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The Future King #2
Logres 2
The ruling party, New National, is expanding its power. Their new anti-extremism cell, The New Moral Army, threatens all who stand in opposition to the regime. Under the guidance of Marvin, self-proclaimed Merlin, after-school club The Round Table is about to fight back. The year is 2053, and Britain begins to darken.
Teenager Gwenhwyfar must discover why The New Moral Army has taken her parents and what she can do to save them. Meanwhile, rival Morgan struggles to find her place among her peers. With Bedivere’s life hanging in the balance, a conflicted Arthur does what he can to keep the The Round Table alive.
Knowing that her only chance to save her parents is to discover more about the terrorist cell Free Countries, Gwenhwyfar searches for their leader. She must also navigate new dynamics: her wish for Arthur and Lancelot to make amends may soon one she regrets. With the New Nationals infringing on rights and a general election fast approaching, this is the thrilling second book to volume one of The Future King series.
Teenager Gwenhwyfar must discover why The New Moral Army has taken her parents and what she can do to save them. Meanwhile, rival Morgan struggles to find her place among her peers. With Bedivere’s life hanging in the balance, a conflicted Arthur does what he can to keep the The Round Table alive.
Knowing that her only chance to save her parents is to discover more about the terrorist cell Free Countries, Gwenhwyfar searches for their leader. She must also navigate new dynamics: her wish for Arthur and Lancelot to make amends may soon one she regrets. With the New Nationals infringing on rights and a general election fast approaching, this is the thrilling second book to volume one of The Future King series.
515 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2020
1 person is currently reading
18 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 1, 2021
This second installment in the series starts with a stabbing. The main characters are unsettled by this, and thus they are thrown off kilter from the beginning, sometimes obscuring, other times magnifying the nefarious agenda of the new authoritarian government and its various enforcement branches. The portions dealing with the government—the interactions with Richard Morris and Principal Ravioli—are powerful and will remind you of past evil regimes, like a pre-war Nazi Germany. Yet it also has many modern aspects to it, many of which reflect the attitudes and fears of 2020: democratic governments embracing oppressive methods, protests, and secret courts. The plot also expands on the bombing that took place at the end of the previous book, with Gwen’s parents ensnared as alleged culprits. This forces Gwen, Arthur and Lancelot to thread a needle between oppositionist sentiments and cooperation with the authorities. These hardships are weaved into the fabric of teenage life as they close their school year and prepare for advancing into college. The “Mean Girls” vibe I noted in the first book was mostly absent from the first half, but returned in full force in the second half. There are many sections devoted to the relationships between the characters, and while they deepen Lancelot and Morgan in particular, they are the glue that holds the plot together, guiding it forward on the contrails of emotions. The book offers a sobering glimpse into how everyday life would be twisted by the machinations of an oppressive government.
May 21, 2020
I read the first book in this dystopian series in early May and moved straight onto the second book, only recently published. My overall rating is probably closer to 3.5 stars but taken together with the first book and the interesting series premise that has been set up, I have settled on the 4 stars.
There was a lot going on in this second volume:
Plot - this moved swiftly in certain sections. The parts of the book that dealt with the increasingly suppressive New Morals regime was very well done and was eerie and unsettling. The action elements came suddenly and therefore had greater shock value (e.g. the violence during the London protest; the shooting incident). At first I thought this wasn't very credible, then on reflection, I thought this might be exactly how such a thing might play out. Occasionally the plot dragged - e.g. in sections where the focus was solely on the relationships between the characters (I couldn't see the need for Viola's party for instance, or for the chapter entitled 'The Sphere').
Characters - again the focus is on Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot, as to be expected in a novel drawing heavily on Arthurian legend. Arthur is more fully drawn in this book and there are hints of how he is going to develop as the king/leader figure we might expect. Lancelot is also fleshed out - with far less scowling and a bit more psychological background. And while I have trouble liking Gwen (as a heroine she is fairly self-centered and her pursuit of Lancelot, whilst expected, does nothing for reader sympathy) she is the main protagonist who drives the story forward. I would still like to see a little more of Morgan (she has a POV here but it is limited) and Marvin (Merlin) still feels rather remote - it's hard to get a clear picture of him.
Style - there is some good writing here. I particularly liked the evocative descriptions of weather and atmosphere - this added to the overall feeling of anxiety and unease hanging over the teenagers as they try to go about their 'normal' lives. On occasion, there was too much description of the prosaic, e.g. characters moving between parts of the school - it's not needed and slows the narrative down.
