Perilous Times is the gripping futuristic retelling of Arthurian legend. It follows Sir Kay, Arthur’s brother and knight of the round table. But Arthur is dead, the planet is in a climate crisis, and Kay is summoned to help when Britain is in dire peril. Kay meets Mariam, a young activist who is attempting to save the planet. Can Kay and Mariam work together to save Britain and the planet before the damage is irreversible?  

I loved how inventive and creative this book was. The magic system was fascinating and I really liked the lore behind how the knights were able to be summoned back to life if Britain was in peril. The dragons, fae realm, and deals with the devil were incredibly fun. I especially loved the inclusion of queerness and the challenging of legends that readers feel they know by heart, such as what truly happened between Lancelot and Gwen. The book really reminded me of the writing style of Good Omens (Gaiman & Pratchett), especially the excellent sense of humor. 

Thomas D. Lee writes the characters with so much wit and skill. In particular, I loved his take on Merlin, Morgan, and Lancelot. Lee excels at taking a piece of the legend that readers think they know and creating something entirely new. Perilous Times is a wild ride of Arthurian knights brought back to life, fierce battles, and people trying to do the right thing for the planet.  I loved it and can’t wait to see what Lee writes next!  Readers who enjoy Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and inventive Arthurian retellings need to check out Perilous Times.

Thank you to Thomas D. Lee, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.