By Lisa Ann Sandell
Genre YA fantasy
Pages 394
Recommended by Me
First sentence Motherless.
Synopsis
This verse novel tells the story of Elaine of Ascalot, or as most people know her, The Lady of Shalott.
What it has going for it
I really truly love verse novels. Not only are they incredibly quick to read, but they say only what needs saying in the most beautiful way possible. The flow of this one was lovely. I'm going to go ahead and admit, right here, that the only King Arthur story I've ever read and enjoyed was The Mists of Avalon. It occurs to me, that it's the only "Arthur" book I've read that's from a girl's perspective. Hmmm, that might have something to do with it. And now that I've read this one, from a girl's perspective as well, I think I can safely say that it probably does determine whether I'll like a book about Arthur. But I'm totally getting off track here. I liked Elaine in this one because she wasn't portrayed as the simpering, rather worthless woman she usually is. She was tough and useful and smart. She was a friend to all the men she'd grown up with and they valued her opinion. And best of all, she doesn't freaking kill herself over stupid Lancelot! Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have spoiled that for you but, come on, this book is from Elaine's perspective. She's not going to die at the end!
What's lacking
I'm going to rant for a minute here. Bear with me. I really, REALLY hate Lancelot! I can't stand him. No matter the book or movie that portrays him, he's always the same narcissistic, melancholy, poor picked on me asshole! Anywho, I only mention it because he was the same in this one and, yes, it bothered me. I also thought the ending was very rushed. It probably only felt that way because the first part of the book was a completely different pace and then suddenly everything happens and ends. It was sort of like going through an art museum in a race car.
Favorite moment
Tristan. Sigh! Any part with him.
Yea or Nay?
Um, yes, even if King Arthur stories aren't your thing. It's a verse novel and a beautiful one at that.
Ahh Tristan <3 I love how he was portrayed in this one! I am so glad you read it and enjoyed it, I wish there were more books written in verse like Song of the Sparrow!
ReplyDeleteThere definitely need to be more book in verse. I should set out and find them and read them...it might help me catch up to my reading goals. ;)
DeleteAnd now I suddenly find myself on a mission to find a Lancelot you like, and King Arthur books from the girls POV. Try Rosalind Miles books for that... a series on Guinevere and one on Isolde. As for Lancelot, I wonder if you'd like how he is portrayed in the show Merlin that I love so much. They do tend to throw out all our preconceived notions of the familiar characters. I tried to find a video about him, they were all a bit silly, but this one wasn't too bad: http://youtu.be/kW4YgLwwYQo
ReplyDeleteUgh, it will never work. It's his love for Guinevere that makes me hate him, and since he will always love her I'll never like him. :( The guy that plays him in Merlin is pretty good looking but all those shared looks with Guinevere just...yuck!
DeleteI can't believe you dont even like the Lancelot from Merlin! gutted!! I'm not sure about this one...I don't think a story told in verse is really my thing, but I DO like Arthurian legends...oooh
ReplyDeleteThe Cait Files
You should try a verse novel. They're not poetry. No rhymes etc.
DeleteOMG, I LOVE the Lady of Shallot poem. Have you heard the song by Lorena McKenna, where she turns that ballad into a gorgeous song?? Oh, and I too loved the Mists of Avalon!
ReplyDeleteAn entire book in verse? Bear with my ignorance here -- do you mean it's a poem? I'm intrigued!
Yes and no. It looks like a poem but really just reads like a normal book...sort of. You'll have to try one.
DeleteAnd, yes! I love Lorena McKenna! I've listened to this song so many times. Love it!
I like King Arthur stories. All I've read were adult novels though, never YA.
ReplyDeleteI think I've only read adult too. This one was better than some of those adult ones, though, but very simple.
DeleteMy familiararity with Arthur stories boils down to: coconuts, air velocity of African swallows, and the phrase "it's only a flesh wound."
ReplyDeleteLOL! Just the other day I was telling my sister I'm going to teach my children to yell, "Help! I'm being oppressed!" if a suspicious stranger tries to talk them.
DeleteI'm not a fan of Lancelot either. I've become a big fan of verse novels over the last year and this is one of my favs. Glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteI really like verse novels. There's just something about their simplicity that I love.
DeleteI can't think of a single movie or book that I've watched that has to do with Arthur. I will probably think about this some more because it seems like I should have at least seen a movie about it. Probably forever ago. I've also never read a verse novel, which is something I keep meaning to do. Maybe I'll start with Song of the Sparrow.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't even seen Monty Python?
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