Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights

by Siryn Sueng, Cara Aisling

There was no reason for Arthur to think he would ever become king.

A peasant and son of a baker, Arthur grew up in the castle town of Camelot. When he attended the Choosing Ceremony, it was merely to see who would draw the Holy Sword, Excalibur—to see who would inherit the throne of the recently departed King Uther. He never expected the sword would choose him…

But it did.

Now, at the young age of fourteen, he has become King Arthur, and for all the power he has gained, he has made just as many enemies. Surrounded by the Knights of the Round Table, and led by the mysterious mage, Merlin, Arthur is grateful for his allies, though he would just as soon return to his old life. Surely, someone more worthy should be chosen as king.

Arthur is in the middle of chaos, a world where everyone wants more than they let on, where many hate the idea of a young boy with no noble background being crowned king; where cold stares and whispered words are just as sharp as an assassin’s blade.

As Arthur fends for his life, he must draw on the strength of his knights, especially fifteen-year-old Mordred, who becomes closer to him than the mere bounds of duty. He must become king, not just in name, but in his heart.

And he must do it quickly, because his enemies want more than just his crown…

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, M M Romance, Historical

280 pages, ebook

Published September 18, 2020

About the author

Also know as Cara Aisling


Siryn Sueng is a writer of fantasy, paranormal, and even Sci-Fi genres. She’s married to a wonderful husband with a minion of two years. They have a full house with three adorable fur babies, Anubis -the mighty cat hunter- Kida -the momma bear- and Mishka -the loveable husky-.


Siryn is a lover of games on a wide range of platforms. She plays on the PC, console, and hand-held devices including the phone. Japan is where she would love to visit sometime and is a huge inspiration to many of her projects. She’s a huge fan of Japan, including manga and anime. Siryn has even begun to dabble in comic/manga script writing. Future works in this will be posted on WebToon.

Reviews

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

so i wasnt sure about this at first because i just wasn't in the mood for YA... but i decided to give it a try and im glad i did.. it was really good... it was an easy read.. it was fun and made me laugh and smile.. the emotions made me feel with them.. it was a different take on the story of king arthur... i didnt expect to like it as much as i did and i thought it was well written. it was cute.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is the first part in a series, I was impressed by the reinterpretation of the classic story. When you meet Arthur, he's trying to prevent is cousin from being executed for impersonating a knight when Arthur accidentally pulls the sword from the stone. From that point, you are taken on a whirlwind adventure where Arthur tries to find his footing as King, live through assassination attempts, tries to be a just and fair king, and makes friends and possibly more in his new, chaotic world. The book pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let you go. I loved getting to know Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and Merlin, among others. This is a must read and I can't wait for the rest of the series!!

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for Gay Book Promotions for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been looking for a gay Arthurian legends story. I love hearing stories of King Arthur and his Round table. Growing up, I never watched the show Merlin and I really want to get to that. This book took a gay approach to the Arthurian legends and I might actually love this retelling more than the real version, to be honest. Everyone knows that Arthur is supposed to fall for Guinevere and I wasn't really a fan of that. But here Arthur is gay and his love interest seems more interesting than the original story. I like how Arthur is only a teenager and this series is going to span over his teenage years as he becomes a powerful king.

Characters (8.5)
I think I really liked Arthur's character development throughout the story. I knew that he would definitely improve and become stronger as a person. I just had to wait for that moment and I had to be patient. I also had to remind myself constantly that Arthur was only 14 and 14 years old teenagers will not grow up quickly and it will take time for him to become kingly. I think that it was worth the wait because I really like how Arthur is now more protective of his knights and his kingdom. I really like the relationship development between him and the knights. I think that there is going to be more trust between them as they grow and it's going to be worth it. I really liked Mordred as well because he was much closer in age with Arthur and their love for each other made sense. At first, I thought that the love interest would be Merlin because he was more of my type and I wanted him to be with Arthur, but I guess I am fine with Mordred. I love how protective Arthur and Mordred are of each other and it's great. I also want more of Merlin because I really like when he is there and everything just gets better. So far I would say that I don't have a favorite character yet!

Atmosphere (8)
I think that the risk of Arthur dying was really serious. I knew that Arthur would get threatened by the others and it happened. Arthur almost died in every attack and I just wonder how Arthur was able to survive all the attacks because he basically has no training. I guess that is why Excalibur chose him because he would at least stay alive and become the king that he is meant to be. I really liked the climax of the story where there was a lot of action and I liked how the book was ended at the end.

Writing (8)
The writing was okay and I was able to understand everything, but I guess I was expecting more description and more flowery writing because this book takes place in a medieval setting. But I was able to get used to Sueng's writing and I didn't really have anything bad to point out at the end. I think she did a great job getting into Arthur's head and the way she wrote is similar to how I write and I really could understand well.

Plot (8)
The last part of the book surprised me because there was a little reveal of a character and I didn't expect that to happen, so I really liked how this book ended. I was satisfied with how everything went and even though there weren't many big plot twists, I was able to enjoy the story. I really enjoyed the scene with Mordred and Arthur. I wasn't expecting Mordred to kiss Arthur suddenly because I didn't see it coming at all and I was happy that it happened. I thought that maybe Mordred wasn't going to be Arthur's love interest, but he ended up being his love interest.

Intrigue (8)
I wasn't super interested in what was going to happen next but I intended to finish this book quickly because I think reading this quickly would suit the pace of the story because it's a fast-paced story overall. There is action one after another.

Logic (8)
Most of the magic system made sense and I liked the world, but I wanted a little bit more of the magic and more of the world as well.

Enjoyment (8.5)
I enjoyed this book enough to actually read the sequel when it comes out! I really like the retelling of Arthur and it's really hard to find the retelling that I really enjoy. The last Arthurian retelling I read was Legendborn and it didn't have the Arthurian legend that I wanted. This book did the retelling so well and I am excited for the next book in the series!

[Evie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

So right off the bat I’d like to say that I absolutely loved this book. From the concept (I’m a sucker for a good medieval times based storyline) to the characters to the magic system I loved it. Now onto the nitty gritty.

First I enjoyed Arthurs relationships with the other characters, Not just Mordred but Elias and Lancelot as well. Reading their relationship and seeing it progress to the point where Arthur felt comfortable enough with Elias where he vents to him was cute. Having someone in your corner is important and I’m glad Arthur has that relationship. Likewise his heart to heart with Lancelot was also very touching. Again, having him confide in his peer and this older boy about his sort of tumultuous relationship with

(spoiler**)

Mordred was both incredibly awkward but tooth-achingly sweet. Seeing him open up more to his knights made me smile.

(spoiler**)

So about Arthur himself; I liked him. I like that he is kind hearted. That he’s quick to forgive and help others but is also willing to do what he knows is needed. I feel that he is still somewhat naive (you can’t really blame him though he’s young asf) ,especially when it comes to his family *cough* *cough* that little POS Illian *cough* *cough*, but for the most part he carries out his duties as King. His progression of courage and his accepting of his role as King made me proud. In those moments (I won’t specify don’t wanna spoil) I felt like a proud mother.

I’m not going to lie. Reading the ages of the characters threw me for a loop the first time but I got over it. I did not expect them to be so close in age or so young. I think it’s mostly because the way the Knights are described make them sound like grown men meanwhile Arthur is described as and even referred to as a mear boy. But the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Their upbringings put the Knights leagues above Arthur both in mental maturity and physical capability and appearance.

Now about the magic, one of my favorite parts of this story. The magic system here and the way different magic users have different classifications was really interesting. Druids, Sorcerers and Mages each having different abilities and aspects of magic they are simply unable to do made me wonder if there were any other type of magic users in this world. Making Merlin have limitations and not this all powerful being capable of defeating any foe was a nice touch as well. I like characters with limitations. Also this is kind of off topic BUT I loved Merlin's multiple flaming swords. It reminds me of one of the interpretations of an angel in the Bible. In a way Merlin is Arthur's guardian angel :)

While we’re talking about Merlin I’d just like to make it clear that he is most certainly my FAVORITE CHARACTER. Firstly, he sounds hot as sin itself (you really do have a way with words Author those descriptions did things to me haha). Secondly, I love his personality. I love aloof, playful characters. Thirdly, I love how he’s clearly a man thats good at his craft. He’s powerful, but not overpoweringly so he has his limits, and he’s a great mage. All this is why I’m really curious about his relationship with Morgan. I feel like there is history there. Maybe not a relationship like lovers but definitely some sort of familiarity. Or maybe I’m just reading too into this I don’t know.

All in all this is a good read. I would recommend it. If you’re worried because it’s a historical fiction piece and you don’t want to deal with the political mumbo jumbo, don’t be. The author really breaks it down in the simplest terms. Politics does play an important role in the book but not overwhelmingly so and it really does drive the plot forward. This is a good read

[Melissa Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received an advanced copy of this book to read, I thought it would be a great way to pass the time during my 14-day quarantine. Well, now I need another book to read. I couldn’t put this down! I read it in one day, only taking short breaks because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
You so quickly get pulled into Arthur’s head and his struggle to accept who he is. His character is so relatable, so believable, and you immediately fall in love with him and want to see him succeed. There were also times when I just wanted to wrap him up and protect him.
I also love how the author wrote Merlin as someone other than an old, bearded man. I immediately became attached to his sass, and you just know there’s more going on with him than he’s telling.
The pacing of this book is excellent. You get drawn in so fast, get attached to the characters so deeply that this story sticks with you long after you put it down. I can’t wait for the next one in the series!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

0/5 spice

Queer normative world
Queer male MC
Queer male SC

CW: assassination attempts, death, killing, attempted sexual assault (background character)

[Karolina Cebula · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Uther's death opens the way to be promoted for many people who dream of the highest position in the country and taking the deceased king's place on the throne of Camelot. All you need to do is take the magic sword out of the stone as it will choose the new king. During the Ceremony, Arthur, the baker's young son, accidentally takes out the sword. No one else managed to do it so Arthur becomes the next king of Camelot. However, the problem is that the boy never planned to take such a position, he thinks he's not fit to be king, and to make matters worse, the knights have similar doubts about him. Unfortunately, this is not the end of the problems of the future ruler, as has to deal with not only his own feelings, but also with assassins, traitors and responsibility for the country.

"Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights" is the first volume in "King Arthur Series" by Siryn Sueng. As the titles of the book and the series suggest, it is a novel that refers to the classics and actually has a lot in common with it, although the story of the legendary King Arthur known to us is slightly modified, which arouses the reader's interest and gives the author the opportunity to shape the story in any way. In fact, I liked it very much, especially when it comes to the beginning and the Ceremony during which the daredevil has to remove the sword from the stone. Sure, we all know this part of the legend, and although most of the authors try to add a new twist to the story, this theme is so distinctive and unique that it awakens melancholic memories from my childhood, when I was just getting to know Arthur and his knights. So I fell in love with the aforementioned Ceremony and I am very grateful to Siryn Sueng for reminding me how important this element of the legend and the story is to me and to King Arthur himself.

But what about Artur? What kind of character is he? How did Siryn Sueng shape him? Let's start with the fact that our Artur is young. Very young. He is merely a teenager who is tormented by extreme emotions, great doubts, good intentions, fear of challenges and the life that suddenly opens up to him. I would say that he is true in all of this, which is due to the author who managed to portray a young, well-behaved commoner boy as a young, well-behaved commoner boy who suddenly cannot find himself in his new role that scares him. It seems equally important to me that Arthur, along with the development of the story presented in "Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights", grows up to his new role, duties and tasks facing the new king. Thus, the novel takes on bildungsroman elements, which in the case of books about young characters and those for young readers is extremely important. Thus, Artur and his creation are the great advantages of this novel.

I would like to write a few more words about the vibe of the whole novel and the way it was written. It is important because "Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights" refers to very distant times, to the times of King Arthur. In the case of novels for an older audience, we could expect a language that to some extent would reflect the past. Nevertheless, in this case, the main recipients of the novel are rather young people, who can identify with the characters, so the language used is more contemporary. It is similar with the vibe of the presented story. Admittedly, it reflects the medieval times, but the past is not "painted" so clearly as to pose a problem for the young reader, which I consider to be really important. What does this mean for older readers? Well, we just notice the said nuances of the language and vibe and find the story easier to read. That's all.

To sum up, "Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights" is an interesting novel that will appeal to both younger and older readers. In this story we can see how an ordinary boy grows up to become a king and we see how this legend is born. We all need books like this one at times both in our adult life, and certainly when we are young and look for our representation in literature.

_______________________

Śmierć Króla Uthera wielu osobom otwiera drogę do awansu na najwyższe stanowisko, jakim jest zajęcie miejsca zmarłego na tronie Camelotu. Wystarczy tylko wyjąć z kamienia magiczny miecz, który sam dokona wyboru nowego króla. Podczas Ceremonii Arthur, młody syn piekarki, przypadkiem wyjmuje miecz, co nie udało się nikomu innemu i tym samym zostaje kolejnym królem Camelotu. Problem jednak w tym, że chłopak nigdy nie planował zajmować takiego stanowiska, nie widzi w sobie materiału na króla, a na domiar złego podobne wątpliwości mają co do jego osoby rycerze. Niestety to nie koniec problemów przyszłego władcy, który musi poradzić sobie jakoś nie tylko ze swoimi uczuciami, ale także z asasynami, zdrajcami oraz odpowiedzialnością za kraj.

„Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights” to pierwszy tom „King Arthur Series” autorstwa Siryn Sueng. Już jak sama nazwa wskazuje, jest to powieść, która nawiązuje do klasyki i rzeczywiście ma z nią wiele wspólnego, chociaż jednocześnie znana nam historia legendarnego Króla Artura zostaje lekko zmodyfikowana, co rozbudza zainteresowanie czytelnika oraz daje autorowi możliwość formowania historii w dowolny sposób. Prawdę mówiąc, bardzo mi się to spodobało, szczególnie jeśli chodzi o początek i ceremonię, podczas której śmiałek musi wyjąć miecz z kamienia. Jasne, wszyscy znamy tę część legendy i chociaż w większości autorzy starają się dodać legendzie nowego wydźwięku, ten motyw jest tak charakterystyczny i wyjątkowy, że przepełnia mnie melancholią wspomnień z okresu dzieciństwa, kiedy to dopiero poznawałam Artura i jego rycerzy. Zakochałam się więc we wspomnianej Ceremonii i jestem bardzo wdzięczna Siryn Sueng, że przypomniała mi jak ważny dla mnie oraz dla samego Króla Artura jest ten właśnie element legendy i jego historii.

A co z Arturem? Jakim jest bohaterem? Jakim ukształtowała go Siryn Sueng? Zacznijmy od tego, że nasz Artur jest młody. Bardzo młody. To zaledwie nastolatek, którym targają skrajne emocje, wielkie wątpliwości, dobre chęci, strach przed wyzwaniami i życiem, które nagle się przed nim otwiera. Powiedziałabym, że jest w tym wszystkim prawdziwy, co jest zasługą autorki, której udało się przedstawić młodego, ułożonego chłopca z plebsu, jako młodego, ułożonego chłopca z plebsu, który nagle nie może odnaleźć się w swojej nowej roli, która go przeraża. Równie istotny wydaje mi się fakt, iż Artur w miarę rozwoju przedstawionej w „Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights” historii dorasta do swojej nowej roli, do obowiązków i zadań, które stoją przed nowym królem. Tym samym, powieść nabiera elementów bildungsroman, co w przypadku książek o młodych bohaterach oraz tych dla młodych czytelników jest naprawdę bardzo ważne. Tym samym, Artur oraz jego kreacja są dużymi zaletami tej powieści.

