The Sword In The Stone (TOAFK #1)

This is not what I was expecting at all and it's amazing how one misconception can turn into something else and something else again.

This is the story of King Arthur as a child growing up under the name of The Wart, tutored by wizard Merlin, who regularly turns him into animals (willingly) such as a goose, fish, ant, owl, hawk and badger as his spiritual 'education' if you like from the other side.

I was expecting medieval battles, careful strategic planning, pestilence, plague, horses skewered on pikes and all manner of gory details. Forget it, this is a book for kids in the guise of Harry Potter, Wind In The Willows, Alice In Wonderland and even a bit of Sancho Panza silliness from Don Quixote.

This is NOT my cup of tea at all, but still a wonderful book. The continuous sarcasm, humour and tongue-in-cheekiness completely threw me off, and I'm going to keep volumes 2, 3 and 4 open for a casual read when life needs a softener.

The Sword In The Stone is the first book of four under the broader title of The Once And Future King, the complete volume.

Four stars from me and a big thumbs up if this is your thing!