DNFed at 50%
I was super excited when I received this book from Netgalley, sadly this book was not for me. I normally really like her books and her retellings but this was just fell short for me.
It just didn’t hold my interest at all and I finally DNFed it at around 50%.
For one it just felt like the story or Guinevere, who by the way bot really Guinevere (not a spoiler it states it right in the beginning) ll over the place, we bounce around a lot in the story. It also was a bit on the slow site and it felt like never ending.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, Arthur who was not there a lot but mentioned and talked about I liked but again it was hard for me to connect to him if he is hardly there.
Guinevere seemed lost herself and all over the place with no real direction so I had a even harder time to connect to her.
Of course there were another people but most just were meh….. I had some thoughts about what is about to come and will be a plot twist so I asked a friend who read it all how it ends and such. But I was not surprised and basically everything I thought would happen did happen.
Overall, meh book for me. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it this time around. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who will love it.
I rate it 2 ★

I loved this magical retelling of King Arthur! The plot was gripping from the very first page and kept me wanting to read more the entire time. I can’t wait for the the story to continue in the next book!

I really enjoyed reading this, and it was an absolute page-turner, but before I delve into all my favorite parts, I have one note. The ending of this book left me with a LOT of questions and felt rushed? I understand there are still books to come which will probably answer these questions, but it felt like the story ended too soon (but that may simply be because of how involved I felt while reading). Anyways, moving on to all that I did really enjoy!
The whole premise of an Arthurian retelling threw me off at first because I don't know much of the stories besides the absolute basics, but I very quickly fell in love with the whole world of Camelot.
The character development was beautiful. Also very mysterious and left me wanting to know WHAT IS REAL?!? ARE MY THEORIES CORRECT? (and I had a LOT of theories while reading this.
Overall, this was a great start to a series and definitely left me wanting the next book to come out ASAP!

I loved this book. I thought the plot was good and the characters were very fun and interesting. And I loved that it focused so much on the women. The magic was very nature based and the action was very exciting. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series.

“The Guinevere Deception” begins with a wedding where the new Queen works to protect King Arthur from an unknown enemy while hiding her magic from those who wish to see her death or banishment for simply wielding the craft but as the Dark Queen hungers for revenge Guinevere finds herself looking to the past to find the truth which can unmake the future.
I think this book had a lot of aspirations but unfortunately didn’t know what to do with them, it was clear we had to get from point A to point B over the course of the novel but everything leading up to that journey was such a drag that it took all the willpower I had to continue. There’s a lot of wandering and sleeping which I would have cut in favor of action or even character development but instead we get a noble King who graciously grants us his presence sparingly thought out the novel with lighthearted romance that is there if you squint your eyes just right, a witch Queen who wants to be the weapon she believes she is but is too often shuffled off or stumbling around the holes in her memory to really be useful and a cast of characters that filter in and out when they can’t have her sleeping anymore.
Lancelot was one I was eager to meet especially with the twist but unfortunately the knights appearance is made at the halfway point and a few times after without really making any sort of statement which was disappointing but I have hope for the character to have a larger role in the books moving forward I’m just not sure this was enough for me to want to stick around and see if it happens.
I feel like if you enjoy all things Camelot and the legends of King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere and Lancelot there’s probably enough here for you to enjoy but if you’re coming into it from any other place it might leave much to be desired.

I liked this book.

Kiersten White builds worlds beautifully, her Camelot is well fleshed out, detailed, and concise.
Her Guinevere is unique from others I have read, without going into spoilers she is both more and less vulnerable than the standard "Damsel in Distress" type that has been the model for Guinevere in the past.
She writes with a strong sense of place, so her forests, castles, and caves are almost like their own characters, which makes for a fuller fantasy read.
Merlin, Lancelot, Mordred, Morgana, and Arthur all make appearances, both big and small, and many of them are not what one would expect from these characters of legend.

I understand that this book is the start of a series, so perhaps that is why the pacing was not great for me. I gave it 3 stars, honestly it's probably a 3.5, and I will most likely read the next book in the series when it is released.

Happy book birthday to Kiersten White’s newest novel The Guinevere Deception! I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley, for reviewing purposes!

The Guinevere Deception brings new life into the age old story of King Arthur and his Knights of the round table! Camelot has been a Kingdom devoid of magic, since Arthur banned its use to ensure the stability of the nation. After banishing Merlin, the threat of magic seemed to dwindle, but something dark has begun to stir in the forest. Guinevere has been sent to Camelot with a mission to protect King Arthur, but no idea what she is supposed to be protecting him from. Immediately upon her arrival in Camelot, she is wed to Arthur, forcing her to leave behind who she was and become Queen. Guinevere has not come to Camelot to be a Queen, though, and soon she finds herself frustrated by the ways she is limited by her position. Soon she finds herself caught, both by the wonderful world Arthur has built and the darkness that seems to lurk behind every corner.

Guinevere has often been an overlooked part of the story of Camelot, but she takes center stage in this fantastic novel full of mystery and magic! I have loved every novel from Kiersten White so far, but The Guinevere Deception takes the title of my new favorite! The characters are witty and full of depth, so that you find yourself rooting for conflicting sides throughout the story. I was constantly guessing at what would come next, and I was rarely correct in my assumptions. The Guinevere Deception is the Camelot revival I’ve been waiting for, since first hearing the legend and thinking, “What about Guinevere?”

You can get your copy of The Guinevere Deception now from Delacorte Press!

My Recommendation-
I would recommend this book to lovers of retellings (especially ones that outshine the source material in character expansion and world building)! The Guinevere Deception is equal parts mystery, fantasy and feminist retelling, so if you love any of those genre’s you won’t want to miss it!

I absolutely love this take on Camelot and Arthur's story. A girl who everyone believes is a Princess, Guinevere is sent to Camelot to marry King Arthur and protect him from an unseen evil that is coming to destroy him. But the problem is Magic has been banished and outlawed in the land of Camelot.
So Guinevere - not Guinevere takes place of a dead princess and becomes queen so she can do what she can to protect Arthur and Camelot. As a witch under a disguise as Queen, she takes on a lot of risks.

I love Guinevere's strong character but you can also see that she has weaknesses and fears. You can tell that she is still just a very sheltered girl shoved into a situation that is way over her head.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the writing. I did find myself wishing for a little more information in some parts which would help explain some things better.

I think my main problem with this book is it offered up too many questions but provided me with very few answers. And the answers I did get felt lackluster and somehow too easy.

Instead of the intriguing, magical tale, I was promised I got a lukewarm story that never seemed to settle with me probably.

Sad to say, because I am a fan of Ms. White's other works. But this was just not for me.

Once again, Kiersten White has written a world that kept me captivated through the final page. I loved the idea of the story of Camelot from the perspective of Queen Guinevere, but the concept of Guinevere being there to protect Arthur adds another layer of intrigue and mystery, Guinevere was such a great character, and I think that the mystery behind her background (such as who her mother is and where she lived when Merlin was with Arthur) made her even more interesting. Out of sheer curiosity, I'm very interested in learning what her real name was before she took on Guinevere's identity. Hopefully this will be explored in the sequel.
Arthur wasn't as interesting of a character as I'd hoped; then again, the main focus of the book seemed to be Guinevere and her character development rather than King Arthur himself. I also liked the openendedness of Guinevere's love life. Even though she was attracted to both Arthur and Mordred, she doesn't start a relationship with either and, more importantly, doesn't immediately confess her love for either.
This book was so intriguing (despite my feeling as if I had just been thrown into the story in the first few chapters) and I'm so excited to read the sequel. 4/5 stars.

Strong feminine lead.Absolute treat for King Arthur fans.Guinevere is not actually Guinevere but is sent to protect King Arthur and Camelot.
Beautiful fantasy based retelling of a favorite story.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

This was such a fun read - I've loved everything Arthurian legend based since I was young and this is one of the first ones I've encountered that takes such an interesting twist on the classic. The female empowered focus of the plot was incredibly refreshing to read from, I enjoyed seeing Camelot through Guinevere's eyes especially as she is shrouded in so much mystery. The tensions throughout the story helped to elevate the excitement of the plot and the writing style is always beautiful and gripping. Not going to lie, my emotions were swayed in many different directions and were constantly switching but that just makes the reading experience more enjoyable and makes the sequel more compelling. I definitely can't wait to pick up the next book and see how everything continues to unfold.

Camelot and magic along with Arthur and his knights make this one a must read. Guinevere is not the "true" Guinevere but one sent to save Arthur and Camelot as well as magic. Story is a bit slow paced at first with the world and character building. Twists and turns in the story as well as likable characters. Ending was faster and made it well worth the read.

4.5 stars

While The Mists of Avalon remains my favorite Arthurian retelling, this is a worthy companion with a unique spin on the tale.

All your favorite Arthurian characters are back, feeling both familiar and unexpected.

I really enjoyed the story and the writing was strong and largely well done, though a few small things felt forced and added on unnecessarily. Not enough however to detract overly.

Recommended.

i love love loved this book. its a retelling of king Arthur but with a feminist twist. it was so fast paced and enchanting it also had me not trusting anyone and wondering what would happen next. i can not wait for the next book in the series

I AM HERE FOR THIS.
Not a lot of people know that I have a slight obsession with all things King Arthur. I saw the name Mordred and instantly knew some kind of back stabbing would happen. I was so pleased with how it was done though. I love the magical/historical take in this "retelling." The story itself was fast paced and has kept me guessing and putting pieces together the whole way through, and I find I have really enjoyed it!
But, imagine my SHOCK, when in my head the whole time I'm just waiting for Sir Lancelot to appear and sweep Guinevere off her feet... And Lancelot is a WOMAN!!!! BITCH YES. I need the next book to explore Lancelot and Guinevere as a THING closer to the original stories. MAKE THIS GAY AF PLEASE. 🙌❤

First off, I just have to say...LOOK AT THAT COVER! When I saw the cover reveal months ago, I immediately added this to my TBR and have eagerly been awaiting a copy ever since. A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC, because I loved it!

I absolutely love old myths and legends, so an Arthurian retelling is right up my alley. I'm actually surprised I've never read a retelling of this myth before! It's such a popular legend, and I've seen so many movies about Arthur and his knights, but I don't think I've ever read anything about them, so this was refreshing even though it's a familiar tale.

My favorite aspect of the whole book was Guinevere--I absolutely loved how White put her in the center of the action! What a clever idea to have Guinevere be someone else entirely, a mystery that completely captivated me (and still does...hopefully the next book will have some more answers!). She's no fickle fair maiden. She's strong and a fierce protector with magic of her own, yet within that, she's still struggling to figure out who she is and where she belongs.

There's a little bit of gender-bending, some feminist enhancements, and more diverse representation than in the original tale, which was fabulous. I definitely recommend this to fans of YA fantasy and Arthurian legends :) I don't think it will disappoint!

**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

THIS STORY HAD SUCH A COOL PREMISE...and then, it just fell flat. I have been watching the publication of this novel through Kiersten White's Instagram and was so excited when I was approved for an ARC. I'm upset the story itself is disappointing, but I hope others find enjoyment in reading a re-telling of an Arthurian legend.

Mostly, I felt nothing happened in 75% of the story - I kept reading hoping something exciting would happen the next chapter. Nothing. Another chapter with Guinevere setting up knots around the castle and fretting about queenly duties.

The most interesting character was Mordred, and the reasoning is obvious to readers. Guinevere and Arthur were boring. I was just bored the whole time.

I'll be skipping the sequels to this story, but will continue to look forward to White's other work.

I included this title in a November speculative fiction roundup and will provide all the details to the publisher in the next round of this process.

Camelot has kicked out Merlin, and moved into a magic free zone. It is forbidden to use magic inside the borders. Arthur is under some sort of danger so he must marry a protector (Guinevere) disguised as his bride. This protector is a magical person and King Arthur knows. So what is going on ?
Guinevere who isn’t Guinevere is sent to save the King. She must protect him from what ? she doesn’t know, how would she do this saving ? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know a lot. Merlin her father but not her father sent her to marry King Arthur with instructions to protect him. Guinevere spends a lot of time wandering around making friends, watching for danger, longing for clarification on her duty in Camelot. She must focus on everything because she doesn’t have a clue what she is supposed to do there. Sure protect Arthur, but how ? She must find the danger without anyone knowing she’s magical, except she’s not very good at being sneaky. I felt sorry for her, she was expected to do this great thing with not a clue of what or how.
Arthur, he’s an odd duck. Rarely there, and when he’s around he’s not very interesting. He’s young, overburdened, and distant. He knows why she is there, and yet he rarely talks to her, leaves for days with no notice and just disappears. I really can’t say much about the character I didn’t get to know him to have much feelings except indifference. he just wasn’t there enough.
The last 25% had some awesome twists, finally Guinevere had a direction. She of the characters started to show their true colors. I never saw that twist coming.
The story was good, I enjoyed it but tired of the wandering girl bit. There was so much unsaid about these characters I never really got to know them. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series.