There were one or two areas that didn't work for me at all. Firstly, it's hard to believe that 15-year-old Gwen could outwit/outthink someone like Nadia, who is in her fifties. Equally, her interaction with the Alpha doesn't quite ring true. Secondly, Gwen's grief over the loss of her father isn't really felt by the reader (or at least, not this reader) - I think this is because the relationship between Gwen and her parents wasn't strongly drawn in the first book.
There was a lot going on in this second volume:
Plot - this moved swiftly in certain sections. The parts of the book that dealt with the increasingly suppressive New Morals regime was very well done and was eerie and unsettling. The action elements came suddenly and therefore had greater shock value (e.g. the violence during the London protest; the shooting incident). At first I thought this wasn't very credible, then on reflection, I thought this might be exactly how such a thing might play out. Occasionally the plot dragged - e.g. in sections where the focus was solely on the relationships between the characters (I couldn't see the need for Viola's party for instance, or for the chapter entitled 'The Sphere').
Characters - again the focus is on Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot, as to be expected in a novel drawing heavily on Arthurian legend. Arthur is more fully drawn in this book and there are hints of how he is going to develop as the king/leader figure we might expect. Lancelot is also fleshed out - with far less scowling and a bit more psychological background. And while I have trouble liking Gwen (as a heroine she is fairly self-centered and her pursuit of Lancelot, whilst expected, does nothing for reader sympathy) she is the main protagonist who drives the story forward. I would still like to see a little more of Morgan (she has a POV here but it is limited) and Marvin (Merlin) still feels rather remote - it's hard to get a clear picture of him.
Style - there is some good writing here. I particularly liked the evocative descriptions of weather and atmosphere - this added to the overall feeling of anxiety and unease hanging over the teenagers as they try to go about their 'normal' lives. On occasion, there was too much description of the prosaic, e.g. characters moving between parts of the school - it's not needed and slows the narrative down.
There were one or two areas that didn't work for me at all. Firstly, it's hard to believe that 15-year-old Gwen could outwit/outthink someone like Nadia, who is in her fifties. Equally, her interaction with the Alpha doesn't quite ring true. Secondly, Gwen's grief over the loss of her father isn't really felt by the reader (or at least, not this reader) - I think this is because the relationship between Gwen and her parents wasn't strongly drawn in the first book.
November 2, 2021
Great dystopian young adult fiction at a frighteningly-appropriate time in history.
In Book I, we're introduced to a cast of high-school age characters grappling with every day concerns appropriate for their age--what to wear, parties, crushes, gossip, first sexual experiences, self-esteem issues, plans for the future, etc. As the book progresses, however, a dark pallor descends on their carefree world, changing the tone considerably; this is especially true for our heroine, Gwenhwyfar, whose parents are abducted by the government in a cliff-hanger ending.
In Book II, the world grows darker still. Right off the bat, our friends are dealing with the near murder of someone in their close circle. Gwenhwyfar, now essentially orphaned, must go to live with her aunt and uncle. She realizes her parents are not coming home anytime soon--or, worse, perhaps never will. She must face the fact that the adults she thought she could rely on are utterly unable to protect her and can to nothing to free her parents. All the while, the political party in power continues to tighten its grip, choking out freedom by freedom in the name of "public safety." All seems hopeless. The author does a frighteningly-good job of portraying a daily life where free speech and personal liberty are in imminent danger and too few are sounding the alarm.
And yet, there is always hope. In the character of Martin Caledensis, we're reminded there will always be quiet, diligent people in the world who will strive to do the right thing. Marvin holds invite-only "Round Table" meetings at his house with a select group of students, where they freely discuss banned literature, forbidden subjects at school, and the current political situation. He encourages them to attend protests and make a stand for what they believe in. As the government becomes increasingly violent, however, he advises caution and ceases to hold meetings any longer, adding to everyone's fear that they are fighting an unwinnable war.
Without anyone to champion them, our young friends are forced to be resourceful on their own, taking matters into their own hands and growing as they do so.
To boot, the author is excellent at word-painting, pulling you into each scene with just the right amount of detail and dialogue. The editing, as well, especially for a self-published novel, was pristine.
A great read.
In Book I, we're introduced to a cast of high-school age characters grappling with every day concerns appropriate for their age--what to wear, parties, crushes, gossip, first sexual experiences, self-esteem issues, plans for the future, etc. As the book progresses, however, a dark pallor descends on their carefree world, changing the tone considerably; this is especially true for our heroine, Gwenhwyfar, whose parents are abducted by the government in a cliff-hanger ending.
In Book II, the world grows darker still. Right off the bat, our friends are dealing with the near murder of someone in their close circle. Gwenhwyfar, now essentially orphaned, must go to live with her aunt and uncle. She realizes her parents are not coming home anytime soon--or, worse, perhaps never will. She must face the fact that the adults she thought she could rely on are utterly unable to protect her and can to nothing to free her parents. All the while, the political party in power continues to tighten its grip, choking out freedom by freedom in the name of "public safety." All seems hopeless. The author does a frighteningly-good job of portraying a daily life where free speech and personal liberty are in imminent danger and too few are sounding the alarm.
And yet, there is always hope. In the character of Martin Caledensis, we're reminded there will always be quiet, diligent people in the world who will strive to do the right thing. Marvin holds invite-only "Round Table" meetings at his house with a select group of students, where they freely discuss banned literature, forbidden subjects at school, and the current political situation. He encourages them to attend protests and make a stand for what they believe in. As the government becomes increasingly violent, however, he advises caution and ceases to hold meetings any longer, adding to everyone's fear that they are fighting an unwinnable war.
Without anyone to champion them, our young friends are forced to be resourceful on their own, taking matters into their own hands and growing as they do so.
To boot, the author is excellent at word-painting, pulling you into each scene with just the right amount of detail and dialogue. The editing, as well, especially for a self-published novel, was pristine.
A great read.
July 10, 2020
In the second episode, fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar finds herself in deepening waters. Her parents are being held by the brilliantly-named ‘New Moral Army’, the secret police in a near-future Britain under the sway of a quasi-fascist prime minster. Gwen’s own freedom relies on co-operating with the state to find the leaders of the extremists allegedly responsible for the terrorist bombing in the first book. Gwenhwyfar is nobody’s pawn though, and sets out to find the truth with the aid of a group of schoolfriend, calling themselves The Round Table.
On top of this dystopian nightmare Gwenhwyfar must negotiate growing up, supporting and being supported by friends , dealing with ugly rumours at school, and her increasingly physical relationship with boyfriend Arthur (warning, contains scenes of a sexual nature…) – not helped by the machinations of Arthur’s vengeful ex, Morgan. Everything is threatened by Gwen’s growing feelings for Arthur’s on/off friend Lancelot, feelings which seem to be are equally strong on his side, and which threaten to destroy her friendship group.
Everyone in the Round Table is impacted in different ways as the government tightens it grip, and much of the action takes place at a series of teenage parties and entertainments which are overshadowed by waves of protest and government crackdown. Should Gwen choose open resistance, marching with demonstrators and risking trouble, or act secretly? What will happen if they do find the supposed terrorist leader?
Logres 2 effectively blends everyday life and adolescent love with sleuthing and dealing with terrorist cells. The main characters are distinctive and well-defined, although the supporting cast is at times bewildering, and Gwen’s world is at once immediately recognisable and chillingly different. Looking forward to seeing everything resolved in the third episode!
On top of this dystopian nightmare Gwenhwyfar must negotiate growing up, supporting and being supported by friends , dealing with ugly rumours at school, and her increasingly physical relationship with boyfriend Arthur (warning, contains scenes of a sexual nature…) – not helped by the machinations of Arthur’s vengeful ex, Morgan. Everything is threatened by Gwen’s growing feelings for Arthur’s on/off friend Lancelot, feelings which seem to be are equally strong on his side, and which threaten to destroy her friendship group.
Everyone in the Round Table is impacted in different ways as the government tightens it grip, and much of the action takes place at a series of teenage parties and entertainments which are overshadowed by waves of protest and government crackdown. Should Gwen choose open resistance, marching with demonstrators and risking trouble, or act secretly? What will happen if they do find the supposed terrorist leader?
Logres 2 effectively blends everyday life and adolescent love with sleuthing and dealing with terrorist cells. The main characters are distinctive and well-defined, although the supporting cast is at times bewildering, and Gwen’s world is at once immediately recognisable and chillingly different. Looking forward to seeing everything resolved in the third episode!
January 30, 2023
4 ⭐️
The second book of this series was a huge improvement.
Plot
New National, the party in power, is gaining ground. The New Moral Army, their new anti-extremism unit, poses a menace to everyone who opposes the government. 2053 has come, and things are getting gloomier in Britain.
The New Moral Army has kidnapped Gwenhwyfar's parents, and she must figure out why and how to intervene to save them. A troubled Arthur does his best to save The Round Table while Bedivere's life is on the line.
Gwenhwyfar looks for the terrorist group's leader after realizing that the only way to save her parents is to learn more about the terrorist group Free Countries.
The plot of this book was better than the previous one and I think this book was more focused on the problems of the country. I think it was also more fast-paced than the first novel.
Characters
Gwenhwyfar
I liked her in this one. She grows a lot in this novel, probably because of everything that happened to her. I love how she is trying to fight for a better world and a better future and she doesn't want to give up.
Lancelot
Lancelot was more developed in this book and I really love him. Again he is a very complex character and I love how he grows and how the author gave him more time. I think he is one of the best characters of the whole book. I hope I can see more of him in the next book.
Arthur
He was better in this book than the other, but I would love to see more flaws in him. I think he was a bit too perfect in this book, but he isn't a bad character.
Viola, Gavin, Bedivere, Tom and Emily
I love Gwenhwyfar and her group of friends. They are really great. I love their relationships and I love how much the author developed them in this book. Everyone has amazing and different personalities and I love how much they try to help and support each other.
Marvin
Marvin and the sessions of the Round Table was one of the best part of the novel. I really like him and I'm interest to see his arc.
Morgan
Morgan also has more time and I actually like her. She was more developed in this book. She is also very complex and I think she is still very mysterious. I hope I can see more of her.
Writing
The writing is better. Kept me engaging the whole and it was very solid, but I prefer her writing here.
World-Building
The reader sees more of UK and its politics. I really like how the author developed the atmosphere of the country and the politics. It is very interesting.
Romance
The love triangle still continues and I have the same opinion. I prefer Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot. I prefer their dynamic and I still think they have way more chemistry than Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. I really hope Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot can be together in the end.
Final Thoughts
I cannot wait to read the third book and see what will happen next with these characters.
The second book of this series was a huge improvement.
Plot
New National, the party in power, is gaining ground. The New Moral Army, their new anti-extremism unit, poses a menace to everyone who opposes the government. 2053 has come, and things are getting gloomier in Britain.
The New Moral Army has kidnapped Gwenhwyfar's parents, and she must figure out why and how to intervene to save them. A troubled Arthur does his best to save The Round Table while Bedivere's life is on the line.
Gwenhwyfar looks for the terrorist group's leader after realizing that the only way to save her parents is to learn more about the terrorist group Free Countries.
The plot of this book was better than the previous one and I think this book was more focused on the problems of the country. I think it was also more fast-paced than the first novel.
Characters
Gwenhwyfar
I liked her in this one. She grows a lot in this novel, probably because of everything that happened to her. I love how she is trying to fight for a better world and a better future and she doesn't want to give up.
Lancelot
Lancelot was more developed in this book and I really love him. Again he is a very complex character and I love how he grows and how the author gave him more time. I think he is one of the best characters of the whole book. I hope I can see more of him in the next book.
Arthur
He was better in this book than the other, but I would love to see more flaws in him. I think he was a bit too perfect in this book, but he isn't a bad character.
Viola, Gavin, Bedivere, Tom and Emily
I love Gwenhwyfar and her group of friends. They are really great. I love their relationships and I love how much the author developed them in this book. Everyone has amazing and different personalities and I love how much they try to help and support each other.
Marvin
Marvin and the sessions of the Round Table was one of the best part of the novel. I really like him and I'm interest to see his arc.
Morgan
Morgan also has more time and I actually like her. She was more developed in this book. She is also very complex and I think she is still very mysterious. I hope I can see more of her.
Writing
The writing is better. Kept me engaging the whole and it was very solid, but I prefer her writing here.
World-Building
The reader sees more of UK and its politics. I really like how the author developed the atmosphere of the country and the politics. It is very interesting.
Romance
The love triangle still continues and I have the same opinion. I prefer Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot. I prefer their dynamic and I still think they have way more chemistry than Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. I really hope Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot can be together in the end.
Final Thoughts
I cannot wait to read the third book and see what will happen next with these characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews