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kcpixie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: War
conspystery's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was drawn to this book on two premises: that it was Arthurian, and that it was written in verse. I love Arthurian literature and I’ve never read a YA novel written in a verse format, so I was super excited to read this book!
Overall, I liked it. I thought the writing style suited the protagonist Elaine quite well; it was simple but lilting and drifting like a song at points, understated but clear and easy to follow. The poetry or verse format was super interesting and compelling to read-- I only wish the author had done more with it, really played into the poetry aspect when the story called for it as she did a few times throughout. I’m glad it wasn’t overplayed, but I almost feel like it was under-utilized. I wish more had been done with it, because in the moments when the poetry was allowed to construct the narrative, it was glorious in its effect, perfectly complementing Elaine’s narration and character, the atmosphere of the setting, and the stakes of the story.
The characters were a point of contention for me throughout this book. For a story that centers so heavily on the relationships between characters, I have to admit they felt a bit one-dimensional to me at times. I understand there are constraints when handling pre-existing characters who have to follow a general narrative guideline, but with the amount of liberties and departures already taken from typical Arthurian legend and retellings of it, I felt that more could have been done to give the cast depth, especially early on in the novel.
Elaine, as the voice of the story itself, drove the narrative-- but sometimes she seemed too simple or too flat as a character. It’s especially clear in her relationships with other characters throughout the book, most notably with Lancelot, Gwynivere, and Tristan. She was so preoccupied with Lancelot that it hampered her own character, not to mention that the “romance” between them when it existed at all was uncomfortable at best. I wish the narrative had done more to treat her obsession with him as mere childish admiration, and I wish Lancelot had addressed that side of it more than he did in passing at the end, because so much of Elaine’s character revolved around growing out of it. Her fixation on him and, later, Tristan-- which felt underdeveloped and sudden in its own right!-- took from her autonomy as a character, which, as she constantly voiced frustration in being viewed as anything less than an independent woman, damaged the novel’s message as a whole. Her arc with Gwynivere furthered that theme, though their reconciliation made up for it; I wish it had happened sooner in the novel, and I wish Gwynivere herself was allowed more depth rather than being defined by the men around her as Elaine was.
But when this book shone, it really shone. Interestingly enough, while I wasn’t drawn to Elaine’s romance and love interests, the side characters and supporting cast of the novel were absolutely compelling to me. Even those we see only briefly were intriguing; one of my favorites was the Merlin, whose depiction was delightfully mysterious and eerie even if only in passing. I loved Elaine’s relationships outside of her romance: her relationships with her brothers were genuine and painted with just the right amount of grief and wistfulness for their mother to give them the depth they needed, unlike some of the main cast. Morgan was also compelling. I wish her relationship with Elaine had been explored in more depth. This story’s Arthur was not overbearing in his actual appearances, but managed such a quiet sense of thoughtful nobility when he did appear that it was natural to fall into the same respect he commanded from his people in the narrative. The supporting cast was also wonderful-- not detailed to the point of redundancy, but well-rounded in their own right. The best of this cast was, I felt, Gawain. Even his physical character descriptions lended a tangible presence to him whenever he appeared, tall and powerful but not imposing, battle-weary but friendly and kind as he could manage. I found Elaine’s interactions with side characters more compelling than the actual main cast of the novel.
Ultimately, I think this book does what it sets out to do. The poetry is deliberate, flowing, and engaging if a bit under-utilized, and the plot itself is passable for a YA romance novel. This take on the Arthurian setting was intriguingly bleak and ordinary, without the vibrance other retellings often overplay. The main cast could’ve been more developed, including Elaine, but the surrounding characters and moments of inspired, graceful writing helped make up for it. Not a perfect book, but I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
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