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eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Sebastian uses Elaine's Seer abilities to develop a powerful narrative about anxiety, control, and safety.
⁕ I've read a lot of Arthurian retellings, and this one is certainly one of the most creative. Not only are the events and relationships between characters rearranged, but there is a much greater emphasis on players that are usually secondary to the main story. Getting to see their motivations and arcs reimagined was such a treat.
⁕ [spoiler] I'm still struggling to determine whether or not I believe this to be a truly feminist text. On one hand, Elaine claims that she makes the "choice" to accept her fate of drowning at the end of the book, and a core principle of feminism is that women, in fact, get to choose how to live their lives. On the other hand, does fate really allow choice? It seems like she was actually just backed into a corner and accepted it.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ Sebastian uses Elaine's Seer abilities to develop a powerful narrative about anxiety, control, and safety.
⁕ I've read a lot of Arthurian retellings, and this one is certainly one of the most creative. Not only are the events and relationships between characters rearranged, but there is a much greater emphasis on players that are usually secondary to the main story. Getting to see their motivations and arcs reimagined was such a treat.
⁕ [spoiler] I'm still struggling to determine whether or not I believe this to be a truly feminist text. On one hand, Elaine claims that she makes the "choice" to accept her fate of drowning at the end of the book, and a core principle of feminism is that women, in fact, get to choose how to live their lives. On the other hand, does fate really allow choice? It seems like she was actually just backed into a corner and accepted it.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Confinement, Infidelity, Death, and War
sallenreads's review
challenging
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A refreshing take on King Arthur that gives Elaine of Shalott agency.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, and Sexual content
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this book, but maybe that's a good thing.
Let me start with the good parts, the loyalty and camaraderie and love between the main characters, the difficult choices and grey areas of life, the weight of power and responsibility for the future, the interwoven fates of Gwen, Elaine, and Morgana... it was so rich with detail and life and possibly.
As for the not-so-great parts, Elaine became a bit annoying to me. She is constantly aware that knowing the future can have adverse effects, but she often finds herself steering the group into the wrong paths, the choices leading to a dark and painful ending. While I appreciate how she removed herself from the cycle, she still caused collateral damage, primarily to Lancelot.
I also felt like I needed 2 extra chapters, just to detangle what may have changed, if anything. I would have loved to get a glimpse of how Arthur and Lancelot survived Camelot without the girls being there to counsel, heal, aid, and generally keep them safe and functioning.
Overall, I love this version of the story, and I love the focus on how the women of Camelot could not be themselves, how Gwen, Morgana, and Elaine spent their entire lives being trained to sacrifice themselves for Arthur's sake. How they slowly eroded over time, and would have become even worse versions of themselves if not for choosing their own lives over Arthur's.
Let me start with the good parts, the loyalty and camaraderie and love between the main characters, the difficult choices and grey areas of life, the weight of power and responsibility for the future, the interwoven fates of Gwen, Elaine, and Morgana... it was so rich with detail and life and possibly.
As for the not-so-great parts, Elaine became a bit annoying to me.
I also felt like I needed 2 extra chapters, just to detangle what may have changed, if anything.
Overall, I love this version of the story, and I love the focus on how the women of Camelot could not be themselves, how Gwen, Morgana, and Elaine spent their entire lives being trained to sacrifice themselves for Arthur's sake.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and War
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