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emotape's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Rape
mafii's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book put me in a lot of pain. 10/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
christinecc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
SIGH. Not again.
I feel terrible for not enjoying this more. It came highly recommended and kicks off what is reportedly a great series full of political machinations, complex inter-familial relationship, etc. All the good stuff I love.
Except Medraut--our Mordrer-esque protagonist in this Arthurian retelling--has way too much baggage and I don't think all of it has a place in the book.
Long story short: Medraut/Mordred returns from staying with his mother/aunt and is tasked with helping to make his half-brother Lleu into a proper heir to the throne. In return, King Arthur/Arthos promises that Medraut will be the real power behind the throne. And then Medraut slowly collapses under the mental strain of (1) his mental and physical trauma (likely including child abuse and incest) at the hands of his mother, (2) his father's weak attempts to protect him from this or take the burden off of Medraut for his own existence, and (3) having to put up with Lleu, whom Medraut is very obviously attracted to and it's uncomfortable, guys. Medraut is also attracted to his half-sister because... well, because.
And that's what I mean! This story isn't about incest but it's threaded into the narrative so much that I feel it cheapens it?? It's a very serious subject and yet we never see anyone help Medraut overcome his trauma. We just watch Medraut struggle with this huge thing that horrifies him. It makes the ending seem unsatisfactory.
All this to say: gorgeous, wonderful writing, but with a frustrating story.
Trigger warning for CSA and incest mentions (but geez, the writing is so evocative that it kind of goes beyond a mention).
Recommended if you want to get to the rest of the series or just want to read a different take on Mordred.
I feel terrible for not enjoying this more. It came highly recommended and kicks off what is reportedly a great series full of political machinations, complex inter-familial relationship, etc. All the good stuff I love.
Except Medraut--our Mordrer-esque protagonist in this Arthurian retelling--has way too much baggage and I don't think all of it has a place in the book.
Long story short: Medraut/Mordred returns from staying with his mother/aunt and is tasked with helping to make his half-brother Lleu into a proper heir to the throne. In return, King Arthur/Arthos promises that Medraut will be the real power behind the throne. And then Medraut slowly collapses under the mental strain of (1) his mental and physical trauma (likely including child abuse and incest) at the hands of his mother, (2) his father's weak attempts to protect him from this or take the burden off of Medraut for his own existence, and (3) having to put up with Lleu, whom Medraut is very obviously attracted to and it's uncomfortable, guys. Medraut is also attracted to his half-sister because... well, because.
And that's what I mean! This story isn't about incest but it's threaded into the narrative so much that I feel it cheapens it?? It's a very serious subject and yet we never see anyone help Medraut overcome his trauma. We just watch Medraut struggle with this huge thing that horrifies him. It makes the ending seem unsatisfactory.
All this to say: gorgeous, wonderful writing, but with a frustrating story.
Trigger warning for CSA and incest mentions (but geez, the writing is so evocative that it kind of goes beyond a mention).
Recommended if you want to get to the rest of the series or just want to read a different take on Mordred.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
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