagonist is thinking, I don't want it blatantly listed out. Prose is supposed to be something that is exciting to uncover. It can be dissected and interpreted in different ways. When you tell instead of show, that doesn't happen. I think if the author had an editor to assist her this issue would've been better addressed. It's kind of a shame that it wasn't done.
Another thing that bothered me was the incessant reminder that Gwen is a "21st century woman". Literally read the book blurb and you will find this phrase multiple times. Again, this is telling. Calling your character independent does not convince me that they are independent. It would've been better if the author showed Gwen trying to do things on her own without attaching all these adjectives to her.
Additionally, the author uses wayyyy too many adverbs. Way too many. Using big words does not necessarily elevate a book's diction -- in some cases, it lowers it. I wish she'd tried using stronger verbs and nouns, rather than so many unnecessary descriptive words.
Characters:
Guinevere -- After 300 pages I still didn't have a good sense of her personality. She doesn't really have any interests / noticeable traits except praising herself for everything. Honestly, I don't think the author intended for her protagonist to come across as stuck up and self-centered -- but she did. Gwen constantly describes herself in a manner that gives off "I'm better than you" vibes, probably because the Dark Ages people are about as developed as a piece of blank paper. Also, this girl CHEATED ON HER BOYFRIEND and it's just dismissed b/c she's "in love"??? How am I supposed to root for a character that lacks empathy and common sense???
Arthur -- the brother, or the husband? Who knows. I guess I'll stick to the latter. Gwen pretty much drools over him having ragged hair and a "masculine scent" -- wtf??? -- and he's lowkey kinda misogynistic which, I'll admit, is somewhat historically accurate. Other than that he doesn't have much development except for a semi-tragic backstory abt his family and some anger issues.
Nathan -- Gwen's boyfriend. I said this earlier, but we never meet him, which makes it REALLY hard for me to feel any conflict between him, Gwen, and Arthur. All I felt was upset because he got cheated on. Nathan deserved better.
Merlin -- I really, really wish the author did more with this character. He easily could've been such a cool character because he already WAS a cool character. There's so much history about it, and yet this book features none of it. He kind of comes across as a creep. In fact, in the beginning of the novel he literally STALKS A CHILD and says she's gonna marry someone??!!!!! WTF?? Other than that he just sat around spying on people and doing nothing.
The rest of the characters honestly needed more development, even as side characters. I don't know what else to say.
Pacing:
This was another area where an editor would've really helped the author. The pacing was just not consistent. Sometimes there'd be paragraphs upon paragraphs of Guinevere telling the reader her every thought. Other times there'd be reallyyyyy long descriptions of a journey through the country in which nothing happened. There's a lot of scenes that could've been trimmed down or cut entirely. Overall this book needed a lot more editing.
Review: 0.5 stars
I will give Fil Reid credit for writing a novel. Regardless of the improvements that needed to be made, she wrote at least 300 pages, and that's not easy. But she really needed to analyze her writing more and be honest about the quality of certain sections. This was not ready to be published.
I find it interesting that this book has good reviews -- this was actually what made me read it in the first place. To be honest, I think the author should've presented this book more for adults. She doesn't seem to adhere to a specific audience, but from reading the reviews, it's clear that many grown adults found some value in reading it. And that's fine. But I'm not an adult. I genuinely had the impression that this was a YA book -- IT IS NOT. Some scenes are too detailed for YA appropriate literature, and some scenes are kind of immature (reading from Gwen's perspective, at least).
I want to emphasize that this book had potential. The concept itself is very interesting: a woman goes back to the Dark Ages and lives among real historical people. That's awesome. What wasn't so great was the execution. I truly believe that an editor and a publishing team would've improved the writing SO MUCH. It's a shame that didn't happen.
May 1, 2022
The Dragon Ring
The main character of The Dragon Ring: Guinevere, 24 year old Gwen, is a pleasure to know. She's feisty, intelligent, brave, resourceful and adaptable. And she's also quite knowledgeable about early English history. As the book starts, Gwen is making a pilgrimage to a favourite hill – Glastonbury Tor - where she plans to scatter the ashes of her recently deceased and much loved father. Amidst the standing stones, she spots a gold ring, hears a musical note and is yanked through a portal back to fifth century Britain, where she, Guinevere, will meet Arthur and help fulfill a prophecy.
There are certain conventions in time travel books that are unavoidable. Creating a plausible portal is one of them, and Reid has done that well. When she first arrives, Gwen is sure she's met up with an unusually dedicated group of historical re-enactors. And predictably, Gwen is constantly strategizing about how to get back to her own time, a plot element which sustains a certain level of tension. She also struggles with the ethical dilemma facing time travellers: will they actually alter history by their actions. Since Gwen is well versed in Arthurian legend, there are occasions when her knowledge of the various characters causes conflict.
Fil Reid has created a superb sense of the period – the time of King Arthur, and the place – the English towns and villages of Somerset and Shropshire. One gets a good look at daily life, the dirt, the damp, the food and the poverty. There are nice touches of humour as well, mainly to do with personal hygiene. This talented writer has done her homework and successfully depicts the remaining influence of Rome on the Britons of the early sixth century. Some of those former Roman strongholds, like Bath, are in ruins, whilst others – Viroconium, (present day Wroxeter) retain their bath houses complete with functioning hypocausts. Bathing in fifth century England was more important than I'd thought.
