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Knights of Breton Court #1
King Maker
From the drug gangs of downtown Indianapolis, the one true king will arise. The King Arthur myth gets dramatically retold through the eyes of street hustler King, as he tries to unite the crack dealers, gangbangers and the monsters lurking within them to do the right thing. Broaddus' debut is a stunning, edgy work, genuinely unlike anything you've ever read.
385 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 20, 2022
Final Rating: 5/10
You can read my full-length review at my Official Website . Below is an overview of my thoughts on the book.
OVERVIEW
Maurice Broaddus’ ambitious and original re-telling of the Arthurian legend, playing out on the crime-ridden streets of an African-American neighbourhood in contemporary Indianapolis, is notable for the author’s uncompromising commitment to authenticity in setting and characterisation.
While this ensures that King Maker is one of the most unique urban fantasy novels out there, it’s also guaranteed to alienate many readers. The characters and dialogue will be difficult to relate to, not to mention Broaddus’ narrative is very much a slow burn that requires increased patience to get through.
Nevertheless, the book is certainly worth experiencing at least once. I can honestly say I have yet to read another story like this. King Maker isn’t simply a rehash of a familiar tale. The author does a great job of doing something completely different with the source material, adding his own unique spin on the enduring legend.
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You can read my full-length review at my Official Website . Below is an overview of my thoughts on the book.
OVERVIEW
Maurice Broaddus’ ambitious and original re-telling of the Arthurian legend, playing out on the crime-ridden streets of an African-American neighbourhood in contemporary Indianapolis, is notable for the author’s uncompromising commitment to authenticity in setting and characterisation.
While this ensures that King Maker is one of the most unique urban fantasy novels out there, it’s also guaranteed to alienate many readers. The characters and dialogue will be difficult to relate to, not to mention Broaddus’ narrative is very much a slow burn that requires increased patience to get through.
Nevertheless, the book is certainly worth experiencing at least once. I can honestly say I have yet to read another story like this. King Maker isn’t simply a rehash of a familiar tale. The author does a great job of doing something completely different with the source material, adding his own unique spin on the enduring legend.
Subscribe to my author Newsletter
Vist my Official Website and Personal Blog
Make tip jar donations via Ko-fi or PayPal
Follow me on social media:
Facebook | Last.fm | Pinterest | Tumblr | Twitter
July 19, 2013
Ambitious, disturbing, and refreshing, Maurice Broaddus' novel-length debut sheers through a sea of urban fantasy clones with a ethereal, gory, yet realistic Wire-Camelot shakeup in fresh, visual prose typically -erroneously- associated with female writers.
King Maker wears Arthurian trappings, including compassionate Gawain and his enemy the Green Knight, Lancelot and Guinevere, Merlin, and Arthur, of course, but this isn't a strict retelling. They have lives and roles in Broaddus' Indianapolis much more relevant to this generation.
In fact, Broaddus' relevance and character development lifts King Maker above slice-and-dice screamfests, vampire detectives, or kick-butt heroines, much as I love them. Broaddus doesn't pause his narrative to pontificate on gang violence, his narrative speaks for him. Far from peopling his story with Law-and-Order-worthy extras, Broaddus develops characters, including gang members, as humans first, writing from their perspective their feelings and motivations and sometimes lending them a moment of meta-awareness, e.g. Junie's internal musings on "where it all went wrong" as a boy in school. These moments create relate-able characters and together convey a nuanced portrayal of inner city neighborhoods that news reports and crime dramas do not.
Exploring these characters' lives fills the body of King Maker and, as a result, the novel functions as a character study and prelude more than an action fantasy. I'll be frank. Nothing truly happens until the last third of the novel, when things jump off. Until then, King, our sorta-protagonist because other characters see more face time, repeats about 50 variations of this foreshadowing: "I feel like I'm meant for something more. Do you feel like I'm meant for something more? I feel like I'm meant for something more."
Nonetheless, Broaddus is a fair hand with foreshadowing and atmosphere, and I also appreciated his portrayal of women. Yes, women. In a horrorish novel revolving around gang warfare, Broaddus manages to draw a more nuanced, balanced portrayal of women than in nine tenths of fantasy about boys chasing wizardly phall-er, staffs-er, relics, who aren't burdened by a realistic setting and can invent whatever they like. Bravo.
Recognizing this requires recognizing the difference between sexist writing and observing the human condition. Broaddus observes his characters as they are, laying out their way of thinking and life without judgment or approbation. He never glorifies the gangbangers when they call women disposable or b-----s. They're tragic. Instead, his female characters speak for themselves: Omarosa, who's her own powerful agent, Detective Octavia, who gets the job done and then some when her male partner falls under fire, Lady G, strong enough to persevere in her circumstances, and, despite being the love interest, skeptical of King or involving herself with anyone. I wanted to hug Broaddus when she thinks this: . There is so much feminism packed into those six sentences, and the sentiment fits her calm, unruffle-able character.
Needless to say, these subtleties suit adult readers, and the graphic violence doesn't suit younger readers, but the relevance, something woefully missing from SFF nowadays, the atmosphere and dapper style, and the nuanced characters trump the lacking action and listing cast of characters for me. Besides, those women were worth it! Four stars! And I'll be reading the sequel (King's Justice) because now I gotta find out what actually happens!
King Maker wears Arthurian trappings, including compassionate Gawain and his enemy the Green Knight, Lancelot and Guinevere, Merlin, and Arthur, of course, but this isn't a strict retelling. They have lives and roles in Broaddus' Indianapolis much more relevant to this generation.
In fact, Broaddus' relevance and character development lifts King Maker above slice-and-dice screamfests, vampire detectives, or kick-butt heroines, much as I love them. Broaddus doesn't pause his narrative to pontificate on gang violence, his narrative speaks for him. Far from peopling his story with Law-and-Order-worthy extras, Broaddus develops characters, including gang members, as humans first, writing from their perspective their feelings and motivations and sometimes lending them a moment of meta-awareness, e.g. Junie's internal musings on "where it all went wrong" as a boy in school. These moments create relate-able characters and together convey a nuanced portrayal of inner city neighborhoods that news reports and crime dramas do not.
Exploring these characters' lives fills the body of King Maker and, as a result, the novel functions as a character study and prelude more than an action fantasy. I'll be frank. Nothing truly happens until the last third of the novel, when things jump off. Until then, King, our sorta-protagonist because other characters see more face time, repeats about 50 variations of this foreshadowing: "I feel like I'm meant for something more. Do you feel like I'm meant for something more? I feel like I'm meant for something more."
Nonetheless, Broaddus is a fair hand with foreshadowing and atmosphere, and I also appreciated his portrayal of women. Yes, women. In a horrorish novel revolving around gang warfare, Broaddus manages to draw a more nuanced, balanced portrayal of women than in nine tenths of fantasy about boys chasing wizardly phall-er, staffs-er, relics, who aren't burdened by a realistic setting and can invent whatever they like. Bravo.
Recognizing this requires recognizing the difference between sexist writing and observing the human condition. Broaddus observes his characters as they are, laying out their way of thinking and life without judgment or approbation. He never glorifies the gangbangers when they call women disposable or b-----s. They're tragic. Instead, his female characters speak for themselves: Omarosa, who's her own powerful agent, Detective Octavia, who gets the job done and then some when her male partner falls under fire, Lady G, strong enough to persevere in her circumstances, and, despite being the love interest, skeptical of King or involving herself with anyone. I wanted to hug Broaddus when she thinks this: . There is so much feminism packed into those six sentences, and the sentiment fits her calm, unruffle-able character.
Needless to say, these subtleties suit adult readers, and the graphic violence doesn't suit younger readers, but the relevance, something woefully missing from SFF nowadays, the atmosphere and dapper style, and the nuanced characters trump the lacking action and listing cast of characters for me. Besides, those women were worth it! Four stars! And I'll be reading the sequel (King's Justice) because now I gotta find out what actually happens!
did-not-finish
April 1, 2012There’s something about the King Arthur legends that fascinate me and tug at my imagination. It’s probably the tragedy of the tale mixed with that message of hope—Arthur’s body spirited away to Avalon to await his return. Merlin is literally the wizard who helps Arthur answer the Call, and I’ve always identified with that archetype on account of my intellectual and autodidactic leanings. So I’m always happy to try a book that attempts to put a new spin on the legend of King Arthur—why not?
Maurice Broaddus deserves commendation for his Knights of Breton Court series. The idea is intriguing: retell (or rather, reimagine) the story of King Arthur as a story of Indianapolis gang warfare. And Broaddus is good at crafting a setting, atmosphere, and characters that all seem authentic. The characters in King Maker run the spectrum: some are not nice at all and have no qualms about using a gun to close a deal; others are more decent and more conflicted about the life they are leading. And because of the way he focuses on Breton Court, Broaddus creates this sense of community within the story that sets the groundwork for connections that would no doubt be important, if I had ever finished the book.
