Customer Reviews

Song of the Sparrow

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Sixteen-year-old Elaine of Ascolat is amazingly beautiful with her long red hair and her soft natural face. Living in an army camp full of all guys, Elaine figures the handsome Lancelot to be her true love. Until her troubles and daydreams get the best of her, when even prettier Gwynivere arrives at the camp and is immediatley drawn to Lancelot - even though she is engaged to Arthur.

Gwynivere's mean remarks but beautiful outer self makes Elaine jealous enough to play a cruel prank on her, but when her friends and family leave her to go fight the Saxons, her heart tells her to pack a bag and go with them to heal the wounded. Shot by arrows and cut by a knife, Elaine gains both friendship and confidence in herself.

This exciting book by Lisa Ann Sandell makes you feel like you are back in olden times, right there fighting with Elaine. This is a VERY well-written book and I recommend it to all. A great read!

Reviewed by: Holly

Something about King Arthur draws people to his stories. Gwynivere. Lancelot. The wizard, Merlin. Gawain. Tristan. The Round Table. The sword, Excalibur. Throughout the centuries the legend of Arthur continues to grow.

Britain, 490 A.D.

The adventurous Elaine of Ascolat, known throughout the myths as The Lady of Shallot, lives with her father in one of Britain's war camps. He is an avid supporter of Britain and has joined the army to serve his king and country. Ambrosius Aurelius, leader of all Britons, is about to lead his people into the battle of Mount Breguoin against the Saxon army. Britain is on the brink of war, again.

Elaine has been raised to believe that a woman's domain is in the home, not on the battlefront. But when she thinks of her father and brothers and the other men she's grown to care for, she feels she's in the right place. The people she loves most could march off to battle today and never come back. Why would she want to be anywhere else?

The only other girl at camp is Morgan, Arthur's older sister, but she's much too close to the king for Elaine to share her deepest secret with --- Elaine is in love with Lancelot. Elaine and Lancelot grew up together, playing games and running along the riverbanks, but all that was long ago. Now when Lancelot looks at her, all he sees is a wonderful girl. He sees a gifted healer, a girl armed with milfoil and poultices to stanch the wounds of the soldiers. He sees her skill at mending clothing and chain mail. He sees her loyalty, her hard work and her vital job within the army. But he doesn't see a woman.

When King Aurelius is poisoned by a Saxon spy, Arthur is the obvious replacement. Young, powerful, intelligent and already popular among the troops, Arthur would lead the retaliation attack. Days before they leave, a beautiful woman arrives at camp. Gwynivere is supposed to be for Arthur, the new king, but immediately Elaine can see that Lancelot's eyes are drawn to her. The men who mean so much to her will soon march to battle, leaving her behind at the camps. The man she loves is falling for someone else, and since Lancelot doesn't yet see Elaine as a woman, who can blame him? With all that Elaine holds dear weighing in the balance, she must decide who she will be, what role she will play and how far she will go for love.

Written entirely in free verse poetry, SONG OF THE SPARROW is a wonderful addition to the Arthurian legends, offering readers an inside look into the mysterious Lady of Shallot. Lisa Ann Sandell weaves together lyrical images and vivid characters to create a compelling romance between two of the famous players in Arthur's world. Elaine's story transports readers and dares them to imagine a time long ago --- when powerful men vied to rule the land through war, the weak had to fight for their rights, and the common people dreamed of equality and hope. A time not so unlike our own.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

I just sat transfixed as I read SONG OF THE SPARROW from cover to cover. It is so beautifully written, and it really held me captivated. I am a huge fan of Arthurian legends, from THE MISTS OF AVALON to Clive Owen's "King Arthur," to Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott," especially Loreena McKennitt's hauntingly sung rendition of the poem.

Ms. Sandell's book truly brought to life the saga of Elaine, fated to love a man who did not return her feelings, and kept alive the heroism of Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, and all the other knights, who seemed like the kind of guys every girl would want to have around.

The characters are so very human, from Arthur right on down the line. It is great to see Elaine's character given so much depth--always when I've read about her before, she is jealous and hateful, forever fated to take second place to Guinevere in Lancelot's heart. I've also never before seen Lancelot portrayed the way he is in this book, and I love the happy ending this tale is given.

I've never read a book set in verse as this one was, and it truly enhanced the beauty of the words. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of THE WEIGHT OF THE SKY, and very much look forward to Ms. Sandell's next book.

I will admit it. I have a passion for the tales of Arthurian legend. I have since early childhood. What boy didn't want to discover a sword meant especially for him, where he could be the ruler of a glorious kingdom, and face down the black knight? THE SONG OF THE SPARROW captured that imagination brilliantly. Each word drew me in further, and I could taste, touch and smell all that was around me.

Arthur was painted as the perfect hero: strong yet sorrowful, inspiring yet vulnerable. Tristan was brillilant as well. The new take on Gwen was superb. I've never both loved and despised Lancelot with such rigor before. And telling this tale through Elaine's eyes was the perfect choice.

This book transends gender as well. Though it will likely attract female readers, boys (and men) would delight in the tale. Not one person, young or old, male or female, fans of action or strong characters will be left wanting. I recently read Avi's CRISPIN: CROSS OF LEAD. It won the Newbery award, and was excellent. He doesn't waste words on the page, yet the tale is vivid. This book, SONG OF THE SPARROW is much like that. Lisa does not waste words, yet she crafts a cinematic tale that will let the readers paint the most glorious pictures inside their heads. I don't know what the qualifications of a Newbery winning novel are, but if I've ever read one -- SONG OF THE SPARROW is it. It was a truly amazing book.

I found this book while browsing through Amazon's lists and reviews. Even though there was no summary for the book, I ordered it, based on the lone review, and the fact that I liked the cover.

I was rather surprised to open the book and find it told in verse format (I think that's what it's called - it's not really poems, but like prose or verse). I've never read a book like that, and from the review and lack of summary, I'd assumed it was a novel. I had been ridiculously excited, being a fan of stories like the Round Table and Arthur and medieval times, but a little less thrilled at the format. But I told myself I'd give it a try, read a couple of chapters.

The story was amazing. It's a retelling of Elaine of Ascolat as a teenager in Arthur's (then military leader, not yet King) military camp, surrounded by all the young Knights of the Round Table (Arhtur, Lancelot, Tristan, Gawain). As the only girl, aside from Arthur's older sister, she has a special, unique position in the camp, until beautiful and snobby Gwynivere comes along. Gwynivere also catches the attention and affection of Lancelot, whom Elaine has had a crush on since childhood. Told within this setting and legend is Elaine's growing up, coming-of-age story/moment/adventure.

I don't really understand the purpose of the format, but it read like a really fast book. I finished it in a couple of hours and then immediately went looking for more on the legend of Elaine (aka, the Lady of Shalott - I just kept thinking of that scene from Anne of Green Gables...). I was surprised at the parts of the original legend that made it into this story. This book also re-interested me in Meg Cabot's Avalon High, which I had to track down so I could reread it after reading this amazing version.

Bottom line, great story that sparked further interest in the legend.

Red-headed Elaine of Ascolat has been the sole girl at Arthur's war camp for as long as she can remember. Although she misses her mother and dislikes all the washing and mending Elaine wouldn't trade living with her father and brothers and being part of the military for a quieter life. There, as a healer, her job matters. She may not have fine clothes but she knows how to take care of herself and more importantly how to find and prescribe the herbs that can save the wounded. Her life would be complete if only Lancelot could see her as more than a tomboy. Just when she seems to be making headway another girl named Gwynivere arrives and Lancelot only has eyes for her. Fair skin, perfectly coiffed hair, soft hands and all seem no match for Elaine. That is until both girls are caught by the enemy. Here is Elaine's chance to shine, but will the sparrow find its song before being trapped for good?

This is the third novel in verse I've ever read and wow, is the writing gorgeous. The words just wash over you they are so fluid. It seems verse couldn't be more fitting for Lisa Ann Sandell's take on Arthurian legend and Alfred Tennyson's poem, "Lady of Shallott". This winsome passage is one of my favorites:

I wish I could go back to that time,

When my mother would smile

The gentle smile that told me,

All is right and well.

Back to that time when I was

Young

And loved

And safe.

When we were all safe.

That things change,

That people change

And die,

That we grow older,

That life brings the unexpected,

The unwanted,

Oh,

Some days it fills me with

A measure of lightness, for

I will be a woman soon.

But other days,

The very thought

of growing older,

of not being that small girl

who danced over river rocks,

whose brothers held her hands,

whose mother lived,

the very thought of it

crushes me,

till it is stopped,

by the world

outside

my memories.

I've never been hugely interested in Arthurian legend beyond J.W. Waterhouse's beautiful Lady of Shallott paintings but I enjoyed Sandell's revisionist version. Much more than another King Arthur retelling Song of the Sparrow is its own, unique story with a very strong, assertive Elaine rather than the flimsy damsel of legend. A good mix of the traditional and modern female roles, Elaine is not willing to sit around, making the mothers of feisty heroines everywhere proud. Likewise modern "mean girls" would accept beautiful Gwynivere in her mean-spirited, snotty treatment of Elaine. Even Tristan with his shameful past is very interestingly cast here as Elaine's witty friend. Such dimensional characters, lovely metaphors, and vivid imagery make Song of the Sparrow a truly stunning read. Highly recommended to fans of well done retellings and verse novels alike.

When I heard about a retelling of Tennyson's Lady of Shallott, I was so in. I mean, I'm nothing if not up for a good Camelot tale. When I heard that, like Tennyson's version, it was entirely in verse, I wasn't so sure. I mean, I tend to like my modern poetry short and to the point. So I went to the bookstore and read the first page. Then I read the second page. And on through the tenth, at which point I accepted the inevitable and bought the book. And it was so good. I loved Sandell's revisionist version of Elaine of Ascolat. I knew there was more to her than her magic web and her love for Lancelot. I'm so glad this Elaine chose to fight instead of die. I loved the way Sandell wove in Tristan and his horrible past and I loved beautiful Gwynivere and the choice she makes. Truly a breathtaking read.

Usually I do find stories written in verse too gimicky, but in this case the verse adds clarity to the voice of Elaine and the beauty in the language is a joy to read.

I can think of very few authors who can write a whole book in verse as well as Lisa Ann Sandell. This is perhaps the best novel I have read in verse since Vikram Seth's The Golden Gate.

This tale, written entirely in verse, is about Elaine of Ascolat, "The Lady of Shallot". After her mother's death, she and her brothers go to live with her father. She grew up the only girl in a sea of men, and so she forgets the proper way to act, and instead runs wild with the other boys. She makes good friends with some of them, and she even falls in love with the handsome Lancelot. But it isn't too long before there is a war with the Saxons, and somehow Elaine finds herself in a mess she never could have imagined.

I finished this book very quickly, partly because it was in verse and partly because I was hooked. Elaine is a likeable and believeable character, and the book had a perfect mixture of romance, friendship, and action. As far as the writing goes, it was absolutely breathtaking. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for something thrilling and engaging.