Customer Reviews

Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know why, but I tend to get stuck on some stories and search for every book written about them. I obsess over Elizabeth I's relationship with Robert Dudley, faithfully search out tales about and of Sharazard, and lately, I want to know everything about Tristan and Isolde. That's why I picked this book.

This is the story of doomed young love. Tristan, a young knight whose birthright to the high throne of Britain was taken by his Uncle (with his help actually, he gave it up) is sent by the same Uncle (Mark) to fetch his bride from Wales. She is fifteen and will marry over forty Mark. Her name is Esselte.

Of course-you know the story. This is a pretty good re-telling of it but for a few details-the poisoned sword wound that Tristan received is just stupidly healed and treated. Tristan has a gay Uncle (nothing wrong with that) who lends nothing to the story but pops up now and then. Esselte's mother is absurd in her hatred of Esselte and Branwen's actions-she delivered the love potion to our lovers and then agrees to sleep with Mark secretly in Esselte's place-are confusing.

This book has also fallen to a classic mistake that comes with retelling this story. Mark of Cornwall is stupid, mean and downright evil at times. This is supposed to be a triangle of love, respect and duty between a devoted nephew, a wife doing her duty and a king. Instead Tristan constantly bemoans that he cannot save Esselte from the evil Mark. Clearly he could have at any time. His excuse of it taking down the British alliance is stupid-Mark's own actions in this book cause that.

In short the romance in this book is far better than in the other version I read recently, the White Raven by Diana L. Paxton, who focused solely on Branwen's tale. But it's still not very romantic. This book is also far better than Rosalind Miles series-which I'm sorry but was so boring I almost died.

I have to say that the recent movie did a far better job of making three likable characters for the triangle, and the dialog was perfect-not too sappy romantic stuff-but real words from people in a horribly desperate situation.

On its own this book gets 3.5 stars, but I'm still looking for a novel retelling of this story I can love. Who knows, maybe I'll just write it myself.

The tale of Tristan and Essylte - a beautiful but tragic love story. This is sort of the Romeo and Juliet of ancient Briton.
I know the story mainly from the books by R. Miles - but Nancy McKenzie has a style of writing that is second-to-none. She spins a new twist on the story and ties it beautifully to her earilier book "Grail Prince". I couldn't put this down - the descriptions of their feelings for each other - their love - their desperation - their heart-wrenching separations and breath-taking reunions...McKenzie takes you there. You feel it with them and if you've ever been in love you feel it with every beautifully woven detail of the story. McKenzie continues to craft masterful works centered around the Arthurian legends and this one certainly did not disappoint!

It would seem the story of Tristan and Essylte would be a much told, tired story by now. However, this author puts some new twists on the old legend and breathes life into its characters. The fates are against these two lovers from the beginning but they try to make a valiant showing throughout the book. Essylte's maidservant, Branwen, is not what she seems and she brings about many of the circumstances Essylte and Tristan endure. King Markion, who is now high king of Britain is Tristan's uncle and wishes to wed the Welsh Princess to bring unity to Britain. Unfortunately, his scope is very limited and Tristan and many others only support him because there is no one better to do so. Except for Tristan, of course, however, he does not desire the high kingship, only Essylte, someone he is never destined to have.

It is a wild ride with much intrigue and many interesting twists that will keep the reader enthralled from beginning to end. I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in "The Matter of Britain."

Though it's no "queen of camelot" or "grail prince" it's still a captivating story. I just had problem with Essylte's whininess and selfishness but that is part of the qualities that holds Tristan's heart, unfortunately. Talk about pure obsession to the point that one cannot breathe without other is really heartbreaking and terrifying. Anyhow, I love Nancy's writing, you can see in front of you as you are witnessing it at the moment, you can smell the smells, you can feel the pain, touch. She's amazing, I hope she keeps coming up with more stories, they don't necessarily have to be in the Arturian legends, anything will do!

From his youth, Tristan of Lyonese seems destined to love who he can not have. First, he gives his heart to lady Esmeree, a beautiful and abused woman who nurses him back to health after a terrible wound nearly kills the young knight. He longs to free her from the husband who beats her, but can not. The rules of the ancient Celtic world are strict, especially for kings.

After Camelot fell, King Markion, Tristan's uncle became High King, but had no heir from his queen. Hoping for a son, he is advised to remarry, and sends Tristan to fetch Esslyte, a Welsh princess, as his bride. In one move, he will forge a peace treaty and a dynasty. The union is not without opposition, and Tristan is forced to dual for the right to take the girl to England. Though he wins, he is injured, and given into the Essylte's care. The two fall in love, though she is promised to another. With the help of her half sister Branwen, they are able to share a unique love, but it is under the shadow of a curse.

**** Tragic romance has always won readers' hearts. Tristan is almost too noble to be true. Of all the women in his life, Esmeree is the most like himself. At times, Esselyte seems whiny and unworthy of his love, and Branwen a schemer. Despite this, the story is bittersweet and pleasing. ****
Amanda Killgore

Don't get me wrong. Nancy McKenzie's prose evokes a distant time. You can hear the storm pounding against the castle walls, smell the blood of Saxon battles, and feel the anguish in Tristan's heart as he longs for a woman he loves but cannot have. And yet...despite the beauty of the language and the vivid characters, I felt a mounting frustration with the doomed Tristan and Esseulte.

These are not an English set of Romeo and Juliet. The Shakespearean lovers only destroyed one other person besides themselves. Tristan and Esseulte manage to destroy friends, family, unborn babies, and kingdoms by their obsession with each other. They refuse to give the other up despite numerous separations, yet neither one will sacrifice all their supposed obligations to other people to be together. It is this refusal to totally commit that involves others in their destructive orbit. Tristan comes off as poetically self-destructive while Esseulte whines.

