Wow!
A fantastic read, and a great take on Arthur and Camelot, I really enjoyed this book, at one point I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong.
And now the wait for book 2 begins.

Things I Liked –

I love a good retelling! I thought this one did a wonderful job of incorporating the commonly known story with new elements that made it unique and surprising. I really enjoyed the characters. Guinevere is strong and sure and courageous. And man, oh man I was living for the tension and chemistry between Guinevere and Mordred. But also found myself enjoying the sweetness between Arthur and Guinevere. But most importantly, I loved the fierce friendships Guinevere made along the way.

I thought the plot was intriguing and seemed to move along at a quick pace. I will also point out that I definitely did not anticipate the ending. I may be completely daft or oblivious, but it smacked me right in the face.

Things I Didn’t Like –

You can definitely tell this is the beginning of a series. By that I mean there were so many things that didn’t add up or left you hanging and I wasn’t a fan. For one, Guinevere seems to know nothing about her past. She just can’t remember it. So all of her confusion gets pushed onto the reader, which could be a really great thing, except I don’t want to be confused for the entire book. I didn’t really feel like there was any resolution to it. Hopefully there is more to come in the next book, but I felt like we should have gotten some kind of answers, or at least worked towards getting answers. In that aspect, it fell flat.

I also didn’t love that Guinevere tends to jump to conclusions, which results in her wasting a lot of time on things that are unimportant or in dangerous situations. While I can see how this leads to some interesting plot points, I found it a bit annoying.

Overall:

All in all, I did enjoy this book. It was fast paced, kept me wanting to continue on, and I look forward to the second installment! I would certainly recommend this one, especially to those who like adventure and retellings.

I'd been excited for this book since it was announced, so to have a chance to read and review it was truly amazing. And it was worth the wait. I really enjoyed this retelling, it's now up there with Once and Future as one of my top King Arthur retellings. This brought a fresh take to the familiar tale, changing the story up by giving Guinevere a new spin. It gave voices to female characters and characters of color that we didn't originally get in the original. And it brought magic into the world in a different but ancient way. Though knowing the original tale, you can guess a few things that might happen and did, but you never see how exactly it will occur. The writing itself was well done and wasn't overly slow, though there are a few filler moments, but they give depth to relationships with the characters.

The biggest twists are things such as Guinevere not being who she is told to be, not fully remembering who she even was before becoming Guinevere, of Lancealot being a woman, the dark queen being Mordred's grandmother, Morgan la fey not being the main villain, but simply a human who had a child with a faerie. Mordred did betray Guinevere, but not in the way you'd expect. This all leaves layers to the story. The plot is interesting and full of twists you don't expect to happen.

All in all I truly adored this book and I can't wait to see where the next book goes from here.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title The Guinevere Deception

Author Kiersten White

Release Date November 5, 2019

Description from Amazon

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

Initial Thoughts

I love King Arthur retellings. And, I actually recently had a long discussion with author Jordan Ifueko (of the upcoming, Raybearer) about how so many of the best Arthurian retellings are fundamentally flawed. Some of them are extremely sexist or others stray too much from the original story. I have read some really good retellings that change the story quite a bit (and loved them), but I really wanted this book to be close to the myth.

Some Things I Liked

Mordred. I loved his role in this book. Mordred is usually somewhat of a background character so I liked that we got to see him play a bigger part (but not too big).
Lancelot. No spoilers, but I really liked the Lancelot character in this book. I got all kinds of vibes from a certain Game of Thrones character (who will remain nameless because of spoilers).
Tristan and Isolde retelling. I love that this was baked into the plot and I hope we get to see more of that.
Some Things I Didn’t Like

Slow burn. There was a maybe kinda love triangle and then a super slow burning romance thing going on that I just wasn’t a fan of. I know this is a trilogy, but let’s pick up the pace people!
Merlin – the anti-hero? You want to root for Merlin but pretty much every chance she got, Kiersten White made me want to dislike him.

Series Value

I would continue with this series. Several interesting storylines are started in this book and I would be interested in seeing where they go. There are some things that I don’t care for the direction they appear to be taking, but I just hope I’m wrong about those things.

Final Thoughts

This book was an excellent retelling of the Legend of King Arthur. It had the full cast of characters in their typical roles. I enjoyed the changes made from the original as well as the elements that were kept the same.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle – if you like King Arthur retellings – give this series a read. It’s the perfect blend of the characters you love and a fresh storyline.
Darkness Sleeping by Jen Pretty – again, if you’re looking for a fresh take on King Arthur, give this series by Jen Pretty a try.
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta – if you like the Arthurian element but are looking for a more futuristic / sci-fi setting, give this book a try.

The Guinevere Deception is the first in a YA series called Camelot Rising. It’s a retelling of the Arthurian Legend told from the perspective of Guinevere. Given center stage, her characterization has been modified quite a bit from its origins and she’s given better agency, power,and back story while still keeping convincingly to the time period’s expectations.

The Guinevere of this tale is keen on protecting King Arthur and works in the shadows to keep him safe and investigate any questionable figure(s) that emerges to threaten his reign. A refreshing far cry from the usual Guinevere depiction. Moreover, she is afforded special abilities in the form of powerful magic, but she must hide that gift from everyone at all costs.

While this seems like the makings for an exciting and stealthy tale, the first half of this book (barring a few pre-Camelot chapters that I found charming enough) moves at a glacial pace. Guinevere has abilities she can barely use for fear of getting caught. She has to attend to being queen and put up a facade of helplessness that often dampens her journey instead of adding tension to it. The sequence of events in this book lack a captivating force. So little of note even happens in the first half, which is unfortunate.

But in the second half, more wheels start turning. There is also some interesting rep (a lesbian character and a possible trans character) but their portrayal is only mildly realized. It’s toward the tail end of the tale wherein things come together to a more interesting direction. Even the writing style (which is fine throughout) became more impressive, matching to an emergence of impassioned and conflicting events that develop too late and in a rush.

As an aside, I have this odd fascination with villains. That’s probably an unpopular opinion so I feel the need to state that before going further- as the whole rest of this review may constitute an unpopular opinion. I also discuss the ending at this point, though keeping it spoiler-free.

There was a character who I thought was an interesting villain. Not naming names but their presence serves to highlight Guinevere as a character with the potential to be more ambiguous. She has gifts that could be used for good or evil- or something not so black and white. And what is good and evil in this story, really? Camelot bans magic, she uses magic. Is she the only one who can possibly use magic without being evil? Are all the forces in this story who oppose Camelot plainly bad or can they be more nuanced than that or even reasoned with?

There was a moment very late in the book where a door seemed to open up for a more shocking, interesting, shades-of-grey possibility and even a whole other setting that could have been explored. I instantly had all kinds of hopes during that climax. My mind was a flurry of exciting possibilities for the ending. Without revealing the nature of it, I’ll just say I didn’t care for how the ending actually turned out.

Throughout this book, Guinevere is laid out plainly as a one-note (that note being “protect arthur”, a sentiment expressed to the point of repetition) heroine with a stunningly boring and idealized Arthur at her side.

If the sequel’s summary shows any hint of diverting from that rigidity, it might be worth reading. But The Guinevere Deception on its own was dull for too long, with a little spark of potential that was late to show itself.

Why You Should Try It – An Arthurian retelling that centers female characters and adds modern day representation. The writing flows well. I finished this fast and easily despite gripes about the dull chain of events. Most 3-star books are not so consistently readable as this one is. The late middle point and up to the ending has the lion’s share of intriguing possibilities.

Why You Might Not Like It – 50-60% of this book lacks remarkable events. Slow to find its greater points. While some characters are afforded back story, their general personalities are best described as tepid and lack memorable dialogue/wittiness.

Sincerest thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press / Random House for providing me an e-ARC of this title for the purpose of review.

I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever read a King Arthur retelling…? At the very least, I haven’t read one in a long time. I mostly liked Guinevere as our main character, but she kept coming to these conclusions that just seemed completely wrong to me and barreling full steam ahead. I mean, I recognize that the reader usually has more information than the characters do, but she just really needed to slow her roll. It was also difficult to fully embrace Guinevere because she doesn’t really know who she is (literally). Her memory of her past is super spotty and it made it hard for me to get a good sense of who she is as a character. So while I liked her, I didn’t feel like I could get completely on board with her. The plot was intriguing enough and we’ll see where the next book goes. I have one big issue with this book, but it’s kind of spoiler-y so I won’t talk about it, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. I’ll just close by saying that book two better have like five times as many Arthur/Guinevere moments. 3.5/5

This was an utter delight!

Taking the mythos and turning it on its head, Kiersten White's newest series gives Guinevere the rare spotlight she deserves. In a Camelot full of danger, a soft-hearted king with a terrifying sword, ladies-in-waiting with secrets of their own, knights with agendas, and even the Dark Queen who waits in the heart of a cursed forest. This cast of detailed characters all have intriguing starts that will only in future novels.

While some fans may grumble about the historical inaccuracy, White finds the heart of the story in a shining kingdom.

I honestly don't know why and I can't quite put a finger on it, but I just didn't click with this book. I never fully got invested and interested in it. I was curious enough to know how it ended to finish it, but I'm pretty underwhelmed. I liked the twist at the end, but this was overall a miss for me. However, I'm sure many people will love it and enjoy it so please do give this book a chance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This King Arthur inspired retelling was just what my fantasy loving heart needed. I’ve never read a King Arthur retelling, so it was great to have something different!

Guinevere was mysterious and strong. She knew what she was brought to Camelot to do, and she was going to protect her King at all costs. Of course, there were setbacks, the Dark Queen, and surprise enemies and betrayals.

The ending was so surprising. I didn’t see it coming. I’m pretty sure I let out an audible gasp. I can’t wait for the next installment to see how this all turns out.

At times, I thought the dialogue seemed childish. I can’t put my finger in exactly why. It might have just been the way I was reading it in my head. I’ve read Kiersten’s other work, and didn’t have the same feelings, so I’m blaming this on me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Rating: 4.75/5 Stars


I’m so excited that I got to read this book. I’m a big fan of retellings and when I heard that Kiersten White was doing a spin on the legends of King Arthur I knew I had to get my hands on it! This story takes the traditional tales of King Arthur and places Guinevere front and center.

The story begins as Princess Guinevere is heading for Camelot for the first time, only she isn’t the real Guinevere. She has been placed in Camelot by Merlin to protect King Arthur and his people from an unknown threat. Magic has been banned from Camelot and anyone found practicing it is exiled from the kingdom.

I absolutely loved Guinevere! Most of the book is spent following her as she learns to navigate her new position as queen and attempt to protect Arthur from magical attacks (without anyone knowing that she is using magic). I loved that Guinevere is not the damsel in distress. Though most of her backstory is a mystery, Guinevere is an incredibly dynamic character that you latch onto right away. The friendship between Guinevere and Brangien made me smile multiple times through the story. It is so nice to see two female characters who have a friendship built on mutual respect and trust for one another.

A lot of this book is focused on court life, which I’ve heard some people complain about but I found it interesting to learn the ropes along with Guinevere. I also thought the magic system used in this book was unique and I’m eager to learn more about it in the books to come. There is also some pretty interesting lore surrounding the traditional King Arthur stories that add mystery to this retelling.

King Arthur doesn’t play a huge role in this story which I was a little surprised about, but I do think it works for this story. Another character that I adored (but was completely different from what I was expecting) is Lancelot. I loved how Kiersten White took these iconic characters and shook up everything we know about them. It makes for an incredibly enjoyable read that is one of my favorites of the year!

If you are a fan of the legends of King Arthur then you will definitely want to give this one a try. I loved seeing Camelot through an entirely new lens and I can honestly say White made this story completely her own! I love series that leave you with more questions than answers and I am eager to see where the rest of the series goes. If this isn’t on your TBR list already, do yourself a favor and add it immediately.

The King Arthur stories are so numerous and varied that they offer a lot of opportunity for reworking. This appealing re-telling of the legend for young adults adds diversity, a coming-of-age aspect, and unexpected romance and gender reversals. Most significantly, the focus in this version of the legend is on Guinevere, Arthur’s bride, rather than on Arthur. As the author writes in her Acknowledgments at the end, she wanted to emphasize “the girls and women overlooked in stories and in life, who still find ways to create magic and grow in power and truth.”

Princess Guinevere, 16, comes to Camelot because she has been matched in marriage with 18-year-old Arthur, the King of Camelot. Arthur was anointed after he was able to remove the sword called Excalibur which was deeply embedded in a stone, and which held fast against all other attempts to extract it. The great wizard Merlin, Arthur’s mentor, had declared that only the “true king” of Camelot could remove the sword from the stone. Arthur, thus recognized as King of Camelot, vowed to bring goodness to the Kingdom. In order to do so, he had to push back the forces of the Dark Queen and magic. And this also meant banishing Merlin from the land.

Merlin believed in Arthur, and refused to leave him unprotected. Thus he sent his daughter to claim she was Guinevere, the princess from a faraway kingdom promised in marriage to Arthur. Although she felt like a fraud, Guinevere also believed in Arthur’s vision, and would do whatever she could to protect him from any threats. While she did not possess the full panoply of Merlin’s skills, she did know some elements of magic, and she knew how to sense it in others:

“Until magic was truly gone, it could threaten him. She would be the shield against any magic seeking to destroy what Arthur was doing here. As ill-prepared as she felt, she would not fail him. She would live up to Merlin’s legacy.”

As for Arthur, he thinks the problem is elsewhere: “Other men. We do not need a dark queen when we have so much darkness within ourselves. But we will beat back the chaos and the darkness.”

Guinevere is not so sure, and sees threats all around her. And indeed, the dangers seem to be coming from all quarters. Not least, a mysterious masked knight who is winning all the tournaments seems not quite human to Guinevere. And one of the biggest dangers of all? You might say it is Guinevere’s hormones. She knew, as an arranged wife, she was a companion to Arthur but not a priority to him. She desperately wanted to be loved.

Evaluation: Some young adult books seem “too young” for me at my advanced age, but this one was endearing and entertaining. It helped that there was more at stake in this story than high school and homework; the very future of civilization was at risk. While the men were physically adept, their strength was no match for the intelligence, creativity, and courage of the young women in this story. I thought it was an excellent re-casting of King Arthur. Best of all, it is only the first book of a trilogy. I did not feel cheated at the end, however; it can be read as a standalone. But I can’t wait for the next installments.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is only my second novel by Keirsten White and I must say, I really enjoyed it. I am pretty excited that this is going to be a trilogy. I love how Guinevere is written as such a strong character in this book. I loved how complicated the author made her.

The undertones of feminism and strong women! It is so refreshing. In my own personal opinion, I felt there was a bit too much romance or at least emphasis on romance. It really took away from the strong female tropes that this book had established so well.

The story itself was a bit all over the place. It felt very rushed especially from the beginning. I also really did not like King Authur in this story. His character fell flat and was just not enjoyable.

I really hope that the next book organizes the story a little bit more. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.

The Guinivere Deception is a retelling of the Arthurian/Sword in the Stone legends, featuring a much more strong and courageous Guinevere. Everything about this novel by Kiersten White is phenomenal. The characters, the setting, the storytelling. There's romance, mystery, intrigue, magic, and so much more.

