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The Lost Book of Lancelot
A “richly detailed and evocative” queer retelling of the legend of Sir Lancelot, following the famous knight as he grows up orphaned, falls in love, and attempts to fulfill his destiny at the Round Table – a stunning debut novel from the author of Out East (Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author).
Hidden away on the Isle of Women, a nameless orphan has grown up among the island's sisterhood, but always at a distance. He hears whispers of a prophecy that may shed light on his destiny—and his true identity. Lancelot. Determined to master the skills and knowledge worthy of the knight he is meant to be, he begins training alongside the handsome Galehaut. As the two grow closer, they guide one another towards their truest selves. But no matter how tightly they cling to one another, each has a role to play in the wizard Merlin's grand prophecies.
When Lancelot is forced to follow Merlin to Camelot, he fights to protect his heart while seeking the fabled Holy Grail. As he grows closer to his fellow knights, Lancelot must keep an explosive secret to himself—the truth of what he left behind on the Isle of Women, of the man he truly is beneath the armor. All the while, Roman legionaries too scour far and wide for the grail. As an army encroaches on their kingdom, King Arthur and his knights must race to ensure that this powerful object doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Steeped in rich medieval lore, THE LOST BOOK OF LANCELOT is an immersive, poignant reexamination of the most famous knight of the Round Table. It is the story of a once vulnerable boy who is forced to rise to the occasion, of a kingdom under siege, and of the battle between the old world and the new.
Hidden away on the Isle of Women, a nameless orphan has grown up among the island's sisterhood, but always at a distance. He hears whispers of a prophecy that may shed light on his destiny—and his true identity. Lancelot. Determined to master the skills and knowledge worthy of the knight he is meant to be, he begins training alongside the handsome Galehaut. As the two grow closer, they guide one another towards their truest selves. But no matter how tightly they cling to one another, each has a role to play in the wizard Merlin's grand prophecies.
When Lancelot is forced to follow Merlin to Camelot, he fights to protect his heart while seeking the fabled Holy Grail. As he grows closer to his fellow knights, Lancelot must keep an explosive secret to himself—the truth of what he left behind on the Isle of Women, of the man he truly is beneath the armor. All the while, Roman legionaries too scour far and wide for the grail. As an army encroaches on their kingdom, King Arthur and his knights must race to ensure that this powerful object doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Steeped in rich medieval lore, THE LOST BOOK OF LANCELOT is an immersive, poignant reexamination of the most famous knight of the Round Table. It is the story of a once vulnerable boy who is forced to rise to the occasion, of a kingdom under siege, and of the battle between the old world and the new.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
John Glynn
2 books220 followersJohn Glynn is the Editorial Director of Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. His nonfiction debut Out East: Memoir of a Montauk Summer was an Indie Next pick, an Oprah, The Magazine "Best LGBTQ Book of 2019," and a Cosmopolitan Best Book of 2019, among other accolades. His writing has appeared in People, Oprah Daily, The Millions and The Daily Beast. He lives in New York City with his partner and dog, Whitman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
I’m no expert on Arthurian lore, so if you told me that King Arthur had a pet goose, I’d believe you! 😆 So, I’m not one to nitpick archaic dialogue or idiosyncrasies that would have thrown me off or caused me to doubt Lancelot's affiliation with the Knights of the Round Table.
Although, considering how many times we are told how each name relates to another, I think a family tree would have been wise and helpful. It would have certainly helped, as some of the names flew over my head because of how unusually they sounded. 🧐
“Failure, exile, I’d face both. I did not care.... I promised myself I would learn the truth.”
After reading the Author's Note, I have kind of calmed down and my frustration cooled due to its interesting insight and context into Lancelot's paramours, but I can't ignore that while reading, the better half of the time, I was thoroughly annoyed. 🙎🏻♀️ Annoyed at how the Lost Book of Lancelot seemed to promise one thing but ultimately still went back on that word, only for it to still fall under that radar.
I do get the intent; which is part of why I feel so vexed, so maybe it is really a me thing. 😔 For Lancelot, a journey of self-discovery, lost unto himself on an Isle of Women until he finds his birthright, for experiencing love in its multitudes and discovering what it means to find the one, for living a life of heroism and danger that allows him to finally claim what it means to live as his true self.
I can see all that it was building up to. I can even see the glimmers of various other characters of medieval lore —of loyalty, honor, courtly regard— aspiring to be true to themselves with unique takes on their dynamics that would certainly be enjoyable to some.
But, I can't say that I actually liked it. That's fair, right? 🥺
“A knight must have two hearts.”
It is fair to say that for one who grew up not knowing who he was, it is only fair that Lancelot ends up with the better end of the deal. I do. Even if much of the start was simply him coping with that and finally having his moment of reckoning. 🙆🏻♀️
And there was one element to the romantic liaisons that gave me the serious ick. 🥴 Because I figured out what the author was aiming for, but the indecent way it was done just upset me. It upset me how it suddenly became all about Lancelot having his cake and eating it, too. I mean, even at the end, it gets thrown in that no fear. Lancelot’s heart will never despair of being alone ever again. ❤️🩹
One might argue that actually proves the point the author was aiming for—that the heart can belong to two—but it just felt too convenient, too easy, too wrong to feel right.
“I miss you, even though you are right here with me.”
For once I was getting into the heart of one sped-up relationship, I was bamboozled with another dynamic, which I was not a fan of. And just when I was warming up to it, boom, let's take back what we said about how the heart is allowed another chance of love, and spearhead back into reconnecting at hi-speed intimacy. 🤦🏻♀️
Doesn't that defeat the purpose of what it intended? It felt like a betrayal, let alone, a complete disregard or what it had been preaching all this time; and yet, fate takes the blame. 😮💨
What also started off as a quest of relics to fulfill unspoken prophecies also veered off course to adventure and danger at Camelot that I did not feel was built up upon enough, with various perspectives thrown in that felt neither here nor there. 🤷🏻♀️ It became a disjointed narrative that felt like it had lost its sense of direction. By the end, I just did not really care for Lancelot, if he attained happiness or his dream.
In spite of these vexations, I don't think the writing was all that bad. It's an ambitious historical fantasy debut that shows promise. 👍🏻 Despite how rushed the romance was with both hearts, there were some tender moments of affection and intimacy that were endearing. And yes, it is nice to see that even now, Merlin still is very much a complicated and questionable character of his own volition. ⚔️
“I want nothing more than to be a knight. They have a place in the world and people who love them. Most of all, they are never lonely.”
I’m no expert on Arthurian lore, so if you told me that King Arthur had a pet goose, I’d believe you! 😆 So, I’m not one to nitpick archaic dialogue or idiosyncrasies that would have thrown me off or caused me to doubt Lancelot's affiliation with the Knights of the Round Table.
Although, considering how many times we are told how each name relates to another, I think a family tree would have been wise and helpful. It would have certainly helped, as some of the names flew over my head because of how unusually they sounded. 🧐
“Failure, exile, I’d face both. I did not care.... I promised myself I would learn the truth.”
After reading the Author's Note, I have kind of calmed down and my frustration cooled due to its interesting insight and context into Lancelot's paramours, but I can't ignore that while reading, the better half of the time, I was thoroughly annoyed. 🙎🏻♀️ Annoyed at how the Lost Book of Lancelot seemed to promise one thing but ultimately still went back on that word, only for it to still fall under that radar.
I do get the intent; which is part of why I feel so vexed, so maybe it is really a me thing. 😔 For Lancelot, a journey of self-discovery, lost unto himself on an Isle of Women until he finds his birthright, for experiencing love in its multitudes and discovering what it means to find the one, for living a life of heroism and danger that allows him to finally claim what it means to live as his true self.
I can see all that it was building up to. I can even see the glimmers of various other characters of medieval lore —of loyalty, honor, courtly regard— aspiring to be true to themselves with unique takes on their dynamics that would certainly be enjoyable to some.
But, I can't say that I actually liked it. That's fair, right? 🥺
“A knight must have two hearts.”
It is fair to say that for one who grew up not knowing who he was, it is only fair that Lancelot ends up with the better end of the deal. I do. Even if much of the start was simply him coping with that and finally having his moment of reckoning. 🙆🏻♀️
And there was one element to the romantic liaisons that gave me the serious ick. 🥴 Because I figured out what the author was aiming for, but the indecent way it was done just upset me. It upset me how it suddenly became all about Lancelot having his cake and eating it, too. I mean, even at the end, it gets thrown in that no fear. Lancelot’s heart will never despair of being alone ever again. ❤️🩹
One might argue that actually proves the point the author was aiming for—that the heart can belong to two—but it just felt too convenient, too easy, too wrong to feel right.
“I miss you, even though you are right here with me.”
For once I was getting into the heart of one sped-up relationship, I was bamboozled with another dynamic, which I was not a fan of. And just when I was warming up to it, boom, let's take back what we said about how the heart is allowed another chance of love, and spearhead back into reconnecting at hi-speed intimacy. 🤦🏻♀️
Doesn't that defeat the purpose of what it intended? It felt like a betrayal, let alone, a complete disregard or what it had been preaching all this time; and yet, fate takes the blame. 😮💨
What also started off as a quest of relics to fulfill unspoken prophecies also veered off course to adventure and danger at Camelot that I did not feel was built up upon enough, with various perspectives thrown in that felt neither here nor there. 🤷🏻♀️ It became a disjointed narrative that felt like it had lost its sense of direction. By the end, I just did not really care for Lancelot, if he attained happiness or his dream.
In spite of these vexations, I don't think the writing was all that bad. It's an ambitious historical fantasy debut that shows promise. 👍🏻 Despite how rushed the romance was with both hearts, there were some tender moments of affection and intimacy that were endearing. And yes, it is nice to see that even now, Merlin still is very much a complicated and questionable character of his own volition. ⚔️
Did Not Finish
March 24, 2026I received an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers for the copy.
The first thing I noticed was the writing felt clunky and forced. I think it tried to be beautiful, reminiscent of Madeline Miller, but to me, it failed on that front. I really wanted to put it down as soon as I could.
I think this book tried to be eloquent, but instead got lost in itself and felt contrived. Almost fake.
I felt like the book didn’t deliver on the many promises its description made. I just had a headache reading it, really. I wanted there to be discovery of the self, but I felt like the narrator wasn’t fully realized even as time progressed, so it just… fell flat.
I’ll give kudos to the author for trying to tackle this book, the concept seemed really neat. But I think this book would really benefit from killing its darlings, and much more editing.
I also just felt like this author was trying so hard to emulate the voice of Song of Achilles, and it felt kind of like a rip off. It got so tired that I had to put it down.
The first thing I noticed was the writing felt clunky and forced. I think it tried to be beautiful, reminiscent of Madeline Miller, but to me, it failed on that front. I really wanted to put it down as soon as I could.
I think this book tried to be eloquent, but instead got lost in itself and felt contrived. Almost fake.
I felt like the book didn’t deliver on the many promises its description made. I just had a headache reading it, really. I wanted there to be discovery of the self, but I felt like the narrator wasn’t fully realized even as time progressed, so it just… fell flat.
I’ll give kudos to the author for trying to tackle this book, the concept seemed really neat. But I think this book would really benefit from killing its darlings, and much more editing.
I also just felt like this author was trying so hard to emulate the voice of Song of Achilles, and it felt kind of like a rip off. It got so tired that I had to put it down.
Read
April 3, 2026would be really curious to know how much (if any) high fantasy this author actually reads
Want to Read
January 5, 2026The way I need this book in my hands right now. Guys. I can’t wait any longer. I have never been more excited for a release in my LIFE!!!!😭
April 24, 2026
I’d give this 4.5 if I could. Modern King Arthur retelling doesn’t get much better than #TheLostBookofLancelot by @glynner85!!! I’m really grateful @grandcentralpub on @netgalley once again gave me permission to read an advance copy of one of my anticipated books of the first half of the year. I loved stories of King Arthur when I was a kid. Pre-Lord of the Rings for me, the stories of Arthur, Galahad, Gawain, most importantly Lancelot filled my imagination. Never in all my years did I ever think I needed a revisionist history of a queer Lancelot until I read the longline for this book and it might have been the fastest I got through a book this year. I will be doing a deep dive on the other takes from John Steinbeck, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mark Twain, and T. H. White later this year and no better way for me to start it than with this gem. You’ll get queer romance, adventure, chivalry, and fresh perspective in spades. My only criticism is the final fifty pages had some pacing problems; Glynn sped through the plot so much faster than he had up to that point and felt like it could have been expanded on to be a bit more satisfactory. Beyond that, it’s a great read and one of my favorite 2026 releases so far.
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026DNF at 51%.
This needed some major editing. Despite the slow pacing you never sit in a moment long enough for it to feel intentional. The characters have no distinct personality other than what you’re told, but their actions and supposed character don’t necessarily align. Much of the beginning portion of this book, “the training arc,” felt like it happened without any reason other than it checked off the boxes of what’s meant to happen in fantasy novels. Everything about this feels underdeveloped and disjointed. The prose attempts at being evocative but without any attachment to the characters it falls flat.
This really had the potential to be good if only it had spent more time in editing and honed in on what it was trying to achieve. Because it feels as if it’s attempting to be a literary coming-of-age story as well as an action-packed historical fantasy with magic and prophecies — and executing neither of those to its full potential.
This needed some major editing. Despite the slow pacing you never sit in a moment long enough for it to feel intentional. The characters have no distinct personality other than what you’re told, but their actions and supposed character don’t necessarily align. Much of the beginning portion of this book, “the training arc,” felt like it happened without any reason other than it checked off the boxes of what’s meant to happen in fantasy novels. Everything about this feels underdeveloped and disjointed. The prose attempts at being evocative but without any attachment to the characters it falls flat.
This really had the potential to be good if only it had spent more time in editing and honed in on what it was trying to achieve. Because it feels as if it’s attempting to be a literary coming-of-age story as well as an action-packed historical fantasy with magic and prophecies — and executing neither of those to its full potential.
May 15, 2026
4.5 stars. This is a book that I can only describe as beautiful.
Though this is a retelling that takes many liberties with the traditional Arthurian lore, it does an excellent job of staying true to its spirit. Arthur here is not the Anglo-Saxon warrior king of British myth - he’s closer to the Malory Arthur, the Romantic inspirational hero. This key difference is reflected in the personalities of the knights, their interpersonal relationships, and their approach to war and the Grail hunt.
(If you can’t tell, I wrote my college thesis on the myths of King Arthur.)
I loved Lancelot’s characterization here: he’s often one-dimensional, a foil to show the disintegration of Camelot, but here he is full of heart and emotion. The book has excellent pacing, and watching the characters grow is rewarding. I do feel it ended abruptly - but most Arthur myths do.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Glynn, and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Though this is a retelling that takes many liberties with the traditional Arthurian lore, it does an excellent job of staying true to its spirit. Arthur here is not the Anglo-Saxon warrior king of British myth - he’s closer to the Malory Arthur, the Romantic inspirational hero. This key difference is reflected in the personalities of the knights, their interpersonal relationships, and their approach to war and the Grail hunt.
(If you can’t tell, I wrote my college thesis on the myths of King Arthur.)
I loved Lancelot’s characterization here: he’s often one-dimensional, a foil to show the disintegration of Camelot, but here he is full of heart and emotion. The book has excellent pacing, and watching the characters grow is rewarding. I do feel it ended abruptly - but most Arthur myths do.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Glynn, and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
thank-u-next
May 15, 2026My guy accidentally wrote an Arthurian retelling set in 2020s New Jersey from the sounds of it. The writing, oof.
These are real quotes from the first, like, 5 pages:
‘Ours was a good-sized home, modern’
“Relax, Viviana”
“I’m a sweaty mess”
I’m not going to keep reading until the Romans, knights and King Arthur show up, the anachronisms would end me.
These are real quotes from the first, like, 5 pages:
‘Ours was a good-sized home, modern’
“Relax, Viviana”
“I’m a sweaty mess”
I’m not going to keep reading until the Romans, knights and King Arthur show up, the anachronisms would end me.
February 21, 2026
Was so incredibly lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book. If you like fantasy, romance, or historical fiction this book is the perfect blend! John Glynn continues to be one of my all time favorite writers!
April 12, 2026
This ARC was provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you loved The Song of Achilles, you are sure to fall in love with this beautifully told retelling of the Legend of Lancelot. Filled with magic, epic battles, tragedy, and love, The Lost Book of Lancelot is a truly captivating read.
This novel reimagines Lancelot’s story from his earliest years on the Isle of Women, where he learns his true heritage and begins his training to become a knight. Once he arrives in Camelot, we follow his journey as he works to fulfill Merlin’s prophecy and rise as one of the greatest knights of the realm.
I’m a sucker for historical retellings, and this story completely delivered from start to finish. The author does an incredible job drawing the reader in and making you deeply invested in Lancelot and the people he loves along the way.
If you loved The Song of Achilles, you are sure to fall in love with this beautifully told retelling of the Legend of Lancelot. Filled with magic, epic battles, tragedy, and love, The Lost Book of Lancelot is a truly captivating read.
