Everyone loves a gripping tale full of intrigue, with interesting characters and story-lines that revolve around human relationships. In the myths and legends of olden times, fantastical creatures and a bit of magic often increased the drama. Even today these elements still make for a gripping read. A common theme for contemporary fantasy romance novels based in England is the legends of long ago, particularly the stories of Camelot.
Fantasy romance combines two of the most popular literary genres. Fantasy with its tales of magic, dragons and fairies is becoming increasingly popular these days. Romance as a genre sells in the millions too. The great thing about the Arthurian legends is that they're a perfect blend of these, with great love stories that involve a good dose of magic.
While many books in the genre are set in imaginary places, Arthurian legend is set in England. King Arthur is said to have lived in about the 5th or 6th century, when Christianity was becoming more widespread in a country at war with the Anglo-Saxons. There is debate on whether King Arthur really existed and where his famous Camelot was located but the stories often mention real English locations.
Love is a common theme in many of the stories of Camelot. The most well-known of the Arthurian romances is the one between Lancelot and the beautiful Guinevere. However, this is also a tragic story that eventually destroys Arthur's kingdom. Lancelot, after all, is a close friend of King Arthur and a knight everyone looks up to, being handsome and brave and having been raised in the magical kingdom of Avalon, while Guinevere is married to King Arthur.
Another famous love story in the legends of the Round Table is that of Tristan and Iseult, also known as Isolde. Their story has even been made into a well-known opera. Tristan is a knight who has to bring Iseult from Ireland so that she can marry King Mark, who reigns in Cornwall and is also Tristan's uncle. A love potion causes Tristan and Iseult to fall in love with each other instead.
There are also some beautiful stories that have a happy ending. One of these is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnelle. Gawain marries Ragnelle, a truly ugly woman, in order to save Arthur's life. This act partially breaks the spell that destroyed Ragnelle's looks in the first place and Gawain, through his chivalry, eventually breaks the spell completely to restore Ragnelle's beauty.
Several classic works in literature are based on the stories of King Arthur. Contemporary novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, are often inspired by the legends of Camelot too. Sometimes the authors take the old stories and give them a contemporary setting. More often, though, they tell a specific Arthurian story but from a different angle, such as in the extremely popular 'The Mists of Avalon'.
Most stories with an Arthurian basis can be classified as fantasy romance. Look for them in this section or in the separate fantasy and romance sections. You'll find the traditional stories among the classics. The easiest way to find these novels is to search online, where the summaries and reviews will also help you make a decision before you buy.
Fantasy romance combines two of the most popular literary genres. Fantasy with its tales of magic, dragons and fairies is becoming increasingly popular these days. Romance as a genre sells in the millions too. The great thing about the Arthurian legends is that they're a perfect blend of these, with great love stories that involve a good dose of magic.
While many books in the genre are set in imaginary places, Arthurian legend is set in England. King Arthur is said to have lived in about the 5th or 6th century, when Christianity was becoming more widespread in a country at war with the Anglo-Saxons. There is debate on whether King Arthur really existed and where his famous Camelot was located but the stories often mention real English locations.
Love is a common theme in many of the stories of Camelot. The most well-known of the Arthurian romances is the one between Lancelot and the beautiful Guinevere. However, this is also a tragic story that eventually destroys Arthur's kingdom. Lancelot, after all, is a close friend of King Arthur and a knight everyone looks up to, being handsome and brave and having been raised in the magical kingdom of Avalon, while Guinevere is married to King Arthur.
Another famous love story in the legends of the Round Table is that of Tristan and Iseult, also known as Isolde. Their story has even been made into a well-known opera. Tristan is a knight who has to bring Iseult from Ireland so that she can marry King Mark, who reigns in Cornwall and is also Tristan's uncle. A love potion causes Tristan and Iseult to fall in love with each other instead.
There are also some beautiful stories that have a happy ending. One of these is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnelle. Gawain marries Ragnelle, a truly ugly woman, in order to save Arthur's life. This act partially breaks the spell that destroyed Ragnelle's looks in the first place and Gawain, through his chivalry, eventually breaks the spell completely to restore Ragnelle's beauty.
Several classic works in literature are based on the stories of King Arthur. Contemporary novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, are often inspired by the legends of Camelot too. Sometimes the authors take the old stories and give them a contemporary setting. More often, though, they tell a specific Arthurian story but from a different angle, such as in the extremely popular 'The Mists of Avalon'.
Most stories with an Arthurian basis can be classified as fantasy romance. Look for them in this section or in the separate fantasy and romance sections. You'll find the traditional stories among the classics. The easiest way to find these novels is to search online, where the summaries and reviews will also help you make a decision before you buy.
About the Author:
Find a summary of the reasons why you should purchase romance novels online and more information about fantasy romance novels based in England at http://www.tamerabarrow.com now.