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The first book of a lengthy trilogy that promises to be an imaginative, entertaining, educational and thorough retelling of the Arthurian legend covers the origins of Artorex from the age of 14, brought up at the Villa Poppinidii in Aquae Sulis (Bath) by Roman foster parents up to his first encounter with the High King Uther Pendragon, his battles with the barbarian Saxon hordes, his ascension to the throne and his coming to an awareness of the destiny that has to some extent already been mapped-out for him. I'm in no position to question the historical accuracy of the novel - the work has clearly been thoroughly and academically researched - but it as a work of imaginative fiction, the first part of the Dragon's Child Trilogy is tremendously stirring stuff and rather well-written, taking time to establish the historical context of the period, considering the backgrounds of the personalities and making those characters come vividly to life through a number of personal challenge...

A young man of a less than solid background is dismissed as a pretender for the hand of a rich young lady, Yolande. Balthazar, a teacher of “practical philosophy” for young ladies, dabbling also in wine tasting and dance lessons, has no money, no title, no respectable profession, no home worthy of the name, and his lineage is somewhat vague. Determined to meet the demands of his beloved’s father, Balthazar no sooner returns home than he finds a letter indicating not only that he has come into the inheritance of a small fortune, but also a grand and noble title from an unknown father. But, it transpires that there is not one, but two letters and not one or even two fathers claiming parentage, but no less than four! For a young man believing wholeheartedly in the down-to-earth doctrine of “practical philosophy” that he teaches, such an adventurous background doesn’t sit comfortably with Balthazar, and blinds him also to the loving devotion of his young secretary Coloquinte. Leblanc plays...

In the first book of a proposed Strange Trilogy, Elliott Hall creates a dystopian vision of the USA under the watchful eye of a Christian fundamentalist authority, while at the same time presenting an intriguing and genuinely scary look into the mindset of contemporary America. It’s also a cracking neo-noir P.I. novel. In this alternate/near-future vision of America, the nuclear destruction of the city of Houston and, in retaliation, an obliterated Tehran has pushed America over the edge into the abyss. The President has created a Council of Elders, a committee of 24 leaders from the religious right with the power and legislative weight to guide the morale and the morals of the American nation through these difficult times. America has become a terrifying place for anyone who doesn’t adhere to traditional Christian values, but things are about to get much worse. Felix Strange has had first-hand experience of a newfound American spirit that has taken God’s message to a disastrous Crusad...