The legend of King Arthur has withstood the test of time. His is an ancient story, still revered today, as seen through the many retellings of the stories of King Arthur and the knights of Camelot. You may also see a surplus of these stories retold from the perspective of the female characters. Here’s some of the more recent Arthurian retellings:
Arthur: A New Life by Amy Jeffs
“Tracing an epic story from Merlin’s conception and the building of the Round Table to the abduction of Guinevere and King Arthur’s ambitious quest for Empire, this Arthur is as real as any other, brought back to life from the earliest sources.“
The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by HG Parry
“Wales, 1941. As the second world war ravages the globe and bombs fall from the sky, people all over the world begin to dream of King Arthur. The dreams spread like a fantastical plague, flooding people’s sleep night after night. Whispers arise of wonders and unexplained sights – dragons in the London Underground, and strange lights over Stonehenge. Self-proclaimed prophets claim they are miracles, heralding Arthur’s return at the time of Britain’s greatest need.“
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
“A gifted young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot to compete for a spot on the Round Table, only to find he’s too late. The king died two weeks ago at the Battle of Camlann, leaving no heir, and only a handful of the knights of the Round Table survive.“
Worship by Alice Winn
“Irish princess Isode is certain she will marry a king worthy of her, and she believes that king might just be Sir Palomides – if only he would convert to Christianity. Her plans, however, are shattered when a mysterious knight named Tristram defeats her beloved in a tournament. Solitary, handsome, and fast becoming the best knight of all, Tristram has no interest in marrying Isode. He only wanted to win approval – worship – from his idol, Palomides, and a seat with the knights of the Round Table. But after the tournament, Tristram and Isode’s fates are tied, whether they like it or not.“
The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
“In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend.“
Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates
“What if the Knights of the Round Table had been women? This afternoon Cass’s older sister will be married. Soon she will be too. Gone will be days of running through fields and feeling the earth between her toes. So when a beautiful leather-clad woman rides up and offers to take her away, Cass doesn’t hesitate to join her.“
Bliss and Blunder by Victoria Gosling
“Arthur and Gwen married young. Twenty years on, Gwen’s got it all: wealth, beauty, a famous husband who’s the founder of Britain’s most successful tech company, stables full of horses, millions of followers on Instagram, an unstable lover, a wayward son, a hoard of secrets, an aching heart, and a cyberstalking blackmailer who calls himself The Invisible Knight.“
The Chosen Queen by Sam Davey
“Igraine, destined mother of King Arthur, takes center stage for a powerful, feminist retelling of Camelot.“
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna
“The Cleaving is an Arthurian retelling that follows the tangled stories of four women: Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to control their own destinies amid the wars and rivalries that will determine the destiny of Britain.“
The Once and Future King by TH White
“Exquisite comedy offsets the tragedy of Arthur′s personal doom as White brings to life the major British epic of all time with brilliance, grandeur, warmth and charm.“
Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch
“An atmospheric, feminist retelling of the early life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, set against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.“
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
“The Buried Giant begins as a couple set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope of finding a son they have not seen in years.“
Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee
“An immortal Knight of the Round Table faces his greatest challenge yet—saving the politically polarized, rapidly warming world from itself—in this slyly funny contemporary take on Arthurian legend.“
The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty
“Outlander-meets-The Princess Bride plus Camelot in a fresh, big-hearted, feminist, timeslip adventure reimagining the epic saga of King Arthur, as told from the perspective of his spunky and surprising queen, Vera – complete with time travel and good running shoes!“
Galahad and the Grail by Malcolm Guite
“In this first Volume of Merlin’s Isle, join the prophesied youth, Sir Galahad, and the other knights of the quest as they set out from Camelot to achieve the Holy Grail. The accomplishment of their goal will heal not only the wounded Fisher King, but will bring about the long-hoped for healing of the land itself.“
The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn
“Hidden away on the Isle of Women, a nameless orphan grows up among a powerful sisterhood, always at a distance. But whispers follow a prophecy naming him Lancelot, tied to the fate of King Arthur’s court.
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
“From an outstanding new voice in cozy fantasy comes Greenteeth, a tale of fae, folklore, and found family, narrated by a charismatic lake-dwelling monster with a voice unlike any other, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.“
4 stars from Library Cat!
The Lady of the Lake by Jean Menzies
“When Lady Viviane leaves the lakes of the far North for the splendour of Camelot, she knows the destiny her father has planned for her. To capture the heart and hand of the young prince, Arthur. To bring her family richness and glory.“
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
“…a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.“
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