I had no doubts that I was going to love this book, and I even purchased myself a physical copy the day it came out. The cover is beautiful for one thing, and the story is so good that I have to have it on my shelf. Kiersten's Guinivere is such a loveable, fierce girl that you want to be friends with her and root for her throughout the whole book. The rest of the characters are all so developed and fascinating, and their interactions with Guinivere are all unique. Arthur is bae, but the book also features other cool, classic Arthurian characters like Mordred, Lancelot, Merlin, and more.

If you like retellings with strong female leads, definitely check this one out.

In this darkly subversive retelling of the Arthurian legend, Guinevere is a changeling, sent in disguise to protect Arthur from an unknown threat. Camelot has cast out Merlin and banned magic, so Guinevere must hide the magical protections she wields. But she has gaps in her memory and we are left with questions: who is Guinevere? Why was she really sent there? And who is the real threat against Arthur?

Unlike the original, this retelling centers female characters and highlights the ways they were restrained, used, and mistreated by supposedly heroic men. There are strong themes of sisterhood and feminism woven through the story. It's an interesting take with a twist I didn't expect. I enjoyed this version and am quite curious to see the direction that the next book takes. It's unconfirmed in book 1, but there is also subtext to suggest that this inception of Guinevere might be bisexual, which would open up some interesting plot threads for the rest of the series.

Guinevere is in many ways an innocent who knows little and remembers little of her life, thrust into a dangerous world of power and politics as the queen to a kind but distant man (Arthur) and drawing the heated attention of his young Uncle (Mordred). There is mystery, drama, and magic and I'm looking forward to the next installment. Worth picking up if you enjoy these legends. There is also the inclusion of characters from the well-known tale of Tristan & Isolde, but with a queer twist. I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I loved this Camelot setting so much! It's got action, adventure, and romance. Plus it's only the first book in a trilogy.

Really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the sequel. I took off a star cause there were slow parts in the book but I loved it overall. A new take on the Arthurian legends.

The Guinevere Deception is one of those slow starting but suddenly you find yourself completely reeled in.

Kiersten White has a completely new take on the magic, mystery and fable that is King Arthur's tale. The focus is on Guinevere, or a woman that is impersonating the true Guinevere. This story begins with a young woman traveling across the enchanted lands, taking the place of Arthur’s deceased bride Guinevere. She has been raised and sent by Merlin, who has been banished from Camelot, but still wants to protect Arthur from the attacks that are coming his way. They only way to protect Arthur is with magic, magic that has been also band from Camelot and using it carries a death sentence.

The new Guinevere is confused but doing all she can to make the right choices to protect Arthur. Plots, deceptions and political machinations abound.

White has a writing style that lavishly describing every detail of the world she is creating. She does a beautiful job creating the world but it sometimes slows down the flow. I really enjoyed the story and as I said by the end I was hooked; it just took me a while to get there.

I received this ARC copy of The Guinevere Deception from Random House Children's - Delacorte Press. This is my honest and voluntary review.

An absolutely new and refreshing retelling of Camelot, King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and Lancelot. Guinevere arrives in Camelot to wed her new husband, King Arthur. Only, what everyone except Arthur don't know is that she is not the real Guinevere. Her true identity kept secret, she must assume the life and role of Guinevere, becoming the new queen of Camelot, while also completing her task given to her by Merlin to protect the king from evil forces. The catch? Magic is forbidden in Camelot. Only Arthur is aware of her task to protect him...or is it he that needs protecting?

There is this overall deception of Merlin to Guinevere of where she came from. She has always known him to be her father, but who is her mother? She is terrified of water, but why? She finds that she is missing memories that span years of her life, yet she can't figure out why. Then there is the deception of Arthur's birth. Arthur's mother was tricked by Merlin to lie with the king a sire a baby, but why would Merlin do this? Deception broils along Camelot's borders as a former knight-and right hand to the former king Uther Pendragon-Maleagant seeks revenge.

Characters
Arthur is a true king of the people, always seen reaching out to the villagers and their children, excited at new knight prospects, and concerned for the well-being of Camelot. But it is his devotion to Camelot that conflicts with developing any form of relationship with Guinevere. For love to blossom, it needs tended to. When he leaves her at a distance-so busy with his kingly duties for Camelot-it leaves the perfect chance for Guinevere to lose confidence in her mission there and her ability to develop a relationship with Arthur-outside of their marriage deceit to the people of Camelot.

Mordred, Arthur's older nephew and most trusted knight, remains in Camelot every time Arthur is called away. He provides a friendship for Guinevere, a person she can lean on and understands her feeling of loss at not having a job to do when Arthur is gone. He is attentive to her. But when he discovers that she has magic, he also is the only person she can confide in, besides Arthur, that understands her (near) true self. He was one of my favorite characters. He appears devoutly loyal to the king, his humor provides lightness to the overall growing darkness in the story. He also falls for Guinevere and encourages her to be herself, to be free to not hide her magic and whither away. He wants to give her the attention she deserves, as opposed to being just a queen in the confines of the castle awaiting for the king's return. I found myself wanting to run away with him. But alas, Kiersten White threw a curveball in the end....my heart 3

Lancelot is given a wonderful modern identity. A female! She reminds me of Mulan from Once Upon a Time. An aspiring knight, Lancelot disguises herself as the patchwork knight to try to earn her position in King Arthur's knights. She finds a confidant in Guinevere as they are able to keep their secrets between each other, while also supporting the other as true friends would. Lancelot earns her position as a knight, only to be discovered a woman and immediately have her position taken from her by the king. This was frustrating as you think Arthur this honest true character that would see true talent and move past her gender. Don't worry, Guinevere doesn't stand for this...

Guinevere has magic that she doesn't quite fully comprehend her capabilities. She is torn from having once lived a life of freedom in the woods to now remaining within the castle walls unless Arthur is at her side. She finds solace when her handmaiden, Brangien, and Sir Tristan discover her magical abilities and keep her secret. Brangien is witty and loyal, a true friend. As deceptions begin to unravel, Guinevere feels she is not this strong protector or warrior that she had believed when coming to Camelot, but a burden. But her lack of courage in herself leaves her vulnerable to a greater act of deception from someone close to her.

I appreciated making Lancelot a female. But I was a but disheartened that Guinevere chooses to remain within Arthur's shadow. She chooses to stay with him when she has a chance to leave him behind and be free to be her true self. I understand she feels slightly committed to Arthur and their marriage charade, but he also doesn't give her the attention she deserves. He makes her hide her magic because he can't risk one ounce of magic used within his kingdom in risk of evil magic festering. Sure, he's had bad experiences, but he also goes to the extreme length to have magic users hung or banished forever. She has the chance to be loved, truly. To have someone give her the love and attention she deserves. But she turns it away. I am torn. On one end, I understand, but on the other I was so frustrated that she chose to stay with someone that isn't good enough for her-someone that makes her be someone she's not.

Prepare yourself to be at the edge of your seat with a book that you won't want to put down. Finally a retelling of a story that you've been needing.

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for letting me read the Guinevere Deception early! I love King Arthur/Merlin/Knights of the Round Table thing, so I was superrrrr excited to read this one!

The Guinevere Deception 4/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: There is nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom's borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution--send in Guinevere to be Arthur's wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king's idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere's real name--and her true identity--is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old--including Arthur's own family--demand things continue as they have been, and the new--those drawn by the dream of Camelot--fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur's knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

I really enjoyed so much of this book! The setting was magical- I love Camelot! The characters were great and I loved seeing familiar names/characters to the stories I grew up with. Parts of the actual plot/storyline were a little confusing- for example, all of the emphasis on Guinevere being a fake but skirting around it in terms of giving us more information on why and who she really was. But, overall, I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read book 2 when it comes out!

This was a great read! I love anything and everything king arthur and medieval, and so focusing on guinevere and her independence and power made me incredibly happy. As someone who will consume nearly anything if it's based in arthurian legend, I found Kiersten White's latest book to be a wonderful and fresh take on the arthurian mythology.