I didn’t even get halfway done. I just couldn’t get into King Maker, try as I might. There’s something to be said for reimagining the Arthur legend or keeping the allusions to it light and subtle—the last thing one needs is a story that hits the reader over the head with allusions to the classic Arthur mythos. Yet Broaddus is almost two subtle. Some things are obvious: Luther is Uther, and his son King is the Arthur analog; Merle is a Merlin figure. But the magic is tentative, almost non-present for what I managed to read of this novel. We get no sense of King’s larger plan, or indeed of anyone else’s plan.
I stopped reading when I realized I had been reading an entire chapter and didn’t know who it was about. There are plenty of characters … but which ones really matter? Which ones are the protagonists? Who should I be cheering for? These are not questions a reader should have to be asking! Obviously King is a protagonist, but he is absent for vicious swathes of the first half of the book, leaving a second string line of characters to take up the slack … and they don’t do it well. King Maker is a soup of scenes and characters that didn’t manage to hold my interest.
It’s conceivable I could return to this after I’m finished my practicum, which has placed constraints on my time that make me less charitable to what I’m reading. But I’ll have to think about it. King Maker isn’t necessarily a bad book; it has some glowing reviews here on Goodreads, so it obviously works for other people. Unfortunately, in my case, it was a clever idea with a payoff that just seemed too far away.
Maurice Broaddus deserves commendation for his Knights of Breton Court series. The idea is intriguing: retell (or rather, reimagine) the story of King Arthur as a story of Indianapolis gang warfare. And Broaddus is good at crafting a setting, atmosphere, and characters that all seem authentic. The characters in King Maker run the spectrum: some are not nice at all and have no qualms about using a gun to close a deal; others are more decent and more conflicted about the life they are leading. And because of the way he focuses on Breton Court, Broaddus creates this sense of community within the story that sets the groundwork for connections that would no doubt be important, if I had ever finished the book.
I didn’t even get halfway done. I just couldn’t get into King Maker, try as I might. There’s something to be said for reimagining the Arthur legend or keeping the allusions to it light and subtle—the last thing one needs is a story that hits the reader over the head with allusions to the classic Arthur mythos. Yet Broaddus is almost two subtle. Some things are obvious: Luther is Uther, and his son King is the Arthur analog; Merle is a Merlin figure. But the magic is tentative, almost non-present for what I managed to read of this novel. We get no sense of King’s larger plan, or indeed of anyone else’s plan.
I stopped reading when I realized I had been reading an entire chapter and didn’t know who it was about. There are plenty of characters … but which ones really matter? Which ones are the protagonists? Who should I be cheering for? These are not questions a reader should have to be asking! Obviously King is a protagonist, but he is absent for vicious swathes of the first half of the book, leaving a second string line of characters to take up the slack … and they don’t do it well. King Maker is a soup of scenes and characters that didn’t manage to hold my interest.
It’s conceivable I could return to this after I’m finished my practicum, which has placed constraints on my time that make me less charitable to what I’m reading. But I’ll have to think about it. King Maker isn’t necessarily a bad book; it has some glowing reviews here on Goodreads, so it obviously works for other people. Unfortunately, in my case, it was a clever idea with a payoff that just seemed too far away.
July 14, 2010
From the drug gangs of downtown Indianapolis, the one true king will arise. The King Arthur myth gets dramatically retold through the eyes of street hustler King, as he tries to unite the crack dealers, gangbangers and the monsters lurking within them to do the right thing. Broaddus' debut is a stunning, edgy work, genuinely unlike anything you've ever read.
The premise of King Maker is simply awesome, and I wanted to love the book based on that alone. I’m a big fan of the King Arthur mythology, and the idea of such a unique slant on the story had me extremely excited. I found myself bewildered, however, as I worked my way through the book.
I want to deal with the strengths of the novel first. Maurice Broaddus’ writing creates a dangerous and authentic mood. The language is fierce and evokes the gritty realism of life on the streets. When the supernatural elements are introduced, they drift through the novel like smoke, leaving the reader gradually horrified as the end game is reached. Broaddus’ horror background is evident; some of the events in King Maker sent chills down my spine.
With all that said, I didn’t enjoy King Maker, for a number of reasons.
It is a relatively slight novel (the first in a trilogy being published by Angry Robot books), and yet I found it took me almost a week to plough through. Part of this was thanks to the stop-start nature of the plot, and the bouncing around of timelines. I found it extremely easy to put the book down, rarely wanting to read on at the end of a chapter. I became confused at times by the fact that one of the characters was alive when I had read a couple of chapters ago that they had died.
Although the dialogue is very effectively written, it is also hard to understand at times. As a white gal who lives in comfort a million miles away from the types of events being described, I felt like I needed a dictionary. Although I list this as a fault, I do greatly admire Broaddus for delving so well into the psyche of inner city America and not making compromises for the ease of his readers.
The characters are difficult to like, and, due to the nature of the gang warfare, all of them are written in shades of grey. I do like ambiguous characters, but sometimes you just want to root for a hero. Here even King (Broaddus’ version of King Arthur) acts reprehensibly at times.
Lastly, there are some extremely gruesome scenes that I found distasteful to read. They fit the nature of the book, but it should be mentioned that if books received ratings, King Maker would have been stamped an “18.”
Yet I have the sneaking suspicion that other readers will love this book. Sometimes you just don’t “fit” with a book, and find yourself confused by the overwhelming praise other reviewers shower upon it. I have a feeling that, when King Maker is released, many will adore it for the bravery and uniqueness of the writing. I am left comparing the book to a worthy film generating Oscar buzz: something you feel you should watch, but know you won’t enjoy as much as an explosion-ridden summer blockbuster.
In conclusion, although I did not like this book, I firmly believe that readers will have to make up their own minds. For some, King Maker is going to be the best read of 2010.
The premise of King Maker is simply awesome, and I wanted to love the book based on that alone. I’m a big fan of the King Arthur mythology, and the idea of such a unique slant on the story had me extremely excited. I found myself bewildered, however, as I worked my way through the book.
I want to deal with the strengths of the novel first. Maurice Broaddus’ writing creates a dangerous and authentic mood. The language is fierce and evokes the gritty realism of life on the streets. When the supernatural elements are introduced, they drift through the novel like smoke, leaving the reader gradually horrified as the end game is reached. Broaddus’ horror background is evident; some of the events in King Maker sent chills down my spine.
With all that said, I didn’t enjoy King Maker, for a number of reasons.
It is a relatively slight novel (the first in a trilogy being published by Angry Robot books), and yet I found it took me almost a week to plough through. Part of this was thanks to the stop-start nature of the plot, and the bouncing around of timelines. I found it extremely easy to put the book down, rarely wanting to read on at the end of a chapter. I became confused at times by the fact that one of the characters was alive when I had read a couple of chapters ago that they had died.
Although the dialogue is very effectively written, it is also hard to understand at times. As a white gal who lives in comfort a million miles away from the types of events being described, I felt like I needed a dictionary. Although I list this as a fault, I do greatly admire Broaddus for delving so well into the psyche of inner city America and not making compromises for the ease of his readers.
The characters are difficult to like, and, due to the nature of the gang warfare, all of them are written in shades of grey. I do like ambiguous characters, but sometimes you just want to root for a hero. Here even King (Broaddus’ version of King Arthur) acts reprehensibly at times.
Lastly, there are some extremely gruesome scenes that I found distasteful to read. They fit the nature of the book, but it should be mentioned that if books received ratings, King Maker would have been stamped an “18.”
Yet I have the sneaking suspicion that other readers will love this book. Sometimes you just don’t “fit” with a book, and find yourself confused by the overwhelming praise other reviewers shower upon it. I have a feeling that, when King Maker is released, many will adore it for the bravery and uniqueness of the writing. I am left comparing the book to a worthy film generating Oscar buzz: something you feel you should watch, but know you won’t enjoy as much as an explosion-ridden summer blockbuster.
In conclusion, although I did not like this book, I firmly believe that readers will have to make up their own minds. For some, King Maker is going to be the best read of 2010.
July 10, 2013
There's a lot that could be really awesome about this book. I'm not overwhelmed by the idea of an African-American King Arthur, because I'm tired of people claiming him away from the Welsh/the original British. I have actually had an argument with someone, I think about this book, where they were saying that a white person's plot using elements of voodoo or whatever was appropriative and evil, and it's not like it's a "global myth" like King Arthur. But King Arthur is only a global myth because someone (I've got my eye on you, Geoffrey of Monmouth) appropriated it in the first place, adapting it to a Norman audience.
