The Squire's Quest

by Gerald Morris

Why is it, Terence wondered, that the things you know most surely are always the things you can't demonstrate to any one else? And why is it, after all of these years, that Terence is still just a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547144245
• ISBN13: 9780547144245
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 275 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

Perfect Continuation of Squire Terence's Story

If you are looking for a book that will whisk you away into a whole other world, this book will do that the instant you start reading it. "The Squire's Quest" picks up where "The Squire's Tale" ended. Terence (who is half-human, half-faerie) and his lady love are married, albeit secretly, and Terence is still the squire of Sir Gawain. It is the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Mordred steps into the scene and things start going a bit wrong. A knight is murdered and a King soon follows. Distrust begins to weave it's way into the lives of many. Two worlds are separated without any indication of what is going on. Love is found and lost again and unrequited love flourishes. The story begins with a young man entering King Arthur's court requesting to be trained as a knight. It is denied him, but we discover that this young man is King Arthur's son from a chance meeting with a young woman in the woods. Alexander The Great makes an appearance in the story and thus we travel to Greece for some love, laughter, sadness and mystery. Thinking Mordred is more than what he claims to be, Squire Terence and Alexander's adviser follow him discreetly as they try to unravel treachery in the Court of King Arthur. On their journey, they find a "bridge" to another world (Hades) and soon discover the plot to end King Arthur's reign over Camelot forever. Will Mordred's plan to destroy King Arthur succeed? Or will Squire Terence squelch yet another attempt to destroy the human world? You'll have to read to find out. One mini story inside the story involves two lovers, Alis and Fenice. I absolutely love how Gerald Morris wove their story into Terence's story. These two characters will make you laugh, cry... and want to squash them like bugs. There is a little aside at the end of the story that tells you why he wove their story into Terence's. It definitely adds a lot to the entire tale rather than leave you thinking "what was that about?" This book is great for all ages. There is a war, intrigue, love, lust and murder, but nothing alarming that would make me want to caution parents. This is yet another book that will be added to both my home library and school library.

His Usual Excellent Tale!

Gerald Morris never disappoints, and this latest installment is no exception! If you are already a fan, you will be delighted with this book; if you are new to him, you have hit the jackpot. In a world where quality young adult authors seem thin on the ground, Morris brings his readers back to the extremely satisying realm of Arthurian adventure fantasy, made so by his gift of spinning a terrific story.

A modern Arthurian retelling for all ages

In the ninth book of The Squire's Tales, Terence, squire to King Arthur's nephew Gawain, lives in the world of men as a stranger. For him, home is Avalon and the World of Faeries. Now, torn by the absence of connection to the other world, an absence which might mark trouble ahead for Arthur, Terence's duty remains in the land where he is but a visitor. He still has a task to perform for the king. From the appearance at court of Mordred and Alexander of Constantinople to the journey back to Alexander's home, Terence's adventures are full of intrigue, action and humor as he encounters the strange world of chivalry and political plotting. THE SQUIRE'S QUEST, marketed as a children's book for ages 9-12, will appeal to young readers with its fast-paced action, dynamic dialogue, cleverly humorous insights and modern take on classic Arthurian literature. Terence is an admirable character with whom the reader easily aligns him/herself--- honorable at heart, intelligent and clever, kind and observant of those around him. Seeing the Arthurian world through his eyes is just downright fun. Gerald Morris paints a wonderfully detailed portrait of Mordred that givers new insights into his role as knight and traitor. Although marketed as a children's book, THE SQUIRE'S QUEST will appeal to Arthurian literature fans of all ages. The author does not talk down to his audience, but rather enlists the readers of all ages as a companion of Terence, enjoying the humor and watching the unfolding intrigue alongside Terence. Although the adventure tales might seem geared to male readers, women readers will also appreciate some of the pointed delightful twists Gerald Morris gives to some of his characters. As a book marketed to younger readers, the take on courtly love is a fine practical balance to the destructive nature of obsessive romance, and a book with an empowering and refreshing atmosphere of practicality to see through emotions and masks of all kinds. Although 9th in the series, THE SQUIRE'S QUEST does work as a stand-alone in and of itself for readers new to the series. The beauty of THE SQUIRE'S QUEST is in its ability to reach a wide audience at multiple reading levels from a modern introduction to the Arthurian world for young readers all the way to the finer literary allusions and twists to delight Arthurian literary scholars. Inspired by the lesser widely known work CLIGES by Chretien de Troyes, THE SQUIRE'S QUEST brings modern sensibilities and humor to the parody on courtly love, revealing the absurdity of those codes. THE SQUIRE'S QUEST is a must read for medievalists --- at least those who delight in medieval literature enough to enjoy a modern imaginative reworking of the classics. Even religion is not spared his humorous look --- but that humor is not so much anti-religion but rather the kind of insider's humor born from an ability to laugh at one's own seriousness. Readers are encouraged not to skip over the author's notes at the end

