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The Once and Forgotten Thing
Many tales have been told of King Arthur and his court. But one incredible tale has been altogether forgotten....until now.
As a Saxon, Viggo had been raised to fear magic. Now his Saxony is at war with King Arthur and his alarming new allies: the magic-practicing Druids. When Viggo sets out on a mission to infiltrate the great fortress of Camelot he stumbles upon a secret of such vital importance that it will destroy King Arthur and win the war for Saxony.
But first he has to escape.
Trapped in a tiny Druid town, Viggo must find a way to deceive the determined soldiers sent to hunt him down. When help comes unexpectedly from a woman guarding strange secrets of her own, Viggo will be left questioning everything he believes about love, magic and the war itself.
He holds the key to winning the war. The question is: what will he lose?
As a Saxon, Viggo had been raised to fear magic. Now his Saxony is at war with King Arthur and his alarming new allies: the magic-practicing Druids. When Viggo sets out on a mission to infiltrate the great fortress of Camelot he stumbles upon a secret of such vital importance that it will destroy King Arthur and win the war for Saxony.
But first he has to escape.
Trapped in a tiny Druid town, Viggo must find a way to deceive the determined soldiers sent to hunt him down. When help comes unexpectedly from a woman guarding strange secrets of her own, Viggo will be left questioning everything he believes about love, magic and the war itself.
He holds the key to winning the war. The question is: what will he lose?
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2021
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 22, 2025
Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC.
Plot 4/5
Characters 3.75/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 3.75/5
Overall 3.75/5
-Lots of interesting plot lines taking place in this book. Set in a sort of historical setting, we get to see a mysterious court, an enemy spy and an adventure. I wasn’t as invested as I would have liked to be but I still read it in a day.
-The characters were alright. I felt like they didn’t have enough depth for me to truly connect with them. The children were cute, I didn’t feel as if they’d been turned into adults just because. I wish we could have seen more of a relationship between Sunrise and Viggo.
-The epilogue is so intriguing. I think that’s what really kept me going. It leaves off at a very interesting point where I can imagine where things can go in the sequel.
Plot 4/5
Characters 3.75/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 3.75/5
Overall 3.75/5
-Lots of interesting plot lines taking place in this book. Set in a sort of historical setting, we get to see a mysterious court, an enemy spy and an adventure. I wasn’t as invested as I would have liked to be but I still read it in a day.
-The characters were alright. I felt like they didn’t have enough depth for me to truly connect with them. The children were cute, I didn’t feel as if they’d been turned into adults just because. I wish we could have seen more of a relationship between Sunrise and Viggo.
-The epilogue is so intriguing. I think that’s what really kept me going. It leaves off at a very interesting point where I can imagine where things can go in the sequel.
August 28, 2025
Mysterious. Suspenseful. Fantasy with a hint at historical fiction. Fans of Camelot and the Arthurian legends will enjoy this book. This Arthurian retelling gives a fresh and new spin on the age-old legends. Well-written and well-paced, you will become immersed into the world that J.J. Sutherland has created. It reads alike a fairytale in a way and brings an epic fantasy structure blending with the magic of high fantasy novels. Emotive prose. Wonderful character and world-building. This is a great next fantasy read.
June 24, 2025
This book for me was okay. I didn’t find it overly riveting but it kept my attention enough through the story. I think there is a writing style that just wasn’t for me. But I cannot say that this book did anything specifically wrong. The characters were likable enough and there is a complete story with a nice lead in to the sequel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
April 13, 2021
I am not the best at writing reviews, but I can hands down say this is one of my favorite books to date. Right from the first few pages I was hooked and could not put it down. It has everything I could ever look for in a book: Love, Adventure, Mystery, Suspense. All in all its a great book and I cannot wait for another from J.J. Sutherland
August 5, 2024
I saw this at the library and I'm very glad I picked it up! It had excellent pacing and I loved the direction the story went! I really liked the main characters and their development throughout the story. I'd definitely recommend this if you are looking for a fun read that isn't too long.
September 10, 2025
This book was constantly surprising. I never imagined what would come next! I was drawn right in to the depth of the story and characters. Love it.
June 13, 2023
From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. There are many Arthurian legend retellings, but this one does something new. It adds a new subplot to the familiar tale. It reveals a secret part of the story few ever knew, and none ever told–a once and forgotten thing.
It’s a story of friendship, adventure, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always accept you for who you are. It’s a fun, lighthearted, whimsical read. It will keep you entertained.
It isn’t likely to change your life or leave you sobbing into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s not a deep or devastating read. It does evoke emotion, but not in a soul-crushing way.
The book begins with Viggo, a Saxon spy on the run. Back in his homeland, he’s considered a bit of a loser. Now that he’s stolen a secret from behind enemy lines, he can finally prove everyone wrong.
If he can get home, that is.
Clever Viggo always has a trick up his sleeve and keeps you guessing until the very end. He has the heart of an adventurer, and it’s this heart that gets him into trouble as often as it gets him out. As he makes his way toward safety, he realizes there are bigger things at stake than his reputation back home. Things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, and worth sacrificing for.
Along the journey, he meets Violet, who offers him help. Violet is a delightful character, sort of a medieval version of a free-spirited hippie. She doesn’t fit in. She's different. The people in her village don’t trust her. Viggo wonders if he should be wary of her, too. But in his precarious position, he has few choices.
The two children, Gywie and True, are very well written. They feel so real, like I could scoop them up in my arms and give them a big hug.
We meet some villains along the way, too. None of them are two-dimensional, black-hat-wearing bad guys. They are each detailed characters with their own motivations, traumas, and on occasion, we even see their good sides.
The writing is both beautiful and easy to read. It is full of gorgeous metaphors, but never feels overwrought. JJ Sutherland doesn’t just say a man is drunk, she says his “sense was already swirling around the bottom of his mug”. A woman isn’t just speechless, “her mouth wavered uncomfortably over a lack of words.” Even with these flourishes, the sentences flow smoothly and easily.
The story does have fairytale/mythical creatures in it, which I wasn’t expecting.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, or fairy tales, and is in the mood for something light and joyful.
It’s a story of friendship, adventure, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always accept you for who you are. It’s a fun, lighthearted, whimsical read. It will keep you entertained.
It isn’t likely to change your life or leave you sobbing into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s not a deep or devastating read. It does evoke emotion, but not in a soul-crushing way.
The book begins with Viggo, a Saxon spy on the run. Back in his homeland, he’s considered a bit of a loser. Now that he’s stolen a secret from behind enemy lines, he can finally prove everyone wrong.
If he can get home, that is.
Clever Viggo always has a trick up his sleeve and keeps you guessing until the very end. He has the heart of an adventurer, and it’s this heart that gets him into trouble as often as it gets him out. As he makes his way toward safety, he realizes there are bigger things at stake than his reputation back home. Things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, and worth sacrificing for.
Along the journey, he meets Violet, who offers him help. Violet is a delightful character, sort of a medieval version of a free-spirited hippie. She doesn’t fit in. She's different. The people in her village don’t trust her. Viggo wonders if he should be wary of her, too. But in his precarious position, he has few choices.
The two children, Gywie and True, are very well written. They feel so real, like I could scoop them up in my arms and give them a big hug.
We meet some villains along the way, too. None of them are two-dimensional, black-hat-wearing bad guys. They are each detailed characters with their own motivations, traumas, and on occasion, we even see their good sides.
The writing is both beautiful and easy to read. It is full of gorgeous metaphors, but never feels overwrought. JJ Sutherland doesn’t just say a man is drunk, she says his “sense was already swirling around the bottom of his mug”. A woman isn’t just speechless, “her mouth wavered uncomfortably over a lack of words.” Even with these flourishes, the sentences flow smoothly and easily.
The story does have fairytale/mythical creatures in it, which I wasn’t expecting.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, or fairy tales, and is in the mood for something light and joyful.