Maurice Broaddus is just the latest in a long line of people taking Arthur away from the Welsh. And, you know, having grown up in an English school being ruthlessly bullied because I was Welsh, I feel that pretty intensely. Arthur was a symbol of a vanquished people: why else did Henry II need to 'discover' the body of King Arthur in England? Gee, could it be to 'prove' that Arthur wasn't going to return to save us, and further dispirit us before he attacked? Propaganda wasn't invented in the twentieth century.
On the other hand, I can't say no Welsh author has used elements of other mythologies, or even that I don't do it, so I guess I don't have a leg to stand on. I try to do it with respect, though, and -- I'm not sure what Broaddus is doing here. I couldn't finish this book. I had expectations as an Arthurian scholar and as a Welsh person that were continually frustrated: I didn't want to see King Arthur as a drug lord. I can see the parallels, I guess, but I just couldn't buy into it.
If you're interested in a very alternate take on King Arthur, though, this one would be a very interesting one if you can ditch your expectations. I love the cover -- a powerful POC front and centre -- and I love that it was published and, from the sounds of it, pretty successful. Just definitely not one for me. So bear in mind that my one star rating is very very personal.
Maurice Broaddus is just the latest in a long line of people taking Arthur away from the Welsh. And, you know, having grown up in an English school being ruthlessly bullied because I was Welsh, I feel that pretty intensely. Arthur was a symbol of a vanquished people: why else did Henry II need to 'discover' the body of King Arthur in England? Gee, could it be to 'prove' that Arthur wasn't going to return to save us, and further dispirit us before he attacked? Propaganda wasn't invented in the twentieth century.
On the other hand, I can't say no Welsh author has used elements of other mythologies, or even that I don't do it, so I guess I don't have a leg to stand on. I try to do it with respect, though, and -- I'm not sure what Broaddus is doing here. I couldn't finish this book. I had expectations as an Arthurian scholar and as a Welsh person that were continually frustrated: I didn't want to see King Arthur as a drug lord. I can see the parallels, I guess, but I just couldn't buy into it.
If you're interested in a very alternate take on King Arthur, though, this one would be a very interesting one if you can ditch your expectations. I love the cover -- a powerful POC front and centre -- and I love that it was published and, from the sounds of it, pretty successful. Just definitely not one for me. So bear in mind that my one star rating is very very personal.
December 5, 2011
I'll admit I was skeptical. I don't mind folks taking risks with the classic "once and future king" aspect of the King Arthur mythos (one of my favorite books of all time is the graphic novel Camelot 3000), but I wasn't sure about melding it with inner city gang warfare. I'm glad I decided to read the book anyway.
What really works for me with this book is the narrative style. Even though it is set concretely in modern inner-city Indianapolis, Broaddus gives the proceedings an incredibly dreamlike, ethereal quality. Intentionally or not, there were times when I felt like time was either speeding up or slowing down for the characters -- at times there's a very real sense that no time has passed and yet large quantities of time have passed. This is truly urban fantasy in which the urban setting is a key character and yet the fantastic elements still feel fantastic. It helps that the book also feels just a bit claustrophobic -- almost like Breton Court and its surroundings have been plucked out of the normal world and exist in a kind of self-referential limbo/fantasy realm.
It also helps that after the Prelude (The Fall of Luther), the fantastic takes a back-seat for a little while so that Broaddus can immerse you in the characters, especially since there's a large cast to keep track of. While supernatural elements are mentioned (Green's seeming immortality, for example), they really are less important than getting to know the characters -- until about 2/3rds into the book, when the supernatural suddenly jumps up and grabs the characters and the reader by the ankles and there's no turning back.
Broaddus also does an excellent job of taking the familiar Arthurian names and tropes and twisting them to fit the setting. Some of the older names, like Rhiannon, fit. Guinevere wouldn't, so we get Lady G instead. Lott instead of Lancelot. And even though Merle appears to actually be Merlin himself, he changes his name to fit in better with the times. The relationships are also slightly skewed, and of course swords don't really cut it in the gangbanger world, so we get mystical guns instead. And it's all handled in a way that works and doesn't feel hokey.
I've got the second and third books in the Knights of Breton Court series on my TBR pile, and I hope to get to them ASAP. I'm definitely intrigued by the world Broaddus has created.
What really works for me with this book is the narrative style. Even though it is set concretely in modern inner-city Indianapolis, Broaddus gives the proceedings an incredibly dreamlike, ethereal quality. Intentionally or not, there were times when I felt like time was either speeding up or slowing down for the characters -- at times there's a very real sense that no time has passed and yet large quantities of time have passed. This is truly urban fantasy in which the urban setting is a key character and yet the fantastic elements still feel fantastic. It helps that the book also feels just a bit claustrophobic -- almost like Breton Court and its surroundings have been plucked out of the normal world and exist in a kind of self-referential limbo/fantasy realm.
It also helps that after the Prelude (The Fall of Luther), the fantastic takes a back-seat for a little while so that Broaddus can immerse you in the characters, especially since there's a large cast to keep track of. While supernatural elements are mentioned (Green's seeming immortality, for example), they really are less important than getting to know the characters -- until about 2/3rds into the book, when the supernatural suddenly jumps up and grabs the characters and the reader by the ankles and there's no turning back.
Broaddus also does an excellent job of taking the familiar Arthurian names and tropes and twisting them to fit the setting. Some of the older names, like Rhiannon, fit. Guinevere wouldn't, so we get Lady G instead. Lott instead of Lancelot. And even though Merle appears to actually be Merlin himself, he changes his name to fit in better with the times. The relationships are also slightly skewed, and of course swords don't really cut it in the gangbanger world, so we get mystical guns instead. And it's all handled in a way that works and doesn't feel hokey.
I've got the second and third books in the Knights of Breton Court series on my TBR pile, and I hope to get to them ASAP. I'm definitely intrigued by the world Broaddus has created.
July 21, 2019
Още преди да започна книгата знаех, че няма начин да не ми допадне. Проверено талантлив хорър автор + легендите от Артурианския цикъл + гето история от Индианаполис за сцена на действието. Резултатът е изключително реалистично звучащо (през повечето време) градско фентъзи, което постоянно скача от двете страни на тънката линия, която го дели от хоръра.
Бретанският двор е квадрат в гетото на Индианаполис, който има нещастието да е гранична зона между двете най-големи банди в града – тези на (Мор)Дред и Найт. Стара вражда е по-големия фактор за сблъсъците им, от колкото малкия хероинов пазар точно на този ъгъл. Без да искат няколко от надъханите нови членове на бандите въвличат Кинг в споровете си. Той е решен най-сетне да сложи край на насилието в Бретан Корт, заедно с помощта на двамата си приятели (Лансе)Лот и (Га)Уейн, както и леко мръдналия клошар Мърл(ин).
Още във въведението Броудъс показва, че познава артурианските легенди перфектно, но ще върви по свой път, вместо да ги следва сляпо.
В първата третина читателят тъкмо свиква с пресъздаването на средновековните текстове в модерна гангстерска история и искрено се забавлява, сравнявайки класиката с модерния прочит, когато изведнъж паранормалното навлиза в текста с брутална ефикасност. Дрънканиците на лудия Мърл се оказват истина и магия има. Дред и Найт са били на ясно от самото начало. Конфликтът придобива епични размери на малката градска площ, когато на предна линия излизат – крадла със смесена кръв (няма да познаете между какво), пазеща Калибурите (два гъзарски пищова, наследство от бащата на Кинг - Утер), двойка троли близнаци, които май не са само на майтап такива, нова дрога наречена „Черно зомби“, която прави странни неща с зависимите, Зеленият рицар (Грийн), достигнал до висок ранг в една от бандите и дори един от онези безкраки дракони (bloodwyrm – ако някой има по-точен превод да се обади).
Книгата върви малко тегаво, но не по-тегаво от оригиналните легенди. Авторът прескача постоянно между десетките герои, на които тепърва им е писано да станат „рицари“ и бавно усуква всички линии на сюжета към добър, но отворен финал.
Предвид, че Морис от години работи с проблемни младежи точно в този град, съм сигурен, че описанията на мизерията и отношенията между хлапетата (с код на поведение по-тежък от на който и да е френски двор) са стопроцентова истина.
Почти бях забравил „Смъртта на Артур“ и другите 2-3 книги, които съм чел по въпроса. Тази книга ми ги припомни по възможно най-усмихващия начин. Ще се четат и следващите (то, те са си една книга - разделена) .
