Book review: Isolde Queen of the Western Isle

Rosalind Miles’ book, Isolde: Queen of the Western Isle, is the first installment in a trilogy. This is both a historical and fantasy novel. Isolde’s story can be traced back to the original King Arthur tales. The myths surrounding her can also be overlooked but they are just as important as the other characters in his books (Miles, pg 354).  Her tales can be disregarded and at times were forgotten. In the past women have been looked at with scorn because the Christian faith believes that women was created in sin. This resulted in many female characters being taken out of ancient novels. However, the legend of Isolde did survive.

            This book opens with a passage from Morte D’Arthur. The quote tells of Tristan’s birth and his chivalric act towards his stepmother, who had tried to poison him. It then switches to La Belle Isolde and her warring mother. Vital character insight can be gleaned from this text.

            This is a wonderfully crafted story that centers on the characters’ personalities. Their behaviors lean towards the comical side, being either completely good, despicable, or crazed beings. Very few of these characters have both positive and negative qualities. Each character is easily recognized by their unique characteristics. The two main characters, Tristan and Isolde, are good people. They are generally likeable, even with their minor, and easily forgettable, imperfections.

Sir Marhaus describes Isolde as “The beauty of the Western Isle” (Miles, pg 12) as well as “…a dreamer…and a fool” (Miles, pg. 12).  However, the reader discovers that she is more than that. She is an independent, caring young woman, who is also a healer. Isolde is the heir to the throne of Ireland. It is a destiny she is willing to fill. Isolde must face another destiny. She must find her mate. For Isolde, she must be in love before she mates, however, that is not the way of her ancestors. Her abstinence shows the strength of her soul and the morality of her senses. Isolde is a logical woman who thinks before she acts.    

When Merlin brings word to King Mark of Cornwell that he would be attacked, Mark sends Merlin on a quest to find Tristan. He is King Mark’s nephew described as a great hero with a well-made face (Miles, pp. 32-33). Tristan is a fair and skilled fighter. He is loyal to his family and those he loves, such as Isolde.  This knight is also stubborn. He is rarely hotheaded and thinks before he acts, however, there was one instance that feral instincts took over; resulting in him having to run for his life.

This is not just a personality driven story, there is also a juicy plot filled with excitement, love, loss, and turmoil. With each page, the story becomes increasingly more exciting. There are many romantic and heroic scenes woven through this story and how they end is a surprise. The terror of battle and jousting tournaments evokes feelings of exhilaration and worry throughout the book. Survival of any favorite character in the novel is something that weighs on the reader. The threat of Ireland attacking Cornwell lingers, albeit lightly. Miles captures the essence of the Arthurian Legends.   

In one of the dramatic highlights, Tristan must fight Sir Marhaus. Tristan mortally wounds the knight, but he, too, is gravely wounded (Miles, pg. 70). His only help comes from his enemy in Ireland.

Besides the battle and Tristan’s dire situation, the stories of the Sewyn’s and King Arthur flow together. The father, his daughter, Lienore, and her young son Sewyn come to Camelot, informing Arthur, “You fathered this child. You can call him your son” (Miles, pg. 75) after he compliments him. None believes the child is his, except for Arthur. Who actually fathered the child is for the reader to find out. However, to find out the truth of the child leads Sir Kay and Sir Gawain on a harrowing journey where they meet fiends, whom they must battle along the way.

Back in the Emerald Isles, a fellow knight tells Isolde that Tristan will also die because the sword he was injured with was poisoned (Miles, pg. 80).  When Tristan, who is barely alive, gets to Ireland, he comes disguised as the beggar, Tantris, because he is the enemy (Miles, pg. 107). As Isolde heals Tristan, they become friends. They would spend their time together, taking walks and riding horses around Ireland (Miles, p. 122). Slowly, they fell in love.

Tristan tries and succeeds to win Isolde’s hand in marriage at a tournament (Miles, pg. 137). However, his true identity is discovered (Miles, pg. 147). To save him, Isolde sends him back to England (Miles, pg. 152). Back in England, Tristan tells his uncle about her and unknowingly starts a series of events that will change the course of everything. King Mark wants her for his wife and sends Tristan to ask for her hand in marriage, which she accepts (Miles, pg. 191). She goes to England and marries Mark; however, she is not happy with the spiteful and jealous man. The story ends with Tristan having to flee from his uncles’ land while Isolde has returned to Ireland to speak to her mother on royal matters.

This book is filled with poetic, flowing dialog, such as “Gods, give us peace! Or if not peace, grant me a little time.” (Miles, pg 3) and “King Mark has no knights worth fearing! What decent man would serve a wretch like him? I know them all, and I can beat them all” (Miles, pg. 12). There is also sharp, quick-witted dialog as shown on page 150 of Mile’s novel,

“What? … She will try to take my life!”…

“We are not savages, sir, in the Western Isle.”

… Believe me, my mother is a lady and a Queen!

Believe me, pilgrim ... hospitality is sacred in the

Western Isle. Our queens do not make war up their guests…”

Besides well-crafted dialog, the descriptions are simple, yet rich with details. Merlin’s eyes “glowed like moons” (Miles, pg. 88).  The dawn “broke like thunder, hurling angry red flames up to the sky” (Miles, pg. 306). Those are just two examples of the descriptions she gives.

The central theme of the story is love. Sacrifices and mistakes are made all in the name of love. An oath between Tristan and King Mark is made. Mark wants Tristan to go to Ireland to bring him back a bride. For a moment, Tristan thinks that it is the Queen of Ireland and not Isolde, whom Mark actually wants, but he soon finds out he was wrong. In chivalry, he goes and brings her back, though on the way home, Tristan and Isolde drink a love potion, sealing their fate to love each other for eternity, but they can never be together. Both lovers risk exile and their lives to be together.

Love, lust, and loyalty are three words that sum up the tragedy of Tristan and Isolde. The is a story filled with magic and mysticism. Each character has some sort of faith, either in the Mother Goddess, Christ, or even self-righteous faith. They all have faith in themselves as well as what they can accomplish. Rosalind Mile, a modern author, has truly captured the spirit of the times of King Arthur.

Works Cited

Miles, Rosalind. (2002). Isolde: Queen of the Western Isle. Three Rivers Press: New York.