Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Betrothed to the Red Dragon - a short story of Art and Gwen


Greetings, commies!
If you are looking for a quick engaging read between your Thanksgiving meal courses, consider Kim Rendfeld's short story Betrothed to the Red Dragon.

Synopsis
Dinas Powys, 479: Queen Gwenhwyfar is content to rule alone. But with her captain dead and the Saxons raiding their way toward her stronghold, she turns to the general Artorius to lead her warriors. His price is more than she wants to pay—her hand in marriage.

My thoughts:
I  hope this short story develops into a novel. I have read both of Kim Rendfeld's prior novels set in the Dark Ages, The Cross and the Dragon and The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar and found both to be meticulously researched and satisfying. I also follow her blog in which she sheds light on many common misconceptions about the social norms in the Middle Ages. There are so many takes on the iconic power couple Art and Gwen. In the past decades there has been a shift in the portrayal of King Arthur and his consort. Unsurprisingly, Rendfeld's queen Gwen is no shivering submissive lamb. Even though she does not disdain cosmetics, she is a savvy politician. I can see her played by a younger Kristen Scott Thomas. I hope that "Betrothed to the Red Dragon" blossoms into a full-length novel.

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