What do you think?
Rate this book
Exiled from Camelot
The court of Camelot is unsettled by the arrival of Loholt, King Arthur's illegitimate son. Driven by the need for an heir, the king embraces the stranger, though not everyone in Camelot so readily accepts the mysterious young man. Arthur's seneschal and foster brother, the redoubtable Sir Kay, is especially suspicious of Loholt's motives. And when Loholt is killed, Kay finds himself under suspicion of murder. Stripped of his knighthood, Kay forges an unwilling alliance with the renegade Briant and his lover, the enchantress Brisane, who seek to bring down the men closest to the king. If Sir Kay cannot redirect their plot or win back the court's trust, nothing will save Camelot from the twin threats of war and evil sorcery. "One of the half-dozen best Arthurian novels I have yet read"
-Phyllis Ann Karr, author of Idylls of the Queen and The Arthurian Companion.
-Phyllis Ann Karr, author of Idylls of the Queen and The Arthurian Companion.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2001
About the author
Cherith Baldry
43 books90 followersCherith Baldry is one of three writers who write the bestselling YA series WARRIORS under the pen name Erin Hunter. She is also one of several authors who has written under the collective pen name Adam Blade.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 1, 2018
I can't remember who recommended me this, but bless you, whoever you were. It was definitely useful for my dissertation, as well as an enjoyable book. Kay-wise, it has an interesting mix of portrayals -- the Loholt plotline is from the Cymric material, as far as I can gather, and yet Arthur's position in the court is very much that of the continental stories. Hmm.
You know how I said Sword at Sunset was homosocial? I think Exiled from Camelot was even more so: it's all about the bonds between the men of the Table -- strained as they are, it's clear that one has to hope for them all coming together and sorting things out. The bond between Kay and Arthur is so intense that it really excludes any other relationship for Kay: I did like that, though at times I did find myself questioning whether Cherith Baldry thought at all about authenticity. Kay does a lot of grovelling and crying, and acting like a coward, and yet it's all waved away by the other characters -- not likely, I would think, in a culture where merely calling Lancelot a coward is an invitation to a duel...
But whatever, I suspended my disbelief. My two main problems were Brisane -- oh can we be more typical, with an evil woman who was rejected by men and sold her soul for power and used her body to gain more? -- and Arthur being, well, stupid. He was so easily taken in, so easily led. Headdesk.
Still, more or less carried off, though it's likely to wear thinner the more I think about it. Ultimately, it distracted me from any such flaws when I was reading it, which is the main thing.
Reread 2018:
This was a reread of a book I read aaaages ago for my MA dissertation. Apparently I wanted to look back on more stressful times as I work on my BSc dissertation… In any case, I love what Baldry does with various strands of the mythology, drawing together a more modern Kay and a modern view of him with some of the chivalric world and some, even, of the Welsh mythology. I love what she does with Loholt and even though, per some of that stuff, Cai might end up in opposition to Arthur, and that definitely doesn’t happen here.
It’s also incredibly homoromantic. Kay says Arthur’s the air he breathes for goodness sake. This isn’t a criticism; I quite enjoy this book — but I wonder if it’s why the only copy I could ever find was second-hand and never republished…
Sometimes the emotional stuff does seem overblown to me, but it’s better than dudes who never say what they’re feeling, so why not? I love the value it gives Kay and his emotionality, his work to bring Camelot together and make things work that doesn’t involve pointy objects (other than cutlery).
Reviewed for the Bibliophibian.
You know how I said Sword at Sunset was homosocial? I think Exiled from Camelot was even more so: it's all about the bonds between the men of the Table -- strained as they are, it's clear that one has to hope for them all coming together and sorting things out. The bond between Kay and Arthur is so intense that it really excludes any other relationship for Kay: I did like that, though at times I did find myself questioning whether Cherith Baldry thought at all about authenticity. Kay does a lot of grovelling and crying, and acting like a coward, and yet it's all waved away by the other characters -- not likely, I would think, in a culture where merely calling Lancelot a coward is an invitation to a duel...
But whatever, I suspended my disbelief. My two main problems were Brisane -- oh can we be more typical, with an evil woman who was rejected by men and sold her soul for power and used her body to gain more? -- and Arthur being, well, stupid. He was so easily taken in, so easily led. Headdesk.
