Hello everyone!
Also, yes, I consider all of December Christmas season, basically.
I will be doubly considering it this year given everything.
Fingers crossed we at least get to spend the holiday with our loved ones if nothing else - at this point I don't even need a big party or anything, just the chance to be able to see my sister and decorate Christmas trees with her!
But before we can even move anywhere close to THAT, it's time for a book review, and if I'm this excited about it, you know what time it is.
Serenity Woods is easily my all-time favourite contemporary author, and her work under pen-name Hermione Moon is right up at there at the top with the rest.
So have those brooms ready as we take flight in 'Twas the Knight Before Christmas!
If you scroll to the bottom of this post you'll be able to find links to all the previous books in this series, plus some bonus ones that also include something magical or supernatural, and I highly encourage you to have a look at least at the Avalon Café mysteries, as they're ongoing and connected.
After that, it's up, up and away!
If we do a very brief recap of what's been happening up until this point, however: kitchen witch Gwen has always thought that the suit of armour in her café, Sir Boss, was special only to the guests who come in, but it turns out he's much more than that.
He's Arthur come to life, and she's his former wife, Guinevere! Together, they worked to stop an evil king back in the day from taking over the world, and in this iteration it seems to be no different, only they get embroiled in murder and mystery along the way of trying to figure out where all the puzzle pieces fit together. Additional strain is added by making most of the murdered victims members of the same coven, Morgana's Sisters and Mordred's Knights, individuals who are up to no good.
Arthur also takes this chance to woo Gwen again, and right before the events of this book, they get married with their best friends Imogen and Christian in a double wedding, which is where we leave them, and the information we have as we jump into this (currently) last book.
Continuing where we left off, it is now six months after the events which rattled Arthur and Gwen (and Imogen and Christian) on their wedding day. Gwen and Immy are both pregnant, though Gwen is carrying twins, and all is well until right before the Winter Solstice when Hollie, aka Morgana, makes her way back into their lives, saying that Cedric, the Prime Minister, is on the hunt to power the Tri-Clock. To do this, he will summon Herne the Hunter and unleash the Wild Hunt, so that all the souls lost in this world can be sucked in to power the thing.
A little note about Herne: in this version, he is also called Woden, the Saxon god, but it's explained that it's basically a bunch of names for the same primordial deity, and either way he's bad news because he's powerful, drawing his power directly from the ley lines. As for the Wild Hunt, it's essentially what you learn about in Witcher 3, a hunt that collects lost souls wandering the Earth, although its purpose isn't evil. Here, it could potentially be used as such, however, and that's what our group is afraid of, especially since one of the ghosts who haven't passed on yet knows the truth about the Paladin Prophecy - that it's actually GWEN, and not Arthur, who will save them all.
So they're definitely scrambling.
But they CAN potentially beat him to it - if they find a certain jewel that's essential and key to the summoning ritual. In fact, the jewel was owned by Cedric in his past life when he was trying to marry Guinevere, and because of that connection (she held it once, in that lifetime) she might be able to lead them to it today.
And so we go on a hunt through some of Britain's more historic landscapes (Tower of London alert!), meeting helpful ghosts along the way who have been in possession of the jewel in their time (including but not limited to Elizabeth I and Winston Churchill - as an aside here on Churchill, initially you may think that because he founded all these bureaus for finding and deciphering the magical stuff he's on the side Cedric is on, but nope, he just wants to defend his island from invaders).
They eventually realize Her Majesty has it (which is a brilliant take if you ask me, trying to pry something that important from Her Highness would have probably NOT ended well IRL). She's had it in her possession since WWII and doesn't usually just give it out.
They eventually realize Her Majesty has it (which is a brilliant take if you ask me, trying to pry something that important from Her Highness would have probably NOT ended well IRL). She's had it in her possession since WWII and doesn't usually just give it out.
But Cedric does manages to get it, even though initially he's repelled, but as Prime Minister there's very little he can't do. Then, in true bad guy fashion, he proceeds to shock everyone and their mother when he ACTUALLY summons the god - they generally thought he might take the power of the god into himself - and tasks him with gathering the souls so they can FINALLY start that blasted Tri-Clock!
Stop everything though!
Morgana has sent out a distress call, and all the ghosts and protectors of England answer it (alluding to the fact that all previous people in power now remain to watch over their beloved land), lending their power to Arthur and Gwen, who, as Arthur puts it, are as essential to England as the beliefs rooting them all to the land and their home.
They ARE England - their legend so deeply inter-woven with it that it's impossible to tell them apart.
What they aren't counting on is the appearance of three younger people, two men and a woman, who join them - but there's no time for questions because they have a Prime Minister to dispatch into the void where all bad things go, and a god to put back into his slumber (I keep thinking about that tiger-shaped entrance in Aladdin for some reason ...)
Thus with disaster averted, England safe once more, the friends return home to celebrate Christmas in peace and await the arrival of their children, while Herne continues to lead the Wild Hunt to send all the lost souls forward to Summerhall, the eternal life they deserve, for as a deity, he is neither good nor evil, just like the Hunt he leads - he simply IS, and his purpose can be understood (and warped) one way or another.
What they aren't counting on is the appearance of three younger people, two men and a woman, who join them - but there's no time for questions because they have a Prime Minister to dispatch into the void where all bad things go, and a god to put back into his slumber (I keep thinking about that tiger-shaped entrance in Aladdin for some reason ...)
Thus with disaster averted, England safe once more, the friends return home to celebrate Christmas in peace and await the arrival of their children, while Herne continues to lead the Wild Hunt to send all the lost souls forward to Summerhall, the eternal life they deserve, for as a deity, he is neither good nor evil, just like the Hunt he leads - he simply IS, and his purpose can be understood (and warped) one way or another.
Gwen certainly thinks so, and has to readjust some beliefs herself as she never before ACTUALLY thought to see a god in the celestial flesh! She does have one last tidbit to share, however, and this about the Holy Grail, the source of their magical power: it's under Stonehenge. Take THAT, Grail seekers!
And the three youngsters who showed up, looking familiar but unknown to them?
Morgana smiles - and explains it was Gwen and Arthur's twins, and Immy and
Christian's son, who will also have great magical powers, and be a great
man himself.
Because what better way to end it all than with a glimpse into the future they're working towards creating?
FIN
This book is a lovely wrap-up to the ongoing series mystery, the white
ghost legend, and the love story of Arthur and Gwen that spans centuries. It
re-introduces Morgana as someone who's actually likeable and to be
trusted, loved even (did anyone expect a romance with Matthew the journalist? Because I sure didn't), and it gives us a brief glimpse into the future too. As this was kindly provided to me in an ARC by Ms Woods herself, I may share there MIGHT just possibly be future stories in the Avalon Café world, so worry not! There's more to come yet.
The beauty of it is that we get a little extrapolation on different religions, on paganism, and how everything ties together into the rainbow of beliefs we share - at their core, most of them, if not all, are essentially the same. And in these times that's a message to remember.
Plus, one of the best nuggets of this book, however, is that is really does justice to juxtaposing Arthur as a man out of time with Christian, who is very much a product of modern day. Throughout the book, Arthur tries to insist Gwen stays behind because of her pregnancy, and that he needs to protect her, but she puts her foot down and, gently but firmly, explains that she's not a glass doll and this is HER heritage too. Her mission. Yes, he will protect her when time calls for it, but she also needs to protect herself, and her children's future. In contrast to this, Christian doesn't even blink when Immy decides she's doing something dangerous, but shrugs and goes along with it to be there when needed.
It's a rather interesting look and I thought it was nicely done, as generally speaking Arthur doesn't have all that many issues adapting to the 21st century otherwise. But I think it's a good study of how the gender roles have flip-flopped nowadays, but done with poise and gentleness that doesn't insult anybody.
We also get some inklings that maybe everyone has been together in a past life before judging by some of the skills they pick up along the way, but honestly, it's just an enjoyable, history and magic packed story.
It's a rather fitting ending because we tie a nice bow on the entire present of it, and leave them all in a happy place of anticipation, which is what Christmas is all about.
Especially this year.
So if you need some cheer, pick up this series, pick up this book, and lose yourself for a bit in what King Arthur might have gotten up to in modern day!
10/10 recommend.
It's a rather fitting ending because we tie a nice bow on the entire present of it, and leave them all in a happy place of anticipation, which is what Christmas is all about.
Especially this year.
So if you need some cheer, pick up this series, pick up this book, and lose yourself for a bit in what King Arthur might have gotten up to in modern day!
10/10 recommend.
Merry meet and blessed be!
xx
*image not mine
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