What do you think?
Rate this book
The Squire's Tales #3
The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf
Her castle under siege by an evil knight who keeps beheading all her would-be rescuers, Lady Lynet sets out for help and finds assistance from an odd dwarf named Roger and a scruffy kitchen hand named Beaumains.
As the three unlikely companions return to Lynet’s castle, they face surprising adventures, including encounters with the uncanny Squire Terence, his master, Sir Gawain, and the majestic sorceress Morgan. And somewhere along the way, Lynet discovers that people can be much more than they seem.
As the three unlikely companions return to Lynet’s castle, they face surprising adventures, including encounters with the uncanny Squire Terence, his master, Sir Gawain, and the majestic sorceress Morgan. And somewhere along the way, Lynet discovers that people can be much more than they seem.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2000
43 people are currently reading
2287 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Morris
27 books495 followersGerald Morris is an award-winning author, best known for his retellings of Arthurian legends for preteen and teen readers.
His first series, The Squire's Tales, focuses primarily on a squire named Terence, alongside his knight, Sir Gawain. The ten-book series began with The Squire's Tale, first published in 1998.
His second series, The Knights' Tales, is for younger readers and began with The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great, published in 2008, followed by The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short in the same year.
Morris was born in Riverside, California in 1963, the son of Russell A. Morris. He was educated at the Oklahoma Baptist University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married Rebecca Hughes, has 3 children, and now lives in Wausau, Wisconsin. He also lived for a short time in Oklahoma. Apart from writing, Morris teaches theology and serves as a pastor for church.
His first series, The Squire's Tales, focuses primarily on a squire named Terence, alongside his knight, Sir Gawain. The ten-book series began with The Squire's Tale, first published in 1998.
His second series, The Knights' Tales, is for younger readers and began with The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great, published in 2008, followed by The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short in the same year.
Morris was born in Riverside, California in 1963, the son of Russell A. Morris. He was educated at the Oklahoma Baptist University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married Rebecca Hughes, has 3 children, and now lives in Wausau, Wisconsin. He also lived for a short time in Oklahoma. Apart from writing, Morris teaches theology and serves as a pastor for church.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
December 6, 2025
Arguably one of my favorite books of all time.
This is a fabulous romantic adventure. At the heart of the story is the idea of loving someone for what's inside them rather than their outward appearance or the great things they have supposedly done.
Lynet sets off to find Camelot and save her sister from having to marry an evil knight. Along the way, she meets Roger, a dwarf, who helps her find her way. When they arrive at Camelot, Lynet pleads for help, but the only one to volunteer is a kitchen boy, Beaumains. No one knows who he really is, but he immediately proves that he has had knightly training when he slays two seasoned knights. Lynet, Roger and Beaumains travel to Lynet's castle, and along the way Lynet falls for Beaumains's handsome face and great skill. But he can't offer her what she truly needs: friendship. That comes from Roger and when his life is endangered, Lynet learns the true meaning of love. But Roger has a secret that will change his and Lynet's lives forever.
Romance, adventure, humor, this has it all!!!
This is a fabulous romantic adventure. At the heart of the story is the idea of loving someone for what's inside them rather than their outward appearance or the great things they have supposedly done.
Lynet sets off to find Camelot and save her sister from having to marry an evil knight. Along the way, she meets Roger, a dwarf, who helps her find her way. When they arrive at Camelot, Lynet pleads for help, but the only one to volunteer is a kitchen boy, Beaumains. No one knows who he really is, but he immediately proves that he has had knightly training when he slays two seasoned knights. Lynet, Roger and Beaumains travel to Lynet's castle, and along the way Lynet falls for Beaumains's handsome face and great skill. But he can't offer her what she truly needs: friendship. That comes from Roger and when his life is endangered, Lynet learns the true meaning of love. But Roger has a secret that will change his and Lynet's lives forever.
Romance, adventure, humor, this has it all!!!
January 22, 2024
An absolutely brilliant, topsy-turvy retelling of Malory's tale of Sir Gareth. In Malory's original story, Sir Gareth starts out in disguise as a kitchen boy, before undertaking a quest, riding with the sharp-tongued and scornful Lady Lynet to rescue her beautiful, distressed sister, Lady Lyonesse. Despite Lyonesse's suspicions of an unnamed knight, he eventually wins her hand in marriage. Tennyson, with a more modern eye, retells the story so that Gareth ends up with the more interesting and assertive Lynet. Most modern retellings follow Tennyson, and I expected Morris to do the same. Instead, he returns to Malory's original, bringing his own lovingly irreverent perspective on the original story. Not only does he fill out some of the gaps in the original tale, he cuts far closer to Malory than I would ever expect - especially in a book written for a younger audience! I'm simply amazed by how unflinchingly Morris sticks to the original, while recasting the story to critique Malory's notions of knighthood...and of course, to deliver another beautiful, sincere, funny, romantic tale of adventure. Probably the best in the series so far.
October 7, 2014
One of the best books in fantasy genre. It has everything: humour, adventure, love story, morale. I can't help loving the main charcters also: Lynet and Roger. I found myself laughing at every new page. So witty without being a cynical story. One of the scene that I can't help laughing every time I remember is the misunderstanding of the word courageous and dim. To think that Blue Knight said it without knowing. " The dimmest knight in the world". Hihihi. It makes you think about the narrow line between being courageous and being dim.
June 7, 2012
These books really are fun. They're very light reading, but they do interesting things with the stories -- and they make admirable sense of Malory's stories without twisting them too far out of shape, which rather amuses me. It's a pity that Gerald Morris thinks women mostly bother about their looks and the men they're in love with, or seems to from the way he portrays Lyonesse and Guinevere, and sometimes Lynet. But he doesn't write delicate little flowers, either, so that's a point in his favour.
I love the way he portrays the Orkney boys. The brotherly squabbling really works, and I've always had a soft spot for Gawain and Gaheris, while not being so fond of Gareth (too attached to Lancelot) and Agravaine (too attached to Mordred).
A couple of useful bits for my dissertation, but not enough yet. At least they're quick, fun reads.
I love the way he portrays the Orkney boys. The brotherly squabbling really works, and I've always had a soft spot for Gawain and Gaheris, while not being so fond of Gareth (too attached to Lancelot) and Agravaine (too attached to Mordred).
A couple of useful bits for my dissertation, but not enough yet. At least they're quick, fun reads.
March 21, 2021
These are good. Funny. Obvious, too, but that’s part of the charm. I’d forgotten how much I liked these (I think I found the series mid-publication) and they’re probably the reason I remember liking Arthurian novels... These have just the right blend of hilarity and pathos, and and an equally entertaining blend of a historical world and the Other World. A raised-eyebrow, this-can’t-be-the-end-all attitude toward the Round Table is exactly right.
July 5, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
A colleague of mine at the library was about to discard our copy of this book because it had not checked out recently which means I need to recommend it more often. It is book three in a series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone book and although I enjoyed reading the whole series this one is my favorite. This is a clever mix of light romance, humor, fantasy and, strangely enough, history (Morris was given awards for the accuracy of his portrayal of medieval England). One may read it on the surface as a mad-cap adventure or find deeper meanings about relationships and true value.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (2017 A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile)
2024 reread: still my favorite book of the series. There begins to be actual logic to the adventures in this one although it continues as violent as before. I don't think it can be very realistic that heads can be chopped off so easily I have heard that it is actually quite difficult to do, everyone here must have magic swords, whether in the "Other World" or not.
A colleague of mine at the library was about to discard our copy of this book because it had not checked out recently which means I need to recommend it more often. It is book three in a series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone book and although I enjoyed reading the whole series this one is my favorite. This is a clever mix of light romance, humor, fantasy and, strangely enough, history (Morris was given awards for the accuracy of his portrayal of medieval England). One may read it on the surface as a mad-cap adventure or find deeper meanings about relationships and true value.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (2017 A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile)
2024 reread: still my favorite book of the series. There begins to be actual logic to the adventures in this one although it continues as violent as before. I don't think it can be very realistic that heads can be chopped off so easily I have heard that it is actually quite difficult to do, everyone here must have magic swords, whether in the "Other World" or not.
October 19, 2007
Lynet and sister Lyonesse are under siege by a Red Knight demanding to marry Lyonesse. Lynet sneaks past the siege at night, gets lost in the woods and, not having thought to bring provisions, attacks Roger, a dwarf she comes across and takes his breakfast. He agrees to guide her to King Arthur’s court (he's kind of scared of her), but only Beaumains, a servant from the kitchen, volunteers to help her with her predicament.
Beaumains proves he’s an excellent fighter (though he picks many unnecessary fights) and very handsome once clean.
I liked Lynet’s healthy appetite, common sense, and readiness to speak her mind, and I loved the story’s mix of humor, adventure, and magic. Fun!
Beaumains proves he’s an excellent fighter (though he picks many unnecessary fights) and very handsome once clean.
I liked Lynet’s healthy appetite, common sense, and readiness to speak her mind, and I loved the story’s mix of humor, adventure, and magic. Fun!
August 1, 2014
This book tells one of the lesser-known Arthurian tales, that of two of Gawain's younger brothers and their lady loves. It is told in an entertaining, enjoyable way, with plenty of laughs and just the right dose of moral lessons thrown in. One of the things I love about this series, is how Gerald Morris mocks the classical " fairest maiden in all the land," "love at first sight," and "greatest knight ever born" absurdities usually associated with Arthurian lore. He tells a "realistic" fantasy story and keeps us laughing all the way.
I adore this book and think it is a great choice for young, reluctant readers and adult bookworms alike!
I adore this book and think it is a great choice for young, reluctant readers and adult bookworms alike!
October 26, 2012
I almost didn't keep this book for the library because I saw that it was the 3rd book in the Arthurian series and we didn't have the other two. Silly me. What a fun, fun read (I still have a grin on my face) that is not dependent whatsoever on preceding books. Morris' retelling of Sir Thomas Malory's tale is a little bit Don Quixote, a little bit Princess Bride, and a little bit Beauty and the Beast. 4+
Favorite Quotes:
"And what if he gets killed trying to avenge his stinker of a relative? What will that prove?...Would you risk your life for the sake of a worthless brother?"--"I already have, my lady. And I may again."
and
"No one is just a woodcutter...A person's always more than his present occupation."
and
"for Gareth, she realized, honor was tournament victories and shiny armor; he would never understand that his hero had discovered honor in sore muscles at the end of a long day of labor done well."
Favorite Quotes:
"And what if he gets killed trying to avenge his stinker of a relative? What will that prove?...Would you risk your life for the sake of a worthless brother?"--"I already have, my lady. And I may again."
and
"No one is just a woodcutter...A person's always more than his present occupation."
and
"for Gareth, she realized, honor was tournament victories and shiny armor; he would never understand that his hero had discovered honor in sore muscles at the end of a long day of labor done well."
May 4, 2022
I like Gerald Morris's slightly subversive take on the Arthurian legends, but two books in the series is probably enough. After reading this, I went back to more traditional versions - The Once and Future King, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table and Sword at Sunset because while Morris is intermittently amusing, the grandeur of the original is missing. I want a conflicted Gawain, a Lancelot riven by guilt, Merlin twisted by his knowledge of the future, Arthur trying to build perfection from fractured history.
January 18, 2025
Being a bit generous here. I’ve loved the first two books in this series, but this one didn’t have the same charm. Lynet was pretty unlikeable and the pacing was tedious. As usual though, Morris’s dry wit and narration saved a lot of the story.
July 23, 2022
Gerald Morris has a talent for giving legendary characters personalities and making them feel like real people. It's so joyous to read a book where everything is not as it seems. There are enough hidden identities in this book for three stories, but they totally work. I remember the excitement of finding out these secrets the first time I read it.
What I find so refreshing about Morris is his female characters. Lynet is indeed a savage damsel. She has her own opinions and does not fear men. Eileen in The Squire, the Knight, and His Lady is similar. I love it every time.
What I find so refreshing about Morris is his female characters. Lynet is indeed a savage damsel. She has her own opinions and does not fear men. Eileen in The Squire, the Knight, and His Lady is similar. I love it every time.
April 24, 2008
This is definitely my favorite so far in the Squire's Tales series, all of which I have enjoyed. It has a great deal of humor, but this one has more romance and apparently that just made the book for me! Lynet and Roger are endearing main characters, and the resolution of their story is very satisfying. Morris writes smooth, witty and entertaining dialogue that keeps me turning pages while also fearing the book will end too quickly.
July 2, 2012
This book is hilarious and my favorite of Gerald Morris' stories. I don't want to give away the ending but this book had me laughing so much I teared up. I loved the heroine because she wasn't perfect and she grew up throughout the story. Her sister was perfectly horrible, the knight she finds is without much "real" honor, and the dwarf is pricelessly hilarious and charming. I highly recommend to camelot stories fans or anyone who likes a fast paced funny fantasy read.
September 2, 2012
Update (9/1/2012):
This is just as enjoyable as I remember it being! It is my favorite in the series, so far. I love Morris' re-tellings and what he adds in to make sense of it all.
I have been trying to remember the name of this book for ages; I read this book a few years ago and LOVED it. I remember thinking that I wished there were more like it--I had no idea it was a part of a series! Now I will have to find and read the first two books.
This is just as enjoyable as I remember it being! It is my favorite in the series, so far. I love Morris' re-tellings and what he adds in to make sense of it all.
I have been trying to remember the name of this book for ages; I read this book a few years ago and LOVED it. I remember thinking that I wished there were more like it--I had no idea it was a part of a series! Now I will have to find and read the first two books.
February 1, 2018
The only thing that makes me wince is that Lynet is 16 years old... when I was 12, I thought she was super mature and amazing, but now that I'm an adult who supervises teenagers... lol 16 year olds are a bunch of dingdongs.
Also, not really a fan of the "I didn't realize I was in love with you, but now that I know I'm in love, I am absolutely devoted entirely to you" trope, but since the protagonist is 16 and therefore a dingdong... I'll let it slide.
Also, not really a fan of the "I didn't realize I was in love with you, but now that I know I'm in love, I am absolutely devoted entirely to you" trope, but since the protagonist is 16 and therefore a dingdong... I'll let it slide.
October 22, 2015
Gerald Morris is a remarkable author. These will be some of the first books that I read to my children, and they are books that I intend to read over and over again for my own enjoyment. I've loved Terrence's presence in the first two books of this series, but this third book has plenty of momentum without him. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.
August 11, 2016
Just delightful! I was a little unsure at first since this book (the third in the series) wasn't really about Terence and Gawain like the first two, but it ended up being great anyway. The new cast of characters is wonderful.
January 9, 2016
This book was hilarious! The beginning was a little annoying because of Medieval gender conformities but other than that it was a great tale about Ladies, Knights, and Magic and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light and lovely read.
March 24, 2019
I love this book so, so much. I think that the reason is because of Lynet and Roger. Actually, all of the characters, but especially them and their relationship. Ahhhh, words are failing me as to how good it is! Just read it, you'll be glad you did. :)
August 4, 2024
An hilarious retelling of the Beaumains story, with all the most ridiculous bits included and celebrated.
July 6, 2009
An excellent story, I have read this book at least five times. It is always good for a laugh, and the plot is supurb!
October 25, 2015
I loved this book! so fun! I love this series so-far, and I can't wait to start the 4th book!
October 10, 2016
full review coming soon!
March 1, 2023
This book was awesome. I wish I read this series when I was younger. Still, I very much enjoyed it at the ripe age of twenty-four. (Update 03/02/23: Enjoyable at 27 also.)
January 24, 2023
Two thumbs up to this whole series!
June 17, 2013
This series is very entertaining. I haven't read a series with this many books in ages, or with more or less unconnected stories, but these are quite interesting and new adventures in Arthurian times.
This is the first book in the series that does not take place in Terrence's POV, or to have a focus upon The Squire and His Knight. However Lynette was quite and interesting and welcome character, to provide a completely different spin on the events and goings on at this time.
Although Lynette is not the first to have escaped a castle by her own means since she's gotten tired of waiting for a knight, the aftermath of this expedition is actually quite different. While in other books the heroine normally ends up saving the world herself or falling in love with someone on the outside, Lynette difference greatly due to the time period that she lives in. Throughout the book Lynette is accused of being un-ladylike and impolite, but the reader can see through her different actions how much she actually follows the chivalry of the times. It is quite interesting.
Since Lynette has many blunt comments, it changes her voice so much and resonates with the reader. Lynette often states thoughts that a reader has while reading stories of this time period, and in such a manner that is funny and relatable for the reader.
One of such interesting insights that Lynette has is the behavior of her Knight. She openly accuses Beaumains for his stupid acts because he sees them as 'knightly valour'. Although she follows much of Arthurian chivalry her comments and opinions vary vastly.
Due to the prologue of this book there were many moments of irony, which personally made me satisfied to be smarter than the characters.
The story also provides a deeper understanding of the tales of a Knight. It has long been written that the stories were embellished, but this really helps you understand how the people on the quest actually reacted to the knights.
One thing that did bother me was all the G's. It took me forever to figure them all out.
I do however really like how Morris made a plot out of the mess of the Morte. It was quite wonderful to see how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
The one reason that this book is four stars is
This series is quite a wonderful series and and interesting new perspective.
This is the first book in the series that does not take place in Terrence's POV, or to have a focus upon The Squire and His Knight. However Lynette was quite and interesting and welcome character, to provide a completely different spin on the events and goings on at this time.
Although Lynette is not the first to have escaped a castle by her own means since she's gotten tired of waiting for a knight, the aftermath of this expedition is actually quite different. While in other books the heroine normally ends up saving the world herself or falling in love with someone on the outside, Lynette difference greatly due to the time period that she lives in. Throughout the book Lynette is accused of being un-ladylike and impolite, but the reader can see through her different actions how much she actually follows the chivalry of the times. It is quite interesting.
Since Lynette has many blunt comments, it changes her voice so much and resonates with the reader. Lynette often states thoughts that a reader has while reading stories of this time period, and in such a manner that is funny and relatable for the reader.
One of such interesting insights that Lynette has is the behavior of her Knight. She openly accuses Beaumains for his stupid acts because he sees them as 'knightly valour'. Although she follows much of Arthurian chivalry her comments and opinions vary vastly.
Due to the prologue of this book there were many moments of irony, which personally made me satisfied to be smarter than the characters.
The story also provides a deeper understanding of the tales of a Knight. It has long been written that the stories were embellished, but this really helps you understand how the people on the quest actually reacted to the knights.
One thing that did bother me was all the G's. It took me forever to figure them all out.
I do however really like how Morris made a plot out of the mess of the Morte. It was quite wonderful to see how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
The one reason that this book is four stars is
This series is quite a wonderful series and and interesting new perspective.
January 30, 2018
Knights, curses, magic, quests, stupid beautiful maidens, and romance.
February 14, 2014
For those of you hoping Book 3 of The Squire’s Tales would contain more about the adventures of Terence and Sir Gawain, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Both Terence and Gawain do appear at various points throughout the novel, but the main focus is on Lady Lynet. This was disappointing for me at first, but then Lady Lynet became such a strong character I had no choice but to connect with her.
Although I know the basic story of Beaumains I really did not see the twist coming at the end. Wow. And it actually made sense, but was surprising at the same time! Gerald Morris also added much more depth to the original legend, most importantly in the case of Roger the dwarf and Lynet. Lynet isn’t just a nagging woman who constantly torments poor Beaumains and Roger the dwarf isn’t just comic relief.
The plot went a little more quickly this time, but that’s probably because we were introduced to the conflict right off the bat: evil knight keeping beautiful damsel captive and killing all knights who try to rescue her until she agrees to marry him. This time the beautiful damsel is not-so-nice and it is her sister, Lynet, who decides to do something to stop the bloodbath. The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf isn’t so much plot driven as character driven. You would think that would make it slow and boring, but the characters are so vivid and the world-building Gerald Morris did was incredible so it worked in this case.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Although I know the basic story of Beaumains I really did not see the twist coming at the end. Wow. And it actually made sense, but was surprising at the same time! Gerald Morris also added much more depth to the original legend, most importantly in the case of Roger the dwarf and Lynet. Lynet isn’t just a nagging woman who constantly torments poor Beaumains and Roger the dwarf isn’t just comic relief.
The plot went a little more quickly this time, but that’s probably because we were introduced to the conflict right off the bat: evil knight keeping beautiful damsel captive and killing all knights who try to rescue her until she agrees to marry him. This time the beautiful damsel is not-so-nice and it is her sister, Lynet, who decides to do something to stop the bloodbath. The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf isn’t so much plot driven as character driven. You would think that would make it slow and boring, but the characters are so vivid and the world-building Gerald Morris did was incredible so it worked in this case.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
January 5, 2016
Just as delightful as the first two, if not more so! Now I see why my older two kids keep asking to read the next in the series and don't get tired of it. And, I have to say, my estimation of their ability to appreciate humor and good writing has increased because of it. The writing is still witty, the humor is just the kind I enjoy, and the author is still playing around with the genre conventions of Arthurian myth. There are ladies who don't act like ladies, knights who don't act like knights (and, for comparison, some who do), and a running gag about the likely beauty of a lady who has promised to marry the knight who can rescue her from the blackguard who is besieging her castle (says King Arthur: "It's just that very few of my knights are actually looking for wives at this time"). I suspect these books teach a lot to kids about willingness to alter preconceived notions. In any case, they're tons of fun to read!
This book focuses on different characters than the first two, although Terence makes an appearance. I think that's actually a good thing, because it keeps the story fresh. The author borrows the plot of a story from Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur and fills in the (many large) gaps.
This book focuses on different characters than the first two, although Terence makes an appearance. I think that's actually a good thing, because it keeps the story fresh. The author borrows the plot of a story from Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur and fills in the (many large) gaps.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews