It's very rare that I give 5* for anything, as when I've enjoyed something then a 4* is my usual response. But 'Lancelot' by Giles Kristian, gets that top marks rating!
As the title suggests, it's the story of Lancelot, one of the infamous knights of King Arthur's Round Table, and is told through him as he narrates his life, from his time as a boy on the run with his family, to his time with Lady Nimue (the Lady of the Lake) and as a Knight with Arthur, who is not yet king.
There have been many tales of and inspired by the Arthurian legends, but maybe not as many from Lancelot's point of view. As such, although most of what I was reading was very familiar, with the many recognisable characters making their appearances - Guinevere, Merlin, Gawain, Morgana, Mordred and of course Arthur amongst others, this different perspective was very refreshing, giving it a much needed original feel, instead of it being 'just another King Arthur book'. I also found the characters were very three dimensional, giving them a level of depth and realism that was wonderful to read. That we see Lancelot's life through his eyes, and his experiences, you can't help but be compelled to him, and empathise with him, as he anguishes being caught in between the two people he loves the most. It's a great character study of a warrior of legend who is generally painted as loathsome and despised.
The prose has a poetic flow to it, with each page pulling you deeper into the world of ancient Britain and it felt as though you were reliving Lancelot's life, which made it an absorbing read from start to finish. A beautiful and powerful retelling of the Arthurian mythos, that is full of heart, honour, betrayal and tragedy.
I rarely tend to stray away from my preferred genres of SFF, but I'm glad I dipped my toe in the waters of historical fiction with the first book in Giles Kristian's Arthurian Tales.
Onto 'Camelot', and book 2!
As the title suggests, it's the story of Lancelot, one of the infamous knights of King Arthur's Round Table, and is told through him as he narrates his life, from his time as a boy on the run with his family, to his time with Lady Nimue (the Lady of the Lake) and as a Knight with Arthur, who is not yet king.
There have been many tales of and inspired by the Arthurian legends, but maybe not as many from Lancelot's point of view. As such, although most of what I was reading was very familiar, with the many recognisable characters making their appearances - Guinevere, Merlin, Gawain, Morgana, Mordred and of course Arthur amongst others, this different perspective was very refreshing, giving it a much needed original feel, instead of it being 'just another King Arthur book'. I also found the characters were very three dimensional, giving them a level of depth and realism that was wonderful to read. That we see Lancelot's life through his eyes, and his experiences, you can't help but be compelled to him, and empathise with him, as he anguishes being caught in between the two people he loves the most. It's a great character study of a warrior of legend who is generally painted as loathsome and despised.
The prose has a poetic flow to it, with each page pulling you deeper into the world of ancient Britain and it felt as though you were reliving Lancelot's life, which made it an absorbing read from start to finish. A beautiful and powerful retelling of the Arthurian mythos, that is full of heart, honour, betrayal and tragedy.
I rarely tend to stray away from my preferred genres of SFF, but I'm glad I dipped my toe in the waters of historical fiction with the first book in Giles Kristian's Arthurian Tales.
Onto 'Camelot', and book 2!
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