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nicolamichelle's review
2.0
I can’t dispute the fact that this was brilliantly narrated. Seriously, amazingly performed. It was a fantastic production with some great actors it’s just… the story was meh. Or rather, the lack of story.
It didn’t seem to have much of a plot, at least, not that I could follow and I just didn’t enjoy it that much. I loved the performance and the voice actors were what kept me listening but I don’t think this was the greatest adaptation of the Arthurian legend. It was a bit underwhelming!
I had high hopes for this and as it went on it just failed to hook me. I didn’t know where the story was going but at least the actors were good. Great sound effects and it was very immersive. But I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I thought it would!
It didn’t seem to have much of a plot, at least, not that I could follow and I just didn’t enjoy it that much. I loved the performance and the voice actors were what kept me listening but I don’t think this was the greatest adaptation of the Arthurian legend. It was a bit underwhelming!
I had high hopes for this and as it went on it just failed to hook me. I didn’t know where the story was going but at least the actors were good. Great sound effects and it was very immersive. But I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I thought it would!
dmcke013's review
2.0
For some reason, and I don't know why, but modern stories about Arthur, the once and future King, always seem to miss the mark with me. Maybe it's because little can compare to [a:T.H. White|426944|T.H. White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246071532p2/426944.jpg]'s [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338741283l/43545._SY75_.jpg|1140206]?
(That's not to say that there are enjoyable stories set in and around the same period - [a:Giles Kristian|2776821|Giles Kristian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519755456p2/2776821.jpg]'s [b:Lancelot|36055895|Lancelot (The Arthurian Tales, #1)|Giles Kristian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523279230l/36055895._SY75_.jpg|57634497], for example.)
Still, I live in hope.
It was that hope that led me to pre-order this Audible exclusive, described as somewhat akin to [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg]'s [b:The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur|68520|The Winter King A Novel of Arthur (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)|Bernard Cornwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311987677l/68520._SY75_.jpg|115813] trilogy (incidentally, the authors favourite, and that I couldn't really get into that much the last time I tried: might be time for another re-read!).
Now I've read (listened) to it, and I feel it could probably best be summed up in one word: "M'eh".
This Arthur, I found, was thoroughly unlikeable. Yes, I know he could be at times in the originals, but the key phrase there is 'at times'; not for the entirety of the story! Never the less, I persevered throughout to see if it would improve: I have to say, however, that the other recent Audible original ([b:Assassin's Creed: Gold|51834945|Assassin's Creed Gold|Anthony Del Col|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582825458l/51834945._SX50_.jpg|76325638]) was far better, in my opinion.
(That's not to say that there are enjoyable stories set in and around the same period - [a:Giles Kristian|2776821|Giles Kristian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519755456p2/2776821.jpg]'s [b:Lancelot|36055895|Lancelot (The Arthurian Tales, #1)|Giles Kristian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523279230l/36055895._SY75_.jpg|57634497], for example.)
Still, I live in hope.
It was that hope that led me to pre-order this Audible exclusive, described as somewhat akin to [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg]'s [b:The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur|68520|The Winter King A Novel of Arthur (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)|Bernard Cornwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311987677l/68520._SY75_.jpg|115813] trilogy (incidentally, the authors favourite, and that I couldn't really get into that much the last time I tried: might be time for another re-read!).
Now I've read (listened) to it, and I feel it could probably best be summed up in one word: "M'eh".
This Arthur, I found, was thoroughly unlikeable. Yes, I know he could be at times in the originals, but the key phrase there is 'at times'; not for the entirety of the story! Never the less, I persevered throughout to see if it would improve: I have to say, however, that the other recent Audible original ([b:Assassin's Creed: Gold|51834945|Assassin's Creed Gold|Anthony Del Col|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582825458l/51834945._SX50_.jpg|76325638]) was far better, in my opinion.
cutsajack's review
3.0
A pretty good audiobook. The story is quite short and succinct. I appreciated the sound effects of the battle sequences; they are very immersive.
The listener is immediately thrust into the world with no explanation of characters as there is no narration, and therefore there is a bit of a learning curve to establish the characters, although I am familiar with the Arthurian legend from other works.
Happy reading!
The listener is immediately thrust into the world with no explanation of characters as there is no narration, and therefore there is a bit of a learning curve to establish the characters, although I am familiar with the Arthurian legend from other works.
Happy reading!
kolymaarasto's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
The worst retelling of the Arthur legend I have yet come across. Weird plot, unlikeable characters - from what we learn about Arthur, he would have been no better king than his evil cousin, and while we hear again and again how beloved he is, we are shown nothing that tells us why. The only somewhat sane character is Owein, who doesn't get any credit and is constantly belittled or ignored by Arthur, to whom he stayes loyal to the end anyway.
simplybethany's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hoarderreader's review
2.0
The story is pretty basic but the main problem is that is basically a theatre play on audio. It's a story without narrative in which the dialogues and sound effects tell you what it's actually happening. A disappointing movie that you can't see.
janeger's review
2.0
I thought this was a bit disappointing. I liked the idea and the idea of the characters, but it was too fast-paced for audio (maybe would work as a stage play with added visuals), and too shallow - there wasn't enough character development and it assumed too much of a prior historical knowledge of British history during the dark ages and prior to that.
ash_and_books's review
1.0
What a crock of shit this was story wise. Honestly one of the worst Arthurian retellings. It was all over the place, especially at the end
olliebolen's review
1.0
This was not worth the listen. The best part, I will say, was the acting and immersive sound effects. However, this wasn't always a good thing, either as there were 2 sex scenes that I definitely could have lived without.
There were very few female characters, and fewer still were actually developed. Indeed, 2 were love interests of Arthur, 1 was immediately killed for no reason, and the last existed purely to show what a jerk the king's son is, so as to make Arthur look better by comparison.
Both Arthur and his uncle (the king before him) are weirdly obsessed with emulating great Ancient Roman heroes, to the point where they're both part of the Cult of Mithras, and Arthur's horse is named Bucephalus (a nod to Alexander the Great's beloved horse).
Arthur's friend Awaine is set up as a Patroclus to Arthur's Achilles.
However, the only thing Arthur has in common with Achilles is a propensity to sulk. Arthur is a flat character with 0 sympathetic points. The parts that follow his exploits are the least interesting.
He proves himself dishonorable and prejudiced. In fact, the only way you could find Arthur less than morally reprehensible is if you truly believe that following a traditional religion (as opposed to Christianity) warrants the death penalty, to be meted out by any sword-bearing Christian passing by.
I absolutely would not recommend this book.
There were very few female characters, and fewer still were actually developed. Indeed, 2 were love interests of Arthur, 1 was immediately killed for no reason, and the last existed purely to show what a jerk the king's son is, so as to make Arthur look better by comparison.
Both Arthur and his uncle (the king before him) are weirdly obsessed with emulating great Ancient Roman heroes, to the point where they're both part of the Cult of Mithras, and Arthur's horse is named Bucephalus (a nod to Alexander the Great's beloved horse).
Arthur's friend Awaine is set up as a Patroclus to Arthur's Achilles.
However, the only thing Arthur has in common with Achilles is a propensity to sulk. Arthur is a flat character with 0 sympathetic points. The parts that follow his exploits are the least interesting.
He proves himself dishonorable and prejudiced. In fact, the only way you could find Arthur less than morally reprehensible is if you truly believe that following a traditional religion (as opposed to Christianity) warrants the death penalty, to be meted out by any sword-bearing Christian passing by.
I absolutely would not recommend this book.