A review by lenny9987
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Arthurian legend, like Greek mythology, is an area of literary history that I find myself going back to again and again lately. And with so many wonderful re-imaginings and alternate perspectives hitting bookstore shelves lately, I don’t see my fascination fading anytime soon. Laura Sebastian’s Half Sick of Shadows is one that a colleague recommended when we were discussing just how much Arthurian legend and Greek mythology were appearing (having just read Circe for book club). Though it took a while to work my way up the library waiting list, Half Sick of Shadows was worth the wait. I confess, all I really knew of the Lady of Shalott was the Tennyson poem… and that mostly from how it was used in my favorite adaptation of Anne of Green Gables rather than any great familiarity with the actual poem. But that’s one of the things that’s so great about Arthurian legend – it’s incredibly flexible, even with so many of its major characters and Laura Sebastian bends them into a shape that reveals the complexity of some of its most famous (and infamous) female figures.
Elaine has been a Seer all her life, though it is only after meeting the mysterious Morgana that she truly begins to understand what that means and just how strong her gift is – and how dangerous it is for her to stay at court in Camelot where magic is banned under Uther Pendragon. When Morgana invites Elaine to join her across the water in Avalon, Elaine takes a chance that changes the course of more than just her own life. Learning to hone her gift from Nimue herself, Elaine befriends Arthur, Guinevere, Morgana and Lancelot who are fated to help Arthur achieve his destiny by becoming King and uniting Albion and Avalon. But there are many ways that fate might unfold and Elaine sees them all… Many of them end badly. Elaine does everything she can to prevent the betrayals and broken friendships she has Seen, but in doing so she might just be ensuring that grim future. She must find a way to navigate the present while being haunted by the future.
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1bY
Elaine has been a Seer all her life, though it is only after meeting the mysterious Morgana that she truly begins to understand what that means and just how strong her gift is – and how dangerous it is for her to stay at court in Camelot where magic is banned under Uther Pendragon. When Morgana invites Elaine to join her across the water in Avalon, Elaine takes a chance that changes the course of more than just her own life. Learning to hone her gift from Nimue herself, Elaine befriends Arthur, Guinevere, Morgana and Lancelot who are fated to help Arthur achieve his destiny by becoming King and uniting Albion and Avalon. But there are many ways that fate might unfold and Elaine sees them all… Many of them end badly. Elaine does everything she can to prevent the betrayals and broken friendships she has Seen, but in doing so she might just be ensuring that grim future. She must find a way to navigate the present while being haunted by the future.
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1bY
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide