Retelling on Yourself

BH Sprinkle
Aug 5, 2023
3 min read

Hey there Writing with Sprinkle Community! It's BH Sprinkle again!

Do I have a hunch that the countless numbers of retellings are sharing some insights into the author's favorite books? Yes.

If you're gonna write an entire series of small books about Arthurian legend through retellings... I can definitely guess you're passionate about the subject.

As it is also with Tracy Cooper-posey with her book Born of No Man, which the first book of a series.

Am I crazy or is it similar?

It was easier to digest to give any smaller page count. A lot of people find large page counts intimidating. So if you're somebody who enjoys smaller page counts this might be something you could try. Also if you like Arthurian legend.

I did however have some initial doubts.

First and foremost I would like to say that I found this for free through an email by an author I don't know much about but decided to try. Because random miracles happen. Somebody could just happen upon your book one random Google search for whilst browsing Amazon or Barnes & Noble Somebody could just happen upon your book one random Google search or whilst browsing Amazon or Barnes & Noble. They could just happen to come across a social media page or a store, then decide to try if your book sounds interesting. That's how I tend to find the majority of the books that I end up reading or enjoying as well. Sometimes I allow others to reach out to me because I want to be supportive.

Fact that it's setting is Arthurian legend is promising and so is the fact that it gives a new take on the origin of Merlin through those around his parents/mother.

It comes in strong with a mysterious beginning that led you into the story.

Here's the pinch. That had me proceed with caution. Though I did decide to keep reading. I don't like to read-only a couple of pages and then give up. Therefore I kept going.

The names within this story were reminiscent of the BBC Tv show Merlin. Accept the fact that Princess Vivian was (according to blurb) the mother of Merlin rather than a simple village woman and the statement that Emerys was a different person than Merlin when in the show it was the same individual. Though I enjoy rewatching the BBC Merlin adaptation of Arthurian legend, I can tell outright where the writer gathered their inspiration for this book. It's something of a low-key bother considering that I hope it doesn't rally too closely with plot or character. I like to see the individuality and unique workings from an author's mind.

At the beginning of chapter 2 I'd been entirely confused about the new cast of characters. I didn't understand who everyone was clearly and decided upon needing a flow chart. Though after several pages things become more clear.

I had noticed several interesting additions to the legend. Within this particular book was a complicated array of characters but you also got to see how the progression of events unfolded.

I thought the character of Lynette was loyal especially to Vivian. Quite especially after the unique circumstances of what she has been put up to. Vivian obviously was trying to shove her in Cadfael's way the whole time. Vivian was also not listening to the many red flags Lynette was putting down and trying to tell her of.

Cadfael was a complex character. The flaws were good because characters need flaws. However, his flaw was being quick not only to anger but to violence. Though I did feel bad about his past.