The Wicked Day

I found this book, like the other 3 from the Arthurian saga, by Mary Steward, to be a refreshing way of telling a very old and loved story. I read other versions of the saga that I found interesting, but too stuffy for most people. This story draws you in and makes you feel for the characters, specially Mordred, no as the villian he's portrayed on most versions, but as a human being drawn by a pre-destined future to do what he does, and even when he tries to fight it, he's the victim of circumstances beyond his control. So to me it made it attractive, because of the very human emotions that the characters convey, which shows more than on other books of the same genre that I have read. Those emotions made me keep on reading and hoping for a different end, even thou I knew how it will be. To me that's real story-telling, and Mary Stewart is excellent at it.

Often, when a fourth book is written after a successful trilogy, it tends to suffer in comparison to the originals. (see Ursula La Guin's Tehanu as a primary example of this) This book clearly avoids this syndrome and succeeds greatly as an alternative take on the story of Mordred. Just as the Merlin trilogy portrayed Merlin in a light not really seen elsewhere, Mary Stewart's take on Mordred comes at this normally-reviled character from an unexpectedly sympathetic point of view and succeeds on essentially every note. Just like other reviewers, I'd strongly recommend reading the Merlin trilogy first, but as soon as you've devoured those, tear into this one. You won't regret it.

After having read Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, I was rather reluctant to read this book. Having pre-conceived ideas of Mordred's evil character, I didn't want to destroy the 'feel-good' warmth that I had at the end of the trilogy. But, having started Stewart's journey, I just felt I had to finish it, even though I knew it would not be a happy ending. How wrong I was!!!! This book threw all my expectations of doom and gloom out the window, and impossible as it may seem ... I actually ended up feeling good even if the end was rather tragic. It is extremely refreshing to see Mordred put in an entirely different light - a courageous, strong-willed and honest man, instead of the evil, greedy and conniving son in other more common versions. Unfortunately, in this book, it was circumstances and misunderstandings that went against him. The best part was - it was totally believable!!! If you only want to know 1 version of Mordred's story, then this should be it.

I've always been attracted to the character of Mordred in Arthurian legend and who he was (or wasn't). Stewart tells a grim tale, densely,--and the ending is by far the finest I've encountered in any other Arthurian novel: Mordred and Arthur fighting against one another. Even Stewart admits in her notes that tracing back to the first mention of Mordred, there was no mention of him fighting *against* his father (or possibly his uncle), but simply dying in the same battle. Presented in "The Wicked Day" the way it is, the Mordred-Arthur "conflict" is much more heartrending and dark. I loved this book.

I've read the Trilogy as well as the Book of Mordred and I think that "The Wicked Day" does not provide as much detail as the Trilogy, that's why it makes it seem a bit vague here and there. It's great how sometimes it leaves the reader wondering and wanting to know more but either the facts are revealed at the end of the chapter or it's not revealed at all (or maybe I'm not getting it =P). For instance, is Merlin still narrating the story? I know Merlin's disappearance or "death" if you'd like to call it, is mysterious so I wonder how he ends in Stewart's series... Mordred's search for Merlin and found him absent (especially at his hometown) can't really account for his end...oh well, just something to leave you thinking =). However, one thing that it seems to consist more of, than the Trilogy is that it's filled with more intesity and the unexpected... I mean, when you read certain chapters and then finish it, I guarantee you'd be thinking to yourself 'wow, he/she actually done it!' or 'it was him/her all the time!?!' That's what I like in a story, it "strikes" the reader and gives you that surprised feeling! I'd also like to add to this review that the Trilogy was an impressive piece of work which gives an excellent description of Merlin's youth to adulthood as well as Arthur's. It's good how Stewart doesn't neglect to mention the Legends at the end to avoid confusion. Overall, brilliant stuff... just brilliant!! I highly recommend them all!