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btrz7's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.25
There is no amount of plot or character development that can justify the size of this book. There are huge stretches where nothing is happening, and I swear the same theological arguments were revisited every 50 pages by the same characters, with nothing new added to it and nothing productive coming out of it. Religion is a big part of the conflict of the book, informing characters' decisions and morals, but it was to the point of exhaustion.
Characters were another thing. The plot of the book spans decades, but throughout it they always feel like the children/teenagers they were at the beginning. No one changes in any meaningful way. I don't mind flawed characters, but Jesus this whole cast was getting on my nerves. Most of the men don't seem to have any personality, and as for the women, they are all hypocrites, who are at turns jealous or disdainful of one another, due to what? Ah yes, the attention of men. Someone is either a pious prude or a wanton whore, and the best thing is, they seem to be both at alternating times, woth no reason to it. Morgaine disdains other women as being shallow and only talking of marriages and babes, but her inner monologue seems to also focus on those subjects and on who's sleeping with whom. Gwen thinks Morgaine is a whore, but then commits adultery throughout the entirety of her marriage, and somehow ends up blaming her husband and her lover for it, and them somehow accusing them of being homosexual/queer (?) and having unpure feelings for each other. That was an unexpected ride. Anyway the thought pattern doesn't differ much with other female characters.
Then the nail in the coffin. Around close to halfway through, there were somethings making mr a but uncomfortable. Sexualization of young women, and women over 20 being considered 'old' (being historical fiction does not excuse this, low life expectancy had a lot to do with high infant mortality, and not so much with people not living after 50). Big age gaps in relationships, most of which are not exactly consensual. And then the thought processes to justify incestuous or pedophiliac relationships. Which on its own is heavy, but I believe that in fiction you do whatever you want. Except then I find out its not really fiction and it is reflecting the author's own practices and that sours everything.
So yeah, I powered through the last few hours so as to not leave it unfinished, but I will actively not recommend this ever to anyone. Its a shame, because I read it as part of a challenge to read the oldest book in my TBR and this was it on GR, but it wasn't worth the wait.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War
adearen's review against another edition
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Miscarriage
devirnis's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Rape
homebodywitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
abidon13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The book is dense, and it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s challenging, deep, emotional, and intentionally slow.
My only criticism is that the ending was not as fulfilling as I would have liked. However the journey of the story is worth it.
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
swarmofbees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Incest and Rape
takem_eout's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Incest
prinsessenora4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love the legends of King Arthur, and this retelling is some of the best I have read. We can see the happenings from the women’s point of view, and the story is so sore, beautiful and lifelike that I couldn’t put it down.
I love the feminist and girl power characters, and I love to learn more about the older religions of the British isles. (But I don’t love the rape and incest). This book was amazing, and will stay with me forever <3
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
unwall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
thatswhatkatread's review against another edition
Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual violence