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From Chapter One

When my father received the news of the Pendragon’s death, I was playing boats by the sea.

I was then eleven years old, and as poor a warrior as any boy in my father’s realm of the Innsi Erc, the Orcades Islands. Since I also was a very poor hunter, I had little in common with the other boys, the sons of the noble clans of our island, with whom I lived and trained in the Boys’ House; and I had still less in common with my elder brother, Agravain, who led the others in making my life difficult, almost as difficult as my father’s plans for me did. To escape from the insistent world of warriors and warriors-to-be, I went sometimes to my younger brother, but more often to a secret place I had by the sea.

It is about an hour’s ride south of my father’s fortress of Dun Fionn. A small stream falls down the cliff that edges our island on the west, carving a gully into the rock. At the bottom, trapped by a ledge of harder stone, the stream forms a deep pool behind a gravelly beach before it escapes into the ocean. Overhanging cliff walls make it invisible from the cliff-top, so no one but myself ever discovered its existence. As it was also very beautiful, this made it mine. I gave the place a name—Llyn Gwalch, “Hawk’s Stream” in British—and considered it to be a world apart from and better than the Orcades and Dun Fionn. Sometimes I took my harp there, and sang to the waves that came pounding at the beach, flowing into the pool at high tide and hissing in the gravel at low tide.

Sometimes I would build fortresses of gravel and mud, and plan battles by the stream as though it were a great river, the boundary between mighty kingdoms. I would picture myself as a great warrior, good at every art of war and sung of in every king’s hall in the western world, admired by Agravain and my father. But my favorite game was to build boats and to set them sailing out of the dark pool into the wild grey sea that pounded at every shore of the world at once. I sent my boats west: to Erin, from which my father had sailed years before; and beyond Erin, to that strange island or islands which druids and poets say lie west of the sunset, invisible to all but a few mortals, where the Sidhe live in eternal happiness.

I loved my Llyn Gwalch dearly, and jealously guarded it against any intruders from the outside world. I told only my younger brother Medraut of its existence, and then only after swearing him to secrecy. So, when I heard the clatter of a stone from the path above my head, I drew back hurriedly from the curragh I was building and began to clamber up the gully. I had left my pony tethered at the top, and I did not want anyone to come down looking for me.

“Gwalchmai?” The voice from the cliff-top was Agravain’s.

“I’m coming!” I called, and scrambled faster.

“You’d better hurry,” said Agravain. He sounded angry.

“Father’s waiting for us. He sent me to find you.”

I reached the top of the cliff, shook my hair out of my eyes, stared at Agravain. “What does he want?” I didn’t like the sound of it. My father hated to wait, and he would certainly be angry by the time I got back to Dun Fionn.

“It’s no business of yours what he wants.” Agravain was, indeed, angry, tired of looking for me, and probably afraid that some of our father’s anger would spill over on to him. “By the sun and the wind, can’t you hurry?”

“I am hurrying.” I was untying my pony as I spoke.

“Don’t answer back to me! You’re going to be in trouble enough as it is. We’re late, and Father won’t like you appearing in front of the guest like that. You’re a mess.”

“Guest?” About to mount, I paused. “Is he a bard or a warrior? Where’s he from?”

“Britain. I don’t know what kingdom. Father sent me out to look for you as soon as he’d spoken with the man, and it’s a good thing Diuran saw you riding south, or I’d still be looking.” Agravain kicked his horse and set off across the cliff-top at a gallop. “Come on, you little coward!”

I swung on to my pony and followed him, ignoring the over-familiar insult. I must be a coward, anyway. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t ignore the insult. I’d fight with Agravain, even if I did always lose, and we’d be friends afterwards. He was always friendly after a fight.

A guest, from Britain, and an urgent summons. The Briton must have brought some important message. My father had many spies in Britain who reported to him regularly—but they sent their messages by indirect means, never coming to Dun Fionn themselves. A messenger from Britain meant some important event, a major victory over or defeat by the Saxons, the death of some important king, anything which my father could use to further his influence in the south. The Saxons had suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Pendragon’s young war-leader only a year before, so it couldn’t be that.

Some king dead, then, and my father about to make a bargain with his successor? A bargain which had some part in it which Agravain and I could fulfill? I urged my pony faster and passed Agravain at a gallop, anxious and miserable now. My father always made plans for me, but I fulfilled very few of them. The sea-wind and the wind of my speed dried the salt in my hair, and my pony’s hooves echoed the beat of the surf; better to think about these than about my father. It would be good to get the confrontation over quickly, as quickly as possible. At least, I thought, looking for some good, Agravain hasn’t asked me what I was doing at Llyn Gwalch.

The thought of my brother made me look back in alarm. He was a good hundred paces behind me, struggling with his horse on the rough path and scowling furiously. There were two things I could do better than he: riding and harp-playing. He liked to forget this and, as he was infinitely the better at fighting, I tried not to remind him. Now I had done so. I cringed, knowing that he would pick a quarrel with me on a pretext later in the day, and slowed my pony to a trot. He passed me without saying anything and rode in front of me, also at a trot. That was Agravain. He wanted to be first, and nearly always was. First-born, first choice to succeed my father as king, first among the boys of the island who trained to be warriors. My father was immensely proud of him, and never stayed angry at him for long. I stared at my brother’s back and wished that I could be like him. We rode on to Dun Fionn in silence.

The fortress is built from a very light stone, from which it takes its name, “White Fortress.” It is a new stronghold, completed in the year of Agravain’s birth, three years before my own, but already it was as famous and powerful as any of the other, older forts, Temair or Emhain Macha in Erin, or Camlann and Din Eidyn in Britain. It stands at the highest point of the cliff, overlooking the sea, ringed by a bank and ditch and its thick, high walls. Two gate-towers, copied from old Roman forts, flank the single westward-facing gate. The fortress was designed by my father, and the power and fame were the result of a myriad of schemes and manoeuvres, political and military, carried out with unvaried success. If it was my mother who was the ultimate source of the schemes, it was my father, King Lot mac Cormac of the Innsi Erc, who had carried them out in such a way as to make himself one of the most powerful kings in either Britain or Erin. As Agravain and I rode in the gates, I wondered nervously what he wanted me to do.

I absolutely LOVE tales of Arthur and his court. I loved the Mists of Avalon and I loved Merlin the TV mini-series. Arthur and Camelot is one of my favorite myths/historical stories. Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw is no exception!

Hawk of May is told from the point of view of Gwalchmai (otherwise known as Gawain). This is his story about how he went from a young boy under a cruel and hard father, King Lot, to being a champion of Arthur. Despite his rough beginnings, & his dabbling in the dark arts of his mother, Gwalchmai finds his way to the light and is given magical help from the Lord of Light.

The magical elements are wonderful in this story. The characters are rich and easy to like. This is a great new way of looking at the story of King Arthur and the legends that surround him.

If you like King Arthur stories as much as I do, then you’ll love this new perspective on the characters and stories. Beautifully written, great characters and a wonderful story for anyone of any age. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone!

My rating: 4.5 stars



Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw is a new and different take on the old Arthurian legend. It is book one in a trilogy and tells us of Gawain (King Arthur’s nephew/Morgause’s son), a middle child, struggling to find himself. He doesn’t have the talent of his other brothers and therefore is looked down on by members of his family. He then decides to learn the black arts from his mother, even though he hates his decision to do so.

I’ve always loved reading about the legend that is King Arthur so when I had a chance to read this one, I jumped at the chance. Gillian Bradshaw is a new author to me, even though she has been writing for awhile now (this book was actually written in 1981) and I can only say thank you to Sourcebooks for reprinting stories such as this and giving us all an opportunity to read out of print books.

What a great writer Gillian Bradshaw is. Really just one of the most vivid books I’ve read in ages. I love reading a book that I think about all the time and whose characters sneak into my dreams! I will definitely read the rest of her books in the future.


Bradshaw has done an excellent job of making Irish mythology and the legends of King Arthur come to life. Gwalchmai, Sir Gwain was one of the legendary knights of the round table and is portrayed in Bradshaw’s book much like we have heard him before. Strong and loyal, but Bradshaw also shows a different side of Gwalchmai, when she shows us what he was like before he came to Arthur’s court. How he trained in sorcery and almost chose a different path. Going against his mothers wishes he believes that Arthur’s court is where he should be.

I really felt that Gwalchmai’s character was still young and very impressionable. Our experiences mold us into the kind of people we become and it’s interesting to see the influences that Bradshaw shows in this characters life. Not sure if he can live up to the warrior like abilities of his brothers, he chooses a different path. But his mother is a very frightening character, you can almost feel the evil exuding from Bradshaw’s descriptions of her. Not someone you want to cross, but he somehow find the strength within himself to do what he had to.

I also really liked the way Bradshaw portrayed Arthur. She focused more on Arthur as a character and not on the circumstances he was in. She didn’t spend a great deal of time on the love triangle with Gwenivere and Lancelot but she showed us Arthur as a man and a leader of his people. We see the reasons behind some of the great legends we hear about Arthur, as we see what kind of man he was. I really enjoyed that break from tradition from most stories about Arthur.

I recommend this one to anyone who is interested in stories about Arthur and his knights, including Sir Gwain. You may think you know where this one is going, but it has some twists you probably wouldn’t expect.

Hawk of May is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

This one gets 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!



First published in 1980 and now re-released by Sourcebooks Landmark, Gillian Bradshaw’s Hawk of May begins the tale of Gwalchmai ap Lot. Nephew of the legendary King Arthur, his mother is the evil sorceress Morgawse. As his father Lot and brother Agravain are warriors for the family’s kingdom, it is quite expected that Gwalchmai would also become a conqueror and defender himself. Yet, he doesn’t have the inclination to follow in his elders’ footsteps. Feeling that he has no talent for battle, he turns instead to the sorcery of his nefarious mother. As he travels down her path into Darkness, he is forced to choose between the Darkness and the Light, both of which seem to be calling him.

Hawk of May is the first book in the Down the Long Wind trilogy. Kingdom of Summer and In Winter’s Shadow are the following volumes. This title refers to Gwalchmai, whose name is translated “Hawk of May”, the name of a warrior. This first book in the trilogy follows Gwalchmai from age 11 through young adulthood.

Hawk of May was enjoyable. I liked the main character, who struggled with his need to please his family, follow his own desires and yet make honorable choices. During this portion of his life, he takes some amazing journeys and grows in ways that many cannot understand. The story is filled with magical themes, but it also touches on motifs that Christians can relate to. Those who enjoyed Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings would enjoy this, although it’s not quite as epic in scope.

As Bradshaw had two more volumes in which to tell her tale, she took her time in developing Gwalchmai’s character. By the same token, her development isn’t laborious and filled with an overabundance of details. I could have done without some of the war histories that were intermittently presented, but that’s a minor quibble. And given the amount of battles that occurred along the way, there could have been many pages of blood and violence. Bradshaw thankfully kept these details of war at bay, when other authors might have used those moments as an excuse to go on and on about the carnage.

While I wouldn’t label this story a Christian tale, as a believer I enjoyed the struggle between good and evil, Light and Darkness. Gwalchmai’s inner conflicts, insecurities, doubt and faith are things that resonated with me. As the tale moves on to Kingdom of Summer, I look forward to Gwalchmai’s continued journey and his changing relationship with the iconic King Arthur. This fantastical legend is a rich one, and I’m enjoying Gillian Bradshaw’s presentation of it.



I am a huge fan of King Arthur stories, so reading this one was a no-brainer. Gillian’s a truly talented writer with an amazing ability to entertain. I can’t wait to read the other two books in this trilogy!

Hawk of May is the first part of a fantasy trilogy retelling the Arthurian legends, focussing on Gwalchmai as the central character. Gwalchmai translates literally as “Hawk of May”, hence the title, and in later legend he becomes the character Sir Gawain. Other key figures in the legend feature as major characters – Arthur, his evil sorceress sister Morgause, her sons Agravain and Medraut (Mordred), Bedwyr (Sir Bedivere) and Cei (Sir Kay). Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), not yet Arthur’s wife, gets a walk-on part near the end, and will no doubt reappear in the later books. The historical king of the West Saxons, Cerdic, makes an appearance. So do some other figures from the scanty historical records, such as Maelgwn Gwynedd and Urien Rheged, although they are displaced in time by half a century or more from their actual positions in the mid to late sixth century. The setting for Hawk of May is post-Roman Britain at approximately the end of the fifth century, taking the dates for Arthur’s major battles from Annales Cambriae and for Cerdic’s reign from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. However, as the author’s note says, “...since the novel is only partially historical, geography is not that important.” and neither is chronology. The novel works best when read as a story set in the timeless world of “once upon a time”, rather like the medieval Arthurian legends themselves.

Gwalchmai is the second son of Queen Morgause and her husband King Lot of the Orkney Islands. To his father’s disappointment, he shows no noticeable talent as a warrior, although he is a skilled horseman and harpist. Bullied by his elder brother Agravain, Gwalchmai leads a lonely existence until his beautiful mother, whom he worships, offers to teach him reading and, later, black magic. After witnessing some of its cruelties, he comes to fear and hate sorcery, renounces it, and after an adventure in the Otherworld he comes into possession of a magic sword and the skills to wield it. Magically returned to the real world in southern Britain, Gwalchmai sets off to offer his services to Arthur – but Arthur has his own dark reasons to hate and mistrust Morgause’s son. Will Gwalchmai ever persuade Arthur to accept him, and will either escape the shadow of Morgause’s evil magic?

Hawk of May is a fantasy novel, centred on a supernatural conflict between the forces of good (the Light) and evil (the Darkness). Gwalchmai undertakes a supernatural journey on a magic boat to the Otherworld, where he obtains a magic sword and later acquires a fairy horse. He has superhuman strength in battle, and has to physically fight and kill at least one real demon. The magical elements are key to the plot, whereas the approximate historical setting in somewhere in post-Roman Britain is incidental.

Within this fantasy environment, Hawk of May is a coming-of-age story, as the young Gwalchmai has to break free of his mother’s influence, make his own choices and earn a place for himself in the world. The plot mainly follows his upbringing and the circumstances that bring him to Arthur’s warband, so is fairly slight. Perhaps this reflects the book’s position as the first in a trilogy, setting up characters and situations for the novels to come.

Characterisation is effective, with most of the major players clearly drawn as individuals. Gwalchmai is endearingly humble, ever ready to attribute his battle success to supernatural favour rather than to his own prowess as a warrior. He grows from a child to a young man without losing his youthful idealism. Arthur, as portrayed here, is a charismatic battle leader, human enough to win his followers’ affection as well as their admiration. I can see why men would have been drawn to fight and die for this Arthur (something that isn’t always apparent in Arthurian fiction). Among the secondary characters, Cei and Agravain are archetypal ‘Celtic’ warriors, boastful, quarrelsome, flamboyant, cheerful and always ready for a drink or a fight, preferably both. Bedwyr is an intellectual as well as a warrior, with an interest in philosophy and a disinclination to take sides in petty quarrels. Morgause is pretty much pure evil, but given her traditional role in the legend it might have been rather tricky to make her a nuanced character. Gwenhwyfar is attractive and realistic, as far as I can tell from her very brief appearance, which bodes well for the rest of the series (assuming it is going to develop along the traditional lines).

Fantasy retelling of the Arthurian legend from the perspective of Gwalchmai, describing how he came to Arthur’s following as a young man.

Gillian Bradshaw has written over two dozen excellent historical novels, beginning with an Arthurian trilogy, filled with magic. The first episode is Hawk of May, and though I prefer Mary Stewart’s brilliant Arthurian Saga (beginning with The Crystal Cave), this one is not far behind.

The lead character is Gwalchmai (whose name means Hawk of May and who has also been called Gawain in legend). Gwalchmai is the middle son of three (the elder being Agravain and the younger Medraut) of King Lot of the Orcades Islands and the infamous sorceress Morgawse, daughter of Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain. Gwalchmai grows up bullied by Agravain and disdained by his father, preferring dreaming in his secret place by the sea to warrior training.

After Uther dies, there are various claimants to the throne and battles erupt between clans (in which Lot is active with Morgawse directing his moves) before Uther’s bastard son and war leader Arthur claims the rule of Britain. In Lot and Agravain’s absence at war, Morgawse teaches Gwalchmai to read and begins training him in her sorcery. Worshipping his mother, he concurs until the night of his full initiation. His eyes opened to the dark evil that has taken over Morgawse (and has already laid claim to Medraut) Gwalchmai flees.

Calling on his ancestor Lugh the sun-lord and on the Light, he is led to the Isle of the Blessed. There he spends three years in what seems to Gwalchmai a single night. He leaves with a magical sword and finds himself back in Britain, in the path of Saxons. Captured, Gwalchmai poses as a thrall. He eventually escapes the Saxon camp on the back of Sidhe horse Ceincaled and wends his way to Camlann, hoping to enlist with Arthur’s Family. But, though he’s reunited - and forges a new friendship - with Agravain (a hostage there for Lot’s good conduct), and is accepted by Bedwyr, Arthur rejects Gwalchmai.

Gwalchmai fears that there is still too much darkness in him, but persists in following Arthur, fighting alongside his warriors, and assisting his surgeons after the battles. He earns respect from all but the High King himself - why? By the end of this first episode, readers have their answer, as Arthur finally accepts that Gwalchmai does not share his mother’s stain. Hawk of May makes an excellent start to an unusual Arthurian trilogy and includes a preview of the next book, Kingdom of Summer.

His name was Gwalchmai, but story tellers and legend would call him Sir Gawain. Born to an evil sorceress it was no surprise that his life was on the road to darkness. But one day destiny came calling... sending him on a very important quest. His life would be forever changed when he took up arms under the Pendragon flag.

I thought this was a wonderful take on the King Arthur legends. I love reading books about King Arthur, but this is the first time I’ve read one just about Sir Gawain. Hawk of May is compelling and magical. The character of Gwalchmai pops off the pages and shines. Originally published in 1981, but the story is still fresh and poignant for 2010. Beautifully descriptive, a must read for any Arthurian fan.

I love anything related to Britain and can’t seem to read enough about the history of the area. I think, perhaps, that is one reason I am fascinated with the stories of King Arthur and I jumped at the chance when offered a copy of this book. The Hawk of May is the first book of a trilogy and was first published in 1981 and won the Hopwood Award for fiction and launched Bradshaw’s career, and is now being republished.

I was captivated by the author’s writing and her perspective of using a main character other than King Arthur to tell a story related to him. The book is stock full of adventure, magic, and struggles and leaves you feeling like you are one of King Arthur’s retinue. It is a classic story of choice, choosing between a life of good or evil and the path Gwalchmai takes to decide his future. The book is fast paced and before I knew it, I was at the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed a new take on the King Arthur legends and I hope you will all check it out.

The story begins with Gwalchmai as a boy. He does not want to be a warrior like his older brother and seems to lack the skill and ability. Feeling very unsure of himself he allows his mother to draw him into the dark arts. As he is about to completely lose himself he finds the courage to go against his mother and forge his own path. He calls upon the God of light and finds his destiny. He is to go and fight for King Arthur with his sword of light.

This story is full of magic and war and fighting and good vs evil. It is a brilliantly told fantasy novel swirling in the mythical land of King Arthur’s Britain. Gwalchmai is such a rich and full character and he is so well written that at several points in the novel I wasn’t sure if he would be pulled to the dark side of magic inherited from his mother. However, as legend dictates he is a true and gallant knight who struggles to overcome the evil that so often surrounds him.

A must read for Arthurian legend fans. I was surprised to discover that this book was written in 1980 as it doesn’t give itself away. A true timelessly written novel that will be loved by all fans of this genre. I’m looking forward to the next book in the trilogy Kingdom of Summer. I was surprised to read that this was Gillian Bradshaw’s first book, it is so well written with a truly engaging story.


If you like tales of King Arthur then you will most likely enjoy this one. It smatters of courage, darkness, magic, cruelty and kindness, justice and liberation and all the things that you have come to relish in the tales of King Arthur and his brave knights.

From a very young age Gwalchmai is frowned upon by his father and elder brother as everything he seems to try and do falls short of the elders expectations. He is coddled by his mother the Queen Morgawse, who in her own right is the flesh and blood of evil incarnate.

The Queen takes Gwalchmai and embroiders him in her evil magic showing him the ways of the dark and of discord and hatred. When time to take his final testing to become more than just a dabbler in the dark ways, our young man realizes without a doubt that he is not meant for this and he must find and prove his way through and to the light of goodness and purity. Only the light can redeem a man and make him whole in mind and body to serve and protect that which is just and good.

It is through Gwalchmai’s trials and hardships that strengthen him and his path to the light is guided by his magic sword. His unquestioning belief makes him who he is to be and finally he sheds the darkness that surrounds him trying with all it’s might to engulf him.

Gwalchmai fights for his King and Country even though he is not wanted. Arthur in all his goodness can only see the darkness which surrounds this young man and it blinds him to the truth which is just out of the corner of sight. This is a great test for our beloved King to continue to bask in the bright light of all that is Holy.


Score: 4.75 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Review:

High King Uther, Pendragon of Britain has died. He has no clear heir and many under kings are willing to fight for his place including King Lot mac Cormac of the Innsi Ere. Lot is married to Uther’s daughter, Morgawse.

Morgawse is a beautiful woman with a powerful hatred of her father. She, also, is a powerful sorceress who is part of the darkness. She has three sons, Agravain who looks and acts like his father, Gwalchmai who looks like their mother but is nothing like their father and Medraut who was not Lot’s son.

When Lot makes his bid for the High King position, he takes along Agravain as Gwalchmai will never make a good warrior, besides he is too young. Morgawse offers to teach Gwalchmai to read and later how to do magic. Soon, he realizes that the magic is dark and he must make a choice.

Arthur, Uther’s bastard son and warlord, is also making a bid for High King. He’s landless but people flock to him. If he can make the right alliances, Arthur has a very good chance of being High King. He seems to be following the Light, but is he?

This is the first book in a planned series. It takes place as Arthur is gaining power. There is war and disruption across the land. Arthur is trying to unite everyone but peace is only there for a moment.

This book though doesn’t follow Arthur, though he becomes a main character. It follows Gwalchmai and his trails, choices and growing up. Sorcery has a role in his life and magic seems to happen around him. Yet, he has a goal and will not deviate from the path he has chosen.

I really liked the characters in this story. They were real. Sibling rivalry was alive and well between Agravain and Gwalchmai giving their relationship a life of its own. Morgawse is not all bad but she too has failings that make you wonder about her motives. Arthur has his own demons to work through. None of the main characters were simplistic but they were complex.

Things did not move slowly in this story. The pace was fast but not so fast as to loose your place. Yet, there were no places that needed prodding.

Ms Bradshaw informs the reader that not everything in this story this story is historically accurate. She also gives a map and a pronunciation guide for the numerous Welsh words found throughout the book. That being said, this history felt authentic. Characters and situations were depicted as they were in the Arthurian era. I will admit though that the Welsh words and names became confusing for me though I refused to let that interrupt my enjoyment of the story.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it but it quickly grew on me until I got that I didn’t want to put it down. I quickly wanted to learn how Gwalchmai made out. He doesn’t have an easy way but he does it his way. The Arthurian era isn’t my favorite but I found myself loving this version. I’m not sure why this book is so different but it is.

This story had fights, battles, loyalties, magic, wonder, family ties and so much more. Everything was mixed as to make it real and believable. I know I was reading a master storyteller and now can’t wait to find out what happens to Gwalchmai next.


/05/2010 Fiction
Hawk of May
Gillian Bradshaw, Sourcebooks Landmark, $14.99 paper (384p) ISBN 978-1-4022-4070-6
Bradshaw’s Hopwood-winning series starter returns to shelves 30 years after its original release. Gwalchmai, aka the legendary warrior Gawain, tells the story of how he came to King Arthur’s court. In boyhood, he studied sorcery with his mother, Morgawse, nearly falling under the spell of darkness before devoting himself to the light. He believes the powers of good want him to follow Arthur, but his path is blocked first by enemy Saxons and then by the king’s own rejection. Bradshaw paints a Roman Arthur, determined to rebuild the fallen empire, against a backdrop of Irish mythology. Gwalchmai is an honest narrator who allows hindsight to creep in only rarely; his voice is simple and earnest. Written when the author was a teen, this engaging and enchanting retelling of the Arthur legend will appeal to adults and younger readers alike. (Sept.)