Thanks to Little Brown and Jimmy Patterson Books for the free advance copy of this book.

Ari Helix is an interplanetary refugee fleeing the tyrannical Mercer Corporation when, upon crash landing on Old Earth, she pulls an ancient sword from a tree, revealing that she is the 42nd reincarnation of King Arthur, her friends are the knights of the round table, and Merlin is here to train her to be the conquering king she was born to be.

ONCE AND FUTURE is billed as “gay King Arthur in space,” and that’s simultaneously exactly right and an understatement. This book is the Wayfarers trilogy crossed with Doctor Who and sprinkled with Hitchhiker’s Guide (she’s Arthur 42, for crying out loud) and every character resides somewhere unique on the gender and sexuality spectrum.

This book is funny and clever while also tackling many timely issues ranging from capitalism to immigration and more. I flipped between righteous fury and a broken heart several times. Yes, this book contains several real, painful heartbreaks, and is more moving than a YA novel has any right to be.

Some knowledge of Arthurian legend is useful in reading this book, but not necessary. The characters are all explained well within the universe of this story, and their relationships veer just enough from the standard legend that there’s no need to know the details.

There’s a lot jammed into this novel, and it’s maybe a little overstuffed - there are a few themes I’d liked to have seen explored in greater depth. Luckily for us, it’s a series! I am counting down to book two eagerly!