But that won't be easy. There are bands of Marauders who rape and pillage fellow survivors, and there is rumor that they even eat human beings. Cranston, even in the relative safety of his fortified compound, must deal with ever encroaching attacks by these bandits. Out in the wild lands, Reyes himself comes face to face with an old enemy, a bully from a rival gang from his past. But Reyes also finds another old friend, Nilson, a wise high school history teacher, and a band of survivors who are barely alive in an old library built into the side of a hill. Nilson helps Reyes create a free, lawful community with Reyes as a reluctant king with a ruling council, town mayors, and a police force. Through all of this work, Nilson and Reyes both experience visions from an ancient past about a king, a wizard, and a sword of justice.

In truth, Joan Upton Hall does play with the Arthurian legend, with even Nilson speculating on who in their group could be reincarnations of knights from the legendary Round Table. The story, though, is quite fresh and new and filled with great characters. In fact, the action is very fast paced and the romantic elements add much to the story, just as the love story of Guinevere and Arthur balanced those heroic tales. What I found surprising was not Hall's ability to write such a great action adventure but that she sprinkled the story with intense gang fight details and spicy language that would fit many of these rough characters. Hall certainly has done her research and that has brought a realism to the work.

The story, though, is not over. Hall continues it in the Shadow of Excalibur, which also came out in 2008. I can't wait to dive into that one!