The Third Magic
By
Welwyn Wilton Katz
Welwyn Wilton Katz' fourth foray into young adult fiction, The Third Magic, is a new and unique rendition of the legend of King Arthur. Katz weaves magic and fantasy expertly in this novel, putting her own imaginative spin on an ancient and often told tale. She brings the story of King Arthur and Excalibur into the twentieth century when a young girl's interest in myth collides with political strife on another planet. When the ancient and modern collide, the heroine is transported to the mystical world of Nwm, where the real adventure begins. The Third Magic is an ingenious and intricate web of Arthurian legend, interstellar mysticism and young adult fantasy.
The story begins when young Morgan Levert travels to England to join her father, who is producing a television series for the CBC. Morgan, who is fascinated by Arthurian myth, seizes the opportunity to explore this place of legend. During her visit to Cornwall, a mysterious force attracts her to the mythical birth site of King Arthur. Armed only with a family heirloom of jade, Morgan sets out in search of the castle called Tintagel. As Morgan explores Tintagel, she is unaware of her appointment with destiny as unseen forces will soon entangle her in an epic struggle on an alien planet.
In a galaxy far, far away, an epic battle is being waged for control of the world known as Nwm. An order of women, characterised by their pale skin, hair and eyes, known only as the Sisters form one of the factions at war. They possess the powers of the first magic. This is the original power of the circle, which is the magic of islands, night, the moon, rushing waters and all that is lush and green. The other warring faction is led by men of dark hair and bright eyes dressed in cloaks of bright red. They are the wielders of the Second magic. This is the power of the line, which draws its strength from fire, iron, the sun and still waters
At the centre of this war is young Addru, the fair-haired male twin of a Sister named Rigan. The people of Nwm call him the Abomination because he is a male who has the looks of a Sister yet he possesses none of their magical abilities. Although he remains loyal to the first magic, the Sisters have branded him an outsider who is not to be trusted. His only ally, Rigan, loves him dearly, but as a loyal servant of the first magic she must obey the Sisters' orders to establish the circle magic's dominance on Earth. With Rigan 'missioned' on earth, her absence from Nwn leaves Arddu vulnerable to the Sisters' designs. Without the protection of his sister, Arddu is banished by the Sisters.
The order of the Line captures Arddu in an attempt to lure Rigan back to Nwm. Their plan is foiled when Morgan Levert, who bares a striking resemblance to Rigan, is snatched from earth instead. While on Nwn, Morgan befriends Arddu as they embark on a heroic journey to escape the clutches of the Line and return to Circle territory. Armed with only their wits and a curious piece of jade, this pair of outcasts find themselves caught in the middle of the battle between the Line and the Circle. Morgan and Arddu flee certain death at the hand of one faction only to face an uncertain future in the custody of the other. This courageous pair find themselves unwilling pawns in a battle for world domination until they discover they possess an object that both the Circle and the Line desire. Katz adeptly weaves all narrative threads into a stunning set of climaxes and unexpected twists, which bring story full circle in the conclusion.
Welwyn Wilton Katz has created a marvellous alien world in Nwm, which is filled with mystery, magic and conflict. The narrative is also loaded with effective symbols and metaphors. The binary opposition of male and female is deftly portrayed by images of lines versus circles, sun versus moon, and industry versus nature. However, this tale is far more complex and subtle than the simple battle between good and evil. Both the Circle and the Line are ambiguously portrayed: neither is totally good nor evil. The Circle and the Line exist symbiotically; one could not exist without the other. The Circle plays 'Yin' to the Line's 'Yang'. This binary opposition of male and female hints at a subtext of opposing male/female perspectives characterised by the warring factions. However, there is a deeper significance to the dichotomy of Circle and Line as their conflict gives rise to a third magic. Duality gives way to trinity as a more powerful magical force is established to bring an end to the battle.
In addition to the duelling system of symbols, the reader will find an engaging adventure in the pages of The Third Magic. Katz dextrously manipulates character and plot to build suspense in this engrossing page-turner. The plot's twists and turns take the reader on a fantastic voyage to the heart of an oft-told tale. Katz revitalises the Arthurian legend by fusing it with her own unique tale. The characters are exceptional-they evolve with every plot twist giving this fantasy an important element of realism. It is a wonderful addition to the Arthurian tradition and also a delight for those who know little about the legend behind Excalibur
Click here to Welwyn's bibliography and a list of other awards she has won.
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