This novel reimagines Lancelot’s story from his earliest years on the Isle of Women, where he learns his true heritage and begins his training to become a knight. Once he arrives in Camelot, we follow his journey as he works to fulfill Merlin’s prophecy and rise as one of the greatest knights of the realm.
I’m a sucker for historical retellings, and this story completely delivered from start to finish. The author does an incredible job drawing the reader in and making you deeply invested in Lancelot and the people he loves along the way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An inventive and original retelling of the Arthurian legends in which the central conflict is between the new ways, represented by the Romans and Christianity, and the old ways of magic and prophecies. In this telling, Lancelot is brought up on the Isle of Women, and forced to follow Merlin to Camelot, where his mission is to find the Holy Grail. Knightly training, medieval lore, characters you have heard of in other stories, come together to make this a moving retelling.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers
Book Review: The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn
The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn is a historical fantasy retelling that follows Lancelot’s life from childhood to knighthood. The story explores his upbringing, his role in prophecy, his search for the Holy Grail, and his experiences with love and loss.
At its core, the main conflict centers on the race to find the Grail before the Romans can claim it. While this premise is interesting and full of potential, the execution is a bit uneven.
One of my biggest issues with this book was the pacing. The first half focuses heavily on Lancelot’s early life—his childhood, training, prophecy, and especially his teenage romance with Galehaut. This section moves relatively slowly and spends a lot of time on emotional and romantic development (though not always effectively). In contrast, the second half feels extremely rushed. Major events are packed into very few pages, with months, seasons, and even years passing quickly. By the time I reached 95% of the book, it was clear there wasn’t enough space left to properly resolve everything. Instead of a sequel or a more expanded ending, the story wraps up rapidly, with events happening in quick succession and lacking depth.
This rushed pacing affects many aspects of the story. Conflicts are introduced and resolved almost immediately, often within a paragraph or two. For example, when Lancelot and Gawain encounter a dragon guarding what appears to be the Grail, the entire conflict—from discovery to resolution—happens in about one to two pages. Moments that could have been intense and memorable instead feel brief and underdeveloped.
Another issue is how convenient many plot elements feel. Information comes easily to Lancelot, prophecies are revealed without much effort, and problems are often solved through intuition or unexplained magic. Rather than building tension or allowing the reader to piece things together, the story tends to present answers directly. This removes a lot of potential mystery and engagement.
The emotional depth, particularly in relationships, also felt inconsistent. Lancelot’s early relationship with Galehaut is introduced quickly, but it lacks a strong sense of longing or emotional weight. Later, his relationship with Gawain is developed much more thoroughly and feels more believable. Because of this, the eventual love triangle feels unbalanced.
One of the most frustrating moments for me was Lancelot’s final choice. After building a stronger and more meaningful connection with Gawain, Lancelot ultimately chooses Galehaut—a relationship that, in comparison, felt brief and underdeveloped. This decision felt unearned and disappointing.
There are also several instances where tension is undercut by overly convenient outcomes. Characters frequently survive situations that seem fatal, which reduces the stakes. For example, during the final battle, multiple characters suffer serious injuries but ultimately survive. In one scene, Lancelot falls from a castle tower after defeating an enemy, only to be saved at the last moment by Morgan, who happens to appear exactly when needed. Moments like this make the story feel less impactful.
The writing style itself is generally strong—eloquent and easy to follow—but it sometimes lacks descriptive depth. The intimate scenes, in particular, felt awkward and superficial compared to the rest of the prose. One moment near the end, where a sudden modern expletive is used, felt especially out of place and broke immersion.
There were also smaller elements that felt unnecessary or underdeveloped, such as the repeated mentions of pagan holidays. While they may have been included for world-building, they didn’t add much to the overall story and became somewhat distracting.
Despite all of these criticisms, I want to emphasize that this was not a bad book. In fact, I found it very hard to put down. Even when I was frustrated with certain choices, I was still emotionally invested and wanted to see what would happen next. The story itself is compelling, and the author’s take on the legend of Lancelot is genuinely interesting.
What this book needed, in my opinion, was more—more depth, more detail, more time spent developing key moments and relationships. The foundation is strong, but it feels like it was compressed into too few pages. With a longer format or multiple books, this could have been something truly great.
Even a week after finishing it, the story has stuck with me. I just wish it had given me more to hold onto—more emotion, more tension, and more room to fully experience the journey.
Book Review: The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn
The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn is a historical fantasy retelling that follows Lancelot’s life from childhood to knighthood. The story explores his upbringing, his role in prophecy, his search for the Holy Grail, and his experiences with love and loss.
At its core, the main conflict centers on the race to find the Grail before the Romans can claim it. While this premise is interesting and full of potential, the execution is a bit uneven.
One of my biggest issues with this book was the pacing. The first half focuses heavily on Lancelot’s early life—his childhood, training, prophecy, and especially his teenage romance with Galehaut. This section moves relatively slowly and spends a lot of time on emotional and romantic development (though not always effectively). In contrast, the second half feels extremely rushed. Major events are packed into very few pages, with months, seasons, and even years passing quickly. By the time I reached 95% of the book, it was clear there wasn’t enough space left to properly resolve everything. Instead of a sequel or a more expanded ending, the story wraps up rapidly, with events happening in quick succession and lacking depth.
This rushed pacing affects many aspects of the story. Conflicts are introduced and resolved almost immediately, often within a paragraph or two. For example, when Lancelot and Gawain encounter a dragon guarding what appears to be the Grail, the entire conflict—from discovery to resolution—happens in about one to two pages. Moments that could have been intense and memorable instead feel brief and underdeveloped.
Another issue is how convenient many plot elements feel. Information comes easily to Lancelot, prophecies are revealed without much effort, and problems are often solved through intuition or unexplained magic. Rather than building tension or allowing the reader to piece things together, the story tends to present answers directly. This removes a lot of potential mystery and engagement.
The emotional depth, particularly in relationships, also felt inconsistent. Lancelot’s early relationship with Galehaut is introduced quickly, but it lacks a strong sense of longing or emotional weight. Later, his relationship with Gawain is developed much more thoroughly and feels more believable. Because of this, the eventual love triangle feels unbalanced.
One of the most frustrating moments for me was Lancelot’s final choice. After building a stronger and more meaningful connection with Gawain, Lancelot ultimately chooses Galehaut—a relationship that, in comparison, felt brief and underdeveloped. This decision felt unearned and disappointing.
There are also several instances where tension is undercut by overly convenient outcomes. Characters frequently survive situations that seem fatal, which reduces the stakes. For example, during the final battle, multiple characters suffer serious injuries but ultimately survive. In one scene, Lancelot falls from a castle tower after defeating an enemy, only to be saved at the last moment by Morgan, who happens to appear exactly when needed. Moments like this make the story feel less impactful.
The writing style itself is generally strong—eloquent and easy to follow—but it sometimes lacks descriptive depth. The intimate scenes, in particular, felt awkward and superficial compared to the rest of the prose. One moment near the end, where a sudden modern expletive is used, felt especially out of place and broke immersion.
There were also smaller elements that felt unnecessary or underdeveloped, such as the repeated mentions of pagan holidays. While they may have been included for world-building, they didn’t add much to the overall story and became somewhat distracting.
Despite all of these criticisms, I want to emphasize that this was not a bad book. In fact, I found it very hard to put down. Even when I was frustrated with certain choices, I was still emotionally invested and wanted to see what would happen next. The story itself is compelling, and the author’s take on the legend of Lancelot is genuinely interesting.
What this book needed, in my opinion, was more—more depth, more detail, more time spent developing key moments and relationships. The foundation is strong, but it feels like it was compressed into too few pages. With a longer format or multiple books, this could have been something truly great.
Even a week after finishing it, the story has stuck with me. I just wish it had given me more to hold onto—more emotion, more tension, and more room to fully experience the journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I would give this book just under 3 stars.
First of all, the prose itself was lovely for the most part. I enjoyed many descriptions, moments, similes, and metaphors throughout the novel. One of my favorite lines/ongoing motifs was Bagotta's statement that a knight must have two hearts, and I enjoyed other sentiments of hers as well. I did spot quite a few errors throughout the book, but I think that's just the nature of ARCs, and I'm sure those will be edited out in the final copy, so I wouldn't count those as a strike against it.
I think my main issue for why I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to was that it all felt rushed, especially everything that took place after Lancelot left the Isle of Women. The first part of the book had a solid foundation and was well paced for the most part, but once Lancelot went to Camelot, pretty much every single moment for the rest of the book felt rushed and brushed over. The plot itself also felt pretty meandering, like the stakes should have been high but weren't. Every moment of violence or battle in the novel kinda happens in a flash, and I never really felt the stakes of the war, especially when Lancelot described how chill and fun his life was as a knight. Like, he'd express concerns about Arthur's pacifism, but he wasn't really doing much to take action himself. Then the climax happened in a flash, and suddenly the book was over after a brief rundown of how everything turned out for everyone involved.
