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angrbotha's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself quite enjoying this book. I was a bit tentative after reading the prologue - which basically covers the history of the universe starting from before the big bang up to the roman empire, incorporating dragons, unicorns, angels, the nordic pantheon, christianity and the magnetosphere. Busy! But once it got past the crash course in the history of the universe I thought it settled down into a great story. It was very unique and I enjoyed the language, which was dense but beautiful.
rkgoff's review against another edition
5.0
PO
This is the best of literature, best of modern literature, and all that fantasy could ever hope to be smashed together in one book. The writing is wonderful, and the classic story is told in an involving and powerful way. Simply beautiful.
This is the best of literature, best of modern literature, and all that fantasy could ever hope to be smashed together in one book. The writing is wonderful, and the classic story is told in an involving and powerful way. Simply beautiful.
storiwa's review against another edition
3.0
2nd time to read this. Fairly different and interesting telling of the myth of Merlin and King Author's family.
elenrandir's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
draculaura's review
adventurous
5.0
I picked up this book because I remember seeing the cover on my brother's bookshelf when I was very young. I tried to read it several times back then, but it was just too difficult for my little mind to wrap around. Now, twenty-something years later, I came into this book cold, not knowing anything about the story or its characters. So when it was finally revealed that this was a King Arthur origin story, it hit me like a friggin' freight train, albeit a very pleasant one.
Throughout most of it, even as far in as 300 pages, I felt like the story was constantly ramping up, similar to how just the very beginning of books feel. The pace and tone was so engrossing and the immersion into the story so complete that I was constantly looking forward to what was coming next. I'm eager to carry on with the series, but I know I need to do myself a favor and just let this one breathe for awhile; to let its dreamsong drift sleepily into the cosmic winds.
Throughout most of it, even as far in as 300 pages, I felt like the story was constantly ramping up, similar to how just the very beginning of books feel. The pace and tone was so engrossing and the immersion into the story so complete that I was constantly looking forward to what was coming next. I'm eager to carry on with the series, but I know I need to do myself a favor and just let this one breathe for awhile; to let its dreamsong drift sleepily into the cosmic winds.
kimcheel's review against another edition
4.0
This was at times a hard book to get through. It was more fantastical than other books in the Arthurian legend. I appreciated all aspects which were given story to in this reselling. I did enjoy it and look forward to finishing the cycle.
mattygroves's review against another edition
5.0
...in whose introduction, some fire gods from the primordial singularity, still upset about the Big Bang, summon a flaming steed from the plasma ocean of the sun, and transform it into a unicorn to thieve energy from the coiled magma-dragon at the roots of the Earth's magnetosphere...
...which is the World Tree, in whose boughs dwells Odin, who, to obtain wisdom about the enigmatic metalworking mortals below, sacrifices his eye...
...which is a fish-egg made of light, and which comes into the possession of the wild and fae child-queen Ygraine, who will one day be the mother of a great king...
This must be the most original Arthurian saga ever told.
...which is the World Tree, in whose boughs dwells Odin, who, to obtain wisdom about the enigmatic metalworking mortals below, sacrifices his eye...
...which is a fish-egg made of light, and which comes into the possession of the wild and fae child-queen Ygraine, who will one day be the mother of a great king...
This must be the most original Arthurian saga ever told.
emurick's review against another edition
3.0
It's a bit hard to get through in places because the language is dense, but the storytelling is beautifully done.
tilikon's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25