In this feminist retelling of King Arthur, Elaine of Shalott has the burden of seeing every possibility that is to come but cannot share any of it. She knows that once Arthur becomes king, they will be betrayed by Lancelot and Guinevere. Morgana will turn against them all and death will come to claim them.
Desperate to change their fate, Elaine will do anything to protect those she loves and put Arthur on the throne.
In Half Sick of Shadows, Laura Sebastian has managed to tell a story that has been redone so many times and make it into something completely new. She draws the reader in with the first sentence. “I will die drowning; it has always been known.” The book not only tells the story in present times, but it also gives us insight into the past and the future. I typically don’t like it when books do this, but the author does it so well that I was never confused.
This book can be viewed as repetitive and slow. The more you read, the easier it is to experience Elaine’s life of seeing different outcomes for every situation. By the end, the reader can appreciate the writing style for what it is. I can honestly say this retelling is very different than others.
You can feel the melancholy and loneliness in Elaine’s story. Most would buckle under the weight of it all, but she manages to rise above. She is determined to change the future regardless of what her visions tell her.
There are many descriptions of suicide and suicidal ideation. If you are triggered by thoughts of suicide, I do not recommend this book.
Quotes
Heartbreak isn’t as lethal as the name implies, you know. It’s life, Elaine. Getting hurt, picking yourself up, trying again. You’re so focused on the ending sometimes that I don’t think you know how to appreciate the during.”
“Not all men, fine, but enough of them. More than enough to ruin the whole damn world.”
Rating
3.5 / 5