The Winter Prince

Wein's debut effort is the latest in the current spate of books and tales that mine Arthurian legends. Told by Medraut, the illegitimate son of Artos and his sister Morgause, this novel chronicles the narrator's love-hate relationship with his father's legitimate son, Lleu, the heir to the British throne. The intensity of Medraut's obsessions, like those of most people, is difficult for an outsider to sympathize with; his long internal musings tend to hamper the narrative's flow. Still, the writing is graceful and steeped in atmosphere, and the story line includes enough sibling rivalry and action to keep the reader going to the end. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)