Review: Perilous Times

Title: Perilous Times

Author: Thomas D. Lee

Publisher: 30th May 2023 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 534 pages

Genre: fantasy, fiction, retellings

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

An immortal Knight of the Round Table faces his greatest challenge yet—saving the politically polarized, rapidly warming world from itself—in this slyly funny contemporary take on Arthurian legend.

Being reborn as an immortal defender of the realm gets awfully damn tiring over the years—or at least that's what Sir Kay's thinking as he claws his way up from beneath the earth, yet again. 

Kay fought at Hastings, and at Waterloo, and in both World Wars. After a thousand years, he thought he was used to dealing with a crisis. But now he finds himself in a strange new world where oceans have risen, armies have been privatized, and half of Britain’s been sold to the Chinese. The dragon that's running amok, that he can handle. The rest? He's not so sure. 

Mariam's devoted her life to fighting what's wrong with her country. But she's just one ordinary person, up against a hopelessly broken system. So when she meets Kay, a figure straight out of legend, she dares to hope that the world's finally found the savior it needs.

As the two quest through this strange land swarming with gangs, mercenaries, and talking squirrels, they realize that other ancient evils are afoot. Lancelot is back too--at the beck and call of immortal beings with a sinister agenda. And if their plans can’t be stopped, a dragon will be the least of the planet’s worries.

In perilous times like these, the realm doesn't just need a knight. It needs a true leader.

Luckily, Excalibur lies within reach - and Kay's starting to suspect that the hero fit to carry it is close at hand.

My Thoughts

Perilous Times is a book that defies genres with its quirky mix of Arthurian lore, futuristic dystopian themes set against an environmental stance on climate change. Yup! You read right, an eclectic mix that really works! Set in future England when global warming has all but ruined the world, it is the Knights of the Round Table that are called upon to save the day - or not?!

‘So the idea was, whenever Britain was in peril, we'd come back from the dead and sort things out. … Whenever people need help. So maybe it was the dragon, or maybe it was you, but … that’s why I’m here. I’m here to help.’

The overall combination is what attracted me in the first place and the witty, clever writing is what kept me to the very end. It is a clever premise with compelling characters, rich world building and a thrilling plot. It’s crazy but somehow it works. I feel that resurrecting Arthur and the Knights is not just for novelty but also to illustrate the complex issue of past solutions not working in the present climate (pardon the pun).

‘I've been working for a very long time to try and save men from their own stupidity. To try and stop them from poisoning their own planet. And it hasn't worked. So my intention is to bring back the one man who might actually listen.’

Apart from the central theme of climate change there are really rich themes under the microscope here - the role of women and refugees, governments and politics and the capacity of individuals to make a difference. Woven throughout (so as not to get bogged down) is much humour. These poor Knights have been called upon throughout the ages and are forced to confront a range of time periods that throw at them everything from guns to helicopters. So why not add a dragon to the story with some serious magic and you just about have it covered. 

‘I can see the earth rendered barren . .. a lifeless husk with burning skies. It looms ahead of us. Almost inevitable, now. So few shoots of green. We've ignored so many of them. So many chances wasted. Now we have so few left.'

This is an entertaining and compelling read that cleverly balances out the serious with the silly. It is a clever mix and I think it’s a winner in turning legends around and highlighting the plight of our planet in an engaging and memorable way. It’s crazy but somehow it works.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.