A Bit Too Preachy For Me
1.5 stars rounded up to 2
"The Princess of Selgovae" started off strong, a book retelling Arthuririan legends in the style of recent translations/recountings. It was fairly obvious that the author did their research, and the illustrations were beautiful.
Unfortunately, where this book went wrong for me was the heavy emphasis on Christian theming and teaching. While I realize that a lot of Arthurian mythology was reclaimed to a Christian perspective, this book over time went from incorporating Christian themes in the same vein as previous retelling, to actual prosetylizing about the glories of Christ. Although I have nothing against those who enjoy Christian fiction, I am not one of them, and I could not help feel very much tricked into reading what was ostensibly devout Christian fanfiction.
On a lesser note, the illustrations, unlike in the First Look on the BookishFirst website, were all black and white with none of the vibrant color that had me interested in the book in the first place. Although I can understand the burden colored printing can have financially, I feel that incorporating these elements in the First Look were a bit deceptive.
Perhaps the only thing that kept me from DNF'ing and raising this book by half a star to 1.5 stars was the character Rene and his beloved horse Martinet. Their interactions and witty, funny dialogue was the only bright point in medieval story gone so terribly awry.
Thank you to BookishFirst and the author for giving me a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"The Princess of Selgovae" started off strong, a book retelling Arthuririan legends in the style of recent translations/recountings. It was fairly obvious that the author did their research, and the illustrations were beautiful.
Unfortunately, where this book went wrong for me was the heavy emphasis on Christian theming and teaching. While I realize that a lot of Arthurian mythology was reclaimed to a Christian perspective, this book over time went from incorporating Christian themes in the same vein as previous retelling, to actual prosetylizing about the glories of Christ. Although I have nothing against those who enjoy Christian fiction, I am not one of them, and I could not help feel very much tricked into reading what was ostensibly devout Christian fanfiction.
On a lesser note, the illustrations, unlike in the First Look on the BookishFirst website, were all black and white with none of the vibrant color that had me interested in the book in the first place. Although I can understand the burden colored printing can have financially, I feel that incorporating these elements in the First Look were a bit deceptive.
Perhaps the only thing that kept me from DNF'ing and raising this book by half a star to 1.5 stars was the character Rene and his beloved horse Martinet. Their interactions and witty, funny dialogue was the only bright point in medieval story gone so terribly awry.
Thank you to BookishFirst and the author for giving me a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.