Victories by Lackey and Edghill - ESSENTIAL

Lackey, Mercedes and Rosemary Edghill Victories (Shadow Grail 4), 254 p. TOR Teen, 2014.  $12.  

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fighting without graphic bloodshed).  

Muirin sacrificed herself in order to give Spirit and the others a chance to run and a chance to regroup and defeat Mordred.  Spirit and the others won’t waste their chance, but they have no idea who they can trust orwhat in this world or in their remaining time that they can do in order to defeat an enemy who has had hundreds of years to prepare for the battle.  Now the former Oakhurst Academy students know that they are reincarnated from Mordred’s original enemies – Arthur, Gueneviere and the Knights of the Round Table.  As they learn from their past lives, they can find the clues they need to give themselves a greater chance at victory.  

Lackey and Edghill have crafted a heroic tale that is a nice mix of legend and present, without being too weighty for most teens.  It is a great introduction to Arthurian legends – maybe it will prompt a resurgence in their popularity.  I do know that students who go on to read more by Lackey will love her – she is one of my top 4 personal favorites that I re-read time and time again.  

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher.