David McK (3676 KP) rated Arthur (The Arthurian Tales #3) in Books
Jun 30, 2024 (Updated Jun 30, 2024)
It's also the first one - I believe - to so heavily rely on flashbacks, paralleling the 'now' of the story with the background to one of the main characters Beran (whose identity I, personally, found quite easy to grok early on).
As a whole, I have to say, this trilogy is one of the best retellings of the Arthurian myths I have come across although retelling, however, may be too strong a word; perhaps a better on would be re-imagining as there's no mystical Green Knight (reimagined in 'Camelot'), search for the Holy Grails (again, see 'Camelot'), or mysterious women lying in ponds and distributing swords ("that's no basis for sound government..."), but which does cover the whole Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere love triangle (see, in particular, 'Lancelot') and the fall out thereof.
In short, all three novels are well worth a read - personally, I found I enjoyed these more than the 'Blood Eye' series by the same author.
Becs (244 KP) rated Song Of The Sparrow in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Type: Stand-alone
Audience/ Reading Level: 12+
Interests: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Historical Reads, Lyricism, Poetry, Retellings.
Point of View: Third person
Promise: A tale of love, betrayal, and war.
Insights: I have no idea where or when I received/ got this novel. But ever since that day, Song of the Sparrow has been one of my favorite retellings of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. My copy is very beaten up, so it’s gotten it’s many of read-throughs in. It also makes me think that I use to be pretty rough with my books. (what in the heck is wrong with you Becca! smh) I remember reading through SotS and thinking of myself as Elaine, the MC. Does anybody else do that? Because it hasn’t gone away with me.
I loved every aspect of this little novel. My favorite part was not only the retelling of King Arthur and the Knights but also how the novel was written in a sort of lyricism way, a lot like poetry. Novels written this way have always drawn my attention and I find them quite refreshing to read when in a slump or trying to get out of one.
Favorite Quotes: “I am Elaine daughter of Barnard of Ascolat. Motherless. Sisterless. I sing these words to you now, because the point of light grows smaller, ever smaller now, even more distant now. And with this song, I pray I may push back the tides of war and death. So, I sing these words that this light, this tiny ray of light and hope may live on. I dare not hope that I may live on too.”
“So long ago now. But you remind me of her, you know. Sometimes I forget that you are not she. Sometimes I forget that I should not blame you for leaving me. It was her. I was her.”
What will you gain?: A new telling of what life back in the olden days was like for a female in an all men village.
Aesthetics: Everytime I read-through Song of the Sparrow, I always stare at the cover. Something about it is just very appealing, not only to the eyes but also with the mind. Another aesthetic I found that I loved was how the story was written like lyricism/poetry.
“And at that moment, a lilting melody lifts to the moon as a single sparrow sings.”
Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated Sea Witch Rising in Books
Aug 6, 2019
The Castle of Thorns
8.0
Rate It
Book
To end the murders, she must live with the beast of the forest. After surviving years with a...
Fairy Tale Retellings Dark Fantasy New Adult
Merissa (13619 KP) rated Once Upon a Forbidden Desire: Fairy Tales and Other Stories in Books
Sep 13, 2023
With an abundance of new-to-me authors, as well as old favourites, I now have a list of various stories and series that I want to read, based on their stories in this anthology. There was not a single one that let the side down.
This was a fantastic collection of fairy tale retellings, each with its own heat rating at the beginning. I loved every story and thoroughly appreciated the range of various fairy tales to enjoy. Highly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 19, 2022
Beastly Journeys: Travel and Transformation at the Fin de Siecle
Book
Bats, beetles, wolves, butterflies, bulls, panthers, apes, leopards and spiders are among the...
A Thousand Ships
9.0
Rate It
Book
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 One of the Guardian's and TLS's 'Best Books of...
Greek Mythology The Trojan War Retellings Literary Fiction
The Court of Miracles
9.0
Rate It
Book
Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself...
Alternate History Paris France Les Miserables Retellings Historical Fantasy
Poisoned Apples: Poems For You, My Pretty
9.0
Rate It
Book
Every little girl goes through her princess phase, whether she wants to be Snow White or Cinderella,...