
Fantasy
Half Sick of Shadows
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An epic, feminist retelling of Arthurian legend. Sometimes you need a crystal ball to crack a glass ceiling.
400+ pages
Feminist
Based on a classic
Quest
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 fate—and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.
I will die drowning; it has always been known. This was my first vision, long before I knew it for what it was, and I’ve had it so many times now that I know each instant by heart. Where most visions are ephemeral things, shifting and changing in different lights and at different angles, this one is always so solid that it leaves its bruises on my mind and soul long after it ends.
The water will be cold against my skin. It will rush around me like a storm, tearing my hair in different directions until it clouds my vision. I won’t be able to see a thing. I will want to kick up to the surface, to breathe the air I know is only a few meters away, but I will stay frozen and sink lower and lower in my whirlpool until my feet finally touch soft sand. My eyes will be closed, and everything around me will be darkness.
My lungs will burn, burn, burn until I fear they are going to burst. The surface will be so close, I could reach it if I just kick up . . . but I won’t. I won’t want to.
In a week or a year or a decade, I will die drowning. When I do, it will be a choice.
When I was a tween, I went through a brief but intense period of watching every King Arthur adaptation I could find. (It’s a long story.) And while I’m no expert, I like to think all those hours gave me a pretty good grasp of Arthurian legend. Yet when I saw that Laura Sebastian had written a feminist retelling starring Elaine, my first thought was, Awesome!, and my second thought was, Who on earth is Elaine...?
In my defense, it’s not that surprising I’d forgotten who she was; as legend has it, Elaine really gets the short end of the stick. But in Half Sick of Shadows, Elaine is much more than a lovesick woman locked in a tower—instead, she’s a powerful prophetess. As a girl, Elaine practices magic on Avalon island, bonding with Guinevere, Morgana, Lancelot, and Arthur. But as her visions develop, she is haunted by possible futures filled with betrayal and death. When the friends journey to Camelot on a quest to make Arthur king, Elaine wrestles with her foreknowledge, wondering how much she must sacrifice to fulfill her destiny.
Half Sick of Shadows has all the touchstones of great Arthurian stories: the conflict between duty and desire, the hope for a better future, the pull of forbidden love. But it also breathes fresh life into the legend’s women: free-spirited Guinevere, strong-willed Morgana, savvy Elaine. Through Elaine’s eyes we toggle between past, present, and numerous possible futures—and though you might think you know how it all ends, it will almost certainly surprise you. One thing’s for sure: After finishing this lyrical, emotional rollercoaster of a book, I will never again forget Elaine.
Brooke B.
AUSTIN, TX
I didn’t want this book to end - I was so wrapped up in Elaine and Lancelot, Gwen and Author, and Morgana’s stories. I wanted to see more of what was to come. 5 stars to Laura Sebastian ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Courtney M.
Milwaukee, WI
If you are a die hard Arthurian fan, you might not like this book. I loved it. This is my first “glimpse” into this world and I’m told it’s completely different but it has me hooked to learn more.
Samantha F.
Honesdale, PA
Beyond thrilled with this pick. Elaine’s mysterious visions and the story of Prince Arthur in Camelot mixed with magic. Honestly, it’s what I was really hoping for. I couldn’t put it down. 4.5 stars!
Lindsey C.
Clarksville , TN
I couldn’t put it down but I have mixed feelings about the ending. There were many times I wish I could have taken Elaine by the shoulders and gave her a good shake and ask her “what the hell!?”
Ariana D.
Union, NJ
I felt like this started slow, but then I was 80% done and realized the ending was going to hit hard. Love this retelling of the Arthurian legend, it’s thought-provoking and emotional in the best way.