September – October 2021 Book Club Pick
As we move into fall and get closer to Halloween, it’s a great time to dive into a fantasy novel filled with magic, fae, and Arthurian legends. With summer coming to an end, we’ve selected a fresh fairy tale retelling for our book club! For September and October 2021, The Silver Petticoat Book Club has chosen “Half Sick of Shadows” by Laura Sebastian.
Important Book Club Update
Before we delve into “Half Sick of Shadows,” we have a quick but important announcement. To give us more time to read and choose books for the club, as well as manage The Silver Petticoat Review, we will now pick books every other month. We’ll continue to alternate between new and classic books. The discussions will remain the same, with downloadable questions and online discussions on our social channels at the end of each two-month period. Thanks for understanding! We look forward to introducing and discussing many wonderful books as we continue our Romance-themed book club.
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian – September and October 2021 Pick!
Anne Shirley’s reenactment of Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott” in the 1985 adaptation of “Anne of Green Gables” has always drawn attention to Elaine of Astolat. The imagery and words about the cursed maiden are hauntingly magical. The Lady of Shalott’s unrequited love for Lancelot and her tragic fate have always been both romantic and sad.
Turning to Arthurian mythology, we chose a retelling of the King Arthur story, inspired by Tennyson’s famous phrase. This magical and feminist retelling tells the story of the seer Elaine, using her visions to try and alter the famous ending. Can she change fate? Prevent the affair, Morgana’s betrayal, and Arthur’s death?
In this version, Elaine steps out of the shadows to become the hero. Morgana and Guinevere also have significant roles in this medieval fantasy. With clever twists, multidimensional female characters, romantic knights, and a fresh take on King Arthur, “Half Sick of Shadows” makes for a compelling read about a tragic literary figure. Each sentence immerses you in Elaine’s world of Avalon and Camelot, making it a captivating read from start to finish.
Enjoy the love story with Lancelot, the action and magic, and the visions of the Lady of Shalott.
Content Note: The book includes an implied sexual relationship between Lancelot and Elaine but nothing explicit. There are a couple of violent scenes, and a trigger warning for suicide.
Official Book Description of Half Sick of Shadows (From Penguin)
Laura Sebastian is compared to Madeline Miller for her fierce, fresh, and lyrical storytelling. “Half Sick of Shadows” is celebrated as a top summer read and a highly anticipated fantasy release. This feminist reimagining of the Arthurian myth brings the Lady of Shalott into the spotlight.
Elaine of Shalott, cursed to see the future, is burdened by her visions. On the mystical isle of Avalon, she learns of ancient prophecies about herself and her friends, most of which are tragic. As fate approaches, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana join Arthur to claim his throne in Camelot, where magic is banned, society’s rules are strict, and enemies are all around. The most significant threats, however, might come from within their group.
Elaine must decide how far she’ll go to change destiny and what she’s willing to sacrifice along the way.
Join The Silver Petticoat Book Club
We offer a book club that discusses sweet or sophisticated love stories from all genres. Each book club pick alternates between new and classic choices, defining books published before 2000 as classics and everything after as new. Check out our past book club picks on our website.
How The Online Book Club Discussion Works
We discuss the book club pick during the last few days of the second month on social media channels, primarily on Facebook and Goodreads. We’ll also provide downloadable discussion questions on our website to discuss with friends and family.
After we announce a new book club selection, get a copy, read it, and join our online discussions at the end of the second month. We sometimes have virtual events, but most discussions are online in forums/posts.
Keep up with the book club by following our website and subscribing to our newsletter. Use the hashtag TheSilverPetticoatBookClub on social media to participate and share photos, quotes, and more!
We encourage meeting with your own local chapter of The Silver Petticoat Book Club for the best discussions. Whether it’s a small or large gathering, in-person talks (or on Zoom) add value to the experience. Be sure to download our monthly discussion questions to get started!
What are your thoughts on “Half Sick of Shadows”? Have you read it yet? Are you joining us in reading this fantasy book? Let us know in the comments!
