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earlgreyjedi's review against another edition
Unfortunately the pacing of this book just wasn’t for me. I really had high hopes for a sci-fi Arthurian adaptation, and the queerness of the story was great! But it feels so so rushed and very much like you’ve been thrown into a world with little to hang onto. Merlin is so sweet and that line where he was the one who broke one of the Arthur’s hearts killed me in the best way but what ended this for me was the weird sudden relationship of Ari and Gwen. This could have been so cute if they had taken the time. They could have grown to compromise and trust one another. Instead they’re immediately like political marriage, time to fuck - and it didn’t really feel like Gwen’s relationship with Jordan was over so it just felt so wrong . At this point I kind of had the ick so I went to check other reviews and it doesn’t look like it gets much better.
the_dungeoneer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
ursa_arlo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Once & Future truly reads like arthurian gay space communism fanfiction in the best and worst ways. I have to admit: it is poorly written with a lot of plotholes, unnecessary skipping sequences where the characters are unconscious and at first I thought I was making a mistake by not outright DNF'ing it.
However, as I got used to the writing, the story became more entertaining. The characters are at least mildly endearing, their drama and the story absurd, and there's some wonderful one-liners in there that made me crack up.
I can't in good conscience recommend this book (the bad guy is a comically evil capitalist and I don't know how to feel about everyone being horny for each other) but I had a good time reading it.
However, as I got used to the writing, the story became more entertaining. The characters are at least mildly endearing, their drama and the story absurd, and there's some wonderful one-liners in there that made me crack up.
I can't in good conscience recommend this book (the bad guy is a comically evil capitalist and I don't know how to feel about everyone being horny for each other) but I had a good time reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Colonisation, Genocide, Grief, Infidelity, and Murder
dantanian_noir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chibiloki's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
blurrypetals's review against another edition
2.0
This one is a really unfortunate victim of DNF Day for me. This book actually proves there is such a thing as too much representation. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about representation of any sort, but the rep felt incredibly forced and stale and dead on arrival. Rather than working in characters' identities as the story went on it was as if each character was obligated to state their name, the Arthurian character they were based on, their sexual orientation, and their race the second they were introduced. It's weird and inorganic and it was instantly off-putting in every way. I want to read stories from LGBTQIA+ voices that feel authentic, like what Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli do, or what Sarah Rees Brennan did in In Other Lands, where the world is beautiful and fantastical and our main character also just so happens to be bi. This feels like a fun, great concept that was ruined by bad fanfiction.