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The Future King #1
Logres
The page-turning first book in The Future King series. King Arthur meets high-school drama in this near-future dystopian depiction of the Arthurian legends.Britain, 2052. In a world of war, disease and hunger the UK stands alone as a beacon of prosperity under an all-powerful ruling party. Life at new school Logres seems promising for fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, and quickly she falls for the handsome and intelligent Arthur. When Arthur’s rival, the rebellious Lancelot, returns after a suspension, her heart is soon divided. Realising that behind the UK's prosperity lies unspeakable cruelty, Gwenhwyfar sets off on a path to dismantle everything the government stands for.Contrasting relatable teenage anxieties with fears about society, and set in a disturbingly realistic dystopian future, The Future Logres brings the Arthurian legends to life.
519 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2015
8 people are currently reading
3376 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Mackworth-Praed
3 books174 followersI'm a prolific doodler, which over the years has translated into being an illustrator; a here-there artist who dabbles with embroidery, and a keen writer with a taste for fantasy, sci-fi and young adult fiction. In May 2020 I self-published my second novel, The Future King: Logres 2, an Arthurian second-coming set in dystopian 2052 Britain. If you like YA Fantasy or love the Arthurian legends then check it out!
The Future King: Logres
The Future King: Logres 2
The Future King: Logres
The Future King: Logres 2
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 31, 2018
Set in the near future, this tale follows high school students as they peel through the layers of their authoritarian society. This is a modern fear extrapolated to a hard manifestation, and one that many people will be able to relate to. The opening third is more Mean Girls than Arthurian, but the key characters are introduced at a pace that is natural and does not overwhelm with too much information at once. The text flows easily and you can “hear” the typical teenager speech patterns seep through. The character’s daily lives and tribulations tugged at the plot in parts, more so in the beginning. From there, the plot picks up steam and you start to realize that a dark reality is encroaching fast. The ending is a punch to the gut and will leave you wanting to dig into the next book to find out what happens next. A great, enjoyable read!
June 25, 2016
I had been fortunate to receive a copy from the author and here's my honest review.
The first honest confession. For a very long period, I hadn't known that the book was around Arthurian legends and stories. So I'd been reading it and savouring it like a normal action fantasy. For some bizarre reason, I looked up the reviews on Goodreads for it, and to my embarrassment, realised that I had missed out the very thing that the book was inspired from. Blame it on my lack of knowledge. (I knew I should've read that book King Arthur that my aunt gave to me.)
So, freshly armed with this knowledge, I read the rest of the book with a new mindset. I'd been enjoying it earlier, now I was positively enthralled by it at times. Also because I was finding it so difficult to pronounce the characters' names, I had to look them up too. That itself was an amazing experience! :P
The writing is engaging and the story is well thought out. My only problem was that I found it tad too wordy and descriptive at instances (but that could very well be because of my habit of not reading "big books".)
The book at ends at a cliffhanger and I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series!
The first honest confession. For a very long period, I hadn't known that the book was around Arthurian legends and stories. So I'd been reading it and savouring it like a normal action fantasy. For some bizarre reason, I looked up the reviews on Goodreads for it, and to my embarrassment, realised that I had missed out the very thing that the book was inspired from. Blame it on my lack of knowledge. (I knew I should've read that book King Arthur that my aunt gave to me.)
So, freshly armed with this knowledge, I read the rest of the book with a new mindset. I'd been enjoying it earlier, now I was positively enthralled by it at times. Also because I was finding it so difficult to pronounce the characters' names, I had to look them up too. That itself was an amazing experience! :P
The writing is engaging and the story is well thought out. My only problem was that I found it tad too wordy and descriptive at instances (but that could very well be because of my habit of not reading "big books".)
The book at ends at a cliffhanger and I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series!
January 10, 2016
Source: I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
Cost: Free
Title: The Future King: Logres
Series: The Future King #1
Author: M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Overall Rating: 5 stars
Admittedly, the Arthurian Legends hold a nostalgic place in my heart. As a child, I grew up being told them by my Dad and I loved them so much, this is something that has stayed with me as I've gotten older. I was so excited when I was told about this book! A modern take on these legends that I love so much? Yes please!
The year is 2052, and in a world full of chaos, war and illness, Britain seems like the perfect haven. Controlled by one party. And for Welsh Gwen, who has just started at Logres school, she believes everything is good...Until it's not, and she finds that the government's prosperity is founded upon cruelty, violence and lies, and she wants to do something about it. But she's also split between the school's heartthrob Arthur and basically the school's bad boy Lancelot. Because you can't have an Arthurian story with Arthur and Lancelot. *Insert winky face*
Although this book is over 500 pages long, it doesn't feel like it. You don't notice the time go by at all because not for a second, are you left bored. My favourite thing about this book was at the beginning, you don't think there's much wrong with the world of this story, it seems almost idealistic, until little things start happening...Then bigger things...Then it hits you about this sort of tyrannical system of government and how different things actually are! At least, that's how I saw it!
I liked the characterisation of the characters in this book, you loved who you were supposed too and hated who you were meant too! It was so fluid and strong in it's writing style that it's hard not to love this book.
I'm so excited for the second book to come out, and to see what happens next!
Cost: Free
Title: The Future King: Logres
Series: The Future King #1
Author: M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Overall Rating: 5 stars
Admittedly, the Arthurian Legends hold a nostalgic place in my heart. As a child, I grew up being told them by my Dad and I loved them so much, this is something that has stayed with me as I've gotten older. I was so excited when I was told about this book! A modern take on these legends that I love so much? Yes please!
The year is 2052, and in a world full of chaos, war and illness, Britain seems like the perfect haven. Controlled by one party. And for Welsh Gwen, who has just started at Logres school, she believes everything is good...Until it's not, and she finds that the government's prosperity is founded upon cruelty, violence and lies, and she wants to do something about it. But she's also split between the school's heartthrob Arthur and basically the school's bad boy Lancelot. Because you can't have an Arthurian story with Arthur and Lancelot. *Insert winky face*
Although this book is over 500 pages long, it doesn't feel like it. You don't notice the time go by at all because not for a second, are you left bored. My favourite thing about this book was at the beginning, you don't think there's much wrong with the world of this story, it seems almost idealistic, until little things start happening...Then bigger things...Then it hits you about this sort of tyrannical system of government and how different things actually are! At least, that's how I saw it!
I liked the characterisation of the characters in this book, you loved who you were supposed too and hated who you were meant too! It was so fluid and strong in it's writing style that it's hard not to love this book.
I'm so excited for the second book to come out, and to see what happens next!
June 22, 2017
Logres: The Future King is a story of the second coming of King Arthur set in a dystopian future Britain. Our MC, Gwen, recently moved from Wales to England with her parents and now has to join a new school. She basically immediately crushes on Arthur, makes some good friends, some not so good friends, and some enemies and all that while starting to question the system she's been growing up in and trying to figure out what she wants to do about this world.
Now, this review is a bit tricky, so I guess I'll give you the good, the bad, and then I'll go more into detail.
The Good
- the idea: Arthurian legend in a dystopian future? Great, sign me up!
- The political and philosophical discussions
- The little dystopian plot points we got
The Bad
- The High School drama plot points
- The ending
- And the characters. Over and over and over again the Characters!
I've had this book on my kindle for ages but never quite had the motivation to read it. Recently, I went on a little Merlin binge watch and I craved more, so I decided to go for this book. Arthurian Legend set in a dystopian setting. What's not to love, right?! Unfortunately, I didn't really get what I wanted from this. Apart from the names, the love triangle idea and the fact that Merlin is a 'wise' teacher figure there wasn't anything I would have expected.
Now, the political and philosophical debates were actually pretty great. Basically exactly the kind of discussions I've head in my political science classes, so kudos for that. Also, kudos for predicting Brexit. I just hope for Great Britain the consequences won't be quite as dire. :P At this point, I have to point out that some of the circumstances were quite ridiculous. It's clearly pointed out that the surveillance system in this regime is very sophisticated (the entire school is full of cameras) but these kids just have extremely regime critical discussions in the middle of the Cafeteria? … yeah, not very realistic. Also, does no one wonder why every week a couple of kids go to a teachers house? They might not suspect a revolutionary history class, but someone has to be suspicious about something here.
The points of the story that were actually about the world building and the dystopian/revolutionary plot were actually pretty good. I did feel the fear and paranoia. It was even helpful that we aren't really given much details about how or why this system came to be and how it works. It helped understand the teenagers' confusion and helplessness. Unfortunately, those plot parts were about one quarter of the whole book.
The other three quarters were … high school drama. That in itself wouldn't be a problem. This book is obviously only supposed to be the first book in a series and it makes sense to slowly introduce us to the large cast of characters and build up their relationships with each other … the problem is it was horrible high school drama, mostly due to the awful character s and their relationships.
So … the characters. Arthur and Gwen are our to MCs and I hated them both with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. They were just horrible people! And I don't think the author meant for them to be that way. I think we were supposed to sympathize with them but I just couldn't. Arthur is basically a whiny, passive aggressive teacher's pet. He shows Gwen not once but twice the cold shoulder after someone told him she supposedly did something wrong (in both cases she had just been sexually assaulted and had to be saved by someone else/herself). He refuses to have lunch with her and her friends (because he can't manage to be civil to one of them) and rather spends his time with his teacher. They are supposed to be in a relationship!!!! And his relationship with Lancelot! Dear god! For the most part I was just confused that he didn't know the story about Lance seducing Arthur's ex was a lie. But no! He knew! He just decided it wasn't important and he still hated his former best friend. And why? Because … and I'm not kidding here, everyone likes him better than Arthur. Yeah. That's supposed to become the most famous and righteous king to have ever existed. I just wanted to punch him in the face for most of the book. He didn't do a single thing that made me respect him or like him in this book. Not a good thing for one of the MCs.
Next to Gwen. She is … equally horrible but in an entirely different way. She is incredibly gullible , she is controlling . Seriously, I had strong abusive relationship vibes coming from this one. She is hypocritical . I wanted to slap that girl so many times I literally had to put down the book before I threw it against the wall.
Neither of the MCs had any redeeming qualities in my eyes.
The side characters were better … probably since we are never in their heads, but still. I especially liked what little we saw of Viola, Gavin, Lancelot, and Morgan. Marvin/Merlin was … weird. He felt like a two dimensional paper cut out who basically only existed to give Arthur classics to read and slightly guide their discussions. Also, I was slightly creeped out by his relationship with Arthur. Arthurian Legend or not, it is creepy when a teacher spends most of his lunch time with one specific student. I'm also not entirely sure what the reason for Julie's existence was.
I don't know why I had such trouble connecting with the characters. Maybe my teenage years are just too far in the past or maybe I just really never was this kind of character. No matter the reason, the characters were the absolute breaking point of this story for me. I didn't like them, their relationships or their developments. Unfortunately, that meant I really didn't enjoy the book very much and the few really interesting parts weren't enough to save it for me. A real shame because I love the idea of King Arthur in a dystopian future.
Also, major warning This book ends in a cliffhanger and I can not find information on when or if the series will continue
Now, this review is a bit tricky, so I guess I'll give you the good, the bad, and then I'll go more into detail.
The Good
- the idea: Arthurian legend in a dystopian future? Great, sign me up!
- The political and philosophical discussions
- The little dystopian plot points we got
The Bad
- The High School drama plot points
- The ending
- And the characters. Over and over and over again the Characters!
I've had this book on my kindle for ages but never quite had the motivation to read it. Recently, I went on a little Merlin binge watch and I craved more, so I decided to go for this book. Arthurian Legend set in a dystopian setting. What's not to love, right?! Unfortunately, I didn't really get what I wanted from this. Apart from the names, the love triangle idea and the fact that Merlin is a 'wise' teacher figure there wasn't anything I would have expected.
Now, the political and philosophical debates were actually pretty great. Basically exactly the kind of discussions I've head in my political science classes, so kudos for that. Also, kudos for predicting Brexit. I just hope for Great Britain the consequences won't be quite as dire. :P At this point, I have to point out that some of the circumstances were quite ridiculous. It's clearly pointed out that the surveillance system in this regime is very sophisticated (the entire school is full of cameras) but these kids just have extremely regime critical discussions in the middle of the Cafeteria? … yeah, not very realistic. Also, does no one wonder why every week a couple of kids go to a teachers house? They might not suspect a revolutionary history class, but someone has to be suspicious about something here.
The points of the story that were actually about the world building and the dystopian/revolutionary plot were actually pretty good. I did feel the fear and paranoia. It was even helpful that we aren't really given much details about how or why this system came to be and how it works. It helped understand the teenagers' confusion and helplessness. Unfortunately, those plot parts were about one quarter of the whole book.
The other three quarters were … high school drama. That in itself wouldn't be a problem. This book is obviously only supposed to be the first book in a series and it makes sense to slowly introduce us to the large cast of characters and build up their relationships with each other … the problem is it was horrible high school drama, mostly due to the awful character s and their relationships.
So … the characters. Arthur and Gwen are our to MCs and I hated them both with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. They were just horrible people! And I don't think the author meant for them to be that way. I think we were supposed to sympathize with them but I just couldn't. Arthur is basically a whiny, passive aggressive teacher's pet. He shows Gwen not once but twice the cold shoulder after someone told him she supposedly did something wrong (in both cases she had just been sexually assaulted and had to be saved by someone else/herself). He refuses to have lunch with her and her friends (because he can't manage to be civil to one of them) and rather spends his time with his teacher. They are supposed to be in a relationship!!!! And his relationship with Lancelot! Dear god! For the most part I was just confused that he didn't know the story about Lance seducing Arthur's ex was a lie. But no! He knew! He just decided it wasn't important and he still hated his former best friend. And why? Because … and I'm not kidding here, everyone likes him better than Arthur. Yeah. That's supposed to become the most famous and righteous king to have ever existed. I just wanted to punch him in the face for most of the book. He didn't do a single thing that made me respect him or like him in this book. Not a good thing for one of the MCs.
Next to Gwen. She is … equally horrible but in an entirely different way. She is incredibly gullible , she is controlling . Seriously, I had strong abusive relationship vibes coming from this one. She is hypocritical . I wanted to slap that girl so many times I literally had to put down the book before I threw it against the wall.
Neither of the MCs had any redeeming qualities in my eyes.
The side characters were better … probably since we are never in their heads, but still. I especially liked what little we saw of Viola, Gavin, Lancelot, and Morgan. Marvin/Merlin was … weird. He felt like a two dimensional paper cut out who basically only existed to give Arthur classics to read and slightly guide their discussions. Also, I was slightly creeped out by his relationship with Arthur. Arthurian Legend or not, it is creepy when a teacher spends most of his lunch time with one specific student. I'm also not entirely sure what the reason for Julie's existence was.
I don't know why I had such trouble connecting with the characters. Maybe my teenage years are just too far in the past or maybe I just really never was this kind of character. No matter the reason, the characters were the absolute breaking point of this story for me. I didn't like them, their relationships or their developments. Unfortunately, that meant I really didn't enjoy the book very much and the few really interesting parts weren't enough to save it for me. A real shame because I love the idea of King Arthur in a dystopian future.
Also, major warning This book ends in a cliffhanger and I can not find information on when or if the series will continue
December 3, 2016
Well written, but just not for me. Maybe I'm too old for it...
January 21, 2018
A fascinating future King Arthur story with several key twists to the theme. One, all of your Arthurian favorites are essentially in high school. Two, the future political climate is authoritarian and frightening (and depicts how things could worsen from our current IRL climate). I absolutely loved M.L.'s depiction of the future. It's extremely well done. It's not presented so much as an overt authoritarianism but as a creeping sense of the government applying authority in the name of public safety. The New Moral Army is as terrifying as it sounds, for as several characters ask, "Whose morals?"
In the Logres of 2052, freedom is very much at stake.
Setting up the characters in the age range of 15-18 or so is an interesting choice. Given the heavy weight of oppression around them, it might have served a better purpose to have them at university. As a 50 year old father of two boys, I am likely not the target demographic for the teenage girl point-of-view about "do you like him? You do! O! M! G!" that goes on a bit too much. Much of the heavier personal drama could have translated to an older set of characters. And in some sense there are many situations in which they do act older than their years: joining "seditious" movements, for one.
But this young age is ripe for discussion of how to fight back against an overbearing regime, and the characters play off one another well.
I am a bit of an Arthur nut and love seeing twists on the legend. This one is extremely well written, with tense scenes and rich dialog. The characters live and breathe and come to life.
In the Logres of 2052, freedom is very much at stake.
Setting up the characters in the age range of 15-18 or so is an interesting choice. Given the heavy weight of oppression around them, it might have served a better purpose to have them at university. As a 50 year old father of two boys, I am likely not the target demographic for the teenage girl point-of-view about "do you like him? You do! O! M! G!" that goes on a bit too much. Much of the heavier personal drama could have translated to an older set of characters. And in some sense there are many situations in which they do act older than their years: joining "seditious" movements, for one.
But this young age is ripe for discussion of how to fight back against an overbearing regime, and the characters play off one another well.
I am a bit of an Arthur nut and love seeing twists on the legend. This one is extremely well written, with tense scenes and rich dialog. The characters live and breathe and come to life.
July 26, 2018
This was a little darker than I expected, but a great and a polished read! It ended on quite a cliffhanger, so I am looking forward to the next installment!
It was quite a twist on the Arthurian legend, with a bit of a 1984 dystopian cross over. I think the author did a good job on pulling that off and I am curious as to how the Arthurian side will manage to weave through the dark space set up for book 2.
It was quite a twist on the Arthurian legend, with a bit of a 1984 dystopian cross over. I think the author did a good job on pulling that off and I am curious as to how the Arthurian side will manage to weave through the dark space set up for book 2.
December 21, 2017
A refreshing retelling of one of the oldest and most enthralling legends of medieval fantasy.
A modern--no--future take on the Arthurian legend, a creative twist that made things really interesting. The modern renditions of Arthur and Guinevere were especially inventive and tactfully done. It was interesting to see their stories play out. I was especially impressed how the author was able to switch the setting while still incorporating the chief archetypes that the original legend was known for.
I was a happy reader.
A modern--no--future take on the Arthurian legend, a creative twist that made things really interesting. The modern renditions of Arthur and Guinevere were especially inventive and tactfully done. It was interesting to see their stories play out. I was especially impressed how the author was able to switch the setting while still incorporating the chief archetypes that the original legend was known for.
I was a happy reader.
January 17, 2016
This is an high school romance and novel about Guinevere and Arthur, set in the future, with some Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur love triangle and activism/rebellion plot in it too.
First things first, I have to admit that I haven't read the blurb, when I started it. This is the 200th arthurian novel I've read (yay!) and I collect arthurian novels so for me the fact that it was arthurian was enough, I didn't need the blurb to convince me to read it as I consider a blurb a summary that will let people know if they can be interested in the novel or not. I don't think blurbs should have essential informations for the story. In this case, I was wrong, or maybe I wasn't attentive enough and I missed things.
I was at 20% of the novel and I was surprised to find myself in a dystopian, sort of, future or well, in the future. The blurb told me we were in the future, but I didn't read it and I was so confused by the novel, I couldn't understand what was going on because the setting was never clarified. Only hints that managed to confuse me more and more, well, at least until I've decided to read the blurb to find out what was going on.
Now, about what I really liked (and which made me read the second part of the novel all in a couple of days). I loved the parts where Guinevere talked with Isolde and got involved in the political side of thing, and how it is described as something that is new for her. She grows up in the novel and ends up getting directly involved in the rebellions and the incidents.
Just a curiosity about the characters. I wonder if all of them are arthurian or not. Arthur, Isolde, Tristan, Gavin and family, Guinevere, Bedivere, Percy, Morgana, Merlin and Lancelot are, of course, the obvious ones. I can imagine Hector being Mealeagant and maybe Emily being Elaine (Astolat?), Viola being Vivian, maybe, Tom.. well, I have no idea who Tom is.
First things first, I have to admit that I haven't read the blurb, when I started it. This is the 200th arthurian novel I've read (yay!) and I collect arthurian novels so for me the fact that it was arthurian was enough, I didn't need the blurb to convince me to read it as I consider a blurb a summary that will let people know if they can be interested in the novel or not. I don't think blurbs should have essential informations for the story. In this case, I was wrong, or maybe I wasn't attentive enough and I missed things.
I was at 20% of the novel and I was surprised to find myself in a dystopian, sort of, future or well, in the future. The blurb told me we were in the future, but I didn't read it and I was so confused by the novel, I couldn't understand what was going on because the setting was never clarified. Only hints that managed to confuse me more and more, well, at least until I've decided to read the blurb to find out what was going on.
Now, about what I really liked (and which made me read the second part of the novel all in a couple of days). I loved the parts where Guinevere talked with Isolde and got involved in the political side of thing, and how it is described as something that is new for her. She grows up in the novel and ends up getting directly involved in the rebellions and the incidents.
Just a curiosity about the characters. I wonder if all of them are arthurian or not. Arthur, Isolde, Tristan, Gavin and family, Guinevere, Bedivere, Percy, Morgana, Merlin and Lancelot are, of course, the obvious ones. I can imagine Hector being Mealeagant and maybe Emily being Elaine (Astolat?), Viola being Vivian, maybe, Tom.. well, I have no idea who Tom is.
June 6, 2016
An order among chaos
First of all a huge thanks to Kavita Ramesh and the author herself for introducing me to the book and letting me have a copy of the book to read and review
Before I start with the review I just want to emphasize on one thing that the book definitely do stand apart from the usual high school themed book we see and I really feel that emerge beautifully through the proceeding of the book. In spite of being filled with teenagers and everything akin to their life,from crushes, bullying, education, friends, and love, this book is nothing like a young adult book. The substance or the core plot is very different . That also being a major point of concern for me.
The basic thing that disturbs me about the book is that, it is not clear as to what exactly is the underlying theme of the book. Every book has one. Whether be it the survival of the fittest, finding love, or cheating death, triumph of good over evil, whatever it may, there is always a message or core that is very tangible except for this book. The book troubles me in the respect that it has so many directions and paths that it can take but leaves it halfway and chooses another and what results is confusion over what the book exactly stands for
At the beginning, the movement of the book seemed to move towards bullying, finding true friends and coming terms with the realty that people can be hurtful and deceitful and it was actually starting out nice when suddenly this path gets overpowered by another track of the world that is happening around our central characters and one of the astonishing thing is that I didn’t even realize that the author was trying for a dystopian world until I was somewhere in the middle of the book. These are just two tracks and similarly there are a whole lot of other tracks that sort of begins and gets muffled in between . So in the end you are not sure what exactly the book wants to talk about.
And towards the end I saw a strong satirical attempt by the author. A good satire well worth to be a reflection of the modern day that we live in but it was too late to bring that up or wasn’t brought out nicely that people could see its true potential.
So basically the factors add to an unhealthy narration flow because there are lot of parallel tracks happening and you never see when one collides with the other. But oddly enough there is a class, an elegance and I can’t exactly explain why or how, but its like that theory of having an order in chaos
So in the end I would say that there is a lot that is going on in the book and in its sphere each of what author attempts and say is perfect but I wish the book had taken one aspect and let it bloom fully. For instance if she wanted her story to focus on political developments and a dystopian nation, she should have focused on that from the beginning or at least started the seeding of this concept from the beginning rather than travelling all across and finally landing on what was close to her heart. Narration suffers because of that but as I said before in spite of all these there is a peculiar sort of order to it but I would still say that the book at various juncture appears to be incomplete
And I have just realized that for this very review, I might be the next one who would appear in the articles that keeps circulating these days “bullies of good reads” ( yes reviewers, we better watch our tongues :P )
First of all a huge thanks to Kavita Ramesh and the author herself for introducing me to the book and letting me have a copy of the book to read and review
Before I start with the review I just want to emphasize on one thing that the book definitely do stand apart from the usual high school themed book we see and I really feel that emerge beautifully through the proceeding of the book. In spite of being filled with teenagers and everything akin to their life,from crushes, bullying, education, friends, and love, this book is nothing like a young adult book. The substance or the core plot is very different . That also being a major point of concern for me.
The basic thing that disturbs me about the book is that, it is not clear as to what exactly is the underlying theme of the book. Every book has one. Whether be it the survival of the fittest, finding love, or cheating death, triumph of good over evil, whatever it may, there is always a message or core that is very tangible except for this book. The book troubles me in the respect that it has so many directions and paths that it can take but leaves it halfway and chooses another and what results is confusion over what the book exactly stands for
At the beginning, the movement of the book seemed to move towards bullying, finding true friends and coming terms with the realty that people can be hurtful and deceitful and it was actually starting out nice when suddenly this path gets overpowered by another track of the world that is happening around our central characters and one of the astonishing thing is that I didn’t even realize that the author was trying for a dystopian world until I was somewhere in the middle of the book. These are just two tracks and similarly there are a whole lot of other tracks that sort of begins and gets muffled in between . So in the end you are not sure what exactly the book wants to talk about.
And towards the end I saw a strong satirical attempt by the author. A good satire well worth to be a reflection of the modern day that we live in but it was too late to bring that up or wasn’t brought out nicely that people could see its true potential.
So basically the factors add to an unhealthy narration flow because there are lot of parallel tracks happening and you never see when one collides with the other. But oddly enough there is a class, an elegance and I can’t exactly explain why or how, but its like that theory of having an order in chaos
So in the end I would say that there is a lot that is going on in the book and in its sphere each of what author attempts and say is perfect but I wish the book had taken one aspect and let it bloom fully. For instance if she wanted her story to focus on political developments and a dystopian nation, she should have focused on that from the beginning or at least started the seeding of this concept from the beginning rather than travelling all across and finally landing on what was close to her heart. Narration suffers because of that but as I said before in spite of all these there is a peculiar sort of order to it but I would still say that the book at various juncture appears to be incomplete
And I have just realized that for this very review, I might be the next one who would appear in the articles that keeps circulating these days “bullies of good reads” ( yes reviewers, we better watch our tongues :P )
January 12, 2016
An outstanding work of dystopian fiction, The Future King: Logres centers around Gwenhwyfar, a high school student who seeks a right path as her world grows increasingly dangerous. Set in mid-21st century England, Gwen and her friends must navigate a turbulent and mysterious political scene, oppressive school conditions, and the intricate landscape of their personal lives to survive and hopefully fulfill their destinies. M.L. Mackworth-Praed creates a multi-layered and inventive story, based on the Arthurian legends, through concise and descriptive prose and a unique sensitivity to the elements of successful storytelling. The Future King: Logres is an amazing novel and a great literary achievement.
* some bad language, brief violence, and scenes of physical intimacy
* some bad language, brief violence, and scenes of physical intimacy
October 31, 2017
In Logres, by M.L. Mackworth-Praed, the author offers a modern take on some of our most beloved Arthurian characters. Not surprisingly, Gwenhwyfar (Gwen) and Arthur star in the main roles. Lancelot is the “bad boy” in her telling, and Bedivere makes an appearance in a supporting role. She sets her story in a dystopian, politically-charged Britain approximately 30 years in the future.
Gwen and her parents have moved from Wales to Logres, where Gwen finds herself in the awkward role of “the new girl” at school. She quickly meets new friends, not all of whom turn out to be what they seem. For the first few chapters, most of the interactions between the characters consist of one high school drama after another (who’s wearing what, who’s kissing whom, what to wear to the party, etc.). As dull as these scenes were for me to read at my age (I’m 47 and despised every moment of high school), I freely admit those were the things I and most of my girlfriends were concerned with in our teen years—and the book is, after all, aimed at a young adult audience. I’ll wager the audience the author is writing for will identify with these scenes more than I did for obvious reasons. On another level, however, the seemingly trivial interactions of these young folks serve a larger purpose—they provide stark juxtaposition to the increasingly violent political atmosphere brewing around them. Real world concerns eventually eclipse their personal ones as the book progresses. This is something I see my own teenage son dealing with—he is emerging from a world where video games, how fast he can grow his hair out, and working out every day to “get buff” rank high on his priority list, into one where he is grappling with larger concerns, like deciding on a career path and forging his own beliefs, morals and political opinions.
Content-wise, my favorite parts of the book were the discussions between the young students and “Marvin,” (our resident Merlin) a professor at their school who hosts an “invite only” after-school club to discuss current affairs and banned literature. He also indulges the kids with authentic chocolate and wine, which are in short supply in 2052, obtainable only on the black market (though one wonders how a high school professor can manage to get his hands on them—but that adds to “Marvin’s” mystery…perhaps he has friends in high places we know nothing about?) The political situation the author presents is quite imaginable given today’s current state of affairs, and, therefore, genuinely frightening. I feel this is the book’s strongest feature.
Regarding the prose itself, the author has a strong grasp of descriptive detail, bordering on poetic at times. I could see the landscapes and situations clearly in my mind’s eye, and her similes/metaphors were original. Character development on the major characters was well-sketched, namely Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot, but could have perhaps been a little more robust on the peripheral characters, as I found them nearly interchangeable (the gaggle of girls who run in Gwen’s group).
All in all, however, a great first effort by Ms. Mackworth-Praed. Well-done!
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel, and state that I am voluntarily reviewing this book.
Gwen and her parents have moved from Wales to Logres, where Gwen finds herself in the awkward role of “the new girl” at school. She quickly meets new friends, not all of whom turn out to be what they seem. For the first few chapters, most of the interactions between the characters consist of one high school drama after another (who’s wearing what, who’s kissing whom, what to wear to the party, etc.). As dull as these scenes were for me to read at my age (I’m 47 and despised every moment of high school), I freely admit those were the things I and most of my girlfriends were concerned with in our teen years—and the book is, after all, aimed at a young adult audience. I’ll wager the audience the author is writing for will identify with these scenes more than I did for obvious reasons. On another level, however, the seemingly trivial interactions of these young folks serve a larger purpose—they provide stark juxtaposition to the increasingly violent political atmosphere brewing around them. Real world concerns eventually eclipse their personal ones as the book progresses. This is something I see my own teenage son dealing with—he is emerging from a world where video games, how fast he can grow his hair out, and working out every day to “get buff” rank high on his priority list, into one where he is grappling with larger concerns, like deciding on a career path and forging his own beliefs, morals and political opinions.
Content-wise, my favorite parts of the book were the discussions between the young students and “Marvin,” (our resident Merlin) a professor at their school who hosts an “invite only” after-school club to discuss current affairs and banned literature. He also indulges the kids with authentic chocolate and wine, which are in short supply in 2052, obtainable only on the black market (though one wonders how a high school professor can manage to get his hands on them—but that adds to “Marvin’s” mystery…perhaps he has friends in high places we know nothing about?) The political situation the author presents is quite imaginable given today’s current state of affairs, and, therefore, genuinely frightening. I feel this is the book’s strongest feature.
Regarding the prose itself, the author has a strong grasp of descriptive detail, bordering on poetic at times. I could see the landscapes and situations clearly in my mind’s eye, and her similes/metaphors were original. Character development on the major characters was well-sketched, namely Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot, but could have perhaps been a little more robust on the peripheral characters, as I found them nearly interchangeable (the gaggle of girls who run in Gwen’s group).
All in all, however, a great first effort by Ms. Mackworth-Praed. Well-done!
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel, and state that I am voluntarily reviewing this book.
August 1, 2018
Characters
I had a really hard time connecting with Gwen. I think if I was a teenager this might have been easier but I am not. There is a lot of teenage angst in this book. Trouble and high emotions. The two love interests of Gwen aren't that much better—Arthur is self-righteous and Lancelot overly jerkish. However, they both have redeeming qualities, just like Gwen. There are a lot of supporting characters but the author does an excellent job not overburdening the reader right at the beginning and doesn't make every character super cookie cutter. There was some head hoping throughout the book - so be warned.
Plot
This is where a lot of my dislike but also like, comes in. I disliked all of the high school nonsense. Some was good, like a spoonful of sugar, but this was chock full of it. I believe it was more to develop the characters than the plot which caused drag in more than a few areas. Not to mention the sheer length of the book. However, that was broken up by the dystopian aspect of the novel which was the real winner. Especially how the author pulled in aspects that are truly happening today and warping them into the darker side of what our nations can become. Thought provoking for sure! Then of course there was the overshadowing of the Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot story. I'm going to be honest that I actually really dislike the original King Arthur stories and there are very few remakes that are good. This one was a little more on the nose than was necessary. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been more subtle.
Overall
This book was longer than it needed to be. There were some interesting conflicts and points of excitement but there was a lot of hum-drum high school days that left this adult wanting. Just when those began to drone on too far, there was a moment of action or some more world building on the dystopian side that sucked me back in. It was even worse because there is a huge cliffhanger ending.
This is for sure a YA novel. There is way too much teenage angst for it to be anything else. However, I do see high schoolers who enjoy King Arthur stories and dystopian novels, gobbling this up. This is for a specific target audience, but those that love teenage dystopian's should still give this a shot. One big win in my book for Gwen was that even though there was the predictable love triangle, she so far hasn't given in...but this is only book 1...
Rating
3 Stars
This is a dark read that reveals a future that could be - drawing from what is currently happening. I appreciated that message. If you love all the drama of high school, plus the overshadowing of a dystopian setting, this novel is a must read. It just wasn't for me.
Where did I get it?
Free copy from the author. This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
I had a really hard time connecting with Gwen. I think if I was a teenager this might have been easier but I am not. There is a lot of teenage angst in this book. Trouble and high emotions. The two love interests of Gwen aren't that much better—Arthur is self-righteous and Lancelot overly jerkish. However, they both have redeeming qualities, just like Gwen. There are a lot of supporting characters but the author does an excellent job not overburdening the reader right at the beginning and doesn't make every character super cookie cutter. There was some head hoping throughout the book - so be warned.
Plot
This is where a lot of my dislike but also like, comes in. I disliked all of the high school nonsense. Some was good, like a spoonful of sugar, but this was chock full of it. I believe it was more to develop the characters than the plot which caused drag in more than a few areas. Not to mention the sheer length of the book. However, that was broken up by the dystopian aspect of the novel which was the real winner. Especially how the author pulled in aspects that are truly happening today and warping them into the darker side of what our nations can become. Thought provoking for sure! Then of course there was the overshadowing of the Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot story. I'm going to be honest that I actually really dislike the original King Arthur stories and there are very few remakes that are good. This one was a little more on the nose than was necessary. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been more subtle.
Overall
This book was longer than it needed to be. There were some interesting conflicts and points of excitement but there was a lot of hum-drum high school days that left this adult wanting. Just when those began to drone on too far, there was a moment of action or some more world building on the dystopian side that sucked me back in. It was even worse because there is a huge cliffhanger ending.
This is for sure a YA novel. There is way too much teenage angst for it to be anything else. However, I do see high schoolers who enjoy King Arthur stories and dystopian novels, gobbling this up. This is for a specific target audience, but those that love teenage dystopian's should still give this a shot. One big win in my book for Gwen was that even though there was the predictable love triangle, she so far hasn't given in...but this is only book 1...
Rating
3 Stars
This is a dark read that reveals a future that could be - drawing from what is currently happening. I appreciated that message. If you love all the drama of high school, plus the overshadowing of a dystopian setting, this novel is a must read. It just wasn't for me.
Where did I get it?
Free copy from the author. This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
April 7, 2018
All I needed to hear was "Dysoptian Near-Future Arthurian Legend" and I was sold. However, upon getting into the book it immediately tore down my expectations. I'll break things down into pros and cons.
PROS
This is a very well-written book. The character actions and dialog are all top-notch and believable. (Even if they are petty teens most of the time. If you can't stand a bit of Highschool drama, perhaps this isn't the book for you.) The book flows very well from scene to scene. Characters are introduced well and you get a distinct feel for each of them as time goes on. There's a very gradual, organic growth to the character relationships and it all works. The plot has a few intriguing points that hit dangerously close to home in the modern era in terms of socio-political issues and certainly leaves a lot of room for more development here. (Including all the way up to the cliffhanger ending.)
CONS
I have to deduct 1-star for the following reasons. I might've deducted more if the whole thing weren't so polished and gosh darn well written.
The book takes place in the year 2052, yet technology is virtually the same as today. There was some plot explanation for the lack of new developments but other than TVs being called "Media Centers" everything felt 100% the same. If it wasn't for the different Gov't system in Britain it would take place in the modern day. Feels like a big missed opportunity for us sci-fi nerds.
The pacing here is slow. Very slow. I was a third of the way through the book before I had any idea where the plot might be heading. Most of the book reads like a slice of life with a backdrop of political unrest. With King Arthur involved, I was expecting a much more dramatic plot. Plenty of the scenes in the book don't do anything to move the plot along but do provide a slow grind of character development.
The surprises at the end come a bit out of left field as well. There was some foreshadowing, but with the quick ending, we are left with only vague ideas as to why certain things are happening.
END
In summary, if you like casual-paced plot, focus on characters and relationships, teenage drama and social unrest, this is a gem of a book.
PROS
This is a very well-written book. The character actions and dialog are all top-notch and believable. (Even if they are petty teens most of the time. If you can't stand a bit of Highschool drama, perhaps this isn't the book for you.) The book flows very well from scene to scene. Characters are introduced well and you get a distinct feel for each of them as time goes on. There's a very gradual, organic growth to the character relationships and it all works. The plot has a few intriguing points that hit dangerously close to home in the modern era in terms of socio-political issues and certainly leaves a lot of room for more development here. (Including all the way up to the cliffhanger ending.)
CONS
I have to deduct 1-star for the following reasons. I might've deducted more if the whole thing weren't so polished and gosh darn well written.
The book takes place in the year 2052, yet technology is virtually the same as today. There was some plot explanation for the lack of new developments but other than TVs being called "Media Centers" everything felt 100% the same. If it wasn't for the different Gov't system in Britain it would take place in the modern day. Feels like a big missed opportunity for us sci-fi nerds.
The pacing here is slow. Very slow. I was a third of the way through the book before I had any idea where the plot might be heading. Most of the book reads like a slice of life with a backdrop of political unrest. With King Arthur involved, I was expecting a much more dramatic plot. Plenty of the scenes in the book don't do anything to move the plot along but do provide a slow grind of character development.
The surprises at the end come a bit out of left field as well. There was some foreshadowing, but with the quick ending, we are left with only vague ideas as to why certain things are happening.
END
In summary, if you like casual-paced plot, focus on characters and relationships, teenage drama and social unrest, this is a gem of a book.
December 14, 2017
Ernest Hemingway revised the last page of A Farewell to Arms 39 times. When asked what had stumped him, he replied, "Getting the words right." On the whole, M. L. Mackworth-Praed gets the words right in this dystopian novel set in post-Brexit Britain in 2052. A delight to read, the book is graced by a nuanced, delicate style attuned to the rich sounds and images occasioned by words and by the variegated rhythms emerging from varied syntactic constructions. If you revel in good prose as much as good storytelling, then you will enjoy this book.
The storytelling itself is somewhat leisurely but picks up pace as we follow fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar through her adventures in a new school named Logres after moving from Wales with her mother and father. We experience the pettiness of high school girls and boys and other small intrigues (such as one of the girl’s starting a modelling career, a boy’s being suspended from school for sexual assault, another—Lancelot—for slashing the principal’s tires) as well as some of the protagonist’s personal problems (such as passive-aggressive behavior between her parents and looming fears of their eventual rift). But engagement with these young-adult problems gradually gives way to a broader awareness of what was happening in the society around her. She and her friends reflect particularly on the cruelty towards the so-called “Lessers,” the homeless or feeble or addicted who are gathered up and placed in “Mobilisation Centres” ostensibly designed to improve their lot in life but actually created to “vanish” them. The regime Gwen, Arthur, a piano-playing, rebellious Lancelot, and the rest live in resembles Ingsoc in Orwell’s 1984, a book that is banned in the novel just like Animal Farm is (The Lord of the Flies appears, too, but is not quite banned), and an underground organization called “Free Countries” and an after-school history club called “The Round Table” expose members to “alternative truths” to what the ruling party propagandizes. The exposure improves understanding but does not alleviate fear, and the novel ends with the promise of more fear and intrigue to come in a second book. Apart from names and a Round Table, there is little Arthuriana in The Future King: Logres, and the book’s enigmatic title does not capture the imagination. The novel itself will, however, and I recommend it.
I’m reviewing this book voluntarily and thank the author for sharing a copy of it with me.
The storytelling itself is somewhat leisurely but picks up pace as we follow fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar through her adventures in a new school named Logres after moving from Wales with her mother and father. We experience the pettiness of high school girls and boys and other small intrigues (such as one of the girl’s starting a modelling career, a boy’s being suspended from school for sexual assault, another—Lancelot—for slashing the principal’s tires) as well as some of the protagonist’s personal problems (such as passive-aggressive behavior between her parents and looming fears of their eventual rift). But engagement with these young-adult problems gradually gives way to a broader awareness of what was happening in the society around her. She and her friends reflect particularly on the cruelty towards the so-called “Lessers,” the homeless or feeble or addicted who are gathered up and placed in “Mobilisation Centres” ostensibly designed to improve their lot in life but actually created to “vanish” them. The regime Gwen, Arthur, a piano-playing, rebellious Lancelot, and the rest live in resembles Ingsoc in Orwell’s 1984, a book that is banned in the novel just like Animal Farm is (The Lord of the Flies appears, too, but is not quite banned), and an underground organization called “Free Countries” and an after-school history club called “The Round Table” expose members to “alternative truths” to what the ruling party propagandizes. The exposure improves understanding but does not alleviate fear, and the novel ends with the promise of more fear and intrigue to come in a second book. Apart from names and a Round Table, there is little Arthuriana in The Future King: Logres, and the book’s enigmatic title does not capture the imagination. The novel itself will, however, and I recommend it.
I’m reviewing this book voluntarily and thank the author for sharing a copy of it with me.
March 29, 2018
Wow this was quite a book.
It was disturbing to be honest, well written but the dystopia created was so close to home, so realistic of the direction our society could go that it gave me the creeps! I am a strong believer though that books should get some truth out, and I think this book achieves this in a big way, and I hope with the young adult protagonists it would bring awareness to a younger audience.
The main characters being school students creates this air of naivety and an insular environment, but as the book progresses you begin to see the darker elements of the situation.
I don't know what to think about the ending, but it was dramatic, dark and totally leaves the reader in the lurch. I am very curious to see where the author takes book 2.
It was disturbing to be honest, well written but the dystopia created was so close to home, so realistic of the direction our society could go that it gave me the creeps! I am a strong believer though that books should get some truth out, and I think this book achieves this in a big way, and I hope with the young adult protagonists it would bring awareness to a younger audience.
The main characters being school students creates this air of naivety and an insular environment, but as the book progresses you begin to see the darker elements of the situation.
I don't know what to think about the ending, but it was dramatic, dark and totally leaves the reader in the lurch. I am very curious to see where the author takes book 2.
April 26, 2018
The Future King is a fresh spin on the old Arthurian legend.
Set in a not to distant future the story introduces us to England as it is drifting towards an increasingly dystopian society. The political discussions, and the picturing of how fascism can develop even in a developed democracy is one of the strong sides to the story.
The story is set in a high school in Wales, and an other strong side to the story are the characters. It is subtle at first, and it took my some time before I caught it, but in turns all the characters from the legend of King Arthur is there. There is a lot of dialogue that brings depth to the characters.
It’s quite a long book, and the first in a series, there are some parts that probably could have been shortened, but overall the story works well.
Set in a not to distant future the story introduces us to England as it is drifting towards an increasingly dystopian society. The political discussions, and the picturing of how fascism can develop even in a developed democracy is one of the strong sides to the story.
The story is set in a high school in Wales, and an other strong side to the story are the characters. It is subtle at first, and it took my some time before I caught it, but in turns all the characters from the legend of King Arthur is there. There is a lot of dialogue that brings depth to the characters.
It’s quite a long book, and the first in a series, there are some parts that probably could have been shortened, but overall the story works well.
January 30, 2018
What a great retelling of a classic legend. I loved the names of the characters, echoes of the past myths. The political intrigue was exciting and well-woven. The slightly future world the author has created is realistic, dangerous, and interesting. I truly appreciate the characters being three-dimensional. The scene-setting is very well done without being overblown.
Despite his bad-boy status, I enjoyed the character of Lance very much. I loved the personal interactions of the characters and the shifting of social circles.
Warning! The book ends on a cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to the next one.
Despite his bad-boy status, I enjoyed the character of Lance very much. I loved the personal interactions of the characters and the shifting of social circles.
Warning! The book ends on a cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to the next one.
June 6, 2018
Logres (The Future King, #1) captured my attention with its descriptive details and carefully crafted thoughts and feeling about coming of age. There was plenty of tension and friction between characters radiating into a full-blown suspense story. Logres
December 2, 2017
This is my 9th Goodreads Indie author review since I joined in May 2017, about 6 months ago. 4 were close to film-ready, another 4 close to sci-fi channel tv-ready. This, "Logres," would fit into the 2nd category I think, and here are a few reasons. First-off, the CHARACTER descriptions are very fluid, very much modern and realistic, but in a way that needs to unfold naturally, rather than be forced into a shoot-'em-up, zombie-crawl, or thriller-romance mold. M.L.'s WRITING STYLE is superbly adapted to that, and I recommend no change there. PLOT & SETTING are as promising as can be, bewildering high school with its complex social cliques and awkward growth spurts. IMAGERY could use a bit more foreshadowing though; set a generation hence, there's no technology difference at first. Maybe make a teacher's assistant a robot, and why not a humorously malfunctioning one, or a dangerously strict one?
I need to read further to assess a final ranking, but I already sense this would make a terrific single-series tv show: it's a shame the author hasn't already sketched that and let the production world know she's on that with an episode bible at least sketched, to go along with the novel.
The main thing I wanted to learn more about was several reviewers' fuss the characters were kinda snarling brats and if perhaps this was an intentional anti-hero twist M.L. was giving the well-known Round Table characters? About 1/3rd in, Gwen and Arthur have their first love-triangle encounter, with Morgan rather than Lancelot the 3rd wheel, and it played fine to me. The chemistry-lab reminded me a bit of the first love misadventure in "Twilight," maybe a bit overdone compared to that, but certainly better than Disney's similar treatment of "Avalon High" [shudders, lol]. Overall I think it's a solid 4 and would make a great tv series.
I need to read further to assess a final ranking, but I already sense this would make a terrific single-series tv show: it's a shame the author hasn't already sketched that and let the production world know she's on that with an episode bible at least sketched, to go along with the novel.
The main thing I wanted to learn more about was several reviewers' fuss the characters were kinda snarling brats and if perhaps this was an intentional anti-hero twist M.L. was giving the well-known Round Table characters? About 1/3rd in, Gwen and Arthur have their first love-triangle encounter, with Morgan rather than Lancelot the 3rd wheel, and it played fine to me. The chemistry-lab reminded me a bit of the first love misadventure in "Twilight," maybe a bit overdone compared to that, but certainly better than Disney's similar treatment of "Avalon High" [shudders, lol]. Overall I think it's a solid 4 and would make a great tv series.
March 28, 2018
Without some prompting, I would not have associated LOGRES with the King Arthur legend aside from the characters’ names, but at least I had a pretty good idea how Arthur, Gwen, Morgan, and Lancelot were going to interact. Set a few decades into the future, this high school drama is close enough to today for us to recognize many of the trappings of the student world, and just far enough away for us not to be entirely sure where this uncomfortable future is heading. It takes a long time to get to the politics, where we see a government in the process of taking peoples’ rights away while the dissenters are losing the battle. But meanwhile, we are plunged into deep social interaction with teenagers playing the usual school games of favoritism, rejection, and belonging, while the newcomer Gwenhwyfar strives to fit into a social clique:
“I’m just curious.” Hattie glanced to her doubtfully as they climbed the steps to the path running alongside the drama studios. “It’s just… I think she’s been saying things to Emily about you. Earlier when you went to go talk to Arthur she told me that you said I was fat.”
“Fat?” Gwenhwyfar lapped it up. “I never said that!”
“You didn’t?”
“Of course not! Unlike some people, I don’t bitch.”
“Charlotte’s been telling Emily you’ve been saying nasty things about us.” Gwenhwyfar’s insides were boiling. Hattie continued to pry. “Have you upset her or something?”
“I haven’t said anything to that girl,” Gwenhwyfar hissed. “Not a thing! She’s been rude to me since I got here. So no, I don’t like her.”
The author does a good job investing our characters with personality traits appropriate to their age group: uncertainty, poor judgment, the desperate need to belong; I remember those mixed emotions very well. As a middle-aged woman who hated high school, I admit I suffered through much of this story, so I must concede it was right-on! In most of the current volume, the real story takes a back seat to the school saga and we get a thorough introduction to relationships and shifting loyalties that are bound to cause trouble in the future (especially Arthur and Lancelot). But as the story progresses, we worry less about personal interactions and more about government interference in everyday lives. Gwenhwyfar meddles with dissident groups and comes mighty close to serious harm. Has she committed herself too far? This remains to be seen. I assume that in future volumes our characters will tackle the mis-government with the help of their history teacher who only uses Merlin as a secret nick-name. But for now, things are starting to get ugly in the outside world and I suspect our characters are destined to rely on their friendships to survive the upcoming turmoil.
“I’m just curious.” Hattie glanced to her doubtfully as they climbed the steps to the path running alongside the drama studios. “It’s just… I think she’s been saying things to Emily about you. Earlier when you went to go talk to Arthur she told me that you said I was fat.”
“Fat?” Gwenhwyfar lapped it up. “I never said that!”
“You didn’t?”
“Of course not! Unlike some people, I don’t bitch.”
“Charlotte’s been telling Emily you’ve been saying nasty things about us.” Gwenhwyfar’s insides were boiling. Hattie continued to pry. “Have you upset her or something?”
“I haven’t said anything to that girl,” Gwenhwyfar hissed. “Not a thing! She’s been rude to me since I got here. So no, I don’t like her.”
The author does a good job investing our characters with personality traits appropriate to their age group: uncertainty, poor judgment, the desperate need to belong; I remember those mixed emotions very well. As a middle-aged woman who hated high school, I admit I suffered through much of this story, so I must concede it was right-on! In most of the current volume, the real story takes a back seat to the school saga and we get a thorough introduction to relationships and shifting loyalties that are bound to cause trouble in the future (especially Arthur and Lancelot). But as the story progresses, we worry less about personal interactions and more about government interference in everyday lives. Gwenhwyfar meddles with dissident groups and comes mighty close to serious harm. Has she committed herself too far? This remains to be seen. I assume that in future volumes our characters will tackle the mis-government with the help of their history teacher who only uses Merlin as a secret nick-name. But for now, things are starting to get ugly in the outside world and I suspect our characters are destined to rely on their friendships to survive the upcoming turmoil.
January 28, 2018
LOGRES (The Future King, # 1) M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, the new Welsh girl at the Logres school in London, falls for a scholarly type named Arthur during a time of growing political turmoil a few decades from now...and dangerous complications arise.
This is not quite an Arthurian novel and not quite your typical YA dystopian novel, either. The setting is England in 2052 – although the daily technology in many places seemed to me to be closer to 2000. The government is proto-fascism; a common trope in British science fiction since, I suppose, the Thatcher years (though inspired by Orwell’s 1984, a book heavily referenced by Mackworth-Praed). The real-life addition of CCTV to every street in London gets some severe disapproval, as do the racist attitudes clearly inspired by certain strains in Britain today.
What I liked was the sense of high school kids living on the edge of an evil society (so evil that people have to pay for their own health insurance…may I just say, as an American, ouch!), with some of them only very gradually coming to realize that maybe some opposition is in order. Which is true of a lot of societies, and of a lot of 15-year-olds. Some of them join a secret society of rebels and later worry that the society may have some dark secrets of its own—the constant uncertainty, of always being outside and essentially powerless, is well done.
Regarding the “Arthurian” aspects – well, the main characters are named Gwenhwyfar and Arthur, and there’s a Morgan and a Lancelot and a Bedivere and a teacher named Marvin whose nickname is Merlin, and he gives young Arthur a few pointers on democracy versus totalitarianism.
I admit I didn’t focus too much on the “does she fancy him?” aspects of the story; frankly, even when I was a high school student, a hundred years ago, I would have paid more attention to the political parts. This is the first of a series and I imagine, based on his name, that young Arthur might have a future in politics.
A final note that has less to do with the book’s literary qualities and more to do with some of its themes: Living as I do in a country where racists and proto-fascists are doing their best to get things their way, it’s good that authors like Mackworth-Praed are writing in opposition to such things and sounding a warning about what the future might hold. Every raised voice helps.
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me.
Fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, the new Welsh girl at the Logres school in London, falls for a scholarly type named Arthur during a time of growing political turmoil a few decades from now...and dangerous complications arise.
This is not quite an Arthurian novel and not quite your typical YA dystopian novel, either. The setting is England in 2052 – although the daily technology in many places seemed to me to be closer to 2000. The government is proto-fascism; a common trope in British science fiction since, I suppose, the Thatcher years (though inspired by Orwell’s 1984, a book heavily referenced by Mackworth-Praed). The real-life addition of CCTV to every street in London gets some severe disapproval, as do the racist attitudes clearly inspired by certain strains in Britain today.
What I liked was the sense of high school kids living on the edge of an evil society (so evil that people have to pay for their own health insurance…may I just say, as an American, ouch!), with some of them only very gradually coming to realize that maybe some opposition is in order. Which is true of a lot of societies, and of a lot of 15-year-olds. Some of them join a secret society of rebels and later worry that the society may have some dark secrets of its own—the constant uncertainty, of always being outside and essentially powerless, is well done.
Regarding the “Arthurian” aspects – well, the main characters are named Gwenhwyfar and Arthur, and there’s a Morgan and a Lancelot and a Bedivere and a teacher named Marvin whose nickname is Merlin, and he gives young Arthur a few pointers on democracy versus totalitarianism.
I admit I didn’t focus too much on the “does she fancy him?” aspects of the story; frankly, even when I was a high school student, a hundred years ago, I would have paid more attention to the political parts. This is the first of a series and I imagine, based on his name, that young Arthur might have a future in politics.
A final note that has less to do with the book’s literary qualities and more to do with some of its themes: Living as I do in a country where racists and proto-fascists are doing their best to get things their way, it’s good that authors like Mackworth-Praed are writing in opposition to such things and sounding a warning about what the future might hold. Every raised voice helps.
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me.
May 13, 2020
This is a great young adult dystopian fantasy that draws heavily on Arthurian legend for its cast of characters and certain aspects of the plot. I'm a huge fan of the Arthurian myths and legends and loved the gradual introduction of all the main characters - Arthur, Gwen, (Guinevere), Bedivere, Morgan, Lancelot, Merlin (Marvin), etc. However, the strongest element of the book for me was the dystopian picture of the not too distant future (2052) - eerily prescient in the post-Brexit world, not to mention the current Covid-19 environment. I usually avoid dystopian fantasy books as I find them too depressing, but this was really well done - I particularly liked the way arguments both for and against the repressive regime were presented through the characters (e.g. Marvin; Gwen's mother Eve) and not by the author in an intrusive manner. And the ending! I have to admit I suspected it was coming, but it was very well executed and certainly propels the reader into the next book.
In terms of what I didn't like so much: I think some of the high school scenes could have been shorter, in some instances perhaps cut. The book really picks up the pace when some of the students go on the march in London - prior to this, the book is lacking in action. In terms of the characters, Lancelot does far too much scowling (but I'm expecting him to come good) and the jury is out on Gwen. She's so central to the book, but I've yet to warm to her, given one minute she is full of concern for the unfairness of society and the next minute focussing on what she's going to wear (though to be fair, she is a teenager). Again, I think she'll come good in the second book. As for Morgan, we haven't seen much of her yet - but I'd definitely like to, given the role she plays in the original stories.
In terms of what I didn't like so much: I think some of the high school scenes could have been shorter, in some instances perhaps cut. The book really picks up the pace when some of the students go on the march in London - prior to this, the book is lacking in action. In terms of the characters, Lancelot does far too much scowling (but I'm expecting him to come good) and the jury is out on Gwen. She's so central to the book, but I've yet to warm to her, given one minute she is full of concern for the unfairness of society and the next minute focussing on what she's going to wear (though to be fair, she is a teenager). Again, I think she'll come good in the second book. As for Morgan, we haven't seen much of her yet - but I'd definitely like to, given the role she plays in the original stories.
December 8, 2025
Bookish vibes:
The Future King Logres is a dystopian future King Arthur story! Combining two of my favorite things is really 🔥🔥 dystopian 🤝 Arthurian
In a future England, the government is controlling the people by surveillance and by propaganda and misinformation. 15 year old Gwen joins a secret society to dismantle the government and expose the cruelty.. she’s also the new girl at the school and has a rough time until she meets the right friends. Instantly falling for Arthur the quiet one, her life is upset once again once the rebellious Lancelot comes back from suspension.
I loved Gwen’s agency and loved seeing Tristen and Isolde. I am unabashedly, once again, rooting for Lancelot. It’s my own personal character flaw, I love him and his “I can protect everyone” vibes 😍 the rest of her friends were fun, except Tom, what a loser. I hope we see more of Morgan in the next once cause she is full of secrets!
Overall this was a great story! Action packed with drama and teenage angst.
Recommended for readers who liked Legendborn, The Enemy’s Daughter and Alex Rider!
The Future King Logres is a dystopian future King Arthur story! Combining two of my favorite things is really 🔥🔥 dystopian 🤝 Arthurian
In a future England, the government is controlling the people by surveillance and by propaganda and misinformation. 15 year old Gwen joins a secret society to dismantle the government and expose the cruelty.. she’s also the new girl at the school and has a rough time until she meets the right friends. Instantly falling for Arthur the quiet one, her life is upset once again once the rebellious Lancelot comes back from suspension.
I loved Gwen’s agency and loved seeing Tristen and Isolde. I am unabashedly, once again, rooting for Lancelot. It’s my own personal character flaw, I love him and his “I can protect everyone” vibes 😍 the rest of her friends were fun, except Tom, what a loser. I hope we see more of Morgan in the next once cause she is full of secrets!
Overall this was a great story! Action packed with drama and teenage angst.
Recommended for readers who liked Legendborn, The Enemy’s Daughter and Alex Rider!
September 2, 2020
The main characters are teenagers who are getting on with doing the things that teenagers do, despite the sinister undercurrents of a dystopian world which is recognisably and realistically a development of our own: fake news, surveillance, populism, consumerism and sexual violence. Although that makes it sound hard-going, that's not at all the case. The story is well written, immaculately proofread and engrossing. The characters are carefully drawn, complex and convincing.
June 8, 2018
This book was great though depressing. It is a very Orwellian look at society and depressing just in the way the author really took a lot of current events and showed very realistically how we could end up in an awful police state.
Very well written and kept me interested the whole way. Personally the whole Arthurian thing was interesting, but I didn't necessarily feel the book needed it..but let's see where the author goes with it in the series.
Very well written and kept me interested the whole way. Personally the whole Arthurian thing was interesting, but I didn't necessarily feel the book needed it..but let's see where the author goes with it in the series.
November 17, 2020
Great book!
January 16, 2023
3 ⭐️
Logres is the first book of The Future King series and I thought this novel was a very solid debut and a good start to the series.
Plot
England in 2052. The UK stands apart as a beacon of wealth under an all-powerful ruling party in a world of conflict, disease, and hunger. Gwenhwyfar, 15, finds life at her new school in Logres to be promising, and she soon develops feelings for the charming and knowledgeable Arthur. Her heart is quickly torn apart when Arthur's foe, the disobedient Lancelot, reappears after a suspension.
Gwenhwyfar embarks on a mission to overthrow everything the government stands for after realizing that the UK's wealth is concealed by horrible cruelty. The Future King: Logres brings the Arthurian legends to life by contrasting contemporary teenage emotions with fears about society and taking place in a shockingly plausible dystopian future.
The plot of the book was actually interesting and quite unique. I have read many arthurian retellings, but King Arthur in a dystopia future is something unique and I thought it was really well done. The pacing wasn't bad, but I think the book was a bit too long.
Characters
Gwenhwyfar
She is our MC. I like her. I think she was relatable and I thought she was intelligent and is trying to discover her place in the world. She is actually a flawed character.
Lancelot
Lancelot, or Lance, was Arthur's former best friend. I liked him. He is considere the bad boy and while sometimes he is a jerk, I think the character is really mysterious and I really cannot wait to know more about him in the next novel.
Arthur
Arthur is considered to be the perfect man, but I didn't like some of his actions. First, he is too jealous and I didn't like that. Also, sometimes Gwenhwyfar would say that Lancelot was stupid because she did something, but Arthur does the same thing and Gwenhwyfar never says anything to him.
Viola, Gavin, Bedivere and Tom
These are Gwenhwyfar's friend. I really liked the group and their dynamic. I liked Viola and her friendship with Gwenhwyfar. Gavin and Bedivere were also really good, Bedivere is actually such a sweetheart in this book and Tom is actually funny, however, I wish she could have appeared a bit more.
Marvin
Marvin or Merlin is Arthur's history professor. I liked him and the conversation he has with Arthur about politics are one of the best parts of the novel.
Morgan
Morgan was an ok character. I wish I can see more of her in the next book.
Writing
I think the writing was actually good. For a debut novel, the writing is actually solid and kept me engaged the whole time.
World-Building
I think the author made a good work in this part. The world-building was really well built. I love how the author explained the politics part and how the country was divided. Very interesting and the conversation between Merlin and Arthur and the others helped a lot in this part.
Romance
We have the famous love triangle here. I wasn't a big fan of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. They were basically insta-love. She saw him, fell in love him and told her friends (that she met in the same day) that she fancied him. A few days later, they were kissing.
I think the relationship between Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar is way more interesting. The get to know each other and in some part it feels like enemies to lovers, because they can't stand each other in the beginning. These two had way more chemistry than Arthur and Gwenhwyfar and more development as well.
One thing that I didn't like. Gwenhwyfar was assaulted two times during the romance. In both cases, the assault was used to make the romance more angst and I wasn't a big fan of this, of course.
Final Thoughts
On sum, the book was actually interesting and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
Logres is the first book of The Future King series and I thought this novel was a very solid debut and a good start to the series.
Plot
England in 2052. The UK stands apart as a beacon of wealth under an all-powerful ruling party in a world of conflict, disease, and hunger. Gwenhwyfar, 15, finds life at her new school in Logres to be promising, and she soon develops feelings for the charming and knowledgeable Arthur. Her heart is quickly torn apart when Arthur's foe, the disobedient Lancelot, reappears after a suspension.
Gwenhwyfar embarks on a mission to overthrow everything the government stands for after realizing that the UK's wealth is concealed by horrible cruelty. The Future King: Logres brings the Arthurian legends to life by contrasting contemporary teenage emotions with fears about society and taking place in a shockingly plausible dystopian future.
The plot of the book was actually interesting and quite unique. I have read many arthurian retellings, but King Arthur in a dystopia future is something unique and I thought it was really well done. The pacing wasn't bad, but I think the book was a bit too long.
Characters
Gwenhwyfar
She is our MC. I like her. I think she was relatable and I thought she was intelligent and is trying to discover her place in the world. She is actually a flawed character.
Lancelot
Lancelot, or Lance, was Arthur's former best friend. I liked him. He is considere the bad boy and while sometimes he is a jerk, I think the character is really mysterious and I really cannot wait to know more about him in the next novel.
Arthur
Arthur is considered to be the perfect man, but I didn't like some of his actions. First, he is too jealous and I didn't like that. Also, sometimes Gwenhwyfar would say that Lancelot was stupid because she did something, but Arthur does the same thing and Gwenhwyfar never says anything to him.
Viola, Gavin, Bedivere and Tom
These are Gwenhwyfar's friend. I really liked the group and their dynamic. I liked Viola and her friendship with Gwenhwyfar. Gavin and Bedivere were also really good, Bedivere is actually such a sweetheart in this book and Tom is actually funny, however, I wish she could have appeared a bit more.
Marvin
Marvin or Merlin is Arthur's history professor. I liked him and the conversation he has with Arthur about politics are one of the best parts of the novel.
Morgan
Morgan was an ok character. I wish I can see more of her in the next book.
Writing
I think the writing was actually good. For a debut novel, the writing is actually solid and kept me engaged the whole time.
World-Building
I think the author made a good work in this part. The world-building was really well built. I love how the author explained the politics part and how the country was divided. Very interesting and the conversation between Merlin and Arthur and the others helped a lot in this part.
Romance
We have the famous love triangle here. I wasn't a big fan of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. They were basically insta-love. She saw him, fell in love him and told her friends (that she met in the same day) that she fancied him. A few days later, they were kissing.
I think the relationship between Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar is way more interesting. The get to know each other and in some part it feels like enemies to lovers, because they can't stand each other in the beginning. These two had way more chemistry than Arthur and Gwenhwyfar and more development as well.
One thing that I didn't like. Gwenhwyfar was assaulted two times during the romance. In both cases, the assault was used to make the romance more angst and I wasn't a big fan of this, of course.
Final Thoughts
On sum, the book was actually interesting and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
December 4, 2018
A group of naive teenagers battle an oppressive regime in a dystopian future Britain. With lead characters called Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (that’s pronounced ‘Guinivere’) though, they may have a chance…
Logres takes us back to the future: Britain in the 2050’s is more like the 1970’s, with power cuts, shortages and political strife. Climate change is beginning to bite, technology has regressesd and post-Brexit Britain has turned inwards and is in danger of fragmenting.1984 is referenced heavily, and the ruling New National party with their omnipresent surveillance cameras and media control are suitably Orwellian.
Much of the book is typical high school drama. Gwen, newly-arrived from Wales, is a rich girl who is immediately attracted to Arthur, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks who has to work and lives with his grandmother. But she’s also crushing on bad boy Lancelot Lake (!) who plays in a band, and there are love polygons with Gavin, Morgan Fay (!), and a whole classroom of other characters.
As with the rest of the setting, it’s charmingly old-fashioned. Rather than being glued to their smartphones, sexting, cyber-bullying and trading naked selfies, all social interaction is carried out IRL, and is all fairly gentle – A tells B that C said D was fat. It may be retro rather than futuristic, but makes for better human drama.
The teens eyes are opened to the evil of the government by a teacher called Marvin, nicknamed Merlin, who starts an after-school club to discuss politics. However, Logres school is no Hogwarts, and Merlin has no magic except the power of banned literature -- such as 1984. The characters are caught up in protests and a fledgling resistance movement, but politics takes second place to their own personal dramas.
This is the first in a series. The pace of the plot is leisurely; there is no hint that Arthur might be a future king yet, though the monarchy has been abolished and there are hints of a secret in Arthur’s past.
Logres is an engaging and well-written tale, and certainly a very different take on the Arthurian mythos.
Logres takes us back to the future: Britain in the 2050’s is more like the 1970’s, with power cuts, shortages and political strife. Climate change is beginning to bite, technology has regressesd and post-Brexit Britain has turned inwards and is in danger of fragmenting.1984 is referenced heavily, and the ruling New National party with their omnipresent surveillance cameras and media control are suitably Orwellian.
Much of the book is typical high school drama. Gwen, newly-arrived from Wales, is a rich girl who is immediately attracted to Arthur, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks who has to work and lives with his grandmother. But she’s also crushing on bad boy Lancelot Lake (!) who plays in a band, and there are love polygons with Gavin, Morgan Fay (!), and a whole classroom of other characters.
As with the rest of the setting, it’s charmingly old-fashioned. Rather than being glued to their smartphones, sexting, cyber-bullying and trading naked selfies, all social interaction is carried out IRL, and is all fairly gentle – A tells B that C said D was fat. It may be retro rather than futuristic, but makes for better human drama.
The teens eyes are opened to the evil of the government by a teacher called Marvin, nicknamed Merlin, who starts an after-school club to discuss politics. However, Logres school is no Hogwarts, and Merlin has no magic except the power of banned literature -- such as 1984. The characters are caught up in protests and a fledgling resistance movement, but politics takes second place to their own personal dramas.
This is the first in a series. The pace of the plot is leisurely; there is no hint that Arthur might be a future king yet, though the monarchy has been abolished and there are hints of a secret in Arthur’s past.
Logres is an engaging and well-written tale, and certainly a very different take on the Arthurian mythos.
June 21, 2023
I love reading anything relating with Arthurian retellings and the futuristic-dystopian setting is what make me give this book a try, and I'm glad I did because I loved it!
We begin the story with that "teen drama" atmosphere as we follow young Gwen at her new high school, some mean girls, some good ones, some others very very bad and of course kind Arthur and the rebellious Lancelot (and of course the top tier of any Arthurian retelling, our favourite love triangle).
But as you continue to get immersed in the story you start to notice those dark themes, the oppression, the corruption, the fear but also the bravery, the desire of freedom of the people, etc.
As the book was settling for what I'm guessing will be some major plots in the following books, it was well balanced with that "teen drama" and introduction of the characters and that keeps the plot fresh and entertaining.
The characters were, in my opinion, well written, as well as the dialogue and the narrative.
I definelty plan on follow this series!!
We begin the story with that "teen drama" atmosphere as we follow young Gwen at her new high school, some mean girls, some good ones, some others very very bad and of course kind Arthur and the rebellious Lancelot (and of course the top tier of any Arthurian retelling, our favourite love triangle).
But as you continue to get immersed in the story you start to notice those dark themes, the oppression, the corruption, the fear but also the bravery, the desire of freedom of the people, etc.
As the book was settling for what I'm guessing will be some major plots in the following books, it was well balanced with that "teen drama" and introduction of the characters and that keeps the plot fresh and entertaining.
The characters were, in my opinion, well written, as well as the dialogue and the narrative.
I definelty plan on follow this series!!
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