One Perfect Knight
One
Perfect Knight by Judith O’Brien is a time travel novel set in the popular
and well-documented Camelot. But this is a Camelot with a difference
and one that the well-versed reader will not recognise. However this
does not in any way detract from the novel and Ms O’Brien states herself
that the novel is about love and not about historical accuracy.
Julie Gaffney is a New York City advertising executive and in no way prepared for her sudden journey to the mythical and magical Camelot.
Whilst chaperoning a children’s party she examines a suit of armour that appears to be more real than the others on display in the theme restaurant. Falling backwards from the stand she opens her eyes to find herself looking back at the legendary Lancelot. Mistaken for his squire it is not long before Lancelot realises that she is female and wonders how he did not notice sooner.
Taking her into his home he shows her Camelot and introduces her to the royal court. For Julie the Camelot she is in is even better than the legends portrayed. It appears to be the most perfect place on earth, there is no hunger, no garbage, everyone is friendly and nothing seems to phase the residents of the enchanted land. Meeting Merlin, Guinevere, and King Arthur, Julie recalls the legends that everyone knows and when she sees how Lancelot greets Guinevere she remembers the fate that is in store for them and the part that Lancelot will play in the destruction of Camelot.
Trying to warn him does not appear to do any good at all but when she falls in love with him and finds that he returns her feelings she believes that they may have changed the course of history.
But history is resilient and another knight of the round table, Malvern (though I was expecting Mordred), is determined to see Lancelot brought down. Plotting and scheming he slowly manages to convince Arthur that Guinevere is unfaithful to him and that Lancelot has betrayed their friendship.
The fate of all hang in the balance and as Julie, carrying Excalibur, approaches all the parties where they had been set up by Malvern, things take a drastic turn for the worse when Julie and Lancelot are sent forward in time to where Julie had left from.
But the history of Camelot has now altered and Julie finds herself a part of the legend. Known as Lady Julia and the Crone of Camelot, she and Lancelot are believed to have been the causes of the destruction of Camelot by stealing Excalibur (which has travelled in time with them).
Now they must find a way to get back into the past. There is no Merlin to help them and time is running out as Lancelot ages rapidly and there is no hope of them having a life together in the future for he will not live long. Their only hope is to return to the past and try to repair the damage they have inadvertently caused.
Tying up all the loose ends and answering all the questions is something I insist on when I am reading a novel (if there is a sequel planned I make an exception of course). One Perfect Knight has most of the questions answered but I would like to know why Nathan, the birthday boy at the party Julie was chaperoning, was in Camelot a few years older than when she had last seen him though. It is not a pivotal part of the plot but I am curious as to why this was…was it something I missed?
Other than that little point all the other loose ends are tied up in this is fun and enjoyable novel that is at its best when in Camelot itself. I felt that the story line stalled a little on Julie’s return to the modern world but it is worth sticking with until she and Lancelot figure out everything they need to defeat Malvern and return to Camelot.
Those who insist on historical accuracy may be disappointed but from
a magical and romantic point of view the novel sparkles.
RATING : 
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