Book Review | King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court

I’m delighted to be part of a blog tour organised by Kathy at I Am A Reader for this great book!  Most of the books offered there are too romancy or too paranormal YA, or otherwise not my preference, but this one seemed just right – quirky, time-travelling, and feisty with an interesting twist.  Remember to scroll down to enter the Giveaway!

Book Summary (from publisher)

Morgan le Fay, 6th-century Queen of Gore and the only major character not killed off by Mark Twain in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, vows revenge upon the Yankee Hank Morgan. She casts a spell to take her to 1879 Connecticut so she may waylay Sir Boss before he can travel back in time to destroy her world. But the spell misses by 300 miles and 200 years, landing her in the Washington, D.C., of 2079, replete with flying limousines, hovering office buildings, virtual-reality television, and sundry other technological marvels.

Whatever is a time-displaced queen of magic and minions to do? Why, rebuild her kingdom, of course—two kingdoms, in fact: as Campaign Boss for the reelection of American President Malory Beckham Hinton, and as owner of the London Knights world-champion baseball franchise.

Written as though by the old master himself, King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee offers laughs, love, and a candid look at American society, popular culture, politics, baseball…and the human heart.

My Review

I confess that my knowledge of Arthurian legend is not as good as some people’s; mine is heavily biased by the musical Camelot, by Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, and by, er, not finishing The Once and Future King.  Maybe I should finish it.  But I have the basics.  I wasn’t entirely up to speed with Morgan Le Faye’s part in proceedings.  I may be closer now.

Queen Morgan is in the middle of some critical negotiations when she gets waylaid and moved forward in time to a mediaeval pageant.  She quickly works out that this is false… in fact it’s being put on for her benefit to settle her in – she’s actually way in the future, about 2079, in fact.  I was disappointed to discover that the power suit with high heels is still the armour of the successful businesswoman, but style and practicality aside, I love the developments of both technology and society that Queen Morgan aka Morgana encounters, and her rationalisation of them to parallels with her own universe.  In fact, this rationalisation is so good, for us poor beings in the middle of UK Election fever, it leaves me positively in favour of Morgana’s solutions to all sorts of political nonsense.  Vote Morgana – or at least, vote President Malory for life!

For someone allergic to baseball (and pretty much to all overpaid sports that are worshipped by people spending too much money for a pathetic seat in a stadium for the benefit of an already superrich owner) the emphasis on the sport and its game play could be tedious.  Note the ‘could be’.  I give Kim Iversen Headlee 5 stars for managing to write a baseball book I enjoyed, let alone the superb world-building, dry wit and sarcasm of the political shenanigans, and the heady combination of gangsterism, time travel, social insight, and historical fiction.

I suspect all the people who enjoy the more offbeat books I review on my blog will love this!

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Author Biography

Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet.

Kim is a Seattle native and a direct descendent of twentieth-century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim’s novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband’s ancestor, the seventh-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.

For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, and other novels under her imprint Pendragon Cove Press.

Praise for the Book 

“Packed with politics, pop culture, sports, business, time travel, magic, deceit, humor and love, this story will keep you enthralled right up to the end. Whether you have ever read an Arthurian romance before or not, give this one a try. I am sure you will love it as much as I did.” ~ Dottie of Romance Junkies

“KASIWC is irresistible, passionate, and intriguing. Definitely check out this amazing new Arthurian Romance!” ~ Jill of Arthurian Romances

“It’s like Ms. Headlee has the touch of Twain in her.” ~ Darlene of Mousiey Books

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/25/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Take a look round the rest of the blog tour:

May 5th
I Am A Reader – Spotlight
The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass – Spotlight
Literary Chanteuse – Spotlight
Periodical Gazette – Spotlight
Musings of Immortals – Spotlight
Cafe Hall – Spotlight
MAD Hoydenish – Spotlight

May 6th
readalot – Review
Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Spotlight
Christy’s Cozy Corners – Spotlight
Sarah Aisling – Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – Spotlight
CBY Book Club – Spotlight

May 7th
Enter Here Canada – Spotlight
I Love to Read and Review Books  – Spotlight
Romorror Fan Girl – Spotlight
Bound 2 Escape – Spotlight
BookHounds – Spotlight

May 8th
Vic’s Media Room – Review
Sher A. Hart – Review
A Writer’s Life – Spotlight
Aubrey Wynne: Romantasy Through the Ages – Spotlight
beck valley books – Spotlight

May 11th
Just Jeanae – Review
Desert Rose Reviews – Spotlight
Fiction Dreams – Spotlight
Mythical Books – Spotlight
Cassandra M’s Place – Spotlight
Too Clever – Spotlight

May 12th
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Spotlight
Maureen’s Musings – Spotlight
Mythical Books – Spotlight
Coffee Books & Art – Spotlight
Diana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
Little Miss Drama Queen – Spotlight

May 13th
Jemima Pett, Author – Review
LeahSay’s Views – Spotlight
Mommabears Book Blog – Spotlight
Red Headed Patti – Spotlight
Gustosa Giveaways – Spotlight

May 15th
Lisa’s Research & Reviews – Review
LeahSay’s Views – Spotlight
Coffee Books & Art – Spotlight
deal sharing aunt – Spotlight
Desafío In The City – Spotlight
Susan Stuckey – Spotlight