Lady's Ransom by Jeff Wheeler

I sit on the fence with this series. The knightly conduct and sense of moral fortitude draw me back each time. And yet, there is something about the story that makes me unable to ever give this series 5 stars. I really wish I could pinpoint what that missing magic is, but every time I read these I feel a little annoyed. The whole story is a little over dramatized for my tastes, but that's really kind of the essence of the legends of King Arthur. They were over the top and mildly unrealistic.

The web of loyalties is thick and tangled by now--and drenched in magic all around. Ransom is middle aged and married. He serves the Holy Grail because he bested its last protector. He serves the Duchess of Brythonica because her son is the next King Andrew. He serves the King of Ceredigion because he swore to serve all its king in his youth--no matter how terrible they have been to him. He serves the country of Legault because he married Claire. He serves the fountain because it has blessed him.

So many directions to be pulled. There is a constant struggle in Ransom to balance all the loyalties he has promised. He is stretched thin, and the magic makes it even worse for him. He can't control when the grail calls to be defended. Just poof, out he goes. And absolutely no one can know where is going. There are multiple fights to the death. Claire doesn't believe in his religion or his loyalty. He is a first time father. The kings want to be Ransom's number one, if not only, priority. He ends up in foreign countries more than his own home, which is being seiged.

If that is not enough to compete with, the magical artifacts of King Andrew are resurfacing, and they are super dangerous. The seering stones and book cause people to go crazy if not used with the Fountain's express permission. And guess who ends up with both?  Claire.  Since she doesn't believe in Ransom's religion, she goes crazy using them. 

The whole novel goes crazy with anxiety, tension, and grief. There are not enough cathartic moments to counter balance the excess tensions. By the end of this review, I pinpointed why I can only give the story 4 stars. I come away too anxious despite the great integrity and happiness that Ransom finds from his loyalty by the end.