High Queen [Mass Market Paperback]

Nancy McKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 1995

The Childless Queen

The prophecy spoken at Queen Guinevere's birth had been fulfilled. Guinevere reigned strong and true, at the side of her beloved King Arthur. Together, they had forged a legendary kingdom, and its fame would live forever. Yet there had been a dark side to the prophecy, and the white shadow of fate ever hung over the Queen.

Now Guinevere thought she knew what that shadow was: she was barren. She accepted that -- just as she accepted that Arthur must have an heir And the only true heir of his body was Mordred -- offspring of a cursed encounter with Arthur's own sister, the witch Morgause.

Guinevere couldn't give Arthur her own child, so she would give him his own son: Mordred. She would raise the boy, teach him to be a king. He would be like Arthur -- wise, coolheaded. He would honor Camelot and all it stood for. She would love him like a mother.

He was to be her greatest joy, and her greatest despair...

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Childless Queen

The prophecy spoken at Queen Guinevere's birth had been fulfilled. Guinevere reigned strong and true, at the side of her beloved King Arthur. Together, they had forged a legendary kingdom, and its fame would live forever. Yet there had been a dark side to the prophecy, and the white shadow of fate ever hung over the Queen.

Now Guinevere thought she knew what that shadow was: she was barren. She accepted that -- just as she accepted that Arthur must have an heir And the only true heir of his body was Mordred -- offspring of a cursed encounter with Arthur's own sister, the witch Morgause.

Guinevere couldn't give Arthur her own child, so she would give him his own son: Mordred. She would raise the boy, teach him to be a king. He would be like Arthur -- wise, coolheaded. He would honor Camelot and all it stood for. She would love him like a mother.

He was to be her greatest joy, and her greatest despair...

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey (January 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345382455
• ISBN-13: 978-0345382450
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,794,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest books I've ever read!, January 7, 2002

By 

"starsprinkles" (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: High Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

Where do I begin? The High Queen is a moving and powerful sequel to the awesome book The Child Queen. I am an avid reader of fantasy books, especially those based on Arthurian legend, and these have to be not only among the best, but probably the most emotionally-charged. Both books are the basic Arthurian legend as told by Guinevere, but be warned, there are a few twists, (not giving anything away), Nancy McKenzie presents her own Mordred, one who is much different from the evil bastard son most may expect. I adore Ms. McKenzie's Arthur, he is portrayed here as the great man of legend, a man who will truly bring peace and justice to the world, while at the same time the reader is forced to fall in love with Lancelot, just as Guinevere does. The true beauty of this book is that as Guinevere struggles with her love for both Arthur and Lancelot, the reader does too. WARNING: The ending of this book is so powerful, I finished it at 4 in the morning and just sat and cried my eyes out. This is the first and really the only book to really make me CRY. At the end I really cared for each of the characters and almost couldn't bear to have it all end. Even knowing the legend and what happens could not prepare me for the ending Ms. McKenzie created. I was truly moved. Please read this book and it's companion, The Child Queen. If you like novels based on Arthurian legend, fantasy books, or would like to try something new, try these. You won't be sorry, I promise!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, December 27, 1999

By 

David M. Stone "[e-mail]" (Wareham, Massachusets USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: High Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

How could ANYONE not like this book! I am an avid reader, and this is the first book, EVER, that made me tear up. Guinevere, Mordred and Artur reach out of the pages and pull you into their lives, really making you CARE about them! For instance, Guinevere is a heroine that you really like, except that she seemsto say "but i'm only a woman!" before she goes off and does something noble or heroic. Mordred is not the evil and twisted soul that other books on Arthurian legend would have you believe. Instead, he is kind and gentle, tormented only by the fact that he MUST kill Arthur, his father, and that he loves Guinevere, who only can love him as a son. If you love Arthurian legend, and you've never QUITE bleived that Guinevere was wimpy, or that Mordred was evil, this is the book to get. Kudos, to you, Nancy McKenzie!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent sequel, December 20, 1998

By 

Leah Suslovich (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: High Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

After The Child Queen, I was sure the sequel was going to be a disappointment. I was wrong! The High Queen lives up to the promise of The Child Queen. Granted, the first chapter drags a little, but once you get past that the author plunges right back in with adventure, drama, romance... and most of all, characters that make the Arthurian legend come to life.