Review: Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
Overview:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
This is probably one of the more unique Arthurian retellings I’ve read. I enjoyed the Sebastian’s fresh take on the familiar characters and plot, as well as the discussions on mental health that this book prompted. My biggest complaint is how it fails to presents the topic of feminism as advertised.
Content Warning:
Half Sick of Shadows contains suicide, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, death of a parent, toxic relationships, sexism, violence, gore, infidelity, and confinement.
Book Description:
Half Sick of Shadows is a young adult fantasy standalone.
Elaine Shallot is born with the ability to see the future. Escaping Camelot and the vicious protection of her mother at a young age, she finds haven on the magical isle of Avalon. Here, she studies alongside Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana until the day comes when they must help Arthur reclaim his throne. While her friends worry about external threats to Arthur’s legitimacy, Elaine prophesizes that the greatest betrayal of all may come from their very circle. With the future quickly closing in, Elaine must grapple with how much control she truly has and what she will be willing to sacrifice to change fate.
On the Book as an Arthurian Retelling:
Many Arthurian retellings slap the original storyline into a new environment or time period and call it a day. Sebastian’s take keeps things more unpredictable by completely re-imagining relationships and plot points that are central to the authentic narrative of King Arthur. If you’re a purist when it comes to classical literature, you might not appreciate the fact that her main characters grow up on Avalon, that Mordred is not Arthur’s child, and that Merlin is somewhat indifferent to Arthur’s success… but I am not mad about it! Despite these changes, Sebastian still invokes the major themes that are at the core of Arthurian legend — loyalty, morality, and friendship. She still builds conflict and character development effectively, while also maintaining enough of a connection to the original fairytale-esque feel of Camelot to keep it in the realm of a proper retelling. These choices result in an emphasis on players that are usually secondary to the main story. Getting to see their motivations and arcs brought to life in a fully-fleshed, unique way was highly refreshing.
On the Themes of Anxiety and Mental Health:
There are many references to depression and anxiety throughout Half Sick of Shadows, but I was particularly moved by Elaine’s relationship with mental health. Her Seer ability forces her to live in constant tension with countless futures. When presented with all the potential outcomes, she hyper fixates on the worst-case scenario, going to great lengths to out-think and out-maneuver any harm before it occurs. While I disagree with some of the ways fate plays a role in this retelling (more on that below), I very much related to the ways her character grapples with trying control what’s to come. Not only did this inner conflict create a sense of resonance with the text, but it also allowed me to reflect upon how I let fear of the unknown affect my day-to-day life. There are a few more intense scenes, but generally I would recommend this book if you’re interested in exploring such themes in a low-risk manner.
* Please note: I am by no means a mental health expert, and this is an opinion based on my own experiences. Please seek the aid of trained health providers for any and all resources regarding topics of anxiety, depression, etc.
On the Book as a Feminist Text [spoilers]:
This book has been advertised on Goodreads, Book of the Month, and other major platforms as a “feminist” retelling of Arthurian legend. Relative to the original story of the Lady of Shallot, I would agree that this re-imagining is a marked improvement in that arena. However, I don’t know if I would necessarily hold this story up as a shining example of women’s empowerment. Specifically, I have major beef with how Elaine’s arc is presented in relation to fate. On one hand, she claims that she makes the "choice" to accept the position as the Lady of the Lake at the end of the book, and a core principle of feminism is that women, in fact, get to choose how to live their lives. On the other hand, does destiny really allow choice? Throughout the book, Elaine’s options are constantly defined by the how the heroic men in her life are prophesized to act and succeed, and less by her own wants and desires. She prioritizes Arthur’s kingship above her own happiness and the happiness of the other women in her life, going so far as to ignore Morgana’s poor treatment and to push Guinevere into a marriage that doesn’t suit her. Up until the very end, Elaine’s every action is contextualized by the idea of the “common good” that is predicted to occur under Arthur’s rule and less by what is actually good for her.
On Who Might Enjoy Half Sick of Shadows:
I recommend you read this book if you:
Enjoy BBC Network’s television program Merlin
Are interested in introspective, darker retellings, such as Madeline Miller’s Circe
Want a book that will leave you with an emotional impact, as opposed to just another happy ending
Like exploring themes of mental health in the fantasy genre
PLEASE NOTE: Image sources for the photo edit on this post can be found here.