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nkarthouse's review against another edition
4.0
A riveting Fantasy tale. I bought this book simply for the cover. After getting about 40 pgs in, I realized it's book 2 of a trilogy. I look forward to continuing the story.
moonsmantic's review against another edition
2.0
The first book in this series is so good. I read it when I was a kid, and decided to re-read just to see if it was as good as I remembered and it was! Then I discovered it's a trilogy so I thought I'd check out the next two books. Well, having now read this one, I'm a bit discouraged. This really felt anticlimactic. I was so excited to see the knights being transported to present day, and the author did absolutely NOTHING with that premise. Like, I know it would've been hard to make all of them full characters but at least do more with recognisable ones we all know and love like Lancelot. As it is, I actually genuinely hated all of them and found them deeply useless. I get that carousing and having a good time is probably what they'd be into, but they were also deeply loyal and have been searching for their king for hundreds of years, their lack of focus to the mission was absurd given previous characterisation and how they were built up. The story with Arthur, Beatrice and Merlin wasn't much better. Beatrice is such a flat, non-character, who we're supposed to care about because... I don't know... she's blind... or pretty... something.... And frankly I'd have preferred if she died, her value was only in the sacrifice and the only time she was interesting was when she was possessed. Where was Emily??? It's like the book forgot all about her halfway through and yet her reuniting with her nephew and Hal was one of the strongest emotional through lines from the first book.
Thanatos/Aubrey could've been a good villain. He had his moments but he felt like discount Saladin most of the time. And it was all a bit too convenient. Once we find out he's the reincarnation of Merlin's kid, I almost closed the book and gave up right then and there. Just absurd levels of coincidence. There's also something uncomfortably orientalist about the good vs. evil in the story so far. Yes, we get it, all the brown people are evil and their magic is evil and only the pale druids have holy magic that will save the world! It just started to feel silly.
Just a massive let down and I'm not sure I have the energy or inclination to finish it but I feel like I must so I can say I did. But I think the core premise really becomes flawed the more I read. What place does the reincarnation of a medieval king have in modern day times? A king who wasn't even that good of a king. Like what did Arthur actually do? He wasn't a savvy politician, he wasn't especially smart, he just has good branding and made his knights sit at a round table to offer the illusion of equality when... it was just that - an illusion. He was and always is the king, and they defer to him in all things because of it. What is he supposed to do? What golden age is he meant to usher in - in a present day world? He'd probably be more useful if he joined the Peace Corps than whatever he'll end up doing.
I'll see if I have energy to complete the trilogy but maybe I need a break.
Thanatos/Aubrey could've been a good villain. He had his moments but he felt like discount Saladin most of the time. And it was all a bit too convenient. Once we find out he's the reincarnation of Merlin's kid, I almost closed the book and gave up right then and there. Just absurd levels of coincidence. There's also something uncomfortably orientalist about the good vs. evil in the story so far. Yes, we get it, all the brown people are evil and their magic is evil and only the pale druids have holy magic that will save the world! It just started to feel silly.
Just a massive let down and I'm not sure I have the energy or inclination to finish it but I feel like I must so I can say I did. But I think the core premise really becomes flawed the more I read. What place does the reincarnation of a medieval king have in modern day times? A king who wasn't even that good of a king. Like what did Arthur actually do? He wasn't a savvy politician, he wasn't especially smart, he just has good branding and made his knights sit at a round table to offer the illusion of equality when... it was just that - an illusion. He was and always is the king, and they defer to him in all things because of it. What is he supposed to do? What golden age is he meant to usher in - in a present day world? He'd probably be more useful if he joined the Peace Corps than whatever he'll end up doing.
I'll see if I have energy to complete the trilogy but maybe I need a break.
thatfantasybookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I was prepared to not love this book as much as the first in the series, based upon the reviews that I read. I found that I have to respectfully disagree with those reviews. I loved this book - great characters, action packed, funny... definitely kept me up reading late into the night. I've already got book three out of the library.
bskts4ver's review against another edition
4.0
I was so surprised to discover that one of my favorite King Arthur re-tellings "The Forever King" had two more books in the series twenty some years later. I had to re-read "The Forever King" because it has been 20 years since I read it, but I enjoyed it just as much. I also enjoyed this second book also. It gave us a little more background on the druids and Taliesin's connection. We're also introduced to Beatrice, who becomes friends with Arthur and Taliesin. I laughed out loud at Hal's journey with the Knights to New York to help Arthur recover and protect the Grail.
ragingnarwhale's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.0
sootytugboat0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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? No
4.75
kellyjcm's review against another edition
2.0
I did not like it nearly as much as the first one, which I read first in 1994 and have reread multiple times. I am hoping that the third book brings back the magic I remember from the first book.