I’ve been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I’ve always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur.

Now I’m done hiding.

My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.

When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind.

No pressure.

 


This was in my top ten most anticipated books of 2019 and it didn't disappoint! Once & Future is a worthy retelling that is beyond captivating and will keep its readers on the edge of their seats. As far as different spins on the beloved Arthurian legend goes, I have only experienced a couple. But, Once & Future is definitely my new favourite.

Reading this was a joy and truly one of my favourite adventures of the year so far. Incredibly vivid and fast paced, Once & Future sets a standard for retellings. I'm truly blown away with how good this book was--I literally devoured it in one sitting. When I started it, I wasn't aware that it was the first of a series and I'm SO excited for it to continue.

This book has a lot of good qualities to it. Naturally, the legend itself is a classic that has been built up time and time again. Once & Future brings something new to the table; revitalizing a familiar tale and giving it a new edge. In truth, the duration of the novel is just as sharp as the sword on its cover and it's brilliantly done. 

What sets this retelling apart from others is simple: it's got representation beyond your wildest dreams.

It's SO satisfying to see so much more being brought to the forefront of literature and Once & Future has A LOT to look to. Not only did it set a new standard for high stakes retellings, it's here to show others in its genre how real representation is done. Further, it tackles a lot of issues that parallel stuff happening in our world right now--which is always something to appreciate in literature.

The dynamic duo of authors put so much into Once & Future that you cannot ignore it. You literally feel how much soul is sprinkled in and with how much thought and care they applied to it. From the diversity and representation, to the familiarity and newness, to the on the edge of your seat tension and excitement that comes with every page, this is not a book you should miss.