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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I've spent years searching for a solid, admirable adaptation of the King Arthur mythos. Unfortunately, most of them turned to be either poorly written, unbearably cringy, or so far from the actual legends that it was called "Arthurian" only for the sake of it.
Then I found this, thanks to a subreddit. Cornwell really did change my mind.
Without spoiling anything, this has to be one of the most outrageously well-written, gripping, and solid books I've ever had the privilege to read. This is the kind of writing, storytelling, and characterization that remind me of why I fell in love with books — and never fell out. Every single page was stunning. I had literal goosebumps during the fight scenes, and I don't know how he did it, but Cornwell knows how to punch his readers right in the feels.
This is how Arthur, if he were real, might truly have been: flawed, mistake-ridden, but inherently admirable.
This is the kind of book that will draw you in, and you'll only emerge hours later, gasping for breath, realizing that the sun has risen and you're due for work in two hours.
I give this a perfect 5 out of 5. This is how stories should be told.
Then I found this, thanks to a subreddit. Cornwell really did change my mind.
Without spoiling anything, this has to be one of the most outrageously well-written, gripping, and solid books I've ever had the privilege to read. This is the kind of writing, storytelling, and characterization that remind me of why I fell in love with books — and never fell out. Every single page was stunning. I had literal goosebumps during the fight scenes, and I don't know how he did it, but Cornwell knows how to punch his readers right in the feels.
This is how Arthur, if he were real, might truly have been: flawed, mistake-ridden, but inherently admirable.
This is the kind of book that will draw you in, and you'll only emerge hours later, gasping for breath, realizing that the sun has risen and you're due for work in two hours.
I give this a perfect 5 out of 5. This is how stories should be told.
The prose in this book was excellent, and if Arthur existed, this would be a very accurate account, because essentially it's a bunch of warlords trying to fight off the Saxons while a lot of infighting among factions is taking place simultaneously.
Much like war, the plot is long stretches of not much happening followed by a heart-pounding event here and there. For me that didn't work because I'm not big on military battles. I like political intrigue, but the planning-and-plotting side rather than the slogging-up-hill-through-mud-while-arrows-zing-past-you side.
Cornwell has expunged the story of almost all magic, but I wish we could've seen more of Nimue (Merlin's SO) because even without magic she was absolutely riveting-- the most interesting character in the book by far.
Cornwell immediately made me love Arthur because from his first moments on the page he's fair, and kind, and honorable. But later I was pissed because he's always yammering on about defending King and kingdom, and then chucks that right out the window for Guinevere, who is the Yoko Ono of the Dark Ages.
I won't be continuing with the series, but if you like historical fiction with a lot of military stuff, I recommend this.
Much like war, the plot is long stretches of not much happening followed by a heart-pounding event here and there. For me that didn't work because I'm not big on military battles. I like political intrigue, but the planning-and-plotting side rather than the slogging-up-hill-through-mud-while-arrows-zing-past-you side.
Cornwell has expunged the story of almost all magic, but I wish we could've seen more of Nimue (Merlin's SO) because even without magic she was absolutely riveting-- the most interesting character in the book by far.
Cornwell immediately made me love Arthur because from his first moments on the page he's fair, and kind, and honorable. But later I was pissed because he's always yammering on about defending King and kingdom, and then chucks that right out the window for Guinevere, who is the Yoko Ono of the Dark Ages.
I won't be continuing with the series, but if you like historical fiction with a lot of military stuff, I recommend this.
adventurous
dark
informative
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
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
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 found it to be really dry. For King Arthur fiction I loved MK Hume’s books and kind of expected this to be similar but instead I found it read more like a textbook than fiction. His love interest took me by surprise. There was very little lead up to it. Definitely felt there could have been a lot more to the story itself than there was.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes