The Alien in the Garden by Gillian Bradshaw

I'd recommend this to any fan of Arthuriana with a few hours to kill and break from the usual Arthur trappings like Merlin, Lancelot, and Guinevere. Gwalchmai is linked to CuChulainn on several occasions. One of the more interesting aspects of this book is that Bradshaw draws the story primarily from its Welsh and Celtic roots. This story takes place just after Arthur is crowned emperor so he's still uniting Britain, making it a nice change of pace since most stories have Camelot already established and Arthur more as scenery than a character. He can feel his heartbreak when Medraut goes down the dark path, as well as when Arthur mistrusts him. His journey from outcast to young sorcerer to berserker warrior is well done, an interesting metamorphosis.

Gwalchmai, Gawain in most tales, is an interesting character, close to his younger brother Medraut and contemptuous of his older brother Agravain. Forget Lancelot and Guinevere, my favorites have always been the boys from Orkney, or Orcades, in this case. I've read a fair bit of Arthurian fantasy over the years. Will Arthur accept him, knowing who his mother is? Before making it to Britain, he stays in Lugh's domain for what ends up being three years, acquiring the sword Caledvwlch and horse Ceincaled. However, his mother's sorcery is seething with Darkness and Gwalchmai flees the Orcades, set on joining Arthur's warband. Gwalchmai ap Lot, the middle child of Morgawys and Lot, learns sorcery from his mother to make up for his short comings as a warrior.

The Alien in the Garden by Gillian Bradshaw