The main issue with this rushed vibe was that it didn't provide time for any of the relationships to grow organically. I think the most solid relationship between characters in this book was the one between Lancelot and Viviana. I understood the grounds of their connection because time was spent on it. But the romance between Lance and Galehaut felt like it kinda happened out of nowhere. I wasn't opposed to it at all, since I obviously knew it was going to happen, but it just felt like one second they were barely friends, and the next, they were in love. I wish we'd just gotten one more distinct interaction between them before that happened.
I felt a similar way about every other relationship Lance had, particularly with Guinevere and Gawain. Guinevere met Lance and immediately claimed him as her closest friend, and then they just were. That felt incredibly unearned to me, and that never really changed.
I especially disliked Lance's connection with Gawain. I felt it had no solid or distinct foundation and frankly did not care about it at all.
The book felt more and more rushed as it drew closer to the end. The way it all devolved into a strange love triangle really didn't work for me, and I just wish Glynn had gone deeper into everything or gone in another direction with it, perhaps something the story could've actually given the time it needed to have an impact. But that ending was such a rush, and it felt like there was no payoff at all when Lance finally chose the guy who was the love of his life. We didn't even get to see an actual moment between them after that. The book just gave a synopsis of how everything turned out, and the story was over. So yeah; my main issue was the rushedness and the impact it had on the substance of Lance's relationships.
Like I said, I think I would give this book just under 3 stars. There were some solid writing moments, and I enjoyed many of the book's themes, but just felt it didn't quite accomplish what it set out to as far as those themes and the character relationships went. Lancelot himself was a fine protagonist, but I did also feel his personal character journey was a bit confused.
I would give this book just under 3 stars.
First of all, the prose itself was lovely for the most part. I enjoyed many descriptions, moments, similes, and metaphors throughout the novel. One of my favorite lines/ongoing motifs was Bagotta's statement that a knight must have two hearts, and I enjoyed other sentiments of hers as well. I did spot quite a few errors throughout the book, but I think that's just the nature of ARCs, and I'm sure those will be edited out in the final copy, so I wouldn't count those as a strike against it.
I think my main issue for why I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to was that it all felt rushed, especially everything that took place after Lancelot left the Isle of Women. The first part of the book had a solid foundation and was well paced for the most part, but once Lancelot went to Camelot, pretty much every single moment for the rest of the book felt rushed and brushed over. The plot itself also felt pretty meandering, like the stakes should have been high but weren't. Every moment of violence or battle in the novel kinda happens in a flash, and I never really felt the stakes of the war, especially when Lancelot described how chill and fun his life was as a knight. Like, he'd express concerns about Arthur's pacifism, but he wasn't really doing much to take action himself. Then the climax happened in a flash, and suddenly the book was over after a brief rundown of how everything turned out for everyone involved.
The main issue with this rushed vibe was that it didn't provide time for any of the relationships to grow organically. I think the most solid relationship between characters in this book was the one between Lancelot and Viviana. I understood the grounds of their connection because time was spent on it. But the romance between Lance and Galehaut felt like it kinda happened out of nowhere. I wasn't opposed to it at all, since I obviously knew it was going to happen, but it just felt like one second they were barely friends, and the next, they were in love. I wish we'd just gotten one more distinct interaction between them before that happened.
I felt a similar way about every other relationship Lance had, particularly with Guinevere and Gawain. Guinevere met Lance and immediately claimed him as her closest friend, and then they just were. That felt incredibly unearned to me, and that never really changed.
I especially disliked Lance's connection with Gawain. I felt it had no solid or distinct foundation and frankly did not care about it at all.
The book felt more and more rushed as it drew closer to the end. The way it all devolved into a strange love triangle really didn't work for me, and I just wish Glynn had gone deeper into everything or gone in another direction with it, perhaps something the story could've actually given the time it needed to have an impact. But that ending was such a rush, and it felt like there was no payoff at all when Lance finally chose the guy who was the love of his life. We didn't even get to see an actual moment between them after that. The book just gave a synopsis of how everything turned out, and the story was over. So yeah; my main issue was the rushedness and the impact it had on the substance of Lance's relationships.
Like I said, I think I would give this book just under 3 stars. There were some solid writing moments, and I enjoyed many of the book's themes, but just felt it didn't quite accomplish what it set out to as far as those themes and the character relationships went. Lancelot himself was a fine protagonist, but I did also feel his personal character journey was a bit confused.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I haven’t read a lot of Arthurian legends or retellings, but from the ones I have read, this books reminds me Arthurian legends have endured for decades upon decades. This was a beautiful story, and I loved how compelling this was with its themes of fate and love.
"I want nothing more than to be a knight. They have a place in the world and people who love them. Most of all, they are never lonely."
This book follows Lancelot from his lonely, isolated childhood on the Isle of Women to the extravagance of Camelot, weaving together prophecy, identity, and longing. What stood out most to me was how character-driven it is. This isn’t just a tale of knights and quests. It’s very much about Lancelot as a person. It’s about his vulnerability, his need for connection, and the way he grapples with love in all its forms. The romance felt tender and formative, and while I didn’t always feel the full emotional weight of the romance, it still provided enough intensity to shape the story.
The writing itself is, for the most part, beautiful. There are lines and motifs that linger, and I especially loved the idea that a knight must have two hearts. It gives the whole book a soft, melancholic undertone that I really appreciated. And despite some flaws, I felt completely invested. Luckily for me, even when I felt the book wasn’t reaching its full potential, the story was engaging enough to make me want to keep reading.
That said, the pacing is where things felt flat. The first half is focused on Lancelot’s upbringing and early relationships, and it takes its time… too much time. The second half rushes through major events that deserved WAY more space to breathe. Battles, quests, and even emotional turning points come and go quickly, which takes away from their impact. There were multiple moments where I found myself thinking, wait… that’s it? There wasn’t a single conflict that felt epic or truly devastating.
The relationships also feel uneven. Some of Lancelot’s later connections are given more depth and nuance, while others (particularly earlier romances) feel rushed and underdeveloped in comparison. Because of that, certain emotional choices toward the end didn’t land as strongly as they could have. There’s a solid foundation here for something deeply moving, but it feels compressed, like the story needed either more pages or multiple books to fully breathe. I would’ve been more than happy to read a 100+ more pages of this if that meant the story had more depth or higher stakes.
This book also has WAY too many telling-over-showing moments. This writing style created even more emotional distance. While the prose is undeniably beautiful, there were moments where the writing skimmed over important, impactful scenes instead of making the reader sit in them and feel their weight.
Still, I can’t deny how much I enjoyed this. Even when I was frustrated, I was engaged. The premise is strong, the reimagining is thoughtful, and there’s something about this version of Lancelot that you just can’t help but love. He’s soft, and it feels impossible not to root for him throughout his struggles and his search of belonging.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, emotionally engaging retelling. While it didn’t reach the depth I was hoping for, it comes close enough to leave an impression. I definitely think this will find the right audience and that other readers will enjoy this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC!
"I want nothing more than to be a knight. They have a place in the world and people who love them. Most of all, they are never lonely."
This book follows Lancelot from his lonely, isolated childhood on the Isle of Women to the extravagance of Camelot, weaving together prophecy, identity, and longing. What stood out most to me was how character-driven it is. This isn’t just a tale of knights and quests. It’s very much about Lancelot as a person. It’s about his vulnerability, his need for connection, and the way he grapples with love in all its forms. The romance felt tender and formative, and while I didn’t always feel the full emotional weight of the romance, it still provided enough intensity to shape the story.
The writing itself is, for the most part, beautiful. There are lines and motifs that linger, and I especially loved the idea that a knight must have two hearts. It gives the whole book a soft, melancholic undertone that I really appreciated. And despite some flaws, I felt completely invested. Luckily for me, even when I felt the book wasn’t reaching its full potential, the story was engaging enough to make me want to keep reading.
That said, the pacing is where things felt flat. The first half is focused on Lancelot’s upbringing and early relationships, and it takes its time… too much time. The second half rushes through major events that deserved WAY more space to breathe. Battles, quests, and even emotional turning points come and go quickly, which takes away from their impact. There were multiple moments where I found myself thinking, wait… that’s it? There wasn’t a single conflict that felt epic or truly devastating.
The relationships also feel uneven. Some of Lancelot’s later connections are given more depth and nuance, while others (particularly earlier romances) feel rushed and underdeveloped in comparison. Because of that, certain emotional choices toward the end didn’t land as strongly as they could have. There’s a solid foundation here for something deeply moving, but it feels compressed, like the story needed either more pages or multiple books to fully breathe. I would’ve been more than happy to read a 100+ more pages of this if that meant the story had more depth or higher stakes.
This book also has WAY too many telling-over-showing moments. This writing style created even more emotional distance. While the prose is undeniably beautiful, there were moments where the writing skimmed over important, impactful scenes instead of making the reader sit in them and feel their weight.
Still, I can’t deny how much I enjoyed this. Even when I was frustrated, I was engaged. The premise is strong, the reimagining is thoughtful, and there’s something about this version of Lancelot that you just can’t help but love. He’s soft, and it feels impossible not to root for him throughout his struggles and his search of belonging.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, emotionally engaging retelling. While it didn’t reach the depth I was hoping for, it comes close enough to leave an impression. I definitely think this will find the right audience and that other readers will enjoy this!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s all tell-don’t-show, in a way that makes it feel – emotionally distant? The prose itself is fairly pretty, but at random becomes disjointed, with sentences that seem to have nothing to do with the sentence before them. The writing rhythm is short and flat, all plodding sentences (even while the word choice, the prose, can be lovely). Like an exhausted horse walking along, step. step. step. step. I think that’s a big part of what’s stripping the emotion and tension out of every scene.
And I found Lancelot an incredibly dull protagonist to be following around, a very generic Everyman sort of character, bar his bouts of scary destructive rage, which interested me not at all. And why does Lancelot need prophecies about him? Isn’t it enough that Arthur is surrounded by prophecies, and Merlin? Did Lancelot specifically need one too? (Speaking as someone who is really not a prophecy fan.)
Quotes to illustrate what I mean about it reading as ’emotionally distant’. Taken from by advanced reader copy, so could be edited or even removed from the final published edition.
It feels distant and hand-wavey and tell-tell-tell. Why is this how we learn he’s not allowed go out after dark? Wouldn’t it have more impact if it were established earlier? And can we have a bit more oomph to this fox feeling special?
‘Suddenly the great expanse of the world unfurled before me’ don’t TELL me that! SHOW me! Make me feel it!
This whole thing feels like a story I’m observing from a distance, not something I’m immersed in, that I’m experiencing alongside Lancelot. I’m meant to be in his head, but he feels so far away, like a sketch of a character rather than a full person.
I’m not saying it’s an objectively terrible book: readers who don’t notice/care about writing rhythm are more likely to enjoy it, as are anyone here primarily for the aesthetic and Authuriana. But if you want more than that, I’d skip this one.
And I found Lancelot an incredibly dull protagonist to be following around, a very generic Everyman sort of character, bar his bouts of scary destructive rage, which interested me not at all. And why does Lancelot need prophecies about him? Isn’t it enough that Arthur is surrounded by prophecies, and Merlin? Did Lancelot specifically need one too? (Speaking as someone who is really not a prophecy fan.)
Quotes to illustrate what I mean about it reading as ’emotionally distant’. Taken from by advanced reader copy, so could be edited or even removed from the final published edition.
Was he beckoning me to follow? I looked around, unsure what to do. I was not permitted to explore the island alone after sunset. But something about this fox–the tilt of his snout? The blue-black depth of his pupils?–compelled me in a way no creature had before.
It feels distant and hand-wavey and tell-tell-tell. Why is this how we learn he’s not allowed go out after dark? Wouldn’t it have more impact if it were established earlier? And can we have a bit more oomph to this fox feeling special?
How was it, I wondered, that all these people had converged on this one island? On this one dock? On the same day that we too should get to visit? Suddenly the great expanse of the world unfurled before me. Its promise glimmered like magic.
‘Suddenly the great expanse of the world unfurled before me’ don’t TELL me that! SHOW me! Make me feel it!
This whole thing feels like a story I’m observing from a distance, not something I’m immersed in, that I’m experiencing alongside Lancelot. I’m meant to be in his head, but he feels so far away, like a sketch of a character rather than a full person.
I’m not saying it’s an objectively terrible book: readers who don’t notice/care about writing rhythm are more likely to enjoy it, as are anyone here primarily for the aesthetic and Authuriana. But if you want more than that, I’d skip this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.
"The Lost Book of Lancelot" is a retelling of, obviously, Lancelot's story from Arthurian legend. Personally, my knowledge of anything regarding Camelot comes from the BBC show Merlin, so I went into this rather blind to the original tellings and so I enjoyed it immensely.
Here, Lancelot starts out as an orphan on the Isle of Women. I had no idea that this was Lancelot's origin, so I was caught off guard as it felt more like a telling of The Iliad at first rather than Arthurian legend, but once he learned his name, things took off and became much more familiar. I also want to state that this book feels very character driven around Lancelot, and less plot-based. It feels like a character study to me, but one that has been lovingly crafted and beautifully written.
I will be honest and state that the beginning was slow. It centered Lancelot's childhood on the Isle of Women and it took me until Galehaut and his mother arriving to become truly engaged. After that I ate this up, even with a few other minor 'complaints' that I have -- being that the pacing of some pieces of the story felt rushed or passed over, as if they didn't matter; especially the end. I would have liked to see more angst between the choice he has to face once a certain twist comes up.
I will also say I looooove Lancelot's characterization here - he is so strong and yet such a sweet soul with so much love to give, and is constantly questioning his worth. I don't want to go too much into spoilers, but I loved how he and Gawain eventually got together, and was not too happy with how that one specific scene turned out until I saw a glimpse of the potential second chance at the end. Personally, I felt that their relationship was much more built up and solid in what it became. Lancelot's relationship with Galehaut, while endearing and strong in its own way, did not feel as real as how Gawain and Lancelot were written. But I digress and can grudgingly see why things went the way they did... still shocking though.
This was the first book to make me audibly say 'No!' and "What?!" in a loooong time. Will definitely be rereading this in the future and will be diving deeper into Arthurian legend for more crumbs.
4.5/5 stars - super fun, I really enjoyed this !! :)
"The Lost Book of Lancelot" is a retelling of, obviously, Lancelot's story from Arthurian legend. Personally, my knowledge of anything regarding Camelot comes from the BBC show Merlin, so I went into this rather blind to the original tellings and so I enjoyed it immensely.
Here, Lancelot starts out as an orphan on the Isle of Women. I had no idea that this was Lancelot's origin, so I was caught off guard as it felt more like a telling of The Iliad at first rather than Arthurian legend, but once he learned his name, things took off and became much more familiar. I also want to state that this book feels very character driven around Lancelot, and less plot-based. It feels like a character study to me, but one that has been lovingly crafted and beautifully written.
I will be honest and state that the beginning was slow. It centered Lancelot's childhood on the Isle of Women and it took me until Galehaut and his mother arriving to become truly engaged. After that I ate this up, even with a few other minor 'complaints' that I have -- being that the pacing of some pieces of the story felt rushed or passed over, as if they didn't matter; especially the end. I would have liked to see more angst between the choice he has to face once a certain twist comes up.
I will also say I looooove Lancelot's characterization here - he is so strong and yet such a sweet soul with so much love to give, and is constantly questioning his worth. I don't want to go too much into spoilers, but I loved how he and Gawain eventually got together, and was not too happy with how that one specific scene turned out until I saw a glimpse of the potential second chance at the end. Personally, I felt that their relationship was much more built up and solid in what it became. Lancelot's relationship with Galehaut, while endearing and strong in its own way, did not feel as real as how Gawain and Lancelot were written. But I digress and can grudgingly see why things went the way they did... still shocking though.
This was the first book to make me audibly say 'No!' and "What?!" in a loooong time. Will definitely be rereading this in the future and will be diving deeper into Arthurian legend for more crumbs.
4.5/5 stars - super fun, I really enjoyed this !! :)
March 19, 2026
My Rating:
3.5 Stars
Read this if you like:
The Song of Achilles
Arthurian retellings
Character driven stories
This was more of an exploration of Lancelot and his relationships to other characters than a plot focused book. We follow Lancelot on a journey of self-discovery while compelling plot points are tossed in, then passed by. The writing is beautiful and Lancelot was a very intriguing character to follow.
The plot, which I found to be the weakest element of the book, centers on the Roman conquest of the British Isles. I won't go into specifics to avoid spoilers, but earlier on there is something that seems to be Lancelot's goal regarding defeating the Romans. That goal is pushed to the side for a really long time and Lancelot starts looking for the Holy Grail, which is related to defeating the Romans, but not really to what I had initially thought his goal was going to be. Very late in the book, someone shows up all of a sudden and reaching the original goal became the climax, which didn't have as much of an emotional impact because half of the book was focused on the search for the Grail.
Pretty much the entire book felt like a build up of events happening, but the climax and ending didn't feel very satisfying or like the story was all wrapped up. There were so many interesting threads throughout the story, but because the focus was on Lancelot as a character, none of the external issues were developed enough for the ending to hit. It was the characters that packed the emotional punch, not the plot.
One of the things I found the most interesting about this book was the exploration of Christianity as the religion of empire. The kingdoms of the British Isles are being conquered by Rome when this book takes place. There is a lot of discussion of the old and new ways. There was one conversation in particular about the rewriting of the old ways to fit new narratives that support conquest and old holy symbols, such as grapes, crosses, fish, and thorns, being co-opted.
I absolutely hated the epilogue. Near the end of the book, Lancelot is presented with a very difficult choice. He made his decision, but the epilogue took away the whole point of having to make that choice.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
3.5 Stars
Read this if you like:
The Song of Achilles
Arthurian retellings
Character driven stories
This was more of an exploration of Lancelot and his relationships to other characters than a plot focused book. We follow Lancelot on a journey of self-discovery while compelling plot points are tossed in, then passed by. The writing is beautiful and Lancelot was a very intriguing character to follow.
The plot, which I found to be the weakest element of the book, centers on the Roman conquest of the British Isles. I won't go into specifics to avoid spoilers, but earlier on there is something that seems to be Lancelot's goal regarding defeating the Romans. That goal is pushed to the side for a really long time and Lancelot starts looking for the Holy Grail, which is related to defeating the Romans, but not really to what I had initially thought his goal was going to be. Very late in the book, someone shows up all of a sudden and reaching the original goal became the climax, which didn't have as much of an emotional impact because half of the book was focused on the search for the Grail.
Pretty much the entire book felt like a build up of events happening, but the climax and ending didn't feel very satisfying or like the story was all wrapped up. There were so many interesting threads throughout the story, but because the focus was on Lancelot as a character, none of the external issues were developed enough for the ending to hit. It was the characters that packed the emotional punch, not the plot.
One of the things I found the most interesting about this book was the exploration of Christianity as the religion of empire. The kingdoms of the British Isles are being conquered by Rome when this book takes place. There is a lot of discussion of the old and new ways. There was one conversation in particular about the rewriting of the old ways to fit new narratives that support conquest and old holy symbols, such as grapes, crosses, fish, and thorns, being co-opted.
I absolutely hated the epilogue. Near the end of the book, Lancelot is presented with a very difficult choice. He made his decision, but the epilogue took away the whole point of having to make that choice.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
May 12, 2026
An Arthurian Legend for the 2026 Audience
As the author points out in the acknowledgements section there is no definitive text in the Arthurian canon. This will make a fun but possibly divisive addition, and will help open our eyes to what was already queer ( mentioned in the acknowledgements) in the Arthurian legends.
Welcome to Nothing But The Good! All reviews reflect what the reader enjoyed about the published work. To learn more, please visit our profile page! Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley.
The voice of Lancelot was clear in my head from the first page. That first page lasted a very long time and I kept asking myself questions that would eventually get answered. However, I wonder if the book could have benefited by a quicker pace through the first three parts. Possibly a longer page count as well?
You don’t need to be an expert in the Arthurian myths to enjoy this novel. It will help to have some knowledge but the author will hold your hand to help. It was especially fun to get his take on the gifts from Danu (the sword, the lance, and the grail).
Don’t let the chapter count scare you away. The chapters are quick and there is a cinematic quality to the way John Glynn writes.
I fully believe that ARC reviewers should not quote directly from the book as it may change, but I will shout out a line I really liked. It references how different ideologies do not need to be at odds with each other. I loved this line and it single handedly saved this book for me.
I would recommend this book to people who absolutely adore reading a new take on a famous character. Lovers of queer romance. Medieval fantasy nerds (love you all). Don’t let my three star rating deter you. Come in, read, and formulate your own Nothing But The Good opinion.
SPOILER ALERT FOR THE ENDING: If you are not aware of a very specific knight in the canon, you may be lost about the significance of the ending.
As the author points out in the acknowledgements section there is no definitive text in the Arthurian canon. This will make a fun but possibly divisive addition, and will help open our eyes to what was already queer ( mentioned in the acknowledgements) in the Arthurian legends.
Welcome to Nothing But The Good! All reviews reflect what the reader enjoyed about the published work. To learn more, please visit our profile page! Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley.
The voice of Lancelot was clear in my head from the first page. That first page lasted a very long time and I kept asking myself questions that would eventually get answered. However, I wonder if the book could have benefited by a quicker pace through the first three parts. Possibly a longer page count as well?
You don’t need to be an expert in the Arthurian myths to enjoy this novel. It will help to have some knowledge but the author will hold your hand to help. It was especially fun to get his take on the gifts from Danu (the sword, the lance, and the grail).
Don’t let the chapter count scare you away. The chapters are quick and there is a cinematic quality to the way John Glynn writes.
I fully believe that ARC reviewers should not quote directly from the book as it may change, but I will shout out a line I really liked. It references how different ideologies do not need to be at odds with each other. I loved this line and it single handedly saved this book for me.
I would recommend this book to people who absolutely adore reading a new take on a famous character. Lovers of queer romance. Medieval fantasy nerds (love you all). Don’t let my three star rating deter you. Come in, read, and formulate your own Nothing But The Good opinion.
SPOILER ALERT FOR THE ENDING: If you are not aware of a very specific knight in the canon, you may be lost about the significance of the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**
5 stars
What really works about this Arthurian retelling is that it isn’t trying to ‘correct’ or ‘update’ the legends, but instead is focused on telling a love story within the rich tapestry of Arthurian myth. Glynn has clearly done extensive research into the many variants of the Lancelot story and Arthurian lore overall, and has chosen the aspects that best serve a tender and deeply felt romance between the world’s greatest knight and his heart’s beloved.
The worldbuilding is done well, sinking me into this version of Camelot and the Isles with complete buy-in. Lancelot himself is a compelling main character who wrestles with fate and prophecy and yet is determined to follow his own, un-ordained path, whose goals are not glory and renown but to protect the people he loves. I particularly liked the mysterious and magical Isle of Women, the sorceresses of which view Lancelot with everything from maternal love to indifference and disdain, where Lancelot was raised until summoned to serve as a knight in Camelot. I also adored this novel’s treatment of Gawain, a fascinating and complex character who is both rival and bosom friend to Lancelot.
The elephant in the room when writing Lancelot as a queer character is of course his fathering of Galahad, and I really liked the way that Glynn handled it; unlike many versions of the story this one doesn’t feature deception or rape, for which I am pleased and grateful.
This is not a feel-good fluffy romance; there is still death and despair and madness. But it is at its core a love story, and one written with loving attention and care for the various source texts that gave us Lancelot. I cannot recommend it more highly.
5 stars
What really works about this Arthurian retelling is that it isn’t trying to ‘correct’ or ‘update’ the legends, but instead is focused on telling a love story within the rich tapestry of Arthurian myth. Glynn has clearly done extensive research into the many variants of the Lancelot story and Arthurian lore overall, and has chosen the aspects that best serve a tender and deeply felt romance between the world’s greatest knight and his heart’s beloved.
The worldbuilding is done well, sinking me into this version of Camelot and the Isles with complete buy-in. Lancelot himself is a compelling main character who wrestles with fate and prophecy and yet is determined to follow his own, un-ordained path, whose goals are not glory and renown but to protect the people he loves. I particularly liked the mysterious and magical Isle of Women, the sorceresses of which view Lancelot with everything from maternal love to indifference and disdain, where Lancelot was raised until summoned to serve as a knight in Camelot. I also adored this novel’s treatment of Gawain, a fascinating and complex character who is both rival and bosom friend to Lancelot.
The elephant in the room when writing Lancelot as a queer character is of course his fathering of Galahad, and I really liked the way that Glynn handled it; unlike many versions of the story this one doesn’t feature deception or rape, for which I am pleased and grateful.
This is not a feel-good fluffy romance; there is still death and despair and madness. But it is at its core a love story, and one written with loving attention and care for the various source texts that gave us Lancelot. I cannot recommend it more highly.
May 11, 2026
I am someone who loves history, retellings of well-known tales, and angsty stories of love. So, I was extremely excited when I was selected to receive an advanced copy of ‘The Lost Book of Lancelot’ - although I must admit I’ve forgotten most of the details of the Arthurian legend. And as a person who counts ‘The Song of Achilles’ as one of my all-time greatest reads of all time I was ready to devour this one with the haste of a kid at a candy store.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect to the core emotion of the story. The writing was good but a bit flat; it wasn’t too flowery, nor was it structured in an awkward way. It just seemed to lack the ability to confer the depth of the sentiment that was being shown to me on the page. I hate to use this phrase, but I think there was a lot of description given without the feeling - more tell than show - and I don’t think I can blame that on the first-person POV. The prose didn’t invite me into Lancelot’s world to truly connect to him and the supporting characters; even while reading the word “I,” it seemed that I was just an onlooker and not in the head of the main character.
The bones (the idea) of the book are great, and I loved the underlying themes that underpin all Arthurian literature - heroism, love, and one’s destiny. I loved the queer twist on the lead relationships and the fleshing out of Lancelot’s own origin story. Even with my personal criticisms, I found this an easy read with a unique take on an age-old story. This was a little over 3 stars for me. I liked it, but I didn’t fall in love; however, I would definitely recommend this to others because I can see this book being added to someone else’s pantheon of favorite books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect to the core emotion of the story. The writing was good but a bit flat; it wasn’t too flowery, nor was it structured in an awkward way. It just seemed to lack the ability to confer the depth of the sentiment that was being shown to me on the page. I hate to use this phrase, but I think there was a lot of description given without the feeling - more tell than show - and I don’t think I can blame that on the first-person POV. The prose didn’t invite me into Lancelot’s world to truly connect to him and the supporting characters; even while reading the word “I,” it seemed that I was just an onlooker and not in the head of the main character.
The bones (the idea) of the book are great, and I loved the underlying themes that underpin all Arthurian literature - heroism, love, and one’s destiny. I loved the queer twist on the lead relationships and the fleshing out of Lancelot’s own origin story. Even with my personal criticisms, I found this an easy read with a unique take on an age-old story. This was a little over 3 stars for me. I liked it, but I didn’t fall in love; however, I would definitely recommend this to others because I can see this book being added to someone else’s pantheon of favorite books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Lost Book of Lancelot is an imaginative and heartfelt reimagining of Arthurian legend, offering a fresh perspective on one of literature’s most enduring figures. John Glynn breathes new life into the myth of Lancelot by weaving together historical atmosphere, adventure, and emotional depth in a way that feels both classic and contemporary.
The book shines most in its rich world‑building. Glynn captures the magic and mystery of the Arthurian era with vivid detail—enchanted forests, ancient battles, political intrigue, and the lingering sense that destiny is never far behind. His prose has a lyrical quality that invites readers to sink fully into the setting without ever feeling weighed down.
Lancelot himself is portrayed with nuance and humanity. Rather than focusing solely on his reputation as Arthur’s greatest knight or the familiar tales of forbidden love, Glynn allows readers to experience Lancelot’s inner conflicts, vulnerabilities, and moral struggles. This more introspective angle makes the character feel relatable, even as the story leans heavily into myth and legend.
If the novel has a minor drawback, it’s that the pacing can be uneven in places. A few sections linger longer than necessary, while other moments—especially action scenes—rush by quickly. Still, these small imbalances don’t detract significantly from the overall reading experience.
Ultimately, The Lost Book of Lancelot is an atmospheric, compelling, and deeply enjoyable read for anyone who loves Arthurian lore or character‑driven fantasy. Glynn’s storytelling captures both the grandeur and the humanity of the legend, making the tale feel timeless yet new.
The book shines most in its rich world‑building. Glynn captures the magic and mystery of the Arthurian era with vivid detail—enchanted forests, ancient battles, political intrigue, and the lingering sense that destiny is never far behind. His prose has a lyrical quality that invites readers to sink fully into the setting without ever feeling weighed down.
Lancelot himself is portrayed with nuance and humanity. Rather than focusing solely on his reputation as Arthur’s greatest knight or the familiar tales of forbidden love, Glynn allows readers to experience Lancelot’s inner conflicts, vulnerabilities, and moral struggles. This more introspective angle makes the character feel relatable, even as the story leans heavily into myth and legend.
If the novel has a minor drawback, it’s that the pacing can be uneven in places. A few sections linger longer than necessary, while other moments—especially action scenes—rush by quickly. Still, these small imbalances don’t detract significantly from the overall reading experience.
Ultimately, The Lost Book of Lancelot is an atmospheric, compelling, and deeply enjoyable read for anyone who loves Arthurian lore or character‑driven fantasy. Glynn’s storytelling captures both the grandeur and the humanity of the legend, making the tale feel timeless yet new.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The lone boy on the Isle of Women, Lancelot grows up nameless and adrift, kept in the dark about his origins and the prophecy foretelling his future. Everything changes when Lancelot has a series of visions and the Sisterhood can no longer ignore his destiny, so they bring the young, handsome Galehaut to come train with him. With Galehaut, Lancelot feels like he's living for the first time but their respective prophecies loom and defying their fate might lead to them having no future at all.
I did enjoy this. It was a really fast paced read and there are some great emotional moments. I'm not super familiar with the source material, and I think it probably would have helped if I was, but I do think you can enjoy this book without that background. The story just never really got through to me. It might have been a pacing thing or maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace—it happens! The only real critique I have is that part of the appeal of the legends of the Round Table for me is the sense of brotherhood and kinship among the knights and we don't get a whole lot of that (outside of the romance plots). That being said, I liked the writing and the romance definitely worked for me, probably because it was kind of sad. It was nice enough to read but I just don't see it sticking with me.
I'll still be keeping an eye out for Glynn's next book because this premise alone is very promising and I think most people will enjoy this!
Thank you to John Glynn and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
I did enjoy this. It was a really fast paced read and there are some great emotional moments. I'm not super familiar with the source material, and I think it probably would have helped if I was, but I do think you can enjoy this book without that background. The story just never really got through to me. It might have been a pacing thing or maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace—it happens! The only real critique I have is that part of the appeal of the legends of the Round Table for me is the sense of brotherhood and kinship among the knights and we don't get a whole lot of that (outside of the romance plots). That being said, I liked the writing and the romance definitely worked for me, probably because it was kind of sad. It was nice enough to read but I just don't see it sticking with me.
I'll still be keeping an eye out for Glynn's next book because this premise alone is very promising and I think most people will enjoy this!
Thank you to John Glynn and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Lost Book of Lancelot was an interesting take on the King Arthur legends we've been told, and I really enjoyed it. There were diverse characters, political manipulation, and the lyrical vibes of Song of Achilles and The Everlasting. I loved how steeped in lore this feels without ever turning dense or academic. The Isle of Women, Camelot, the quest for the grail, the looming threat of Roman legionaries, it all comes together in a way that feels cinematic but still character-driven. Lancelot's journey from nameless orphan to knight, and the intense bond he forms with Galehaut, gives the story a vulnerable, human center that made me care about every battle and prophecy. The queer love story is woven in thoughtfully, not as a twist but as the emotional spine of the narrative. I appreciated how the book keeps returning to questions of identity, destiny, and who gets to decide what kind of man Lancelot will become. I'm not at a full 5 stars because the pacing dragged in spots. Still, the writing, atmosphere, and emotional payoff more than made up for it, and I closed the book feeling like I'd been told a familiar legend in a way that finally let Lancelot fully, and tenderly, step into the light. Solid read.
The Lost Book of Lancelot was an interesting take on the King Arthur legends we've been told, and I really enjoyed it. There were diverse characters, political manipulation, and the lyrical vibes of Song of Achilles and The Everlasting. I loved how steeped in lore this feels without ever turning dense or academic. The Isle of Women, Camelot, the quest for the grail, the looming threat of Roman legionaries, it all comes together in a way that feels cinematic but still character-driven. Lancelot's journey from nameless orphan to knight, and the intense bond he forms with Galehaut, gives the story a vulnerable, human center that made me care about every battle and prophecy. The queer love story is woven in thoughtfully, not as a twist but as the emotional spine of the narrative. I appreciated how the book keeps returning to questions of identity, destiny, and who gets to decide what kind of man Lancelot will become. I'm not at a full 5 stars because the pacing dragged in spots. Still, the writing, atmosphere, and emotional payoff more than made up for it, and I closed the book feeling like I'd been told a familiar legend in a way that finally let Lancelot fully, and tenderly, step into the light. Solid read.
February 24, 2026
John Glynn's The Lost Book of Lancelot is a breathtaking queer reimagining of the Arthurian legend that completely transported me. From the very first pages, I was captivated by Glynn's audacious retelling, which repositions Lancelot not as the famed lover of Guinevere, but as a young man raised on the mystical "Isle of Women" who discovers his deepest truth with his companion, Galehaut . The world-building is lush and immersive, offering a Camelot filled with emotional depth and a vulnerability that feels both timeless and urgently modern . The publisher's description of it as "a sensual and sensory retelling" is absolutely spot-on .
I absolutely loved, loved, loved being in this world—it was genuinely hard to put the book down. My only critique, which keeps this from being a perfect five stars for me, is that the pacing felt a little lopsided. It seemed like so much was being crammed into the very end, which made the conclusion feel slightly rushed compared to the beautifully drawn-out beginning and middle. Still, that minor structural quirk did little to diminish my overall enjoyment. If you're looking for a retelling that dares to ask what lies beneath the armor, this is an essential and unforgettable read.
I absolutely loved, loved, loved being in this world—it was genuinely hard to put the book down. My only critique, which keeps this from being a perfect five stars for me, is that the pacing felt a little lopsided. It seemed like so much was being crammed into the very end, which made the conclusion feel slightly rushed compared to the beautifully drawn-out beginning and middle. Still, that minor structural quirk did little to diminish my overall enjoyment. If you're looking for a retelling that dares to ask what lies beneath the armor, this is an essential and unforgettable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Much in the way that I can enjoy The Greatest Showman knowing that it is far removed from the true story of Barnum, The Lost Book of Lancelot is an alternate interpretation of the Arthurian legend of the White Knight. Did King Arthur, Lancelot, and the rest of the infamous Round Table even exist? Does it matter? Instead of getting stuck on comparisons to the well-known tales, I opted to read this book with a fresh set of eyes...and I was enthralled.
The magical (or miraculous) events enmeshed with reality enough to make the story feel alive and real. I was initially hesitant for Lancelot to leave the Island of Women, especially after his heartbreak; looking at Camelot through his eyes, meeting the characters that we've heard of before, I grew to appreciate the castle and its inhabitants just as he himself was getting acclimated.
Lancelot's great loves felt real and organic. Without giving anything away, I understood his indecision and the additional heartbreak in having to choose. I just wish there was more! However, the ending where it did made sense and it felt like a complete story. Maybe someday the author will write the lost book of Galahad.
Thank you Edelweiss for the advanced reader copy.
The magical (or miraculous) events enmeshed with reality enough to make the story feel alive and real. I was initially hesitant for Lancelot to leave the Island of Women, especially after his heartbreak; looking at Camelot through his eyes, meeting the characters that we've heard of before, I grew to appreciate the castle and its inhabitants just as he himself was getting acclimated.
Lancelot's great loves felt real and organic. Without giving anything away, I understood his indecision and the additional heartbreak in having to choose. I just wish there was more! However, the ending where it did made sense and it felt like a complete story. Maybe someday the author will write the lost book of Galahad.
Thank you Edelweiss for the advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I just simply adore this book so much, It’s a richly detailed, evocative queer retelling of Sir Lancelot’s legend that feels vivid and alive from the very first page. Glynn’s storytelling is so immersive it felt less like reading and more like watching a beautifully crafted film play out in my mind. Every scene is textured with emotion and atmosphere, and the twist near the end genuinely caught me off guard—in the best way.
What I loved most is how confidently the novel centers Lancelot himself, giving us a deeply personal, emotionally resonant version of his story rather than letting him exist only in the shadow of Arthurian myth. This is Lancelot as a full, complex person, not just a knight in someone else’s legend.
My own exposure to Arthurian lore was fairly limited growing up—I watched Disney’s The Sword in the Stone on VHS until the tape wore thin, and later the TV show Merlin when it aired (I’m not even sure if it still does). That was about the extent of it. A thoughtful and memorable reimagining of a classic tale.
Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the Arc.
What I loved most is how confidently the novel centers Lancelot himself, giving us a deeply personal, emotionally resonant version of his story rather than letting him exist only in the shadow of Arthurian myth. This is Lancelot as a full, complex person, not just a knight in someone else’s legend.
My own exposure to Arthurian lore was fairly limited growing up—I watched Disney’s The Sword in the Stone on VHS until the tape wore thin, and later the TV show Merlin when it aired (I’m not even sure if it still does). That was about the extent of it. A thoughtful and memorable reimagining of a classic tale.
Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the Arc.
May 6, 2026
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this a little blind I guess because it was not what I expected.
This starts with a nameless young man who doesn’t know about his birth or how he came to be where he is. He doesn’t even know his name. Through a bit of tough learning, he discovers he is Lancelot. The rest is history.
I appreciate a nice LGBT+ story, and this was a fresh new take on Lancelot. I was thoroughly invested in Lancelot’s feelings and dreams, and the scream I scrumpt at a certain very pivotal moment… y’all I was mad. How dare you John?! If I wasn’t reading on expensive device, the book would’ve been thrown to say the least.
The characters obviously resonated with me, and the yearning was delicious. I really cared about each main character and found myself tearing up more than once.
If you enjoyed Madeline Miller’s style of writing in The Song Of Achilles, this feels very similar in style. It’s flowy and descriptive and almost timeless. I had no problems getting into this story between the plot and the writing.
This was an excellent read, especially if you’re a fan of LGBT+ main characters. 4.25⭐️
I went into this a little blind I guess because it was not what I expected.
This starts with a nameless young man who doesn’t know about his birth or how he came to be where he is. He doesn’t even know his name. Through a bit of tough learning, he discovers he is Lancelot. The rest is history.
I appreciate a nice LGBT+ story, and this was a fresh new take on Lancelot. I was thoroughly invested in Lancelot’s feelings and dreams, and the scream I scrumpt at a certain very pivotal moment… y’all I was mad. How dare you John?! If I wasn’t reading on expensive device, the book would’ve been thrown to say the least.
The characters obviously resonated with me, and the yearning was delicious. I really cared about each main character and found myself tearing up more than once.
If you enjoyed Madeline Miller’s style of writing in The Song Of Achilles, this feels very similar in style. It’s flowy and descriptive and almost timeless. I had no problems getting into this story between the plot and the writing.
This was an excellent read, especially if you’re a fan of LGBT+ main characters. 4.25⭐️
May 16, 2026
The Lost Book of Lancelot is a beautifully written and emotionally layered reimagining of Arthurian legend that breathes new life into one of the most iconic knights of the Round Table. I really loved the quieter, more introspective approach to Lancelot’s story, especially his journey of identity, belonging, and love as he grows from an isolated orphan into the figure destiny demands him to become. The relationship between Lancelot and Galehaut was especially compelling, filled with tenderness and longing that gave the story a strong emotional core beneath all the prophecy and political tension. The medieval atmosphere felt richly immersive, balancing myth, religion, and looming war in a way that made the world feel vivid and lived in. While the pacing occasionally slowed in the more reflective sections, the emotional depth and thoughtful reimagining of familiar legends made it well worth the journey. This is a poignant and beautifully crafted queer retelling that adds both heart and nuance to Arthurian lore.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This wasn't quite what I expected going into it, and it was definitely more character-focused than plot-focused, which is not usually my preference. However, once I realized that it wasn't going to be what I thought it would, I did still enjoy the book for the most part. By the end of the book I felt that I had a good understanding of Lancelot as a character, and his motivations, but the overarching plot still felt pretty vague at the end. For a book that was more character motivated than plot, it also somehow managed to have a few too many unconnected plot points by the end, which felt the last third or so of the book feel disjointed. My favorite section of the book was Lancelot's childhood and training at the beginning, and I think I would have enjoyed the book more if the rest of it had a similar feeling and pace to the beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"A knight must have two hearts."
The Lost Book of Lancelot is a queer coming of age story set within Arthurian legend that feels poetic yet grounded.
The story follows a young Lancelot who doesn't yet know who he is and who doesn't understand his place in the world on a journey of personal discovery. It explores the nature of friendship and the power of first love and how it can leave a person forever changed.
The characters draw you in and don't let you go. Emotions are laid bare. The unique pain of adolescence. The yearning. The anxiety of not knowing. The fear of what the future holds. The regret of never being able to go back to what once was.
A beautiful and moving story reminiscent of The Song of Achilles, The Lost Book of Lancelot is one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in Arthurian legend who is looking for a character-focused story and would enjoy reading LGBTQ+ main characters.
*
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
The Lost Book of Lancelot is a queer coming of age story set within Arthurian legend that feels poetic yet grounded.
The story follows a young Lancelot who doesn't yet know who he is and who doesn't understand his place in the world on a journey of personal discovery. It explores the nature of friendship and the power of first love and how it can leave a person forever changed.
The characters draw you in and don't let you go. Emotions are laid bare. The unique pain of adolescence. The yearning. The anxiety of not knowing. The fear of what the future holds. The regret of never being able to go back to what once was.
A beautiful and moving story reminiscent of The Song of Achilles, The Lost Book of Lancelot is one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in Arthurian legend who is looking for a character-focused story and would enjoy reading LGBTQ+ main characters.
*
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
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