I always have a small quibble, and this one is minor. At times there's a little more genealogy of kings than I cared for, but that's part of understanding the politics of the times, with the numerous kings constantly struggling for power.
But all in all, a most enjoyable book for a very wide audience.
The main character of The Dragon Ring: Guinevere, 24 year old Gwen, is a pleasure to know. She's feisty, intelligent, brave, resourceful and adaptable. And she's also quite knowledgeable about early English history. As the book starts, Gwen is making a pilgrimage to a favourite hill – Glastonbury Tor - where she plans to scatter the ashes of her recently deceased and much loved father. Amidst the standing stones, she spots a gold ring, hears a musical note and is yanked through a portal back to fifth century Britain, where she, Guinevere, will meet Arthur and help fulfill a prophecy.
There are certain conventions in time travel books that are unavoidable. Creating a plausible portal is one of them, and Reid has done that well. When she first arrives, Gwen is sure she's met up with an unusually dedicated group of historical re-enactors. And predictably, Gwen is constantly strategizing about how to get back to her own time, a plot element which sustains a certain level of tension. She also struggles with the ethical dilemma facing time travellers: will they actually alter history by their actions. Since Gwen is well versed in Arthurian legend, there are occasions when her knowledge of the various characters causes conflict.
Fil Reid has created a superb sense of the period – the time of King Arthur, and the place – the English towns and villages of Somerset and Shropshire. One gets a good look at daily life, the dirt, the damp, the food and the poverty. There are nice touches of humour as well, mainly to do with personal hygiene. This talented writer has done her homework and successfully depicts the remaining influence of Rome on the Britons of the early sixth century. Some of those former Roman strongholds, like Bath, are in ruins, whilst others – Viroconium, (present day Wroxeter) retain their bath houses complete with functioning hypocausts. Bathing in fifth century England was more important than I'd thought.
I always have a small quibble, and this one is minor. At times there's a little more genealogy of kings than I cared for, but that's part of understanding the politics of the times, with the numerous kings constantly struggling for power.
But all in all, a most enjoyable book for a very wide audience.
March 26, 2022
I had the fortune of being one of Fil's early readers in the Alpha versions of The Dragon Ring, and even in those early incarnations the writing was tight, concise, fluent, and engaging - and this from a reader reading outside of their preferred genre (horror).
If you love fantasy combined with our modern-day world, portals, castles, and swordplay, there's not a lot you can do wrong here - you'll be as swept away as I was. It doesn't surprise me that this book won a competition and garnered the author a three-book deal - Fil (or Flicka, as I know her on CC) writes with her heart on her sleeve, and may she long continue to do so.
Can't recommend this enough, and am thrilled this got the recognition it so richly deserves.
If you love fantasy combined with our modern-day world, portals, castles, and swordplay, there's not a lot you can do wrong here - you'll be as swept away as I was. It doesn't surprise me that this book won a competition and garnered the author a three-book deal - Fil (or Flicka, as I know her on CC) writes with her heart on her sleeve, and may she long continue to do so.
Can't recommend this enough, and am thrilled this got the recognition it so richly deserves.
May 3, 2022
After reading this story I find that it’s a wonderful good read. Merlin and Gwin are my favorite characters. I liked that the story had an easy pace for me to read. The information surrounding the history of how King Arthur came into becoming England’s leader, I thought was very detailed. It almost seemed as though I was being in history class all over again as I read this book. Some of the Gaelic was a little heavy, but I found that I was able to understand what the characters were referring to. The book did a great job of playing in to my imagination as the details of the narrative to the story was explained so well in the book.
May 6, 2022
Fil Reid is a brilliant storyteller who distinguishes herself in the early pages of “The Dragon Ring” by delivering a time travel fantasy that is more astute and intelligent than a mere bait and switch plotline.
Read full review in the 2022 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2022 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 5, 2022
Fil Reid won Dragonblade's 'The Write Stuff' competition (2021) with this book - and I can see why. The Dragon Ring is a wonderfully fast-moving and historically-detailed time-travel romance-adventure. (Apologies for the deluge of hyphenated adjectives - all entirely relevant.)
In brief, 21st-century librarian Guinevere is scattering her Arthurian-scholar father's ashes on Glastonbury Tor when she is twitched back in time to Dark Ages Britain. By Merlin, of course. Merlin's bent on marrying Gwen to Arthur, who's only a second son and doesn't look at all likely to become a king. Only this 21st-century girl will do for his deep plans.
Of course, Gwen is mightily discombobulated to find herself in the uncivilized fifth century. She thinks she's stumbled over some historical reenactors who take themselves too seriously for a while. She just wants to go home to the comfortable 21st century where everything smells better. Merlin, of course, has other plans.
I'm not going to spoil any (more) plot points from this point on - I'm just going to talk about what I did (and only occasionally didn't) like.
