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luckylulureads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Antisemitism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has such a unique premise and it absolutely delivered on it.
Back in the time of King Arthur, Merlin enchanted the Knights of the Round Table such that they would sleep, waiting beneath their designated tree, until times when the country was in peril. When the country was in peril they'd rise and help in its defense until the peril has passed, at which point they return to sleep beneath their trees to wait until the next time the need arises.
This time, Kay is awakened because global warming and international politics have left large sections of Great Britain underwater, the army has been outsourced to American mercenaries, a large percentage of the population is living in refugee camps, and Essex has essentially been sold to China. In the past, Kay has always recognized the world he woke up in, but now he's at a loss. It looks wrong, it smells wrong, and nothing about the present day realities seem to make sense.
This book does a wonderful job of balancing the weight of a terrifying, dystopian future with humor around humankind and how we behave. The banter was on point throughout. I loved how the story reimagines a lot of the widely known mythology around King Arthur and the familiar characters of Merlin, the knights, and more. This was such a great book and it was easy and quick to read - don't be intimidated by the length, it isn't a slow, weighty tome.
How can Kay help Mariam, a young eco-terrorist, save Britain? Will Arthur be reawakened? Is Lancelot helping them or working against them? And why have dragons returned to the land?
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Back in the time of King Arthur, Merlin enchanted the Knights of the Round Table such that they would sleep, waiting beneath their designated tree, until times when the country was in peril. When the country was in peril they'd rise and help in its defense until the peril has passed, at which point they return to sleep beneath their trees to wait until the next time the need arises.
This time, Kay is awakened because global warming and international politics have left large sections of Great Britain underwater, the army has been outsourced to American mercenaries, a large percentage of the population is living in refugee camps, and Essex has essentially been sold to China. In the past, Kay has always recognized the world he woke up in, but now he's at a loss. It looks wrong, it smells wrong, and nothing about the present day realities seem to make sense.
This book does a wonderful job of balancing the weight of a terrifying, dystopian future with humor around humankind and how we behave. The banter was on point throughout. I loved how the story reimagines a lot of the widely known mythology around King Arthur and the familiar characters of Merlin, the knights, and more. This was such a great book and it was easy and quick to read - don't be intimidated by the length, it isn't a slow, weighty tome.
How can Kay help Mariam, a young eco-terrorist, save Britain? Will Arthur be reawakened? Is Lancelot helping them or working against them? And why have dragons returned to the land?
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
ninjamuse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You know how sometimes you read a blurb and think, "This was written for me, I'm going to love it", and then you start reading and think, "This was totally written for me, I'm going to love it", and then you get to the end and think, "Yes, loved it!"
Perilous Times isn't a perfect book but it is a blast of a debut. It's full of off-kilter Arthuriana, humour that goes from light to dark at the drop of a hat, "sure, why not" moments, and political commentary that's both funny and way too real. The main characters were either intensely lovable or relatable or the sort of folks you love to hate, and sure, I saw some of the twists coming, but not all of them, and the ride, you guys, the ride that is this book…
Please add this to your TBRs if you enjoy any of the following:
- blowing up fracking facilities and accidentally releasing dragons
- protagonists who want so badly to make the world better but everything's so broken, how do you even do that?
- protagonists who've been around long enough everything is an "oh no, not this again"
- antagonists who are certain they're the good guys
- antagonists who know they're the bad guys and don't care
- "Can we trust this weirdo?" "I used to kill Nazis." "Great, you're in."
- man-out-of-time moments
- English folklore turned on its head and occasionally used to stab you
- a funny near-future that takes climate change seriously
- skewering the worst parts of political movements
- the Kingdom of Wales
- grab-bag world-building that shouldn't work but does
- niche historical references
- diverse protagonists who just are
- Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch, and/or T.H. White
Like I said, though, it's not perfect. Specifically, it does the thing where characters don't "get" stuff when they maybe should so that the author can really drive the themes home. But, like, that was really the only failing for me? And it gave me resurrected Arthurian knights and a recurring dragon and wacky magic and Faustian bargains and so many more tropes that are my catnip that I'm still giving this an 8/10. (Or, well, a 7.9 if I'm going to be more honest.)
It's out May 23. Watch for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcohol
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