Perilous Times

Reviews

“[A] hugely entertaining yet thought-provoking cli-fi novel . . . The book [is] properly hilarious, that kind of whimsical and observational humor that Fforde and Pratchett fans are going to love. . . . Lee has brought Arthur’s legends into these modern, perilous times.”—The Fantasy Hive

“A breakneck pace and a compelling urgency that pulls readers along on a wild, glorious, and epic ride . . . Highly recommended for lovers of Arthurian reinterpretations and climate-disaster thrillers.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Full of dark humor and insights into the ills of the twenty-first century, [Lee] hits close to home by asking readers to reflect on how King Arthur would save modern-day England if it were plagued by rampant racism and political infighting as well as the devastating effects of climate change. . . . A fresh, irreverent perspective on the well-known myth.”—Booklist

“It’s rare to find a book so entertaining yet thematically juicy. Perilous Times has knights, mad science, corporate villainy, radicals from the far fringes of the left and right . . . and dragons ready to burn it all down. A delightful and poignant read for our times.”—Kevin Hearne, author of The Iron Druid Chronicles

“[Lee] maintains a steady faith in humanity’s ability to bring itself back from the brink; swords can do more than cleave if they become rallying symbols for folks who do not recognize their own heroism.”—Publishers Weekly

“Wow, what a book. . . . Hilarious, heartwarming, and harrowing all at once, with such a fun, fresh twist on Arthurian legend . . . All great fantasy is escapist, but this one offers a hard—and quite necessary—dose of reality as well.”—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“An angry, funny novel, grounded in a vital, urgent reality and soaring with joyous fantasy—a needful delight of a book.”—Claire North, author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

“Enormous fun, combining razor-sharp wit with savage political commentary, propulsive action, and near-endless Arthurian Easter Eggs, this is a brilliant collision of ancient mysticism with modern madness.”—Robert Jackson Bennett, USA Today bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy

“I howled my way through this book! Smart, funny, refreshing fantasy, full of vivid characters who will bring a lot of joy to a lot of people—it carves out a place for ancient legends in a brand-new world.”—Natasha Pulley, author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

“Funny, weird, wise, lovely, and full of mad shit . . . You’ve never read anything like it before.”—Stuart Turton, author of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

“Thomas D. Lee has written a gloriously fun book, easily the best I’ve read this year. It’s relentlessly entertaining, deadpan hilarious, and full of heart. Give it five pages and you’ll be hooked.”—Scott Hawkins, author of The Library at Mount Char

“A glorious experiment of a folklorist’s ‘what-if?’ trounced by the dual-headed dragon of climate change and capitalism . . . It takes a keen writer to play with legends and come out with raw, evolving characters and Lee has done just that.”—A. J. Hackwith, author of the Hell’s Library series

“One of my very favorite books of the year—a magical, profane, and hilarious adventure . . . I raced through Perilous Times and finished it thinking about all the people I could buy it for.”—Rosie Andrews, author of The Leviathan

“A deft evisceration of the state of modern Britain and the broader Western world. Lee has a maestro’s eye for satire.”—Richard Swan, bestselling author of The Justice of Kings

“Lee’s tale of the Knights of the Round Table versus climate change grabs hold and won’t let go. Forget the once-and-future-king; this is a once-and-future classic.”—Jackson Ford, author of The Frost Files series Expand reviews