Once Upon a Spring Morn [Hardcover]

Dennis L. McKiernan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006

The gallant knight Roél rides into the Springwood and finds his true heart's desire in Céleste, princess of that domain. But before their love can blossom, Roél must rescue his sister from a dreadful lord who steals the souls of those he bears away. Céleste joins her champion on a desperate odyssey across shadow-lit borders to save Roél's soul-reft sister before the dark of the moon.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fairy Princess Céleste of Springwood finds a lover in the chevalier Roél after he rescues her from brigands in McKiernan's entertaining fourth and final "seasonal" fantasy (after Once Upon an Autumn Eve), which takes its inspiration from the Childe Roland fairy tale. The feisty princess joins Roél on his quest to rescue his virginal sister, Avélaine, from the Lord of the Changelings before the evil ruler can defile the girl, impregnate her and steal her soul. On their travels through exotic kingdoms, Céleste and Roél must solve the Fates' riddles, outwit an Ogre, navigate past the Sirènes, best Greek mythical figures in Elysian Fields and pass through the Egyptian Underworld. Though McKiernan's characters have no depth and inconsistent sexual mores, the relentless, fantastical action will satisfy series fans. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Although expert with bow and arrow, Princess Celeste welcomes handsome knight Roel's aid when she is beset by would-be kidnappers one beautiful Springwood morning. This being at heart a romance, the two are instantly smitten. Soon he proposes, and she accepts. Before wedding, however, Roel must find and rescue his sister, Avelaine, and two brothers from the Changeling Lord--in one month, or the Changelings will possess Avelaine forever. The Fates assist the couple (Celeste having joined forces with Roel) en route but can advise them only in riddles. And so they are chased by goblins and ogres, Celeste is imprisoned by a troll, they encounter and are often terribly challenged by the Sphynx, the god Thoth, Cerberus the guardian dog of Hades, Hercules, Jason, Aeneas, and a mob of rotting, walking dead. When they reach the Changeling Lord's realm, things really get rough. McKiernan seamlessly sews together two fairy tales and adds unique twists and enhancements in his fourth seasonal volume of a world of Faery that ought to have been. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover; 1st. edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451461126
• ISBN-13: 978-0451461124
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #608,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quest for a Stolen Sister, August 20, 2007

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Spring Morn (Hardcover)

Once Upon a Spring Morn (2006) is the fourth Fantasy novel in the Faery series, following Once Upon An Autumn Eve. In the previous volume, Liaze enterred the Chateau Bleu with forged documents and informed the comtessa of Luc's return. The next day, the guards selected by the comtessa admitted Luc onto the grounds and he issued a challenge to Guillaume for trial by combat. Afterwards, Luc gave the survivors a day to flee the domain.

In this novel, Princess Celeste of Springwood rests in a fork among the huge branches of her Companion of Quietness, a massive oak tree. Here she comes whenever she feels uneasy and today she is here to brood over the absence of her sister Liaze. When she hears the sound of a horn, she frowns, for she has not sanctioned a hunt that day.

When the hunters appear below her, she confronts them and finds that they are hunting for HER. As they move on the tree to pull her down, she lets fly an arrow into the leader's breast. Just then a lone knight rides up and attacks her wouldbe kidnappers and she picks off the ones attacking from his rear.

The armed men are led by a raven, who flees into the forest crying "Revenge". Celeste's own guardsmen ride up just as the few surviving outlaws are fleeing and they gallop after them. The knight defender introduces himself as Sieur Roel and declares that he is questing for his missing sister and his two brothers, who had gone looking for her.

After his wounds are tended, Sieur Roel tells the full story of how his sister Avelaine was taken by the Lord of Changelings. Then he tells how his brother Laurent left to consult with the sage Geron before continuing onward in search for Avelaine. After Laurent had failed to return in three years, the second brother Blaise had ridden off to consult with Geron and then search for Avelaine.

Blaise had also failed to return for three years. Since Roel has now earned his spurs, he too went to consult with Geron and received Couer d'Acier to take with him on his quest. The older brothers had not wanted to wait for the sword to be fabricated, but it was ready when Roel came for advice.

The Heart of Steel had a steel core flashed over with silver and constructed with runes to suppress its steel aura. After Roel left Geron, he had to exchange all his steel weapons and appurtenances for bronze equivalents before he could enter Faery, but he was allowed to take the sword with him. It was this weapon that he used against the outlaws.

Roel had a long and difficult recovery, for the worst cut was also poisoned. While he rested in Celeste's chateau, Roel came to know the princess and gradually fell in love with her. Before he leaves, Celeste announces their betrothal to her retainers. By this time, Roel is well liked by all.

Although Roel objects, Celeste accompanies him on his quest. For the journey to Mizon, the first part of their travels, Celeste's warband escorts them. As they approach the port town, the group is attacked by Goblins, Ogres and Trolls and both Roel and Celeste flee through the twilight wall to the next land. When they cannot be found on either side of the wall, the warband returns to her chateau thinking that the couple are dead.

In this story, Roel and Celeste meet King's Captain Chevell of Mizon after they fall onto his ship, the Sea Eagle. The King's ship is pursuing corsairs who have stolen a rare map. When Roel and Celeste realize that this map is the one that they were going to Mizon to use in his quest, they join forces with Chevell and sail across the sea after the remaining freebooter ship.

Roel and Celeste have many other adventures as they travel toward the land of the Changelings. Along the way Celeste encounters the three Fates. After Roel complains that he hasn't meet any of them, Lady Doom appears to them both. As in the other Faery tales, Celeste acquires gifts from each of the Fates and uses them to complete the quest.

This Faery tale is based on two ancient stories: Le Bel Inconnu and Childe Rowland. The first is Arthurian and the second is a later English tale. As usual, the author adds embellishments that were surely in the original tales.

Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Faery lands, loyal knights and true love.

-Arthur W. Jordin

5.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon, August 30, 2009

By 

Albert Kasenter (Saxonburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Once Upon A Spring Morn (Paperback)

This is another in the series by Dennis McKiernan retelling old tales as a bard of old would.

Great series, I hate to see it end

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Fan, October 29, 2007

By 

GW "The Page Turner" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon A Spring Morn (Paperback)

If you are a fan of fantasy, Dennis McKiernan should be one of the author's you fight through dragon-infested pits in order to meet along your quest. From his Mithgar series to his new "Once Upon A..." series (taking place in the realm of Faery), his characters are relateable, funny, endearing, and easy to get attached to. If you are always looking for a happily-ever-after ending, you might not always get it in his books, but the realism (within the fantasy) is there.