Ari Helix has been an illegal immigrant in the galaxies for as long as she can remember. But when her spaceship crashes on Old Earth and she pulls a magic sword from an ancient willow, her destiny becomes set in stone.
As the forty-second reincarnation of King Arthur she must save humanity from tearing itself apart, with only the help of an adolescent wizard named Merlin.
This female king must battle for her right to be herself, take down totalitarian governments and unite the world. How hard could that be?
About the Authors
Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy met while earning MFAs in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. In 2015 they co-founded Rainbow Boxes, which crowdsourced enough money to send inclusive fiction to shelters and community libraries in every US state. Every spring they host the only LGBTQIA #ownvoices YA & children's writers retreat in the US. They live in Vermont with their young son, Maverick.
Industry Reviews
'A marvelous mythology remix for teens who enjoy action-packed speculative fiction and genderqueer romance.' * Publishers Weekly starred review *
'Recommended to fans of Avalon High by Meg Cabot and Damar by Robin McKinley... A must-have for young adult collections.' * School Library Journal starred review *
'A rip-roaring, no holds-barred, gloriously queer reinvention of Arthurian legend.' * Malinda Lo, author of Ash *
'Oh my goodness, I loved it so much! Utterly compelling, brilliantly witty, and delightfully queer, I absolutely raced through it and loved every second. It was so refreshing to see LGBTQIA characters front and centre of the plot, being the heroes and saving the day. And the humour is sharp and genuinely funny - who doesn't love a barbed Spice Girls reference?!' * Simon James Green, author of Noah Can't Even *
'Like White's The Once and Future King, this manages to be exciting, earnest, and funny, and Capetta and McCarthy unapologetically take jabs at our current political climate.' * Booklist *
'All hail this worthier-than-ever, fresh, and affirming reincarnation of the legendary king and her round table of knights which dazzles with heroic flair, humour, and suspense.' * Kirkus starred review *
'When I read Once and Future, a bold unexpected re-telling of King Arthur as an immigrant teenage girl, I knew it had all the same thrilling elements that would make the legend...a modern favourite once again.' * James Patterson *
'If a gender-bent retelling of King Arthur sounds as good to you as it does to me, then you'll definitely want to add this one to your list.' * Book Riot *
'Fun and fearless, this story romps right across the galaxy and into your heart.' * Amie Kaufman, author of the Illuminae Files series *
'A smart reclamation of well-worn mythology.' * SciFi Now *
'The inclusive, gender-bent King Arthur retelling that your bookshelf has been missing... An adventure of epic scale.' * B & N Teen Blog *
'Pointedly funny and deftly topical; an effortless Arthurian update with heart in all the right places.' * E.K. Johnston, author of Ahsoka *
'A sizzling, bold exploration of gender, power, and revolution. Its dynamic and diverse cast will inspire and delight readers. I loved every second!' * Jessica Khoury, author of The Forbidden Wish *
'An utterly delightful romp, full of witty voice, imaginative adventures, and deeply lovable characters. It kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. I couldn't put it down!' * Katherine Locke, author of The Girl with the Red Balloon *
