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A review by elmolibrary
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Political rating 3 ⭐️
Arthur x Excalibur story based on Nimue perspective? 2.5 ⭐️
Moral of the story and the ending? 4⭐️
3⭐️— The idea of the story from Nimue’s perspective in this book captured my curious heart immediately. I do expect that it would be some sort of sisterhood and woman empowerment in the historical and fantasy sense. Even though it was not as good as I thought but the political movement in this book deserves applause!
The story began a long way before Arthur is a King. The beginning of this story starts with Ygraine and her husband (I already forgot the name) having a regular marriage as King and Queen, however, when it comes to making the Uther itself, some political sense comes to mind, and threatened each other. Merlin, the greatest sorcerer at that time who also can see the future, holds dear the plan of making that certain man “The Great King”. However, Nimue knew about that and tried her best to help Ygraine and stop Arthur. The interesting story began when Nimue comes back from the exiled and showed up on Arthur’s doorstep knowing that Morgana has a magical sense in her blood.
The Issues:
①Clothes and appearance as symbols, mostly clothes known as fashion symbols as well as the status of wealth. In this book, the clothes also define as the emotion and the status of people but not as a fashion. For example, as pointed out mainly in this book; showing up your hair without anything covering your head, will label you as a whore.
②Male or Men always feel inferior, not a surprise or shocking event because male always has their own pride to behold. And in this book, the egoism and pride they had to have their own cruel way to the world. Simultaneously known as a man’s word was law. Therefore, even though when the ruler itself is a woman, they are still seen as a lower standard-the woman. Even then, when the negotiation comes, the woman cannot have their own voices.
③Don’t send a man to do a woman’s job.
④The Motherhood, whether likes it or not, motherhood feeling on a woman always comes up when it comes to their own child. In this case, even though Ygraine holds a grudge about how she got Arthur as her son in the first place, she still wanted to keep Arthur safe at all cost.
⑤Fame vs the Unknown, well, I know this was a shocking event when it comes to Merlin and Nimue. As I know so far, Nimue is much more powerful than Merlin, but I have no idea she is that powerful. Even Merlin can be beaten up by Nimue itself when Nimue barely uses her own magic threads. However, it was indeed odd because Merlin, the greatest sorcerer of all time can even be defeated by so me mere sorcerer.
⑥The Opposite Ruler, Uther known as “The Dictator” to my liking, Arthur has his own way to rule the Kingdom, he would like to make the other person in the round table he had as equal. It is also proof that sometimes, the apples fall a bit far from the trees.
⑦The Different ways of Death, hanged or burned. When it comes to someone who had magic and is a woman, it must be sure to be burned. Because in this book clearly mentioned that if a woman hanged, male could see something under the skirt. It was also proof of which point of view this book wanted to be. Because it showed up that male is a perverted human but it doesn’t mean that female is not either.
⑧Siblings different treatment and Jealousy. Every parent will always have their own favorite child even though they always denied upfront but deep down, they would know which one is their favorite. It makes the siblings feel of jealous on each other and makes the crumble of household sometimes.
The Characters, I do not have any favorite or some well-known character that piqued my interest. They have their own unique way of certain storylines but they were not out of place or some sort. Then the shocking part is some character has an eye-opener on me while reading it and gave me the vibes of “Holy, I had no idea that he/ she is that disgraceful” or something. The writing is not quite making me bored even though some part does confuse me because of the words chosen. However, for the historical genre, this book is quite relaxing to read. Also, since it was picked from Nimue's point of view, many things I had no knowledge of because mostly, the book or the story about Arthur and the Great Table or whatever the title is, always has Arthur and Merlin's point of view. Then, this book has its own plus point from me. The Storyline, is damn well written because it just goes with the flow and the claimed feminist retelling did a great job of delivering in its own way! Also, the magic in this book is well known as everything comes with a price which not many authors can deliver this well. GOOD JOB! The main moral of the story and the main meaning of Excalibur. It has me hooked on the last story in this book. It was a great and laughing matter to me because I did not expect these at all. The reason behind it, was those three women or I could say four of them
To conclude, I like this book even though it took me long enough to read it because I have a few times a day when my work wasn’t on the way. This book has delivered in its own style about feminism Arthur retelling as well as from different points of view that we knew. It is refreshing and relaxing despite some unfamiliar words, too many characters' names to be remembered, and the political sense that has my brain wrecked sometimes. However, this book if it was compared to the other historical about Arthur and Excalibur, I like this one better because it hits differently and it got varian of emotional feelings on the surface.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me e-arc of this book and giving me the privilege to read it before the publication date. Also, I would like to apologize to give the full review one month after the publication.
Arthur x Excalibur story based on Nimue perspective? 2.5 ⭐️
Moral of the story and the ending? 4⭐️
3⭐️— The idea of the story from Nimue’s perspective in this book captured my curious heart immediately. I do expect that it would be some sort of sisterhood and woman empowerment in the historical and fantasy sense. Even though it was not as good as I thought but the political movement in this book deserves applause!
The story began a long way before Arthur is a King. The beginning of this story starts with Ygraine and her husband (I already forgot the name) having a regular marriage as King and Queen, however, when it comes to making the Uther itself, some political sense comes to mind, and threatened each other. Merlin, the greatest sorcerer at that time who also can see the future, holds dear the plan of making that certain man “The Great King”. However, Nimue knew about that and tried her best to help Ygraine and stop Arthur. The interesting story began when Nimue comes back from the exiled and showed up on Arthur’s doorstep knowing that Morgana has a magical sense in her blood.
The Issues:
①Clothes and appearance as symbols, mostly clothes known as fashion symbols as well as the status of wealth. In this book, the clothes also define as the emotion and the status of people but not as a fashion. For example, as pointed out mainly in this book; showing up your hair without anything covering your head, will label you as a whore.
②Male or Men always feel inferior, not a surprise or shocking event because male always has their own pride to behold. And in this book, the egoism and pride they had to have their own cruel way to the world. Simultaneously known as a man’s word was law. Therefore, even though when the ruler itself is a woman, they are still seen as a lower standard-the woman. Even then, when the negotiation comes, the woman cannot have their own voices.
③Don’t send a man to do a woman’s job.
④The Motherhood, whether likes it or not, motherhood feeling on a woman always comes up when it comes to their own child. In this case, even though Ygraine holds a grudge about how she got Arthur as her son in the first place, she still wanted to keep Arthur safe at all cost.
⑤Fame vs the Unknown, well, I know this was a shocking event when it comes to Merlin and Nimue. As I know so far, Nimue is much more powerful than Merlin, but I have no idea she is that powerful. Even Merlin can be beaten up by Nimue itself when Nimue barely uses her own magic threads. However, it was indeed odd because Merlin, the greatest sorcerer of all time can even be defeated by so me mere sorcerer.
⑥The Opposite Ruler, Uther known as “The Dictator” to my liking, Arthur has his own way to rule the Kingdom, he would like to make the other person in the round table he had as equal. It is also proof that sometimes, the apples fall a bit far from the trees.
⑦The Different ways of Death, hanged or burned. When it comes to someone who had magic and is a woman, it must be sure to be burned. Because in this book clearly mentioned that if a woman hanged, male could see something under the skirt. It was also proof of which point of view this book wanted to be. Because it showed up that male is a perverted human but it doesn’t mean that female is not either.
⑧Siblings different treatment and Jealousy. Every parent will always have their own favorite child even though they always denied upfront but deep down, they would know which one is their favorite. It makes the siblings feel of jealous on each other and makes the crumble of household sometimes.
The Characters, I do not have any favorite or some well-known character that piqued my interest. They have their own unique way of certain storylines but they were not out of place or some sort. Then the shocking part is some character has an eye-opener on me while reading it and gave me the vibes of “Holy, I had no idea that he/ she is that disgraceful” or something. The writing is not quite making me bored even though some part does confuse me because of the words chosen. However, for the historical genre, this book is quite relaxing to read. Also, since it was picked from Nimue's point of view, many things I had no knowledge of because mostly, the book or the story about Arthur and the Great Table or whatever the title is, always has Arthur and Merlin's point of view. Then, this book has its own plus point from me. The Storyline, is damn well written because it just goes with the flow and the claimed feminist retelling did a great job of delivering in its own way! Also, the magic in this book is well known as everything comes with a price which not many authors can deliver this well. GOOD JOB! The main moral of the story and the main meaning of Excalibur. It has me hooked on the last story in this book. It was a great and laughing matter to me because I did not expect these at all. The reason behind it, was those three women or I could say four of them
To conclude, I like this book even though it took me long enough to read it because I have a few times a day when my work wasn’t on the way. This book has delivered in its own style about feminism Arthur retelling as well as from different points of view that we knew. It is refreshing and relaxing despite some unfamiliar words, too many characters' names to be remembered, and the political sense that has my brain wrecked sometimes. However, this book if it was compared to the other historical about Arthur and Excalibur, I like this one better because it hits differently and it got varian of emotional feelings on the surface.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me e-arc of this book and giving me the privilege to read it before the publication date. Also, I would like to apologize to give the full review one month after the publication.