It has been many years since I read Persia Woolley's incredible trilogy based on the legend of King Arthur, told through the eyes of his queen, Guinevere. Recently inspired to reread it, I realized (much to my dismay) that I had neglected to review the final volume. Oversight rectified!

I had forgotten how excellent this series is. Anyone who enjoys Arthurian literature should add this one to their collection.

Woolley's version of the legend began in her novel Child of the Northern Spring and continued in Queen of the Summer Stars. It comes to a conclusion in Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn.

This, being the third volume in the trilogy, picks up in the heyday of Camelot, when all was right with Britain and Arthur ruled in relative peace. Of course, the legend dictates that his paradise on Earth won't last, and the inevitable betrayals by the book's end will bring it all crashing down.

Most of us know how it ends. What matters in any retelling of the legend is how we get there. And Woolley leads us down a magnificent path, wrapping her story in elegant prose that brings the story to life. She writes strong, believable characters, and the evolution of events that lead Guinevere to love not one but two great men feels true.

She surrounds Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot with a vast population of supporting characters, but it's easy to keep track of each, and each feels uniquely different to the reader. This version of the legend is grounded firmly in history, with elements of fantasy and romance always present but never dominating the tale.

The Legend in Autumn is a brilliant end to a brilliant saga. I am so very glad to have read it again.