If you like your romances large in scope and filled with doomed lovers, then you may enjoy this book. Otherwise, it may be an exercise in screaming frustration.

<u>Queen of Camelot</u> is one of my favorite pieces of modern Arthurian fiction- I absolutely loved it. Though I actually prefer how the story was originally published, as two separate books (<u>The Child Queen</u> and <u>The High Queen</u>) which were later consolidated into one volume and some slight changes made.

I therefore was prepared to love this book, as the tale of Tristan and Isolde is one of my favorites. I can't even begin to explain how very disappointed I was as I struggled through this book.

It literally was a struggle to finish. I think the crucial difference is that in <u>Queen of Camelot</u> you truly get to know the characters- they have depth, and life, and you feel as though you know them personally and become very invested in what happens to them. In <u>Prince of Dreams</u>, that depth is very much lacking. She skips from place to place and shoots forward in time so often than you never feel as though you are watching them live their lives; you're just skimming through a summary.

Which is why, to me and obviously to others, Essylte often comes across as a whiner. I didn't care about her because I knew virtually nothing about her- she was just a shell, and her problems didn't touch me at all. The children (who are arguably the biggest victims of circumstance) are treated very dismissively, so it's hard to care about them either. Tristan has a bit more warmth and depth and we spend more time with him, but he doesn't manage to save the book as his nature- self-destructiveness and all- isn't explored and he generally ends up coming across as just being selfish.

The only real interest stirred in me at all was caused by Branwen, Essylte's maid (among other things); I spent a good portion of the book anticipating her next move and wondering what surprises she might have in store that might not necessarily follow traditional tellings of the story.

All in all, a very disappointing read from an author I expected greater things from. I'm sure that many people will be able to read and enjoy it, but after the richness and depth of <u>Queen of Camelot</u>, this book falls far short of my expectations.

I have finished Prince of Dreams and had to go back and read it again. My favorite King Arthur story is of Tristan and Essyite (a.k.a. Isoldie among other names) I love how the author breathes new life into this tale as well as seamlessly blending it into her other two books at the same time. A feet not easily done. The character she seem to go more in depth and fleshes out the story for a modern day audience to really get a feel for the characters. I know people who would read her books would be more likely to go a read the other King Arthur series after reading this book as well as her others High Queen of Camelot and The Grail Prince.

This retelling of the age old Tristan and Isolde tragic love story was beautifully done as only Nancy McKenzie can do. Although it is not listed as a trilogy or series, this book does follow Queen of Camelot and Grail Prince even though in this telling it is about 25 years after Arthur's death. This legend/story has it's origins in the 12th century so has been altered and changed through poetry, opera, books, and movies. The premise remains the same of the Knight Tristan who is nephew to King Markion being sent to bring back the future Queen to be Mark's bride and falling in love with her. Their love is often said to be the result of a potion in some stories and in others this is left out. The result is the same in all stories of a couple passionately in love who can not be together without betraying Tristan's uncle and completely unable to stay apart.

Nancy McKenzie has spun some different twists on the story placing it a generation after Arthur and retaining some of the same characters that are in the previous book, Grail Prince. What makes this book special? After reading the three books, I have found this author has an ability, not only to bring characters to life, but to allow the reader to see clear into their souls. I fell in love with Tristan on the first page of this book. There was pouring down rain, tired soldiers moving through the mud with their captain sitting on his horse with his hands raised to the sky, "as if to embrace the storm, the black night, the soaking wet, and to gather them to himself. Through the din of the downpour they heard his cry." This warrior leading his men home from a successful battle is 16 years old and in the word of a companion, "Sings like an angel and wields a sword like the very devil. Born between the stars, as we say in Lyonesse." Thus we are introduced to Tristan who indeed lives a life between the stars of a bard who sings and plays the harp, who loves life and finds joy in wind, rain, and the sea, and then he is a warrior of noble birth who has a legitimate claim to the crown of Britain. Tristan does not aspire to be anything other than what he is and has no ambition to be a king in spite of all who want him to seek this as his destiny.

This author has added a character who plays a major part in the story, and that is Branwen, Essylte's half sister although this link is unknown to anyone other than their father (and the reader) until late in the book. Branwen is Essylte's handmaiden and childhood friend. Prophecy and sorcery play a part in the story as we watch the wild uncontrollable passion and love between Tristan and Essylte and their very painful struggle to keep it a secret from her husband, High King of Britain, and the rest of the world.

At times I wanted to just tell them to "get over it" and my heart broke for him. But after all, this is a tale of tragedy no matter who writes it. Branwen is a wonderful character and far more complex than at first meets the eye. The way she is woven through the story is masterfully done right up to the climax of her part in the story of these two lovers.

I loved the way Galahad, who was the Grail Prince from the former book is brought into the story with his wonderful wife and his son and daughter. All through the book I wondered what had happened to him because his dear friend from his youth is Essylte's father. It was fitting to find out in this book the real and beautiful ending to the previous story.

So what did I not like about this book to give it four stars instead of five as I did the previous two? I think some of it is the subject since it is so frustrating to have characters you care so much about throwing their lives away on a love that can not be. The reading did get a little tedious at times in the middle of the book although it quickly changed tempo in the last third or so. For anyone who loves this legend, this is a really beautiful telling of it and by far my favorite portrayal of Tristan himself.

I like this era in Literature--all of the books were wonderful reads. I would recommend them to anyone who likes the age of knighthood.