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Logres

(The Future King #1)

M.L. Mackworth-Praed (Goodreads Author)

4.06 · Rating details · 48 ratings · 33 reviews

Britain, 2052. In a world of war, disease and hunger the UK stands alone as a beacon of prosperity under an all-powerful ruling party. Life at new school Logres seems promising for fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, and quickly she falls for the handsome and intelligent Arthur. When Arthur’s rival, the rebellious Lancelot, returns after a suspension, her heart is soon divided.

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Kindle Edition, 518 pages

Published December 28th 2015 by M. L. Mackworth-Praed (first published December 5th 2015)

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Jul 31, 2018 J.N. Bedout rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Set in the near future, this tale follows high school students as they peel through the layers of their authoritarian society. This is a modern fear extrapolated to a hard manifestation, and one that many people will be able to relate to. The opening third is more Mean Girls than Arthurian, but the key characters are introduced at a pace that is natural and does not overwhelm with too much information at once. The text flows easily and you can “hear” the typical teenager speech patterns seep thr ...more

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May 09, 2016 Quirky Omega rated it really liked it

Shelves: action, thriller, well-researched, young-adult, fiction, british-literature, english-lore

I had been fortunate to receive a copy from the author and here's my honest review.

The first honest confession. For a very long period, I hadn't known that the book was around Arthurian legends and stories. So I'd been reading it and savouring it like a normal action fantasy. For some bizarre reason, I looked up the reviews on Goodreads for it, and to my embarrassment, realised that I had missed out the very thing that the book was inspired from. Blame it on my lack of knowledge. (I knew I shoul ...more

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Jan 09, 2016 Connie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, favorites, series-finished, kindle-unlimited, read-in-2016

Source: I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
Cost: Free

Title: The Future King: Logres
Series: The Future King #1
Author: M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Overall Rating: 5 stars

Admittedly, the Arthurian Legends hold a nostalgic place in my heart. As a child, I grew up being told them by my Dad and I loved them so much, this is something that has stayed with me as I've gotten older. I was so excited when I was told about this book! A modern take on these legends that I love so much? Yes please ...more

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Jun 22, 2017 Johanna rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-unlimited

Logres: The Future King is a story of the second coming of King Arthur set in a dystopian future Britain. Our MC, Gwen, recently moved from Wales to England with her parents and now has to join a new school. She basically immediately crushes on Arthur, makes some good friends, some not so good friends, and some enemies and all that while starting to question the system she's been growing up in and trying to figure out what she wants to do about this world.
Now, this review is a bit tricky, so I g ...more

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Dec 03, 2016 Jane Jago rated it liked it · review of another edition

Well written, but just not for me. Maybe I'm too old for it...

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Jan 21, 2018 Brian Lang rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A fascinating future King Arthur story with several key twists to the theme. One, all of your Arthurian favorites are essentially in high school. Two, the future political climate is authoritarian and frightening (and depicts how things could worsen from our current IRL climate). I absolutely loved M.L.'s depiction of the future. It's extremely well done. It's not presented so much as an overt authoritarianism but as a creeping sense of the government applying authority in the name of public saf ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Mark Kloss rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a little darker than I expected, but a great and a polished read! It ended on quite a cliffhanger, so I am looking forward to the next installment!

It was quite a twist on the Arthurian legend, with a bit of a 1984 dystopian cross over. I think the author did a good job on pulling that off and I am curious as to how the Arthurian side will manage to weave through the dark space set up for book 2.

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Dec 11, 2017 Kameron Williams rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A refreshing retelling of one of the oldest and most enthralling legends of medieval fantasy.

A modern--no--future take on the Arthurian legend, a creative twist that made things really interesting. The modern renditions of Arthur and Guinevere were especially inventive and tactfully done. It was interesting to see their stories play out. I was especially impressed how the author was able to switch the setting while still incorporating the chief archetypes that the original legend was known for.

I ...more

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Dec 19, 2015 Arthurianmaiden rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arthurian-legends

This is an high school romance and novel about Guinevere and Arthur, set in the future, with some Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur love triangle and activism/rebellion plot in it too.
First things first, I have to admit that I haven't read the blurb, when I started it. This is the 200th arthurian novel I've read (yay!) and I collect arthurian novels so for me the fact that it was arthurian was enough, I didn't need the blurb to convince me to read it as I consider a blurb a summary that will let people This is an high school romance and novel about Guinevere and Arthur, set in the future, with some Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur love triangle and activism/rebellion plot in it too.
First things first, I have to admit that I haven't read the blurb, when I started it. This is the 200th arthurian novel I've read (yay!) and I collect arthurian novels so for me the fact that it was arthurian was enough, I didn't need the blurb to convince me to read it as I consider a blurb a summary that will let people know if they can be interested in the novel or not. I don't think blurbs should have essential informations for the story. In this case, I was wrong, or maybe I wasn't attentive enough and I missed things.
I was at 20% of the novel and I was surprised to find myself in a dystopian, sort of, future or well, in the future. The blurb told me we were in the future, but I didn't read it and I was so confused by the novel, I couldn't understand what was going on because the setting was never clarified. Only hints that managed to confuse me more and more, well, at least until I've decided to read the blurb to find out what was going on.

Now, about what I really liked (and which made me read the second part of the novel all in a couple of days). I loved the parts where Guinevere talked with Isolde and got involved in the political side of thing, and how it is described as something that is new for her. She grows up in the novel and ends up getting directly involved in the rebellions and the incidents. (view spoiler)[The same for the parts about Arthur and Merlin and the club even if I am not sure Merlin had the best idea in recruiting teenagers into a secret illegal post school club.
I for sure will continue this novel as the plot is interesting and it leaves you there, waiting to know what will happen, if Guinevere will find out more, what happened to her father. I particularly liked Gavin's story too and his family and Viola and Lancelot who, even if he was described as a jerk, was a wonderfully written round character. My favourite ended up being Morgana, as she often said (especially to Merlin) thinks that /I/ would have liked to tell him and she seemed the most rational of characters.
I am unsure about Arthur. I loved him, his inquiries and how he too does get involved but I am unsure because I didn't like how he was jealous, extremely so, at least in two parts, and how I found his story with Guinevere a bit rushed. I felt that Lancelot and Guinevere had much more chemistry than Arthur and Guinevere, and their possible love story was also approached with more care, in my opinion. Guinevere's affection for Arthur is... immediate. I probably don't remember how I was in that age, but in a couple of hours she is already fond of him and reveals to her friends (friends for a day) that she wants to date him, in a couple of days they kiss and break up because of the cliché "she was with a guy but bad arthur for thinking bad because the guy was actually trying to rape her" scene at the party.
The thing I really did not like was how the "rape" was used twice for the same purpose and in the same way, because again Hector tries to rape Guinevere later (by the second half of the book) and this time Lancelot saves her. Lancelot comforts her, Arthur is informed that Lancelot and Guinevere were holding each others, Arthur is angry and jealous with Guinevere. And both these two attempts rapes were mostly used to give drama for Arthur and Guinevere and then, later, for Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. After this, on a positive side of things, the author also took some time to describe Guinevere's difficulties in being believed and remarking how what would happen with Hector would only be her choice (to report him or not).
(hide spoiler)]
Just a curiosity about the characters. I wonder if all of them are arthurian or not. Arthur, Isolde, Tristan, Gavin and family, Guinevere, Bedivere, Percy, Morgana, Merlin and Lancelot are, of course, the obvious ones. I can imagine Hector being Mealeagant and maybe Emily being Elaine (Astolat?), Viola being Vivian, maybe, Tom.. well, I have no idea who Tom is.

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May 30, 2016 Merril Anil rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Merril by: Kavita Ramesh

Shelves: e-book, author-s-handdown

An order among chaos

First of all a huge thanks to Kavita Ramesh and the author herself for introducing me to the book and letting me have a copy of the book to read and review

Before I start with the review I just want to emphasize on one thing that the book definitely do stand apart from the usual high school themed book we see and I really feel that emerge beautifully through the proceeding of the book. In spite of being filled with teenagers and everything akin to their life,from crushes, An order among chaos

First of all a huge thanks to Kavita Ramesh and the author herself for introducing me to the book and letting me have a copy of the book to read and review

Before I start with the review I just want to emphasize on one thing that the book definitely do stand apart from the usual high school themed book we see and I really feel that emerge beautifully through the proceeding of the book. In spite of being filled with teenagers and everything akin to their life,from crushes, bullying, education, friends, and love, this book is nothing like a young adult book. The substance or the core plot is very different . That also being a major point of concern for me.

The basic thing that disturbs me about the book is that, it is not clear as to what exactly is the underlying theme of the book. Every book has one. Whether be it the survival of the fittest, finding love, or cheating death, triumph of good over evil, whatever it may, there is always a message or core that is very tangible except for this book. The book troubles me in the respect that it has so many directions and paths that it can take but leaves it halfway and chooses another and what results is confusion over what the book exactly stands for

At the beginning, the movement of the book seemed to move towards bullying, finding true friends and coming terms with the realty that people can be hurtful and deceitful and it was actually starting out nice when suddenly this path gets overpowered by another track of the world that is happening around our central characters and one of the astonishing thing is that I didn’t even realize that the author was trying for a dystopian world until I was somewhere in the middle of the book. These are just two tracks and similarly there are a whole lot of other tracks that sort of begins and gets muffled in between . So in the end you are not sure what exactly the book wants to talk about.

And towards the end I saw a strong satirical attempt by the author. A good satire well worth to be a reflection of the modern day that we live in but it was too late to bring that up or wasn’t brought out nicely that people could see its true potential.

So basically the factors add to an unhealthy narration flow because there are lot of parallel tracks happening and you never see when one collides with the other. But oddly enough there is a class, an elegance and I can’t exactly explain why or how, but its like that theory of having an order in chaos

So in the end I would say that there is a lot that is going on in the book and in its sphere each of what author attempts and say is perfect but I wish the book had taken one aspect and let it bloom fully. For instance if she wanted her story to focus on political developments and a dystopian nation, she should have focused on that from the beginning or at least started the seeding of this concept from the beginning rather than travelling all across and finally landing on what was close to her heart. Narration suffers because of that but as I said before in spite of all these there is a peculiar sort of order to it but I would still say that the book at various juncture appears to be incomplete

And I have just realized that for this very review, I might be the next one who would appear in the articles that keeps circulating these days “bullies of good reads” ( yes reviewers, we better watch our tongues :P )

...more

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Jan 11, 2016 Robert Lampros rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An outstanding work of dystopian fiction, The Future King: Logres centers around Gwenhwyfar, a high school student who seeks a right path as her world grows increasingly dangerous. Set in mid-21st century England, Gwen and her friends must navigate a turbulent and mysterious political scene, oppressive school conditions, and the intricate landscape of their personal lives to survive and hopefully fulfill their destinies. M.L. Mackworth-Praed creates a multi-layered and inventive story, based on ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 J.M. Hofer rated it really liked it

In Logres, by M.L. Mackworth-Praed, the author offers a modern take on some of our most beloved Arthurian characters. Not surprisingly, Gwenhwyfar (Gwen) and Arthur star in the main roles. Lancelot is the “bad boy” in her telling, and Bedivere makes an appearance in a supporting role. She sets her story in a dystopian, politically-charged Britain approximately 30 years in the future.

Gwen and her parents have moved from Wales to Logres, where Gwen finds herself in the awkward role of “the new gir In Logres, by M.L. Mackworth-Praed, the author offers a modern take on some of our most beloved Arthurian characters. Not surprisingly, Gwenhwyfar (Gwen) and Arthur star in the main roles. Lancelot is the “bad boy” in her telling, and Bedivere makes an appearance in a supporting role. She sets her story in a dystopian, politically-charged Britain approximately 30 years in the future.

Gwen and her parents have moved from Wales to Logres, where Gwen finds herself in the awkward role of “the new girl” at school. She quickly meets new friends, not all of whom turn out to be what they seem. For the first few chapters, most of the interactions between the characters consist of one high school drama after another (who’s wearing what, who’s kissing whom, what to wear to the party, etc.). As dull as these scenes were for me to read at my age (I’m 47 and despised every moment of high school), I freely admit those were the things I and most of my girlfriends were concerned with in our teen years—and the book is, after all, aimed at a young adult audience. I’ll wager the audience the author is writing for will identify with these scenes more than I did for obvious reasons. On another level, however, the seemingly trivial interactions of these young folks serve a larger purpose—they provide stark juxtaposition to the increasingly violent political atmosphere brewing around them. Real world concerns eventually eclipse their personal ones as the book progresses. This is something I see my own teenage son dealing with—he is emerging from a world where video games, how fast he can grow his hair out, and working out every day to “get buff” rank high on his priority list, into one where he is grappling with larger concerns, like deciding on a career path and forging his own beliefs, morals and political opinions.

Content-wise, my favorite parts of the book were the discussions between the young students and “Marvin,” (our resident Merlin) a professor at their school who hosts an “invite only” after-school club to discuss current affairs and banned literature. He also indulges the kids with authentic chocolate and wine, which are in short supply in 2052, obtainable only on the black market (though one wonders how a high school professor can manage to get his hands on them—but that adds to “Marvin’s” mystery…perhaps he has friends in high places we know nothing about?) The political situation the author presents is quite imaginable given today’s current state of affairs, and, therefore, genuinely frightening. I feel this is the book’s strongest feature.

Regarding the prose itself, the author has a strong grasp of descriptive detail, bordering on poetic at times. I could see the landscapes and situations clearly in my mind’s eye, and her similes/metaphors were original. Character development on the major characters was well-sketched, namely Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot, but could have perhaps been a little more robust on the peripheral characters, as I found them nearly interchangeable (the gaggle of girls who run in Gwen’s group).

All in all, however, a great first effort by Ms. Mackworth-Praed. Well-done!

I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel, and state that I am voluntarily reviewing this book. ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 K.T. Munson rated it liked it

Characters

I had a really hard time connecting with Gwen. I think if I was a teenager this might have been easier but I am not. There is a lot of teenage angst in this book. Trouble and high emotions. The two love interests of Gwen aren't that much better—Arthur is self-righteous and Lancelot overly jerkish. However, they both have redeeming qualities, just like Gwen. There are a lot of supporting characters but the author does an excellent job not overburdening the reader right at the beginning Characters

I had a really hard time connecting with Gwen. I think if I was a teenager this might have been easier but I am not. There is a lot of teenage angst in this book. Trouble and high emotions. The two love interests of Gwen aren't that much better—Arthur is self-righteous and Lancelot overly jerkish. However, they both have redeeming qualities, just like Gwen. There are a lot of supporting characters but the author does an excellent job not overburdening the reader right at the beginning and doesn't make every character super cookie cutter. There was some head hoping throughout the book - so be warned.

Plot

This is where a lot of my dislike but also like, comes in. I disliked all of the high school nonsense. Some was good, like a spoonful of sugar, but this was chock full of it. I believe it was more to develop the characters than the plot which caused drag in more than a few areas. Not to mention the sheer length of the book. However, that was broken up by the dystopian aspect of the novel which was the real winner. Especially how the author pulled in aspects that are truly happening today and warping them into the darker side of what our nations can become. Thought provoking for sure! Then of course there was the overshadowing of the Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot story. I'm going to be honest that I actually really dislike the original King Arthur stories and there are very few remakes that are good. This one was a little more on the nose than was necessary. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been more subtle.

Overall

This book was longer than it needed to be. There were some interesting conflicts and points of excitement but there was a lot of hum-drum high school days that left this adult wanting. Just when those began to drone on too far, there was a moment of action or some more world building on the dystopian side that sucked me back in. It was even worse because there is a huge cliffhanger ending.

