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klohmar's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
karingforbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.25
My biggest dislikes were the writing style (how the words formed sentences) and the ending. There’s nothing wrong with the authors writing style it’s just not one that I tend to enjoy as much. The ending felt too fast and not quite right for reasons I can’t articulate.
Otherwise I loved this! I loved reading the myth from Elaine’s POV and I loved getting a different version than I’ve seen before, particularly of Gwen. I absolutely loved the women-centric telling of the myth and the evocativeness of the scenes Sebastian painted.
Otherwise I loved this! I loved reading the myth from Elaine’s POV and I loved getting a different version than I’ve seen before, particularly of Gwen. I absolutely loved the women-centric telling of the myth and the evocativeness of the scenes Sebastian painted.
heatherlovesreading's review
3.0
2.5 stars
I love Laura Sebastian, but I didn't really love this book. Didn't suck me in, and while it's an interesting retelling of King Arthur, in my opinion, it leaves a lot to be desired.
I love Laura Sebastian, but I didn't really love this book. Didn't suck me in, and while it's an interesting retelling of King Arthur, in my opinion, it leaves a lot to be desired.
wwhimm's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
slimo1's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
indev_demo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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? N/A
3.25
there wasn't enough angst for me, when it was there it was short lived. the idea of writing in three tenses was a bit ambitious, especially when all three are in basically every chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War, Infidelity, and Incest
averyboredsara's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
bhrach's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
2.25
There were so many things I wish I could like about this book. I wanted to enjoy the past-present-future nature of the narrative. I wanted to enjoy centering the Lady of Shallot. I wanted to enjoy a feminist retelling of the Arthurian myth.
But this didn't really succeed in any of those places. The mid-20-year-Olds all act like teenagers. Arthur is stripped down to an incompetent smiley idiot who couldn't do a thing without Elaine. For all the "yay feminism" Elaine does a lot of reinforcing feminine ideals. She is not a well developed character and frankly, I don't know how anyone is meant to like her. She is manipulative and self serving. Also. Corsets were not a thing in the time period represented. I wanted to like this. It just didn't hit any of the notes it tried to for me.
Also, it was sooo slow. I don't know if it was meant to be a framing device, having all the repetition, but every time the pace would pick up it would immediately get killed with a flash back or flash forward.
But this didn't really succeed in any of those places. The mid-20-year-Olds all act like teenagers. Arthur is stripped down to an incompetent smiley idiot who couldn't do a thing without Elaine. For all the "yay feminism" Elaine does a lot of reinforcing feminine ideals. She is not a well developed character and frankly, I don't know how anyone is meant to like her. She is manipulative and self serving. Also. Corsets were not a thing in the time period represented. I wanted to like this. It just didn't hit any of the notes it tried to for me.
Also, it was sooo slow. I don't know if it was meant to be a framing device, having all the repetition, but every time the pace would pick up it would immediately get killed with a flash back or flash forward.
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