Morris pulls off a spectacular conclusion to his humane and witty Squire’s Tales series as destructive intrigues both provide a backdrop for a fan-pleasing reunion of favorite figures from past episodes and lead up to the final battle between Arthur and his brilliant, hideously warped son Mordred. Though the enchantress Lynet and her wise, mild husband, Sir Gaheris, have set out to find the murderous sorceress Morgause, a series of forged letters reopen old rifts between Arthur and Lancelot while Mordred’s knights, disguised as Arthur’s, lay waste to the country in a cunning terror campaign. Meanwhile, others, from heroic Sir Gawain and his faerie ex-squire Sir Terence to Morgan Le Fay and the saintly hermit Guinglain, step in to show what true loyalty, honesty, honor, love and courage look like. Those—along with, of course, stirring deeds of knightly prowess—are what the entire series has been about. Though the author doesn’t shy from depicting the legend’s tragic end, he does display authorial mercy in a set of aftermath scenes that ease the pain with a focus on healing and the future. Well done. (end note, cast list) (Fantasy. 12 & up)
