Enchanted Warrior by Sharon Ashwood – a Review
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Description:
An ancient evil rises. An ancient warrior awakens.
In an age clouded by legend, Gawain was one of King Arthur’s greatest knights. When he awakens centuries after the fall of Camelot, he faces his most daunting quest yet—the search for his missing companions. His hope is that Tamsin Greene, the alluring historian at Medievaland Theme Park, can help him. Then he senses the magic within her… Gawain will now have to trust a witch—and his own heart—to rouse the knights of the Round Table and save humanity from a faery onslaught.
Review:
King Arthur and his knights are endlessly adaptable. It’s what Sharon Ashwood says, believes, and translates beautifully in her new novel, Enchanted Warrior. With my limited knowledge on the legendary subject, I envisioned Mushu from Disney’s Mulan awakening the guardians. Shame on me. Gawain is no mere protector. He’s sworn his fealty to King Arthur and exhibits an unparalleled devotion. That is, until Tamsin Greene enchants our warrior.
“Mordred is using stealth, not armies, and his first priority is finding the tombs to stop the Round Table from rising. You need to find your friends and wake them at once.”
A new war with recurring enemies looms and Gawain is set to assemble the Knights of the Round Table as prophesied. The fact that it’s modern-day Medievaland in Washington State is sure to pose problems for an unprepared (let alone missing!) group. Wait. This is Gawain we’re talking about! The dicier the situation, the more from which to adapt and triumph. Aligning himself with faeries, foes-turned-friends, is a question for later, but principal on Gawain’s list is to recruit the assistance of the bewitching (heavy on the base word) historian, Tamsin. Witches aren’t to be trusted and Gawain learned that the hard way.
Though his tactics were brutish and domineering, Tamsin would be lying if she said her interest wasn’t piqued by Gawain’s otherworldliness. Tamsin is trying to gain respect as a loremaster within her coven, and as surreal as the situation presents itself, Gawain’s oath took on special significance to her core beliefs. Tamsin sensed Gawain was dangerous, but since she didn’t count herself adversary (something she repeatedly bashes into his head!) the real threat lay in losing her heart to him.
When Tamsin’s collaboration comes attached with a quid pro quo, will Gawain honor his bargain or shrug off his chivalry? The cast of characters was large, but easy to follow. The fall of Camelot wreaked havoc on all the factions and, unsurprisingly, no one is particularly trustworthy. “Pain and privation eventually take their toll. Their silence breaks.” Enemies make for interesting bedfellows, but their plights are written so convincingly, so passionately, you champion them all!
There’s so much to love in Enchanted Warrior. I found myself swept up in the cloud of magic. Revelations created bonds and illuminated true strengths. Ms. Ashwood gave proper respect to the craft and her spells invoked wonderful imagery as they came to fruition. An understanding, an embracing of power, intensified a love intrinsic to Gawain and Tamsin. The kind of love that transcends time.
What a fabulous read! While I may have stumbled on facts and had to research its history, Sharon Ashwood never faltered in her storytelling; I was captivated and bewitched! 😉
Reviewed by Carmen
Copy provided by Author
