The Broken Kings: Book Three of the Merlin Codex

In the intriguing if convoluted conclusion to British author Holdstock's Merlin Codex trilogy, the near immortal time travelers Merlin and Jason journey to Alba (England) to prevent Jason's two sons by Medea from usurping the throne in place of the ruler known as the Pendragon (Arthur, of course). Those unfamiliar with the previous two books, Celtika (2003) and The Iron Grail (2004), or ancient Celtic lore may find the choppy narrative hard to follow. On the other hand, there are passages full of high intelligence rendered with the skill fans have come to expect from this World Fantasy Award–winning author. Nice touches include a depiction of Jason's sentient ship, Argo , decayed in frame but not in mind, and the adventures of Jason's son Kryptoii in the form of a hunting dog. While not quite up to Holdstock's usual standard, this volume shows he's still one of today's masters of mythic fantasy. (May)