Mixed Pickles - the Book log 2012

When you think that no-one could find a fresh angle on the Arthurian myths...

 Philip Reeve finds one.  This is a the story of a servant girl caught up in a raid carried out  by the war chief Arthur, and used by his fifth century spin-doctor cum PR man Myrddin to create the myth of the Lady in the Lake.  This is no fantasy world of swords in stones, fulfilled prophecies and magical powers.  Instead it is a group of all too real humans, with their politics, lusts and weaknesses, being manipulated by a single man who wants to see the Britons united and opposed to the saxon invaders.

Reeve's strengths are many - great plotting and pacing, and distinctive voices for his characters.  And his ability to write from the standpoint of a young girl (a strength also demonstrated in the "Mortal Engines" and  "Fever Crumb" series) is quite remarkable - never mawkish, infantilised or patronising.

Unputdownability : I was up at four o'clock reading the final chapters.