Still, more or less carried off, though it's likely to wear thinner the more I think about it. Ultimately, it distracted me from any such flaws when I was reading it, which is the main thing.
Reread 2018:
This was a reread of a book I read aaaages ago for my MA dissertation. Apparently I wanted to look back on more stressful times as I work on my BSc dissertation… In any case, I love what Baldry does with various strands of the mythology, drawing together a more modern Kay and a modern view of him with some of the chivalric world and some, even, of the Welsh mythology. I love what she does with Loholt and even though, per some of that stuff, Cai might end up in opposition to Arthur, and that definitely doesn’t happen here.
It’s also incredibly homoromantic. Kay says Arthur’s the air he breathes for goodness sake. This isn’t a criticism; I quite enjoy this book — but I wonder if it’s why the only copy I could ever find was second-hand and never republished…
Sometimes the emotional stuff does seem overblown to me, but it’s better than dudes who never say what they’re feeling, so why not? I love the value it gives Kay and his emotionality, his work to bring Camelot together and make things work that doesn’t involve pointy objects (other than cutlery).
Reviewed for the Bibliophibian.
November 16, 2020
eccoci qua, con un'altra recensione di un retelling arturiano che non è il migliore del mondo, non è quello che consiglierei di più in assoluto, ma è stato esattamente quello che mi serviva, quando l'ho letto.
Exiled from Camelot non è uno di quei retelling che punta a raccontare ascesa e caduta di Camelot, bensì uno di quelli che prende un episodio specifico del ciclo arturiano e rielabora quello lì; per questo motivo non è proprio il libro che consiglierei a chi desidera approcciarsi a questo particolare filone di retelling (per iniziare buttatevi sulla Stewart): viene dato per scontato che il lettore sappia almeno a grandi linee di che cosa stiamo parlando.
Artù è già re, Camelot è già al suo massimo splendore, i cavalieri sono già affermati se non leggende vere e proprie, tra Lancillotto e Ginevra c'è chiaramente già qualcosa, e soprattutto lo spettro della futura successione sta già iniziando a farsi pressante.
Mi è piaciuto molto che l'arrivo del giovane Loholt venisse quindi mostrato sia dal punto di vista umano (Artù si ritrova per le mani un figlio adolescente, e ne è molto felice) sia dal punto di vista politico (è un erede e soprattutto non è Mordred), così come mi è piaciuto che venisse detto ad alta voce perché Gawain non va bene come successore (semplicemente, essendo quasi coetaneo di Artù, è troppo vecchio).
Ad ogni modo questi sono degli elementi satellite, che vanno a comporre la cornice di questo libro: il protagonista indiscusso, infatti, è Kay. Il fratello adottivo di Artù, quello che combatte pochissimo ma ha il ruolo di maniscalco, quello descritto sempre come sarcastico, cinico, e a seconda del retelling degno di ammirazione o codardo ininfluente.
In questo volume abbiamo un Kay sì sarcastico, ma estremamente ben inserito a Camelot e con un affetto pressoché assoluto nei confronti del fratellastro (a una certa, se non l'avessi considerato incesto, li avrei quasi shippati). Si tratta di un uomo capace, apprezzato, ma è qui che arriva la prima goccia di realismo: Kay è praticamente l'unica persona in grado di mandare avanti un castello, di far funzionare una corte o di ricostruirla dal niente... ma combatte pochissimo e quindi si può parlare e sparlare di vigliaccheria, di incapacità, di mancanza di valore.
E Kay è orgoglioso, quindi il casino vero comincia quando, proprio per orgoglio, Kay riesce a farsi buttare in una campagna militare e da lì ci ritroviamo con hurt/comfort a quantità industriale, che è uno dei tropes che adoro ma nel caso specifico è quasi troppo. Il numero di volte che questo cavaliere si fa malissimo o viene torturato o si ammala... sembrava quasi che ci fossi andata io, in una campagna militare medioevale.
Comunque la dinamica mi piace, l'autrice ha tirato fuori angst, dinamiche familiari e di amicizia come se piovesse, non mi ha reso nessun cavaliere un mostro per fare emergere il protagonista, pure Lancillotto era interessante, quindi diciamo che l'estrema vulnerabilità di Kay è un difetto a cui posso sopravvivere.
E ci sono pure dei personaggi femminili interessanti, oltre che una Ginevra che mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere di più.
Circa l'ambientazione, è molto ambigua in senso buono: all'inizio sembrava prettamente storica, poi però è diventato chiaro che ci fosse anche un elemento magico molto importante.
Insomma, a me questo libro è piaciuto un sacco: è scritto bene, non è pesante, racconta un episodio particolare che viene ignorato dai più, e a volte fa piacere leggere un< retelling incasellato dentro il ciclo arturiano rispetto a tutto il ciclo arturiano in tre volumi (o trecento pagine).
Exiled from Camelot non è uno di quei retelling che punta a raccontare ascesa e caduta di Camelot, bensì uno di quelli che prende un episodio specifico del ciclo arturiano e rielabora quello lì; per questo motivo non è proprio il libro che consiglierei a chi desidera approcciarsi a questo particolare filone di retelling (per iniziare buttatevi sulla Stewart): viene dato per scontato che il lettore sappia almeno a grandi linee di che cosa stiamo parlando.
Artù è già re, Camelot è già al suo massimo splendore, i cavalieri sono già affermati se non leggende vere e proprie, tra Lancillotto e Ginevra c'è chiaramente già qualcosa, e soprattutto lo spettro della futura successione sta già iniziando a farsi pressante.
Mi è piaciuto molto che l'arrivo del giovane Loholt venisse quindi mostrato sia dal punto di vista umano (Artù si ritrova per le mani un figlio adolescente, e ne è molto felice) sia dal punto di vista politico (è un erede e soprattutto non è Mordred), così come mi è piaciuto che venisse detto ad alta voce perché Gawain non va bene come successore (semplicemente, essendo quasi coetaneo di Artù, è troppo vecchio).
Ad ogni modo questi sono degli elementi satellite, che vanno a comporre la cornice di questo libro: il protagonista indiscusso, infatti, è Kay. Il fratello adottivo di Artù, quello che combatte pochissimo ma ha il ruolo di maniscalco, quello descritto sempre come sarcastico, cinico, e a seconda del retelling degno di ammirazione o codardo ininfluente.
In questo volume abbiamo un Kay sì sarcastico, ma estremamente ben inserito a Camelot e con un affetto pressoché assoluto nei confronti del fratellastro (a una certa, se non l'avessi considerato incesto, li avrei quasi shippati). Si tratta di un uomo capace, apprezzato, ma è qui che arriva la prima goccia di realismo: Kay è praticamente l'unica persona in grado di mandare avanti un castello, di far funzionare una corte o di ricostruirla dal niente... ma combatte pochissimo e quindi si può parlare e sparlare di vigliaccheria, di incapacità, di mancanza di valore.
E Kay è orgoglioso, quindi il casino vero comincia quando, proprio per orgoglio, Kay riesce a farsi buttare in una campagna militare e da lì ci ritroviamo con hurt/comfort a quantità industriale, che è uno dei tropes che adoro ma nel caso specifico è quasi troppo. Il numero di volte che questo cavaliere si fa malissimo o viene torturato o si ammala... sembrava quasi che ci fossi andata io, in una campagna militare medioevale.
Comunque la dinamica mi piace, l'autrice ha tirato fuori angst, dinamiche familiari e di amicizia come se piovesse, non mi ha reso nessun cavaliere un mostro per fare emergere il protagonista, pure Lancillotto era interessante, quindi diciamo che l'estrema vulnerabilità di Kay è un difetto a cui posso sopravvivere.
E ci sono pure dei personaggi femminili interessanti, oltre che una Ginevra che mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere di più.
Circa l'ambientazione, è molto ambigua in senso buono: all'inizio sembrava prettamente storica, poi però è diventato chiaro che ci fosse anche un elemento magico molto importante.
Insomma, a me questo libro è piaciuto un sacco: è scritto bene, non è pesante, racconta un episodio particolare che viene ignorato dai più, e a volte fa piacere leggere un< retelling incasellato dentro il ciclo arturiano rispetto a tutto il ciclo arturiano in tre volumi (o trecento pagine).
December 3, 2017
This is actually a pretty remarkable novel for a modern alternative Arthurian story, and goes quite a ways toward restoring Kay's soiled reputation. In the earliest Welsh legends and stories, Cei and Bedivere were Arthur's first knights and closest companions. However, the French romancers sullied his reputation, turning him into a buffoon as a foil for the more heroic Lancelot and Gawain. Well, fie on the French. Baldry shows Kay in his true colors: not cowardly, just complex; not foolish but fiercely protective of his king.