I loved the historical detail. Because Gwen has travelled back in time AND her father was a mad-keen Arthurian, she notes all sorts of historical details that your average Dark Ages inhabitant would never notice. This is the lovely thing about time-travel stories - they can really highlight the difference of the past, because the time-traveller sees everything with eyes wide open. I enjoyed the touches of wry humour:
I very much appreciated Fil's detailed world-building (check out the map on her website) and informed adaptation of Arthurian lore. Some beautiful writing too:
There were, however, a few things I wasn't so keen on. Nothing major - just little niggles. The stereotyped tropes, e.g. the prostitutes ('Grubby gowns slipped from pale shoulders to reveal pendulous breasts' yet when a warrior tosses the breast-owner a coin, it is 'caught deftly in her hand and tucked into her cleavage.' Given said breasts' pendulous and naked state, where on earth is the coin to be stowed?) Then the peasant-speak of the lower-class characters irritated me a little: 'my sweet Lord took a wound from a spear 'igh up 'is leg ... It never 'ealed. Got ulcerated and 'e could never sit an 'orse again.' (60%) I think such characters' speech is quite vibrant and characterising enough. Leave the letter H alone!
But these are minor niggles. Truly, this is a fast and fun read, full of vivid detail. Much more of an historical novel than a fantasy or even strictly a romance. Yes, I'm going to say it - it's Outlander for King Arthur. Actually, it's better (I gave up on Outlander quarter of the way in). Just one thing, Fil - whatever happened to Gwen's lacy red underwear? I was looking forward to Arthur getting an eye-full.
In brief, 21st-century librarian Guinevere is scattering her Arthurian-scholar father's ashes on Glastonbury Tor when she is twitched back in time to Dark Ages Britain. By Merlin, of course. Merlin's bent on marrying Gwen to Arthur, who's only a second son and doesn't look at all likely to become a king. Only this 21st-century girl will do for his deep plans.
Of course, Gwen is mightily discombobulated to find herself in the uncivilized fifth century. She thinks she's stumbled over some historical reenactors who take themselves too seriously for a while. She just wants to go home to the comfortable 21st century where everything smells better. Merlin, of course, has other plans.
I'm not going to spoil any (more) plot points from this point on - I'm just going to talk about what I did (and only occasionally didn't) like.
I loved the historical detail. Because Gwen has travelled back in time AND her father was a mad-keen Arthurian, she notes all sorts of historical details that your average Dark Ages inhabitant would never notice. This is the lovely thing about time-travel stories - they can really highlight the difference of the past, because the time-traveller sees everything with eyes wide open. I enjoyed the touches of wry humour:
Cottia was talking hokum about prophecies, and although she sounded as though she believed it, I, with my twenty-first-century common sense, knew it was a load of bollocks. Just like I knew time travel was ... (17%)
I very much appreciated Fil's detailed world-building (check out the map on her website) and informed adaptation of Arthurian lore. Some beautiful writing too:
A buzzard mewed in the sky overhead, soaring on the wind against the tattered clouds (25%)
There were, however, a few things I wasn't so keen on. Nothing major - just little niggles. The stereotyped tropes, e.g. the prostitutes ('Grubby gowns slipped from pale shoulders to reveal pendulous breasts' yet when a warrior tosses the breast-owner a coin, it is 'caught deftly in her hand and tucked into her cleavage.' Given said breasts' pendulous and naked state, where on earth is the coin to be stowed?) Then the peasant-speak of the lower-class characters irritated me a little: 'my sweet Lord took a wound from a spear 'igh up 'is leg ... It never 'ealed. Got ulcerated and 'e could never sit an 'orse again.' (60%) I think such characters' speech is quite vibrant and characterising enough. Leave the letter H alone!
But these are minor niggles. Truly, this is a fast and fun read, full of vivid detail. Much more of an historical novel than a fantasy or even strictly a romance. Yes, I'm going to say it - it's Outlander for King Arthur. Actually, it's better (I gave up on Outlander quarter of the way in). Just one thing, Fil - whatever happened to Gwen's lacy red underwear? I was looking forward to Arthur getting an eye-full.
October 3, 2022
A Magical Time
I am so glad that there are more books in this series. I want to know more of Guinever's life. The characters and settings were so well written, I felt like I was there. I highly recommend this novel, especially to anyone who enjoys reading about King Arthur and the magical times he lived in.
I am so glad that there are more books in this series. I want to know more of Guinever's life. The characters and settings were so well written, I felt like I was there. I highly recommend this novel, especially to anyone who enjoys reading about King Arthur and the magical times he lived in.
August 22, 2022
What an awesome version of Arthur meeting Guinevere. I flew through the first book & am now on the 2nd in the series, The Bear’s Heart. I’m spellbound. Thank you, Fil Reid!
January 18, 2023
Truth vs Myth
A modern woman is pulled through time to become Queen Guenevere. A very interesting, informative, smooth flowing version of the King Arthur story with wonderful characters. You step back through time to the 5th Century, experience what life was like but through modern eyes in this unpredictable book. Looking forward to seeing Gwen's influence and knowledge weave into the Dark Ages throughout the rest of this series.
A modern woman is pulled through time to become Queen Guenevere. A very interesting, informative, smooth flowing version of the King Arthur story with wonderful characters. You step back through time to the 5th Century, experience what life was like but through modern eyes in this unpredictable book. Looking forward to seeing Gwen's influence and knowledge weave into the Dark Ages throughout the rest of this series.
