The Squire's Tales

The Squire's Tales is a multi-book series that reimagines Arthurian legends through the perspective of squires, servants, and other characters on the periphery of famous knights' adventures. Each book follows different protagonists as they navigate life in medieval Britain during the time of King Arthur's reign. The series presents familiar stories of chivalry, quests, and romance with new twists by showing events through fresh eyes. Characters like Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot, and Morgan Le Fay appear throughout the books, but readers experience their legendary deeds from unique vantage points. Tales of magic, combat, friendship, and honor fill the pages as young characters learn about knighthood, wisdom, and what it means to be heroic. The stories mix humor with action while remaining true to the spirit of medieval romance literature. The series explores themes of appearances versus reality, the nature of true nobility, and how ordinary people can demonstrate extraordinary character. Through its alternate viewpoints, it raises questions about who gets to tell history and whose stories matter most.

Readers praise The Squire's Tales series for making Arthurian legends accessible and entertaining for middle-grade audiences while maintaining historical authenticity. Many note the humor and wit throughout the books, with one reader calling them "laugh-out-loud funny while teaching medieval customs and values." Readers appreciate: - Modern, conversational dialogue that doesn't feel forced - Strong female characters - Complex moral themes presented clearly - Historical accuracy mixed with humor Common criticisms: - Some feel later books in the series decline in quality - A few readers find the modernized language jarring - Some wanted more character development Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (380+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 5/5 (parent reviews) One frequent reader comment notes: "These books got my kids interested in medieval history and King Arthur stories without feeling like they were reading educational books."

The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White A young Arthur learns magic and wisdom from Merlin in this fresh take on Arthurian legend that blends humor with medieval history.

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron This origin story follows Merlin's journey from a boy with no memory to the legendary wizard of Arthurian tales.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander An assistant pig-keeper becomes entangled in a quest involving Welsh mythology and medieval adventure.

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech Two peasant siblings cross paths with royalty in a medieval tale of mistaken identity and court intrigue.

Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan A castle ward trains to become a ranger in a medieval world filled with political schemes and warrior training.

🗡️ Gerald Morris was inspired to write The Squire's Tales series after reading Arthurian legends to his children and realizing many adaptations left out the humor present in the original medieval texts. 🏰 The series' first book, "The Squire's Tale," began as a retelling of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight but evolved to focus on Gawain's squire, Terence, a completely original character. ⚔️ Morris extensively researched medieval texts in their original Middle English, including works like "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Le Morte d'Arthur," to ensure authenticity in his adaptations. 👑 Unlike many modern Arthurian retellings, Morris chose to portray Sir Gawain as a noble and honorable knight, staying true to how he was typically depicted in medieval literature. 🐉 The series spans ten books, with each volume incorporating different medieval Arthurian tales while maintaining Terence's story as the connecting thread throughout the entire series.