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aliendaydreamer's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
This has to be the most insufferable, spiteful main character I’ve ever encountered.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
I was really into King Arthur as a kid and when I saw this book and it's sequel in the Science Fiction Book Club's flyer one day years later, I decided to give it a chance. King Arthur's story from Mordred's point of view? Sounded interesting.
Interesting was an understatement. The story is told by Mordred and he's bitter as hell about Arthur, his supposed father Lot, and has a strange relationship with his mother. Launcelot is nowhere in this book or its sequel. The things Launcelot is known for, ie romancing Guinevere right under King Arthur's nose, is done by Mordred. And Merlin, don't get me started. He's a half-demon and a pedophile.
The story is engaging, dealing with Mordred growing up on Orkney, eventually joining King Arthur and falling for Guinevere.
If you're looking for a new take on King Arthur, look no further. Plus, the second book in the series, Merlin's Gift, has my favorite opening line of any fantasy book ever.
Interesting was an understatement. The story is told by Mordred and he's bitter as hell about Arthur, his supposed father Lot, and has a strange relationship with his mother. Launcelot is nowhere in this book or its sequel. The things Launcelot is known for, ie romancing Guinevere right under King Arthur's nose, is done by Mordred. And Merlin, don't get me started. He's a half-demon and a pedophile.
The story is engaging, dealing with Mordred growing up on Orkney, eventually joining King Arthur and falling for Guinevere.
If you're looking for a new take on King Arthur, look no further. Plus, the second book in the series, Merlin's Gift, has my favorite opening line of any fantasy book ever.
sarahjonewt's review against another edition
It’s not a bad book, jus not for me. I left off at the ship made of mutilated bodies. That’s something I just can’t stand.
abby_punches's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, this books wasn't as great as the last time I read it. It is still a very unique take on the Arthur story from an unusual view point, but this book made me want to edit it. Some of the language used didn't flow well and some of the plot points seemed a touch unpolished. Still liked it though. A fun read that I'll probably pick up again despite its flaws.
baranorewen's review
2.0
As avid of a fantasy reader as I am and an English major, I do not enjoy the original Arthurian Legends. It's almost sacrilegious, isn't it? I do know that the stories are good, however, and you simply can't take two steps in a fantasy section of a bookstore without tripping over an Arthur tale. My point being, that since I'm not an Arthur fan, I was loathe to pick this up. It had been sent to me by a friend over a year ago, placed on my to-read shelf and was promptly forgotten about. Then while looking for something to read, I read the first two sentences, and I couldn't help but laugh and continue reading.
"I don't care what Guinevere and Gawain say; this won't be Mordred's Life of Arthur, but Mordred's Life of Mordred. Fuck them; they can chronicle my sanctimonious progenitor's exploits if they've got the stomach for it."
The story of Arthur, through the eyes of his bastard son, by his sister? Sounds neat, right? It certainly started interestingly enough. It was written in an interesting fashion and the characters were surprisingly three-dimensional. I say "were," because when The Big Secret comes out, everything changes.
Mordred changes into a whiny emo kid, and he never grows the fuck up. Sure, he's only supposed to be 18 or 19 in the book, but he was sullen, pompous, and obnoxious for the duration and it got old, real quick. Arthur becomes a total douche, and completely one-dimensional. Guinevere, who is usually one of my favorite characters in Arthur stories, simply acts like the sticky sweet girl-next-door. The entirety was reduced to this sort of sameness. It might as well have taken place in a high school!
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was just glad I didn't have to read about how much Mordred hated Arthur any longer.
"I don't care what Guinevere and Gawain say; this won't be Mordred's Life of Arthur, but Mordred's Life of Mordred. Fuck them; they can chronicle my sanctimonious progenitor's exploits if they've got the stomach for it."
The story of Arthur, through the eyes of his bastard son, by his sister? Sounds neat, right? It certainly started interestingly enough. It was written in an interesting fashion and the characters were surprisingly three-dimensional. I say "were," because when The Big Secret comes out, everything changes.
Mordred changes into a whiny emo kid, and he never grows the fuck up. Sure, he's only supposed to be 18 or 19 in the book, but he was sullen, pompous, and obnoxious for the duration and it got old, real quick. Arthur becomes a total douche, and completely one-dimensional. Guinevere, who is usually one of my favorite characters in Arthur stories, simply acts like the sticky sweet girl-next-door. The entirety was reduced to this sort of sameness. It might as well have taken place in a high school!
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but by the end, I was just glad I didn't have to read about how much Mordred hated Arthur any longer.
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review
4.0
Arthurian, but with Mordred as the central character, and Lancelot's role as well as his own. Bitter twisted heroic Mordred, and even more twisted religious Arthur. I liked it. Mordred's an antihero I can enjoy.
The only change to the standard legend that bothered me was the loss of Gawain's other brothers. Probably justified in the source material, but I miss them.
Gawain is very much like White's Gawain, and all the other Gawains, despite the change in his family. I guess he must go far back.
The only change to the standard legend that bothered me was the loss of Gawain's other brothers. Probably justified in the source material, but I miss them.
Gawain is very much like White's Gawain, and all the other Gawains, despite the change in his family. I guess he must go far back.
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