On an Arthurian streak. Nicola Griffith took three weeks off writing “Menewood” to produce “Spear”, a gender-switching, queer love novella crafted around the figure of Perceval/Peretur. A gorgeous introduction to her writing if you’ve not tried her before

All the pieces are in place here (missing mother | hidden magical world | green magic | lonely kid makes friends | obvious villain / true villain | food descriptions | magical transportation) and there’s a Tom’s Midnight Garden-esque element that’s quite lovely. Not for adults maybe; too predictable