January 2, 2023
So good
This will be a story that I remember forever. It is an exceptional plot so well developed with extraordinary characters. Give yourself a treat and settle in for a long and engaging ride.
This will be a story that I remember forever. It is an exceptional plot so well developed with extraordinary characters. Give yourself a treat and settle in for a long and engaging ride.
February 13, 2025
Being a fan of time travel historical romance books and having been fascinated with the legend of King Arthur since I was a young girl, I was quite looking forward to reading this book and I certainly wasn't disappointed! To be honest, it felt more like a study in history with romance being a secondary subject but I really enjoyed it. Imagine, being a modern day woman and suddenly finding yourself in the 5th century, being King Arthur's Queen Guinevere and Merlin is also there!!
This is my first book by Fil Reid and it certainly won't be my last. I've already bought a few more of her books:) Lots of history here, you will learn all about how King Arthur became who he was, life as it was in the Dark Ages and the battles fought. It's a cliffhanger ending so be aware of that. It's a good thing I already have the second book ready to be read:) This first book in the Guinevere series has really whetted my appetite for more so I look forward to reading the whole series.
This is my first book by Fil Reid and it certainly won't be my last. I've already bought a few more of her books:) Lots of history here, you will learn all about how King Arthur became who he was, life as it was in the Dark Ages and the battles fought. It's a cliffhanger ending so be aware of that. It's a good thing I already have the second book ready to be read:) This first book in the Guinevere series has really whetted my appetite for more so I look forward to reading the whole series.
March 30, 2022
Gwen, a 21st century woman, grieving for her father but otherwise content with her life is about to her have her whole world turned upside down when she is transported back to Dark sage Britain.
In the 21st century Gwen grew up with a father obsessed with Arthurian myths and legends so much so it became his job and he named his twin children after King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. She is soon to discover that the stories she grew up with are more than just myths and legends, and she may be more closely related to these historical figures than she first thought.
Whilst scattering her fathers ashes on the Tor at Glastonbury, a place strongly associated with Arthurian legend, Gwen is transported to another place … well the same place but in a different time… the dark ages.
From this point on we accompany Gwen as she navigated her way through a world she knows about through stories and text books, learning how to survive, learning how not to be killed for being a stranger or suspected spy.
I couldn’t put this book down (despite becoming I’ll part way through reading) as Fil Reid has created an incredibly well researched and totally immersive world. As someone who grew up loving myths and legends, and has even visited Merlins actual (we hope) cave in Cornwall, I loved finding out real historical information about the time and stories along the way.
DO NOT WORRY if you know absolutely nothing about Arthurian myths and legends, because Fil Reid gives you a quick lowdown on the key points at the beginning before coming into the story.
One of my favourite parts of the writing was Gwen’s conflicts between her 21st century, and even future Dark Ages, knowledge and how this could help or perhaps hinder her time there. I especially enjoyed the narrative around her worries about becoming pregnant and whether she would even survive in the past and her consideration of her birth control injection. There are also other moments where modern medical knowledge around keeping wounds clean and closed seems quite radical to those in the past and even Gwen’s own worries about how to keep her teeth clean. As a bit of a science and health nerd I loved these additions. I find this is an element that is often missing from time travel and even apocalyptic stories, as someone with a condition called Endometriosis I just know I wouldn’t survive or cope without our accessible modern medical options and comforts, and it was brilliant to see these very really worries on the page.
Underlying this clear love for myths and legends, and musings of how a modern woman would adapt to Dark Age life, is another issue – woman’s social status. Gwen has been zapped back, she is a prophecy come true and is expected to be the Queen that will stand by Arthur but she seems to get little say in all of this. This lack of ability to speak for herself and make her own decisions jars with her modern upbringing making this new world more difficult to navigate.
At first Gwen is desperate to get back to her own time but as the story progresses, as she gets to know Arthur better, her resolve softens… will she escape back to modern comforts and her boyfriend Nathan or will she stand by her King and fulfil the prophecy to save Britain and set in motion the legend of asking Arthur?
Verdict: I loved this book. it hit so many points for me: myths and legends, time travel, history, medical science, feminism…. I don’t think a book could have been anymore perfect for me. I can’t wait to read the follow up which was released earlier this month!
In the 21st century Gwen grew up with a father obsessed with Arthurian myths and legends so much so it became his job and he named his twin children after King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. She is soon to discover that the stories she grew up with are more than just myths and legends, and she may be more closely related to these historical figures than she first thought.
Whilst scattering her fathers ashes on the Tor at Glastonbury, a place strongly associated with Arthurian legend, Gwen is transported to another place … well the same place but in a different time… the dark ages.
From this point on we accompany Gwen as she navigated her way through a world she knows about through stories and text books, learning how to survive, learning how not to be killed for being a stranger or suspected spy.
I couldn’t put this book down (despite becoming I’ll part way through reading) as Fil Reid has created an incredibly well researched and totally immersive world. As someone who grew up loving myths and legends, and has even visited Merlins actual (we hope) cave in Cornwall, I loved finding out real historical information about the time and stories along the way.
DO NOT WORRY if you know absolutely nothing about Arthurian myths and legends, because Fil Reid gives you a quick lowdown on the key points at the beginning before coming into the story.
