Bryce Gibby

The Captain and the Dark Queen Bryce Gibby

Book Three in the series "Annals of the Heroic." After the death of King Arthur in the Battle of Camlann, the adventure continues in the lives of Prince Mark, King Arthur's heir, Brynja, his wife, Stephen, their son, and Queen Covianna, the new ruler of Britannia who would make Mark her consort king. "In 'The Captain and the Dark Queen, ' Gibby explores and expounds upon an essential but often dismissed element in Arthurian literature, namely, the great king's ultimate legacy. Here Gibby explores just what measures a forward-looking visionary such as Arthur would 'really' have taken to ensure the survival of his peace-loving subjects. The book actually tells two stories, the first being from the perspective of the author's first young adult protagonist. 'The Captain' is a welcome break from a young adult market saturated with 'You're a wizard, Harry' protagonists who, aside from being arbitrarily declared by everyone around them to be 'special, ' have no actual redeeming qualities to recommend them. In Gibby's volume, however, the young Stephen is actually saddled with real responsibility, makes mistakes as he struggles with pride and impudence, and matures as he sees the consequences that his pride exacts on those he cares for. During these portions of the book, the author applies his characteristic narrative and allegory to more mature subject matter--think 'The Chronicles of Narnia' for a slightly older audience. My favorite sections of the book are those focusing on the titular captain, Sir Mark of Glastonbury, as the man charged by King Arthur to take on a perilous quest to carry out his final wishes. Here, Gibby's narrative takes on a sort of sweeping, well-paced, Tolkien-esque saga, from epic journey, to harrowing battle, to fighting against the elements--and he continues to craft strong and admirable female protagonists as well." Jeff C."Book three continues the saga with superb insight and continuous surprises for the characters I have grown so fond of during this series." Julie P. "I was amazed at how fast I read through the chapters without realizing how time was flying by, and how it was impossible to outguess the author. This work is motivating and exciting. Today there is a great shortage of good role models-in Gibby's books there are characters who inspire! When I read the story of Vivian, I wanted to be like her! My sons loved the adventures of The Green Knight and Prince Stephen! The world needs these books and they will appeal to a wide range of readers. This work has the feel of the 'Lord of the Rings, ' but with the light and inspiration that C. S. Lewis brought to his tales. 'The Annals of the Heroic' will stand the test of time." Wendy