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Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near Canada's capital city. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction. http://emilyjanebooks.ca
Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite
The Door, the Key and the Kingdom by Emily-Jane Hills Orford introduces Anne, aged 17, who was raised by her grandmother in present-day Canada, as her mother had to work long hours. She was introduced to a world of fantasy by her loving grandmother, who passed on her journals and a mysterious ring. She also presented Anne with a key on a golden chain that would open the door to a different world, where her grandmother was the queen and her mother a princess during the time of King Arthur. Danger lurked, and Anne had to flee. She used the key to open a secret door and escaped through a time portal to be met by the wizard Merlin in the sixth century. Under Merlin’s guidance, Anne discovered that King Arthur was her father and that following his death, she was next in line for the throne and must restore Camelot.
The Door, the Key and the Kingdom reminds readers that in ancient times, the struggle for succession to the throne, allegiances, and personal ambition were dominant. Family rivalries abounded, complicated by the many half-brothers and sisters who had been fathered by the nobility. For Anne, it was about reclaiming her power and using it wisely. The Arthurian legends are timeless and provide a wide scope for retelling with creative interpretation. They are full of archetypal figures and interwoven with life lessons. Emily-Jane Hills Orford uses her vivid imagination to the full in providing a new look at an old tale, while retaining all its enchantment and magical properties. The writing style reflects the ethos of the era perfectly, flowing effortlessly to add to the reader's pleasure. I really enjoyed this remarkable book and highly recommend it.
