Sword of Darkness (Lords of Avalon, Book 1)

by Kinley MacGregor

Book Overview

The new king of Camelot wears no shining armor: Arthur and his knights have fallen and a new king rules. In the darkest forest... A scared, forsaken youth has become the most powerful and feared man... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060565446
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 375 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Could not put the book down!

This was my first read by Ms. Macgregor .. and I loved it. I could not put it down. I loved the anti-heroine "little mouse", who believes in good and who believes there is good within everyone if you treat them with kindness and gentleness. Kerrigan was a great tortured hero, in whom our heroine saw a different person than he viewed himself. I'm off to find Book #2 in the series now.

I couldn't put this one down!

Despite being a huge fan of Kinley MacGregor's Dark Hunter series (written under the name Sherrilyn Kenyon), I was a little nervous about this book. Fantasy novels about Merlin and Camelot usually disappoint me. However, MacGregor has written a fabulous book with action, intrigue, time-travel, talking gargoyles, and, best of all, humor. Camelot is no longer the shining beacon of hope it once was and is instead a colorless, evil place where only might is respected. Moran, the fey Queen, rules over Camelot and Kerrigan is her champion. No one can kill Kerrigan as he possesses the sword Caliburn; Caliburn is Excalibur's polar opposite and the wielder of the sword must handle demonic powers. Gawain and the other good knights from the legendary Camelot now reside in Avalon where they are awaiting the birth of the next Penmerlin, the wizard who will oversee all of the lesser Merlins (Merlin is the name given to a magical advisor rather than one specific person). Seren believes herself to be a simple peasant woman who only wants to rise from apprentice weaver to journeywoman. She is terrified when two of the Lords of Avalon, Gawain and Agravain, surprise her with the news that she will be the mother of the next Penmerlin and that she must go to Avalon with them. She escapes only to be "rescued" by Kerrigan and taken to Camelot. However, Seren sees a spark of good in Kerrigan and teaches him about love and sacrifice. Seren becomes pregnant with Kerrigan's baby and Kerrigan is then forced to choose between the love Seren offers and the evil he is familiar with. How will the Lords of Avalon handle Seren and a child of Kerrigan's? Will Kerrigan choose to overcome his demons and be able to defeat Morgan? MacGregor answers these questions and more- with the added twist of time travel. Overall, this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't want to put it down as I just had to know what crazy twist MacGregor would think of next! There are some laugh-out-loud moments that really stand out (gargoyles as Star Trek fans for one) but you'll have to read this one for yourself to see what I mean. Highly recommended!

Guilty Pleasures !!

I have always found Kinley MacGregor/Sherilyn Kenyon books nearly perfect escapist reading and this one is a keeper. Ms. MacGregor takes the myth of Camelot and shakes it up, turns it around and teaches it how to dance!! After the fall of Arthur, Morgen le Fey takes over Camelot, and establishes a new King with the opposite sword to Excalibur, The Sword of Darkness. The new king, black-hearted and evil Kerrigan is of course devastatingly handsome. After a few centuries, Kerrigan is pretty much bored with being King, even with his time traveling abilities but kidnaps Seren, the peasant girl who is destined to be the mother of the next Merlin. Morgen thinks she can take over the world with the power of the child under her sway. The plot of the rest of the book is pretty much to formula-the power of a good woman's love to reform the worst of rogues, etc. However it is written with such humor and charm, and with a wealth of entertaining characters. I got a lot of good chuckles, especially from Garofyn, the gargoyle. Great escapist fun!

Never Dissapointed!

I love Kinley MacGregor and I love her books under Sherilyn Kenyon! I am never disappointed with what she writes! If you want a different kind of romance then this book is for you. This is no ordinary hero we have here, he is dark, evil, and totally flawed. It shows that love brings out redeeming qualities even in the darkest person--although our hero was never truly reformed :-) which made it delicious! Our heroine is the total opposite, all goodness and light but NOT BORING. She is more than a match for our hero. It sadden me that I finished the book in one sitting!