The Lost Book of Lancelot

The entertaining debut novel from memoirist Glynn (Out East) puts a queer spin on Arthurian legend. It follows the eponymous knight from his youth on the Isle of Women to his adulthood as a member of King Arthur’s court. Glynn’s Lancelot is a curious and mischievous child whose life changes when knight-to-be Galehaut, along with his giantess mother, Bagotta, arrives on the isle to begin Lancelot’s training in knighthood. As he matures, he becomes a gifted swordsman who, at times, overflows with rage and grief that he must learn to channel. Occasionally anachronistic dialogue notwithstanding (“ ‘You are the worst,’ I said), Glynn makes Arthurian England vivid and immersive, complete with the expected dragons and quests alongside more surprising queer characters and relationships that blend wonderfully with the romance integral to the chivalric tale. The author clearly knows his stuff, drawing from a vast array of sources to create a fresh, fun take on a classic that will as readily appeal to longtime Camelot fans as those with only passing familiarity with this world. Agent: Kiele Raymond, Meg Thompson, Thompson Literary. (May)