The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere

by Phyllis Ann Karr

In The Idylls of the Queen, Phyllis Ann Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy.

Queen Guenevere is giving a dinner to honor King Arthur's knights when one guest, Sir Patrise, falls dead of poison. The dead man's cousin accuses the Queen of murder, and she is taken away, to be held until her trial by combat. If her knight-champion wins, Guenevere will be declared innocent and freed; if he loses, she will be burned to death as a murderer. She is unlikely to survive the trial. Most of Britain's mightiest knights were at the dinner, and therefore cannot fight for the Queen. Her champion and secret lover, the invincible Lancelot, has vanished. And, as Sir Kay realizes, trial by combat determines only is who is the better fighter, not who is guilty. Kay knows the Queen is innocent and an unsuspected murderer is loose in feud-filled Camelot--a murderer who intended to kill a person or persons other than the obscure knight Patrise, and who is poised to kill again. With the trial only days away, Kay joins with the great knights Gawaine and Gareth and their half-brother, King Arthur's bastard son Mordred, in two quests: to find the missing Lancelot, and to uncover the true murderer.

- Cynthia Ward

Genres: Arthurian, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical Fantasy

348 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1982

About the author

Phyllis Ann Karr is an author of fantasy, romances, mysteries, and non-fiction. She is best known for her "Frostflower and Thorn" series and Matter of Britain works.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Idylls of the Queen is one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, Arthurian novel. Undoubtably this is due to the fact that it is told from the point of view of Sir Kay, whom I always felt sorry for (it's a elder sibling thing). Karr, however, does know the medieval tradition upon which she is drawing. If you have read the old Arthurian stories (de Troyes, Malory and so on) there are wonderful gems in the off hand comments that some characters make. If you haven't read any of the Arthurian stories upon which Karr draws, it doesn't matter; the book is accessible to newbies. The plot of the novel is a mystery taken from Arthurian tradition; Karr, however, puts Kay in the role of detective.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most contemporary Arthurian literature, which tends to borrow a framework and set of characters (much, in fact, as medieval writers did), Karr sticks closely to Malory's account but fills in details and backstory to create a whole new approach. She begins with a fairly minor tale from Le Morte D'Arthur: a knight, Sir Patrise, dies while at a small dinner given by the queen. His cousin accuses her of poisoning Patrise, and declares that he will prove this by fighting the champion of her choice. Several parties of knights ride out to find Lancelot, who is absent. In Malory's account no attention is given to the crime beyond the drama it creates, but Karr takes the supposition that at least some of those involved would have wanted to find out who actually perpetrated the murder. Focusing on Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother and steward, and Mordred, who decide to travel together to consult the Lady of the Lake, she explores the interpersonal and family dynamics that play such an influential role in the Arthurian story cycle. This mystery is set after the Grail Quest, so there is a large corpus of past interactions which the two men discuss in an attempt to decide who may have acted from a hidden grudge against the queen, Sir Patrise, or perhaps another guest at the dinner who was the intended victim. The glut of information may be somewhat confusing for readers who are minimally familiar with the Arthurian legends; Karr does explain fairly clearly, but you need to pay close attention to keep all the individuals and their relationships straight.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really more "A Tale of Sir Kay & His Never-ending Snark", but I suppose Guenevere's name sells more books. I loved Kay & his banter with Mordred, and the book was a light, entertaining read throughout. Excellent voice & nice plotting, even if you might already know some of what gets revealed. (Though you can't necessarily predict the who-dunnit.)

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved reading Idylls of the Queen. It took me a while to get into, because the more flippant stories of Camelot are much less my thing, but at its heart the story loved the older tellings of the story, which helped (you can tell by the fact that Phyllis Ann Karr chose an epigraph for each chapter from Malory). It was fun playing spot-the-source, too.

Kay's narrative voice is delightful, and the mystery is fun, too. It helps if you have a good knowledge of Malory, both to follow the plot and make your own guesses, and to see what Karr is doing so cleverly. I loved her version of Gawain, too, and her sympathy with the female characters of the stories was a joy to read. Morgan Le Fay getting to tell her own story -- obviously not totally novel, but fresh enough.

I'm not sure how much this is actually going to help me with my dissertation, but it's a very fun book anyway.

[Thérèse · Rating 5 out of 5]

this has an AMAZING characterization of mordred. 5 stars for that alone. but i also adore kay, and his begrudging friendship (or so i choose to call it) with mordred. their banter was a delight to read.

also, the orkney brothers!!!! i love them as much as they love (and hate, but mostly love) each other. 🫶🫶🫶

[Sarah Seele · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve always had a soft spot for kay (call it the sympathy of an older sibling whose younger sibling has also surpassed her in both skill and popularity, that may be it, or not), and this is the first book i’ve read that makes him a sympathetic character (i really liked him, bluntness and all), so thank you phyllis ann karr for that

also thank you phyllis ann karr for this mordred. i love him. (i keep thinking about the types of antiheroes i like—normally i’m more of a gawain sort of girl (gawain is also wonderful in this book)—and mordred from this book and athelas from the city between books have certain similarities that intrigue me, not least the similarity of me inexplicably loving them far too much…but that’s a ponderment for another day.)

it was delightful reading this book in one- or two-chapter snatches in between my life, and toward the end it got so good. i suspect i am overly invested in the orkney family drama.

but basically, in this book, kay and mordred ride around in the woods trying to figure out who poisoned sir patrise (another knight of the round table) and there is a lot of banter

like i said, it was great.

if i was more conversant with arthurian legend, i’d have been less confused, but i was conversant enough (or the book was written well enough) to follow what i needed to and enjoy myself (and smile at a few of the references i did understand).

(content is basically just what you would find in malory—i assume, not having read much malory. there’s weird violence and adultery is technically illegal but you’d never guess from the actions of the majority of the characters)



ALSO ALSO that song “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” started going through my head early on, and it’s SO APPROPRIATE
shall i not be on a pedestal
worshipped and competed for?
shall i not be carried off or better still
cause a little war?
and like
shall two knights never tilt for me
and let their blood be spilt for me?
and
shall a feud not begin for me?
shall kith not kill their kin for me?
&c.
(By the end Lancelot’s “C’est Moi” was also going through my head, and it too is appropriate, if not quite as perfect as Guinevere’s.)

[Leelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read this book since it came out in 1982. WOW! It is even better than I remember it. If you are a fan of the old Malory tales of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table then you will definitely eat this up!
PAK takes details from Le Morte d'Arthur and weaves them into a medieval whodunit. Sir Kay, the third-rate hero and maybe second-rate villain as well as the King's stepbrother, reveals unknown depths as he tries to save the Queen from the flames when she is accused of poisoning a young knight and attempting to poison Sir Gawain. Even Mordred shows a more human side when compared to the two dimensional treatment he is usually given. In fact, you learn more about many of the more usual heroes than you ever suspected. And Karr does all of this without disturbing any of the original details or conventions. Very well done!

[Wee Lassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who’s ever read the old King Arthur stories and become increasingly sick of perfect pretty knights being held up as ideals of shivery just because the narrative says so. 100 percent safe for Sir Kay Lovers.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's an odd thing: an Arthurian murder mystery. It's based on an incident from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, the death of Sir Patrise, who dies after eating a poisoned apple at Queen Guenevere's dinner table. When Guenevere is accused of the crime, the loyal seneschal, Sir Kay, sets out to prove her innocence (with Mordred as his companion, of all people).

The investigation bogs down a little into a series of episodes with the knights and ladies visited by Kay and Mordred, but it's still a good read, particularly for the characters: the sarcastic, loyal Kay (rarely a character who gets much screen time in Arthurian retellings); the bitter, enigmatic Mordred; and the whole Orkney clan.

[Brenda Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Arthurian fan this is truly a delightful novel. Tailored to fit exactly into the interstices of Malory's MORT DE ARTHUR, it combines all the King Arthur characters with a vivid medieval setting and a close adherence to the chivalric ethos. A small tour-de-force that should be much better known.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear King Arthur (or more specifically, the Morte Dartur) fans, you will love this book.

