Waiting on Wednesday (39): The Waking World

Waiting on Wednesday

The Waking World: The Future King #1 by Tom Huddleston

Book cover for The Waking World by Tom Huddleston

waking world synopsis

I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS BOOK. I’m so upset that it’s only coming out in the UK right now. Because OMG. A dystopian King Arthur tale? The return of King Arthur is actually a HUGE element in the original story, but I don’t know of very many books that deal with it (AVALON HIGH by Meg Cabot and THE DEATH CATCHERS by Jennifer Anne Kogler come to mind), but THE WAKING WORLD has pirates. PIRATES. I can’t.

I am just basically DYING to read this book. As a huge King Arthur nerd, I am always on the lookout for more books and retellings about him and his world, and this one sounds so legit. Also, the author’s name is ALMOST Tom Hiddleston, and that gets me VERY excited.

THE WAKING WORLD  is already available in the UK. No release date for the US, though. *sad face*

Second Star

Classics Retold: King Arthur–It Begins

King ArthurAs you may already know, there’s an excellent project just kicking off this month, hosted by a slew of lovely ladies, although my particular classic is being hosted by Alyssa @ Books Take You Places. Classics Retold is a super fun opportunity for bloggers to pick one classic tale from LITERALLY any time period and genre and read or watch a bunch of different retellings. Then, we get to blog about it and get all fangirly. It was really no contest for me AT ALL to choose the baddest BAMF of them all, King Arthur. Here’s what I’m hoping to discuss for my King Arthur Classics Retold project!

King Arthur

I’m pretty familiar with the King Arthur legend, but I love it so much that I don’t think I could ever get enough of it. And despite knowing the major points of the story, I’ve never read any definitive texts. I have read several retellings already, but I found a few that were new to me, as well as a classic that is HUGE but fun–go figure!

King ArthurI don’t have a schedule for when I’m going to be reviewing these because, one, I haven’t actually FINISHED THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING–it’s seriously large, I’m not even kidding–and, two, I’m still in the middle of finishing a few others, but my plans are to read these books (or as much of them as I can) and then talk about what I liked about them, what I didn’t, and how they differ.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING by T.H.White

THE WINTER OF MAGIC’S RETURN by Pamela F. Service

THE WINTER PRINCE by Elizabeth Wein

SONG OF THE SPARROW by Lisa Ann Sandell (VERSE. Not usually my thing, but for King Arthur, I’ll do anything.)

King Arthur

I’m pretty stoked about these movies and TV show. In fact, this is the one part of my Classics Retold project that I’m nearly finished with. I’ve been a Merlin superfan for a while now, but still need to watch the last five episodes. The Sword in the Stone is a Disney version of THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, and I’ve watched it already and there’s lots of similarities between it and the little bit of the book I’ve read already. And I’ve already watched Avalon High, the Disney movie version of Meg Cabot’s book of the same name. Woot!

King Arthur

King Arthur

Because King Arthur goodness just isn’t limited to books and movies. I’m going to dig up some fangirly goodies for you (and me).

I’m so excited to be taking part in this project, friends. The prospect of immersing myself in King Arthur ANYTHING is excellent indeed, and I can’t wait to share ALL THE THINGS with you!

Classics Retold: King Arthur

King Arthur

BOOM. LOOK AT THAT BADASS. Guys, I am beyond excited to be participating in the Classics Retold Project. A bunch of awesome ladies are hosting this event together so that between May 25th and the whole month of September, each participant will have a chance to choose and read one source classic from a LITERAL CRAP TON of classics in any genre: mythology, ancient tales, medieval legends (HOLLA! That’s where I’m at thanks to the awesome host of those tales, Alyssa from Books Take You Places), to American, Gothic, and British classics AND MORE. Because of the aforementioned crap ton of source material, each lovely hostess is in charge of a different group (details below). After the participant reads the original classic they’ve chosen, they need to find some retellings or other versions of the same tale to read/watch and then chat about it all. If you haven’t guessed from the title of this post, I’m hitching my cart to one of the most epic legends from the British Isles: KING EFFING ARTHUR.

King Arthur

Book cover for The Once and Future King by T.H. WhiteTHE ONCE AND FUTURE KING by T.H. White

I know that, technically, I should be reading Thomas Malory’s L’MORTE DE ARTHUR, but THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING is a classic in its own right, and so I’m going to stick with the book that isn’t likely to make me cross-eyed. I am DROOLING with excitement over this. I mean, IT’S KING ARTHUR. If you know me at all, you’ve probably seen me nerd out the BBC show, Merlin, before. That’s because I love this myth, and I am a perpetual sucker for anything Arthurian.

King Arthur

SO. MANY. BOOKS. Friends, there are so many King Arthur retellings/reworkings/reimaginings out there. I’m definitely going to try to read these books, but I’m still on the lookout for others. I’ve already read quite a few YA retellings so I’m looking for ones that are new to me. (Books I’ve already finished: Jane Yolen’s SWORD OF THE RIGHTFUL KING, Meg Cabot’s AVALON HIGH, and Jennifer Anne Kolger’s THE DEATH CATCHERS.)

Book cover for Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann SandellSONG OF THE SPARROW by Lisa Ann Sandell

I’ve actually owned this book for some time. I bought it not realizing it was a story in verse–not usually my jam. But I was attracted to it because it’s the story of Elaine of Ascolat, the daughter of one of King Arthur’s men, who befriends Arthur’s older sister, Morgan. Elaine is in love with Lancelot, a HUGE secret, and all the shenanigans are thrown into further turmoil when Guinevere arrives. I’m so glad to finally have some motivation to read this one.

Book cover for Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan CooperOVER SEA, UNDER STONE (The Dark Is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper

I’d never heard of Susan Cooper until just recently, and now I’m all over it. This series is about a family of kids in modern times who basically go after the holy grail and other Arthurian-ish things. Sounds SO GOOD.

Book cover for Winter of Magic's Return by Pamela F. ServiceWINTER OF MAGIC’S RETURN by Pamela F. Service

YO. This one sounds SO LEGIT. So, there’s been a nuclear holocaust, right? And Merlin is RESURRECTED and, believing that magic has returned as well, goes on a QUEST with two friends to find King Arthur. I MEAN…

Book cover for The Winter Prince by Elizabeth WeinTHE WINTER PRINCE by Elizabeth Wein

I had no idea until recently that CODE NAME VERITY wasn’t Elizabeth Wein’s first book. But it isn’t, because she’s written a series of Arthurian retellings focusing on Medraut, who I’m thinking is Mordred, the son of a British king named Artos, who I’m thinking is Arthur. Seriously, NOTHING about ANY of these books sounds less than AWESOME to me, so I’m looking forward to this one, too.

Also, TOTALLY WATCHING THIS:

The Sword in the Stone

I am SO. EFFING. EXCITED. If you want to participate in this most excellent event, check out the other hosts and their themes!!

Alyssa @ Books Take You Places: Ancient to Renaissance Classics

Brittany @ Book Addict’s Guide: Mythology Classics

Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy: 19th Century and Gothic Classics

Alison @ The Cheap Reader: Children’s Classics

Wendy @ Excellent Library: American & Miscellaneous Classics