Dawnflight (Dragon's Dove Chronicles, #1) (Sonnet Books)

by Kim Headlee

[Kim Deister]

I have always been a fan of Arthurian tales, loving the rich mythology of the time. Dawnflight, first in a continuing epic series, brings together Gyan and Arthur. All of the legendary characters are present in this novel, but they were "created" in a whole different way. Headlee's retelling speaks of possible reality, rather than the fairy tale versions we all know. It is, at its heart, still a love story, but told in an entirely new, and sometimes gritty, way.

Things to love about Dawnflight...

--Gyan. In this retelling, she appears as a stronger, more independent woman. She is more of a warrior woman than the shy and reserved woman as she is normally portrayed.

--The new story. Of course, I went into this book with all kinds of Arthurian tales in mind. The threads were there, but the characterizations quickly changed as I got to know them through the eyes of the author.

Things I wanted more/less of...

-Religious tone (less). There was a clear religious tone to this that, at times, seemed at odds with the strong, independent nature of Gyan.

My recommendation: I think that this is a book that may not necessarily appeal to all readers, but most definitely to those who love this era, this mythology, and sweeping epic tales. It is well-written and full of mystery and intrigue and a unique retelling of the story. I was left hovering between 3.5 and 4 mugs with this, but I truly think it is more a matter of personal taste rather than anything else. I do think that this is a great read for those into Arthurian mythology!