Rating: 4 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
What better book to read for the Past/Future Week challenge than a book about the Once and Future King, Arthur himself? While his actual past may be more mythical than historical, the place and peoples it’s based on were real. When I was younger, King Arthur was one of my favorite stories, so when the chance to grab another Arthurian retelling showed up, of course I grabbed it with greedy hands.
This version of the Arthur story involves a 14-year-old boy — right on the cusp of adolescence — who is all emotions, impulses, and insecurity. One moment he’s trying to save his cousin (who is risking his life by pretending to be a knight), and then next he’s the new King of Camelot. He’s surrounded and protected by Merlin, the handsome and mercurial man now guiding Arthur through his new role in life, and the Knights of the Round Table, each of whom seem to think they would be better with almost anyone other than Arthur.
Already facing multiple attempts on his life, hateful gossip in the palace as people wonder how long it will take him to die (or wishing he’d die), and a confusing kiss with the handsome and charming Mordred, Arthur decides to leave it all behind. The magic sword, the fine clothes, the title that fits him like an iron collar around his neck, and vanishes into the dark depths of city only to find that peasant, king, or nothing at all, he can’t ignore the cries of the poor girl screaming for help.
Somehow, Arthur has to find a way to prove to himself that he deserves to be king, and then prove it to everyone else, as well as to find out who is behind the assassination attempts on his life — while surviving them — and then, when he has a moment to spare, he has to try to figure out what to do about his feelings for Mordred. Is it so much to ask for a King to be able to love his Knight?
This book reads a little on the younger side of the YA spectrum, in part because Arthur and Mordred are 14 and 15 respectively, and the oldest of the Knights isn’t even 20, yet. There’s a lot of action and a lot of angst. Arthur has to overcome his own insecurities while, at the same time, standing up to the omnipresent disdain, uncertainty, calculation, and indifference of everyone around him. Only his Knights seem to see the young man behind the Holy Sword, and even so, they don’t start out with much faith in him.
I will say that, pacing wise, it got a small bit repetitive with what felt to be an assassination attempt every three chapters. Other than that, things moved at a fairly brisk pace and, while I personally would have liked to see more time given over to Mordred and Arthur’s friendship, I still very much enjoyed the book. Enough so that I read it in one sitting, which isn’t always the case, for me. It’s interesting seeing a different take on what are, to me, familiar characters and archetypes. Mordred, Lancelot, Galahad, Tristan, Percival, and Gawain are all present, but it’s clear the author has written them into her own vision and her own story.
This was fun and cute and I enjoyed it for what it was. Enough so that if the author writes a follow up, I’d be very interested to get ahold of it.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for Past/Future Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win one of two great book bundles from Carina Press (you can see the details and full event prize list here)! Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by NineStar Press: a Kindle Paperwhite loaded with 50 NineStar Press books! You can get more information on our Challenge Month here (including all the contest rules) and more details on Past/Future Week here.Â
The Once and Future King is one of my favorite books, and this latest reimagining of the King Arthur ‘s legends sounds very interesting. I’m curious to see where the author takes this story if it’s a series.
Once and Future King is my favorite version, too. I just love TH White’s writing. It’s always so interesting to see how other authors take this story and turn it into something new. I especially hope — should there be a sequel — to see more from Guinevere, Morgan le Fay and some of the women.
I’ve only read one King Arthur retelling and that was years and years ago, so I’d be interested in reading another. I also really love the cover of this!
This really is a fun YA retelling, but it sticks close to the feel of White’s early chapters with Arthur as a young, sweet kid. And yes, it’s an amazing cover!
Thanks for your review, Elizabeth. I think I’m a little burned out on King Arthur tales, so I’m not the audience for this book. Like Sunny, I think that the cover is very attractive.
I suppose I can understand that not everyone loves the same things I do (though they should! 😛 ). Fortunately there are so many books to read you’re bound to find something that hits you just right.
Thanks for the interview. this seems to be an interesting take on one of the many King Arthur books.
I am of the opinion that there can never be too many Arthur books, haha.
I wasn’t really interested in this book before and had dismissed it. You’ve convinced me to take a second look.
I’m glad to hear it! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to read this!
Then you have good taste! 🙂
I’m not really a fan of King arthur, I feel like it’s been overdone. Though I do enjoy stories with action in it.
Well, if you do give this one a try, I hope you enjoy it.
King Arthur is one of my fav legends, I’ve read all the versions I’ve found (from studing the Vulgate I studied at College to more fanciful ones… I’ll certainly give this story a go. It sounds really interesting. Thank you for the review, Elizabeth
Always good to find more Arthur fans out there! 😛
I enjoy King Arthur retellings very much, but the characters in this books is too young/immature for me to enjoy reading abort.
I completely understand. To be fair, the target audience is also probably a bit on the young side, haha.
I can honestly say that every time I saw promo for this book, I didn’t really gave it too much attention. King Arthur was a bit overused as a subject in literature and movies, so I couldn’t see what this author could bring to the table lol.
But now you convinced me to give it a try.
I’m glad to hear it! 🙂 This really was an intriguing set up and nice writing.
I’m glad you liked the book. I think I’m too attached to BBC Merlin fandom to accept the book pairing 🙂
I completely understand the feeling. That was such a fun series …
This sounds like an interesting take on the Arthurian legend especially with the YA approach. It’s quite far outside my usual reading wheelhouse, but I’m intrigued.
It looks like this is the first in a series. I have to wonder how far into his life the series will take it’s readers. I could be very interested in reading this, but I think I want to wait until more volumes are out. Are there any more Arthurian-legend-based MM novels out there I should know about? Thanks for the review!
I have to admit I’ve never read any books about the Arthurian legend. I don’t know if I should start with this one.
Thanks for sharing your review! This sounds like a fun read and a fun take on King Arthur and other characters. It can be really interesting to get another take on a classic. Definitely a book I think I’ll check out.