I love books about Arthurian legends, but I unfortunately had to DNF this book. I could not get into it despite multiple attempts. It just wasn’t for me.

The Arthurian legend and climate change aspect of this book was very interesting. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters and the pacing was off for me.

I love anything that has to do with Arthurian legend, so this was a must read for me. I definitely felt this book was too long, and could have been cut down 75 or so pages.

Here's what I liked about the book:
1. Fresh Take on Arthurian Legend
Rather than a straightforward retelling, Lee uses the legends to critique today’s world. It’s irreverent but thoughtful, with nods to tradition balanced by modern sensibility.

2. Climate & Political Satire** (see #2 below)
The novel tackles issues like global warming, eco-terrorism, toxic nationalism, and government inaction—but does so with biting humor.

3. Strong Characterization
Sir Kay is a fantastic lead—funny, weary, but principled. His fish-out-of-water experiences in the modern world are humorous and poignant. Other knights appear too, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and each were adapted in interesting ways.

4. Witty, Energetic Prose
Lee’s writing is engaging and often very funny. The book reads quickly despite its serious themes because of its snappy dialogue and absurd situations.

What I didn't really like:
1. Tonal Whiplash
The novel blends comedy, legend, and real-world issues, which can feel jarring at times. Readers expecting a pure fantasy might be surprised by how much it leans into activism.

2. Preachiness
Reading other reviews I feel like I'm not in the minority by saying this. The book’s environmental and political messages can sometimes come off as a bit on-the-nose or moralizing. I don't mind the themes/messages as stated above, it's just the way some of them are written and being in there 998 times.

3. Pacing Issues
There are sections, especially mid-book, that slow down a bit due to exposition or philosophical musings. I like to keep things going or I get bored. I actually had to put this down for awhile and start another book because between the slowness and all the preaching, I couldn't trudge through.

A smart, inventive fantasy about Arthurian knights waking up in modern-day Britain. Clever, satirical, and surprisingly emotional. Packed with timely commentary on heroism and the environment.

I can see how some people would find this amusing, but it just wasnt for me. I wish I could have got into it

I thought this was a really inventive take on Arthurian legends. It was a great read, and I have happily recommended it to my friends!

*Perilous Times* by Thomas D. Lee is a bold and imaginative blend of Arthurian legend, climate fiction, and sharp social commentary. When Sir Kay, an immortal knight of the Round Table, is resurrected in a dystopian near-future Britain, he finds a world ravaged by climate change, corruption, and chaos. As he teams up with a modern resistance fighter, the novel weaves together humor, action, and timely themes of power and responsibility. Lee’s witty and thought-provoking storytelling makes this a fresh, genre-bending take on myth and modernity. Perfect for fans of satirical fantasy with a rebellious edge.

I tried to read this a couple times but for some reason it was not working for me. The synopsis sounds so cool, and I love the cover. I think it was a "me" problem, but I couldn't get into it.

This was my first read from Thomas D. Lee. Perilous Times has a good premise but I don't think I am quite the right audience for this type of book. It seemed rather long and I just couldn't wait to get through it. However if this is your type of genre, I'm sure you'll love it!

I apologize that this took me so long to get to! It feels very apt to be reading an Arthurian retelling about climate crisis, but I wish I enjoyed it more. The pacing was just a bit slow for me and I also just got through reading Legendborn (which was another Arthurian retelling that I loved). I feel bad pitting them against each other but it made my rating of Perilous Times a bit more clear.

I gave this a try but I could tell right from the first chapter that I am not the right reader for this book. This is not a book readers should go into blindly.

I'm very sorry about how long it took me to finally write a review for this book. I tried many times to get through it but unfortunately I never really enjoyed the story.

‘Perilous Times’ had a lot of components that seemed initially like the sum may have ended up chaotic and aimless, but Lee finds a way to weave together climate crisis, political tensions, and Arthurian legends in a way that ends up fun, topical, and surprisingly coherent. While the writing style itself is a little stilted, the personality this book brings to the table mostly makes up for it. Not for climate change deniers OR for climate activists who take themselves too seriously and might be sensitive to humour that can only be described as “Pratchett-esque.”

My coherent review is extremely late, but still I have the deepest appreciation for Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to have read an advanced egalley of ‘Perilous Times’ in exchange for my honest opinion, even an opinion delivered over a year passed pub date.

A genre-blending novel of dark humor and whimsy, part Arthurian legend and part cli-fi action adventure, which at time gave Fern Gulley vibes and never once did I consider putting it down!

DNF.

I couldn't get into the writing style. It was very dense and clunky, and I feel like a lot could've been cut out.

I really wanted to like this book. Slightly futuristic book collides with King Arthurian legend to help save the planet? Sounded like a fun time! Unfortunately, I just could not get into this one. The motivations of the various characters just didn't mesh with my view of a sympathetic protagonist (particularly when the book took a turn towards Eco-terrorism), and the characters seemed too snippy with each other, humerous with a cruel bite.

In the end, I just couldn't bring myself to finish, leaving this book in my queue as one of my rare DNFs. This book was just not for me; thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this ARC (even if the review is much belated)

A very interesting premise and concept. However I found it a little long. I think it would have been a bit more impactful had it condensed a bit

A very interesting take on Arthurian legends. I was really into it and enjoyed the writing for this. I've always loved different types of legends and mythology, so this was a great read for me. I would recommend this, especially for anybody who is interested in legends, retellings, and a twist on all of those kinds of stories.

Perilous Times is one of the more interesting books I've read in a long time. The concept of the story combines characters from Arthurian legend with more modern environmental activists, all who feel obligated to save their world. Add in some dragons, and it feels like a mix between an apocalyptic story and fantasy. Overall, I found the book entertaining, but also a bit drawn out. The pacing felt somewhat off, and it read like separate genres depending on the chapter. I did really like the character interaction, and the book is highly original.

Arthurian legends are one of my favorite types of retellings. They've also been retold time and time again, setting the bar relatively high for a good retelling.

I was disappointed by this one.

It seemed more of an activism advertisement than a novel at times, and the modern sensibilities of ancient characters felt incongruous with their historical characters. I know, to some extent, this was part of the point the author was making - that we have romanticized historical figures (and especially King Arthur) to a wild extent and need to have some of our preconceptions challenged. I did also appreciate the aspects of this book that paused to look around at all the different types of activism going on in the world and acknowledge that the in-fighting makes things worse and not better.

Despite these moments that I appreciated, this wasn't the book for me. I did not realize how heavily this would lean towards a climate apocalypse/climate change activism, and those are just not aspects that I tend to care for in fiction. Had I known, I may have skipped this one altogether.

2.5 rounded up