It's difficult to write a good villain Morgan le Fay, especially for young people. To modern readers, she's a sympathetic character, even with the sexual overtones to her actions that really can't be included in a children's book. Laura Anne Gilman seems to have started this book planning to make her completely evil and changed her mind halfway through. The book becomes much better when, about halfway in, Morgain suddenly transforms into a three-dimensional character. ( )