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3.07 AVERAGE
3.07 AVERAGE
Thanks to GoodReads and the publisher for hosting this giveaway.
There are two kinds of books. There is the kind that keeps you up till two in the morning and on the other hand there’s the kind that puts you to sleep. This was honestly a disaster in its own little category. I really do enjoy retellings like this, they’re some of my favorites most of the time, which made this more disappointing. I was intrigued by what seemed to be a great synopsis, now I feel lied to.
DNF for sure. I struggled through 100 pages of terrible descriptions, characters with nothing meaningful to say, and some very confusing happenings. I think maybe Netflix had the script written, the author tried to turn it into a book, and it all came out very half baked. It was boring and I honestly didn’t like anything about it. In the first 100 pages of a GOOD book, you’re sucked in and want more. That never happened here. Also, legendary artist? I know they’re not final... but the drawings don’t even look like people. They’re terrible. Also, apparently there was zero communication between the author and the illustrator. There was a paragraph taking about Nimue wearing skirts, but in every drawing (including the one right beside this paragraph), she’s wearing pants. Go figure.
There are two kinds of books. There is the kind that keeps you up till two in the morning and on the other hand there’s the kind that puts you to sleep. This was honestly a disaster in its own little category. I really do enjoy retellings like this, they’re some of my favorites most of the time, which made this more disappointing. I was intrigued by what seemed to be a great synopsis, now I feel lied to.
DNF for sure. I struggled through 100 pages of terrible descriptions, characters with nothing meaningful to say, and some very confusing happenings. I think maybe Netflix had the script written, the author tried to turn it into a book, and it all came out very half baked. It was boring and I honestly didn’t like anything about it. In the first 100 pages of a GOOD book, you’re sucked in and want more. That never happened here. Also, legendary artist? I know they’re not final... but the drawings don’t even look like people. They’re terrible. Also, apparently there was zero communication between the author and the illustrator. There was a paragraph taking about Nimue wearing skirts, but in every drawing (including the one right beside this paragraph), she’s wearing pants. Go figure.
I didn’t really connect with this but I hardly ever do for Arthurian legends honestly. It just felt kind of bland and stilted. I didn’t really root for anyone and it just felt too all over the place for my taste.
DNF halfway through
Characters are somewhat well rounded but the writing wasn’t able to show it. The romance was shit. The plot was somewhat promising but I wish it wasn’t based on King Arthur because they slandered the original stories so meticulously! Also I have questions about the biological and mental differences between the fey and humans and it does not make the romance between Nimue and Arthur look wholesome.
Update: I finished it after all. It did not improve. 2.5/5
Characters are somewhat well rounded but the writing wasn’t able to show it. The romance was shit. The plot was somewhat promising but I wish it wasn’t based on King Arthur because they slandered the original stories so meticulously! Also I have questions about the biological and mental differences between the fey and humans and it does not make the romance between Nimue and Arthur look wholesome.
Update: I finished it after all. It did not improve. 2.5/5
Cursed erzählt die Sage um Merlin nochmal neu, in erwachsener...
Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Rezensenten kenne ich die Merlin-Sage nur noch grob aus einer Disney-Verflimung und kann sie daher nicht wirklich miteinander vergleichen.
In dieser Geschichte geht es um Nimue, die eine magische Begabung hat und nach der Abschlachtung Ihres gesamten Dorfes inkl.. ihrer Mutter und ihrer besten Freundin das magische Schwert zu Merlin bringen soll.
Als Unterstützung steht ihr Merlin, der tapfere Söldner bei.
Es ist deutlich brutaler und blutiger und auch die Figuren, insbesondere Merlin, sind nicht die Vorbilder, die man gerne sehen wollte.
Aber genau das macht diese Version erwachsener als die mir bekannte Merlin-Saga.
Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Rezensenten kenne ich die Merlin-Sage nur noch grob aus einer Disney-Verflimung und kann sie daher nicht wirklich miteinander vergleichen.
In dieser Geschichte geht es um Nimue, die eine magische Begabung hat und nach der Abschlachtung Ihres gesamten Dorfes inkl.. ihrer Mutter und ihrer besten Freundin das magische Schwert zu Merlin bringen soll.
Als Unterstützung steht ihr Merlin, der tapfere Söldner bei.
Es ist deutlich brutaler und blutiger und auch die Figuren, insbesondere Merlin, sind nicht die Vorbilder, die man gerne sehen wollte.
Aber genau das macht diese Version erwachsener als die mir bekannte Merlin-Saga.
Arthur retelling and idek the original story
I liked this! The beginning was very dark and the tone lightened up throughout the novel. I really thought the alternating chapters kept the story moving and how it was easy to understand even with multiple character perspectives. The writing style was very simplistic but descriptive. My only complaint is that some of the drawings didn't match up with the writing. I liked how at the end of the story all of the Arthurian connections were made when characters names were revealed.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have had this book on my TBR since 2019 because I kept seeing it at 2019 BookCon.
This novel follows Nimue, an outcast who has a deep connection to dark magic. When her entire town is murdered, she decides to embark on a quest to reunite a powerful sword with an even more powerful wizard. She teams up with Arthur, a mercenary. The duo travel across great lengths to stop a corrupt king and for Nimue to avenge her family.
Truthfully, this is not the typical type of book I gravitate towards, but I wanted to give it a shot. Ultimately, I just could not get into the story, and I could not connect with the characters. The characters lacked depth for me, and despite being a high stakes adventure, I felt like the story was very slow. I did really enjoy the artwork throughout the book.
I am sure this book has an audience, but I really, really, struggled to get through this and ended up not even enjoying it.
This novel follows Nimue, an outcast who has a deep connection to dark magic. When her entire town is murdered, she decides to embark on a quest to reunite a powerful sword with an even more powerful wizard. She teams up with Arthur, a mercenary. The duo travel across great lengths to stop a corrupt king and for Nimue to avenge her family.
Truthfully, this is not the typical type of book I gravitate towards, but I wanted to give it a shot. Ultimately, I just could not get into the story, and I could not connect with the characters. The characters lacked depth for me, and despite being a high stakes adventure, I felt like the story was very slow. I did really enjoy the artwork throughout the book.
I am sure this book has an audience, but I really, really, struggled to get through this and ended up not even enjoying it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, War
The best Arthurian legend book I've read, but still with some frustrations. 3.5 stars.
The story follows Nimue, a teenager, as she tries to run away from her village because everyone fears her. However, when she cannot get on the ship she wants, she returns only to find her village under attack. Her dying mother gives her the Sword and tells her to take it to Merlin. She has to use the sword on her way, developing a reputation as the Wolf Blood Witch. Arthur, a rough and tumble sword for hire, helps her on her way, but he is not a reliable person and spends the book becoming loyal and overcoming his instinct to run when things get bad. Fey Folk refugees assemble and Nimue becomes their mascot/leader of sorts. She finds Merlin, but he's not what he seems. King Uther is not what he seems. Eventually a million plot lines come together for one big battle.
Plenty of clever tie ins. I was very satisfied with how the plot weaved together nicely. Yet there were SO MANY. Honestly too many.
It was fast paced and an easy read.
Everyone seems to have a backstory, even if they don't need one, and some of the backstories leave more questions. Nimue's scar... we learn how she got it, but we don't really learn who the bear was or why it had that access to Nimue's thoughts. It sets the stage that there may be good and bad Hidden, but we don't talk about that again. If no one can hear it but Nimue, how can she ever learn when the feelings are good or bad?
There were also more questions I had about Morgan and Arthur and their upbringing - we hear about Arthur and his dad, but not much about Morgan. We learn a little about some Shadow Lords, but there's a lot to explore there. All in all, there was a lot of backstory, yet not enough. Some left us feeling like we were missing a previous book.
Despite this being more about Nimue and her power with the sword, there was still an annoying amount of romantic will-they-or-won't-they. And it seems like the sword is good to whoever wields it - both Merlin and Nimue have had it. So was it really meant for her? Could no one else use it or did she just not let them?
The dialogue was too modern for my taste, likely to make it more accessible to teens. I totally acknowledge I am not the target audience, so it doesn't lose points there, it just wasn't to my liking.
The story follows Nimue, a teenager, as she tries to run away from her village because everyone fears her. However, when she cannot get on the ship she wants, she returns only to find her village under attack. Her dying mother gives her the Sword and tells her to take it to Merlin. She has to use the sword on her way, developing a reputation as the Wolf Blood Witch. Arthur, a rough and tumble sword for hire, helps her on her way, but he is not a reliable person and spends the book becoming loyal and overcoming his instinct to run when things get bad. Fey Folk refugees assemble and Nimue becomes their mascot/leader of sorts. She finds Merlin, but he's not what he seems. King Uther is not what he seems. Eventually a million plot lines come together for one big battle.
Plenty of clever tie ins. I was very satisfied with how the plot weaved together nicely. Yet there were SO MANY. Honestly too many.
It was fast paced and an easy read.
Everyone seems to have a backstory, even if they don't need one, and some of the backstories leave more questions. Nimue's scar... we learn how she got it, but we don't really learn who the bear was or why it had that access to Nimue's thoughts. It sets the stage that there may be good and bad Hidden, but we don't talk about that again. If no one can hear it but Nimue, how can she ever learn when the feelings are good or bad?
There were also more questions I had about Morgan and Arthur and their upbringing - we hear about Arthur and his dad, but not much about Morgan. We learn a little about some Shadow Lords, but there's a lot to explore there. All in all, there was a lot of backstory, yet not enough. Some left us feeling like we were missing a previous book.
Despite this being more about Nimue and her power with the sword, there was still an annoying amount of romantic will-they-or-won't-they. And it seems like the sword is good to whoever wields it - both Merlin and Nimue have had it. So was it really meant for her? Could no one else use it or did she just not let them?
The dialogue was too modern for my taste, likely to make it more accessible to teens. I totally acknowledge I am not the target audience, so it doesn't lose points there, it just wasn't to my liking.