**SPOILER REVIEW** 

This is definitely an interesting take on the classic story of King Arthur. Where most retellings show the greatness and power of excalibur, this one focuses on corruption which is for sure a cool take. However, the execution did nothing for me. I feel like the plot didn’t have clear goals and there was barely any character development, like at all. 

Arthur has become an alcoholic and absent father after his wife’s death - definitely an overused trope for me. The plot twist of who Merlin was in the story could have been cool but i just thought it was really gross and paedophillic and really dirties the legend. Excalibur being insane and corrupt could’ve been a really cool plot point and you could have done so much with that but you did this instead. 

I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone, and i’d say to definitely avoid it if you love arthurian stories cos this will definitely put a damper on that for you. This isn’t the worst thing i’ve ever read but tbh just grossed me out and also bored me at the same time. 

TWs/CWs - Alcohol Consumption; Alcoholism; Blood; Body Horror; Brothel; Bugs; Death; Death of a Parent; Forced Marriage; Gore; Misogyny; Nudity; Prostitution; Sexual Assault; Sexual content; Violence; Vomit; War