Customer Reviews

High Queen

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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!

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!

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.

Arthur and Guinevere live on. This book was so good, that at the end I was so emotionally exsuasted that I hit my pillow and slept for hours! I balled my eyes out at the end about what happened between Arthur and his son, mordred. And also what happened between Guinevere and Lancelot, and their undying love for each other. Though I still found the first book,"The Child Queen" much better, this one was definately more sad, and more tragic. This book is a must for anyone looking for something with Magic, romance, suspense, and love

I thought this book was just as good as "The Child Queen." The first chapter drags a little but after that it takes off! If you've already read The Child Queen, you'll want to read The High Queen regardless of reviews -- if you haven't read The Child Queen, read it now!

Not as good as The Child Queen but still worth reading. You have to see how the story ends. Others may not have liked some of the content, but history is not all roses and fairy tales. Nancy gets close to the actual legend of King Arthur with this story (at least as far as other books and documentaries I've read), and this written from Guenivere's point of view makes it a story worth reading. Again the characters come to life, and the betrayal that Guenivere must overcome from her closest friends is very heartwrenching. If you loved The Child Queen, you will like The High Queen

I recently read the combination of Nancy McKenzie's two books, The Child Queen and The High Queen, and until recently the stories by Persia Woolley were my all-time favorites. This book is incredible. I have read this book 3 times, because it is always a wonder to me how the characters grow and the times change. The first time I finished it, I cried and was melancholy for days. This book so completely depicts all of the characters, I easily and immediately felt a part of Camelot and a part of this story. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

This was a great book. Even though everyone knows the Guinevere and Arthur story, this book managed to put a new twist on it. The depth McKenzie gives to Guinevere allows the reader to feel everything Guinevere does. There was a bit too much foreshadowing in my opinion, but with knowing the ending, it is fairly easy to pick up on. It is nice to see the story from Guinevere's view point.

I loved this book, but then I love all books on King Arthur. I'm not a big fan of Guinevere's, but she is sort of likeable in Nancy mcKenzie's retelling of the story. I give it one and a half thumbs up!

I read The High Queen after having read The Child Queen (it's prequel) and I could not put either book down. I am normally a very slow reader, but I got through these books faster than I have any others. I admit that McKenzie's books are not "high art," but as someone who is enthralled by the Arthurian legend, I found them immensley enjoyable. McKenzie writes so that the reader often feels as though she were in the novel. I certainly found this to be true. McKenzie's descriptions of the characters and events stayed mostly true to the traditional legend while still "humanizing" Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and all the rest. The characters became people rather than just bits and pieces of the legend. Again, I have read plenty of other books with more symbolism, meaning, and "depth," but I have enjoyed no others to the extent of The Child Queen and The High Queen. I really wish McKenzie would publish another book; I would love to read it.