Бретанският двор е квадрат в гетото на Индианаполис, който има нещастието да е гранична зона между двете най-големи банди в града – тези на (Мор)Дред и Найт. Стара вражда е по-големия фактор за сблъсъците им, от колкото малкия хероинов пазар точно на този ъгъл. Без да искат няколко от надъханите нови членове на бандите въвличат Кинг в споровете си. Той е решен най-сетне да сложи край на насилието в Бретан Корт, заедно с помощта на двамата си приятели (Лансе)Лот и (Га)Уейн, както и леко мръдналия клошар Мърл(ин).
Още във въведението Броудъс показва, че познава артурианските легенди перфектно, но ще върви по свой път, вместо да ги следва сляпо.
В първата третина читателят тъкмо свиква с пресъздаването на средновековните текстове в модерна гангстерска история и искрено се забавлява, сравнявайки класиката с модерния прочит, когато изведнъж паранормалното навлиза в текста с брутална ефикасност. Дрънканиците на лудия Мърл се оказват истина и магия има. Дред и Найт са били на ясно от самото начало. Конфликтът придобива епични размери на малката градска площ, когато на предна линия излизат – крадла със смесена кръв (няма да познаете между какво), пазеща Калибурите (два гъзарски пищова, наследство от бащата на Кинг - Утер), двойка троли близнаци, които май не са само на майтап такива, нова дрога наречена „Черно зомби“, която прави странни неща с зависимите, Зеленият рицар (Грийн), достигнал до висок ранг в една от бандите и дори един от онези безкраки дракони (bloodwyrm – ако някой има по-точен превод да се обади).
Книгата върви малко тегаво, но не по-тегаво от оригиналните легенди. Авторът прескача постоянно между десетките герои, на които тепърва им е писано да станат „рицари“ и бавно усуква всички линии на сюжета към добър, но отворен финал.
Предвид, че Морис от години работи с проблемни младежи точно в този град, съм сигурен, че описанията на мизерията и отношенията между хлапетата (с код на поведение по-тежък от на който и да е френски двор) са стопроцентова истина.
Почти бях забравил „Смъртта на Артур“ и другите 2-3 книги, които съм чел по въпроса. Тази книга ми ги припомни по възможно най-усмихващия начин. Ще се четат и следващите (то, те са си една книга - разделена) .
Read
February 27, 2017I listened to this book from Audible and I have to admit, I don't think I get it. That's why I've chosen not to give it a star rating. I understand it's a modern-day, inner-city retelling of the King Arthur myths, with the general idea of some magical forces being eternal and reincarnation explaining why Arthur is popping up in Indianapolis, but that's not what this felt like.
I know that doesn't make sense... Let me try to explain.
As a middle-class white man, I'm about as far as any American can get from these characters. Additionally, I only have a passing interest in the King Arthur legends, so there's a ton of allusion and subtlety that no doubt flew right over my head. I suspect that if I was more like the characters, or more well-versed in the Arthurian tradition, I would have enjoyed this more.
The whole first half of the book is just introducing characters. I'm a fantasy reader, so I'm no stranger to non-linear storytelling from multiple points of view, but this bounces around so much I found myself genuinely wondering who the protagonist was supposed to be. I was pretty sure it was King, who is clearly the King Arthur proxy, but I barely ever saw him and he didn't really do much when I did. I had a hard time keeping track of all the names that were thrown out and by the time things actually started happening to the main characters, I was lost and confused as to who to root for.
The first two thirds of the book are almost exclusively gangsters doing gangster stuff with vague hints of mystical underpinnings here and there. Once you get to the last third, it goes full-on fantasy and feels very different. I actually turned to my wife at one point and asked, "Are there in the King Arthur myths?" and she looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head.
I found the shift in theme and tone pretty jarring. Also, it isn't until the very end that King actually has to overcome any meaningful challenge. Up until then, he's just sort of a guy who doesn't want to do the gangster stuff everyone around him is involved in.
Overall, I was hoping to be inspired to check out more work depicting inner-city life or at least dive deeper into the Arthurian tradition. Sadly, I didn't get that from King Maker. My takeaway was really just that I should be thankful for all my blessings and never, under any circumstances, sell drugs. I suppose that's not a bad moral to walk away with.
I don't doubt this book has an audience that would love it, but I know it's not me. I wish the author and those fans all the best.
I know that doesn't make sense... Let me try to explain.
As a middle-class white man, I'm about as far as any American can get from these characters. Additionally, I only have a passing interest in the King Arthur legends, so there's a ton of allusion and subtlety that no doubt flew right over my head. I suspect that if I was more like the characters, or more well-versed in the Arthurian tradition, I would have enjoyed this more.
The whole first half of the book is just introducing characters. I'm a fantasy reader, so I'm no stranger to non-linear storytelling from multiple points of view, but this bounces around so much I found myself genuinely wondering who the protagonist was supposed to be. I was pretty sure it was King, who is clearly the King Arthur proxy, but I barely ever saw him and he didn't really do much when I did. I had a hard time keeping track of all the names that were thrown out and by the time things actually started happening to the main characters, I was lost and confused as to who to root for.
The first two thirds of the book are almost exclusively gangsters doing gangster stuff with vague hints of mystical underpinnings here and there. Once you get to the last third, it goes full-on fantasy and feels very different. I actually turned to my wife at one point and asked, "Are there in the King Arthur myths?" and she looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head.
I found the shift in theme and tone pretty jarring. Also, it isn't until the very end that King actually has to overcome any meaningful challenge. Up until then, he's just sort of a guy who doesn't want to do the gangster stuff everyone around him is involved in.
Overall, I was hoping to be inspired to check out more work depicting inner-city life or at least dive deeper into the Arthurian tradition. Sadly, I didn't get that from King Maker. My takeaway was really just that I should be thankful for all my blessings and never, under any circumstances, sell drugs. I suppose that's not a bad moral to walk away with.
I don't doubt this book has an audience that would love it, but I know it's not me. I wish the author and those fans all the best.
December 21, 2011
Well that was a disappointment. =( I had such high hopes for this book, I was looking forward to it months before it released. I mean a King Arthur retelling set in downtown Indianapolis? Starring a mostly POC cast with the side benefit of a cover model who is not whitewashed and is also pretty smoking hot? SOLD, anticipation levels through the ROOF. But this whole thing was full of what was imo unnecessarily graphic violence and misogyny with no real pay off for making it through. I mean when I read a King Arthur story I expect Arthur to make things better you know? I don't expect to be subjected to scenes of torture and side-eye inducing representations of women while the Arthur figure faffs around the edges occasionally making remarks about his repressed anger and feeling like he's a got a destiny or whatever. Hurry and step it up then King, you need to do a little more to keep my interest than just be the reincarnation of King Arthur. I'm regretting wasting so much time forcing myself through this book hoping it'd get better. Won't be picking up the sequel.
August 1, 2018
Come for the fun premise of King Arthur meets The Wire, stay for the stark violence and an unflinching examination of poverty that will break your heart, but give you hope (this is the story of the rise of a King). But seriously, there’s a whole lot of horror, from fair maidens being forced to chew razor blades to corner boys being ripped in half by their legs, and many other violent delights.
If that sounds like fun to you, you’re going to love this book. If not, maybe go rent Disney’s Sword and the Stone and drink some warm milk. If you’re prefer something more adult, read this. These characters are neither completely good nor completely bad, though we know who our villains are, and this version of Arthur is named King James White, so we know who to root for. We’re dealing with fantasy and predestination and all that good stuff, but plenty of the predestination is manmade.
This being the first in a series, we meet lots of fascinating characters being moved into position to play their role in this tale. Will King lead his people and unite the Knights of Brenton Court, or will it fall to rival gangs? No spoilers, but this book will haunt you either way (that’s a good thing). This story isn’t playing it safe and you won’t feel safe, nor should you. This is a tale with teeth set in a world of random gunfights and murderous people (as well as plenty of sad, oppressed peasants).
It’s not all darkness. There are magical guns and zombies (sorta) and all the drama we’re to expect in a King Arthur reimagining. ‘Lady G’ and ‘Lott’ and ‘Merle’ and ‘Green,’ so this story’s got a familiar beat the reader remembers how to dance to.
But beware, there are plenty of well written grim passages to stay with the reader after the story. "Love, like cancer, crept into you slowly and by the time you realized you had it, it had metastasized." This and the realization that the reason someone might wear a long-sleeved sweatshirt in 80 degree heat is because later it will get cold later when they're sleeping under a bridge are just two of the cheery gems I have enjoyed while reading King Maker that will stay with me long after.
Buy this book and read it now!
If that sounds like fun to you, you’re going to love this book. If not, maybe go rent Disney’s Sword and the Stone and drink some warm milk. If you’re prefer something more adult, read this. These characters are neither completely good nor completely bad, though we know who our villains are, and this version of Arthur is named King James White, so we know who to root for. We’re dealing with fantasy and predestination and all that good stuff, but plenty of the predestination is manmade.
This being the first in a series, we meet lots of fascinating characters being moved into position to play their role in this tale. Will King lead his people and unite the Knights of Brenton Court, or will it fall to rival gangs? No spoilers, but this book will haunt you either way (that’s a good thing). This story isn’t playing it safe and you won’t feel safe, nor should you. This is a tale with teeth set in a world of random gunfights and murderous people (as well as plenty of sad, oppressed peasants).
It’s not all darkness. There are magical guns and zombies (sorta) and all the drama we’re to expect in a King Arthur reimagining. ‘Lady G’ and ‘Lott’ and ‘Merle’ and ‘Green,’ so this story’s got a familiar beat the reader remembers how to dance to.
But beware, there are plenty of well written grim passages to stay with the reader after the story. "Love, like cancer, crept into you slowly and by the time you realized you had it, it had metastasized." This and the realization that the reason someone might wear a long-sleeved sweatshirt in 80 degree heat is because later it will get cold later when they're sleeping under a bridge are just two of the cheery gems I have enjoyed while reading King Maker that will stay with me long after.
Buy this book and read it now!
Read
September 27, 2017I got 170 pages in and threw in the towel. Close to halfway through and apart from a bit of creepy mist and Green (Knight, I assume?) apparently suggesting he isn't fully human, there was nothing supernatural/fantastical/legendary happening.
This isn't a badly written book - the setting, although decidedly grim, is well done, but as a white British girl, I don't know (or care about, if I'm brutally honest) African-American street gangs in Indianapolis. I don't want to read about people in the lowest strata of society selling drugs and their own bodies, or about the terrible things they can do to each other (a woman being tortured in front of her own kids, for example). King, the Arthur substitute, made a brief appearance for about two chapters and then vanished back into the background, leaving me uncertain who out of the other characters I should be focusing on or caring about.
I'm sure other people will love this book, and kudos to the author for taking the idea and using an underrepresented group of people (and isn't it sad that we have to say that in 2017?) to tell it. And kudos too to Angry Robot for not 'whitewashing' the cover.
Don't let this review put you off - some people, I'm sure, will love this book, but for me it was too much urban, not enough fantasy.
This isn't a badly written book - the setting, although decidedly grim, is well done, but as a white British girl, I don't know (or care about, if I'm brutally honest) African-American street gangs in Indianapolis. I don't want to read about people in the lowest strata of society selling drugs and their own bodies, or about the terrible things they can do to each other (a woman being tortured in front of her own kids, for example). King, the Arthur substitute, made a brief appearance for about two chapters and then vanished back into the background, leaving me uncertain who out of the other characters I should be focusing on or caring about.
I'm sure other people will love this book, and kudos to the author for taking the idea and using an underrepresented group of people (and isn't it sad that we have to say that in 2017?) to tell it. And kudos too to Angry Robot for not 'whitewashing' the cover.
Don't let this review put you off - some people, I'm sure, will love this book, but for me it was too much urban, not enough fantasy.
December 30, 2011
I had the chance to read the second book in Maurice's Knights of Breton Court trilogy last year, which wound up being one of my ten favorite novels of 2011. In the latter half of 2011, I won this copy of the first book in the series from Bryan Thomas Schmidt with an optimism that I'd enjoyed it as much, if not more. But did my expectations and preconceptions hold up?
King Maker kicks things off by depicting the tragic death of the title character's father, Luther White. Jump ahead and King James White is a young man coming into his own, but a bit listless and without a destiny, though he feels he has one. He lacks purpose, pure and simple, while living on the streets of Indianapolis. But, oddly enough, King Maker focuses more on the supporting players and those on the outer fringes than on King himself.
The book, for me, acted as a prelude to all the action I read in King's Justice, as Maurice sets the stage--and the stakes--inside the section of Indianapolis known as Breton Court. Drugs, gangs, poverty, and an apparent neglect from the rest of the city (even some within Breton Court) have left the place in a quagmire. And all the while, two gangs makes plans against each other in hopes of superiority, while King and his motley crew of "knights" weight their chances of offering a better way and maintaining some measure of peace.
For a while, the book seemed to be left wanting for heroes, but they are there and this novel acts as much to show their emergence as it does for the various villains and outcasts. Very few of these characters are painted strictly virtuous and downright evil--though there is a brother and sister who come off as downright monstrous, labeled "Rogues" in Maurice's cast of players. The surprising lack of King at the forefront of the story took some getting used to, but I came to appreciate the way he developed so many characters, including ones with only modest parts to play in the overall story. While reading the book, I was also working my way through the third season of Deadwood on DVD, and I noticed one striking similarity between the two: David Milch and Maurice Broaddus both apparently strove for their universes to exist as character studies, and for the towns themselves to be characters.
Where the similarities between those two tales ends is where the fantastical elements enter Breton Court. It starts off a subtle at first, with no scenes really bludgeoning the reader with magic or supernatural creatures, but when it happens it's done to great effect. And much like King's Justice, the character of Merle is a real treat to behold as the insane wise man.
I didn't really love this book as much as I did its sequel, and I wonder if I'd have hurried to read King's Justice if I'd read King Maker first. It doesn't hone in on King and his Knights like I'd hoped, and it really takes a while for the big picture to come into focus. That said, I think the two books work well if read back-to-back, and with the third book in the trilogy, King's War, nearly here I am eager to see what the climax of this epic and modern Arthurian tale has in store.
King Maker kicks things off by depicting the tragic death of the title character's father, Luther White. Jump ahead and King James White is a young man coming into his own, but a bit listless and without a destiny, though he feels he has one. He lacks purpose, pure and simple, while living on the streets of Indianapolis. But, oddly enough, King Maker focuses more on the supporting players and those on the outer fringes than on King himself.
The book, for me, acted as a prelude to all the action I read in King's Justice, as Maurice sets the stage--and the stakes--inside the section of Indianapolis known as Breton Court. Drugs, gangs, poverty, and an apparent neglect from the rest of the city (even some within Breton Court) have left the place in a quagmire. And all the while, two gangs makes plans against each other in hopes of superiority, while King and his motley crew of "knights" weight their chances of offering a better way and maintaining some measure of peace.
For a while, the book seemed to be left wanting for heroes, but they are there and this novel acts as much to show their emergence as it does for the various villains and outcasts. Very few of these characters are painted strictly virtuous and downright evil--though there is a brother and sister who come off as downright monstrous, labeled "Rogues" in Maurice's cast of players. The surprising lack of King at the forefront of the story took some getting used to, but I came to appreciate the way he developed so many characters, including ones with only modest parts to play in the overall story. While reading the book, I was also working my way through the third season of Deadwood on DVD, and I noticed one striking similarity between the two: David Milch and Maurice Broaddus both apparently strove for their universes to exist as character studies, and for the towns themselves to be characters.
Where the similarities between those two tales ends is where the fantastical elements enter Breton Court. It starts off a subtle at first, with no scenes really bludgeoning the reader with magic or supernatural creatures, but when it happens it's done to great effect. And much like King's Justice, the character of Merle is a real treat to behold as the insane wise man.
I didn't really love this book as much as I did its sequel, and I wonder if I'd have hurried to read King's Justice if I'd read King Maker first. It doesn't hone in on King and his Knights like I'd hoped, and it really takes a while for the big picture to come into focus. That said, I think the two books work well if read back-to-back, and with the third book in the trilogy, King's War, nearly here I am eager to see what the climax of this epic and modern Arthurian tale has in store.
May 11, 2011
This is an excellent and original first novel of urban fantasy, with dark horrific over tones. King maker is most easily described as King Arthur's court in reset in the ganglands of Indianapolis. Having grown up an hour south of Indianapolis, I grew up going to Indy to go to sporting events, metal and hardcore shows. So I was interested in this novel that took place in a city but familiar and unknown to me.
I think many of my friends who has lived in or around Indianapolis might still feel they have a little to learn about the from the point of view Broaddus provides. I admit I probably enjoyed the geography and local references a lot but there is plenty to like even if you have seen been to Indianapolis.
This book is a origin tale and has the difficult task of setting up characters who stand-in for King Arthur and his knights. Not to mention all the gang riff raff they have to deal with. It was smart to include a chart at the front of the book.
The fantasy elements are pretty restrained, and only appear in small doses until the end of the book, also it sets up the future books having a greater level of fantasy. This worked for me as Broaddus focused his energy on building strong and well defined characters. In this sense the first ¾ of King maker has more in common with The Wire than Excalibur. This is an excellent choice on the author's part because more than most Urban fantasy novels the world felt raw and real.
