The Untameables

This cheerfully iconoclastic puts into welcome reverse some of the lazy stereotypes that have gathered around the topic of King Arthur and Camelot. In this tale, once revered knights come over as brainless thugs and bullies. Never happier than when inflicting pain or death on others of lower social rank, they spend most of their time hunting or fighting among themselves when not in search of plunder. Roan, the ten-year old dog keeper boy at court and his new friend Elva, the daughter of a kitchen maid, both live in fear of constant casual violence. One day they decide to re-locate the long-lost Holy Grail.  With this they hope to cure Elva’s sick mother while also restoring harmony into their brutalised world. For this to happen they must work closely with the faery kingdom while keeping one step ahead of their pitiless masters forever on their tail with the same conquest in mind.

So far, so possibly grim, but here is an author who never takes herself or her material too seriously. Writing in a captivating bouncy style, it is as if she is telling her tale aloud to an appreciative young audience, ready to be amused and occasionally a little scared as Roan and Elva battle their way through new dangers. There is also powerful ecological message, with faeries only able to restore nature to what it once was after the Grail is returned to them. Published by the Emma Press, founded in 2012, while this lively story falters a little towards the end it is still a worthy addition to an already good back list. Already known as a poet, Clare Pollard can now add children’s novelist to her literary repertoire. Reena Makwana’s deceptively child-like illustrations also add richly to the overall sense of fun with a purpose.