Song of the Sword (The Shards of Excalibur, Book 1)

By the complete Shards of Excalibur series in print or ebook and save!

Long-listed for the 2014 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic for Best Young Adult Novel

Cover design by Tania Craan

www.shardsofexcalibur.com

The power of the Lady of the Lake. A magical quest. A nerdy sidekick. Ariane’s life just got a lot more interesting.

On the first day of her suspension from school for fighting bullies, Ariane hears the lake singing to her, meets the Lady of the Lake from the days of King Arthur in an underwater chamber, and learns she’s heir to the Lady’s magical power over water.

Now she and Wally Knight, who unexpectedly followed her, have a quest: find the scattered shards of King Arthur’s sword Excalibur before the ruthless wizard Merlin can, in his modern-day guise as the rich, powerful Rex Major.

Can Ariane learn to use her power in time—and keep herself and Wally alive—in the race to beat Merlin to the first shard?

Song of the Sword is an exciting modern-day young-adult fantasy by award-winning author Edward Willett, perfect for anyone who thrills to stories of modern-day magic and tales of King Arthur.

Plunge into adventure in this first book in the five-book Shards of Excalibur series!

Reviews

“A fantasy that will grip teens of both genders…Edward Willett blends the humour with the ethereal fantasy of Song of the Sword so easily…Readers will be right in there, cheering for Ariane and Wally, worried with every obstacle that jumps into their path, hopeful that the bad guy won’t prevail.” – Helen Kubiw, CanLit for Little Canadians

“A tight story (all the details make sense), and characters exhibit honest emotions…Fantasy references galore should ensure that readers who enjoy fantasy—and Arthurian legend in particular—come away satisfied.” – Kirkus Reviews

A unique, clever, and beautifully modern retelling of an old legend.” – McNally Robinson Staff Pick, Feb. 201

“This is a fantasy of epic proportions, with the perfect blend of suspense; well-developed, likable characters; and a touch of sarcastic humor. Ariane and Wally need to find four shards and the hilt of the sword, ensuring readers that this is just the beginning of the fantastical journey.” –School Library Journal, Feb. 2011

“Every so often … a writer is skilled enough to utilize the stories of King Arthur and Camelot to significant effect. Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy is definitely on the list. So, too, is Song of the Sword, the impressive new YA novel from Regina writer Edward Willett … a taut, compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and a keen sense of genuine peril and true wonder. It’s a powerful, fun, engaging read, and it’s the first of a series, so readers have much to look forward to.” – Quill & Quire, Sept. 2010

“The story … has wonderful Canadian references and some really funny passages. Ariane is constantly in danger, and the suspense is beautifully maintained.” – Helen Wilding Cook, Children’s Collection Development Coordinator, Library Bound

“One thing that makes this tale different from many in the genre is that it is set in Regina, SK, and full of other Canadian place names, such as Yellowknife and Toronto … Written clearly, and with an interesting version of the Arthurian legend, the tale portrays some common teenage problems through the eyes of the two main characters, while placing them in harrowing fantasy situations … The story will appeal to those who enjoy fantasy and will not require a knowledge of the Arthurian tales to follow.” – CM: Canadian Review of Materials, Sept. 2010

“Willett has constructed an exciting plot that features a teenage orphan (Ariane) and her scrawny but smart sidekick (Wally) … Song of the Sword will certainly have appeal to enthusiastic young fantasy fans.” – Resource Links, Oct. 2010

“Willett’s novel will please fantasy junkies with its intricate details; yet there’s also an appealing poetry to Ariane’s story, best manifested when she learns to use her powers to merge with water and transport herself wherever it flows. Song of the Sword is a unique twist on the old subjects of teenage rebellion and self-discovery.” – Montreal Review of Books, Nov. 2010

“… a highly original take on the King Arthur Legend …” – Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Dec. 2010

“… an exciting plot that gives a great new spin to a favourite story. It can also take credit for a great cast of characters … set up to play out what might become the battle of the ages. I can see that exciting adventures await as they all struggle to decide what’s worth fighting for: power, friends, or family.” – think. thank. thought. (book review blog), Nov. 2010

“… it was very well done indeed … Willett did an excellent job here … Ariane [has] quite a bit of personality and spunk … Wally is definitely my favorite character. He’s got a bit of King Arthur potential, but he’s so very quirky … I sense his sister becoming a bit of a Morgan le Fay character, which should prove to be entertaining.” – Word for Teens (book review blog), Nov. 2010