The crossing places of an innovative story (Arthur: At the Crossing Places - Kevin Crossley-Holland)

Name: nevikrose

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Product:	Arthur: At the Crossing Places - Kevin Crossley-Holland
Date:	03.04.08 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Continues extremely well from the previous book, is just as engaging

Disadvantages: Loses its seamless link with the Arthur myths occasionally, leaving you slightly confused

Middle books of a trilogy are always hard to strike a balance in, as readers, we know none of the really big questions will be resolved, and as writers they know they mustn't get too far ahead in the plotline.

The second book of Kevin Crossley-Holland's innovative 'Arthur' trilogy does a stirling job of reaching that goal. While not an electric book, it is turning over no new leaves from the previous installment, the story is nonetheless continued seamlessly from the original to make a reading experience that is simply like continuing to read the same novel.

If you have not come across the 'Arthur' trilogy, I recommend you read my review of the first in the series 'the seeing stone'.

Arthur in 'The crossing places' has finally made it into service as a squire, and this book mainly deals with his expectations of the life of a squire and the realisation of his immeadiate hopes and dreams. He still has the seeing stone with him, and through it he still observes the life and myths of King Arthur, now with elements of the Guinevere/Lancelot story as his own attraction to the niece of his lord grows.

My big criticism of this book is that we get more and more of the more obscure elements of the King Arthur myths in this section of the story, like the challenge of the Green Knight and the love of the Lady of Avalon. Taken out of their metaphorical contexts, it is difficult sometimes to see the relevance of this Arthur stories for their observer. In the previous book, if the boy Arthur was watching the seeing stone, the story unfolding had some kind of relationship to what was happening in his own life. It is hard to make those links here, and the overarching plot line concerning his mother and his delayed move to the crusades seems stilted and laborious as times.

That said, it is still an outstanding book, and a good bridge, I look forward to the last instalment, but didn't enjoy it as much as the first, as is often the way with 'middle books'.


The Arthur trilogy can be purchased at most book stores, including Amazon, and varies a lot in price as both hardback and paperback are available. Usually it is either in the myths and legends section, or children's books.
The trilogy is published by Orion Children's Books.

* ISBN-10: 1858813980
* ISBN-13: 978-1858813981

Summary: A great bridge, leaving you ready for the last in the trilogy.