Refreshing Read

Squire's Quest is refreshing. This novel is ideal for most adventuresome pre-teens. I intend to review this book for what it is, not by any standard set for books designed for "adults." Although the author wrote this novel for "grades 5 and up", any person with an active imagination should enjoy this treasure. Squire's Quest is a story built upon Camelot and the adventures of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. The legends that Gerald Morris chose to relate are among those with which I am least familiar. The tale concentrates upon the relationship of Camelot with the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople. I enjoyed several newer characters, like Alexander, Emperor of the Eastern Empire, and Cliges, prince of the Eastern Empire. I did not miss Merlin, as Terence, a Faery lord and Squire of Camelot filled that role nicely. Squire's Quest is a love story, but not in the modern sense of that term. This is a story of chivalry, honor, justice, and knights who joust for the favor of a lovely lady. There are several, nearly platonic romances: Arthur and Guinevere, Terence and Eileen, Alexander and Sarah, and Cliges and Fenice. I remember the tales of knights and their quests. I remember stories of knights warring to rescue a lovely lady from danger. Squire's Quest clearly fits in that tradition. Squire's Quest is an adventure story. There are rumors of dragons and the book has minstrels singing of the famous adventures of knights. Several battles occur in the story, but most of the action is related in reports, not eyewitnesses relating blood spilling and killing. Several war scenes, however, will satisfy any desire the reader may have for detailed gore. In one scene Cliges swiftly lops the head off of an opponent. In another, one of Terence's friends loses his leg. In general there is none of the detailed showing of fatal wounds, as is so common in the literature of the 21st century. Squire's tale is fun, and reminiscent of the treasured tales of my youth. I recommend this book, especially for children grades 5 and up.

Another light, fun retelling of Arthurian legend

This ninth installment in Gerald Morris' wonderful, witty Arthurian series, featuring the ever-young Squire Terence, takes on Chretien de Troyes' tales of courtly love and exposes them for what they are: foolish, half-witted stories in which knights swear eternal devotion to their mistresses rather than their wives, tales that end tragically, such as those of Tristram and Iseult, and Cliges and Fenice, which is the basis for this book. There's plenty of adventure and romantic intrigue in "The Squire's Quest," a story that includes the ominous appearance of Mordred at Camelot; a visit from the Byzantine Emperor Alexander, who pays court to the Lady Sarah, and his retinue; a complicated romantic triangle involving the Holy Roman Emperor's daughter, the Duke of Saxony, and a knight named Cliges; and a journey to Athens, in which Terence and his knightly companion Dinadan find the site of the Oracle of Delphi and go on a quest across the River Styx to Elysium, where Terence meets his old friend Robin, or Puck, from the world of Faerie. Morris' well-told stories are light, entertaining and humorous, with great dialogue and well-portrayed, likable characters. As well as being exciting, they are thought-provoking, and a fun way to learn about the world of Arthurian legend, in much the same way that Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books are an enjoyable way to become acquainted with Greek myth. I recommend this book, and the whole Squire's Tale series, to anyone, middle-grade, teen or adult, who would enjoy a charming, adventurous, clever retelling of the King Arthur stories.