I read an eARC of this book so thank you to NetGalley, Juliet E. McKenna and the publisher for allowing this.

I really enjoyed The Green Man books by Juliet E McKenna so when I saw she’d written a retelling of Arthurian legend from the lens of the female characters, it was a must read for me.

We primarily follow Nimue who has wild magic. The book is set over many years, starting with Ygraine and the birth of Arthur, and going right up to the end of his story. Nimue is present for the stories of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere.

A core theme in this book is the way women are treated as property by men, and the consequences they face if they try to rebel, or take agency over their own lives. It’s brutal and cruel. Also the sheer amount of unappreciated labour women do to take care of all of the unseen details needed to keep men fed, organised and happy. Very few men come off well in this book. They’re largely bossy, self-interested and arrogant.

I did enjoy this, I was invested throughout. I was a tiny bit confused by some of the earlier time jumps but when I realised what was happening it was fine from that point onwards.

This was one of the better retellings I’ve read. It keeps core details from the legend, preferring instead to relay the tale from the perspective of other, less seen characters. It wasn’t trying to change the narrative too much, or villainise the male characters just for being men. It treats them as products of the culture at the time, rather than all bad. This was good as it allowed you to separate out the really malicious characters. Nimue often succeeds against perilous odds because of her ability and her respect for others and because she uses her magic responsibly. This is in stark contrast to Merlin who uses his recklessly and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process, earning him enemies amongst his own folk.

I enjoyed this and I’d read more from this author.

I'm DNFing this at 21%. I am so disappointed by this book. It reads dryly as a bland history textbook. There's almost no imagination, no metaphor, no breath to this book. It's boring, so much so that that's the reason I'm DNFing it. There's nothing new here, so far anyway, in regards to the Arthurian legend. Merlin's a jerk, Uther is...Uther. Nimue is about as interesting as a bag of wet laundry. Why on earth would you choose to make your narrator passive and uninteresting? And we definitely needed to see Arthur's mother be violently raped by his father on page, right? Totally necessary.

Blah.

There's nothing exactly *wrong* with this Arthurian retelling - though I would perhaps have appreciated a content warning for the graphic rape scene early on - but I found myself extremely disappointed with it. It's a very by-the-numbers retelling of the basic myths from Arthur's birth to death, with very little altered to justify calling it a feminist take on it other than some general, unsubtle 'patriarchy is unequivocally bad', 'women are oppressed' themes.

I was indifferent to Nimue, who felt like an odd choice for narrator to me - she's very passive, preferring not to take action, and she seems to barely feel any emotion no matter what happens around her. There could have been an incredible story of her loyalties to Ygraine and Morgana here, or perhaps a shifting perspective that allowed us to truly understand each of these women (who, in other retellings, have been given such powerful, powerless, complicated and complex stories), but I always felt like Nimue was incredibly detached from what was going on, and we never got a true sense of her personality or anyone else's because everything was sketched so briefly and matter-of-factly. The story could have been told from an anonymous, omniscient third-person view and had as much, or more, connection and emotion in it. None of the women ever seem to take anything into their own hands, they just suffer in the background of the men's stories and Nimue describes it quickly. It's not particularly feminist just because it has a female main character. I'm sorry to say this was a total bust for me.

The Cleaving is presented as a feminist retelling of the Arthurian Legend. As a mythology nerd who loves the Arthurian Mythos in particular, and holds The Mists of Avalon as her favourite standalone fantasy novel of all time, I was looking forward to reading this new – significantly shorter – retelling. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this offering.

Her version of the Legend has the (faerie?) sorceress/enchantress Nimue as her sole main character, starts before Arthur’s conception, and extends to the traditional ending of the tale.

1) Writing:
I don’t have anything that specific to note about the prose here. There was decent usage of setting-appropriate vocabulary, but nothing otherwise stood out. The narration, in first person, was very straightforward; there was nothing particularly poetic or inspiring about it. The pacing was relatively even throughout, and this despite a couple of time jumps – which were necessary given the scale of the original tale and the less-than 400 pages count.

2) Character work:
I found it rather weak and surface-level overall, especially where the main character, Nimue, was concerned: almost no background was actually given for her in the text. The same pretty much went for all the other main characters, female and male alike. With regards to the latter especially: whilst I found it an interesting choice on the author’s part to cast some traditionally positive main male characters in a negative (to very negative) light, I felt the potential for engaging theming around gender and gendered power dynamics through those characters was largely wasted. There wasn’t sufficient psychological or sociological development in the text to prop all of this up, and I was left with a rather bland, superficial “all the men are bad here because patriarchal society” vibe that could’ve been explored with more depth, and never was.

3) World-building:
I was seriously let down with both the fantastical and historical world-building. For one thing, there was historically inaccurate terminology used in the text that could have very easily been corrected without having to transform the story into actual historical fiction. The terms “Welsh, Scots, and English” are used in a completely anachronistic fashion, and I just could not get over that. The Britons of Logres would not have been speaking English at the time of the tale, and would not have called themselves English! The Kingdom of Alba had not yet been established, and the peoples of “Scotland” would not have identified themselves as a Scottish nation, etc… There was also absolutely no reference to a Roman past, or a pagan one, when “faeries” and Avalon are referenced, and Christianity is as well. The tension between fading paganism and rising Christianity is, to me, a staple of the Arthurian motif, and it felt strange that it was completely absent here. At the very least, if would’ve provided much needed narrative drive and tension.

As to the purely fantastical world-building, I also found it rather lacklustre, as nothing much is ever said of it. Since paganism as a religion or spiritual backdrop is completely absent, the world of magic could not be tied to it, and thus felt quite empty. Simply there without any explanation: Nimue’s people exist… and that’s about it.

4) Theming:
There are a couple of remarks dropped here and there about power dynamics between men and women, and about the fact women are treated like chattel, but beyond that? One cannot call this a feminist retelling in any real sense of the word. Especially not when something like The Mists of Avalon exists. Besides, and beyond that, I didn’t find there was anything particularly moving or thought-provoking about this retelling more generally. The story lacked drive, quite simply, and the ending of the tale felt incredibly weak to me.

Conclusion:
At the end of the day, I just didn’t really get the over-arching point of the story. Why the characters acted the way they did, why the story progressed the way it did. I really do believe this is largely because of the fact it is so detached from its original historical and socio-religious context and, like I said, the fantastical elements of the story didn’t compensate sufficiently for that.

I would only recommend this novel to younger/novice readers as an entry point into Arthurian fiction and Arthurian Legend retellings. But if you’ve already read, and loved, something like The Mists of Avalon, or Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles, this one will sadly not be worth your time.

More accurate rating: 5-5.5/10.

It was an okay retelling of the King Arthur myth. Telling the story from a female perspective has been done many times and much better, so I dont feel like this version added anything unique. But it was enjoyable. I received an ARC of this work from Netgalley for my honest review.

I was excited to read this, both for its point of view and because the author is an expert for this time period. It did pay off in the historical detail but sadly the story was very dry and I had a hard time staying focused on it. Nimue is too passive a narrator for the entire thing to be relying on her. While there is some good stuff in here, it’s generally too slow for me to really enjoy or feel engrossed in.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

2.5 stars

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Cleaving” retells Arthurian legend from the perspective of the sorceress Nimue as she serves first Ygraine, then Morgana, then Guinevere. The author is an expert on this era and thus the book is incredibly rich in historical detail. There are also some deeply beautiful passages amidst the rapidly moving plot.

However, Nimue’s role as a passive observer does not situate her well to be the narrator of the entire story; she mainly chooses not to engage in mortal affairs and instead tells the events in a bland, factual tone that along with the somewhat episodic nature of the plot caused me to rapidly lose emotional investment in the story and the characters. I may have preferred a multi-narrator setup where we also heard from Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, all of whom are more interesting characters. Nimue’s inner world is not particularly robust or complex, and hearing from the other women may have enriched the experience of reading.

The story was also told in chunks, skipping large swaths of time in order to cover everything contained in the legend. This really prevented me from becoming invested because even while approaching the end, it didn’t ever feel like the story was leading to anything important. Everyone’s motivations were either unclear the entire time, confusing, or implausible (especially Merlin). At many points not a single character was behaving logically. Entire plot threads were introduced and then dropped partway through. This book had real potential, but there are so many other issues that really got in the way of being able to appreciate it.

DNF! I was really excited about this book. I've always been a great fan of King Arthur and grew up with tv shows like Merlin. So coming across a feminist retelling of the legends was a dream. However, I haven't found it transgressive or feminist. On another note, the story was okay but for me it lacked magic and more action.

The stories of Camelot from the female viewpoint make very interesting reading and the historical aspect is well portrayed with a new retelling of the myths. Nimue is the main protagonist and although she has magical power she's loath to use it for fear of punishment but this makes the book rather unexciting if one is expecting wondrous things to happen. I'm a huge fan of the Mary Stewart Merlin trilogy and for me any new retelling of the Arthurian legend would have to be exceptional to bear comparison. This is a good read but not exceptional.

This was an interesting novel but one that we've all seen before. While I enjoyed the spin on the classic tale, at the end of it I was expecting just a little bit more.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

Who doesn't love a good King Arthur story? Some people love Cinderella retellings, I love Camelot, Merlin, Arthur, and the round table. I'm an avid reader of the myths and when I picked up this book I was really pleased to see Cornwall being mentioned. The author knows her history, that's obvious and I kept immersed in the book the whole time. I am one of those folks who will have a brain freeze if someone mentions something out of a period in a historical fantasy book. That didn't happen.

This is a great book if you want a generalize retelling of the Arthur story. Sadly, I feel that's where the main problem of this story lies. While I fully enjoyed it, I felt like this book could have been better as a series of short stories that fed into each other. The overall plot is hard to see until the last hundred pages and I kept wondering when we were going to be given the crux of the plot. I feel like the last hundred or so pages are the best and if we could have had more time to focus on the tensions of Arthur's final days I would have been fully invested. Or if this was done as short stories I would have known to leave my narrative brain at the door so I could enjoy the book for what it was.

For me, my criticism is probably harsher than my star rating. I enjoyed the book! I'm happy to see Arthur as a bad guy. I feel like the book could have taken a bit more time with the narrative it was trying to tell and tightened it up instead of making it a play-by-play of the Arthurian myths. I partly feel like I need another book, one of all of these amazing ladies now going out and telling the story they are building. But that's probably just me.

Juliet McKenna breathes life into legend, and I loved the feminist stance. The writing is clear and on-point, the characterization is solid, and I love the idea of sharing story with students as a counter narrative or story expansion/reframing of male-centered Arthurian tales.

My first thought when I saw this feminist retelling of the Arthurian Legend was “count me in!” The cover is one of the most gorgeous I’ve ever seen. But the story itself was not for me. Slow books can be worth it but when you find the dialogue dry as parchment and the characters more dislikable than loved you realize that the book isn’t for you.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.

Published review on Goodreads.

Once I saw this on Netgalley, I immediately hit the “request” button. Ever since Merlin, anything Arthurian promptly sparks interest. Probably, my mind’s way of trying to fill the gaping hole the series finale left in poor fourteen-year-old me’s heart.

*cue pained laughter*

However, after only a few pages in, it became apparent that this wouldn’t be my cup of tea. The writing felt dry, the characters felt dry…Everything felt dry. It read more like a history lesson than a novel. There was no sparkle of magic, no fluttering prose…It just kind of fell flat, honestly.

There were no clear-cut bad guys or good guys–everyone was a shade of grey. This can be compelling if done correctly, but instead, it made the balance of the world feel slightly off-kilter and aimless. There was a lack of compelling characters, as well. I felt like hardly any of them had a genuine personality. Nimue is probably the most passive a main protagonist can get.

There was such a lack of tenderness in general between characters, and in the world of Camelot. Not a lot of emotion. Many time jumps were also incorporated into the story (which I am not a personal fan of) which contributed to the whole ~me not feeling connected~ bit.

