Review of 'Spear'

She left all she knew to find who she could be . . .

She grows up in the wild wood, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake drift to her on the spring breeze, scented with promise. And when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she decides her future lies at his court. So, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and sets out on her bony gelding for Caer Leon.

With her stolen hunting spear and mended armour, she is an unlikely hero, not a chosen one, but one who forges her own bright path. Aflame with determination, she begins a journey of magic and mystery, love, lust and fights to death. On her adventures, she will steal the hearts of beautiful women, fight warriors and sorcerers, and make a place to call home.

The legendary author of Hild returns with an unforgettable hero and a queer Arthurian masterpiece for the modern era. Nicola Griffith’s Spear is a spellbinding vision of the Camelot we've longed for, a Camelot that belongs to us all.

Review

Delving into the Arthurian mythos, Griffith follows Peretur through their journey in search of identity, putting together a wonderful and magical tale.

Storytelling

I have to say, I was not expecting a long narrative to drive the story forward. But don’t get me wrong, that in no way impacted the way I ultimately thought of the story.

What I mean to say is that this is very much a novella. There are section breaks but no chapter breaks. The story continues and moves at a brilliant, almost ethereal, pace. The best word to describe it is magical.

Griffith has decided to reinvent the tale of King Arthurs Knight Peretur, also known as Percival. Peretur is a woman who dreams of a lake, of adventure. So, taking her simple hunting spear and stolen armor, she embarks on her journey to Camelot.

It is not a fast-paced story but a slow, steady, and thoughtful one. Peretur sees the world through innocence, remarking on the beauty of everything around them. And coupled with the Gaelic used throughout the story, these elements make the narrative so ethereal.

And the story it follows builds up Peretur’s character’s strength. This is a woman who wants and dreams of being a knight of the round table. Haunted by visions of a lake, she makes her dream a reality. She explores her sexuality, and by switching the gender of the character, Griffith can delve into the exploration of identity and sexuality.

This is an LGBTQ+ story with lesbian representation and exploring the polyamorous relationship between Lancelot, Arthur, and Guinevere. There is beauty in the relationships in how Griffith presents them to the reader, which makes the story engaging.

Final Thoughts

Coupled with the illustrations throughout the story, Griffith builds an excellent narrative within Spear, giving readers a thoughtful and compelling read.

• Writing Quality : 10/10
• Character Development : 9/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 8/10
• Intellectual Depth: 9/10
• Originality: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats.