A somewhat distractedly different take on Arthurian myth which introduces Pereture a self taught super strength young woman who slots into a Percival shaped opening of Arthur's companions. Lance fills the usual slot but there is also a Bedwyr, a name often used for Arthur's closest companion, but aside from coloring just a generic companion here. It's short and abrupt at points and holds the interest well enough to be worth reading. ( )

I loved the writing, and the world it created. The language here is magical, magical as the raindrops on your window, as snowflakes falling quietly in the dark, as the sun rising. This is also how the magic of this world works. It is everywhere.

Experiencing “Spear” is like reading a myth, dimly remembered, yet vivid. Look, how people live on its pages, as Peretur claims her fate, her place, her people.

This is such a beautiful retelling, or rather, a reimagining of the Arthurian legends – so deep and true. I have sometimes wondered if the Knights of the Round Table and the Grail have been used and misused too many times in too many books over the centuries, becoming too familiar, almost too dull. But, oh, how they shine here.

And I loved, loved, loved the author’s afterword, where she explores her sources, research, and inspiration. I’ve never read anything by Nicola Griffith before, but I am so glad I did now. Please, please, please, give me more, I will devour it all.
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I'm enthralled with Medieval literature and Arthurian legend, and so is Nicola Griffith. Griffith's Spear is a fresh and lovely take on Arthurian legend that is full of poetic pose. It is inspired by multiple sources, and is expertly crafted to create a rich medieval world.
A gorgeous queer Arthurian novella, Spear tells the tale of Peretur, who is based on the many legends and versions of Parcival. Peretur is a woman who desires to become part of Arturus' court and sets out to join. The only problem is she is perceived as a man. Much of her story is her evolution from role to role across time from a daughter to a lover to a member of the court. Peretur's personal journey of selfhood and her romantic partnership with the magician Nimuë is really the focus of the novel and it is lovely. Sure, there is a quest for the Holy Grail that has to do with Arturus and his rule, but Peretur's true quest is really one of identity. “[W]ould she one day find her one true name?”

This novella deals with Arthurian legend in such a beautiful way, as it uses the lore to examining the nature of human connection. This search for a warm and lasting source of human connection extends throughout the entire novella. Sure, there are battles with armed knights and misty legends (Merlin is mentioned!) but this isn't the focus of the novella. The focus is on Per and her journey of acceptance and selfhood.

Griffith takes joy in beautiful descriptions of the natural world of Dark Ages Britain in which Peretur lives. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the beautiful cover and a series of interior illustrations by Rovina Cai, who is one of the best fantasy illustrators working right now.

A wonderful work of Arthurian legend for our times. ( )

Stunning. Read in one sitting. It pulled me in immediately and never loosened its grip. Everything about it was perfect. ( )

This book is very short at under 200 pages, but it took me forever to read it. It wasn’t bad, and there were things I liked, but for some reason it just didn’t hold my interest at all.

I think I was most interested during the beginning, when I had absolutely no idea what this story was about. We’re introduced to a young girl with no name, who lives with her somewhat crazy mother in a cave in the middle of nowhere. She ventures further from her home in her explorations, she can communicate with animals, she observes people from hiding and sometimes does them small favors, and she seems to have special abilities. Something is calling to her, and she eventually leaves her home to search out her destiny.

I was pretty far into the story before I realized what it was based on. I doubt most people would consider it a spoiler, but this book is so short anyway that I’m reluctant to reveal it and possibly ruin a surprise for someone. It wasn’t until the point where Nimuë was first mentioned that I realized this story was based on Arthurian legend. As soon as I saw that name, some of the other character names flashed back through my head and I was like, “Oh… duh.” My knowledge of Arthurian legend isn’t great, and it wasn’t until I skimmed the author’s notes at the end that I learned who the main character, Peretur, was supposed to be.

This is a non-traditional retelling of… the thing in my spoiler tags. I suspect a lot of it went over my head anyway, but I did find the author’s choices that I recognized to be interesting. I was relieved that the thing I most associate with these retellings and thoroughly dread (the love triangle between Arthur, Gwen, and Lance) played very little role in the story and wasn’t a source of drama.

I liked the main character and was moderately interested as more of her back story was revealed, and there was nothing about the story that I found unpleasant to read, but for some reason there just wasn’t anything that gripped me or helped propel me toward the end.

I’m rating this at 2.5 stars and rounding up to 3 for Goodreads. ( )