There were also hardly ever any descriptions of settings, or anything pertaining to the five senses. This can really add to the atmosphere and immersion of a story and was yet another thing this novel was lacking.

I hope this review is as constructive as possible, simply because I know firsthand, writing a book is no easy feat and I don't like writing negative reviews. If you did read it or decide to, I hope you enjoy it. This particular book just wasn’t for me.

A big thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending an advanced copy of this book!

One for lovers of Knights, magic and battles. Focusing on the female stories of Arthur legends. Thank you to #netgalley for advance copy

well, for a "feminist retelling" the bulk of this book is just watching men do stuff, tbh. nimue is a closed POV protagonist that is largely a passive observer, save for a few broad actions during dramatic moments where she acts as a deus ex machina of sorts. i was frustrated by how stale the development felt of everyone - characterization is flat, and nimue is not exactly the most emotionally intelligent sorceress who ever lived, so any details that might add depth or complexity to the women she serves - and make no mistake, she does simply serve them - are lost.

but it's compelling and a refreshing alternative to the mists of avalon for those who can no longer stomach that work or its author. decently written. the strongest section is the first - igraine's story is always the one that hits me hardest - but the bulk of the arthur story - the part everyone wants to read, quite honestly - is rushed and flat. there simply isn't enough time spent with anyone to develop any real attachment to their fates, so it feels a bit shallow in the end. i would have liked to see more complex characterizations (particularly of morgana, lancelot, and guinevere) and the overall story to be a bit less cynical (very little loyalty or tenderness to be found, in this version of camelot - even between the women!) but it does what it sets out to do competently so you can hardly complain. "it was fine" was the feeling i ended up with

A feminist take on the Arthurian myths that I absolutely loved. The Cleaving offers a fresh perspective on the story of Arthur by giving voice to Nimue, Morgana, and Guinevere's stories in a bold, new way. My favorite aspect of this novel is that the love stories we think we know are completely turned on their heads and shown to be the savage, blood-driven relationships that they likely would have been. The Cleaving feels like it follows real footsteps: if any of these semi-legendary people truly did walk these isles, this is closer to how their stories would go. The world of Arthurian legend, Camelot, chivalrous knights, fae magic, love affairs, and destiny is stripped of its rosy hue and becomes harsh, brutal, and bleak - realistic - though the book does end on a hopeful note. The book does contain instances of abuse and rape, though these are handled in respectful ways and these scenes are never frivolous but essential to the plot and character development, as well as to turning the whole Arthurian paradigm on its head. This is an engrossing, important addition to feminist mythological retellings and historical fantasies.

I really ended up enjoying The Cleaving by Julit E. Mckenna.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of Arthurian retellings but this book really surprised me with how much I ended up enjoying it.
I definitely highly recommend this book especially if you are a fan of retellings!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this Arthurian retelling quite a lot. I had some issues with some of Nimue’s logic, but overall, it was a good retelling of a traditionally male dominated story from a woman’s point of view. I had anticipated that the story would alternate perspectives rather than focusing solely on Nimue’s perspective, but I still enjoyed it.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley. But all the opinions are my own.
I have enjoyed a lot of versions of Camelot. I absolutely loved the show Merlin. So, when I saw this retelling, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed that it was told through female points of view. It is told through Guinevere, Morgana, Ygraine, and Nimue eyes. I think stating it is a feminist take on the story is reaching. I think it is a female point of view, but it is not feminist.
I think it was well written and the characters were developed. I think they could have had more depth to them but overall the book was an enjoyable read. One thing I did enjoy that it stayed true to the time period were women did not have as much freedoms as men. But, in this story the women still got the job done even when fighting against the social dynamics of the time.
I got through the book quickly and never felt a time where I had to force myself to read it. The magic was well written and explained. It felt like all the elements fit together nicely. I wouldn’t give it five stars, but it was enjoyable and fun to read. I read it over a weekend and so I would give it 3.5/5.
I would really suggest others to read it! I think if the book didn’t slap on the label of feminist and just said female retelling it would have really helped my expectations going into it.