So here's the deal: this book is a genre blend. The narrator, Kay, is the closest we ever get to a jaded noir detective, and quite frankly he plays the role to grumpy perfection. Next, the book takes its characters straight from the human level: everyone has a problem, a grudge, a secret, and it all stems from Thomas Malory's source material! But best of all, it doesn't fall into the stereotypical portrayal of arthurian characters. Sure, I don't completely love how Gareth doesn't seem to be a favourite of the author's, but this version of him was still well-written and made sense given the other Orkney brothers' characterization. Also I just love how Kay's perspective makes everything just a bit less glamorous and ideal in an "The Office" way. No matter how dramatic Mordred gets, Kay remains down to earth and stuck in the mud (I say this with affection, it's not Kay's fault he's so practical!).

Finally, this is just a great mystery with a compelling cast and engaging writing. If you're a fan of the middle ages, King Arthur, or just love a fun adventure-mystery, you deserve to have a good time while reading this book.

[Lilla]

I hear Karr paints a heartbreaking picture of Mordred, ergo my love for him means I must read this!

[lorenzodulac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Said Queen was barely in the book at all. Enjoyable though.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the style of Canterbury tales. A crime has occurred, the Queen accused. The knights go looking for Lancelot to be her champion. At each stop along the way, many tales of the history of Arthur and the knights are told. Slow, but ends well.

[Kash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite possibly the best Arthurian retelling, and some of the best Arthurian in general, I've read! Karr does an absolutely wonderful job with her characters and manages to stay focused while adding dozens of characters and side stories. My only issue would be: 1. It gets a bit repetitive in the second half because the speculations, by necessity, are quite circular. 2. The resolution to the mystery in the end falls a bit flat because another, related (and frankly just more interesting) mystery takes its place.

[Elise Bergeron]

Obsessed with this oh my god, a well-written Arthurian story retelling where it's also a murder mystery with excellent characterization??? I stay winning! Kay and Mordred they could NEVER make me hate you!!

[madivd VD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and surprisingly funny little find!

[Maya Chhabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed here: https://mayareadsbooks.wordpress.com/...

Thoroughly enjoyable Arthurian mystery, treating the same episode in Malory as Dark Jenny, which I reviewed for Ideomancer. That is, the poisoning of Sir Patrise and the false accusation against Guenevere, which makes for a good mystery framework. The authors take rather different approaches, though– Dark Jenny features an original character from an ongoing series, while Idylls of the Queen rehabilitates the Sir Kay, Arthur’s foster-brother, making him a hero in his own right.

I picked up this book to scratch my “sympathetic Mordred” itch– my copy of The Winter Prince is out of state. Mordred is a major supporting character, like Kay trying to solve the mystery of who poisoned Sir Patrise, as it is suspected that the poison was aimed at his brother Gawain. This Mordred is sarcastic, infuriating, sharp-witted enough, loyal to his mother, and tormented by the knowledge that he is prophesied to be the downfall of Camelot. This makes him suicidal, but as by medieval standards a suicide damned his soul, he mostly tries to get other people to kill him. His humor, and Kay’s skeptical narration, stop his character from being weighed down by angst.

So it scratched the Mordred itch, but this book also dug up my Gawain feelings from way back when I read Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight– which is clearly an influence on this portrayal of Gawain. He’s far from perfect, but he’s honorable to a fault.

And what of Kay, the main character? He’s pragmatic, being a seneschal and not much of a fighter (in fact, he loses the climactic fight with the bad guy). He’s the guy who makes sure everyone gets fed, not the guy who goes off on quests, and he has a cynical attitude towards glory-seeking. Oh, and he’s desperately in love with Guenevere– which accounts for his bitterness towards Lancelot, who is Sir Not Appearing in this Book. Kay’s a fun narrator, but I found my sympathies more deeply engaged by the Orkney brothers. The emotional climax of the book is when Kay gathers the brothers together and makes them face some unpleasant truths.

The book bogs down for a bit in the middle, when they’re visiting Morgan le Fay, and also the villains tend to be unsympathetic from the get-go– both sanctimonious in different ways. But those are minor flaws, as the novel picks up towards the end and repays the investment. At the end of the book, I was only sad there wasn’t more.

[Tyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best modern adaptation of Arthurian legends - a murder mystery, and although you probably have known the gist of the story, this novel still captivates with its take on the poisoning of Sir Patrise. I love how it stays close to Malory's original while adding rich details to the characters and the plot. I'm a fan of Kay and the Orkney brothers, so it was such a delight to read a story that focuses on them with basically no intervention by more popular figures of the legends like Lancelot. I love the interactions between the brothers. I love how the novel delves more into the characters people love to paint in black and white, like Kay and Mordred. I love Nimue and Morgan too.

And if you excuse my one expletive:

Gaheris - FUCK.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly one of the better Arthurian retellings I've read. Kay makes an able protagonist, and the mystery-within-a-mystery structure is clever. The epilogue suggests the possibility of another book, but I suspect we all know how that book would end. The characters themselves were lifelike and colorful. I almost never like Morgan or Mordred (they tend to be cartoonish villains in other retellings), but I liked them quite a bit here. I also enjoyed how Karr weaved several different Arthurian legends (especially the tales of Lancelot and Gawain) into this tight narrative. Highly recommended for mystery lovers or fans of Arthurian literature.

[Ian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel set in one of Malory's stories, from the point of view of Kay

[Lori Micho · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably one of the worst books I've ever read. It was chosen by my bookclub and I was the only one who even finished it. Not sure why I bothered!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really might be my favorite book

[Micaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better Arthurian novels I've read (and I've read a good number). The story takes place in a court filled with aging knights past their prime, with the central murder mystery dredging up all the old grudges and factions. Mordred and the other brothers of Sir Gawaine are the focal point, and I think this is also a good choice. Karr really delves deep into the dysfunction of the family at the center of a bloated and dysfunctional court, which should be a treat for the modern intrigue-loving reader.

Sir Kay is the main character and narrator, and much of the book is actually his sarcastic, sometimes bitter ruminations on the past rather than the overblown action and earnest angst that saturates most retellings. Sir Kay is known as a churl, unpopular and overshadowed by the other members of the court--because he is, in fact, the old guard, all his best victories behind him by the time Gawaine and Lancelot came of age, let alone Galahad (who has already followed the Grail to heaven) and Mordred (who is already spiraling on the path to destruction). Sir Kay is like a grandfather watching his family drift apart, and Karr also emphasizes that he in his role as seneschal is also a central cog in the machine that keeps the bloated court functioning. Disliked by most, he is one of the few who does not seem to have any blood feuds at all, because his loyalty is to Arthur and Guinevere alone. Karr is very deft in her treatment of her characters' reputations as distinct from their souls. Karr intentionally shies away from the most beloved Knights of the Round Table--Lancelot is absent for the entire book, while Gawaine is absent for most of it. None of her principle characters are perhaps "likable," but all are well-rounded and redeemable, or at least sympathetic.

I don't know that this is a book that would appeal to a wide audience. It is introspective rather than action-driven. There is a lot of narration with cursory references to a hundred facets of Arthurian lore that most readers nowadays would have a hard time following. On the other hand, the main story is clear and well-executed, and when the action does happen, it is compelling. The magic when it happens is seamlessly integrated into the world. Overall, this is a great look at the underbelly of Arthur's waning court, and it's worth taking the time to read.

[William Leight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karr tries to find a niche in the crowded field of Arthurian retellings by turning Kay, usually loudmouthed, bossy, and prideful, into her hero. Karr’s Kay is all those things, but he is also loyal, intelligent, and (occasionally at least) kind. The cleverness of this move is best illustrated by the fact that the reader will be more surprised by an intelligent Kay than by a Kay who is a detective: the Arthurian legend has been transferred into practically every genre at one time or another, but the character of Kay generally remains the same. (Wikipedia claims that Karr’s Kay resembles the version from the original Welsh legends, but those have long since been eclipsed.) Karr’s other move, to make Mordred less evil and more misunderstood and alienated, is less original but also well executed. The detection, in which Kay tries to plumb the truth of the poisoning death of Sir Patrise (a minor incident from Le Morte D’Arthur), is more in the vein of Poirot than Holmes, proceeding mainly via psychological insight rather than physical clues. Karr follows T.H. White in developing a magical alternative medieval England as a setting, but in the end this doesn’t play too big of a role: presumably both great detectives would have loved to be able to use Morgan Le Fay’s mirror that can see the past, but in practice it turns out to be not all that helpful. The twist that Karr throws in at the end is that it all doesn’t matter: Kay’s goal is to clear the Queen of the charge of murder, but this is accomplished in the end by the provident return of Lancelot in time to serve as her champion in the trial by combat. Kay, meanwhile, has been badly injured by the culprit he is trying to catch (just as in most of the stories, fighting is not his strong suit). The bittersweet ending gives a foretaste of the disaster that every reader knows is coming. I’m not sure if Karr could maintain this level of originality if she had to deal with the full story of Arthur, rather than a single episode that she can handle with a fairly free hand (though the history of the Orkneys does end up featuring strongly in it) — despite appearing in the title, Guinevere plays little part in the events, Arthur even less, and Lancelot is entirely absent, allowing Karr to largely avoid dealing with the central characters of the legend — but it would certainly be interesting to see her try.

