Camelot Burning

Camelot Burning by debut author Kathryn Rose is the first book in her Metal & Lace series.

By day, Vivienne is Guinevere's lady-in-waiting. By night, she's Merlin's secret apprentice, indulging in the new mechanical arts and science of alchemy.  It's a preferred distraction from Camelot's gossipy nobility, roguish knights, and Lancelot's athletic new squire, Marcus, who will follow in all knights' footsteps by taking a rather inconvenient vow of chastity. 

More than anything, Vivienne longs to escape Camelot for a future that wouldn't include needlework or marriage to a boorish lord or dandy.  But when King Arthur's sorceress sister, Morgan le Fey, threatens Camelot, Vivienne must stay to help Merlin build a steam-powered weapon to defeat the dark magic machine Morgan will set upon the castle.  Because if Camelot falls, Morgan would be that much closer to finding the elusive Holy Grail.  Time is running out and Morgan draws near, and if Vivienne doesn't have Merlin's weapon ready soon, lives would pay the price, including that of Marcus, the only one fast enough to activate it on the battlefield.

The Breakdown:
1. Rose gives an interesting take on the Camelot of legend by adding in steampunk influence.  In her world magic is a dark art, that is like a drug to users, and metal science and alchemy have replaced magic in the good. She stays essentially true to the legend of Camelot, which is seen through the eyes of Vivienne.

2. Vivienne is definitely an interesting character.  She is smart and strong willed in a society in which that is not how most women act.  As the story unfolds, there are hints that there is more to Vivienne than she even knows.

3. Rose, also, provides quite the fascinating character in Marcus.  He has his own secrets and reason for wanting to be Lancelot's squire.  He provides an interesting counter to Vivienne, and is not in the least bit intimidated by her intelligence, in fact he finds it quite attractive.

4. I did find that at times Rose got a little convoluted with her story. At the very beginning in fact, it took a few pages to figure out who the narrator was.  She interweaves dreams and visions in to the story at times and it is not always apparent right a way what cause the switch.  That being said, overall I found the story intriguing, and I am interested in where she will take the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read, if you are looking for new take on the old legend

Currently Reading:
The Indigo Spell
by Richelle Mead