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attolis's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
4.5
It could've done with some more trimming and editing, but otherwise, I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
selkelite's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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
5.0
Absolutely believe the hype. This is a modern classic.
No, really. This knocked me for six. Like, I knew I’d like it? But I didn’t know it would be my new favourite fantasy novel. By turns devastating, funny, exhilarating, rage-inducing. Beautifully historically researched. I certainly didn’t expect to be gently weeping over how much I love all of these characters. I didn’t expect it to be 90% of what I thought about during the day for the whole stretch of reading time.
God. Trust me. Buy this book.
No, really. This knocked me for six. Like, I knew I’d like it? But I didn’t know it would be my new favourite fantasy novel. By turns devastating, funny, exhilarating, rage-inducing. Beautifully historically researched. I certainly didn’t expect to be gently weeping over how much I love all of these characters. I didn’t expect it to be 90% of what I thought about during the day for the whole stretch of reading time.
God. Trust me. Buy this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death
bookforthought's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
slow-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
Whenever Britain is in peril, the Knights of Camelot will return to save it. In a not-so-distant future, forests have almost disappeared, the air is unbreathable, the waters are so polluted even minor deities struggle to survive while entire cities are flooded, contractors and businessmen run the country while Essex had to be sold to China, and a dragon is seen again for the first time in centuries... these are quite clearly perilous times indeed. But Kay, brother of King Arthur himself, is tired and can hardly keep up with all the changes and the wars he has already lived through. Besides, does the world really need knights anymore? Old legends and heroes are not always what they seem and, in this terrible context, the possibility of Arthur's return might be the worst thing yet to happen.
Perilous Times is an interesting mix of Arthurian queer retelling, contemporary fantasy and dystopia. The Britain it is set in appears to be very close to the end of times and was, frankly, quite terrifying. The climate crisis is a central element in this book and the depiction of one of the possible futures awaiting us is handled incredibly well, with vivid descriptions making it feel very real and imminent. This Britain is dark, desolate and poisoned, marred by an excess of individualism and frantic search for profit, with very few elements of humanity and compassion left in sight. It would be easy to despair and depict a bleak future, but the element of resistance is strong in this book, with pockets of hope and characters who just don't give up trying, even when there seems no point in it anymore.
Kay was an interesting main character, and he was quite easy to sympathise with most of the time. He has flaws and plenty of regrets and actively questions his place in the world and his role in history. When he meets Mariam, a young climate activist with a flair for action (and at times destruction), and her friends from FETA (the Feminist Environmentalist Transgressive Alliance, not the cheese), he figures he may just have found his place. That is, until Lancelot returns with plans to stop him. Several other characters from Arthurian legends make an appearance and most of them are not what we have been led to believe. The author's deep knowledge of the mythos and his interest in different interpretations of it shines through in the incredible detail involved. I have a fairly superficial knowledge of the legends, but still could very easily follow without ever feeling like I was being lectured.
Although it may seem that way from the publisher's blurb, this book is not all heavy action, sword fights between old knights and slaying dragons. Sure, there is a fair bit of that (and it is highly entertaining!), but there is also quite a lot of politics and people reflecting on the state of the world and a possible way forward when all hope for the future seems lost. There is also a pretty heavy-handed critique of neo-liberal capitalism and exploitative practices of accumulation and profit, as well as a wry portrait of the fragmentation and inaction of activism and the left. I personally really enjoyed these elements and appreciated the satire, which spared no one (including the "good guys") but it may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially if you're picking this up expecting something completely different.
The whole "hero" narrative is also thoroughly explored, and the very human tendency of absolving ourselves from all responsibilities by finding someone to fix all our problems for us is critiqued throughout. Although it is pretty clear that we're supposed to be rooting for certain characters (hint: not the world-destroying ones), no side is exempt from witty criticism for their actions, inactions and dubious choices, not thinking through the consequences.
Despite having appreciated the more political/satirical elements, as I said, this was also where at times I got a bit frustrated with this book. The message is pretty clear from the beginning, yet it is still not-so-subtly repeated multiple times throughout, making it feel a bit as if we were repeatedly bashed over the head with it to ensure the point comes across. This slowed down the narrative several times and felt very repetitive. The book is also very Britain-centric, not just in setting, but also in references and humour, so I'm sure I missed something there but, despite making me smile in a few places, I never had any laugh-out-loud moments. I also had a few issues with the characterisation of Mariam's friends: I loved seeing a tight-knit, diverse group of friends, but I would have liked for them to have a more central role and to be more fleshed out. As it was, the friends were largely interchangeable, and by the end of the book I still could not remember who was who.
Overall, this was a pleasant read that allowed plenty of space for reflection and more than a few interesting quotes, providing hope in dark times. An urgent reminder of the importance of taking responsibility and the power of community to effect change.
I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley as part of the blog tour organised by Compulsive Readers. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley as part of the blog tour organised by Compulsive Readers. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, and War
azrah786's review against another edition
4.25
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a proof copy from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, war, death, animal death, suicide/suicide attempt, murder, addiction, drug use, alcohol, police brutality, xenophobia, racism, sexism
--
An absolutely bonkers book but in the best kind of way, Perilous Times is the retelling that you need to get your hands on this year!
Taking place in a bleak future Britain where climate change and corporate corruption have wreaked havoc on the nation, Arthurian Knights – who once upon a time signed off their lives to be resurrected whenever the world is in peril – crawl out of the earth to aid in saving the day. However, the tribulations of modern times are not as clear cut as they expected.
With a fast moving plot that is equally fun and thought provoking we meet a vast array of characters, including many from legend, with the lead protagonists being Sir Kay, Lancelot and a young women called Mariam who is part of a feminist environmentalist (sort of terrorist) group. They are each brilliantly voiced and their interactions with one another are gold.
Through their individual and intersecting journeys, which are action packed with both fantastical sword clashing and freedom fighting, Lee presents a satirical take on the state of the world as we know it and it is wonderfully refreshing. The book is an ode to the cultures and sentiments that make up Britain in all of their shades with the heart of the story touching on what it means to be a hero and what it means to stand for the greater good.
The comparisons to Good Omens are pretty spot on. Lee has taken the best elements from Pratchett’s and Gaiman’s works and has masterfully mixed in classical myths and folklore, British history and contemporary socio-political issues to spin a story that is wonderfully entertaining and unique. The peak British humour which is also woven seamlessly into the novel is honestly the icing on the cake, trust me you will be laughing out loud with this one.
I feel like there were some moments that felt a little repetitive especially when it came to some of the dialogue but then again a debut novel is not without its hiccups. Also I went in knowing that there was a Muslim character in the book and as a Muslim reader I have to say that the representation was found wanting as it was pretty surface level. These points however didn't detract my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
If you’re a fan of stories that make you think on current affairs or more so where immortal/fantastical beings are thrown into the chaos of the modern world then read this!!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
**I received a proof copy from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, war, death, animal death, suicide/suicide attempt, murder, addiction, drug use, alcohol, police brutality, xenophobia, racism, sexism
--
An absolutely bonkers book but in the best kind of way, Perilous Times is the retelling that you need to get your hands on this year!
Taking place in a bleak future Britain where climate change and corporate corruption have wreaked havoc on the nation, Arthurian Knights – who once upon a time signed off their lives to be resurrected whenever the world is in peril – crawl out of the earth to aid in saving the day. However, the tribulations of modern times are not as clear cut as they expected.
With a fast moving plot that is equally fun and thought provoking we meet a vast array of characters, including many from legend, with the lead protagonists being Sir Kay, Lancelot and a young women called Mariam who is part of a feminist environmentalist (sort of terrorist) group. They are each brilliantly voiced and their interactions with one another are gold.
Through their individual and intersecting journeys, which are action packed with both fantastical sword clashing and freedom fighting, Lee presents a satirical take on the state of the world as we know it and it is wonderfully refreshing. The book is an ode to the cultures and sentiments that make up Britain in all of their shades with the heart of the story touching on what it means to be a hero and what it means to stand for the greater good.
The comparisons to Good Omens are pretty spot on. Lee has taken the best elements from Pratchett’s and Gaiman’s works and has masterfully mixed in classical myths and folklore, British history and contemporary socio-political issues to spin a story that is wonderfully entertaining and unique. The peak British humour which is also woven seamlessly into the novel is honestly the icing on the cake, trust me you will be laughing out loud with this one.
I feel like there were some moments that felt a little repetitive especially when it came to some of the dialogue but then again a debut novel is not without its hiccups. Also I went in knowing that there was a Muslim character in the book and as a Muslim reader I have to say that the representation was found wanting as it was pretty surface level. These points however didn't detract my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
If you’re a fan of stories that make you think on current affairs or more so where immortal/fantastical beings are thrown into the chaos of the modern world then read this!!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kindra_demi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
If there is one thing to be aware of with this book: be aware of the trigger warnings. Especially the suicide/suicide attempts and the alcoholism. They are very heavy and prominent points in the story. Others include: murder, attempted murder, bodily horror, drug addiction.
I was initially interested by the premise of this book: King Arthur inspired story in a near future England. The Knights of the Roundtable made a deal with Merlin in their first life that they may die but they will never pass over in the afterlife. They instead will return to their ancient oak to be resurrected when England is in peril. Now introducing Kay, a knight of the of the round table and King Arthur’s brother. Not much later, we meet Mariam, a member of an all women eco-activist group in England. She and her sisters are working for climate justice in a country dealing with the repercussions of corporate greed, climate change, and government sellout. Kay initially joins with Miriam in this mission. The third POV we eventually get is Lancelot, who offers the opportunity to see more of the workings of the corporate side of the world for the beginning.
While the story is set to follow the 3 individuals as Kay and Lancelot discover what they were raised for (and what the new world means) and Mariam as she and her sisters fight for their initiatives with their own new understanding of the world where men resurrect from the ground, the more interesting aspect in my opinion was actually the backstory of the characters. A big complaint of mine for the story is it felt like the foreshadowing was blatantly thrown into your face like a “hmmm that suspicious but I won’t look at it” *40 pages later* “ah yes that thing that was suspicious was bad”. So I became more interested in why certain dynamics were the way they were.
This book is not an easy read either. It covers a lot of contemporary issues that can weigh you down a lot as you are reading it. (And this is coming from someone who normally reads a lot of books that have contemporary issues/dark topics in it).
Overall, it was a decent book. The pacing felt right and the British humor is a good relief to some of the darkness. The foreshadowing and the overall heaviness is what brings down my rating though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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
jodiemitch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I received this book as an arc. I am very fortunate to have read it. Everything about this book is so unique. Imagine the knights and everyone in Camelot comes back to life when Britain is in peril. They usually come back for conventional war, but now they come for the climate. Fighting in unexpected battles. People aren’t who history made them seem to be. This was a fantastic book. Definitely worth the read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
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