Scan barcode
bibliotheca_draconum's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
iamsammie27's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Genocide, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Homophobia
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. It had all the makings of a stellar (*ahem*) novel:
- Arthurian retelling
- queer af: gender-bent One True King (I actually really did like that Ari is still titled 'King' even though she's female), with a sapphic ArWen romance and did I mention GAY MERLIN!
- set in SPACE - they're both ancient, with complex personalities and motives woven through heavy history with all the Arthurs and each other. But you can't rely on millennia of backstory for your character development! It's meant to happen over the course of the book. I did see some with Ari (thank GOD because she's the MAIN. CHARACTER.) but I struggled to get a handle on her character beyond: Impulsive. Stubborn. Super into Gweneviere (alternatingly cute and cringey). And that's not enough for me to dispense emotional real-estate on this MC. Ari's backstory had so much potential: it was suitably traumatic, mysterious and sets up her righteous vendetta against Mercer...maybe it'll be expanded on in The Sword in the Stars.This book does represent a wide range of ethnicities, sexual orientations and identities, which is definitely a point in its favour. I liked that on the medieval-themed holiday-planet Lionel, they recognised what aspects of medieval history were worth honouring and what should be left in the past, e.g. racism, sexism and homophobia. Ari is of Arab descent, there are plenty of openly gender-fluid, gay and asexual people around, and gay royal marriage is universally recognised. That was definitely a win....why do so many books (e.g. [b: Three Dark Crowns|28374007|Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1)|Kendare Blake|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469265712s/28374007.jpg|42750582], [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1339533695s/10194157.jpg|15093325], [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495278054s/7896527.jpg|11138426] etc.) wait till the last 25% to really bring the thunder?!All in all, this was a diverse, surprisingly original take on the Arthurian legend. Despite some reservations, I still got a few laughs out of this and I'll probably have a look at [b:The Sword in the Stars|36233087|The Sword in the Stars (Once & Future, #2)|Amy Rose Capetta|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|57874614] when it comes out. (Mostly to see how the storyline plays out!)
- Arthurian retelling
- queer af: gender-bent One True King (I actually really did like that Ari is still titled 'King' even though she's female), with a sapphic ArWen romance and did I mention GAY MERLIN!
- set in SPACE
This gif encapsulates my anticipation for this book:
The only characters I cared about were Merlin and Morgana
Spoiler
one of whom had a criminally glossed-over, quickie death and they deserved BETTER
The plot was rather disjointed and unevenly paced, with quite a lot of planet-hopping, fluctuating goals and either not a lot happening or everything at once. Speaking of everything happening at once - that climax alone brought my rating up an entire star.
Spoiler
Kay being revealed as the 'Lancelot', Gwen's pregnancy, Kay dying, executing the AdministratorSpoiler
Mordred vs Arijessicadoom's review against another edition
This reads like it was written by a hyperactive teenager. The world building is lackluster because the authors don't take enough time to detail what everything means. I'm sure it's fantastic in storyline, but it's just not for me. Even with all the wonderfully abounding diversity.
ace_of_hats's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
erin_bayley's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
inesheiwat's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
If you aren't a fan of books that read like they haven't been edited at all, then don't read this book.
The story was engaging - it's the only reason why I finished it at all. A sci-fi, space retelling of the King Arthur legend where Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and the Round Table knights have been reincarnated for the 42nd time and Arthur is a GIRL this time?!? Hell to the fucking yes.
The representation was also pretty great in this book. Almost all the characters fell somewhere on the LGBTQIAA+ spectrum, at least one character went by they/them pronouns (which were respected by ALL other characters), and the main bitch (Ari) is what we would consider of Arab descent (though they called it something different).
HOWEVER, the writing was so bad that I started annotating just to comment on it.
For example, my personal favorite:
"Merlin blushed like a chameleon who had forgotten he was supposed to be blending in. This
was probably how chameleons wound up dead." (pg.96, last line)
There're so many examples like this everywhere, and, at some points, the writing was so bad that I had to reread the line multiple times because I couldn't understand what they're trying to say.
In summary, I thought the story was super interesting (it was the only thing that kept me reading!), but the writing was atrocious. I don't think I'll be continuing the rest of the series as it comes out, unless they get a better editor, or get one in the first place!
Ciao for now!
Bella
If you aren't a fan of books that read like they haven't been edited at all, then don't read this book.
The story was engaging - it's the only reason why I finished it at all. A sci-fi, space retelling of the King Arthur legend where Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and the Round Table knights have been reincarnated for the 42nd time and Arthur is a GIRL this time?!? Hell to the fucking yes.
The representation was also pretty great in this book. Almost all the characters fell somewhere on the LGBTQIAA+ spectrum, at least one character went by they/them pronouns (which were respected by ALL other characters), and the main bitch (Ari) is what we would consider of Arab descent (though they called it something different).
HOWEVER, the writing was so bad that I started annotating just to comment on it.
For example, my personal favorite:
"Merlin blushed like a chameleon who had forgotten he was supposed to be blending in. This
was probably how chameleons wound up dead." (pg.96, last line)
There're so many examples like this everywhere, and, at some points, the writing was so bad that I had to reread the line multiple times because I couldn't understand what they're trying to say.
In summary, I thought the story was super interesting (it was the only thing that kept me reading!), but the writing was atrocious. I don't think I'll be continuing the rest of the series as it comes out, unless they get a better editor, or get one in the first place!
Ciao for now!
Bella
lyoungthebookfae's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke me and then put me back together just to break me again. It was magic. It was adventure. It was emotional. And it was so amazing! I will absolutely be reading the hardcover once it comes out at the end of March, to see how much better it got. Please read this book. It is so very important.
Also, the authors are fabulous and amazing!!
Also also, NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AFTER THAT ENDING?!?!
**ARC was grabbed at YALLFest 2018. Review is honest and in no way influenced.**
Also, the authors are fabulous and amazing!!
Also also, NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AFTER THAT ENDING?!?!
**ARC was grabbed at YALLFest 2018. Review is honest and in no way influenced.**
tessajohnson's review against another edition
5.0
The legend of Merlin and Arthur gets a new life in this futuristic sci-fi fantasy that finds the two protagonists in a spiral repeating through time. The story begins when Merlin awakens, looking younger than before, and feeling the call of Excalibur. The sword has been pulled from the metaphorical stone by Ari, a teen traveling the galaxy with her brother, Kay. Merlin now has to find Ari (the 42nd? iteration of Arthur), nudge him onto the throne, save the world, and unite humanity.
We learn, as the story unfolds, that Merlin has been cursed to repeat this cycle until he successfully completes it. Each time Arthur dies, Merlin returns to a deep sleep, only to be woken again when a new generation of Arthur pulls Excalibur from the stone (on this case, an old tree stump). Each time Merlin awakens, he is younger than the previous time, so the old man with the long beard that we all know from the legends, is now a young man, worried about how many times he has left to repeat this cycle before awakening as an infant, or even earlier!
Capetta spins a fantastical story full of adventure, space travel, and love, all wrapped in a blanket of inclusivity. There are gay, lesbian, ace, and straight characters; trans, cis, and nonbinary characters; and everyone is accepting. In fact, in this universe, differences in gender and sexuality are the norm, and the characters are well written to show that.
There are a few plot points I could pick at, but I'm not going to. Overall this is a fun adventure, lots of action, lots of jokes, and an all around good read.
We learn, as the story unfolds, that Merlin has been cursed to repeat this cycle until he successfully completes it. Each time Arthur dies, Merlin returns to a deep sleep, only to be woken again when a new generation of Arthur pulls Excalibur from the stone (on this case, an old tree stump). Each time Merlin awakens, he is younger than the previous time, so the old man with the long beard that we all know from the legends, is now a young man, worried about how many times he has left to repeat this cycle before awakening as an infant, or even earlier!
Capetta spins a fantastical story full of adventure, space travel, and love, all wrapped in a blanket of inclusivity. There are gay, lesbian, ace, and straight characters; trans, cis, and nonbinary characters; and everyone is accepting. In fact, in this universe, differences in gender and sexuality are the norm, and the characters are well written to show that.
There are a few plot points I could pick at, but I'm not going to. Overall this is a fun adventure, lots of action, lots of jokes, and an all around good read.