This is an excellent debut, but it is an origin novel and it's strength lies in strong characters and the road ahead. It's fortunate that Angry Robot has already released books two and three. They are already on my list.
I think many of my friends who has lived in or around Indianapolis might still feel they have a little to learn about the from the point of view Broaddus provides. I admit I probably enjoyed the geography and local references a lot but there is plenty to like even if you have seen been to Indianapolis.
This book is a origin tale and has the difficult task of setting up characters who stand-in for King Arthur and his knights. Not to mention all the gang riff raff they have to deal with. It was smart to include a chart at the front of the book.
The fantasy elements are pretty restrained, and only appear in small doses until the end of the book, also it sets up the future books having a greater level of fantasy. This worked for me as Broaddus focused his energy on building strong and well defined characters. In this sense the first ¾ of King maker has more in common with The Wire than Excalibur. This is an excellent choice on the author's part because more than most Urban fantasy novels the world felt raw and real.
This is an excellent debut, but it is an origin novel and it's strength lies in strong characters and the road ahead. It's fortunate that Angry Robot has already released books two and three. They are already on my list.
February 8, 2017
I don’t quit reading books. Faced with a book I don’t like or that doesn’t hold my interest, my usual course of action is merely to set it aside, not planning to quit but without plans to pick it up again. But sometimes I power my way through out of sheer cussedness. Of all the books I put my grubby little hands on at World Con, I was most excited about King Maker. How could I not be about a book that bills itself as “The Wire Meets Excalibur”? Well, at least I can say I finished it.
But if it’s anything like The Wire, it’s a very poor imitation indeed. I’m sure Arthurian legend has been retold so wearyingly, but I couldn’t say where. The tagline is, however, correct on the subject matter. King Maker is a contemporary fantasy set among the drug dealers of Indianapolis with obvious Arthurian elements. I won’t delve any deeper into the story than that, because I never cared about any of the details. The narrative follows many characters without making the reader care about any of them. This is, I think, a ploy to give us a deeper glimpse into the milieu rather than because the characters are essential to the plot (The Red Knight by Miles Cameron is a recent book I read that does this very well), but it fails because the sub-plots are no more interesting than the characters are no more interesting than the milieu. I take it this is the first book in a series, but that is no excuse for such a mild tremor of a story and I would prefer to pretend no more of this exists, anyway.
But if it’s anything like The Wire, it’s a very poor imitation indeed. I’m sure Arthurian legend has been retold so wearyingly, but I couldn’t say where. The tagline is, however, correct on the subject matter. King Maker is a contemporary fantasy set among the drug dealers of Indianapolis with obvious Arthurian elements. I won’t delve any deeper into the story than that, because I never cared about any of the details. The narrative follows many characters without making the reader care about any of them. This is, I think, a ploy to give us a deeper glimpse into the milieu rather than because the characters are essential to the plot (The Red Knight by Miles Cameron is a recent book I read that does this very well), but it fails because the sub-plots are no more interesting than the characters are no more interesting than the milieu. I take it this is the first book in a series, but that is no excuse for such a mild tremor of a story and I would prefer to pretend no more of this exists, anyway.
August 10, 2016
An Update of the Arthurian legend; Come On. How awesome would that be? I expected treachery, bravado, and betrayal. I have read most of the modern books written about King Arthur and the Knights of the round table. They weren't angels, but at the core it's a beautiful tale that never fails to touch my heart. Which was probably my problem with this story.
I can't stand these characters! Everything I know about thugs I learned from TV, but they seem pretty genuine to me. And I don't like them. At all. I gave it a full 60 pages and couldn't read any more. To a man they represent everything wrong with society. The first part of the book introduces us to the characters, (very well defined) and lays the groundwork for the plot (looks to be a humdinger).
Bottom line? Broaddus has probably set the scene for one helova redemptive tale, It's a solid debut with well defined characters and the beginning of an awesome plot, but I'm so put off by these guys I can't bear to continue.
I can't stand these characters! Everything I know about thugs I learned from TV, but they seem pretty genuine to me. And I don't like them. At all. I gave it a full 60 pages and couldn't read any more. To a man they represent everything wrong with society. The first part of the book introduces us to the characters, (very well defined) and lays the groundwork for the plot (looks to be a humdinger).
Bottom line? Broaddus has probably set the scene for one helova redemptive tale, It's a solid debut with well defined characters and the beginning of an awesome plot, but I'm so put off by these guys I can't bear to continue.
July 26, 2011
Well written but a challenging read. Broaddus not presenting a feel good story here. He is writing a gritty, urban drama about some tough characters in tough circumstances. Gritty violence and language permeate the tale. So despite the fact he's a Christian writer, don't go into this expecting a CBA friendly book. Powerful and important but not easy to wrap one's self around. Still recommended.
January 15, 2015
Oh dear.....
There is potentially a good story here, retelling the story of Kung Arthur through present-day American gangs: however, the back cover blurb does make comparison to "The Wire" TV series, which immediately made me think of something fast-paced and edgy. Sadly, this is about as fast-paced and edgy as an episode of Last of the Summer Wine....
Best avoided.
There is potentially a good story here, retelling the story of Kung Arthur through present-day American gangs: however, the back cover blurb does make comparison to "The Wire" TV series, which immediately made me think of something fast-paced and edgy. Sadly, this is about as fast-paced and edgy as an episode of Last of the Summer Wine....
Best avoided.
February 28, 2016
An opportunity missed probably best sums this up. I love the fantastical elements mixed with the urban themes popularised by The Wire but the book suffers from a lack of purpose and direction. The writing was pure poetry at times and the place setting vivid to instill a true sense of being part of the story only to be tainted by too many POV's and some odd chapter design. 2 stars .
October 27, 2016
I thought I wrote a review of this earlier, but either I didn't save it or it disappeared...
At any rate, this was a mildly disorienting book to read (there were some scene-to-scene transition issue), but it still sticks in my head: the sign of a pretty good book.
At any rate, this was a mildly disorienting book to read (there were some scene-to-scene transition issue), but it still sticks in my head: the sign of a pretty good book.
January 1, 2020
This is an urban fantasy reimagining of the Arthurian legend set in African-American ghetto of Indianapolis. It basically works and I basically enjoyed it. It’s the author’s first novel, so I could forgive him for the problems I had with it, and there are some. But overall, it was a lofty idea and I give him kudos for the attempt. The book won the Kitschies Golden Tentacle Award for debut novel in 2010, an award for progressive, intelligent, and entertaining genre fiction.
Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...
Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...
July 12, 2017
It's a little like reading "The Wire" with magic! I loved it! It was a neat idea to update the King Arthur legends to modern day Indianapolis. And, you can tell the author was well-versed in the source material. There were nods to all sorts of the Arthurian myths, including "The Knightly Tale of Gologras and Gawain". Beyond that, there were hauntingly beautiful passages about race, poverty, and the tragic cycle of drug addiction that were powerful enough on their own. Totally worth the read!
June 4, 2018
I gave up. Some of the descriptive writing was so corny, the random italicized lines here and there were distracting (possibly just the kindle version), and the run-on dialogue meant I had to think about who might be speaking each line. And nothing seemed to be happening. I checked reviews and the consensus seems to be that nothing happens for most of the book, so I decided it wasn't worth my time.
October 25, 2017
This story was stylistically very disjointed. It read like a dream where characters appear and disappear but the connections are blurry and unclear. It is an interesting read but also will leave you confused about what happened.
July 30, 2016
The most reinterpretation of King Arthur that I've yet come across, playing out among the police and street gangs of downtown Indianapolis. In this world, the Arthurian cycle seems to play out in every age, but the arcs can change, and we know at least two people are aware of it - since Morgana and Officer Green knock-off block king Uther in the prologue. Similarly there's a babbling old man who seems to think Uther's lost son, who simply goes by "King," is destined for more than back alley deals. He might change the balance of power in a part of the city that keeps getting more violent and chaotic, and throughout which, there are increasing rumors of something called "the dragon."
Breton Court is so different from classical interpretations of Camelot, and so right for adaptations of its power struggles and issues of fidelity and codes. There's ample fun with how characters have been adapted, and you'll soon comb through names for references inside of "Merle" and "Baylon" and "Percy." When the novel struggles, it relies on those callbacks to fill things in.
King Maker's major problem is having so many Point-Of-View characters that it's difficult to remember what any of them want or are working towards, especially as the book gets chaotic in its second half. Hopping from Wayne to Omarosa to Dred to Lott to Lady G, often for scenes shorter than three paperback pages, it's too easy to forget what group they belong to, who they've met, or even what's happened to them. It's ironic to watch characters to lose characterization because they were given Point-Of-View scenes, and it's ultimately unfortunate because it gives fewer of them chances to shine. When the novel nails characterization, it really shines.
The best example is when King and Lady G finally meet for the first time. They're unaware of the cycle they're stuck in, but feel it, and are feeling it out against each other.
It crackles from there, and this it what you crave as Merle keeps trying to steer King, or as Wayne starts suspecting more is up than Green just having a bad temper.
It's also fair warning that the book doesn't have a satisfying climax. Without spoiling what the "dragon" we've heard of is - it's only present for about four pages at the end. While there is a wild battle across the penultimate chapter, things overwhelmingly feel like this was the beginning of a story, not Book 1 in a modern trilogy, tasked with giving King his squad and getting them ready for the meatier matters to come. You have to go into a book like this knowing it's part of a Tolkienian Trilogy. There's much left for King's court to do.
Breton Court is so different from classical interpretations of Camelot, and so right for adaptations of its power struggles and issues of fidelity and codes. There's ample fun with how characters have been adapted, and you'll soon comb through names for references inside of "Merle" and "Baylon" and "Percy." When the novel struggles, it relies on those callbacks to fill things in.
King Maker's major problem is having so many Point-Of-View characters that it's difficult to remember what any of them want or are working towards, especially as the book gets chaotic in its second half. Hopping from Wayne to Omarosa to Dred to Lott to Lady G, often for scenes shorter than three paperback pages, it's too easy to forget what group they belong to, who they've met, or even what's happened to them. It's ironic to watch characters to lose characterization because they were given Point-Of-View scenes, and it's ultimately unfortunate because it gives fewer of them chances to shine. When the novel nails characterization, it really shines.
The best example is when King and Lady G finally meet for the first time. They're unaware of the cycle they're stuck in, but feel it, and are feeling it out against each other.
"Like how you can think of a friend and they just show up."
"Or how you can be in need and they just know to come over or have the right thing to say."
"Exactly."
"Do you want to go out sometime?"
"You ask out all the girls you rescue from a fight?"
"Only the interesting ones."
It crackles from there, and this it what you crave as Merle keeps trying to steer King, or as Wayne starts suspecting more is up than Green just having a bad temper.
It's also fair warning that the book doesn't have a satisfying climax. Without spoiling what the "dragon" we've heard of is - it's only present for about four pages at the end. While there is a wild battle across the penultimate chapter, things overwhelmingly feel like this was the beginning of a story, not Book 1 in a modern trilogy, tasked with giving King his squad and getting them ready for the meatier matters to come. You have to go into a book like this knowing it's part of a Tolkienian Trilogy. There's much left for King's court to do.
May 31, 2010
Imagine the legend of King Arthur told in a modern era, and set against a complex gangland turf war as a backdrop. King Maker is the first book in the series The Knights of Breton Court, though in this first installment it spends a great deal of time detailing the decay of the neighborhood created by the warring gang factions.
There are early hints of magic from the start, with the appearance of a nature elemental as well as a homeless guy named Merle prognosticating for Luther White. The story quickly shifts to the present day. Very little of the story follows King James White, son of Luther and heir apparent to the “kingdom,” though he doesn’t yet know it.
Instead, the reader is guided through the various street crews run by rival gang leaders Night and Dred. Neither care much for King, but instead of provoking him directly, the leaders choose to vie for the prime dealing locations in the various neighborhoods.
With Dred’s crew lacking the strength to take on Night, Dred hires a pair of trolls to work as extra muscle. This makes his crew feel inferior, and it inspires them into some reckless and stupid behavior to “look hard,” resulting in an escalating war.
Add to this a fey, a few magi, a dragon, the cops, drive-bys, tainted drugs, and you get a complex tale that moves at a breakneck pace.
The aforementioned knights are slow to react to the war in their hood, so their lives are like various subplots to the core plot of the war itself. This is not the story of how the heroes save the day so much as how the villains destroyed themselves. Which is not to say the Knights don’t get their chance to develop. They do, but these are brief glimpses of their lives in the midst of a war.
This is a solid introduction with a blazing pace, whetting the appetite for future installments. Though it’s a serious book, there are moments of humor that help lighten the mood at just the right times. (“I love her like a big-tittied play cousin at a family reunion.”) The conclusion is satisfying, and it opens up new threads to be pursued in the second book, King’s Justice. I know I’ll be standing in line to pick up that second book, and I give King Maker a full 5 stars.
There are early hints of magic from the start, with the appearance of a nature elemental as well as a homeless guy named Merle prognosticating for Luther White. The story quickly shifts to the present day. Very little of the story follows King James White, son of Luther and heir apparent to the “kingdom,” though he doesn’t yet know it.
Instead, the reader is guided through the various street crews run by rival gang leaders Night and Dred. Neither care much for King, but instead of provoking him directly, the leaders choose to vie for the prime dealing locations in the various neighborhoods.
With Dred’s crew lacking the strength to take on Night, Dred hires a pair of trolls to work as extra muscle. This makes his crew feel inferior, and it inspires them into some reckless and stupid behavior to “look hard,” resulting in an escalating war.
Add to this a fey, a few magi, a dragon, the cops, drive-bys, tainted drugs, and you get a complex tale that moves at a breakneck pace.
The aforementioned knights are slow to react to the war in their hood, so their lives are like various subplots to the core plot of the war itself. This is not the story of how the heroes save the day so much as how the villains destroyed themselves. Which is not to say the Knights don’t get their chance to develop. They do, but these are brief glimpses of their lives in the midst of a war.
This is a solid introduction with a blazing pace, whetting the appetite for future installments. Though it’s a serious book, there are moments of humor that help lighten the mood at just the right times. (“I love her like a big-tittied play cousin at a family reunion.”) The conclusion is satisfying, and it opens up new threads to be pursued in the second book, King’s Justice. I know I’ll be standing in line to pick up that second book, and I give King Maker a full 5 stars.
September 24, 2013
I enjoy well done remixes and extensions of classic tales, and with only a few exceptions, Maurice Broaddus has done that with the Arthur legends.
I started this book believing it to be a retelling of the story in a new setting. I quickly realized that wasn't the case after all. The events we all know from Mallory, White and others are referenced here and there in the narrative. They happened. Instead, King Maker posits a cyclic story that arises repeatedly as the conditions are right.
In the first chapter alone we see old friends' new forms - Luther White (Uther), (The) Green (Knight), Morgana (la Fey), Merle (Merlin), etc. White, a powerful street lord, has a son, King. He also has a tryst with Morgana and fathers another, before he's killed by Green and by treachery.
Some time passes, and we learn than the situation has changed. Green remains a lieutenant to a man called Night (Gwyn ap Nudd, maybe?). They are opposed by Luther's unacknowledged son, Dred. King, after a flirtation with thuggishness in his youth has stepped out of it, spending his time more with Wayne, a social worker and general do-gooder who's come up out of the same neighborhood.
The book's plot deals mostly with machinations between Dred and Night, though they have consequences for King, Wayne, and other characters. It's not until close to the end of the book that circumstances, fate, and crazy ol' Merle have convinced King that he needs to step up and protect Breton Court from the two gang lords.
The only real downside to the book for me was the writing, which was inconsistent. In many ways it was excellent; Broaddus uses different authorial voices depending on the POV characters, bringing them even more to life. At the same time, there were instances of pointlessly complex sentences, missing verbs, and other poor construction.
Still, those issues were infrequent enough to avoid making the book unpleasant. Broaddus' deft intermingling of straight and gang life, magic, and the fey made for a compelling read. The Arthurian underpinnings provided a strong foundation. Deviations from the story and the addition of crime and horror elements prevented it from feeling stale or rehashed.
I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
I started this book believing it to be a retelling of the story in a new setting. I quickly realized that wasn't the case after all. The events we all know from Mallory, White and others are referenced here and there in the narrative. They happened. Instead, King Maker posits a cyclic story that arises repeatedly as the conditions are right.
In the first chapter alone we see old friends' new forms - Luther White (Uther), (The) Green (Knight), Morgana (la Fey), Merle (Merlin), etc. White, a powerful street lord, has a son, King. He also has a tryst with Morgana and fathers another, before he's killed by Green and by treachery.
Some time passes, and we learn than the situation has changed. Green remains a lieutenant to a man called Night (Gwyn ap Nudd, maybe?). They are opposed by Luther's unacknowledged son, Dred. King, after a flirtation with thuggishness in his youth has stepped out of it, spending his time more with Wayne, a social worker and general do-gooder who's come up out of the same neighborhood.
The book's plot deals mostly with machinations between Dred and Night, though they have consequences for King, Wayne, and other characters. It's not until close to the end of the book that circumstances, fate, and crazy ol' Merle have convinced King that he needs to step up and protect Breton Court from the two gang lords.
The only real downside to the book for me was the writing, which was inconsistent. In many ways it was excellent; Broaddus uses different authorial voices depending on the POV characters, bringing them even more to life. At the same time, there were instances of pointlessly complex sentences, missing verbs, and other poor construction.
Still, those issues were infrequent enough to avoid making the book unpleasant. Broaddus' deft intermingling of straight and gang life, magic, and the fey made for a compelling read. The Arthurian underpinnings provided a strong foundation. Deviations from the story and the addition of crime and horror elements prevented it from feeling stale or rehashed.
I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
November 30, 2015
I bought this book.
King Arthur in modern day, gang-ridden Indianapolis, this book promises, and the Arthurian legend is evident in King Maker by Maurice Broaddus. The book opens with the short, dark tale of Luther, gang leader and father to an infant, King James White. Not long after betraying King's mother with another woman Luther is shot, betrayed by his right hand man.
With that, we're told in the tone of a Shakespearean tragedy, the story moves on to King, who is in fact the One True King (albeit rather far from England). Except that despite King's role as the lead he's actually in the book very little.
In fact that's where this whole book stalled for me. Broaddus can clearly write circles around other people, but in this book he writes in circles that have hollow middles. Almost all the focus is on character building, tension building and weaving in the minute details of the re-written mythos. But for a large part of the book nothing happens.
Also, Broaddus spends an exorbitant amount of time building up characters who are ultimately side characters. This leads to next to no connection with King himself and a sense of confusion when major events to happen, or major players are killed. Because the emphasis is on everyone being gray (all the bad guys have a reason for their bad, either playing a role or being crushed by a poor life) is so overwhelming that no one comes out as a compelling or valiant hero.
Fate and legend are powerful aspects of the tale, as is the desolation and hopelessness of life way below the poverty line. Not to mention the clever metamorphosis of fiends into zombies and the very interesting use of fae and otherworldly creatures in the most unusual of modern settings. Once Broaddus does get things moving King Maker gets very good, richly thematic and enticingly original.
But in the end this book on its own is too slow for most urban fantasy fans. Luckily readers won't have to see it end here, and can hope things pick up in book two (King's Justice due March 2011).
King Arthur in modern day, gang-ridden Indianapolis, this book promises, and the Arthurian legend is evident in King Maker by Maurice Broaddus. The book opens with the short, dark tale of Luther, gang leader and father to an infant, King James White. Not long after betraying King's mother with another woman Luther is shot, betrayed by his right hand man.
With that, we're told in the tone of a Shakespearean tragedy, the story moves on to King, who is in fact the One True King (albeit rather far from England). Except that despite King's role as the lead he's actually in the book very little.
In fact that's where this whole book stalled for me. Broaddus can clearly write circles around other people, but in this book he writes in circles that have hollow middles. Almost all the focus is on character building, tension building and weaving in the minute details of the re-written mythos. But for a large part of the book nothing happens.
Also, Broaddus spends an exorbitant amount of time building up characters who are ultimately side characters. This leads to next to no connection with King himself and a sense of confusion when major events to happen, or major players are killed. Because the emphasis is on everyone being gray (all the bad guys have a reason for their bad, either playing a role or being crushed by a poor life) is so overwhelming that no one comes out as a compelling or valiant hero.
Fate and legend are powerful aspects of the tale, as is the desolation and hopelessness of life way below the poverty line. Not to mention the clever metamorphosis of fiends into zombies and the very interesting use of fae and otherworldly creatures in the most unusual of modern settings. Once Broaddus does get things moving King Maker gets very good, richly thematic and enticingly original.
But in the end this book on its own is too slow for most urban fantasy fans. Luckily readers won't have to see it end here, and can hope things pick up in book two (King's Justice due March 2011).
February 10, 2011
Always a sucker for Arthur Mythos - can't believe it's taken this long to get to the top of my read pile.
This book is gorgeous, in a dark and horrible way. It reads like a nightmare that is lush and decadent, while being set in squats and under bridges. Even those characters at the *top* of the hierarchy, live in conditions that most people wouldn't consider a basic standard of living.
I highly recommend this as a read that will shake you up a little and maybe pull you out of any comfort soon you might be in regarding Urban Fantasy.
I have some issues with the culture of the book and the relationship with women portrayed - It's hard out there for a ho... but it's not an issue with the writer - it's written beautifully - it's just that hard attitude and world view of the slice that is being written about really couldn't be portrayed any other way. Not and work or be realistic - but it is sort of depressing.
I have a lot of love for King, Lady G, Merle, Wayne - and a host of side characters that have relevant roles in the unfolding of the tale. Sometimes scenes jumped in a way that I had to figure out where I was - but I'm not sure if that was the formatting issue mentioned below or an authorial issue (or even just a me issue.)
Still gets a Bravo! from me as even with any *figurin* I might have had to do - still worth it. Can't wait to read Book 2.
Nit Picks:
The kindle edition I bought had some formatting problems that have been reported - so hopefully those get fixed - nothing major - some spacing issues that caused paragraphs with dialogue and end and beginning to get thrown together.
This book is gorgeous, in a dark and horrible way. It reads like a nightmare that is lush and decadent, while being set in squats and under bridges. Even those characters at the *top* of the hierarchy, live in conditions that most people wouldn't consider a basic standard of living.
I highly recommend this as a read that will shake you up a little and maybe pull you out of any comfort soon you might be in regarding Urban Fantasy.
I have some issues with the culture of the book and the relationship with women portrayed - It's hard out there for a ho... but it's not an issue with the writer - it's written beautifully - it's just that hard attitude and world view of the slice that is being written about really couldn't be portrayed any other way. Not and work or be realistic - but it is sort of depressing.
I have a lot of love for King, Lady G, Merle, Wayne - and a host of side characters that have relevant roles in the unfolding of the tale. Sometimes scenes jumped in a way that I had to figure out where I was - but I'm not sure if that was the formatting issue mentioned below or an authorial issue (or even just a me issue.)
Still gets a Bravo! from me as even with any *figurin* I might have had to do - still worth it. Can't wait to read Book 2.
Nit Picks:
The kindle edition I bought had some formatting problems that have been reported - so hopefully those get fixed - nothing major - some spacing issues that caused paragraphs with dialogue and end and beginning to get thrown together.
did-not-finish
December 20, 2012I tried.
I enjoyed the prelude part of this and the Arthur connection, as well as the non mainstream characters.
Then the novel begins and although I just read through character introductions, I now have to read through more character introductions. I also have to read about the city and the quirks of people that don't seem important in any way so I start skipping a bit. Then there is our prophet character so I read that, oh back to other uninteresting characters. Skipping. So I am sure that this relates to king Arthur and I am sure the main character leads some people against a rival gang, I just don't care to read through descriptions of bigmoneycashgreenz and big momma and who is who's baby daddy to get to a story I already heard before. Once I start skipping a sentence or two it always leads to skipping a paragraph then skipping a page then wondering why I am still reading.
I enjoyed the prelude part of this and the Arthur connection, as well as the non mainstream characters.
Then the novel begins and although I just read through character introductions, I now have to read through more character introductions. I also have to read about the city and the quirks of people that don't seem important in any way so I start skipping a bit. Then there is our prophet character so I read that, oh back to other uninteresting characters. Skipping. So I am sure that this relates to king Arthur and I am sure the main character leads some people against a rival gang, I just don't care to read through descriptions of bigmoneycashgreenz and big momma and who is who's baby daddy to get to a story I already heard before. Once I start skipping a sentence or two it always leads to skipping a paragraph then skipping a page then wondering why I am still reading.
October 7, 2016
I really don't understand what the other reviews are complaining about. Apparently there's a review somewhere that calls this book "too ghetto." Being someone who grew up outside America, I have no standard for what's "too ghetto" and what isn't. I dove into this book from the first page and loved it. Even in the prologue, when CashMoney comes up behind Luther, I was praying it wouldn't happen, but it did.
The flashbacks work perfectly, everything is in context, and so far I haven't hit any bumps except a missed 'as' that would've made the sentence sound right. I'm still reading, and okay I don't understand every reference to products like shoes etc, again I'm not American, but I get the gist.
In essence, this book trumps everything I've read that dares to call itself Urban Fantasy.
4/5, probably bump it up to a 5 once I finish.
Broaddus, I salute you.
The flashbacks work perfectly, everything is in context, and so far I haven't hit any bumps except a missed 'as' that would've made the sentence sound right. I'm still reading, and okay I don't understand every reference to products like shoes etc, again I'm not American, but I get the gist.
In essence, this book trumps everything I've read that dares to call itself Urban Fantasy.
4/5, probably bump it up to a 5 once I finish.
Broaddus, I salute you.
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