meganbmoore (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
meganbmoore) wrote2012-01-01 09:17 pm
meganbmoore) wrote2012-01-01 09:17 pm
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The Winter Prince by Elizabeth A. Wein
This is an Arthuriana retelling from the POV of Mordred, called Medraut here. It's a book I really really liked, and then I really really didn't.
This is based on earlier celtic versions of the story, and focuses on the relationship between Medraut and his legitimate half-siblings, Lleu and Goewin, and his frustrations regarding his parentage and inability to inherit. His voice is outwardly calm, but inwardly seething and rather fascinating. Goewin appears to be loosely based on Morguase, save that she's largely a good person (of course, she also didn't have the crappy childhood) and is a far better candidate to rule than anyone else in the book, including her father. Lleu is somewhat sympathetic due to a sickly childhood, but he's also spiteful and well on his way to being a vindictive bully. I somehow ended up accidentally shipping Goewin/Medraut, and suspect Medraut would have had an easier time dealing with his issues if she was the heir.
I liked the first 3/4 a lot and thought Wein did an excellent job with the world and characters, despite my dislike for Lleu, and my only real issue was how Morguase was "Evil Evil EEEEEEVIL and abusive in every way!" and given no character or motivation or background beyond that. And then I got to the last 1/4 where Goewin is literally sent away so that the climax could be "All the world's ills will be solved if men just admit they love each other and embrace their manly bonds and are freed from EEEEEVIL women!"
I have the other two books in the series and will at least read the next book because it's about Goewin and because I really liked it until it went south for me very quickly in every possible way (I'd say "except for rape," but there was a bit that was basically "maybe I should rape you to prove my power!" and the themes of dubious consent in the backstory.) but I'm very sad it didn't live up to my expectations.
This is based on earlier celtic versions of the story, and focuses on the relationship between Medraut and his legitimate half-siblings, Lleu and Goewin, and his frustrations regarding his parentage and inability to inherit. His voice is outwardly calm, but inwardly seething and rather fascinating. Goewin appears to be loosely based on Morguase, save that she's largely a good person (of course, she also didn't have the crappy childhood) and is a far better candidate to rule than anyone else in the book, including her father. Lleu is somewhat sympathetic due to a sickly childhood, but he's also spiteful and well on his way to being a vindictive bully. I somehow ended up accidentally shipping Goewin/Medraut, and suspect Medraut would have had an easier time dealing with his issues if she was the heir.
I liked the first 3/4 a lot and thought Wein did an excellent job with the world and characters, despite my dislike for Lleu, and my only real issue was how Morguase was "Evil Evil EEEEEEVIL and abusive in every way!" and given no character or motivation or background beyond that. And then I got to the last 1/4 where Goewin is literally sent away so that the climax could be "All the world's ills will be solved if men just admit they love each other and embrace their manly bonds and are freed from EEEEEVIL women!"
I have the other two books in the series and will at least read the next book because it's about Goewin and because I really liked it until it went south for me very quickly in every possible way (I'd say "except for rape," but there was a bit that was basically "maybe I should rape you to prove my power!" and the themes of dubious consent in the backstory.) but I'm very sad it didn't live up to my expectations.