ARA Review by D. H. Morris of Medieval Gwennic and other Creatures of Corfe

[D. H. Morris]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, Medieval Gwennic and other Creatures of Corfe.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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John Parten's Medieval Gwennic and Other Creatures of Corfe is a fast-paced, absorbing tale full of mythical creatures, magic, and bloody mayhem. Set in 10th-century England, it imagines an epic battle for Corfe castle between a horde of brutal, troll-like creatures (called Pugs) and the followers of Baron Wilfred de Gorges, a trusted suppporter of King Athelstan of Wessex whose illegitimate heir is working incongnito at the castle. Gwennic - a young girl who has the power of speaking with animals and of healing - is tasked with protecting King Athelstan's heir from a hidden assassin.

Parten's writing style is engaging and he knows how to keep the action coming. However, several aspects of the story do not seem well thought out. I often found myself with more questions than answers. The story surrounding the assassin and the heir begins the book, but it seems to lose focus and becomes confusing and ultimately unsatisfying in its lack of resolution.

In most fantasy tales, there is a defined protagonist with whom the reader can quickly identify. Unfortunately, the first quarter of the book left me searching for the protagonist since the author kept killing off characters just as I was getting attached to them. Interestingly, Parten does a great job of developing his antagonist characters, making the Pugs a very memorable race, indeed. Because of the title, I think Gwennic was supposed to be the protagonist, but I really did not feel attached to her as her character was not fully developed and her fate is left undetermined.

Because this is a fantasy and not an historical fiction narrative, I wish Parten had placed his characters in a pure fantasy setting instead of using a real castle and an historical king. The castle he sets his book in was not built until 100+ years after the story begins, and history has no record of such an heir for Athelstan - legitimate or not. Also, some of the weaponry the author mentions belonged to a later medieval period. These inconsistencies would not have been an issue if he had simply placed his characters in a fantasy world of his own creation.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for its readability. In spite of its inconsistencies, Medieval Gwennic and Other Creatures of Corfe may be a good read for those who love a tale filled with battle action sequences and descriptions of carnage and treachery.

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