Worship

by Alice Winn

A dazzlingly inventive new novel from the bestselling author of In Arthurian legend cracked open.

Princess Isode is happy with life in medieval Ireland. Her hair is as shiny as thread of pure gold, every knight she heals with her medicinal powers falls madly in love with her, and she will become a great queen once she marries Sir Palomides, the second-best knight in all the world--the moment he converts to Christianity. Her plans, however, are shattered when a mysterious newcomer defeats her beloved in a tournament.

Handsome, unfriendly Sir Tristram is fast becoming the strongest knight--yet has no interest in marrying Isode. He wants only to win approval--worship--from his idol, Palomides, and a seat at the Round Table. Palomides is too preoccupied with whatever is going on with him and God. Meanwhile, civil war is brewing in Camelot. As Princess Isode tries to regain control of her once glittering future, she and Tristram set out on a perilous voyage, and begin to see each other in a new light. 

Worship is the stuff of legend, a wickedly funny, endlessly surprising novel about hope in the face of uncertainty--how far we might go, and what we're willing to lose, for the ones we love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Adult, Arthurian, Science Fiction Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 23, 2027

About the author

Alice Mary Felicity Winn is an Irish and American novelist and screenwriter, born in France and educated in England. Early life and education Winn was born and raised in Paris, the daughter of Irish and American parents. She holds Irish citizenship. She has dyslexia and did not learn to read until she was nine years old. Winn was educated at Marlborough College in England. She graduated with a degree in English literature from St Peter's College, Oxford. She has described having a "tenuous grasp" of her identity. After graduating, Winn set a goal of writing "a novel a year until I wrote one that was good." Before writing In Memoriam, Winn wrote three unpublished novels, worked on screenplays, and taught homeschooled children. In 2019, Winn started writing In Memoriam after reading student newspapers published 1913–1919 from her alma mater, Marlborough College. The protagonists, Gaunt and Ellwood, were inspired by her readings of and about Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon, respectively. She won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize in 2023 for her novel In Memoriam.

Reviews

[Margo Laurie]

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC 💖💖💖

[liz]

It’s going to take me a while to come up with the proper words to encompass all that this novel was. My soul was so invested in every single moment of this story I felt physically ill at times, my heart aching.

The title Worship could not be more perfect to epitomize all that we watch unfold in the arcs of our characters and every decision that drives them. What does it mean for someone to have worship? Is it fame and glory? Ethical honor? Christianity & piety? Love and devotion? Each character goes on a journey to uncover what matters the most. Readers will be left wondering - are you happy with the things you chose to take precedence in your life? Did you do it right?

How Alice Winn is able to so thoroughly take the history and legends that we know and create such dimensional characters that make them so truly humanly flawed, relatable and vulnerable is nothing short of a masterpiece. I felt like I lived 100 lifetimes reading this.

The YEARN. My heart was pulled over all over the place between Isode and her FOUR love interests. (Bisexuals make some noise!). Romantic in the most devastating of ways.
But of course, it is also nothing short of a tragedy. Gory. Raw. Emotional. Violent.
But surprisingly so, and a complete tone shift from Winn’s previous work, it is also so charming, funny, comical and larger-than-life.
I highlighted quite a bit of quotes. I’m floored.

I was curious how, on Earth, she would possibly wrap everything up and the ending stole the literal breath clean out of my lungs. I immediately went back and started rereading the introduction again and my heart shattered in a whole new light. The more I sit with it the more devastated I become.

I do think fans of Winn’s previous work might have conflicting feelings regarding this, but as someone who loves folklore, mythology, and fantasy and only loosely knows of Arthurian legends; this was everything to me. A sensational author note: “because I was not trying to depict a historically accurate moment in time: I was trying to create the version of Arthuriana that I like best.” And guess what? If nobody gets it, I got it. I felt it with my entire being.

Fans of Madeline Miller and Alix. E Harrow would love this.

Thank you to the angelic employee of Alfred A. Knopf and NetGalley for blessing me with this eARC. Let me go preorder my entire friend group this story.

[Nusz]

Will this book become my whole personality just like in memorium did? Yes, yes I think it will

[Roman Clodia]

Well, this could hardly be more different from Winn's debut, In Memoriam: where that was written in a realist style, this is modelled on medieval romance, with Le Morte D'Arthur, Chrétien de Troyes, Gottfried von Strassburg, Béroul and Wolfram von Eschenbach all name-checked, amongst others, as sources and inspiration in the afterword; where Memoriam was an intimate exploration of love and desire between two young men, this is a modern retelling of the Arthurian tales, especially the romance of Tristan and Isolde, here given as Tristram and Isode, triangulated with Palomides, and the tone has a similar mythic detachment: events happen in a kind of destined way (the poisoned goblet, the secret love, the intersection with the fall of Camelot) replete with fate, magic and and foretold tragedy. There's that kind of fairytale aura where terrible things happen but the violence feels almost cartoonish, with swords broken in people's heads, 'Isode tried to sew his brain back together' - very different from the physical and psychological carnage of WW1 in Memoriam.

Winn is quite self-aware and playfully conscious of her belatedness in relation to this long-established material which is itself full of alternatives and variations, and she allows her characters to make their awareness of the various traditions known through asides and re-wordings: the 'worship' of the title, for example, is a modern elucidation of the chivalric 'honour' that underpinned the medieval courtly romance, with an especial interest here in how it centralised relationships between men; and there is a kind of running commentary that explores the meeting of modern and medieval: '(And, in fact, they were wrong. Palomides was Egyptian. But to the writers of the romances, all heathen countries were the same.)'

This sense of literary reception and intertextuality is made ever more clear as we reach the end: the Great Beast draws explicit attention to all the previous literary lives of Isode and asks her whether this version we've just read is the one she's happy with or whether she wants to go back to the beginning, re-live her life again and choose a different path through all her precedents: 'And so they went back and tried again.'

This reminded me somewhat of Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh without being as rambunctious and iconoclastic as that book: maybe think of Chaucer's The Knight's Tale via Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, brought up to date via a 21st century consciousness.

Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC via NetGalley

[Marie]

Yes 🙌

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading)]

If you, like me, desperately needed this book because you loved In Memoriam too much and didn't even bother to check what Worship was about beforehand I would advise you to not do that. Worship is nothing like In Memoriam, and to me that wasn't a good thing.
We follow Isode, Palomides and Tristram, their lives are entwined and they keep coming back to each other. I'm not very knowledgeable about Arthurian mythology, most of the things I know I picked up from other books, Legendborn probably gave me most of it. While I wouldn't say it's necessary to know any of it I will say I think it would improve the reading experience, because if like me you have no wish no know about it that can become dull quickly.
Alice Winn’s writing is still great, the style is easy to read while still not being too simplistic. I don't feel like I connected to these characters nowhere near how I connected to the In Memoriam characters, and the same can be said about the story itself, I just wasn't as engaged with it.
I think it bears saying I am not a fan of historical fiction normally, In Memoriam was a brilliant exception, and I thought Winn could replicate it so that's why I decided to step out of my comfort zone to try Worship, unfortunately that didn't happen.
If you like Arthurian stories, historical fiction and grand adventures you will perhaps like this, but that's just not me.

Thank you Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy Moss]

thys booke slappeth

[Stephen the Bookworm]

"You'll never win worship if you slaughter everyone who challenges you, "said Palomides
"He had won worship, technically, but it was not the meaningful kind. Not kind the kind of worship Palomides had,where he was loved."

Worship: honour and fame- the measure of respect a knight holds in society.

Following the incredible 2023 'In Memoriam ', Alice Winn returns with a 180 degree turn of a novel; a dive into the world of Arthurian Legends and the story of Isolde and Tristan based upon events from a 15th century book- Le Morte D'Arthur

A love story or should that be a love triangle as Isolde is torn between the loyal Palomides ( who has not been christened but has stood by her side but is disgraced in battle) and the man who killed her uncle Marholt- Tristan ( the man who removes the worship from Palomides) and the love and need for respect between the two men.

This is a tale of knights and maidens; of magic and mysticism; of names you know well from the stories of The Round table- Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain; of swords and fights and blood and guts galore; of loyalty, survival and betrayal.

The sensitivity and melancholic subtlety of a moving love story within ' In Memoriam' is stripped away for something very different- raw, direct and with a contemporary twist.
Not being somebody who watched Game of Thrones or usually reads 'fantasy/legend' based tales, this was a book that didn't grip as I hoped but I know it will for many.

The ceaseless killing which seemed to be the norm left me feeling desensitised which is never a good thing as none of the principal characters seemed to display enough emotional response- perhaps that was the recognised behaviour within these legends. Often the dialogue was contemporary in style which seemed at odds with the setting and events .

There is no denying the originality and the volte face of Alice Winn as she creates a whole different style of writing (which must liberating for an author) and goes from a factually linked novel to fantasy based but by the end of the book I wasn't sure I cared for Isolde or Tristan and poor Palomides went through so much for so little.

3.5 out 5 - rounded to 4 stars for the sheer curious originality

Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the advance copy for an honest and unbiased review.

[maria cho]

WDYM NEW ALICE WINN BOOK??? i need this rn because i still haven't recovered from in memoriam (i doubt i ever will)

[megs]

I knew immediately I would adore this book. It is funny, emotional, heartfelt, heart-breaking. I laughed, I cried, and I can't wait to reread this one.
A beautiful story of love and of friendship, with magic, adventures, battles, and beasts. I did not want it end.
The characters were so well-written - they were complex and imperfect, but still you are rooting for them despite the impending disaster you know is going to happen from page one.
I'll be thinking about this novel for a while, and will be recommending it to everyone.

[Magdalena (magdal21)]

Worship bears little resemblance to Alice Winn’s debut, In Memoriam, and there’s certainly no guarantee that loving the first will make you love her sophomore novel, or vice versa. They’re very different books. Still, I think they reveal a consistent interest of hers. It was precisely those chivalric stories about knights in shining armor that fascinated young men eager to fight in the First World War. Exploring one of these ideas naturally led her back to the other.

But moving to the point, I did like this book. It didn’t completely steal my heart, but objectively, I think it’s a very well done reinterpretation of the Tristan and Isolde story, clearly well researched and written with a lot of heart. I liked that, despite its modern and accessible prose, it still captures the spirit of chivalric romance and Arthurian legend. At the same time, the novel does a really good job of subverting what we expect from such iconic characters as Tristan and Isolde. Alice Winn moves away from the one dimensional archetypes of perfect knights and ladies, instead making her characters much more complex and human. That makes it easier to become genuinely invested in their journeys, even though we know from the very beginning just how tragic and doomed this story is.

The dynamic between Tristram, Isolde, and Palomides was so deliciously love hate that it deserves a whole separate review. There’s so much tension, resentment, affection, and complicated loyalty between the three of them, and I loved how messy and unpredictable their relationships could be.

Of the three main characters, I was most impressed by Isolde, mainly because she was so different from how I’d always imagined her. The same could be said for Tristram to be honest. He’s such a wonderfully conflicted character! I’d never really considered that either of them could be portrayed as flawed and not necessarily likeable or noble, so I really liked Winn moving away from the traditional image of them as idealized protagonists.

As I mentioned, the book’s really well written. It’s engaging, occasionally funny, and easy to get through. I also really liked the balance between the more serious, tragic elements and the lighter, more humorous moments. I flew through it and was hooked from the very beginning.

I also thought the ending worked really well. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that it felt very fitting given that we’re dealing with a legendary story. And legends, after all, don’t really have just one version.

Overall, I don’t think this’ll be a book for everyone, and it won’t appeal to all fans of Alice Winn’s previous work either. But for anyone longing for classic Arthurian legends with a more modern and relatable feel, I think it’ll be a real treat. I’d give it 4/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[tegan]

well that was insane. considered dnfing at the 100 page mark and then the rest was so stupendous. the word worship means So much here. byatt’s possession came to mind while reading - i love when an author takes a single theme and wrings it dry. my favorite of those angles has to be the wanting power over people by being stronger or better than them but realizing actually you have power because they give it to you. echoing other readers to say that the ending really cracked my head open in a fun way and i went straight back to the beginning. these characters are all so real and dear!!!! palomides you would’ve loved being diagnosed with ocd and i can’t even get INTO my thoughts and feelings towards tristram.

[alex]

HOLY SHIT nobody told me this was happening. i need this like water bitch

[Chelsea Knowles]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Worship is a retelling of the myth of Tristan and Isode. In this book, Isode is an Irish princess who thinks she will marry Sir Palomides. In order for her to marry him, he must convert to Christianity but he refuses to until he has fought in seven noble battles. He has fought six noble battles but before he fights the seventh one, he is defeated by a knight in a tournament. The knight is named Tristram and he wanted to win worship from Sir Palomides who is his idol but he ends up becoming tied to Isode. Isode is set to marry King Mark of Cornwall and Tristam ends up taking her to him. Civil war brews in Camelot and with relationships fracturing, Isode tries to regain control of her future alongside Tristam as it seems her future is inexplicably intertwined with Tristam’s.

I’m not quite sure how to articulate my feelings about this book. The writing feels quite cold and at the start I felt quite removed from the story. It took me a while to get properly into this but once I did, I was so into this. I really love this book and this story just means so much to me. I didn’t know anything about the myth so this was a completely fresh story for me. I loved Isode as a character, she is complex and I like how she views the world and the circumstances she is in. Isode is religious and I like how she understands her faith. It was interesting to see how her faith changed as the story went on and as she did more objectively bad things to other people. Sir Palomides is an interesting character and his background is also complex in regard to his faith. His whole story is about his faith and if he will convert to Christianity after coming from a Muslim background. I loved Tristam and understood him as a character completely. He is a good knight and his character is all about following the code. He tries to do what is right but his actions aren’t always seen as right by other people.

I loved the romance in this book and felt it in my whole body. This book is something that you just have to experience. I would recommend this for fans of The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden and Innamorata by Ava Reid. Worship does have some fantasy elements and with it being based on a myth, there is no proof any of these characters existed in real life but it feels more historical than anything. I loved the historical setting and what this had to say about being a knight. I loved seeing the Knights of the Round Table like Lancelot and I just had such a good time reading this. I’m giving this 5 stars and I will be recommending this to everyone.

Favourite quote:
“Sir Palomides has never murdered anyone. Only bad knights murder,” she said. “Ah. Yes,” said Dinadan, as if Isode had said something clever. “That’s the crux of it. If Sir Marhalt, who was a good knight, killed someone—that was not murder. But if Sir Marhalt, who you loved, is killed—he has been murdered. You see the problem?” “No,” said Isode flatly. “When your loved ones are killed, it always feels like murder,” said Dinadan. “Regardless of the code.”

[Mac]

An Alice Winn book leaving me speechless? It’s more likely than you think. I can’t begin to capture all my thoughts here (especially since I’m still working through them and imagine I will be for a while!) but I will say that I’ve never experienced a book like this. I imagine it emulates chivalric romances, but having never read those, nor being familiar with Arthurian legend, this was a completely unique experience for me. Despite my unfamiliarity, Winn still managed to create an endlessly fascinating story concerned with love, power, devotion, and obsession under Christianity, monarchy, chivalry, patriarchy, racism, and xenophobia. Winn plays with the idea of the legends themselves. It’s gripping, mystical, stomach-turning, funny, strange, and moving. From the very beginning, the atmosphere is set so that it always feels like a cord stretched tight, just waiting to snap. This will absolutely need a reread.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Holland]

Totally different from Winn’s debut, In Memoriam but good nonetheless. Kind of a wild ride but well done.

[Petra Petrella]

As a longtime chivalry romances nerd, I was prepared to appreciate this book.

As a coming-of-age/new adult lover, I did not expect how good Tristam and Isode's story could be a very very good enemies-to-sortofunwillingf*ckbuddies-to lovers ( + a magical potion that makes people horny , pwp fanfics-like) romance book with two very well characterized protagonists. Round figures, relatable, very human, with light and darkness.

In reality, it's such a choral story! There are so memorable and unique characters, and their relationships! The very believable almost sapphic between Isode and B., her servant. The utter respect between Tristam and Palomides (P. is tecnically the 3rd protagonist but let's be honest, Tristam stole the show). And many others of course.

Other things I liked: the language is modern enough to let the story flow but still has some medievalish nuances; the knight code mentioned continuously and people acting accordingly. How chapters were split and built.

I gave 4 stars because the 2nd half felt a bit too long, but I would have given 5 because I really liked this experiment.

I am only concerned about how this book will be marketed. It's an universal story told in a quite niche-y manner that can be quite divisive. The average romance book lover tends to read regency, and medieval settings are, for some reason, not very popular.

Not a book for many, but those who are the target audience, will definitely love it and recommend it to likeminded peers.

***

I have big big angsty hopes for this one! Thank you for approving this, NetGalley!

[Kate]

[Bookseller proof, thanks PRH] (4,5, may bump it to 5 if I'm feeling nice soon).

Hooray! An modern Arthurian retelling book which is good and interesting!

Since this isn't out until Feburary 2027 I'm not going to sling around too many spoilers, but what a good read. I read almost all of this in one Sunday. It's almost helical, which is so suitable for an Arthurian retelling; how often do we return to slightly different versions of the same narrative when we're studying Arthuriana? A lot! It occasionally fumbles it slightly, but not badly. I also don't know how it's going to read to people who are less familiar with Arthuriana? I've read the Morte and a lot of misc medieval romances, so I can get away with being like 'yeah yeah, the gore-streaked ghost of Queen Guinevere's mother, we've all seen it' except we have Not all seen it, so I don't know how characters, dynamics, etc will appear if you go into this totally blind. There are a lot of asides of 'yeah this happens but don't worry about it', which are amusing but might stack up a bit. Not that it would be incoherent, but perhaps your perception would change? Nonetheless Winn really dives headfirst into it, she just thinks about so much of it. I especially liked her choice to have Arthur be almost totally voiceless, that's got a whole lot of weight around it.

This is going to be pushed as historical fiction in the way that so much Arthurian fiction is when it is suitably high-brow and literary, I will not be able to wrangle it away from the fiction tables, but I'm banging the gavel now; fantasy book #tome. You can't have Launval and his weird faerie wife, the Questing Beast, that ending, moving castles, Morgan, magic rings, giants, dubious historical geography, and then be like yeah this is historical fiction. What history lad.

I also think this is an example of what is interesting about former fanfic writers becoming novelists, when they're not just filing serial numbers. Winn is a lot freer with structure and tone, and jumps between timelines and perspectives, and I really recognise that, as well as a lot of other choices like being very aggressively in media res, snippet-y style scenes, etc. I don't think it's a bad thing by any means but it's interesting to see how it manifests itself and how it compares to other ex-fanfic writers in SFF (Muir, Novik, etc.)

I do think there was a tiny bit too much time spent on Tristram and Isolde when actually, Palomides is the heart of this book, and for me had the more compelling character journey; the long swathe in the middle without him starts to feel tiresome without the balance of his narrative. The first swathe of his perspective is a real hit.

I also think some people will find its habit of semi-frequently undercutting its sincerity with flippancy and its archaisms with modernisms jarring, but I didn't mind it for the most part. This is a book that's very concerned with examining all the ways that Arthuriana has been realised and kind of making them into a very dense perpetual stew, picking out bits here and there, and that includes our ideas of it today and how modern novelists might interpret it. Also, I found a lot of it amusing. Idk I might change the rating a bit later on, but I did really enjoy this.

[Josie]

i adore Alice Winn's work. i never shut up about In Memoriam, but for once, i do not want to talk about that book past this sentence, because Worship is a completely different beast and deserves its own space because holy smokes, what a uniquely phenomenal read.

this was such a tender ode to Arthurian legend. everything about it - the settings, the characters, their relationships - was thoroughly researched and put onto these pages in the most loving way. the care and respect for the numerous origins of this book's content was obvious in each beautifully written word, and i just loved loved loved Winn's spin on the story of the characters of Camelot (i too like this version best).

i want to take a moment and admire the range of relationships in this novel: platonic, not-so-platonic, and definitely-not-platonic. each type held the same amount of weight, in which i mean that friendships felt just as heavy and full of love as the romantic ones. i'm sick over Palomides and Tristram and over Isode and Brangwayne and over literally any combination of the four and then of course the many other characters too. and then there's their emotions, how they grow and change and learn as people... my heart!!!!!! it cannot stand this pain any longer!!!

and the ENDING!!! it was such a blur and a whiplash of emotions, but the way everything tied together was perfect. things just make sense at the end as well, such as a certain character's actions, another's feelings, cryptic warnings, so on and so forth. i don't often want to reread a book immediately after i finish it but i think i'll be sitting back down with this one asap.

(final comment before i accidentally write an essay) i love the title and how it is a strong feature of the book. worship in this novel has various definitions: it means love, it means friendship, it means glory and honor and faith and righteousness and strength. it is not one dimensional, and that is something our protagonists slowly discover as their story progresses.

5/5 stars. i absolutely loved this and it for sure will be in my top five for the year.

just a psa for some readers - this truly isn't anything like In Memoriam. it's completely different and i think going into this book with hopes that it will be similar to Winn's debut novel may let you down, so i beg you to release any expectations and just embrace this stunning adventure as it is. it is so truly worth every bit of time you take reading it.

A deepest & most appreciative thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Knopf, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[B K178]

I approached *Worship* with high expectations, especially since *In Memoriam* is one of my favorite novels, so I was eager—and perhaps a bit critical—to see how Alice Winn's follow-up would compare. Fortunately, I enjoyed *Worship*, even if it didn’t resonate with me quite as strongly as her previous work.

This novel is quite different from *In Memoriam*, though some connecting threads are evident. Both depict young men trying to fulfill societal duties—whether through war or knighthood—and explore what it means to be a man. They also feature men who love and respect each other despite different backgrounds and beliefs. In both stories, moments of happiness coexist with the realities, demands, and sacrifices of their relationships and roles.

While *In Memoriam* is grounded in the harsh realities of war, *Worship* delves more into the fantastical realm of Arthurian legend. Winn reimagines these stories instead of simply retelling them, weaving adventure, ambition, friendship, romance, religion, rivalry, and many unexpected twists. Romantic feelings, appreciation, and love play a significant role—through Isolde and Brangwayne, Isolde and Tristram, Tristram and Palomides, and the complex dynamics among them. But it is not your straightforward romance. It has a longing, dreamy vibe.

I did have some reservations. The story didn't move me as deeply as *In Memoriam*, partly because I felt the shift to a more fantastical, adventure-oriented tone. My strong affection for Winn's earlier novel likely influenced my expectations, making it harder for *Worship* to fully satisfy me. Still, I found it a creative and engaging reinterpretation of the Arthurian legend, with many thought-provoking moments beneath the adventure.

**Content note:** The novel depicts violence and explores themes of consent. Though no graphic depictions of SA are included.

Overall, I enjoyed *Worship*. It isn't *In Memoriam*—nor does it aim to be—and that’s okay. Instead, it offers a more fantastical, playful, and adventure-filled story about love, devotion, friendship, ambition, and the sacrifices we make for the people and ideals we worship. Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kate (k8tsreads)]

3.5 stars rounded up. Worship was one of my most anticipated novels of 2027 considering how much I loved In Memoriam. And after finishing it, my conclusion is that Alice Winn is truly a talent to watch. But my second conclusion is that this book is not In Memoriam.

And maybe that's a good thing! Alice Winn really proves with this novel that she has range. This book is quirky, funny at times, and creatively written. I love how she chose to use old English in very purposeful ways and how she poked fun at the codes of chivalry. If you're familiar with the tales of the Round Table, this book might have been even better. I found myself getting a bit lost in the cast of characters, although Winn does tend to give you backstory or tell you when backstory is there but not important. Yet it was still a bit overwhelming, and there were so many people involved that none of them felt particularly distinct.

At the end of the day, I think this book had a very strong voice and style, but it just wasn't one that I typically prefer. I was perhaps expecting more of a historical fiction vibe, but this was really not that at all. I'd liken it more to Monty Python or something along those lines. I could appreciate it for its commitment to the vibe, but I never felt very attached to the characters or to the plot as a whole. Time moves quickly at different points, and the people often feel detached. I definitely had the sense while reading that I was taking in a very small part of a much larger story, which was cool, but also a bit confusing. And my biggest disappointment was the romance. After the bittersweet beauty of In Memoriam, I was really hoping the romance in this book would shine. But ultimately, I never felt particularly invested or attached to our three leads.

I'll continue to pick up Alice Winn's books in the future because I really did think this was a well-constructed book. It just wasn't for me! And I would encourage readers to separate their expectations from In Memoriam. Not because this book is worse, but just because it's different.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC!

[potatoship]

Patiently waiting for my Tarquin the pervert spin off.

This book couldn't be more different than In Memoriam and I am very obsessed with what Alice Winn was able to do here. This might be one of the rare times where I can't begin to sum up a book. I can't think of any comps that do it justice. Worship succeeds in feeling like an Arthurian tale that was retold for a modern audience that was then retold to be an Arthurian legend. It feels so utterly rooted in its source material that it's impossible to forget its origins.

And despite these characters feeling like they were straight from a 12th century tale of chivalry, I ended up caring about them. Not at first, mind you. Throughout the first half, Brangwayne felt like the heart of the novel while other characters were fulfilling their 'role'. She was the one who broke the mould and felt the most real. She carried the heart of the story with Isolde and I loved their chapters. By the second half, Palomides adopted that role with Tristram and Isolde following suit. Being very vague about this: the aspects that felt the most real were the things that existed beyond the constructs of this world. By the end, the characters and relationships all felt very complex - like we were just getting to know them - while still being a product of an Arthurian tale.

Which brings me to the relationships. Oh, I thought this was going to be a fairly standard love triangle, maybe with a dash of homoerotic yearning, and I was very wrong on that account. The way sex and romance are handled had me highlighting way too much. The way heterosexual experiences were described in contrast to the unspoken bonds between characters? Chefs kiss. I could probably write an essay about the queerness and queer subtext, but suffice to say that I loved it.

This was such a unique reading experience, I can already tell I'll be rereading it soon.

(One final pitch: were you a history nerd in your teens? Are you a bisexual? If so, this book may be for you.)

A massive thank you to Penguin, Viking, and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

[chamelodius]

Like a few others here, I saw this book pop up on NetGalley with Alice Winn's name on it and hit that request button without even glancing at the description first. Fortunately, it worked out in my favor because I loved this one. As a few others have mentioned, this book is incredibly different than In Memoriam, in both tone and content, although it shares its rich characters and love stories that are far from simple. I was into Arthurian legend as a kid, but I haven't engaged with it in quite a few years, and I'm not sure I was ever that familiar with Tristram and Isode (except for the Prelude and Liebstod from the Wagner opera). So this was a mostly new story to me with a few familiar faces here and there.

There is an almost absurdist tone to some of this, but I would not call it light, especially as it progresses. It deals with some very heavy topics, though it's less "horrors of war" and more "horrors of being a woman in the middle ages". The main characters are complex and multifaceted, capable of awful deeds and shining moments of goodness. Their relationships are a snarled mess in a way that makes your chest ache, because there is no one right answer for these people. The love and emotions that ebbs and flows between them is so enthralling. I also loved how Winn depicted so many different kinds of love, a full spectrum of feelings and emotion, and all of it had equal weight. Although by the end, "We had fellowship" definitely started sounding like euphemism lol. I also adored its treatment of grief and guilt, belonging and family, how you can love someone so much you end up hurting them, and how much growth the characters go through.

And the END. I was enjoying it a lot but those last few pages took this book all the way to 5 stars for me. Just a brilliant ending that made all of the cryptic bits make utter sense and also gave an incredible sense of hope that I was not expecting.

My massive thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren]

"Palomides had had this feeling before, many times--the feeling that nowhere on earth belonged to him. Sometimes he was able to forget, but people always reminded him eventually."

It seems inevitable that Alice Winn will ultimately be compared to her stunning debut, and I appreciate that she has gone a completely different route for book two. One thing that remains is the tour de force of her writing. If there is anything I can guarantee, is that she knows how to absolutely gut punch the air from your weeping lungs.

I'm not going to lie, I did find it hard to find my groove and I didn't fully get into it until about 20% in. The Arthurian legend basis for the storyline of Palomides, Isode, and Tristram was one thing, but the additional side legends scattered throughout detracted from the narrative because they were usually so silly (like, why do I care that Gawain and Segwaryd found a strange stone that summoned a thunderstorm and a secret city if river water was poured onto it?). I felt it diminished the plot and, overall, failed to serve their purpose, be it as a means to lighten the tone or to further develop it. That aside, it was an utterly captivating book, and without spoilers, I did appreciate the ending rather than the inescapable one that the medieval tragedy of Isolde and Tristan guarantees, even if it wasn't as satisfying as hoped.

And then we have the deliciously complex and dimensional array of characters. I just wanted to pull poor darling Tristram into a hug!!!! My heart broke into 100 different pieces about 100 different times. "Somehow Tristram was always on the wrong side of good people." And not just for him, but for how rich all of their inner turmoil was and how well the intricacies of human nature were described. It is stunningly well written and exceptionally well researched and well worth the wait between books imo. There will be hundreds of wonderful sections of prose to quote. LOVED!!

[Ben Dutton]

Alice Winn's 2023 debut, In Memoriam, was a best-seller and won Waterstones Novel of the Year. Expectation then is high for her second novel, Worship. Straightaway I have to note that Winn hasn't done the obvious thing - repeat her debut (a love story between two students during the First World War), though Worship is also a historical novel, but one set way back, to a history which might be myth: Tristam and Isolde, Camelot, and the round table. If you're a reader who doesn't like that subject matter - and loved her debut - you will find thematic connections her the more you read. If you love this type of story, Worship is going to have you having a right, rip-roaring time with this. As she notes in her Authors Note at the end of this book (but which isn't a spoiler): this is a series of stories which have been told many times, over many centuries. Winn has taken the great decision of taking all of her favourite bits from various versions and telling her own story with them, making up new bits, expanding on others, and having her characters speak in a contemporary way yet still feeling of their own time.

I had a fun time reading Worship; I breezed through it on a long flight. Winn is great at both world building here and character building - her central trio of Tristam, Isolde and Palomides are all great and the conflict and heat between them sweats off the page. It is not a memorable novel in the way that In Memoriam was, but Winn didn't need to write another deep, meaningful novel which explored heavy themes - she instead wrote a story which has been occupying her thoughts since childhood and she clearly had a blast writing it which makes a really fun, light read.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC

[Meg]

Worship, Winn's retelling of a renowned medieval legend, broadly follows Isode, Palomides, and Tristram as their lives intertwine and unravel around one another. There is much more at work here, with quests and adventures, brotherhood and betrayals, and religion and worship all being explored and exposed as the characters move throughout their stories.

This book is a departure from Winn's debut, In Memoriam, though I am sure it will be tempting for fans of her first book to want to compare the two. Worship felt like a much more sweeping work, with character list that kept marching on and events that took place in castles, on the sea, and on tournament grounds throughout the medieval countryside. Because of this, while our three main characters are supposed to be at the heart of the novel, I found it difficult to connect with them and their stories. There seemed to always be some new knight, along with his own feuds and friendships, to try to keep track of, and the settings started to blur together for me.

Winn's writing is certainly as commendable and moving as it was in her previous work. The style employed here made the story and language feel accessible. It was easy to read and digest, where I feel like, sometimes, medieval historical fiction can often be intimidating to some readers. Here, Winn really did a fine job of making this material enjoyable to a wider audience.

While I wish I felt more connected to the characters and the overall story, I do still think this is a lovely followup novel for Winn. This should definitely appeal to readers who enjoy medieval legends, and who may already be fans of other retellings, such as Circe by Madeline Miller or Sistersong by Lucy Holland. Many thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Marina Vidal]

I should point out that I've been a huge fan of Alice Winn ever since In Memoriam. It's currently my favourite book. I've recommended it until I've lost my voice; I've given it to friends and family as a gift, and her characters live rent-free in my head. So a big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance.

When I was approved for the ARC of Worship, I almost burst into tears. Tears of happiness, but also of fear, because In Memoriam means so much to me, and I was deeply afraid that I wouldn't like Worship. I should be punished for my lack of faith in Alice.

Worship is a completely different novel from In Memoriam, but it has the same soul. I'm so happy it's so different in the plot, the tone, and all the funny moments that are unexpected but still reflect and express what I most adore about Winn's prose: her capacity to express love in such a raw and beautiful way.

Worship is another Arthurian story, and Isolde and Tristam's story; it's also a Palomides story and a Tristam and Palomides story and an Isolde and Brangwayne story too. I'm not an expert in the Arthurian circle, but this book made me want to be. You can expect chivalry, adventures, fantasy and love and worship. Oh boy, if this novel isn't the best portrait of love I have read EVER.

I was reading the book, and I was content and thinking that it was okay; it's really well written, but it was not In Memoriam, but then the last page. And I broke. You have to be a very, very good writer to do that. Alice is that writer.

I will worship her and this book always.

[Evie]

If you're reading this book because you loved In Memoriam, please note that this is NOTHING like that novel. I still enjoyed it (mostly), but in a very different way and it won't appeal to all fans of In Memoriam.
Worship centres around four main characters, Isode, Tristram, Palomides and Brangwayne. All of their lives are intertwined, Palomides is Isode's knight who swears to protect her, but when he is defeated in a duel against Tristram he is forced to remove his armour for a year so must go into hiding to avoid being killed. Tristram killed Isode's uncle, and unknowingly Isode heals him, and Brangwayne is Isode's lady-in-waiting/best friend/more than a friend. It is incredibly difficult to explain the plot without giving too much away, suffice to say that Isode and Tristram are forced together against both of their wills, which creates much of the catalyst for the rest of the novel.
If you enjoy Arthurian legends, stories of the knights of the round table and slightly ridiculous plot points (think Monty Python's The Holy Grail), then you'll love this. If you want an achingly sad, historical, gay romance, just go read In Memoriam again.
Alice Winn is undoubtedly a brilliant writer, and some of the longing and adoration is so superbly written it made my heart hurt. I enjoyed the start of the book, and I truly loved the last 15% of their story but the middle felt like it would never end, although perhaps that is the nature of a knight's quest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books Uk for the eARC.

[Q]

Back on my fantasy revisionist history bs!!! Add this to the list with BETWEEN TWO FIRES, THE EVERLASTING, THE RED WINTER, and THE UNICORN HUNTERS. I would also add this to the list of contemporary authors writing about faith in an interesting way… see also Sarah Perry…

I personally haven’t read anything Tristan and Isolde before, so that was new, but Palomides I know like my old weird uncle. I thought I would get tired of his POVs in comparison to the will-they-won’t-they messy bitch energy of Tristan and Isolde, but Palomides’s religious OCD was interesting enough to keep me hooked when we switched character perspectives.

LOVE the use of weirdo Middle English for conversations that happen within the bounds of courtly love and expectation, and love that they’re always dropping it the more they find their lives don’t fit neatly within that box. Have never seen that before. The anachronism reminds me of Merlin aging backwards in THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING.

Best use of the Questing Beast since TOAFK also, in my experience. What is the search all for, if not for the chance to do it again? And the NPC characters knowing they’re in a loop, knowing this story gets told slightly different each time the way it does throughout history, is just MUAH perfect. THATS conversation with the Arthurian canon.

AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COVER. PRE-ORDERING MY COPY ASAP.

[Lu ☆]

Medieval love triangle based on a reinterpretation of an Arthurian legend.

To be honest, that's a first. I've never had something like this catch my eye but man, I'm so glad I picked it up.

What's really interesting about this one is that the retelling feels sculpted for the newer generation, so don't expect much of the overly complicated, slow, classic legend story-telling style.

Oh yeah, by the way, in typical medieval fashion, there's lots of violence involved, but LOL some of it is so absurd it's cartoonish. I had fun with some of these scenes, though idk if that's the reaction meant for them to get.

Characters are very well built. Unlike most romanticized reinterpretations of such myths and time periods, they are NOT perfect. They're flawed and messy and....real tbh. Makes them really charming and gets u caring about them.

All in all, you should check this out if you're into medieval stuff and messy love triangles.