I do believe The Forever King will forever be one of my favorite books. I first read it after my girl scout leader gifted it to me. I was maybe 12. I’ve read it several times since then and then made the mistake of lending it to my sister’s then-fiance. Never saw that copy again. Never forgot the story. Picked up another copy semi-recently just to have again. Finally reread it this June. Still love it.
I didn’t really appreciate the writing when I was younger, but I definitely do now. The world of The Forever King is rich and both realistic and fanciful. It has a can’t-put-it-down quality. Also a glimpse into Arthurian legend that most books don’t look at and was actually formative in my personal journey through Arthurian legend and fantasy in general.
I thought the flow of the story from the present to the distant past and back again was masterful. Never once felt like any part of the story dragged. The characters are wonderful, as well. Hal and Taliesin are rarely far from my personal thoughts, if I’m honest. Saladin was a wonderful villain, even if he does fulfill that Middle Eastern villain stereotype. At least his background justifies that. A background that properly fleshes him out, which is often rare for fantasy villains.
So yeah, overall, The Forever King is awesome. I highly recommend it to pretty much anyone, but those interested in fantasy and Arthurian legends in particular.
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