Member Review

I found the narrative confusing and slow moving, as it jumped from the past, to the future as seen in Elaine’s visions, to the present. There were changes to some of the traditional Arthurian characters, too, making Morgana and Morgause twins, and Morgause the wife of Mordred. I’m familiar with the Arthurian legends and the Tennyson poem, but I never really got the sense of that time period. I found myself questioning the author’s research when she mentioned someone drinking cocoa, which was unknown in Europe before the 16th century, and a child was said to be wearing a taffeta dress, even though that fabric wasn’t around back then. The group, Elaine, Arthur, Lancelot, Morgana, and Gwen, seemed more like they belonged in an episode of “Friends” set in an alternate universe, with knights, magic, and patricide. I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.