Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The first part of Re:Camelot by E.C. Fisher is titled The Descendant of the King. On the planet Avalon, Merlin has a vision warning him of the return of the Black Knight and his vile creations. The only person that can stop him is the descendant of Arthur who is destined to pull the sword Excalibur from the stone. Meanwhile, on Earth, Arthur has spent his life reading about Arthurian legends as a way to deal with his wicked aunt and boring international boarding school. When a light whisks him away to Avalon, everything seems to finally fall into place, but is he really strong enough to fulfill his newfound destiny?

Arthur uses these legends of King Arthur and his knights as a way to deal with failing school and his aunt's dismissal of him. He's completely enraptured by this whole new world, but Avalon is more than anything he could have imagined. E.C. Fisher gives readers a fresh new take on Avalon, creating another planet. It's the Avalon of legend, with stunning descriptions that create a paradise. Except there's a fun, science fiction twist, with magic and knights, but also technology and flying airships. Fisher has several clever homages to the lore, with names of important figures used as titles and names of the different nations. The kings and queens take the names of the figures, such as Queen Guinevere, while Merlin is a title that is taken up every three hundred years and passes on the memories of the previous ones.

Arthur's place in the story is the typical hero's journey, reminiscent of Arthurian legends, beginning when he's thrown into his destiny by removing the legendary sword from the stone. He doesn't have any friends, he's failing school, and his aunt accuses him of being after his father's money, but Avalon finally gives him a place where he can feel like he belongs. He forms his own group of friends, which is reminiscent of the group that King Arthur had that eventually formed the Round Table. A truly unique take on Arthurian legends, Re:Camelot is a breathtaking and fun adventure, bringing to life the magic and world of Avalon, with the delightful additions of colorful unicorns and airships.