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rockparade's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Lancelot sucks a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
atlascore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“In the castle of Benwick, the French boy was looking at his face in the polished surface of a kettle-hat. It flashed in the sunlight with the stubborn gleam of metal. It was practically the same as the steel helmet which soldiers still wear, and it did not make a good mirror, but it was the best he could get. He turned the hat in various directions, hoping to get an average idea of his face from the different distoritons which the bulges made. He was trying to find out what he was, and he was afraid of what he would find.
The boy thought that there was something wrong with him. All through his life--even when he was a great man with the world at his feet--he was to feel this gap: something at the bottom of his heart of which he was aware, and ashamed, but which he did not understand. There is no need for us to try to understand it. We do not have to dabble in a place which he preferred to keep secret.”
this book fucked me UP. 4 stars for yearning queer Lancelot & his trauma, .5 stars for being an engaging retelling of the Arthur mythos + having fascinating commentary on mythmaking and history and so on. #priorities
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Racism
lynnegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, and Infertility
birdbrainbooks's review against another edition
There are definitely some iconic, magical moments in this book, particularly in here (The Sword and the Stone): the Wart meeting Merlyn in the woods and first visiting his cabin; meeting Merlyn’s talking owl Archimedes; encountering Robin Hood/Wood and his band of outlaws during one adventure.
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If you love knights, 11th Century or Norman-Saxon history, or general interest in King Arthur and the Arthurian legends, definitely give it a go. Some of the later books felt a bit like swimming through concrete, so I stopped after halfway through Book Two. Bear in mind—this book was published in 1958 and sections were written in the 30s/40s; the language can be somewhat stilted and there are a few moments that are outright offensive in light of today. The racism and misogyny is real.
.
If you love knights, 11th Century or Norman-Saxon history, or general interest in King Arthur and the Arthurian legends, definitely give it a go. Some of the later books felt a bit like swimming through concrete, so I stopped after halfway through Book Two. Bear in mind—this book was published in 1958 and sections were written in the 30s/40s; the language can be somewhat stilted and there are a few moments that are outright offensive in light of today. The racism and misogyny is real.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest, Misogyny, and Racial slurs