Kilka słów chciałabym napisać jeszcze o klimacie całej powieści oraz sposobie, w jaki została napisana. Jest to o tyle istotne, że „Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights” nawiązuje do czasów bardzo odległych, do czasów Króla Artura. W przypadku powieści dla starszego odbiorcy, moglibyśmy spodziewać się więc języka, który w pewnym stopniu nawiązywałby do przeszłości. Niemniej jednak, w tym przypadku głównymi odbiorcami powieści są osoby raczej młode, które mogą identyfikować się z bohaterami, toteż użyty język jest bardziej współczesny. Podobnie jest z klimatem przedstawionej historii. Wprawdzie odnosi się do zamierzchłych czasów, ale nie są one nakreślone tak dobitnie, aby stanowiło to problem dla młodego czytelnika, co uważam za naprawdę istotne. A co oznacza to dla starszych? Prawdę mówiąc niewiele. Po prostu zauważamy te niuanse i łatwiej się nam tę powieść czyta.

Podsumowując, „Young King Arthur And The Round Table Knights” to interesująca powieść, która spodoba się zarówno młodszym, jak i starszym czytelnikom. Zobaczymy w niej, w jaki sposób zwykły chłopak dorasta do roli króla i jak rodzi się legenda. Książek takich jak ta każdy z nas potrzebuje czasami w życiu dorosłym, a już na pewno, gdy jest się młodym, poszukującym swojego miejsca w literaturze czytelnikiem.

[M.E. Aster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights was a fun read that I think people of any ages can enjoy.

I’ve always loved King Arthur retelling, and I was excited to read this one since I knew it had an LGBTQ+ twist. The author did a great job making the world of King Arthur their own and I loved how they wrote the characters, especially Merlin, he was my favorite.

On the other hand I was so excited for the romance that I found myself a bit disappointed that it wasn’t the main focus of the story. It was teased at then took a backseat until the end of the story which is totally fine. I was just hoping that it would play a bigger role in things since I’m a huge sucker for romance.

But overall this was a lovely story. I think all fans of YA fantasy will definitely enjoy this and I appreciated reading a retelling where Arthur is gay. I’m looking forward to more by this author!

[Dieter Moitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: This book was provided by Deep hearts YA for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Siryn Sueng offers a new take on the story of the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, focusing in this first book of her series on the king’s coming to the throne and the first, troublesome months of his rule. In Sueng’s book Arthur, fourteen-year-old son of a bakerwoman, is living in the castle town of Camelot when King Uther Pendragon dies. At once, the Choosing of the new king begins. The late king’s mystical-magical sword Excalibur is thrust into an anvil, the knights of the realm asked to try to remove it; only if the sword chooses no one amongst them may the commons have a got at it, too. Arthur, standing in the crowd, notices his cousin Illian, disguised as a knight, queuing up with the other nobles. Knowing that it is a crime punishable by death to impersonate a knight, Arthur tries to prevent Illian from touching the sword… trips over his own feet, grabs the sword, and pulls it out of the anvil. Excalibur has chosen him—the fourteen-year-old commoner.

The late king’s mighty main counselor Merlin the mage immediately whisks Arthur off to the castle, where he has to find a way to fit into this new and unexpected role. King of a powerful realm! Leader of the Knights of the Round Table (including all the usual suspects - Lancelot, Percival, Gawain, Galahad, Tristan, and Mordred)! Arthur has a hard time coming to terms with this new reality. Luckily, he has his young page Elias, about his age, who helps him digest the news; Merlin turns out to be a gentle and reassuring presence, too. But almost at once, Arthur is attacked in his own room and only barely manages to survive. From then on, it’s assassination attempt upon assassination attempt, by means of a snake, by direct attack, by poison, by magic even… Who is his enemy? Who wants Arthur dead? Can it be Morgause, the ruler of Tintagenel? Her creepy son? One of the other, disdainful and untrusting lords? An unknown druid? Morgan Le Fey, ruthless and powerful sorceress? As if all that weren’t hard enough, Arthur discovers that between him and handsome Mordred there might be much more than the mere loyalty between a king and his knight. The fanciful Choosing of the new king becomes a fight for his life and fight for his love…

I admit I was quite excited when I received this book even if I feared it might look pale compared to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s fantasy classic “The Mists of Avalon”, one of my most favorite books ever. Alas, yes, “Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights”, while having its sweet moments, showed some weaknesses. The worldbuilding, so powerful in Zimmer Bradley’s take on this legend, was almost absent. I was hardly able to build a vivid image of the castle layout, the surroundings, let alone the times the story is set in. Anachronistic wordings didn’t help; for instance, Elias, the page, asked Arthur at one moment of self-doubt, “Did you want to talk about it?” like a concerned friend might do today. Or Gawain said to Illian (imprisoned for his attempt of impersonating a knight), “I wouldn’t be surprised if he [i.e. Arthur] throws you under the guillotine…” The gibbet, I might have accepted; the guillotine (the term is derived from Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who lived in France… in the 18th century!), no, sorry. Add to that that there were other clumsily written passages (“the more they talked, the more insecure the tension […] grew”—either the talkers grew insecure, or the tension grew; both together don’t make much sense; or, “their voices were high-pitched as they gasped”—how is that even possible?). Add to that the implausible fact that after Arthur’s Choosing, the realm was supposed to be ruled by a bunch of teenagers (the Knights of the Round Table, to my utter surprise, were between fourteen and nineteen years old), unaided by any elder statesman or senior counselor (Merlin seems to be in his twenties, too). Add to that the fact that the romantic tension between Arthur and Mordred arose because one is king and the other man his knight—not, as I had expected, because a gay love story would have been frowned upon back then (“frowned upon” being a weak way to say both would probably have been killed instantly)…

And yet. I had my niggles throughout the read, I had my reservations as to the plot, I didn’t get as much worldbuilding as I would have liked, but not once did it occur to me that I could simply close the book in midread. Worse, I realized I really wanted to know what would happen next, and then the chapter after, and then… I have to say I was drawn in by the sweet blooming of love between Arthur and Mordred. By the young king desperately trying to grow into his crushing role as ruler and leader of a kingdom. By the fierce loyalty some of the knights showed from the start (personally, I would rather have fallen in love with Lancelot or olive-skinned Percival than Mordred, but to each one his taste…). By how Arthur managed to win over the more reluctant ones. By Merlin wielding magic left, right, and center—those who know me are aware I’m a big fan of fantasy books where magical activity is shown. In fact, when all is said and done, I swept through the book in no time and noticed that, despite the faults I found, I was enjoying the read, feeling highly entertained. And that, I guess, is better than the highest praise.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute Arthurian legend retelling, with a very reluctant Arthur pulling Excalibur and being thrust into the position of King without really knowing what to do. I would probably put it more in MG than YA, which doesn’t usually work for me, but despite this not being one hundred percent my cup of tea, I honestly couldn’t put it down. If you’re a fan of the original legend, you’ll enjoy seeing a lot of familiar names, but I think the author did a good job of making all the characters her own and providing a unique story.

[Rhiannon D'Averc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights by Siryn Sueng

I basically grew up on the Arthurian myth and I've read a ton of different adaptations, so it's no surprise that I was keen to pick this one up. And it does give a twist on the legend: this time, Arthur is just a young boy, but he's also gay, and quite attracted to one of his knights from the beginning.

One thing to note from the off about this book is that though the MC and supporting cast are said to be aged 14 to 19, they all act older. Given that it's a regular choice throughout the text for a 15-year-old to be described as a man, I gave up on keeping it straight in my head and allowed myself to picture them as more early twenties. I found that a lot more comfortable and easy to get through! I definitely don't want to read about a 14-year-old having sex, but the good news it doesn't go that far.

The tale turns into an enjoyable rout as Arthur must face a new enemy head-on immediately after taking the throne. A number of assassination attempts evolve into a quest that thrusts Arthur into more danger and ramps up the pace.

