I Am Mordred - Nancy Springer

I Am Mordred - Nancy Springer

The interest in reading this sprung mainly from my current Merlin kick. In all honesty, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I figured that it would play out as more of a children's book that wouldn't hardly scratch the surface of the pain and conflict that Mordred felt. Boy, was I ever wrong. I Am Mordred was a beautifully told story about a very conflicted and struggling boy. The characters were realistic as well as the dialogue and setting. 

Mordred's life has always been one full of pity and tragedy. When he was just a baby his father King Arthur tried to kill him. Without his knowing, he survived and was found by a fisherman who took him home. After so many years, Mordred finds himself being taken away from his adoptive family and being placed in another home, but this time with the nobility. Taunted and sometimes just ignored, Mordred grows up here knowing that his father is King Arthur. He also learns that it was foretold that he would be the one to kill his father in the future, and thus becomes so conflicted and worrisome that he yearns for more answers. At fifteen, he is sent to Camelot with his older adoptive brothers to become a part of Arthur's kingdom. It is here with his father that he hopes to find the answers that he's been looking for his entire life.

The writing was really wonderul. Nancy Springer did a fabulous job in detailing Mordred's inner struggles from child to young adult. We really got a feel as to what was swirling around in his head, and doing so made me feel so much for him. Also, she set the scene in such a realistic way that it was almost like watching a reenactment on the History channel. It was all done so beautifully as well, it was all just so very very good.

Pacing-wise, I had no problems with this book. The transitions are smooth and not rushed at all.

The characters were also written and developed in a nice way. We get to see Mordred's transformation in a smooth way, and how much more conflicted he becomes within himself. His thoughts and feelings are obvious and present and portrayed in a realistic manner. By the end of the book I just really wanted to give the boy a hug. 

We also got small backstories on Nyneve, who was a vital person in Mordred's growth and Morgan Le Faye. Truly, they were all done so very well that I don't have many complaints. Their dialogue was well done and fit the time and their actions just the same.

Overall, I Am Mordred was a nice and beautiful story of a boy coming to terms with who he is and will be. The writing as well as characters were spot on and truly fit the era of time. Nearly everything about this book was beautiful. If you're into Arthurian legend or anything of the sort then I do recommend that you pick up this book and let it move you as it did me.

☆☆☆☆/5

Recommend?: If you're into Arthurian legend and are curious.

If you want to read a nice story about a magical boy who finally finds himself.