This was... L O N G. Not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case it felt like the story was just dragging on and on and on.

I feel like a lot of things that could have been explained better were just left at the bare minimum, and none of the characters really felt like someone I could connect to. Lancelot's "redemption" arc was just kind of thrown in there last second when there was a whole gigantic book that we could have seen a more sympathetic side to.

Kay was cool but ultimately kind of boring (which is crazy to say about a knight who is revived over and over again), and Mariam was fine but ultimately cringey.

Mainly, this book was a reminder that we need to save the planet, which is always a good message to send! But I don't think we need a giant Authurian-style book to get the point across.

Not bad, but definitely not my favorite book of the year. Ultimately forgettable. Oh, and spoiler, the dog dies ):

In this debut novel, Arthurian legend and feminism take on dystopian climate fiction. Sir Kay is a legendary Knight of the Round Table from King Arthur’s court. Problem is, he has been made immortal thanks to whackjob Merlin. Every time peril threatens the realm — Britain — Kay resurrects from under his ancient oak. He’s kind of over it. He’d like to join his beloved wife in the afterlife, or at least just rest in peace. Alas, worldwide climate crises have wrought havoc—like they do, and Sir Kay is up and at it again. This time, he comes across a woman he construes as “in peril.” But Mariam does not need a knight to rescue her. She needs to find her inner heroine and make the changes she wants to see in the world. She’ll need help from allies like Kay, but also from her sisters in activism. Overall a very fun twist on Arthurian legend in a speculative dystopian future.

[Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley, I did however opt to listen to the final published version of the audiobook which I borrowed from the library. As always all opinions are my own.

This was a really creative Arthurian retelling. I love a good King Arthur retelling, and this had all of the key players present, but it was not what I was expecting. This takes place in the present day or the near future and is set in the "real world" versus the fantasy version of Avalon or Britain that many King Arthur tales are told. While it does have fantastical elements, the main focus is more on climate change and politics. This is not your typical Knights of the Round Table adventure, so if you are looking for a more traditional fantasy adventure like I was, this is is not that. This does focus on the very real issues of corporate greed, climate change, pollution, and other environmental issues but you wouldn't know that from the synopsis.

This follows Kay, Arthur's brother, who look a vow to protect the realm from peril and he and the other Knights of the Round table resurrect periodically when the realm needs defending. He has fought in every major conflict since Arthur was king and again he has been awoken to protect the realm, but he is tired and doesn't quite understand the world he has woken up in. Miriam is member of a feminist extremist group whose goal is to save the environment and fight climate change. She meets Kay when she sets off a massive explosion at a fracking facility, releases a dragon, and sets off a series of events that changes both of their fates. You have to read the rest to find out what happens. I think to tell you more would spoil things.

As as I mentioned I borrowed the audiobook from the library, mainly because this is close to 500 pages long. The audio came in around 20 hours long, but I listened to it at 2x speed and probably could have sped it up a bit more without losing any comprehension (I listen to most books between 1.5 and 1.8 normally). The narrator had a pleasant voice, but the pacing was a bit slow for my taste overall. The plot is slow paced in general and in my opinion the book was a bit too long. I personally prefer faster faced fantasy with a well developed magic system and lots of action, but this is more reminiscent of court politics set in the modern day.

Overall this was a fine read, I just felt mislead by the synopsis. One of the reasons I like to read fantasy is to escape reality, and this had too much reality in it for my taste. If you like more realistic reads that have a magical or fantastical element to them I'd give this a try.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

I struggled with this one quite a bit. I requested Perilous Times because I enjoy fantasy retellings and the plot sounded interesting. There was just too much filler for me. Everything starts out promising but it gets muddled up with too many side plots. It’s almost as if the author wanted to write a series but was forced to squish everything into a single novel.

There is definitely more of an issue with the editing than with the writing itself. I think the author has great potential.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books!

The realm is in peril, and the knights of the round table have been called back to duty once again, waking up from under the earth to fight . . . climate change. Among other things.

This was a little too long, a little repetitive (scenes back to back accomplishing the same things), and the author doesn't really wield a subtle pen (which is fine! especially since this is in part a satire, but some of the moments in this could have benefitted, I think, while others were perfect). But this author has quite the imagination and sense of humor, so I will definitely be picking up future books from him. I ended up doing the audiobook from my library after I biffed it with my e-ARC (this book was published in May) and I really liked the narrator. Ended up finishing it in a couple of days.

On a side note, this book has a very creative and amusing cure for knocking the racism out of racists, and while implausible, it made me laugh. Perhaps we, too, should consider squirrelification.

For those of you like me who need a hopeful ending, this book delivers, if that was something you were worried about (I was.)

The tales of King Arthur are reimagined for the current age when the knight, Sir Kay, re-emerges into modern Britain, seeking out a way to fight the world's current issues and defeat them as if they were dragons of old.

There is no doubt that Thomas D. Lee is a talented writer. This book has some of the most charming and beautiful writing I've experienced in a while! I really enjoyed the way the scenes and moments were described, and it just had a very fluid and enjoyable quality that kept me reading even when I didn't find myself compelled by the slow plot.

