The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf (The Squire's Tales Book #3)

This is an Arthurian tale about Lady Lynet who is trying to save her sister and lands from the Red Knight and Sir Gareth and a dwarf who goes with her to do so. For someone familiar with Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d' Artur, the characters should seem familiar, except that Gerald Morris fleshes

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the sometimes characters out into a more believable persona. He adds humor, making the gallant Sir Gareth a pompous jerk, making the Savage Damsel into a intelligent, if harsh woman, while portraying her sister as empty headed as any traditional arthurian tale could want. Because this is a chapter book, the plot is very episodic and action filled, each chapter having at least one if not more fights. But they are all interlaced with humor. The setting is in the traditional idea of King Arthur's Britain, including all the magic and Avalon. The theme is over all good vs. evil, but it can also be seen as a struggle to prove that intelligence is more important than gallantry. The voice of the book is very humorous, which is very different them most Arthurian tales. Morris tries to add humor into every aspect especially by poking fun of the chivalry that medieval writers so highly praised, but knights didn't follow. I would recommend this to a middle school library and to any person who likes medieval or arthurian tales.

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Clever, occasionally trite, but really interesting. I knew the story, so I ignored all the clues, which turned out to be a mistake, as the story was slightly enhanced. The author makes some interesting remarks about his sources in the afterword.

It should be interesting to read more about Lancelot's

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development from the deeply annoying, but brilliant jouster of the previous books.

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This has my very favorite kind of romance -- where the girl falls in love with the obvious hero, and then realizes the hero's a dipshit and falls in love with the sarcastic sidekick instead. You can't go wrong with a sarcastic sidekick.

Another fast paced story with endearing characters. A good modern take on the Arthurian legends. The only draw back is the modern language that isn't historically accurate.
Although the books are sold as juvenile, this story left me even more with the impression that they would appeal more to

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adults.

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