This is for sure a YA novel. There is way too much teenage angst for it to be anything else. However, I do see high schoolers who enjoy King Arthur stories and dystopian novels, gobbling this up. This is for a specific target audience, but those that love teenage dystopian's should still give this a shot. One big win in my book for Gwen was that even though there was the predictable love triangle, she so far hasn't given in...but this is only book 1...

Rating

3 Stars

This is a dark read that reveals a future that could be - drawing from what is currently happening. I appreciated that message. If you love all the drama of high school, plus the overshadowing of a dystopian setting, this novel is a must read. It just wasn't for me.

Where did I get it?
Free copy from the author. This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com. ...more

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Apr 07, 2018 John G. Stevens rated it really liked it · review of another edition

All I needed to hear was "Dysoptian Near-Future Arthurian Legend" and I was sold. However, upon getting into the book it immediately tore down my expectations. I'll break things down into pros and cons.

PROS
This is a very well-written book. The character actions and dialog are all top-notch and believable. (Even if they are petty teens most of the time. If you can't stand a bit of Highschool drama, perhaps this isn't the book for you.) The book flows very well from scene to scene. Characters are All I needed to hear was "Dysoptian Near-Future Arthurian Legend" and I was sold. However, upon getting into the book it immediately tore down my expectations. I'll break things down into pros and cons.

PROS
This is a very well-written book. The character actions and dialog are all top-notch and believable. (Even if they are petty teens most of the time. If you can't stand a bit of Highschool drama, perhaps this isn't the book for you.) The book flows very well from scene to scene. Characters are introduced well and you get a distinct feel for each of them as time goes on. There's a very gradual, organic growth to the character relationships and it all works. The plot has a few intriguing points that hit dangerously close to home in the modern era in terms of socio-political issues and certainly leaves a lot of room for more development here. (Including all the way up to the cliffhanger ending.)

CONS
I have to deduct 1-star for the following reasons. I might've deducted more if the whole thing weren't so polished and gosh darn well written.

The book takes place in the year 2052, yet technology is virtually the same as today. There was some plot explanation for the lack of new developments but other than TVs being called "Media Centers" everything felt 100% the same. If it wasn't for the different Gov't system in Britain it would take place in the modern day. Feels like a big missed opportunity for us sci-fi nerds.

The pacing here is slow. Very slow. I was a third of the way through the book before I had any idea where the plot might be heading. Most of the book reads like a slice of life with a backdrop of political unrest. With King Arthur involved, I was expecting a much more dramatic plot. Plenty of the scenes in the book don't do anything to move the plot along but do provide a slow grind of character development.

The surprises at the end come a bit out of left field as well. There was some foreshadowing, but with the quick ending, we are left with only vague ideas as to why certain things are happening.

END
In summary, if you like casual-paced plot, focus on characters and relationships, teenage drama and social unrest, this is a gem of a book. ...more

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Dec 03, 2017 Robert Bjork rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ernest Hemingway revised the last page of A Farewell to Arms 39 times. When asked what had stumped him, he replied, "Getting the words right." On the whole, M. L. Mackworth-Praed gets the words right in this dystopian novel set in post-Brexit Britain in 2052. A delight to read, the book is graced by a nuanced, delicate style attuned to the rich sounds and images occasioned by words and by the variegated rhythms emerging from varied syntactic constructions. If you revel in good prose as much as g Ernest Hemingway revised the last page of A Farewell to Arms 39 times. When asked what had stumped him, he replied, "Getting the words right." On the whole, M. L. Mackworth-Praed gets the words right in this dystopian novel set in post-Brexit Britain in 2052. A delight to read, the book is graced by a nuanced, delicate style attuned to the rich sounds and images occasioned by words and by the variegated rhythms emerging from varied syntactic constructions. If you revel in good prose as much as good storytelling, then you will enjoy this book.