It is more popular in contemporary treatments to place Arthur in the 5th-6th century time frame instead of in the Middle Ages, as Mallory and his ilk have incautiously done. But Baldry manages it without difficulty. The novel retains the flavor of the older stories, the staunch religiosity, the petty court intrigues, the ever-present danger of sorcery. But hidden in the convoluted machinations of The Lady's treachery, the heroic tradition shines through.
If you are a fan of the Arthurian legend, and follow its evolution as it makes its way through new, imaginative treatments in the late 20th and 21st centuries, you should definitely check out this book.
It is more popular in contemporary treatments to place Arthur in the 5th-6th century time frame instead of in the Middle Ages, as Mallory and his ilk have incautiously done. But Baldry manages it without difficulty. The novel retains the flavor of the older stories, the staunch religiosity, the petty court intrigues, the ever-present danger of sorcery. But hidden in the convoluted machinations of The Lady's treachery, the heroic tradition shines through.
If you are a fan of the Arthurian legend, and follow its evolution as it makes its way through new, imaginative treatments in the late 20th and 21st centuries, you should definitely check out this book.
July 26, 2024
cherith baldry ceo of gawain/kay
November 22, 2024
Cherith Baldry wrote Kay with a loving hand. His pain, his sacrificial tendencies, the homosociality between the knights of the round table, are all written so very deliciously. Im simply starting to get into arthurian legends, but Kay is already my favourite, though he is one of the more ridiculed ones. This book justifies his character with deep respect and understanding, and I love it so much for that.
Some of my favourite things:
- The bond between Kay and Gareth. Kay is like an older brother of sorts to him, and Gareth is always sentimental thinking about Kay's misfortunes. They exchange their swords <3
- Gawain nursing Kay back to health three different times. Baldry did not stint on the hurt/comfort and succeeded in writing it in a way that did not make me cringe.
- Kay pining for Guinevere!!!! an interesting dynamic there. (Although I'm surprised there weren't any Lancelot + Guinevere scenes pertaining to the Loholt situation)
- Kay being smart mouthed and everyone loving him for it (Guinevere telling him not to turn courtier, Arthur telling him to go on needling them all lest they forget that perfection is achievable)
- Alienor. I was afraid she would be paired off with Kay at the end but she was respected by the narrative.
- Lancelot.
- The Kay and Arthur bond of course. Though I will say I'm not a fan of how the first half of the book had Arthur treat Kay.
Some of my favourite things:
- The bond between Kay and Gareth. Kay is like an older brother of sorts to him, and Gareth is always sentimental thinking about Kay's misfortunes. They exchange their swords <3
- Gawain nursing Kay back to health three different times. Baldry did not stint on the hurt/comfort and succeeded in writing it in a way that did not make me cringe.
- Kay pining for Guinevere!!!! an interesting dynamic there. (Although I'm surprised there weren't any Lancelot + Guinevere scenes pertaining to the Loholt situation)
- Kay being smart mouthed and everyone loving him for it (Guinevere telling him not to turn courtier, Arthur telling him to go on needling them all lest they forget that perfection is achievable)
- Alienor. I was afraid she would be paired off with Kay at the end but she was respected by the narrative.
- Lancelot.
- The Kay and Arthur bond of course. Though I will say I'm not a fan of how the first half of the book had Arthur treat Kay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 17, 2022When a youth called Loholt shows up at court claiming to be King Arthur's illegitimate son, Arthur is delighted, but his trusty grumpy seneschal Kay is more cautious. When Loholt falls into danger, Kay takes the blame and is sent into exile. Wretched Kay must clear his name, defeat an evil witch and a power-hungry lord, and tidy several castles.
Arthur and the knights of the round table have been written about so very many times, you have to find a new angle on the whole saga and Baldry does it by centring it on Kay, simply the world's greatest administrator. He can organise a feast day, he can clean up a village, he can administrate his way out of any problem! "Join me," whispers the villain, "and you could have your heart's desire - tidying up my ENTIRE kingdom!"
