Merlin's Harp Series by Anne Eliot Crompton

When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even the peace of Avalon... moreWhen I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even the peace of Avalon. And while Merlin the mage has been training Niviene as his apprentice, he now needs her help to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. Niviene's special talents must help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love... "The story glows...a mythical tapestry that is at once completely recognizable yet utterly fresh..."-Publishers Weekly"Like The Mists of Avalon, the Arthurian legend from a woman's point of view." -USA Today"Readers will be enchanted...the characters and strands of the famous legend are skillfully woven together here." -School Library Journal"Take heed: the feminist possibilities of the Arthurian legendary cycle were not exhausted by Marion Zimmer Bradley's bestselling The Mists of Avalon... A riveting good read." -BooklistWhat readers are saying:"A rather unique look at the legend of King Arthur.""An exquisite addition to Arthurian literature.""The writing is lyrical; the plot twists are original. Great!" less

Honor, pride, love, and betrayal abound in Crompton's latest work, as a mysterious green stranger gallops into King Arthur's court. A unique challenge is posed by this outsider: any knight sitting at the Round Table may try to chop off his head on the condition that if they succeed, he will have the same opportunity one year later... moreHonor, pride, love, and betrayal abound in Crompton's latest work, as a mysterious green stranger gallops into King Arthur's court. A unique challenge is posed by this outsider: any knight sitting at the Round Table may try to chop off his head on the condition that if they succeed, he will have the same opportunity one year later. After a shameful silence, Sir Gawain steps forward, and beheads the stranger, who then picks up his head and leaves, reminding Gawain of their date in one year's time. What leads up to this encounter and what happens as a result of it is pure fantasy, filled with powerful women, magical druids, ethereal children, and unforeseeable surprises. Written in lyrical prose, this graceful, magical tale presents a new twist on the classic Middle English poem while capturing the essence of Arthurian legend. less

Lili, an apprentice of the Lady of the Lake, is the childhood friend of Percy, the boy who will become one of Arthur's greatest knights. But as they grow older, Lili begins to see their differences. She has otherworldly magic while he has the magic that lives within the Human Heart. Lili dreams of knowing human love while Percy dreams of finding the Holy Grail. Neither can succeed without the other... moreLili, an apprentice of the Lady of the Lake, is the childhood friend of Percy, the boy who will become one of Arthur's greatest knights. But as they grow older, Lili begins to see their differences. She has otherworldly magic while he has the magic that lives within the Human Heart. Lili dreams of knowing human love while Percy dreams of finding the Holy Grail. Neither can succeed without the other.Once again Crompton weaves together nature, feminist perspective, and Arthurian legend for a tale that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.Praise for Percival's Angel: "Crompton succeeds in incorporating the mysticism of medieval romance into her fantasy... This well-written fantasy can be compared to Katherine Paterson's Parzival." -Voya less