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m_a_p's review against another edition
2.0
So ridiculous and random. Couldn't finish because the endless string of random fights and murders and explanation-less magic was just boring. But in the end it is King Arthur so had to give it more than one star. But the Cliffsnotes was more enjoyable.
hollyocean's review against another edition
3.0
Merlin fully lied to me about what to expect from the Aurthurian legends. Merlin might be borderline ridiculous and I knew its interpretation of the legends was loose at best but a more accurate representation of the day to day life of your average Knight of the Table Round can be found in Monty Python's the holy grail. These blokes speak like the overly emotion men of victorian era horror but worse, they are all so extra. It's a dangerous business to be a Knight and a bloody high turn-over rate for a seat at the round table because at least 10 of the 150 will be killed before the next Pentacost everytime. Also these knights need to take their helmets off before they launch into pointless fights about whether Dame Guinevere or Queen Margawse is the fairer jaut to check they are fighting someone they are related too.
Tristram is such a messy bitch as well. Like what's he got against telling people his name. 'Sir at this time ye shall not know my name' is his standard line, and then he's fuming when other poeple let slip who he is. And imagine going to Ireland where you're a wanted man and changing your name to Tramtrist to fool them into not killing you while you go get healed from Ireland's first attempt to kill you AND IT ACTUALLY WORKING!
Also Nimue trapping Merlin in a rock and leaving him there to die to escape his persistent sexual advances is such a power move.
Conflicted about whether to bother with the second volume because on the one hand I can get more Tristram being chaos incarnate but on the other hand the writing style makes me want to pluck my eyes out it's so repetative and simplistic all these knights doing 'such marvelous deeds at arms for to increase their worship that all men had great wonder and marvelled at their prowess'.
Tristram is such a messy bitch as well. Like what's he got against telling people his name. 'Sir at this time ye shall not know my name' is his standard line, and then he's fuming when other poeple let slip who he is. And imagine going to Ireland where you're a wanted man and changing your name to Tramtrist to fool them into not killing you while you go get healed from Ireland's first attempt to kill you AND IT ACTUALLY WORKING!
Also Nimue trapping Merlin in a rock and leaving him there to die to escape his persistent sexual advances is such a power move.
Conflicted about whether to bother with the second volume because on the one hand I can get more Tristram being chaos incarnate but on the other hand the writing style makes me want to pluck my eyes out it's so repetative and simplistic all these knights doing 'such marvelous deeds at arms for to increase their worship that all men had great wonder and marvelled at their prowess'.
burkehowe's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 but I’m rounding up because certain events went Hard. I will now be adding the word ‘wroth’ into my everyday vocabulary
mythicalbrit's review against another edition
1.0
SO INSANELY DULL and repetitive that it's curing my chronic insomnia. I'm not sure I can get through it, it's just making me so angry...as a genuine fan of King Arthur and his knights and adventures, I'm sorely disappointed in Malory. The earliest Arthurian literature is a thousand times more imaginative than this. I don't think I'll ever understand why it became an instant classic.
BLECH.
BLECH.
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
4.0
I read Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory in college but I can’t have an Arthurian Legend list and not add this classic. Sir Thomas Malory lived during the Wars of the Roses, lived a life of crime, and even died in prison after at one point supporting both sides in the war. At least, that is what historians believe, there is a possibility that there are other identities. Anyway, these works consist of eight stories starting with the birth of King Arthur. In his works, we meet all the familiar characters such as Merlin, King Uther, Morgan Le Fay, Gwynevere, and many more.
I love the legends surrounding King Arthur and there is no doubt that these stories hold a significant place in history. However, it is not a complex read. It is very slow and repetitive. He said, she said, this happened, then this happened. It is literally telling what is happening. So it can be difficult to read. It is not a binge read. It will take some time. This time around I actually listened to the audiobook and that was a bigger mistake. The audiobook is narrated by Frederick Davidson. His narration is very dry and dull.
This is a tricky rating, but I give it 4 out of 5 stars because I love the content despite it being dreadfully slow.
I love the legends surrounding King Arthur and there is no doubt that these stories hold a significant place in history. However, it is not a complex read. It is very slow and repetitive. He said, she said, this happened, then this happened. It is literally telling what is happening. So it can be difficult to read. It is not a binge read. It will take some time. This time around I actually listened to the audiobook and that was a bigger mistake. The audiobook is narrated by Frederick Davidson. His narration is very dry and dull.
This is a tricky rating, but I give it 4 out of 5 stars because I love the content despite it being dreadfully slow.