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lilyaulait's review against another edition
5.0
i loved it! it was hilarious, and meaningful, and i hope king pellinore and sir grummore get back together.
storyjuiceman's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
lyssa_books's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
zoes_human's review against another edition
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
This was all a bit Disney for me to begin with, but the decision to DNF came when I hit the THIRD casually racist comment about Native Americans. This is an Arthurian legend set in motherfucking England. What kind of effort of will does one need to slam Native Americans repeatedly in it?
Anyway, there are loads of Arthur retellings out there. I'm moving on.
(NOTE: According to another reviewer, there's an n-word in a rant by a *checks notes* deranged bird later in the book. Why??!!)
Anyway, there are loads of Arthur retellings out there. I'm moving on.
(NOTE: According to another reviewer, there's an n-word in a rant by a *checks notes* deranged bird later in the book. Why??!!)
rachelcdm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a hard one for me to review.
I both really enjoyed it and found it rather dull in equal measure you see. (I actually paused reading it to read an Emily Henry book halfway through.)
I think part of the issue is, that as much as I am a big fan of Arthurian mythology, this is clearly a book aimed very specifically at outdoors-y boys and I am neither a boy nor particularly outdoors-y. Then coupled with the fact that this is now a rather old book filled with some dubious terminology and over-descriptive prose, it made some of the reading experience quite tedious. (Much turning into of animals and a few long parables thrown in.)
That being said, this book is cracking with creativity and humour. It has a really interesting narrative voice and some really fun concepts and mini-adventures. Merlyn is a hoot and the castle feels like a real place. I know TH White was one of the forefathers of modern fantasy - and it shows! He sprinkles information throughout the book so it’s almost teaching history as well at points, and there’s a real warmth to Wart and the experiences he goes through.
Then there’s the fact that my love and knowledge Disney adaptation gives the book a very nostalgic feel…
So it’s hard to rate, and I can’t decide if I’m going to read the rest - I may have to come back to it! This is a classic that has shaped Arthur’s legend so much so that I imagine many only know this version. And when a book is that impactful, really who cares what I think?
I both really enjoyed it and found it rather dull in equal measure you see. (I actually paused reading it to read an Emily Henry book halfway through.)
I think part of the issue is, that as much as I am a big fan of Arthurian mythology, this is clearly a book aimed very specifically at outdoors-y boys and I am neither a boy nor particularly outdoors-y. Then coupled with the fact that this is now a rather old book filled with some dubious terminology and over-descriptive prose, it made some of the reading experience quite tedious. (Much turning into of animals and a few long parables thrown in.)
That being said, this book is cracking with creativity and humour. It has a really interesting narrative voice and some really fun concepts and mini-adventures. Merlyn is a hoot and the castle feels like a real place. I know TH White was one of the forefathers of modern fantasy - and it shows! He sprinkles information throughout the book so it’s almost teaching history as well at points, and there’s a real warmth to Wart and the experiences he goes through.
Then there’s the fact that my love and knowledge Disney adaptation gives the book a very nostalgic feel…
So it’s hard to rate, and I can’t decide if I’m going to read the rest - I may have to come back to it! This is a classic that has shaped Arthur’s legend so much so that I imagine many only know this version. And when a book is that impactful, really who cares what I think?
kalisaur's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75