The Wizard’s Dog by Eric Kahn Gale (review)

If the Sword in the Stone legend had included an ebullient talking dog, this is what it would look like. Nosewise is happy to be a loyal pet to Merlin, until he discovers how much more he can be after Morgana, Merlin’s apprentice, gives him access to a magical stone that allows him to talk and also perform some tricks that put “stay” and “roll over” to shame. It’s convenient timing that he learns new extraordinary skills as Merlin and Morgana are promptly kidnapped by Oberon (Summer Court fae prince), and it’s up to Nosewise to save them. Of course, readers encounter Arthur and Guinevere too, and Arthur journeys along to help Nosewise and will ultimately play a key role (though not quite what you would expect from the legend) in a battle versus good and evil. Nosewise is one of the silliest narrators around, and his views on things aren’t always reliably true, but readers will have no trouble slipping into his joyful doggy perspective and filling in gaps he misses from the context clues they are given. Dog lovers in particular will appreciate this concept of taking a familiar legend and giving it a canine twist, and they may be inspired to try their hand at it too. Final illustrations not seen.