Scan barcode
naro173's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Un retelling precioso de leyendas artúricas. La autora crea una historia simple, pero evocadora en muy pocas páginas. La reimaginación del viaje de Peretur desde un punto de vista más introspectivo me parece un acierto, un viaje del 'héroe' que se centra más en el desarrollo de la personalidad y en entender lo que está buscando que peleas y monstruos concretos a los que se tiene que enfrentar.
El hecho de que sea corta y autoconclusiva es un respiro en el mar de novedades actuales; y las ilustraciones del libro son sencillamente preciosas.
El hecho de que sea corta y autoconclusiva es un respiro en el mar de novedades actuales; y las ilustraciones del libro son sencillamente preciosas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
I grabbed Spear as an audiobook (narrated by the author!) and I highly recommend this format for an atmospheric and immersive listening experience. As a reader less familiar with Arthurian legend, I'm sure I don't fully appreciate all of the ways in which Griffith has expanded the original myth by recasting it with her own gender-bent, queer lens, but I loved it all the same. The writing is intentionally lush, and the imagery so meticulous that it's easy to feel physically present in this magical world. This is a quick listen (just under 6 hours at 1x), and I know I'll be returning to Griffith's other works soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, War, Alcohol, Violence, and Grief
bluedilly's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Infertility, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, War, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Torture, Animal cruelty, Classism, Grief, Mental illness, and Rape
bluejayreads's review against another edition
This is a weird DNF book to review, as there really isn't anything particularly wrong with it. If you'd asked me while I was reading, I would have told you it was perfectly good. If I had read it in a different situation, i.e. if I still had the job where I could read audiobooks while I worked, I absolutely would have finished it and enjoyed it. And I did enjoy it while reading. The story was weird and interesting - a more realistic retelling of Arthurian myth, twisted with magic, steeped in a genuine pre-middle-ages historical feel, and told in a stark, almost minimalist style that throws out all the rules of "show don't tell" but somehow works. There's a lot to like here. But somehow I found myself always choosing to listen to something else. In the car, I turned on the radio. On Saturday mornings, when I usually put on an audiobook while I clean my apartment, I instead chose a podcast. I can't even put my finger on why I really don't want to go back to reading this book. By all rights, it's pretty good, and I did enjoy it while reading. (I can't emphasize that enough, despite how much I've avoided reading it after the fact, I genuinely really enjoyed the parts that I did read.) I don't see much of a point of forcing myself to finish a book I'm avoiding picking up, so I'm not going to. I just still can't explain why.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The attention to historical accuracy and detail is outstanding. It's clearly well-researched and that passion comes through. This book allowed me to truly nerd out within the space of historical fantasy.
The author's notes and acknowledgment in the back are fantastic. I love how they said that queer folks and disabled folks have always been a part of Britain's history. BIPOC have been an immense influence and part of British culture and history for hundreds and hundreds of years. The homogenous view that many historical fiction and nonfiction titles have taken is inaccurate and denies the existence of diverse people everywhere in everytime. This resonates so much with my own interests and views of British history.
The plot is familiar yet exciting in its newness. This breathes new life into medieval stories. I've read <i>Sword, Stone, Table: Old Legends, New Voices</i> ed. by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington which this was supposed to be a part of until it grew too large to include and I much prefer this longer form story. The collection had some great stories set during the time of Arthurian legends but had quite a few set in Arthur's far future which I didn't prefer. This feels authentic to the era yet has modern sensibilities (or perhaps we need to be more receptive to the idea of queer normalcy in history).
This might not be for everyone, but if you like Arthurian legends and British history, this is a faithful and passionate queer retelling of it.
The author's notes and acknowledgment in the back are fantastic. I love how they said that queer folks and disabled folks have always been a part of Britain's history. BIPOC have been an immense influence and part of British culture and history for hundreds and hundreds of years. The homogenous view that many historical fiction and nonfiction titles have taken is inaccurate and denies the existence of diverse people everywhere in everytime. This resonates so much with my own interests and views of British history.
The plot is familiar yet exciting in its newness. This breathes new life into medieval stories. I've read <i>Sword, Stone, Table: Old Legends, New Voices</i> ed. by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington which this was supposed to be a part of until it grew too large to include and I much prefer this longer form story. The collection had some great stories set during the time of Arthurian legends but had quite a few set in Arthur's far future which I didn't prefer. This feels authentic to the era yet has modern sensibilities (or perhaps we need to be more receptive to the idea of queer normalcy in history).
This might not be for everyone, but if you like Arthurian legends and British history, this is a faithful and passionate queer retelling of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
As a sucker for the Arthurian legend and retelling of such, I greatly enjoyed this. Short, sweet, fantastical and mysterious.
it’s a refreshing to have Arthur, Lance and Guinevere as a thruple and not have Arthur’s go mad from being betrayed by Gwen and Lance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Death of parent
poetry_shaman's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Homophobia, War, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
elwirax's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The girl knows she has a destiny before she even knows her name.
From the notes at the end, it's clear that Spear was well researched and I thoroughly enjoyed how crowded it was in its Welsh setting. The writing style was lyrical but not to an obnoxious extent which made for an easy reading experience. I really liked the magic system and the sparse illustration throughout were a nice wee touch. There was also a lesbian relationship and mentions of a poly relationship which I think could've done with some further development but were a great inclusion.
Admittedly, the pace towards the ending was a bit rushed yet, as a whole it was very well developed for a novella and sometimes felt longer than its 192 pages.
Overall, an enjoyable, queer retelling of the Arthurian legends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
More...