[David H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm only superficially familiar with the various King Arthur-related legends out there, and definitely not for the situation as recounted here, where Karr takes the poisoned apple story involving Queen Guinevere and Lancelot and turns it into a murder mystery where King Arthur's foster brother and seneschal, Sir Kay, unrequitedly in love with Guinevere, leads the main effort to discover Patrise's real murderer.

Sir Kay here is often mocked by the others (or feels he is mocked) due to his lack of glory from adventuring as Lancelot or Gawain have. He's quite cynical and speaks quite bluntly (perhaps not as bluntly as Mordred, however).

It was interesting to see how the author handled a murder investigation in this time period, where the usual resolution of justice seems to be blood feuds. Infinite webs of grievance and countergrievances permeate the setting here, and it was honestly a bit overwhelming at first, especially when in the second chapter Kay goes through the entire list of dinner guests (over 20!) and the names just wash over me. I eventually figured out who or what I needed to pay attention, too, but it wasn't a good start.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Arthuriana and murder mysteries; I thought it was well done, even if the mystery or the setting didn't always work for me.

[Jota Houses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta novela es un canto de amor a la tradición clásica de la literatura Artúrica. Diametralmente opuesto a Las cronicas del señor de la guerra de Bernard Cornwell se enmarca comodamente en el Arturo de T.H. White, Steinbeck, Hal Foster, Tennyson y, sobre todo Malory.
La autora toma el episodio en que Ginebra es acusada de envenenar a un caballero y elabora sobre él un whodunnit con Sir Kay el Senescal como improbable detective y Sir Mordred como su, aún más improbable, ayudante.
Su mayor virtud que es la inmersión total en el Cametot clásico de los romances, es también su mayor lastre porque el mundo de los caballeros andantes que salen a buscar aventuras y encuentran doncellas y justan con otros caballeros no es suelo fertil para el misterio y la deducción. Además el escrupuloso respeto a La Morte D'Arthur hace que la solución del misterio resulte conocida para los lectores de la obra.
Aún así muy recomendable.

[Diana Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read my copy until it fell apart.

Karr really researched the source material and the history of the early middle ages and it shows. The characterisation of the lesser-known knights was spot-on, and everything from the armour to the dining etiquette was accurate. The reads between Kay and Mordred were also hilarious. It's not often that someone in this subgenre fleshes out the female characters, either. Even The Once and Future King, which I otherwise love to death, kind of slacks in that regard.

1000% buying myself another copy before they become too difficult to find, since I'm pretty sure it's out of print.

[Edward Rathke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Arthurian whodunit starring Sir Kay (!) and Mordred (!) in a sort of wild and hilarious and bitter ride through Arthur's England. I think the conclusion is a bit weak and sudden, but the journey was a whole lot of fun.

I liked the way characters arose and the versions Karr crafted. I especially like this version of Kay and Mordred. Especially since Kay sort of falls to the background in the legends rather quickly and Mordred is, of course, an antagonist. Throwing them together is a very fun idea.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karr took one of the lesser known stories from King Arthur and fleshes it out to fill in all the missing pieces in the short story of a murder at Camelot.

Each chapter starts with a quote from the story in the Morte d'Arthur, and then we get the fleshed out version of events, told from the POV of Sir Kay, who is a decent guy in this version. (Also, Mordred is wonderfully sardonic, very Loki-esque.) Its a great concept, but somehow the text just didn't draw me in. Too stilted, despite the attempt to be modern, or too much telling rather than showing.