Several times I found myself racing ahead when I'd promised myself I would stop at the end of the next chapter - I just had to know what was next. I'll be looking out for the next book in this series as I would definitely like to read it.

Loved: The traditional and recognisable elements of the myth, from knights to druids and everything between.

Liked: The character development makes Arthur someone you really want to root for.

Disliked: I think I would have enjoyed it more if the characters were maybe 5 years older.

Burning Question: What's up with Merlin? He seems kind of shady at some points, though that might just be me...

I received a free ARC copy of this book but my review is my genuine opinion.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very different take on King Arthur. It’s very original, and not one I’ve read before and I’ve read a LOT of Arthurian stories. I think it has a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes.

I must admit though, I did struggle at first with how far off the legend it is with Arthur becoming King after his knights and the round table are already established. However, I do like the portrayal of Arthur as a young man who has an interesting hero’s journey ahead of him, and how much he grew just in this first book of the series. I’m enjoying the relationship between him and Mordred, which is very different to the original legends. I like Merlin too. He’s got a wonderfully dry, tongue in cheek, sense of humour.

I liked too, how Arthur doesn’t forget where he’s from and how that gives him insight into how the peasant’s fare in his city. The scene with his mother and the two orphans he saves is very sweet. I like how he slowly gains the respect of his knights too, and that he does have a steep learning curve, rather than just draws Excalibur and suddenly knows how to be King.

The world building is fabulous, and I like how mage magic is different to that of a druid. There’s been a lot of thought put into how this world works, and it shows. The action scenes are well written and exciting, and I enjoyed the showdown with the bad guys. Morgause is totally in character, and comes across as wonderfully slimey.

[Szidi ☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was good and interesting, liked reading it. But at 40%, when the first kiss happened, I got bored.

This book is in young adult setting, and while I totally could enjoy YA books, this time I just couldn't. The characters were flat and I haven't seen anything interesting in them. The romance was so sudden - it wasn't romance at all. Where and how have they fallen in love? I tried after the first kiss, I tried to search for that moment, I went back on pages, but nothing. They were just words on the pages without meaning and emotions.

Arthur's character wasn't as interesting either, he just went with the flow and tried to survive when everyone wanted him dead. The Knights tried to save his life, there were some who wanted to help him, and some who didn't. But as you can imagine, at the end, everyone was at Arthur's side.

I think without the romance it would be better, but it would be still an empty story.

They were 14-16 years old, but somehow I couldn't imagine them in this age. Arthur, yes, he was 14, but the Knights... no, they simply just don't fit in this age.

I'm sad because I wanted to enjoy this story. The first 40%, as I said, that was enjoyable.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

This version of the Arthur story involves a 14-year-old boy — right on the cusp of adolescence — who is all emotions, impulses, and insecurity. One moment he’s trying to save his cousin (who is risking his life by pretending to be a knight), and then next he’s the new King of Camelot. He’s surrounded and protected by Merlin, the handsome and mercurial man now guiding Arthur through his new role in life, and the Knights of the Round Table, each of whom seem to think they would be better with almost anyone other than Arthur.

This book reads a little on the younger side of the YA spectrum, in part because Arthur and Mordred are 14 and 15 respectively, and the oldest of the Knights isn’t even 20, yet. There’s a lot of action and a lot of angst. Arthur has to overcome his own insecurities while, at the same time, standing up to the omnipresent disdain, uncertainty, calculation, and indifference of everyone around him.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[thalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC reader.

The book started quickly, so there wasn’t much time to get bored. However, this does mean that there isn’t much set up to the story. This put me a bit off at first, but I got over it quickly as I saw the character interactions. That sold the story for me. The book itself is very entertaining, and I found myself unable to put it down.

One reservation I do have is the age of the characters, specifically Arthur and Mordred. As a reader of over 18, I forced myself to imagine them older. However, as there are (spoiler) no sex scenes, this didn’t make the book unbearable.

Despite that, I would’ve given this book 5 stars. The reason for the 4 star rating is that there isn’t a clear solution of the main problem in the story. This obviously sets up for the next book in the series, but I expected there to be a clear resolution to the conflict. Either way, I will still look forward to the next book in the series!

[Mary Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book and an excellent beginning to a brand new series! This book begins two weeks after the death of King Uther Pendragon and it's the time of the Choosing Ceremony, where the Holy Sword 'Excalibur' gets to choose its new King of Camelot.

This new book has Arthur tripping over the sword, then has to deal with all that is involved with being King, and he's only fourteen years old! Both friends and enemies challenge him in various ways, and Arthur grows in character and mentality through it all. He also finds unexepectedly, a special friend along the way.

This book fits very nicely with Young Adult LGBTQ+. Siryn Sueng is a very talented author and really makes Arthur shine (and splats him with mud along the way) in this new tale of the Arthurian Legend. I totally cannot wait for book 2 in the series, and all the rest to come!

[Victoria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of retellings for old and ancient myths to fit contemporary society, so I was very excited to see this new take on the tales of King Arthur.

In this interpretation, Arthur is a 14 year old boy who is a little bit apprehensive/ unsure of himself at times (who isn’t at that age?), and as the story goes on he grows into his role as King. He is supported by a familiar cast of characters who fill various reimagined roles as his friends and confidants.

The characters have a modern viewpoint and way that they relate to the world, which I find an excellent way for the reader to connect with the retold story. Sueng has a youthful writing style which is a perfect fit for the YA market, and I appreciated the inclusion of LGBTQIA2S+ and racial diversity. I look forward to seeing how this coming of age series progresses.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur is a peasant and son of a baker. He grew up in the castle town of Camelot. He attends a choosing ceremony to see who could draw out the Holy Sword, Excalibur. I quickly fell in love with Arthur. In this version he is a 14-year-old with a riot of emotions rolling thru him. We got to see how Arthur grew in character and dealing with being king. I especially loved Merlin’s snark and humor. The author did a great job with world building, mage magic and druid magic are different. I thoroughly enjoyed this version and I’m looking forward to reading more of the series. I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say upfront that my favorite version of the Arthurian story is John Boorman's movie Excalibur. This definitely isn't that, lol, and I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Here we see a very young Arthur unexpectedly becoming king and having to learn to function and survive in a world entirely different from that of the bakery he has been raised in. There are issues of class, age/experience, friendship and trust for the author to explore along with the magic. I am really looking forward to seeing Arthur grow and seeing how much of his kindness and good heart can survive everything and everyone arrayed against him. This is the story about how a young man transforms himself into a king.

[Danial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: The author is giving this book for free on Smashwords for the month of July 2021.
smashwords link

I loved this story. I found it to be a nice retelling with many enjoyable characters. I loved how Arthur was able to grow into his role with the help of his knights and mage. The author has done an amazing job to ensure that readers are entertained throughout the story. I for one was not able to put the book down.

I look forward to the next book in this series. I can't wait to see what is in store for Arthur and his allies.

I would, without hesitation recommend this book to others, especially if you are interested in Arthurian legend

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young King Arthur and the Round Table Knights is a great retelling of a classic. I've been fascinated by King Arthur stories and retellings since I first watched The Sword in the Stone as a kid. This is definitely one of my favorites thus far. A commoner suddenly thrust onto the throne, angry nobles, court intrigue, and a powerful mage all combine to make a story you won't want to put down!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Young Adult read, perfect for those looking for a MM story without too much steamy action.

An interesting take on Arthurian legend, beginning with Excalibur being removed from the stone in a unique fashion. This book kept my attention, there was plenty of action and a happy ending.

[Chase Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific retelling of the story. Fourteen-year-old Arthur, son of a baker, accidentally pulls the sword from the stone and becomes the new king. With help from his equally young knights of the round table, he has to face down his new enemies.

I loved this really fun adventure.

[Keri]

Looking forward to reading this and her previous works since one of my friends wrote it!!