The storytelling itself is somewhat leisurely but picks up pace as we follow fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar through her adventures in a new school named Logres after moving from Wales with her mother and father. We experience the pettiness of high school girls and boys and other small intrigues (such as one of the girl’s starting a modelling career, a boy’s being suspended from school for sexual assault, another—Lancelot—for slashing the principal’s tires) as well as some of the protagonist’s personal problems (such as passive-aggressive behavior between her parents and looming fears of their eventual rift). But engagement with these young-adult problems gradually gives way to a broader awareness of what was happening in the society around her. She and her friends reflect particularly on the cruelty towards the so-called “Lessers,” the homeless or feeble or addicted who are gathered up and placed in “Mobilisation Centres” ostensibly designed to improve their lot in life but actually created to “vanish” them. The regime Gwen, Arthur, a piano-playing, rebellious Lancelot, and the rest live in resembles Ingsoc in Orwell’s 1984, a book that is banned in the novel just like Animal Farm is (The Lord of the Flies appears, too, but is not quite banned), and an underground organization called “Free Countries” and an after-school history club called “The Round Table” expose members to “alternative truths” to what the ruling party propagandizes. The exposure improves understanding but does not alleviate fear, and the novel ends with the promise of more fear and intrigue to come in a second book. Apart from names and a Round Table, there is little Arthuriana in The Future King: Logres, and the book’s enigmatic title does not capture the imagination. The novel itself will, however, and I recommend it.

I’m reviewing this book voluntarily and thank the author for sharing a copy of it with me.
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Mar 29, 2018 Stephen Willis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Wow this was quite a book.

It was disturbing to be honest, well written but the dystopia created was so close to home, so realistic of the direction our society could go that it gave me the creeps! I am a strong believer though that books should get some truth out, and I think this book achieves this in a big way, and I hope with the young adult protagonists it would bring awareness to a younger audience.

The main characters being school students creates this air of naivety and an insular enviro ...more

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Apr 26, 2018 Kai Mjaanes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Future King is a fresh spin on the old Arthurian legend.

Set in a not to distant future the story introduces us to England as it is drifting towards an increasingly dystopian society. The political discussions, and the picturing of how fascism can develop even in a developed democracy is one of the strong sides to the story.

The story is set in a high school in Wales, and an other strong side to the story are the characters. It is subtle at first, and it took my some time before I caught it, b ...more

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Jan 29, 2018 Christy Nicholas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a great retelling of a classic legend. I loved the names of the characters, echoes of the past myths. The political intrigue was exciting and well-woven. The slightly future world the author has created is realistic, dangerous, and interesting. I truly appreciate the characters being three-dimensional. The scene-setting is very well done without being overblown.

Despite his bad-boy status, I enjoyed the character of Lance very much. I loved the personal interactions of the characters and th ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 Carolyn Bowen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Logres (The Future King, #1) captured my attention with its descriptive details and carefully crafted thoughts and feeling about coming of age. There was plenty of tension and friction between characters radiating into a full-blown suspense story. Logres ...more

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Nov 09, 2017 S.W. Wilcox rated it really liked it

This is my 9th Goodreads Indie author review since I joined in May 2017, about 6 months ago. 4 were close to film-ready, another 4 close to sci-fi channel tv-ready. This, "Logres," would fit into the 2nd category I think, and here are a few reasons. First-off, the CHARACTER descriptions are very fluid, very much modern and realistic, but in a way that needs to unfold naturally, rather than be forced into a shoot-'em-up, zombie-crawl, or thriller-romance mold. M.L.'s WRITING STYLE is superbly ada ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Mercedes Rochelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Without some prompting, I would not have associated LOGRES with the King Arthur legend aside from the characters’ names, but at least I had a pretty good idea how Arthur, Gwen, Morgan, and Lancelot were going to interact. Set a few decades into the future, this high school drama is close enough to today for us to recognize many of the trappings of the student world, and just far enough away for us not to be entirely sure where this uncomfortable future is heading. It takes a long time to get to Without some prompting, I would not have associated LOGRES with the King Arthur legend aside from the characters’ names, but at least I had a pretty good idea how Arthur, Gwen, Morgan, and Lancelot were going to interact. Set a few decades into the future, this high school drama is close enough to today for us to recognize many of the trappings of the student world, and just far enough away for us not to be entirely sure where this uncomfortable future is heading. It takes a long time to get to the politics, where we see a government in the process of taking peoples’ rights away while the dissenters are losing the battle. But meanwhile, we are plunged into deep social interaction with teenagers playing the usual school games of favoritism, rejection, and belonging, while the newcomer Gwenhwyfar strives to fit into a social clique:

“I’m just curious.” Hattie glanced to her doubtfully as they climbed the steps to the path running alongside the drama studios. “It’s just… I think she’s been saying things to Emily about you. Earlier when you went to go talk to Arthur she told me that you said I was fat.”
“Fat?” Gwenhwyfar lapped it up. “I never said that!”
“You didn’t?”
“Of course not! Unlike some people, I don’t bitch.”
“Charlotte’s been telling Emily you’ve been saying nasty things about us.” Gwenhwyfar’s insides were boiling. Hattie continued to pry. “Have you upset her or something?”
“I haven’t said anything to that girl,” Gwenhwyfar hissed. “Not a thing! She’s been rude to me since I got here. So no, I don’t like her.”

The author does a good job investing our characters with personality traits appropriate to their age group: uncertainty, poor judgment, the desperate need to belong; I remember those mixed emotions very well. As a middle-aged woman who hated high school, I admit I suffered through much of this story, so I must concede it was right-on! In most of the current volume, the real story takes a back seat to the school saga and we get a thorough introduction to relationships and shifting loyalties that are bound to cause trouble in the future (especially Arthur and Lancelot). But as the story progresses, we worry less about personal interactions and more about government interference in everyday lives. Gwenhwyfar meddles with dissident groups and comes mighty close to serious harm. Has she committed herself too far? This remains to be seen. I assume that in future volumes our characters will tackle the mis-government with the help of their history teacher who only uses Merlin as a secret nick-name. But for now, things are starting to get ugly in the outside world and I suspect our characters are destined to rely on their friendships to survive the upcoming turmoil.
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Jan 28, 2018 James rated it really liked it · review of another edition

LOGRES (The Future King, # 1) M.L. Mackworth-Praed

Fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, the new Welsh girl at the Logres school in London, falls for a scholarly type named Arthur during a time of growing political turmoil a few decades from now...and dangerous complications arise.

This is not quite an Arthurian novel and not quite your typical YA dystopian novel, either. The setting is England in 2052 – although the daily technology in many places seemed to me to be closer to 2000. The government is proto LOGRES (The Future King, # 1) M.L. Mackworth-Praed

Fifteen-year-old Gwenhwyfar, the new Welsh girl at the Logres school in London, falls for a scholarly type named Arthur during a time of growing political turmoil a few decades from now...and dangerous complications arise.

This is not quite an Arthurian novel and not quite your typical YA dystopian novel, either. The setting is England in 2052 – although the daily technology in many places seemed to me to be closer to 2000. The government is proto-fascism; a common trope in British science fiction since, I suppose, the Thatcher years (though inspired by Orwell’s 1984, a book heavily referenced by Mackworth-Praed). The real-life addition of CCTV to every street in London gets some severe disapproval, as do the racist attitudes clearly inspired by certain strains in Britain today.

What I liked was the sense of high school kids living on the edge of an evil society (so evil that people have to pay for their own health insurance…may I just say, as an American, ouch!), with some of them only very gradually coming to realize that maybe some opposition is in order. Which is true of a lot of societies, and of a lot of 15-year-olds. Some of them join a secret society of rebels and later worry that the society may have some dark secrets of its own—the constant uncertainty, of always being outside and essentially powerless, is well done.

Regarding the “Arthurian” aspects – well, the main characters are named Gwenhwyfar and Arthur, and there’s a Morgan and a Lancelot and a Bedivere and a teacher named Marvin whose nickname is Merlin, and he gives young Arthur a few pointers on democracy versus totalitarianism.

I admit I didn’t focus too much on the “does she fancy him?” aspects of the story; frankly, even when I was a high school student, a hundred years ago, I would have paid more attention to the political parts. This is the first of a series and I imagine, based on his name, that young Arthur might have a future in politics.

A final note that has less to do with the book’s literary qualities and more to do with some of its themes: Living as I do in a country where racists and proto-fascists are doing their best to get things their way, it’s good that authors like Mackworth-Praed are writing in opposition to such things and sounding a warning about what the future might hold. Every raised voice helps.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me.
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May 12, 2020 June Wilson rated it really liked it

This is a great young adult dystopian fantasy that draws heavily on Arthurian legend for its cast of characters and certain aspects of the plot. I'm a huge fan of the Arthurian myths and legends and loved the gradual introduction of all the main characters - Arthur, Gwen, (Guinevere), Bedivere, Morgan, Lancelot, Merlin (Marvin), etc. However, the strongest element of the book for me was the dystopian picture of the not too distant future (2052) - eerily prescient in the post-Brexit world, not to ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Frances Evelyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The main characters are teenagers who are getting on with doing the things that teenagers do, despite the sinister undercurrents of a dystopian world which is recognisably and realistically a development of our own: fake news, surveillance, populism, consumerism and sexual violence. Although that makes it sound hard-going, that's not at all the case. The story is well written, immaculately proofread and engrossing. The characters are carefully drawn, complex and convincing. ...more

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Jun 08, 2018 Leah Chalmers rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: indie

This book was great though depressing. It is a very Orwellian look at society and depressing just in the way the author really took a lot of current events and showed very realistically how we could end up in an awful police state.

Very well written and kept me interested the whole way. Personally the whole Arthurian thing was interesting, but I didn't necessarily feel the book needed it..but let's see where the author goes with it in the series. ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Glyn Hnutu-healh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great book!

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Jul 22, 2017 Tarzan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Wow! I don't have any words to describe what I just read. Logres is definitely one of those books that leaves you feeling kind of shocked in a good way! ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Kelly Diserens rated it really liked it · review of another edition

When I first started reading it I didn't have the time to sit and properly engage with the story so it took me a little while to get to grips with the characters and develop an interest in them. Having said that, once I had more available time, I really wanted to find out what happened to the characters. The idea of setting the Arthurian legend in the future is a really good one and the way that the society is described, with the 'big brother' mentality of the government, definitely left me with ...more

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Dec 12, 2015 Kristof rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm a novice when it comes to the Arthurian legends. The blurry line between history and myth is of course a fascinating one, and leaves plenty of room to work with in fiction. The Future King, as the title suggests, takes that line into the future and runs wild with it. I started reading without any idea what to expect, and kept reading until its thundering conclusion 500 pages later. Can't wait for the sequel. ...more

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Jan 08, 2017 Monique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-have

I really did like this story, although I am usually not the type to enjoy any kind of historic fiction.
The way the story was build was really pleasant and easy to read. Such a petty the next book is not a sure thing (yet?).

If you do not like open ends maybe you should not read this, because the open ending is quite obvious and can bother you. But all in all, it is a good and enjoyable story.

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Indie Authors Mon...: GIVEAWAY – YA Dystopian Arthurian Fantasy – ends Jan 5th 2018!	5	10	Oct 06, 2017 01:12PM
YA :-): FREE ON KINDLE - YA Fantasy Arthurian ebook - Nov 16-Nov 20!	4	13	Dec 04, 2016 09:08PM
Shut Up & Read: {Read It & Reap 639} The Future King: Logres by M.L. Mackworth-Praed	1	18	Oct 14, 2016 08:19PM
♥ Nothing Better ...: GIVEAWAY – YA Dystopian Fantasy Arthurian novel – ends Nov 1st!	3	11	Sep 26, 2016 10:38AM
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YA :-): Ebook for 99p/99c then £1.99/$2.99 May 27 to May 30!	4	10	May 18, 2016 05:44PM

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About M.L. Mackworth-Praed

M.L. Mackworth-Praed

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I'm a prolific doodler, which over the years has translated into being an illustrator; a here-there artist who dabbles with embroidery, and a keen writer with a taste for fantasy, sci-fi and young adult fiction. In May 2020 I self-published my second novel, The Future King: Logres 2, an Arthurian second-coming set in dystopian 2052 Britain. If you like YA Fantasy or love the Arthurian legends then ...more