Scan barcode
ezwolf's review against another edition
I do not like modern slang in my historical fantasies. And other reasons, but that was my tipping point.
anniewu's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
I think it's fun if u read one plot at a time. The whole book is a bit long.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
thebookberrie's review
1.0
This book is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur only now Merlin is Emry Merlin- the daughter of Merlin who disguises herself as her twin brother to go learn magic at court. Studying magic is everything Emry has ever wanted even though pretending to be someone else is dangerous. Unfortunately for Emry life at court is complicated and becomes even more complicated when she falls for prince Arthur.
First off, hate that cover. Second off, hate the actual summary. Everything about this book and the marketing (even the beginning chapter with drunk ass Arthur pulling the sword out of the stone) leads this book to sounding like a fun, wacky story full of comedy. But like... no? It was just another Arthur retelling and it was boring and way too long.
I should have just not read this because apparently I don't actually like King Arthur retellings. This is the third one I have read and I'm just done. At least this wasn't as stupid as the space one though. (Seriously I'm still mad at how dumb that one was.) This one felt like it just took itself too seriously and was trying to be a Tamora Pierce type book and then just ended up being generic and plain, with nothing to actually stand out besides hurr durr Merlin is a girl. Heart pounding and hilarious? I really don't see what is supposed to be funny about this besides I actually spent money on it.
This book also does the thing I fucking hate that literally all female Sherlock Holmes stories do: instead of ACTUALLY BEING THE FUCKING CHARACTER, the female version is just the daughter or sister or other female relative. Like my dude this shit is all fake anyway why can't the Merlin actually just be a girl? Besides the obvious daddy issues, her father didn't have to be Merlin and it added nothing to the story. There is nothing in here that explains why it couldn't have been written as female Merlin, not daughter Merlin.
The entire plot line of pretending to be a boy was done so badly and her brother was even worse. He was an absolute loser and did nothing besides show up a few times and be a waste of words and then leave again while Emry just excuses his bullshit yet again. Why was he even here? Dude did jack shit!!
The effort she put into pretending to be a boy was 2/10. She binds her chest and cuts her hair but that's it? Then of course when Arthur finally learns that she's a girl he's like omg wait I see it now she's a WOMAN. ??? Like at least use magic to change your face or something because all it took for characters to figure out what she was, was just them overhearing and then saying o yea she does in fact look like a girl huh.
But no the magic in this was super lame. Wizards (apparently a gender netural term this time because "witch" and "sorceress" are bad words) cannot use magic on themselves, only just flick a wand, say a spell, and do it to other people. But oh no they actually don't NEED to use wands to channel their powers and they don't even actually have to say the damn magic made up words so why. The spells were lame and while I liked how cocky Emry was about her own power, sis was dumb.
The romance hahahahhahahahahha. No. I don't know why this author was so against gay Merlin / Arthur and then half assed queerness in the story. Like... you can just write Merlin and Arthur gay romance it's fine and it's what everyone wants but okay lol. You gotta make it het even though Emry and Arthur were both supposedly queer for what? Also it was gross that they had kissing before he knew what she was but okay.
I know this book wanted to say something about girls being limited in society and treated like prizes while boys exist and get everything while girls have to work twice as hard to get anywhere but like... why bother when you don't even try to make it fire? Emry has so much not like the other girls mentality and the entire book was full of male characters besides Emry. Then there was another girl but oh no she instantly hates her and then Emry only thinks about Arthur like at all times.
The way Morgana was portrayed was so funny to me because my lady was just spitting facts and Emry was like uR wRoNG and played along with her... by speaking true facts that I guess didn't actually bother her? Idk man I was annoyed for her and by her and she didn't really give a shit. There was no emotion to any of this no joke.
It's okay fanfiction exists bye.
bookishexpat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
joey_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
jazzyjbox's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
haialiel's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
scrambledemma's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is a really fun read if you like fantasy and twists on classic stories. i thought the characters were fun and the small changes to the classic arthurian myths were done well. you will also enjoy this book if you enjoyed bbc merlin but instead of hiding magic he was a girl. it got a little convoluted at the end. lots going on. i’m excited to see how it plays out in the next book.
bellexroses's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25