Young Dinadan has no wish to joust or quest or save damsels in distress or do any of the knightly things expected of him. He’d rather be a minstrel, playing his rebec and writing ballads. But he was born to be a knight, and knights, of course, have adventures.
So after his father forces his knighthood upon him, he wanders toward King Arthur’s court, in the company of a misguided young Welsh lad named Culloch. There Dinadan meets Sir Kai and Sir Bedivere, and the three find themselves accompanying Culloch on the worst sort of quest. Along the way, Dinadan writes his own ballads, singing of honor, bravery, loyalty, and courtly love—and becomes a player in the pathetic love story of Tristram and Iseult. He meets the Moorish knight Palomides, the clever but often exasperating Lady Brangienne, and an elvin musician named Sylvanus, along with an unusual collection of recreant knights and dimwitted defenders of chivalry. He learns that while minstrels sing of spectacular heroic deeds, honor is often found in simpler, quieter ways. (Blurb taken from Amazon)
Samuel Says: Were I to rate it, I would certainly give The Ballad of Sir Dinadan five stars. This novel centers on Sir Dinadan, a minstrel at heart but a knight by profession, and the role he plays in the two Arthurian tales that comprise the book. A delightful mix of historical fiction and fantasy, this is a story filled with humor, action, and magic. If you’re a fan of King Arthur or of fantasy in general, this is a book you don’t want to miss.