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nicosta_music's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Half Sick of Shadows was a really great retelling of Arthurian myth. It kept a lot of the adventure and magic that is typical of the genre, but added a few more modern sentiments like strong female characters and discussions of what it meant to be a strong female in that time period. I really enjoyed how the book was themed around how far one is willing to go to protect their friends or achieve a certain destiny. My only complaints are that knowing how the story was supposed to end made the book slog at times (especially with it jumping between past, present, and future), and I also wasn't a huge fan of the trope where women have to give up their power in order to further a man, but I guess that was the whole point the book was making anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Murder, Bullying, War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Child abuse, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Classism, Infertility, and Alcohol
acrosstheskyinstars's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely adored this book! It's going on my list of top books of 2024. This is a feminist retelling of the King Arthur story from the perspective of The Lady of Shalott. I've been trying to find this again ever since I read Avalon High in high school. I loved this take on the story and I honestly loved the character of Elaine. I found her relatable, as someone with a tendency to not let others get too close. I can't recommend this enough to anyone who loves retellings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, War, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
achay91's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Minor: Abandonment and Rape
angeld's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
Giving this 4.25 stars because I genuinely had a good time despite minor flaws and an unsatisfying ending. While this may as well be due to a severe reading slump (that I hadn’t been able to get out of for months) I won’t discredit the book for being entertaining! Admittedly I am not at all familiar with the Arthurian legend and have only heard bits and pieces about the story, so I went into this book with 0 expectations and I guess that went in my favor. I loved the different characters and their personalities; I enjoyed their banter and reading about their relationships. The plot itself felt like a high-stake one that was super gripping to read about. Despite being confused about the alternating timelines I was able to get used to that rather quickly so that wasn’t a problem. Overall, this was one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Blood
maralaene's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The best part of this book for me was the end. That last third I could hardly put down. Partly from anxiety and partly from excitement.
This was a very unique retelling of King Arthur’s story. I love how the women in this version were given a stronger voice and a different fate than in the classic myth. The narration in three tenses was also something very unique that I’ve not encountered much before. Flashbacks and Visions of the future - makes for a very powerful timeline and amazing character development, albeit in small doses.
It is a compelling read with that classic sense of fantasy and adventure you would expect from a retelling of King Arthur, but with a fantastic twist on events.
This was a very unique retelling of King Arthur’s story. I love how the women in this version were given a stronger voice and a different fate than in the classic myth. The narration in three tenses was also something very unique that I’ve not encountered much before. Flashbacks and Visions of the future - makes for a very powerful timeline and amazing character development, albeit in small doses.
It is a compelling read with that classic sense of fantasy and adventure you would expect from a retelling of King Arthur, but with a fantastic twist on events.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
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
truthaurdare's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Violence, and Toxic friendship
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
krissy0906's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! Although I didn’t know a lot about Arthurian legend (just the basics), I still found this book great and became even more interested in the legend. I loved the feminist twist to it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
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