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morganpitz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mindsplinters's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5 rounded up mostly because Morgana is Bad Ass. This was very much a case of "not the book for me" because, by all rights, I should have loved it. Arthurian legends? Feminist take? Playing around with past/present/future? Unfortunately, it did not quite catch me or deliver. While it is an interesting take on the tale of the Lady of Shalott, it actually proves one of the main dangers that you face when working with a well-known story with a fixed end-game (other examples - Wicked). You know going in that Arthur WILL die and pretty much no one will get an HEA because of betrayal etc and fate sucks. So, while there was a subversion to part of that by Sebastian and it WAS pretty clever and I am 100% there for the ladies having an epic slumber party on Avalon for the forseeable future, it came at the very end. The last 50 pages were like the really yummy center of a decent but not spectacular truffle.
I adored the author's take on Morgana. Her version of Gwen was fierce and interesting (but, really, WEREWOLVES???). Arthur was an absolute sweet cinnamon roll. I even liked Lancelot way more than I ever have before. Elaine, though... Look, I can imagine being an oracle sucks and can give you the worst kind of executive dysfunction ala decision paralysis but Elaine took it to absolutely ridiculous levels. She was repetitive and insufferable and, since the story was her POV, we were privy to every woe-is-me thought and moment of angst. To cap it off, for 90% of the book, she was the furthest thing from feminist you could get. She manipulated, she coaxed, she browbeat (demurely), she actively worked to lessen her female friends and change them into something more... acceptable/palatable to Albion's raging patriarchy. Then she justified it all by blaming their upbringing and instructions that everything they do is "for Arthur." Look, chick, this version of adorable Arthur would DIE if he knew the slavish lengths to which you were willing to go (until, of course, it directly affected you, of course).
So, yeah, Elaine was pretty awful for most of the book but the others were great. Too bad it's Elaine's story and POV.
I can see other people really enjoying this book but, again, it's just not for me.
I adored the author's take on Morgana. Her version of Gwen was fierce and interesting (but, really, WEREWOLVES???). Arthur was an absolute sweet cinnamon roll. I even liked Lancelot way more than I ever have before. Elaine, though... Look, I can imagine being an oracle sucks and can give you the worst kind of executive dysfunction ala decision paralysis but Elaine took it to absolutely ridiculous levels. She was repetitive and insufferable and, since the story was her POV, we were privy to every woe-is-me thought and moment of angst. To cap it off, for 90% of the book, she was the furthest thing from feminist you could get. She manipulated, she coaxed, she browbeat (demurely), she actively worked to lessen her female friends and change them into something more... acceptable/palatable to Albion's raging patriarchy. Then she justified it all by blaming their upbringing and instructions that everything they do is "for Arthur." Look, chick, this version of adorable Arthur would DIE if he knew the slavish lengths to which you were willing to go (until, of course, it directly affected you, of course).
So, yeah, Elaine was pretty awful for most of the book but the others were great. Too bad it's Elaine's story and POV.
I can see other people really enjoying this book but, again, it's just not for me.
moldyvoldy's review
4.0
Kept me entertained through the whole book and gave me the boost I need to get out of my reading slump
ladyphoenixqueen's review
3.0
Decent read, but a bit longer than it should have been. I felt like I got anxious for it to be over. It was predictable. It was meh.
thaumatologist's review
I just couldn't follow the timeline through the audio side of things, but it has all the markings of a book I'd enjoy otherwise
phoebeskok109's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
manderzreadz's review
5.0
“Sometimes, all you can do is find the beauty in the broken. All you can do is figure out how to put the pieces together as best you can, to make something new out of them.” I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could.
sarah_speaks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
elizabeth_lepore's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse and Bullying
cobaltbookshelf's review
1.0
This book is bland characters especially main girl Elaine and plot that doesn't make sense, I was literally bored whole while reading.