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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
A wonderful retelling of King Arthur, with all the narrative freedom that the lack of information of the Dark Ages can give you. In this case it brings the story without actual magic, but with the bottomless superstition of those times, and because they believed in magic, it feels that it exists. Even though the rituals and spells are completely ridiculous. There's complex politics and a deep sense of honor between the most powerful characters. The personalities are all well fleshed out, and nobody is lost in the epic of it all, even the smallest ones. The story is told by an old Derfel telling the story to his Queen Igraine.
Some quotes that I liked:
"There was something about the hopelessness of our plight that eroded normal behaviour and so we crammed as much living as we could into those hours before our expected deaths."
"I learned that the joy and the fear are the exact same things, the one merely transformed into the other by action."
"I do understand that you can look into someone's eyes,' I heard myself saying, 'and suddenly know that life will be impossible without them. Know that their voice can make your heart miss a beat and that their company is all your happiness can ever desire and that their absence will leave your soul alone, bereft and lost."
Some quotes that I liked:
"There was something about the hopelessness of our plight that eroded normal behaviour and so we crammed as much living as we could into those hours before our expected deaths."
"I learned that the joy and the fear are the exact same things, the one merely transformed into the other by action."
"I do understand that you can look into someone's eyes,' I heard myself saying, 'and suddenly know that life will be impossible without them. Know that their voice can make your heart miss a beat and that their company is all your happiness can ever desire and that their absence will leave your soul alone, bereft and lost."
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a captivating book, I liked reading about this part of british history. I am not that well read in arthurian myths, I know just the basics, the names and a bit more so I did not get "spoiled" on anything. The book did remind me a lot of the Last Kingdom books. I do not see it as becoming my favorite but I will continue the series for sure.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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:
Yes
I have always been fascinated with the Arthurian Legends. I first fell in love with the Mist of Avalon books. That was a feminine perspective of the legends, this is a masculine one, but neither is unforgiving towards their counterparts. I could read again and again these same legends being replayed in different textures and worlds and never be bored. Cornwell is a great one, with a lot of information about the historical period rather than a more fantastic one.
Got through 20% of the book and it just didn't grab me. It wasn't bad, just didn't keep me interested.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced