Warriors of Camlann

NM Browne has created a wonderful sequel to Warriors of Alavna with this fast-paced, action-filled story. Knowledge of the previous book is not essential, as Browne provides details of earlier adventures in the opening chapters. Legend, myth and historical detail fuse in this tale of Dan and Ursula, who are summoned back in time to tribal England by the sorceress Rhonwen. Arthurian legend forms the basis of the plot, but Browne removes the familiar medieval tropes of knights and round table and instead portrays a grittier, more plausible version, with the Romanised High King Arturus attempting to unite the Celtic and Roman tribes against a common enemy, the Aenglisc.

Dan and Ursula discover new gifts to help them as they attempt to return to their own time. Ursula, the outsider at school, finds that her strength and ability as a fearsome warrior earn her popularity with Arturus and his people, while Dan’s new-found empathetic and telepathic skills allow him to keep an eye on the battle plans of Rhonwen and the Aenglisc.

Through Ursula and Dan’s changing allegiances to the various tribes that they encounter, Browne highlights the subjective nature of history and questions the idea that in battles there are definite ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’. In an attempt to keep history unchanged, Dan and Ursula must join with Arturus’ Roman tribe, although they had previously been allied with the Britons. This novel is a must for those interested in history, and in discovering other versions of well-known tales.