Hi there, pornies! I hope you are doing fine, better than me because, guess what? No internet in my home again. Perfect, just what I needed after two years of that. It made me read a lot again, though, and I just finished binge-reading Avalon’s Last Knight, by Jackson C. Garton. Anyone in the mood for a cute story with witchcraft? (Please, do not judge this book by its cover.)
I have to say I have encountered feeling toward this book. The first half? I devoured it in a sitting, really liked it, and once I got past the names of the characters (it was hard to get used to African American characters with Arthurian names, for example,) I was enjoying this retelling a lot along with the strange, weird but good initial mixture of religions and spiritual paths. I daydreamed about having such a cute and beautiful love story as Lance’s with Arthur because there is a lot of chemistry between these two guys.
However, the second half didn’t have the same effect on me due to inconsistencies in the story and the writing style. (Someone named Arthur Pendragon in this decade will definitely know a thing or two of the legendary king.) The addition of Aztec, even Shakespearean mythology, and the sudden addition of a villain with no background (guess I should have a better knowledge on Arthuriana) made me feel saturated. It was way too much, as if Garton forced this story to be inclusive AF but losing its natural charm. It got worse the closer I was to finish it, along with the times I read “man,” “dude,” and so on in the dialogues. Again, forcing the reader to know Lance is a man.
I would say that, despite the ups and downs and somewhat weak climax, Avalon’s Last Knight was a good, creative story. It was nice to see so many diverse characters together, how they interacted and the story developed in some aspects. The good-vs-evil part of the plot didn’t work that much, but it lead to good scenes and reflections. If you’re into LGBT+, intercultural, Arthurian retellings, you will like this book.
About Jackson C. Garton:
Equal parts dandy and disaster, Jackson C. Garton is a writer and LGBTQ+ activist hailing from the hills of Appalachia. He currently resides in Central Kentucky with his husband, child, and four cats. When Jackson isn't reading or writing, you can find him examining people's natal charts, researching queer history, planning his next ghost hunt, or milling about the supernatural section of his local bookstore.
- Print Length: 299 pages
- Publisher: Pride Publishing (April 28, 2020)
- Publication Date: April 28, 2020
- ASIN: B0854PT69W
Lance has loved Arthur for nearly a thousand years but has never had the courage to act on it—till now.After being away at college for a year, Lance Lotte returns to Avalon, Kentucky, for the summer. Due to self-imposed isolation, he hasn’t seen anyone in months, but all that changes when Arthur—his closest friend, and the love of his life—shows up to his new job with a big toothy grin. The last time Lance saw Arthur, the two had not parted on the best of terms—with Arthur’s father finding them asleep on his bed, and physically wrenching Lance away from Arthur. The incident put a strain on their relationship, and convinced Lance that they will never be allowed to be together. But then Arthur sends Lance a text one night, telling him that he’s in love with him—a text Lance rereads at least a hundred times, but isn’t brave enough to mention when they’re alone. Lance has fought his attraction to Arthur for the past five years because as a budding brujo, he believes in magick, destiny and fate—that everything happens for a reason—that nothing good will come of an Arthur Pendragon-Lance A. Lotte pairing.With the help of his sister, Gwen Lotte, Arthur and two twins visiting their uncle for the summer, Mordy and Morgan Lafayette, Lance learns the true meaning of friendship, and just how far he will go to save the people he loves.
I have to say I have encountered feeling toward this book. The first half? I devoured it in a sitting, really liked it, and once I got past the names of the characters (it was hard to get used to African American characters with Arthurian names, for example,) I was enjoying this retelling a lot along with the strange, weird but good initial mixture of religions and spiritual paths. I daydreamed about having such a cute and beautiful love story as Lance’s with Arthur because there is a lot of chemistry between these two guys.
However, the second half didn’t have the same effect on me due to inconsistencies in the story and the writing style. (Someone named Arthur Pendragon in this decade will definitely know a thing or two of the legendary king.) The addition of Aztec, even Shakespearean mythology, and the sudden addition of a villain with no background (guess I should have a better knowledge on Arthuriana) made me feel saturated. It was way too much, as if Garton forced this story to be inclusive AF but losing its natural charm. It got worse the closer I was to finish it, along with the times I read “man,” “dude,” and so on in the dialogues. Again, forcing the reader to know Lance is a man.
I would say that, despite the ups and downs and somewhat weak climax, Avalon’s Last Knight was a good, creative story. It was nice to see so many diverse characters together, how they interacted and the story developed in some aspects. The good-vs-evil part of the plot didn’t work that much, but it lead to good scenes and reflections. If you’re into LGBT+, intercultural, Arthurian retellings, you will like this book.
About Jackson C. Garton:
Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!
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