Throughout there is a feeling of "my god, poor noble innocent Kay, how unjustly he is treated!" especially from Gawain and Gareth, his defenders against heartless Arthur's accusations. Look, it's an angle and damn if this book is not gonna defend it.
So I admire the, like, the WORK, you know. And taking GOOD ADMINISTRATION as his special skill is a real way to get on my good side. Without his quiet work behind the scenes, Camelot would fall to ruins! And Baldry can write. This is a very easy, entertaining read. Especially if you're a hardcore Kay stan with elaborate woobie headcanon.
Arthur and the knights of the round table have been written about so very many times, you have to find a new angle on the whole saga and Baldry does it by centring it on Kay, simply the world's greatest administrator. He can organise a feast day, he can clean up a village, he can administrate his way out of any problem! "Join me," whispers the villain, "and you could have your heart's desire - tidying up my ENTIRE kingdom!"
Throughout there is a feeling of "my god, poor noble innocent Kay, how unjustly he is treated!" especially from Gawain and Gareth, his defenders against heartless Arthur's accusations. Look, it's an angle and damn if this book is not gonna defend it.
So I admire the, like, the WORK, you know. And taking GOOD ADMINISTRATION as his special skill is a real way to get on my good side. Without his quiet work behind the scenes, Camelot would fall to ruins! And Baldry can write. This is a very easy, entertaining read. Especially if you're a hardcore Kay stan with elaborate woobie headcanon.
Read
March 30, 2026Cherith Baldry: Hey, can write fic based on your fic?
Phyllis Ann Carr: Sure.
Cherith Baldry: Here it is! Exiled from Camelot: Gawain/Kay, Arthur & Kay, Arthur/Kay, Kay & Gareth, Loholt, Brisant des Isles, Brisane, Meliant de Lis, Alienor, Hurt/Comfort, ~50k
Cherith Baldry: What do you think? I know you're a big Mordred/Kay fan, but I prefer Gawain/Kay, so I wrote that instead.
Phyllis Ann Carr: ...
Phyllis Ann Carr: It's "One of the half-dozen best Arthurian novels I have yet read."
Compelled by how she made Lancelot a jerk here. You know, for a guy whose main thing ended up being "banging his best friend's wife on the reg," it's surprising how few Arthurian re-tellings depict Lancelot as a jerk.
November 4, 2021
La verdad es que se me ha hecho un poco largo y que la vuelta al libro analógico resultó difícil. El ratito de leer hay que compatibilizarlo con el sueño de la pareja y este no tiene luz graduable.
Es una historia respetuosa de la tradición medieval en la línea de The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere con el que comparte protagonista y ciertas similitudes argumentales. Resulta agradable de leer y es capaz de superar y actualizar las extrañas convenciones del género caballeresco.
Es una historia respetuosa de la tradición medieval en la línea de The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere con el que comparte protagonista y ciertas similitudes argumentales. Resulta agradable de leer y es capaz de superar y actualizar las extrañas convenciones del género caballeresco.
August 28, 2024
Very engaging and well written but entirely focuses on the men, which given the material shouldn't be a surprise.
October 30, 2025
sir kay woooooo
October 5, 2015
I have read this novel so many times I know it by heart. When I am sick or sad I simply take this book from my shelf and read it all again or parts of it.
Let me say you this, it is not the perfect novel. It has its flaws, for example
This book has everything I need in a book: a good story which makes you hold your breath to wait for what will happen next, some good characters, the good characterization of a female character, friendship- everything.
I would like to talk now a bit more of my favourite sides of this novels:
To conclude, I would like to recommend this book to every fan of Thomas Malory, sir Kay, single themes/episodes of arthuriana, sir Gawain, sir Gareth and in general a good book that may not be the next 'Les Misérables' of arthurian legend but it is definitely in my top5 of favourite arthurian novels.
Let me say you this, it is not the perfect novel. It has its flaws, for example
This book has everything I need in a book: a good story which makes you hold your breath to wait for what will happen next, some good characters, the good characterization of a female character, friendship- everything.
I would like to talk now a bit more of my favourite sides of this novels:
To conclude, I would like to recommend this book to every fan of Thomas Malory, sir Kay, single themes/episodes of arthuriana, sir Gawain, sir Gareth and in general a good book that may not be the next 'Les Misérables' of arthurian legend but it is definitely in my top5 of favourite arthurian novels.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews