by C.M. Gray (Goodreads Author)
Shadowland by C.M. Gray is a self published novel released in February 2012.
People have gathered together on a Winter's Eve to hear a fantastical tale woven by an old man adept at story telling. Before he can get started, a visitor arrives and sets the old man on a different course, telling a true story instead of a made up story.
Two teenage boys, Usher and Cal, witness the burning of their village and countless deaths. Vowing revenge, they meet up with Merlyn and the battle begins that will lead to one of them becoming a king.
For most of those gathered to listen to the old man tell a story, it's just that- a story. But, something magical is taking place and will lead us to a surprising end.
There are breaks in the story as we return from the dark ages, back to the gathering and the old man. As the story develops it becomes clear that the man telling this story was the king and he had a son named Arthur. But, the old man's memory is just now coming back to these events as he tells his story.
This is the story of the epic battles between Britons and Saxons, the magic of the druids, wolf shapes shifters, and the beginning of a new age for the Britons.
The author does a wonderful job of putting us in the middle of the dark ages. I could feel the cold and damp, see the mist, and fog, imagine the characters as they face fear with courage and honor. This book had been promoted as YA, but I think this book would appeal to all readers that enjoy historical fantasy and especially those that like the round table type fantasy tales.
Overall this is a B+