June 13, 2023
From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. There are many Arthurian legend retellings, but this one does something new. It adds a new subplot to the familiar tale. It reveals a secret part of the story few ever knew, and none ever told–a once and forgotten thing.
It’s a story of friendship, adventure, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always accept you for who you are. It’s a fun, lighthearted, whimsical read. It will keep you entertained.
It isn’t likely to change your life or leave you sobbing into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s not a deep or devastating read. It does evoke emotion, but not in a soul-crushing way.
The book begins with Viggo, a Saxon spy on the run. Back in his homeland, he’s considered a bit of a loser. Now that he’s stolen a secret from behind enemy lines, he can finally prove everyone wrong.
If he can get home, that is.
Clever Viggo always has a trick up his sleeve and keeps you guessing until the very end. He has the heart of an adventurer, and it’s this heart that gets him into trouble as often as it gets him out. As he makes his way toward safety, he realizes there are bigger things at stake than his reputation back home. Things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, and worth sacrificing for.
Along the journey, he meets Violet, who offers him help. Violet is a delightful character, sort of a medieval version of a free-spirited hippie. She doesn’t fit in. She's different. The people in her village don’t trust her. Viggo wonders if he should be wary of her, too. But in his precarious position, he has few choices.
The two children, Gywie and True, are very well written. They feel so real, like I could scoop them up in my arms and give them a big hug.
We meet some villains along the way, too. None of them are two-dimensional, black-hat-wearing bad guys. They are each detailed characters with their own motivations, traumas, and on occasion, we even see their good sides.
The writing is both beautiful and easy to read. It is full of gorgeous metaphors, but never feels overwrought. JJ Sutherland doesn’t just say a man is drunk, she says his “sense was already swirling around the bottom of his mug”. A woman isn’t just speechless, “her mouth wavered uncomfortably over a lack of words.” Even with these flourishes, the sentences flow smoothly and easily.
The story does have fairytale/mythical creatures in it, which I wasn’t expecting.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, or fairy tales, and is in the mood for something light and joyful.
It’s a story of friendship, adventure, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always accept you for who you are. It’s a fun, lighthearted, whimsical read. It will keep you entertained.
It isn’t likely to change your life or leave you sobbing into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s not a deep or devastating read. It does evoke emotion, but not in a soul-crushing way.
The book begins with Viggo, a Saxon spy on the run. Back in his homeland, he’s considered a bit of a loser. Now that he’s stolen a secret from behind enemy lines, he can finally prove everyone wrong.
If he can get home, that is.
Clever Viggo always has a trick up his sleeve and keeps you guessing until the very end. He has the heart of an adventurer, and it’s this heart that gets him into trouble as often as it gets him out. As he makes his way toward safety, he realizes there are bigger things at stake than his reputation back home. Things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, and worth sacrificing for.
Along the journey, he meets Violet, who offers him help. Violet is a delightful character, sort of a medieval version of a free-spirited hippie. She doesn’t fit in. She's different. The people in her village don’t trust her. Viggo wonders if he should be wary of her, too. But in his precarious position, he has few choices.
The two children, Gywie and True, are very well written. They feel so real, like I could scoop them up in my arms and give them a big hug.
We meet some villains along the way, too. None of them are two-dimensional, black-hat-wearing bad guys. They are each detailed characters with their own motivations, traumas, and on occasion, we even see their good sides.
The writing is both beautiful and easy to read. It is full of gorgeous metaphors, but never feels overwrought. JJ Sutherland doesn’t just say a man is drunk, she says his “sense was already swirling around the bottom of his mug”. A woman isn’t just speechless, “her mouth wavered uncomfortably over a lack of words.” Even with these flourishes, the sentences flow smoothly and easily.
The story does have fairytale/mythical creatures in it, which I wasn’t expecting.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, or fairy tales, and is in the mood for something light and joyful.
July 1, 2023
I love Arthurian tales. There's something about that era that strikes a chord in me. There are many retellings out there but this one is different. All the characters are so well detailed that you find yourself deeply immersed in the story. From Viggo and Violet to the two children Gywie and True. A fun read, engaging and lighthearted.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews