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3.07 AVERAGE
3.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Perhaps this book was a sign to stop reading ya.
I will probably always consider Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon to be my favorite re-imagining, re-boot, re-telling, of the legend of King Arthur. As a matter of fact, if you haven't read it, do so, now! Of course, every telling of that legend is a re-imagination, isn't it? Since the legend really pre-dates written records. I read The Once and Future King in high school, and enjoyed it. I have read (and viewed) more than a few other tellings. It always intrigues me how the characters manifest in different roles, different motivations, different paths.
Cursed might not have made my reading list had Netflix not produced an adaptation that proved highly enjoyable in its own right.
Wheeler's imagining lacks the depth of Mists, it lacks the nuanced characters and richly described geography, and is also a complete departure in almost every way from the traditional Arthurian storyline. Wheeler has chosen the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, who in most traditional versions of the legend is barely a footnote as the mystical creature who bestows the sword upon Arthur, as his protagonist. In doing so he embraces the feminist premise that Bradley arguably first brought to the tellings of the legend, while also going on a very different journey from any of the traditional tellings. In many ways Wheeler's Merlin is the only character who seems recognizable, albeit different in ways from most versions, from the long tradition. Even then he is still a level of complexity from what might be the accepted norms. The world of Wheeler's tale is vaguely recognizable as taking place on the island of Britannia ... though the politics and religion of the time are an interesting twist, and the magic much less intentional (more of a natural force than one controlled and manipulated by the characters of the story).
Of course, this novel ends in a cliffhanger, so I will look forward to the sequel as much as I do the Netflix series.
Cursed might not have made my reading list had Netflix not produced an adaptation that proved highly enjoyable in its own right.
Wheeler's imagining lacks the depth of Mists, it lacks the nuanced characters and richly described geography, and is also a complete departure in almost every way from the traditional Arthurian storyline. Wheeler has chosen the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, who in most traditional versions of the legend is barely a footnote as the mystical creature who bestows the sword upon Arthur, as his protagonist. In doing so he embraces the feminist premise that Bradley arguably first brought to the tellings of the legend, while also going on a very different journey from any of the traditional tellings. In many ways Wheeler's Merlin is the only character who seems recognizable, albeit different in ways from most versions, from the long tradition. Even then he is still a level of complexity from what might be the accepted norms. The world of Wheeler's tale is vaguely recognizable as taking place on the island of Britannia ... though the politics and religion of the time are an interesting twist, and the magic much less intentional (more of a natural force than one controlled and manipulated by the characters of the story).
Of course, this novel ends in a cliffhanger, so I will look forward to the sequel as much as I do the Netflix series.
Honestly this took me forever to get through from start to finish. It was good in the beginning but it felt like a lot of the plot after that consisted of random things happening at once. I was able to follow it for the most part but it was still bothersome trying to read through a fight with one character and then another character in an entirely different area gets killed after we saw them maybe once or twice before that? None of it felt right and I hope the Netflix show applies better context and character development
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a unique retelling of the Arthurian legends - really a prequel to the legend. The story was interesting and the twists kept me reading. Overall, I felt the characters fell a little flat - I thought I would end up more emotionally connected to Nimue, but something didn’t quite click for me. Overall, a good (though a bit dark) fantasy story with the Arthurian legend tie-in.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars -
This was a bit disappointing - I typically love the King Arthur retellings, but this one was a bit grim and very violent. I think the overall concept for the plot was quite appealing, and I did like the conflict between the new world and the old. I thought the characters were fine. They had enough depth to keep me reading to find out what happens to them. The writing is well done. Sadly, I didn't really enjoy the illustrations. I've liked Miller's graphic novels, and his participation in this venture was a huge draw for me. But this time, his art didn't grab me.
One reason I took my rating down to 3 1/2 stars is that book reads like the first of a series and ends without a true resolution. If there's more to come, this won't be a bad thing, but if this is supposed to be a stand-alone we needed a couple of additional chapters to tie up the loose ends.
Overall, the book is fine, just not great. It is an interesting take on these well-known tales.
3 1/2 stars -
This was a bit disappointing - I typically love the King Arthur retellings, but this one was a bit grim and very violent. I think the overall concept for the plot was quite appealing, and I did like the conflict between the new world and the old. I thought the characters were fine. They had enough depth to keep me reading to find out what happens to them. The writing is well done. Sadly, I didn't really enjoy the illustrations. I've liked Miller's graphic novels, and his participation in this venture was a huge draw for me. But this time, his art didn't grab me.
One reason I took my rating down to 3 1/2 stars is that book reads like the first of a series and ends without a true resolution. If there's more to come, this won't be a bad thing, but if this is supposed to be a stand-alone we needed a couple of additional chapters to tie up the loose ends.
Overall, the book is fine, just not great. It is an interesting take on these well-known tales.
really good, watched the tv Series first then got the book, was a super easy read, after i got into the first couple pages
Danke an NetGalley und den Fischer TOR Verlag, die mir ein Rezensionsexemplar zur Verfügung gestellt haben. Meine Meinung ist davon unabhängig.
Ich habe erst den Trailer zur Cursed Serie auf Netflix gesehen und dann gehört, dass es auch ein Buch dazu gibt. Ganz nach dem Motto: erst das Buch, dann die Serie/Film.
Nach dem Lesen hoffe ich, dass die Serie besser ist als das Buch.
Ich hatte unglaubliche Schwierigkeiten, in das Buch reinzukommen. Erst beim dritten Anlauf habe ich es über die ersten drei Kapitel geschafft - allerdings auch nur bis 65%.
Dann habe ich es abgebrochen, und nur noch das Ende, also die letzten drei Kapitel, gelesen.
Mir hat einfach eine gute Einleitung in die Geschichte gefehlt.
Es ist eine genderbend Arthussage - Arthus kommt auch vor; allerdings ist nicht er derjenige, der Excalibur aus dem Stein zieht. Es gibt auch kein Excalibur, und keinen Stein. Sondern ein Mädchen namens Nimue, die das Schwert von ihrer sterbenden Mutter in die Hand gedrückt bekommt. Ihr Auftrag: das Schwert zu Merlin bringen. Dieser ist allerdings ein dauerbetrunkener, unlustiger Genosse - er sollte wohl witzig sein, aber das war leider ein Fehlgriff.
Der Stil dieses Buches ist eher mittelmäßig. Man merkt, dass Thomas Wheeler ein Drehbuchautor ist. Und es ist relativ blutig.
Was mich am meisten gestört hat, waren die fehlenden Markierungen von Zeit- und Perspektivwechseln. Das war beim Lesen echt anstrengend.
Mir persönlich haben die Illustrationen von Frank Miller nicht gefallen, aber das ist wahrscheinlich Geschmackssache. Und vielleicht kommt es im E-Book auch nicht so gut rüber.
Insgesamt bekommt das Buch von mir 2 Sterne. Der Stil war okay, die Geschichte war auch okay... aber mich hat es nicht fesseln können.
+++ENGLISH+++
DNF at 65%.
The idea was okay, but I didn't like the style of writing. It was boring and confusing. Perspectives kept changing without any visual dividers.
The illustrations were alright.
Ich habe erst den Trailer zur Cursed Serie auf Netflix gesehen und dann gehört, dass es auch ein Buch dazu gibt. Ganz nach dem Motto: erst das Buch, dann die Serie/Film.
Nach dem Lesen hoffe ich, dass die Serie besser ist als das Buch.
Ich hatte unglaubliche Schwierigkeiten, in das Buch reinzukommen. Erst beim dritten Anlauf habe ich es über die ersten drei Kapitel geschafft - allerdings auch nur bis 65%.
Dann habe ich es abgebrochen, und nur noch das Ende, also die letzten drei Kapitel, gelesen.
Mir hat einfach eine gute Einleitung in die Geschichte gefehlt.
Es ist eine genderbend Arthussage - Arthus kommt auch vor; allerdings ist nicht er derjenige, der Excalibur aus dem Stein zieht. Es gibt auch kein Excalibur, und keinen Stein. Sondern ein Mädchen namens Nimue, die das Schwert von ihrer sterbenden Mutter in die Hand gedrückt bekommt. Ihr Auftrag: das Schwert zu Merlin bringen. Dieser ist allerdings ein dauerbetrunkener, unlustiger Genosse - er sollte wohl witzig sein, aber das war leider ein Fehlgriff.
Der Stil dieses Buches ist eher mittelmäßig. Man merkt, dass Thomas Wheeler ein Drehbuchautor ist. Und es ist relativ blutig.
Was mich am meisten gestört hat, waren die fehlenden Markierungen von Zeit- und Perspektivwechseln. Das war beim Lesen echt anstrengend.
Mir persönlich haben die Illustrationen von Frank Miller nicht gefallen, aber das ist wahrscheinlich Geschmackssache. Und vielleicht kommt es im E-Book auch nicht so gut rüber.
Insgesamt bekommt das Buch von mir 2 Sterne. Der Stil war okay, die Geschichte war auch okay... aber mich hat es nicht fesseln können.
+++ENGLISH+++
DNF at 65%.
The idea was okay, but I didn't like the style of writing. It was boring and confusing. Perspectives kept changing without any visual dividers.
The illustrations were alright.