Sword of the Rightful King.

SWORD OF THE RIGHTFUL KING. Jane Yolen. 2003. Read by Steven Crossley. 6 tapes. 8 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4025-6261-6. $54.00. Vinyl; plot, reader notes. J *

From the KLIATT review of the book in May 2003: "There's a great secret in this story, kept so until the final chapters ... Otherwise what we have here is another well-told story about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Arthur is young yet, unmarried; his mentor is Merlinnus.... Yolen is a gifted writer of fantasy and has returned to this legend of Arthur and Merlin time and time again. She makes the action flow, blending the magic with reality...."

Crossley's narration is a marvel. Each character is rendered as an individual. Especially convincing are Merlin and the wicked witch Morgause. When Morgause swept into Arthur's court, I almost checked the tape case to see if there were two narrators, one a female, so feminine and feline did Crossley sound. Merlin is a dotty old man who talks to an oak tree. The hero, Gawen, is a youngster of courage and sagacity. Arthur is a sturdy young man, scarce 22, who would rather be out hunting boar than sitting still on a hard wooden throne dispensing justice. KLIATT has noted about Crossley's other performances, "[he] reads with a perfectly phrased and beautifully modulated British accent ... (His) voice practically sings through the words." Crossley's performance is equally magical here. Janet Julian, Grafton, MA