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A review by talknerdybookblog
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
No strong representations of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 5-stars
I can already tell this will be a top contender for my favourite book of 2022. I’m in shock by how much I loved Half Sick of Shadows. The narrative and seamless weaving of the past, present and future feels like art.
Elaine’s visions of the future give the reader the doomed fate of Guinevere, Arther, Lancelot and Morgana reminiscent of the original poem and many retellings. However, the present follows Elaine and she struggles with her gift to find some alternate fate for her friends.
The found family aspect of this book was pivotal to the plot. The flashbacks to Elaine meeting the group and her childhood in Avalon give some context to the story but also seamlessly connect to the present and future scenes by revealing key information. Part of why I tend to shy away from Arthurian retellings is that I could never understand how a group of such close friends could betray each other so horribly. However, Half Sick of Shadows demonstrates how smaller betrayals of family can yield unforgivable consequences.
While the romance partnered Gwen with Arther, and Elaine with Lancelot, I can see where some readers have seen a queer-coded relationship between Elaine and Morgana. To be honest, I think each of the women are coded as bisexual but it’s not ever confirmed. I love how the author wasn’t afraid to lean into the doomed relationships. The fact that Elaine has Seen Lancelot betray her with Gwen added so much tension to her relationship with Lancelot. Their relationship came across as an allegory of Elaine’s aversion to their fate as she’s Seen it. While she can see the future, Elaine often forget she’s an architect of that future too. By living her life reacting to moments that haven’t yet come to pass, her life and happiness is passing her by.
My favourite parts of the book are of course the women characters: Elaine, Guinevere and Morgana. They are so strong in their own ways and their friendships mirrored the very realistic ups and downs of genuine real-life relationships. The author's feminist retelling not only centers the voice of Elaine in Arthur’s Legend but calls out and challenges the sexist characterizations that figured Morgana — an all-powerful sorceress, uncontrollable by men — as evil personified and reduced Guinevere — a warrior queen in her own right — to broodmare and traitor.
The final arc of the story reaffirms the feminist arc by challenging the most important rule at the heart of Arthurian retellings: Arthur above all else.
But as Morgana asks Elaine, where is her line? What is she willing to sacrifice to protect Arthur?
Beware, beware three maidens fair
With bloody hands in divine air.
Help not the girl whom others blame
She’ll burn the world to ash and flame.
Trust not the girl with the golden crown
She’ll take what’s yours and watch you drown.
And my Lily Maid will scream and cry.
She’ll break them both and then she’ll die.
Mature Themes: Yes
• Sex scenes are alluded to not but not descriptive
• Alcohol consumption
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Sexism
• Suicide (on-page by drowning, not very descriptive)
• Infidelity (occurs in a vision of the future)
• Sword violence
• Blood
• Medical trauma
• Parental neglect and abuse
• Beheading
• Death of supporting characters, including (view spoiler).
Ending:Because of Elaine’s actions, Guinevere ends up being the one who takes a fatally wounded Arthur to the lake. Morgana and Elaine meet them on a boat. All the women take Arthur to Avalon where they decide to reincarnate his soul so that he’ll only rest once his land knows peace.
Lancelot died in battle fighting beside Arthur and Guinevere. It’s assumed that after Elaine left and Guinevere took back her rightful throne, Arthur and Gwen remained happily married until his death. And Lancelot never broke his vow to Elaine.
Overall: 5-stars
I can already tell this will be a top contender for my favourite book of 2022. I’m in shock by how much I loved Half Sick of Shadows. The narrative and seamless weaving of the past, present and future feels like art.
Elaine’s visions of the future give the reader the doomed fate of Guinevere, Arther, Lancelot and Morgana reminiscent of the original poem and many retellings. However, the present follows Elaine and she struggles with her gift to find some alternate fate for her friends.
The found family aspect of this book was pivotal to the plot. The flashbacks to Elaine meeting the group and her childhood in Avalon give some context to the story but also seamlessly connect to the present and future scenes by revealing key information. Part of why I tend to shy away from Arthurian retellings is that I could never understand how a group of such close friends could betray each other so horribly. However, Half Sick of Shadows demonstrates how smaller betrayals of family can yield unforgivable consequences.
While the romance partnered Gwen with Arther, and Elaine with Lancelot, I can see where some readers have seen a queer-coded relationship between Elaine and Morgana. To be honest, I think each of the women are coded as bisexual but it’s not ever confirmed. I love how the author wasn’t afraid to lean into the doomed relationships. The fact that Elaine has Seen Lancelot betray her with Gwen added so much tension to her relationship with Lancelot. Their relationship came across as an allegory of Elaine’s aversion to their fate as she’s Seen it. While she can see the future, Elaine often forget she’s an architect of that future too. By living her life reacting to moments that haven’t yet come to pass, her life and happiness is passing her by.
My favourite parts of the book are of course the women characters: Elaine, Guinevere and Morgana. They are so strong in their own ways and their friendships mirrored the very realistic ups and downs of genuine real-life relationships. The author's feminist retelling not only centers the voice of Elaine in Arthur’s Legend but calls out and challenges the sexist characterizations that figured Morgana — an all-powerful sorceress, uncontrollable by men — as evil personified and reduced Guinevere — a warrior queen in her own right — to broodmare and traitor.
The final arc of the story reaffirms the feminist arc by challenging the most important rule at the heart of Arthurian retellings: Arthur above all else.
But as Morgana asks Elaine, where is her line? What is she willing to sacrifice to protect Arthur?
Beware, beware three maidens fair
With bloody hands in divine air.
Help not the girl whom others blame
She’ll burn the world to ash and flame.
Trust not the girl with the golden crown
She’ll take what’s yours and watch you drown.
And my Lily Maid will scream and cry.
She’ll break them both and then she’ll die.
Mature Themes: Yes
• Sex scenes are alluded to not but not descriptive
• Alcohol consumption
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Sexism
• Suicide (on-page by drowning, not very descriptive)
• Infidelity (occurs in a vision of the future)
• Sword violence
• Blood
• Medical trauma
• Parental neglect and abuse
• Beheading
• Death of supporting characters, including (view spoiler).
Ending:
Lancelot died in battle fighting beside Arthur and Guinevere. It’s assumed that after Elaine left and Guinevere took back her rightful throne, Arthur and Gwen remained happily married until his death. And Lancelot never broke his vow to Elaine.