One of my favourite parts of the writing was Gwen’s conflicts between her 21st century, and even future Dark Ages, knowledge and how this could help or perhaps hinder her time there. I especially enjoyed the narrative around her worries about becoming pregnant and whether she would even survive in the past and her consideration of her birth control injection. There are also other moments where modern medical knowledge around keeping wounds clean and closed seems quite radical to those in the past and even Gwen’s own worries about how to keep her teeth clean. As a bit of a science and health nerd I loved these additions. I find this is an element that is often missing from time travel and even apocalyptic stories, as someone with a condition called Endometriosis I just know I wouldn’t survive or cope without our accessible modern medical options and comforts, and it was brilliant to see these very really worries on the page.
Underlying this clear love for myths and legends, and musings of how a modern woman would adapt to Dark Age life, is another issue – woman’s social status. Gwen has been zapped back, she is a prophecy come true and is expected to be the Queen that will stand by Arthur but she seems to get little say in all of this. This lack of ability to speak for herself and make her own decisions jars with her modern upbringing making this new world more difficult to navigate.
At first Gwen is desperate to get back to her own time but as the story progresses, as she gets to know Arthur better, her resolve softens… will she escape back to modern comforts and her boyfriend Nathan or will she stand by her King and fulfil the prophecy to save Britain and set in motion the legend of asking Arthur?
Verdict: I loved this book. it hit so many points for me: myths and legends, time travel, history, medical science, feminism…. I don’t think a book could have been anymore perfect for me. I can’t wait to read the follow up which was released earlier this month!
March 30, 2022
My bookshelves are full of books, fiction and non-fiction. The fiction books are ninety-five percent thrillers and mysteries. When I was asked to read The Dragon Ring by Fil Reid, a historical romance, I honestly wondered what I was letting myself in for.
Let me say at the outset that good writing is good writing regardless of the genre. No genuine reader can resist it. And Fil Reid is a very good writer indeed. She writes with honesty, sincerity and great passion. I ended up loving this book. Reid’s writing pulls us effortlessly into the world she creates, a world very clearly built from intense research, a brilliant eye for detail, a powerful imagination, and the skill to mix fantasy with fact, truth with fiction, historical research with legend. The result is a marvellously constructed tale that shines a searching light into a specific moment of time in the Dark Ages.
Here is a story about a few weeks in the life of King Arthur and the love of his life, a 21st century young woman who happens to be called Guinevere. By the power of a gold ring with a dragon emblem, Guinevere is magically transferred from her own time into the Dark Ages, fifteen hundred years before she was born. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the modern Guinevere’s reactions, emotions and feelings are recounted with remarkable psychological integrity.
In her research of this historical period, Reid must have spent days, weeks, maybe even a lifetime, living, breathing, dreaming these moments in the Arthurian legends. The sights, the sounds, the smells are recorded with a convincing realism that left me awed. The locations, the people, their dress and behaviour, seem so exceptionally authentic that I began to wonder if the author herself might at one stage in her life have experienced a momentary shift into that time and space. No colourful Hollywood here with its pageantry, brightness and spectacle. Here is darkness, mud, tired and struggling peasants going about their daily grind with little in the way of ease or comfort ... an authentic aura of decay and poverty that must truly reflect the truth of the time.
This is a historical romance but it is not without its moments of danger, of tension, of suspense, not least at the very end of the book. Here was a finale where the reader flies through the pages with heart in mouth. I have to confess, however, to momentary feelings of dismay at the seemingly ambiguous ending. Was Guinevere's final shout a cry of despair and loss, or a cry of surrender and love? It was only when I went back to the book’s Amazon page and discovered it was the first of a series, that my enjoyment was complete.
Fil Reid clearly had very specific intentions when she started this work. She fulfills her goals to perfection. Readers of historical romance fiction will absolutely love it.
Let me say at the outset that good writing is good writing regardless of the genre. No genuine reader can resist it. And Fil Reid is a very good writer indeed. She writes with honesty, sincerity and great passion. I ended up loving this book. Reid’s writing pulls us effortlessly into the world she creates, a world very clearly built from intense research, a brilliant eye for detail, a powerful imagination, and the skill to mix fantasy with fact, truth with fiction, historical research with legend. The result is a marvellously constructed tale that shines a searching light into a specific moment of time in the Dark Ages.
Here is a story about a few weeks in the life of King Arthur and the love of his life, a 21st century young woman who happens to be called Guinevere. By the power of a gold ring with a dragon emblem, Guinevere is magically transferred from her own time into the Dark Ages, fifteen hundred years before she was born. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the modern Guinevere’s reactions, emotions and feelings are recounted with remarkable psychological integrity.
In her research of this historical period, Reid must have spent days, weeks, maybe even a lifetime, living, breathing, dreaming these moments in the Arthurian legends. The sights, the sounds, the smells are recorded with a convincing realism that left me awed. The locations, the people, their dress and behaviour, seem so exceptionally authentic that I began to wonder if the author herself might at one stage in her life have experienced a momentary shift into that time and space. No colourful Hollywood here with its pageantry, brightness and spectacle. Here is darkness, mud, tired and struggling peasants going about their daily grind with little in the way of ease or comfort ... an authentic aura of decay and poverty that must truly reflect the truth of the time.
This is a historical romance but it is not without its moments of danger, of tension, of suspense, not least at the very end of the book. Here was a finale where the reader flies through the pages with heart in mouth. I have to confess, however, to momentary feelings of dismay at the seemingly ambiguous ending. Was Guinevere's final shout a cry of despair and loss, or a cry of surrender and love? It was only when I went back to the book’s Amazon page and discovered it was the first of a series, that my enjoyment was complete.
Fil Reid clearly had very specific intentions when she started this work. She fulfills her goals to perfection. Readers of historical romance fiction will absolutely love it.
January 17, 2022
I didn’t expect to be drawn to an historical romance, since I never studied history. How would I make sense of a story without an understanding of the real events on which it is based? However, it seems everyone knows a little of King Arthur. No one can say for sure what is real and what is myth with this legendary figure, so a story can go in any one of several directions without bending the ‘facts’ too far out of shape.
Fil Reid’s exciting romance, “Guinevere”, introduces us to Arthur’s fifth-century world via a time-slip. The reader sees Arthur’s exploits through the eyes of a twenty-first century young woman, Gwen. This clever use of a modern-day heroine has the potential to draw in a wider audience, who otherwise, may not imagine a Dark Ages romance is for them! And this story is so much more than a romance.
Using events in Gwen’s childhood, Fil Reid builds a sense of mystery so that when the time-slip occurs, the reader accepts the ‘magic’ of it and is carried along with Gwen, fifteen hundred years into the past. Even when you think you know Gwen’s thoughts – comparing the safety of her comfortable life in the future to the perils of life in the past – you feel her uncertainty and trepidation.
Gwen finds Arthur as many of the legends portray him: a charismatic figure who garners respect and admiration from many sides. Of course, young Arthur just happens to be ‘easy on the eye’, as well. But Gwen already has a very nice young man, far off in the future, if only she can get the time portal to send her back to him…
I read a variety of genres, but enjoy well-written romance novels that are based on complex plots. I also have a soft spot for time travel stories. “Guinevere” exceeded my expectations for being a most entertaining read. It was definitely one of those books that can’t be put down until finished. If anything, the story was too short! Just as well there are other books in the series. I can’t wait to read more
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review is a frank evaluation of its merits.
Fil Reid’s exciting romance, “Guinevere”, introduces us to Arthur’s fifth-century world via a time-slip. The reader sees Arthur’s exploits through the eyes of a twenty-first century young woman, Gwen. This clever use of a modern-day heroine has the potential to draw in a wider audience, who otherwise, may not imagine a Dark Ages romance is for them! And this story is so much more than a romance.
Using events in Gwen’s childhood, Fil Reid builds a sense of mystery so that when the time-slip occurs, the reader accepts the ‘magic’ of it and is carried along with Gwen, fifteen hundred years into the past. Even when you think you know Gwen’s thoughts – comparing the safety of her comfortable life in the future to the perils of life in the past – you feel her uncertainty and trepidation.
Gwen finds Arthur as many of the legends portray him: a charismatic figure who garners respect and admiration from many sides. Of course, young Arthur just happens to be ‘easy on the eye’, as well. But Gwen already has a very nice young man, far off in the future, if only she can get the time portal to send her back to him…
I read a variety of genres, but enjoy well-written romance novels that are based on complex plots. I also have a soft spot for time travel stories. “Guinevere” exceeded my expectations for being a most entertaining read. It was definitely one of those books that can’t be put down until finished. If anything, the story was too short! Just as well there are other books in the series. I can’t wait to read more
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review is a frank evaluation of its merits.
January 7, 2022
Was King Arthur real or just a mixture of tangled myths from a shadowy era? Author Fil Reid seeks to answer that question when she pairs meticulous historical research with multiple legends. The resulting fictional story allows the reader to decide.
Reid creates a unique twist to this well-told story. She uses the voice of Guinivere, a twenty-first-century woman who’s traveled back to the fifth century to become Arthur’s wife and Queen. Through her eyes, the people, the country, and the setting take on a wonderful reality and authenticity.
I was fascinated from the first page to the last, and look forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advanced review copy of this book, and this review is a frank evaluation of its merits. Martha Leonard
Reid creates a unique twist to this well-told story. She uses the voice of Guinivere, a twenty-first-century woman who’s traveled back to the fifth century to become Arthur’s wife and Queen. Through her eyes, the people, the country, and the setting take on a wonderful reality and authenticity.
I was fascinated from the first page to the last, and look forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advanced review copy of this book, and this review is a frank evaluation of its merits. Martha Leonard
February 8, 2022
Rich in period detail
Fil Reid paints a detailed picture of life in the Dark Ages with extensive descriptions of sights, sounds, and smells (mostly the unpleasant ones) that immerse the reader fully into what it must have been like in the time of King Arthur. Superbly written, Ms. Reid’s Arthurian knowledge and research is evident in this finely crated tale of a young woman pulled from her comfortable life in the twenty-first century to become the wife and Queen of the legendary King Arthur.
However, I would be hard pressed to consider this a romance by the modern standards for that genre. So readers expecting the typical beats of a romance may be somewhat disappointed. I would say The Dragon Ring is more in line with historical fantasy with romantic elements.
As far as the romance, I would have liked to have seen more actual interaction and conversations between Gwen and Arthur rather being told about it in narrative, but that’s me. The most lengthy conversation between the two is primarily a history lesson as Arthur explains his ancestry. It just made it a little difficult for this reader to believe the connection we’re told the two formed by the end of the book.
Speaking of endings, fair warning—the book does end on a cliffhanger (by the truest sense of the word), and more books are scheduled to follow. Unlike some series where the reader is presented with a complete story and things are resolved by the end of the book but the series continues with different characters, The Dragon Ring falls more into the category of serial. One must read subsequent books to get the full story. However, I have no doubt that readers who read The Dragon Ring and love it will be more than willing to continue the journey with Gwen.
Fil Reid paints a detailed picture of life in the Dark Ages with extensive descriptions of sights, sounds, and smells (mostly the unpleasant ones) that immerse the reader fully into what it must have been like in the time of King Arthur. Superbly written, Ms. Reid’s Arthurian knowledge and research is evident in this finely crated tale of a young woman pulled from her comfortable life in the twenty-first century to become the wife and Queen of the legendary King Arthur.
However, I would be hard pressed to consider this a romance by the modern standards for that genre. So readers expecting the typical beats of a romance may be somewhat disappointed. I would say The Dragon Ring is more in line with historical fantasy with romantic elements.
As far as the romance, I would have liked to have seen more actual interaction and conversations between Gwen and Arthur rather being told about it in narrative, but that’s me. The most lengthy conversation between the two is primarily a history lesson as Arthur explains his ancestry. It just made it a little difficult for this reader to believe the connection we’re told the two formed by the end of the book.
Speaking of endings, fair warning—the book does end on a cliffhanger (by the truest sense of the word), and more books are scheduled to follow. Unlike some series where the reader is presented with a complete story and things are resolved by the end of the book but the series continues with different characters, The Dragon Ring falls more into the category of serial. One must read subsequent books to get the full story. However, I have no doubt that readers who read The Dragon Ring and love it will be more than willing to continue the journey with Gwen.
March 21, 2022
Thanks to Dragonblade Publishing for the gifted copy of this title in return for an honest review and a place on their book tour.
I was a bit apprehensive about this book at first, as I thought how many adaptations of Arthurian legend can there be, isn’t it all very samey? But this book puts the emphasis on Guinevere, a vitally important mythical woman but often underused and under appreciated in literature.
The quality of research Fil has carried out is commendable. Whether you have any prior knowledge of Arthurian legend or not, you really feel at home in its pages; it’s so well written, it just jumps off the page. It’s written with such passion, I’m convinced it is telling the truth, and am not sure how anyone can argue otherwise.
It’s a story we all know and love, growing up with the myths and legends of King Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table, and yet this feels so new and fresh.
It is a very well accomplished book, and I enjoyed it immensely. I’m glad to see this is only book one in a hopefully long-running series, and I can’t wait to return to Camelot. I could definitely see this being picked up as the latest BBC mythical drama; we just need to get it into the hands of the producers who made “Merlin”, I think this would be a great accompaniment.
I was a bit apprehensive about this book at first, as I thought how many adaptations of Arthurian legend can there be, isn’t it all very samey? But this book puts the emphasis on Guinevere, a vitally important mythical woman but often underused and under appreciated in literature.
The quality of research Fil has carried out is commendable. Whether you have any prior knowledge of Arthurian legend or not, you really feel at home in its pages; it’s so well written, it just jumps off the page. It’s written with such passion, I’m convinced it is telling the truth, and am not sure how anyone can argue otherwise.
It’s a story we all know and love, growing up with the myths and legends of King Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table, and yet this feels so new and fresh.
It is a very well accomplished book, and I enjoyed it immensely. I’m glad to see this is only book one in a hopefully long-running series, and I can’t wait to return to Camelot. I could definitely see this being picked up as the latest BBC mythical drama; we just need to get it into the hands of the producers who made “Merlin”, I think this would be a great accompaniment.
March 18, 2022
Gwen leaves her boyfriend, Nathan in bed and takes her father’s ashes to Glastonbury Tor to carry out his wishes and scatter them there.
Whilst there, she sees a gold ring and as she steps into the ruined church tower and picks up the ring, she is transported into the fifth century!
Will Gwen fulfil a so called prophecy by marrying Prince Arthur? Or will she find a way to return home and to Nathan?
If I’m really honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I found the characters to be interesting and caught myself laughing at Theodoric’s antics. I liked the gradual build up of Gwen and Arthur’s relationship.
What I liked most was that you could tell just how much research had to have gone into this book. For example, there was great detail on how places looked in the fifth century but with Gwen comparing these places with how they look now. There were interesting facts like how they looked after their horses on long journey’s and even how people cleaned their teeth back then! It was like having a history lesson with the enjoyment of reading.
I enjoyed this book so much that I have already downloaded the second book in the series.
My thanks to Literally PR for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Whilst there, she sees a gold ring and as she steps into the ruined church tower and picks up the ring, she is transported into the fifth century!
Will Gwen fulfil a so called prophecy by marrying Prince Arthur? Or will she find a way to return home and to Nathan?
If I’m really honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I found the characters to be interesting and caught myself laughing at Theodoric’s antics. I liked the gradual build up of Gwen and Arthur’s relationship.
What I liked most was that you could tell just how much research had to have gone into this book. For example, there was great detail on how places looked in the fifth century but with Gwen comparing these places with how they look now. There were interesting facts like how they looked after their horses on long journey’s and even how people cleaned their teeth back then! It was like having a history lesson with the enjoyment of reading.
I enjoyed this book so much that I have already downloaded the second book in the series.
My thanks to Literally PR for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
February 11, 2022
This novel presents a unique imagining of King Arthur’s legends as seen through the eyes of a 21st century woman. When Gwen visits Glastonbury Tor to scatter her Arthur historian father’s ashes, she is snatched back in time to the Dark Ages through Merlin’s magic. She’s the bearer of the dragon ring, fulfilling a prophecy that she will marry Prince Arthur and help him become the High King. Gwen does not want to be trapped in the fifth century for the rest of her life. She wants to return to her modern life and her boyfriend, Nathan.
Fil Reid masterfully portrays life in Arthur’s time. While the book is placed in the historical romance category, it does not romanticize the starkness and dangers of Dark Age Britain or trivialize the brutality of competing kings and political agendas. Gwen’s relationship with Arthur is nuanced and refreshingly realistic. Unlike some romances, I think this story will appeal to men as well as women.
I loved this book and look forward to the others in the series.
Fil Reid masterfully portrays life in Arthur’s time. While the book is placed in the historical romance category, it does not romanticize the starkness and dangers of Dark Age Britain or trivialize the brutality of competing kings and political agendas. Gwen’s relationship with Arthur is nuanced and refreshingly realistic. Unlike some romances, I think this story will appeal to men as well as women.
I loved this book and look forward to the others in the series.
April 5, 2022
What a great book! The best I have read from a new author this year. Guinevere: the Dragon Ring mixes time travel with the Arthurian legend in an imaginative and entertaining way. The author writes with fluency, conjuring romance and adventure that stretches from the present to the Dark Ages. Her characters are well-drawn and contribute hugely to the entertainment. Her meticulous research results in just the right amount of authentic detail while her imagination plots a deeply engaging and surprisingly believable tale. Readers of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books will love this first instalment in what I believe is a six part series. I am certainly looking forward to finding out what happens next!
January 15, 2022
Hooked me from sentence one and didn't fail to deliver.
A delightful tale of romance, adventure, woman-strength, knights, political intrigue, and heart-warming moments delivered in an engaging and accessible way. Reid's expertise in history and folklore shines throughout, making you truly feel you're in the Dark Ages alongside our stoic yet relatable Gwen. Twists and turns will not let you put this book down until it's over, and, if you're like me, you'll be racking your brains trying to predict what happens next based on common knowledge of King Arthur's tales. I utterly failed to predict it, which made the experience so much more thrilling.
A delightful tale of romance, adventure, woman-strength, knights, political intrigue, and heart-warming moments delivered in an engaging and accessible way. Reid's expertise in history and folklore shines throughout, making you truly feel you're in the Dark Ages alongside our stoic yet relatable Gwen. Twists and turns will not let you put this book down until it's over, and, if you're like me, you'll be racking your brains trying to predict what happens next based on common knowledge of King Arthur's tales. I utterly failed to predict it, which made the experience so much more thrilling.
January 14, 2022
A delightful story! The plot is intriguing with time travel, childhood memories, the modern boyfriend she left behind, and her yearning to go home. The Arthurian era has been well-researched and brought to life with rich details and colorful characters. As Gwen surveyed Dark Age village life, she described the structures, the clothing, and the food, plus all the aromas, both good and bad. I felt like I was right there with her. Arthur’s background was presented in lively dialog and the story never slowed.
Definitely recommended!
Definitely recommended!
April 29, 2022
The Dragon Ring is an enthralling, time-travelling adventure when Gwen, a twenty-first century woman, is magically transported to the fifth century and King Arthur's court - as his queen, Guinevere.
The Dark Ages come alive in this fascinating tale. I loved the depth of research and detail that made me feel as though I'd fallen back in time along with Gwen, and I could empathise as she struggled between wanting to return to her own time, and her growing feelings for Arthur.
I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend The Dragon Ring and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
The Dark Ages come alive in this fascinating tale. I loved the depth of research and detail that made me feel as though I'd fallen back in time along with Gwen, and I could empathise as she struggled between wanting to return to her own time, and her growing feelings for Arthur.
I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend The Dragon Ring and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
January 24, 2022
Such an interesting story! I was not too familiar with the historical era or with the legend of King Arthur, but this was a fascinating page turner all the way through. The writing is excellent and provides detailed descriptions and imagery so vivid that you feel as if you are with Gwen 1500 years ago. I highly recommend and look forward to more books from this wonderfully talented author.
January 21, 2022
A good time travel yarn. Fil Reid writes well, and I really felt like being in the fifth century and meeting King Arthur. Although, this is primarily a love story, there are plenty of adventures, too. I particularly liked the unique take on Merlin. No bearded elder, this one.
February 26, 2022
Great twist on the Arthurian legend from the English background stories. What I liked about this was the sense of displacement of the character Gwen who "time travels" to Arthurian times. Great read. Can't wait to read the 2nd book.
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