The Knight Watch, by Thomas D. Lee

The Knight Watch is an excellent historical fantasy novel written by Thomas D. Lee, published by Orbit Books. A fun romp fantasy that continues drawing from the myths around the Knights of the Round Table coming back to "save" the country from threats (and let me tell you, punching Nazis? Always delightful), with the author taking the opportunity not only to subvert the old chivalrous tropes and legends, but also weighing how the perspective of that semi-immortality has affected them, reflecting the superb character work made by the author.

Britain is deep into the Second World War, and the Knights of the Round Table are still fighting the enemies of the realm; but after so many resurrections, without the possibility of choosing anything different from returning again when the realm needs them is also taking its toll in the old band. The relationship among them is not exactly the best, but when Isolde discovers an old enemy of the band collaborating with the Nazis, it's time to put together the old band for another dangerous dance; a sharp and witty adventure with a great deal of heart at its core.

Part of what makes this adventure so special can be pointed in the character work and how it breaks the mold of the classic legends and myths, humanizing them in the process. Not only we have this Isolde, a strong and independent woman who is fed up with the whole Tristan bullshit, a complex character hurt by her past, but ready to fight for what she thinks it's fair; but also the whole range of Knight of the Round Table, from the own Tristan, who slowly grows into you, specially as he starts to overcome his obsession with Isolde, to Lance and his bravery with a soft spot, Agravain and the rest. I found particularly enjoyable how Lee takes this as an opportunity to explore themes such as queerness and gender (May is simply chef kiss), while putting the toll of immortality as a central element on how the Knights have changed. Each one has coped in their own way, and that has fractured the original warband, still having to work under Marlowe's thumb.
The rest of the cast doesn't shine as much as the knights, but Lee still finds the way to make some of those secondaries leave an everlasting impression (SPOILER AHEAD: And f*ck Merlin, all my homies hate Merlin).

Lee's writing hit a really sweet point between a more serious historical inspired fantasy that has the guts to touch big themes as gender, being part of a collective, fighting fascism (and how far you will go), and a funnier, wittier proposal that manages to get a smile out of you in the more tense parts. Arthuriana is effortlessly woven with the rest of the elements, keeping the recognisable characters, but with a new flavour that goes so well with the rest of the book.

The Knight Watch is all I could have asked and more from this kind of novel; if you are looking for a brilliant novel that will make you laugh like Discworld with the same ability to examine big themes, and you are fascinated by the Arthurian myth, Thomas D. Lee should be an autobuy author for you!