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ALMOST SPOILER-FREE Synopsis: The mother of Aurelius and Uther tells Merlin her life story.

REVIEW WITH SPOILERS! As Stephen R. Lawhead is my favorite living author, I couldn't wait to start this "prequel" to the Pendragon Cycle. But that description is misleading, as is the "Pendragon Cycle #0" notation, for "Aurelia" doesn't cross into the series timeline until readers reach part three of "Merlin," the second book in the original trilogy. That leads to the second (and far greater) disappointment, for I loved that third part of "Merlin," which explains how Aurelius and Uther, the sons of High King Constantine, seek revenge on usurper Vortegirn. Merlin (who assumes the role of kingmaker) supports the duo because Aurelius has a rightful claim to the crown and Uther, a skilled warrior, adores his older brother. Even more, Merlin believes the charismatic and intelligent Aurelius has a great chance of becoming a benevolent High King who can unite the people, free the land of barbarian invaders, and bring peace to Britain. But "Aurelia" quickly dispels this, asserting Aurelius and Uther are not royal sons of Constantine. Indeed, they have no royal blood at all, according to Aurelia, their mother. Even worse for fans of "Merlin" and the original Pendragon Cycle, Merlin expresses little shock at Aurelia's statement � which puts his ethics in question as readers tackle part three of his namesake book and see how the perceived royal heritage of Aurelius and Uther plays a huge role in how Merlin and the Brittons respond to the young men (and their future son). For me, the only redeeming element of "Aurelia" was the history it provided of British society during part two of "Merlin," when grief and madness consumed the future kingmaker for an unknown time period. Lawhead uses that "gap" in “Merlin� to advance Britain's culture to the era preceding Arthur. But even then, the tale Aurelia shares may trouble longtime Pendragon Cycle readers by suggesting a Roman presence and culture remained prominent in the island kingdom and Armorica long after the books "Taliesin" and "Merlin" suggested its end.