Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Avalon’s Last Knight
AUTHOR: Jackson C Garton
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2020
LENGTH: 299 Pages
BLURB:
FROM EXCITING AUTHOR OF LGBTQ+ ROMANCE, JACKSON C. GARTON
Lancelot has loved Arthur for nearly a thousand years but has never had the courage to act on it–’til now.
After being away at college for a year, Lance returns to Avalon, Kentucky for the summer. He hasn’t seen any of his friends in months, but all that changes when Arthur–the one person he can’t have, but desperately needs–offers him a ride home from work.
The last time Lance saw Arthur, the two had not parted on the best of terms–with Arthur’s father finding them asleep on his bed, and physically wrenching Lance away from Arthur. The incident put a strain on their friendship, and convinced Lance that they will never be together.
For the past five years Lance has fought his attraction to Arthur, because as a budding brujo, he believes in magick, destiny, and fate–that everything happens for a reason–that nothing good will come of an Arthur Pendragon-Lance A. Lotte pairing.
Then one evening Arthur sends Lance a text, telling him that he’s in love with him, forcing Lance to question everything.
[Reader advisory: This book contains instances of dead-naming and transphobia, drug use, and violence. There are mentions of sexual abuse, child disappearance/kidnapping, religious persecution, homophobia, racial profiling, racism, drug abuse, overdose, and suicide.]
REVIEW:
Linda identifies as Lance. He is also undergoing hormonal and operation changes. As such, for years, he wasn’t in a good emotional place and continues to have issues. The adopted sibling of the Lott family, Lance A Lott was not only the brother of Gwen, but Arthur Pendragon was his best friend. Arthur was the man Lance had been in love with since the day they met. Unfortunately, every time Lance saw Arthur, he had a new girl on his arm. Lance also believes that his friend is the reincarnation of the British monarch Arthur, and has in the back of his head that Lancelot betrays Arthur in the end.
When Lance goes home to Avalon for the college break, Arthur insists that he stays with him and their relationship takes a turn of the romantic kind. But there’s more going on in Avalon than a budding romance.
Avalon’s Last Knight is told in the first person, present tense, solely from Lance’s viewpoint. The blurb gives the impression that this is a modern-day telling of the ancient legend of King Arthur, albeit the setting is in the USA, not the UK. What I found was a darker, more involved version of the myth and more. The reader advisory notes must be taken into consideration. This is primarily a transgender story, and as such intimate scenes are described with female/male terminology.
A lot is going on in this novel. The backdrop is the cast and legend of King Arthur, which on its own has become a film and TV staple with many recreations. Added to the mix, though, are issues surrounding transgender emotions, operations and acceptance, racism, visions, several varieties of magic, homophobia, drugs, and possession.
Individually, all the elements could form good stories, each raising issues that could be educational as well as entertaining. Some paired together would be awesome. But all put together in one book, for me, was too much. I found myself overloaded with too much to follow at one time. Although, towards the end, the story became more focused. Then I was more able to follow and enjoy the unfolding drama.
Areas in his novel made for a good story, and there were parts were I was riveted. For instance, it is lovely that Arthur loves the person rather than pigeonholes by gender. The ending had my rapt attention, and the insight into the emotional issues of a transgender person gave me food for thought.
The main language patterns involved self-deprecation and insults. Most were made tongue in cheek, but it seemed to be the standard way of talking. Maybe, it’s a generational thing – maybe not – but the trendy aspect of the dialogue prevented me from connecting with the characters.
I picked up Avalon’s Last Knight because of the Legend of Arthur and Lancelot. Given how the characters were interwoven, all of who had issues and stories of their own; it was clear that the author spent a lot of time with its construction which is to be applauded. I just think that given the numerous aspects, that it was a touch busy for me and that a younger audience would appreciate it more.
RATING: 
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