Publisher - Books On The Hill

Published - Out Now

Price - £9.99 paperback

It befell in the days of Arthur Pendragon that there lived a thief and a lover of men called Tomas, the Red Rose Knight... When Tomas O’Lincoln, half-fairy and outlaw, learns that knights from Camelot hunt him in the forest, he fears he must pay for his crimes. Desperate for shelter, the Enchantress sends him on a reluctant quest to find his way to the Fortress Impenetrable, deep in the darkling heartwood. Only behind the high black walls of the Archimago’s castle will Tomas learn a Truth Most Vital and come face-to-face with his destiny… But is it a destiny he wants? Bawdy, humorous and magical, 'The Dust of the Red Rose Knight' is a queer Arthurian romance from the acclaimed author of The Ben Garston Novels, in the finest tradition that never was.

Arthurian legend is fascinating. Very little to no actual evidence just a lot of stories, myths, and folk tales. Fan fiction medieval style but one that works even now and I’m definitely seeing signs it is having a revival too from Nicola Griffith’s Spear, Lucy Holland’s Sistersong we are revisiting the past and reinterpreting it for today’s audience. Adding to this list is James Bennett’s hugely entertaining, bawdy and most of all fun The Dust of the Red Rose Knight which very much tells a tale of those who outside of Camelot’s laws and alleged morals.

Tomas is half human and half fae. He a thief and lover of men and is also well known as the Red Rose Night due to the outfit he wears as he seeks gold or new lovers. He lives life fast, with passion and freedom. Therefore, things are not looking up when he hears Arthur Pendragon has sent his best knights to bring him to Camelot. His thievery may finally have been noticed. Tomas must race across a magical world; avoiding capture using just his wits and looks but finds some older secrets all coming home to roost at last.

Sometimes you can tell a story is being written with the intention of allowing the reader to enjoy themself. Bennet has created a novella that runs at 100 mph taking place outside of the legends and making its own wonderful magical world. It feels almost like part of The Princess Bride with places such as The Valley of Distress, the Amorous Ford and the Shrieking Marsh. This is not olde England but a world where magical hags, dragons and more can all be found and we race through it just as Tomas is pursued.

Tomas is a fun trickster character who lives I the moment. A fighter but more likely to use brains and charm to win the battle. Bennet has a lot of fun placing him up against Camelot’s best Knights and how we wins them over – magic, lust or good old fashioned luck. He is a truly lovable rogue you don’t want to see lose and pleasantly while he doesn’t change too much this story allows him to at least understand himself and his nature. Just watch your pockets.

The real joy is Bennett’s storytelling. This tale can be sweary – including assorted talking animals; bawdy with a few well-timed jokes and explanations for what may be happening under the trees nearby and there is a lot of merriment to be had as stout and true Knights discover Tomas’s many charms are hard to resist. The wider plot nicely tidies itself up in the final chapters and I had lots of fun reading this and it felt fresh too.

It is worth noting The Dust of the Red Knight is  quick read and format as well as printing is designed to assist dyslexic readers but anyone who wants a fun Arthurian style adventure for an hour or two can settle into this tale very easily. Like Tomas himself it will put a smile on your face!