Tristram & Isoude

The Romance of Tristram of Lyones & la Beale Isoude by Anonymous, translated by Evelyn Paul, 159 pages

The tragic story of the love between the gallant knight Tristram (or Tristan, or Tristen, or Tristrem) and the lovely lady Isoude (Isolde, Iseult) was the subject of some of the most beloved medieval romances, and was eventually drawn into the Arthurian mythos.  As is often the case with these tales, the story was told in many different ways with many different details down through the centuries, including, in these latter days, a Wagner opera and multiple movies.  The core tale involves a love potion that binds the main characters together in an unbreakable passion, despite her arranged marriage to Tristram's uncle, King Mark.  Heroism, infidelity, jealousy, and bloodshed ensue.

Acclaimed illustrator Evelyn Paul's 1913 edition of the romance is decorated not only with the expected pre-Raphaelite color plates, but numerous black and white pictures and further embellishments which together produce an effect less like illustration and more like illumination.  To complete the conceit, throughout the text deliberate archaisms are used that, wit ye well, some will find enchanting and others cloying.

Sleepless Knights

Sleepless Knights by Mark Williams, 410 pages

Sir Lucas is butler to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and has been for the last 1,500 years. King Arthur and his knights are still alive here in the modern world and have continued their Eternal Quest since the fall of Camelot. When King Arthur and six of his knights are exposed as still being alive they summon Merlin and accidentally unleash the apocalypse,and uncover secrets from the past that some would rather stay buried. Filled with strange characters and magic, this tale traverses several time periods. 
 This starts off a kind of a slow read and gradually picks ups the pace thankfully, unfortunately most of the characters are a little flat. Despite this though it isn't a bad read the story has some expected and unexpected twists. Anyone who is looking for Arthurian literature set in modern times will probably enjoy this a little more than I did, but I feel even those who aren't as in to Arthurian legend will enjoy some of its humor.

Dark Jenny

Dark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe  348 pages

Eddie LaCrosse recounts a past case he had when a coffin is delivered to the pub he in which keeps his office in the dead of winter.  A tale based upon Arthurian legend, Eddie tells of how he had been active on a case for a client in Grand Braun when he finds himself embroiled in a poisoning and must clear Queen Jenny's name on behalf the King Marcus Drake. 

By putting his own spin on the tale of the death of Arthur, Bledsoe is able to keep the reader engaged to the end of the book and its fun to see characters renamed and re imagined.  This whole series is light and quick to read but highly enjoyable with its mix of fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction.