Reviews

Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices by Swapna Krishna, Jenn Northington

cmcg's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious

3.5

oydis's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

mbs76's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.5

shorereader's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

ccarabello's review against another edition

inspiring medium-paced

4.25

crystaldragonst's review

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

joliek's review against another edition

3.0

Really enjoyed a number of these stories, some weren’t really for me…but that’s usually how anthologies are! Well-curated and presented.

coco_lolo's review

4.0

It's a well-known fact that I love Arthurian myth, and when I found out about Sword Stone Table and Maria Dahvana Headley contributing to it, I was 100% on board. Having read this has introduced me to so many great new writers! A few stories were underwhelming, but I found the majority solid and captivating. Some of the ones that stand out include "Passing Fair and Young" and "Flat White," two stories that explore the character Elaine and have equally compelling storylines; "The Quay Stone," which is set in Singapore and portrays the darker side of obsession through the Lady of the Lake; the futuristic "Little Green Men" that is a fantastic adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; and Headley's story "Hayday," which was my favorite and which I can describe only as a political western where Merlin is referred to as a "cowboy poet, patent medicine seller, soap-box agitator, and magician." Loved this inclusive collection immensely and cannot wait to purchase a physical copy.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

meghb's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

readerbot_lu's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

Did I like it? Yes
Do I recommend it? Yes

Positives

As with many anthologies, there were some wins and losses for me. I really liked the anthology's general premise of reimagining and diversifying the old Arthurian legends. The book is divided into Past, Present, and Future. I enjoyed these Past stories: How, after Long Fighting, Galehaut Was Overcome by Lancelot Yet Was Not Slain and Made Great Speed to Yield to Friendship; Or, Galehaut, the Knight of the Forfeit (Daniel M. Lavery), and I Being Young and Foolish (Nisi Shawl); these Present stories: Mayday (Maria Dahvana Headley) and Heartbeat (Waubgeshig Rice); and most of the Future stories.

Negatives

Just the usual ups and downs of anthologies. I will say that in terms of LGBTQIA+ representation, there was more variety in sexual orientation than gender identity (specifically for trans and nonbinary identities).