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stefhyena's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I mean queer Arthurian space opera!!! I was totally up for that. I liked the beginning and middle despite there being too much obligatory pairing up romance. I don't mind some but this is like over half the book is about that and it simultaneously reifies the "teenagers and young adults are bundles of hormones" AND tries to say that what happens at those ages is meaningful relationships. Like pick one! Their both irritating cliches but they are also contradictory but this book tries to have both.
Then also all the emotions are big emotions, they can never be calm about anything, they always have to be melodramatic. I liked that the "big bad" was capitalism but the silliest part was on p325 where there's a suggestion that if you cut down the leader (in this case the Administrator) then the big bad scatters. That sort of individualism is the soul of capitalism but it's also not true. There is always some scheming other faction quite happy that you did that for them (and ok like 2 chapters later after yet another emotion laden sex scene) the big bad does indeed come back in a slightly different form...which would be less silly without the bit on p325.
I get that the authors want to manipulate the reader's hopes to make the twists more emotional but it becomes a farce when it's all unalleviated big emotion (also that nonsensical). Also it was disappointing that these otherwise queer characters have never heard of polyamory to the point where what could have been some manageable jealousy turned into a BIG DRAMA that added little if anything. And it wasn't completely true to the Arthurian legends either.
Ok so there was a lot of other nonsense. Some of it sort of worked, like you want anachronisms in the future so you make a theme park. It sort of works. I did briefly wonder if it was a Diana Wynn Jones Easter Egg (respect if it was) and I KNOW I saw some Star Wars in one section and...I can't remember what else but there were some things that were repurposed from great works but it's fun because they did it slightly differently.
I liked the 2 mums (moms I think they spelled it) and I would have liked to have seen more of them. I would have liked Jordan to be filled out more too and not be such a background character (I liked her more than some of the foregrounded characters). I kept forgetting that Ari was a girl but maybe that's just me (and my generation, and the fact I have met boys called Ari).
We did need an Arthurian lesbian space opera so props to the authors for making that.
I don't like things ending on a cliffhanger though. If you write a good enough tale I will still keep reading even without the cliffhanger which is unsatisfying at the end of a book...in this case. I don't know. I will see how I go.
Then also all the emotions are big emotions, they can never be calm about anything, they always have to be melodramatic. I liked that the "big bad" was capitalism but the silliest part was on p325 where there's a suggestion that if you cut down the leader (in this case the Administrator) then the big bad scatters. That sort of individualism is the soul of capitalism but it's also not true. There is always some scheming other faction quite happy that you did that for them (and ok like 2 chapters later after yet another emotion laden sex scene) the big bad does indeed come back in a slightly different form...which would be less silly without the bit on p325.
I get that the authors want to manipulate the reader's hopes to make the twists more emotional but it becomes a farce when it's all unalleviated big emotion (also that nonsensical). Also it was disappointing that these otherwise queer characters have never heard of polyamory to the point where what could have been some manageable jealousy turned into a BIG DRAMA that added little if anything. And it wasn't completely true to the Arthurian legends either.
Ok so there was a lot of other nonsense. Some of it sort of worked, like you want anachronisms in the future so you make a theme park. It sort of works. I did briefly wonder if it was a Diana Wynn Jones Easter Egg (respect if it was) and I KNOW I saw some Star Wars in one section and...I can't remember what else but there were some things that were repurposed from great works but it's fun because they did it slightly differently.
I liked the 2 mums (moms I think they spelled it) and I would have liked to have seen more of them. I would have liked Jordan to be filled out more too and not be such a background character (I liked her more than some of the foregrounded characters). I kept forgetting that Ari was a girl but maybe that's just me (and my generation, and the fact I have met boys called Ari).
We did need an Arthurian lesbian space opera so props to the authors for making that.
I don't like things ending on a cliffhanger though. If you write a good enough tale I will still keep reading even without the cliffhanger which is unsatisfying at the end of a book...in this case. I don't know. I will see how I go.
whatsbeckyreading's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded to 4 since Goodreads doesn't allow for half stars. Some parts of this were great (a female King Arthur reincarnation, wlw romance, nonbinary rep, mlm romance, Morgana) and it was a nice easy read, but I'm not really feeling the need to pick up the sequel.
danne789's review against another edition
3.0
This isn't my favorite King Arthur retelling, but it was good. The dystopian sci-fi take was done well. Merlin and Morgana were my favorite characters. I didn't love The Lady of the Lake's character. She seemed too petulant and evil. Granted this is from Merlin's POV, and in the legend, she does imprison him under a tree, but overall, she's good.
I don't want to say too much. If you're familiar with the Arthurian legend, then you more or less know the story. There are some twists in this one, but nothing that completely changes the legend. Well, the ending is a little different from the lore, but it sets up for the sequel which might put it back on track.
While I did enjoy this story, I didn't enjoy it enough to read the sequel.
I don't want to say too much. If you're familiar with the Arthurian legend, then you more or less know the story. There are some twists in this one, but nothing that completely changes the legend. Well, the ending is a little different from the lore, but it sets up for the sequel which might put it back on track.
While I did enjoy this story, I didn't enjoy it enough to read the sequel.
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
3.0
Probably would have been a 5-star read if quarantine hadn't turned me into such a sleepdeprived, distracted bag of anxiety.
ETA: Had to bump this one down a star after starting the sequel. While I love the characters and worldbuilding, this book has some major pacing issues. For instance the whole Gwen/Ari dynamic came out of nowhere and suddenly it's the driving motivation? At first I thought I was just too tired and had accidentally skimmed a section, but no, it was just bad pacing.
ETA: Had to bump this one down a star after starting the sequel. While I love the characters and worldbuilding, this book has some major pacing issues. For instance the whole Gwen/Ari dynamic came out of nowhere and suddenly it's the driving motivation? At first I thought I was just too tired and had accidentally skimmed a section, but no, it was just bad pacing.
shaunareads's review against another edition
3.0
See more on Instagram: @book.wired
Genderbent King Arthur in space? Okay, let's do it.
Genderbent King Arthur in space? Okay, let's do it.
emmascr's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Rock the boat for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I loved the cover and the blurb really sucked me in so I thought I would give this book a try.
I wouldn't say I was totally up on King Arthur and his round table. I mean I know of the story and the whole sword in the stone thing but to be quite honest I had forgotten the majority of the story. I did look up some of the characters while I was part way through the book but I wouldn't say it was really necessary. The relevant characters are explained in the book.
I really loved the beginning of this book. There was good world building and explanation. The characters were really fun and there was lots of humour throughout the story. I thought that the middle dipped a little. I found it difficult to get through those chapters. I really enjoyed the end of this book. there was a lot of action and it felt like it had gone back to the same tone as the beginning.
I am looking forward to the sequel and I will read it as I'm interested to see the outcome but I don't think it will be top of my TBR pile when it does come out.
I wouldn't say I was totally up on King Arthur and his round table. I mean I know of the story and the whole sword in the stone thing but to be quite honest I had forgotten the majority of the story. I did look up some of the characters while I was part way through the book but I wouldn't say it was really necessary. The relevant characters are explained in the book.
I really loved the beginning of this book. There was good world building and explanation. The characters were really fun and there was lots of humour throughout the story. I thought that the middle dipped a little. I found it difficult to get through those chapters. I really enjoyed the end of this book. there was a lot of action and it felt like it had gone back to the same tone as the beginning.
I am looking forward to the sequel and I will read it as I'm interested to see the outcome but I don't think it will be top of my TBR pile when it does come out.
mganaim's review against another edition
I feel this will be more rant than review, I was so hyped for this book. I held so much hope that there was going to be a good story on Arthur and Merlin, a story I love so much, a story I've followed through books and the TV Show.
Having waited for this book for a while, before the cover was even released I loved the goodreads description, going around telling everyone about this SCI-FI FANTASY. Alas we get to the book and we are already hating it within the first few chapters. We are introduced to too many things too quickly and with so many forced aspects. We learn about all the different sexualities these characters encompass, we learn about how Arthur, Ari, are an Arab runaway, hiding from the government because the planet the Arabs have inhabited rebelled against the government. I'm all for representation of all races, sexualities and ideals, but when one forces them into a story it doesn't blend well and we are hit with these things as if they make the character who they are. A character should be more than their sexual interests, which in this book is hardly the case where the authors pair everyone off as quickly as possible and make sure we are well reminded of their sexuality.
From Merlin mis-gendring someone by accident, having been asleep for a large number of years where genders were still a thing one could assume, the reaction of those around him is over the top, 'Dude! Lam is Fluid!!' in a dialogue that seems disappointed in Merlin for not knowing that about this person he met less than a page ago. Merlin then moving on to ask everyone their preferred pronouns in a way to not offend anyone is over the top with the authors trying to show growth and understanding when he could simply have noted that and let the story flow better. With the authors being in a gay relationship with one another one would assume their take on the LGBTQ+ community would be so much better rather than having everything be what a sixteen year old wattpad fan-fic author would conjure to seem inclusive for reads.
The authors waste no time at all to go and pair everyone off with someone who just so magically happens to be the same sexuality in such a small friend group. The authors have left, not a single, not even one, even the ghost had to end up with someone. The ghost needed to have a sexually interest in someone because lord forbid a YA novel isn't riddled with people getting into relationships in a matter of moments. Merlin and Val, one day of knowing each other Val goes to Merlin 'I feel like we should be kissing by now.' How is everything about screwing each other, I saw this in another review where they said, every character is either hysterical or horny. And honestly, there is no other way to describe them.
0 Character development.
0 Plot development.
0 Single people, even the ace person has a love, being a knight for their queen.
Merlin, supposed to be an ancient wizard turned teenager with his crappy 2000's references, 'Hello darkness my old friend'. To when he needs to summon fireworks and starts singing fireworks by Katy Perry??? These badly placed references are a way for the authors to link the readers of this era to those of the future are so bad its hard to get through one let alone multiple, especially his spice girls references.
The writing is shockingly bad, it feels more of a first draft than an actual polished version. The authors note says that Cori wanted to write this book so bad but she couldn't bring herself to write it until she asked her partner, Amy to write it with her, and honestly it should've stayed unwritten. I cannot even begin to explain my disappointment. A BEAUTIFUL COVER AND AMAZING CONCEPT, destroyed by the obsession to make it all inclusive, for literally every character - but one - needed some form of representation that was done with one line. And the one straight person ended up sleeping with his sisters wife (in the pantry). Because heck, drama? Tension? Who knows.
If you want to make a book that is inclusive for all, introduce them in a manner that isn't, let us fill the first ten pages with every single letter of LGBTQ and then focus on who sleeps with who and stick to the main plot. I cant even.
Having waited for this book for a while, before the cover was even released I loved the goodreads description, going around telling everyone about this SCI-FI FANTASY. Alas we get to the book and we are already hating it within the first few chapters. We are introduced to too many things too quickly and with so many forced aspects. We learn about all the different sexualities these characters encompass, we learn about how Arthur, Ari, are an Arab runaway, hiding from the government because the planet the Arabs have inhabited rebelled against the government. I'm all for representation of all races, sexualities and ideals, but when one forces them into a story it doesn't blend well and we are hit with these things as if they make the character who they are. A character should be more than their sexual interests, which in this book is hardly the case where the authors pair everyone off as quickly as possible and make sure we are well reminded of their sexuality.
From Merlin mis-gendring someone by accident, having been asleep for a large number of years where genders were still a thing one could assume, the reaction of those around him is over the top, 'Dude! Lam is Fluid!!' in a dialogue that seems disappointed in Merlin for not knowing that about this person he met less than a page ago. Merlin then moving on to ask everyone their preferred pronouns in a way to not offend anyone is over the top with the authors trying to show growth and understanding when he could simply have noted that and let the story flow better. With the authors being in a gay relationship with one another one would assume their take on the LGBTQ+ community would be so much better rather than having everything be what a sixteen year old wattpad fan-fic author would conjure to seem inclusive for reads.
The authors waste no time at all to go and pair everyone off with someone who just so magically happens to be the same sexuality in such a small friend group. The authors have left, not a single, not even one, even the ghost had to end up with someone. The ghost needed to have a sexually interest in someone because lord forbid a YA novel isn't riddled with people getting into relationships in a matter of moments. Merlin and Val, one day of knowing each other Val goes to Merlin 'I feel like we should be kissing by now.' How is everything about screwing each other, I saw this in another review where they said, every character is either hysterical or horny. And honestly, there is no other way to describe them.
0 Character development.
0 Plot development.
0 Single people, even the ace person has a love, being a knight for their queen.
Merlin, supposed to be an ancient wizard turned teenager with his crappy 2000's references, 'Hello darkness my old friend'. To when he needs to summon fireworks and starts singing fireworks by Katy Perry??? These badly placed references are a way for the authors to link the readers of this era to those of the future are so bad its hard to get through one let alone multiple, especially his spice girls references.
The writing is shockingly bad, it feels more of a first draft than an actual polished version. The authors note says that Cori wanted to write this book so bad but she couldn't bring herself to write it until she asked her partner, Amy to write it with her, and honestly it should've stayed unwritten. I cannot even begin to explain my disappointment. A BEAUTIFUL COVER AND AMAZING CONCEPT, destroyed by the obsession to make it all inclusive, for literally every character - but one - needed some form of representation that was done with one line. And the one straight person ended up sleeping with his sisters wife (in the pantry). Because heck, drama? Tension? Who knows.
If you want to make a book that is inclusive for all, introduce them in a manner that isn't, let us fill the first ten pages with every single letter of LGBTQ and then focus on who sleeps with who and stick to the main plot. I cant even.
tsneden88's review
I was looking for Arthurian fantasy with a hint of sci-fi, and this was sci-fi with a hint of Arthurian fantasy.
Might try again later.
Might try again later.
samrushingbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book, but then again, I am typically a sucker for a good Arthurian Legend retelling. The characters and the universe created for this tale were just fascinating, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what will happen in the sequel/conclusion to this duology.
bibliotheca_draconum's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0