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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
I really want to give this book a higher rating. It’s a really fun storyline, with good and funny writing but there’s lots of little things in it that frustrated me.
I did really like Gwen and Arthur but it took far too long for me, for them to become actual friends. They seemed to become friends when they kissed but that happened over half way through. They were barely even allies before that. I would’ve much preferred it if they were allied because of their agreement, and then through their forced pretend romance they became friends.
Art was particularly funny as well as his friend, Sidney, but I found it initially hard to like them at first because they both came across as misogynistic until, again, over halfway through the book.
This is going to be a recurring theme. For me a lot of what happens at about 60% through the book should’ve happened at halfway through or before.
Gwen I also liked but I really found her lack of female friendships frustrating. I wanted her and Agnes to be like Arthur and Sidney. Like Arthur, Gwen initially seems to be a bit misogynistic and basically judges other women for being feminine. She then has a conversation with Agnes who says something along the lines of, ‘yes I’m girly but so what?’ The journey of Gwen realising she’s judged other women for being feminine and becoming friends with Agnes is nice. But again this happens too late for me, and would’ve been much more enjoyable if it happened earlier, and if Gwen and Agnes became close friends.
I don’t have much to say about Gabe other than he’s sweet and I liked him, and I liked his and Arthur’s dynamic. If anything I wished it was developed just that bit more. I think this book could’ve benefited from a few pov chapters from the love interests so they were developed more.
Anyways onto the woman who carried this book. Fucking Bridget, aka Lady Leclair. What an icon. She picked up the Excalibur Nine, and she’s the only one with a decent fucking head on her shoulders, why isn’t she Queen?! Really loved Bridget. I loved when Gwen wanted her to stay she says no because she wants more for herself rather than be Gwen’s ‘mistress’. Bridget was well fleshed out as well as her relationship with Gwen until they kiss. After they kiss we don’t really learn more about them together, and their dynamic. It felt as if their relationship was put on the side to focus on Art and Gabe.
Quick shout out to Agnes. Other than Bridget she was the only other voice of reason, and I wished we learned more about her. I get that she just a side character but so was Sidney, I wish we got to know her the same way we got to know Sidney. And there was potential for her to be good friends with Gwen instead of just acquaintances to kind of friendly together.
There were times when the writing was a little confusing especially during the battle. It was confusing in a way that just frustrated and annoyed me. Usually I can keep up with the politics in a book but I was a little confused who was on who’s side in this book, so I wish that was emphasised more or made clear.
I didn’t mind the ending, it seemed quite sweet but maybe a little underwhelming and just a bit too short and brief. Could’ve done with just a bit more detail. It was kind of like big battle, and then a chapter about how Gabe was gonna out Lancelot and Arthur to the world. I will say I liked the small twist of Lancelot and Arthur being lovers, very cute.
I want to end this review on a good note, the book was genuinely funny. It’s so close to being a really good book for me it just fell short.
I did really like Gwen and Arthur but it took far too long for me, for them to become actual friends. They seemed to become friends when they kissed but that happened over half way through. They were barely even allies before that. I would’ve much preferred it if they were allied because of their agreement, and then through their forced pretend romance they became friends.
Art was particularly funny as well as his friend, Sidney, but I found it initially hard to like them at first because they both came across as misogynistic until, again, over halfway through the book.
This is going to be a recurring theme. For me a lot of what happens at about 60% through the book should’ve happened at halfway through or before.
Gwen I also liked but I really found her lack of female friendships frustrating. I wanted her and Agnes to be like Arthur and Sidney. Like Arthur, Gwen initially seems to be a bit misogynistic and basically judges other women for being feminine. She then has a conversation with Agnes who says something along the lines of, ‘yes I’m girly but so what?’ The journey of Gwen realising she’s judged other women for being feminine and becoming friends with Agnes is nice. But again this happens too late for me, and would’ve been much more enjoyable if it happened earlier, and if Gwen and Agnes became close friends.
I don’t have much to say about Gabe other than he’s sweet and I liked him, and I liked his and Arthur’s dynamic. If anything I wished it was developed just that bit more. I think this book could’ve benefited from a few pov chapters from the love interests so they were developed more.
Anyways onto the woman who carried this book. Fucking Bridget, aka Lady Leclair. What an icon. She picked up the Excalibur Nine, and she’s the only one with a decent fucking head on her shoulders, why isn’t she Queen?! Really loved Bridget. I loved when Gwen wanted her to stay she says no because she wants more for herself rather than be Gwen’s ‘mistress’. Bridget was well fleshed out as well as her relationship with Gwen until they kiss. After they kiss we don’t really learn more about them together, and their dynamic. It felt as if their relationship was put on the side to focus on Art and Gabe.
Quick shout out to Agnes. Other than Bridget she was the only other voice of reason, and I wished we learned more about her. I get that she just a side character but so was Sidney, I wish we got to know her the same way we got to know Sidney. And there was potential for her to be good friends with Gwen instead of just acquaintances to kind of friendly together.
There were times when the writing was a little confusing especially during the battle. It was confusing in a way that just frustrated and annoyed me. Usually I can keep up with the politics in a book but I was a little confused who was on who’s side in this book, so I wish that was emphasised more or made clear.
I didn’t mind the ending, it seemed quite sweet but maybe a little underwhelming and just a bit too short and brief. Could’ve done with just a bit more detail. It was kind of like big battle, and then a chapter about how Gabe was gonna out Lancelot and Arthur to the world. I will say I liked the small twist of Lancelot and Arthur being lovers, very cute.
I want to end this review on a good note, the book was genuinely funny. It’s so close to being a really good book for me it just fell short.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
This was a relatively easy, enjoyable, light read. I do consider this a middle-of-the-road read, however. I thought that the romance between both couples was half-hearted, though I though Gwen and Bridget's was stronger than Arthur and Gabe's (perhaps because there was less fighting and I liked Gwen's character more than Arthur's). I fully understand why Gwen hated Arthur for so long as I found him extremely unlikeable for a large portion of the book. For the first half, I found Arthur to be arrogant, obnoxious, and a bully (particularly to Gwen). However, he does become more fleshed out (slowly), and he does serious moments well (i.e.: supporting Gwen during her and Gabe's falling out ) as well as his depiction of alcoholism . I ended being neutral, leaning towards liking him, by the end of the book.
I didn't like how Arthur and Gwen's arrangement started. Gwen catching Arthur with a boy was fine, but I hated that Arthurblackmailed Gwen into participating in the arrangement. He did eventually give her diary back, which was a good moment, but I cannot believe that the whole blackmailing situation wasn't a bigger deal. This would have been a much better third act conflict between Gabe and Arthur than the whole dumb "Arthur played us to overthrow the kingdom for his father" scenario. Honestly, the blackmail of his sister (who he is canonically close with and protective of) is not mentioned at all by Gabe, and this frustrating and surprising.
The plot surrounding the eventualcoup and death of the King at the end of the book with Stafford, Willard, Knife, De Lacey (Arthur's father) was interesting enough for something that was mainly in the background for the majority of the book. I did not like the third of conflict of both Gwen and Gabe believing Arthur to be guilty of being involved in the coup as well. It felt unnecessary and against his character, especially since the animosity between Arthur and his father is well-established . I did like the plot points/events that surrounded around the main characters forming more of their found family the best, such as Morgana's birthday party and Gwen's birthday , though the conflict with Arthur being attacked was also well done by showing how far each relationship has come (I also can't believe that his father was the one to arrange that!) . The scene regarding Bridget's period cramps, leading to a wizard versus doctor (this I enjoyed and thought the whole cultists versus Catholics was well done and interesting enough for a background, world-building detail) moment was a little out of nowhere, but I still enjoyed it. I did not enjoy (even though I know it is an important story to be told and represented) the plot point of how Gabe's internalized homophobia impacts Gwen , but I liked the opportunity of showing Arthur as Gwen's ally. It endeared his character more to me. The whole situation regarding Bridget's past with roles and unwillingness to give up life to play supporting role in someone else's was well done and articulated on Bridget's part, but it made me frustrated with Gwen's behavior. Bridget remained sensible and firm, but Gwen didn't acknowledge it enough and went forward anyway with the same thing Bridget confessed to being hurt by an ex about .
The presence of Morgana, especially regarding duality was cool. I wasn't as invested in the how the rest of Arthurian lore was included, but it was still interesting. The plot point to do withArthur and Lancelot's letters was a bit predictable and didn't stand out to me as much as the representation of Morgana did. (Politically, I get that the former would have more of an impact within the world, but I personally was more interested in the latter.) I liked the discussions surrounding Gabe and Tintagel, as well as the whole discussion of Gabe wanting to live up to the legacy of Arthur Pendragon, and how his relationship with his queerness is impacted by that. I also liked the friend characters, Sidney and Agnes, and they fulfilled their purpose to satisfaction.
Overall, I generally enjoyed this, though I would not reread it, nor will I be buying a copy for myself. I would recommend this, though. In regards to the sequel, I am not opposed to ever reading it, but it is not a priority in the slightest, so I will not be adding it to the TBR list.
I didn't like how Arthur and Gwen's arrangement started. Gwen catching Arthur with a boy was fine, but I hated that Arthur
The plot surrounding the eventual
The presence of Morgana, especially regarding duality was cool. I wasn't as invested in the how the rest of Arthurian lore was included, but it was still interesting. The plot point to do with
Overall, I generally enjoyed this, though I would not reread it, nor will I be buying a copy for myself. I would recommend this, though. In regards to the sequel, I am not opposed to ever reading it, but it is not a priority in the slightest, so I will not be adding it to the TBR list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit