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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Este livro é mais uma versão da lenda do rei Artur, em que os personagens principais não são os que estamos habituados. Foi uma boa leitura, bem escrito e com personagens fortes, mas não foi um livro que me arrebatou.
This was a book club read and is definitely not my genre - I probably would never have chosen it.
With over 500 pages, and more characters that I’ve met in real life in the last 10 years - I was daunted and put off. But at least, many of the characters were way more interesting than most of the people I’ve met in the last 10 years. And the story was gripping and a great escape from reality - if a bit gruesome, which is probably a true reflection of that time in history.
Some of the Druid hocus pocus blighted the story a little. Hopping with one eye closed and one arm in the air is meant to be a sure-fire way to put the fear of the Gods into your enemy, but it was hard to take seriously. And all that screeching from Nimue gave me a headache. Yet it was a rich story.
Even though the story was almost completely set against a backdrop of war and misery, there was warmth and camaraderie amongst the brothers in arms. Even when on opposing sides soldiers showed respect and admiration for each other and this balanced nicely with the grimness of battle.
Derfel says, “The Bards sing of love, they celebrate slaughter, they extol kings and flatter queens, but were I a poet I would write in praise of friendship”.
I went from daunted, to interested, to “hooked”. I was ambivalent when it ended. I was sorry to no longer be hanging out with these great characters every night, but glad it was over - it went on a bit.
There are two more in the series, but the way that Merlin describes the next challenge (of the cauldron), it’s not a tale to look forward to.
With over 500 pages, and more characters that I’ve met in real life in the last 10 years - I was daunted and put off. But at least, many of the characters were way more interesting than most of the people I’ve met in the last 10 years. And the story was gripping and a great escape from reality - if a bit gruesome, which is probably a true reflection of that time in history.
Some of the Druid hocus pocus blighted the story a little. Hopping with one eye closed and one arm in the air is meant to be a sure-fire way to put the fear of the Gods into your enemy, but it was hard to take seriously. And all that screeching from Nimue gave me a headache. Yet it was a rich story.
Even though the story was almost completely set against a backdrop of war and misery, there was warmth and camaraderie amongst the brothers in arms. Even when on opposing sides soldiers showed respect and admiration for each other and this balanced nicely with the grimness of battle.
Derfel says, “The Bards sing of love, they celebrate slaughter, they extol kings and flatter queens, but were I a poet I would write in praise of friendship”.
I went from daunted, to interested, to “hooked”. I was ambivalent when it ended. I was sorry to no longer be hanging out with these great characters every night, but glad it was over - it went on a bit.
There are two more in the series, but the way that Merlin describes the next challenge (of the cauldron), it’s not a tale to look forward to.
Awfully boring retelling of the Arthurian legend.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Religious bigotry, War
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been veeerrry slowly working my way through different interpretations of Arthurian legend. I'm pleased to say that the 3 versions I've read (outside of Thomas Mallory's Morte d'Arthur) are all unique and very readable. Namely, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy (I still need to read the 3rd in that series) and now Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles. The easiest description of The Winter King would be Arthur by way of George R.R. Martin. In both Cornwell's Arthur and Mary Stewart's Merlin there is an attempt to recreate a historical period while combining scraps from different myths and legends relating to Arthur. The Winter King is a much more grim, morally gray and gruesome version but in both instances there is an attempt to explain and deconstruct the ideas of these characters and stories as people have come to know them.
The Winter King is told by an elderly monk, Derfel, relating his experiences growing up among Merlin's retinue of castaways, madmen and druids and later becoming one of Arthur's "knights" in his attempt to unite Britain against Saxons and protect his half-brother Mordred who is set to assume the High Kingship when he reaches his majority. There is interplay between Derfel in the present describing the events to Queen Igraine as he remembers them and the narrative itself. This metanarrative is one of the things I loved about The Once and Future King and I think it works here also. Aside from the intense violence which I think was appropriate for the type of story he wanted to tell but did sometimes edge into the lurid, my main criticism would probably be the names of people and places, which I had a helluva time remembering. It got better as the book went along but it was a bit of a problem throughout.
The Winter King is told by an elderly monk, Derfel, relating his experiences growing up among Merlin's retinue of castaways, madmen and druids and later becoming one of Arthur's "knights" in his attempt to unite Britain against Saxons and protect his half-brother Mordred who is set to assume the High Kingship when he reaches his majority. There is interplay between Derfel in the present describing the events to Queen Igraine as he remembers them and the narrative itself. This metanarrative is one of the things I loved about The Once and Future King and I think it works here also. Aside from the intense violence which I think was appropriate for the type of story he wanted to tell but did sometimes edge into the lurid, my main criticism would probably be the names of people and places, which I had a helluva time remembering. It got better as the book went along but it was a bit of a problem throughout.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
A ‘realistic’ take on Arthurian legend. Despite a slow start, I enjoyed the book more and more as it progressed.
I was initially hesitant that Arthur wasn’t not the viewpoint for the story but came to appreciate Derfel, the main character and his growth.
I enjoyed Cornwall’s take on Arthur, who whilst virtuous has his flaws. These flaws often linked to his virtues, such as his trust in his followers.
Lancelot’s portrayal is a great wielding of how stories are subject to change over the years and often influenced by who tells them.
I was initially hesitant that Arthur wasn’t not the viewpoint for the story but came to appreciate Derfel, the main character and his growth.
I enjoyed Cornwall’s take on Arthur, who whilst virtuous has his flaws. These flaws often linked to his virtues, such as his trust in his followers.
Lancelot’s portrayal is a great wielding of how stories are subject to change over the years and often influenced by who tells them.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Excrement, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, War
One of the best versions of the Arthur story I have read simply because it's something different.