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David McK (3773 KP) rated Camelot in Books

Jun 1, 2020

Camelot

Giles Kristian | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

"Camelot!"
"Camelot!"
"It's only a model"
"Shhh"

…

"On second thoughts, let's not go there. 'Tis a silly place"

With that out of the way, this is a sequel - or, as the author (Giles Kristian) himself puts it - more of a companion piece to his earlier (and originally conceived as being standalone) novel Lancelot, although I feel that he REALLY should have stuck with his original name for the novel: Galahad.

Calling it Camelot, to me, does the novel a bit of a disservice, with that location not really a key factor in the story. What is, however, is the central character (and first person narrator) of Galahad himself: Lancelot's son, raised by Christian monks following his fathers death in the climax of the previous, who (here) is not as pure and devout and, well, 'holy' as he is otherwise sometimes depicted, and who is still haunted by his legacy.

Various other characters from Arthurian legend themselves make an appearance, most notably (on the character front) Gawain, Merlin and Iselle whilst (on the 'Quest'/story front) we have a reimagining of The Green Knight, and the Search for The Holy Grail.

Like "Lancelot" before it, this is well worth a read.

Kudos

Merissa (13961 KP) rated Handsome Death in Books

Apr 15, 2020

Handsome Death

Sara Dobie Bauer | 2020 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Handsome Death is a standalone paranormal romance. In a world where vampires, werewolves, and witches (to name just three) are known about and regulated. Ethan is a vampire mercenary, happy to be alone and lurking in the shadows. Tris is a human, with many friends and, although not so happy in the limelight, still doesn't want to be in the dark.

Although there are some sexy times from the start, this book is a slow-burner. It takes time for Ethan to realise that his obsession with Tris is more than just lust. We see Ethan change as his heart opens to Tris, and we see Tris change as his self-confidence grows. The way Tris stood up to his ex is one of the best scenes in the book, in my opinion.

With snark and humour and no unnecessary dramatics, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are delightful and the world-building is just enough. I would love to return to this world and read some of the other characters' stories. Absolutely recommended by me.

* 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!