Half Sick of Shadows

By: Laura Sebastian

Narrated by: Ell Potter

Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

"Laura Sebastian is the next Madeline Miller.... a fierce, fresh, lyrical tale that will enthrall until the last page." (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Huntress)

A Popsugar Best Summer Read of 2021

A Bibliolifestyle Most Anticipated Summer 2021 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book

"Magical, haunting, unique - I haven't been so excited about an Arthur book since I read The Once and Future King." (Tamora Pierce, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

The Lady of Shalott reclaims her story in this bold feminist reimagining of the Arthurian myth from the New York Times best-selling author of Ash Princess.

Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come - for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future.

On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends - countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic.

When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle.

As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change destiny - and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.

©2021 Laura Sebastian (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Laura Sebastian is the next Madeline Miller. In Half Sick of Shadows, she frames the famous legend of King Arthur through the eyes of seer Elaine, the tragic Lily Maid who flowers into much more than a passive doomed oracle. Leading the women of Camelot into taking control of a legend long dominated by knights and kings, Elaine weaves past truths and possible futures into a fierce, fresh, lyrical tale that will enthrall until the last page." (Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Huntress)

"Magical, haunting, unique - Sebastian is a splendid new figure on the adult scene! This is something special, readable, and real, magic and all. I haven't been so excited about an Arthur book since I read The Once and Future King (I was 11)." (Tamora Pierce, number one New York Times best-selling author)

"A thoughtful, crisp take that brings just the right amount of newness to the timeless legends readers know and love.” (Kirkus)

it was good. I did tear up at the end a little

I think the ending was rushed, and so all the set up didn't really get the justice it deserved. alot of Elaine's vision feel like they are being told over and over, with slight changes so that maybe annoying to some. but I think that it is a well rounded story. with the typical set backs that if they were just honest and talked about things maybe half the conflicts wouldn't have been an issue. but thats how stories work.
it was a different take on the Arthur tale that gives the women of the time more urgency, and fully fleshed out character arcs.

Melodramatic

Based off the cover and title, I thought this would be a bit more funny and less melodramatic. I wouldn’t have even bothered to finish it if I had not spend an Audible credit on it. Spoiler: I did not like the timeline jumps from past to future to present and all around. I also strongly disliked the strange verb tense usage that went along with it.

New and original

Half Sick of Shadows is a captivating story where an Oracle named Elaine tries to guide her famous group of friends through all their trials of crowning King Arthur.
Laura Sebastian does an amazing job of keeping true to the common fictional characteristics of Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot; however she also brings a new fresh perspective with these characters, even more so with character Morgana, through Elaine’s visions and love of her friends. Elaine visions at times were sporadic and confusing but that made me feel even more connected with her and the little madness that comes with her gift.
ELL Potter also does an outstanding job of bringing the story to life in narrating.
I truly enjoy this book and hope you do as well!

A Hard Tale to Tell

Beautifully written tale of sacrifice and feminism. A retold story of a woman destined to patriarchal rule and self sacrifice, with a twist of feminine empowerment. Dark and alluring. Hard truths, suicide, and caution.

Magic is the price and power!

I enjoyed this retelling of King Arthur, from Elaine, the oracle. She grew up with the crew, Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgana. They loved each other and would do anything for Arthur. Protect him at all cost. Elaine falling in love with Lance and cursed to see her friends’ future play out in tragedy over and over. She tries so many different decisions and feels doomed with a similar outcome. The book is so well written and I feel for Elaine, having the ability to see how each of her friends are, truly are and knowing that their future is not set in stone. Magic is everywhere and the ruin of everything.

An Unusual take on The Lady of Shallot

I'm a huge fan of all things King Arthur legends, so this was an exciting addition to my collection. It felt like a fanfiction of Tennyson's Lady of Shallot, but it was very well done. Truly the only disappointment for me was one that I've read others disliked as well and that was regarding Guinevere being ...
Narration was very well done and I'm look for more audibles read by Ell Potter now. Enjoyable listen- I recommend.

Interesting take on the Arthurian legends

I enjoyed this book. The author takes you inside Lady Elaine’s mind . Very thought provoking.

beautiful

I'm in love. the story caught my attention since the beginning. Couldn't stop reading/listening to it. it's good to see strong women in Arthurian novels. I connected sm with Morgana.

It was ok...

For me, this story lacked depth. It is an original idea, to share an Arthurian tale from Elaine's perspective; however I felt that beyond her relationship with her mother, the story fell flat. Her relationship with her Mother was the best part of the story, imo.
Why are they all so bonded to Arthur? Why is Arthur worthy to be King? Other than blind loyalty they were programmed with, this story gives NOTHING to Arthur other than him being led by Elaine's advice... which again asks the question of how she is so adept in Courtly customs when she herself was locked in the tower most of the time, relentlessly harangued by the other girls at Court, and then spent ten years in Avalon.
The story had a lot of potential but only scratched the surface of emotional depth and connection. I would have loved to see more of Elaine's story as Lady of the Lake, but it was like right at the climax the book was over.
A second book with Elaine as Lady of the Lake and her experiences, time with Morgana, and THEN Arthur's death would have enriched this story so much more. It just went too quickly.

A Stunning Transformative Retelling

This book was beautiful and enchanting and haunting all at once.
I didn’t think any author could come close to matching Madeleine Miller for breathing new life into old myths but this came close.