I saw another reviewer compare this to Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and I want to add that this feels very in line with Monty Python as well. If you adore that blend of dark humor, I think you'll absolutely LOVE this book. I think the dialogue remains witty and the cast of characters distinctly British in their dry humor and characteristics. I had a lot of moments where I just didn't feel like I was the right audience for this book, and that just happens with novels. Unfortunately, it ultimately wasn't for me as it did stray dark in tone and just make me a little sad for humanity.

While this wasn't for me, I do think it's a well-written book and has some thought-provoking moments about climate and being conscious of your own eco footprint as well as the footprint we've been making for hundreds of years. And I think it's perfect for fans of King Arthur who are looking for a modern (and funny) take on the world constantly feeling like it's on fire.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review.

Knights of the Round table are summoned from the dead to help Britain in times of peril or hardship. This fantastical tale is original as these knights combat the climate change destroying their homeland and its people.

I wish their was more backstory to our knights. This book also could've been paired down to be less pages to be a bit more enjoyable. There were drags in the storyline making it easy to skim to get onto the better story.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the complimentary copy.

I really wanted to like this, the concept sounds & story is good! However I just cannot connect with a male mc.

A surprisingly fun dystopian Arthurian retelling that's also super duper queer!

The writing style is not the best (think full sentence. fragment. fragment. fragment. fragment. full sentence. new paragraph. repeat) but the tone skillfully mixes grim dystopian, gallows humor, British humor (which feels similar to gallows humor, somehow?) and pockets of hope.

There are three main POVs: Mariam, Kay and Lancelot, each of whom you want to slug, hug or mug at various points (sometimes those points occur all at once) in the story.

It's about determination to do the right thing, the bullshittery of fate and destiny, and how leading with love is so much harder than leading with hate.

My only wish is that more Nazis were punched over the course of this book.

Because yeah, there be Nazis!

Perilous Times may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Don't come into Perilous Times expecting an Arthurian tale set in the near future filled with honor and the saving of damsels. Do expect a politically infused take on the environmental crisis with a fun twist of dragons, Arthurian knights, and other fun magic. If you do not believe in climate change or hate books that are obviously trying to teach you a lesson, then maybe Perilous Times might not be for you. But it definitely was for me.

Things that I liked about Perilous Times - I feel that Perilous Times mixed two subjects together in a way that interests readers who normally read neither subject (me). I don't usually find myself reading fiction regarding climate change (I am depressed enough), nor Arthurian legend remakes. Regardless of that, I found it very easy to delve into Perilous Times and enjoy myself (with a few searches regarding important Arthurian individuals). I also enjoyed that Thomas D. Lee wrote each and every character in a complex way. You understand why each character acts in the way that they do. Even the Arthurian knights have both good and bad aspects, which I enjoyed.

Perilous Times is a very enjoyable book that some may find issue with but others will undoubtedly love. I recommend that you give it a try and see which side you fall in with. 4/5 stars

Thank you Thomas D. Lee and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Good book, I enjoyed it but I wish there was more stuff like dragons and such. But all in all good read.

This book was an ideal match for me, combining dystopian fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend elements. The plot was clever and captivating. In this altered world, climate change has wreaked havoc, submerging much of England, and Essex has been sold to China. Mariam and her eco-terrorist group fight against big oil, but a mishap unleashes a dragon and brings back King Arthur's brother, Kay, and his nemesis, Lancelot. The story unfolds with humor and depth, as these ancient characters navigate a modern world threatened by environmental disasters. I thoroughly enjoyed the well-developed characters and the thrilling mission they undertake. While some might see it as preachy, the accurate portrayals of climate change, capitalism, xenophobia, and the role of wealthy individuals resonated with me. A delightful read! My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy.

This book was fun. I don't read many Arthurian retellings but this cover caught my attention and I thought I'd take my chances. I enjoyed a lot of this story. I did, at times, go off the deep-end but boy was it witty. I found myself smiling at my kindle for much of my readthrough.

This was such a great historical fantasy! It felt like a book I’ve read before while also feeling new. I would love to read anything else by this author!

The snarky humor is the shining factor here! I love the original story of King Arthur and the nights of the round table. I did also love the premise, but somehow it went over my head in the synopsis that this is mostly geared toward climate change and activists. I was just hoping for more dragons and it was definitely slow at times. But ultimately, this was different than I expected and overall, I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more from Thomas D. Lee.

Thanks so much Random House Publishing and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book!

I thought there was no new way to tell the tale of King Arthur. I was wrong, happily so. This story was incredible!

This book had what I thought would be a great storyline; unfortunately, it fell very short for me. The King Arthur theme is one of my favorites to read in retellings so I had high hopes. In my opinion, this turned too much into an opinion piece on global warming and did not give justice to the Arthur legend. Yes, it had all the characters, but it just felt like a veiled attempt to pass along an agenda. 2 stars. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC.

It's a good book, truly it is. But my god the writing voice just did not work for me.

I do think that Lee put in a lot of work into this, and I am interested in this world and the story that is being told but I simply could not get through it. I felt like I should've been watching this rather than reading it.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

The first thing that caught my attention was the cover. I love the minimalist artwork on it (plus it looks cool)! I also love any story that involves Merlin and knights so this was an obvious yes for me! I enjoyed the book and thought it was written well. Definitely a good book for fans of the adventure and historical Fiction/fantasy all in one.