This book started out pretty slow for me, and I had to keep going back to it before I finally got through. I was really excited for another of White's retellings, because she usually knocks it out of the park ... but I wasn't feeling great about this one. The plot seemed to drag, and the characters did not feel fully fleshed out. There wasn't as much of a magic system as I'd expected, so I spent most of my time expecting something to happen. The story isn't bad, but it certainly wasn't for me.

I am afraid I didn't know much about the Arthurian story other than what was in Sword and the Stone when I watched it when I was little. That being said, I really enjoyed this book and it got me motivated to look up some of the history of which it was told from.

I loved the aspect of the story, the prose in which Kiersten wrote and the magic that was within the story. I will definitely be reading more books by this author in the future as I own one by her.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this before the publishing date.

I thought that this was an amazing book. I love the story of King Arthur and always enjoy reading spinoffs of the this story had such a unique take on the story that was refreshing. It took the perspective of Guinevere, a character that is generally overlooked in the story. Guinevere is sent by her father, a king in the south. to marry Arthur, though she is really the daughter of the wizard Merlin sent to protect Arthur. She poses as his wife to protect him from all magical threats. I loved watching the relationships grow between Arthur and Guinevere.
The one problem I had with this book was the beginning. It felt very simplistic and a struggle to get through. After reading a few chapters the story starts to pick up, but the beginning threw me off a little. Overall, I loved this book and I highly recommend it to fans of King Arthur's story.

I usually love Kiersten White, but this was a miss in my opinion. This book missed out on some of the key components that make a great book.

The first thing I have to comment on about Kiersten Whites, “ The Guinevere Deception” is that cover. Simply gorgeous! This was my first read by this author. I hear that her retellings are awesome, so I was super excited to see for myself.
The good: the second half. Also, strong female characters!
The not-so-good: I found this book to be very slow paced in the beginning. I found myself debating on whether or not I would finish.
Overall, the book was a tad bit predictable, had some slow moments, and I was just looking for…more. I will definitely go back and read the author’s previous books. I will also be sure to check out the next book in this series.

* I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Kiersten White for the opportunity to read The Guinevere Deception in exchange for an honest review.

Guinevere isn’t who everyone thinks she is. The real Guinevere died, and this new person has taken her place, becoming the wife of King Arthur. Guinevere’s real name is unknown. “Merlin–her protector, her teacher, her father,” taught her the various uses of magic, and now she is tasked with keeping King Arthur safe. Only Arthur knows that she isn’t who she says she is, and only he knows about the magic.

Though how much of what Merlin told and taught Guinevere is true?

Magic is banned in Camelot. If anyone were to find out about Guinevere’s secret, she would face much worse than banishment. Her friend and hand maid, Brangien, as well as Arthur’s nephew, Mordred, are to be kept from Guinevere’s secret as well, but they both have dastardly magical secrets of their own.

When a tourney fighter comes along, dubbed by the people as the patchwork knight, the people are vastly interested in this knight’s skills, for no one can best King Arthur. When a woman is accused of using magic and banished, she is ambushed by men at the border, and it is the patchwork knight who saves this witch. Guinevere, her job to protect King Arthur, suspects some kind of evil magic at play. There is the Lady of the Lake and the Dark Queen, two magical entities that are watching and waiting for their moment to take down Arthur and claim Camelot. With these suspicions, Guinevere is tasked with ensuring these powers do not arise, and she ends up in a magical tiff that she sure wasn’t expecting.

One of the aspects I most enjoy about this book is the portrayal of Lancelot.While I won’t give details, in traditional Arthurian legends, some tellings say of a romantic relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot. Given the circumstances of this book, that will definitely be interesting to see in development throughout the trilogy.

This book has romance, sure, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about having the power to make a difference, despite one’s given circumstances (such as birth class or gender). An enjoyable fantasy read that brings the Camelot myth a unique telling twist. This is an author I respect and a book that will be fun to bring into the classroom.

Kiersten White does it again! The Guinevere Deception is a beautifully woven story or magic, intrigue, and romance. Gritty, haunting, and stunning! 10/10 one of the best stand alone books I've read!

You may think you have read everything possible about the legend of King Arthur and that the familiar stories have been played out, but Kiersten White shows how a splash of creativity can turn even a well-known story upside down.
Told from the point of view of Guinevere, the reader is catapulted into a medieval world where magic is as common as riding by horseback. The girl posing as Arthur's bride has been sent by the great yet nebulous Merlin to help safeguard the kingdom, marrying Arthur as part of the elaborate ruse. In addition to protecting herself and Arthur from nefarious and unseen forces with magic that creeps up the spine, she must also learn the intricacies of the royal court.
As Guinevere sets about working her amateur spells, she learns she may not be the only one at Camelot hiding their true identity. She navigates her way through the kingdom with a cautious eye, always wary of the sinister magic which creeps beneath the surface, threatening all she's promised to protect.
In this creative masterpiece, Camelot has been reimagined in a way that feels both relevant and timeless. Some may be disenchanted to see Merlin cast as a villain, as I initially was, but since this is the first book in a trilogy, I know this could all change. From reading White's previous work, I know better than to assume that there aren't more twists and surprises coming which could alter how the characters are cast as secret, hidden motives and backstories are revealed. I'm already counting down the days until the second installment and have enthusiastically recommended this book to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to receive a free e-copy. This had no impact on my review.

I would like to thank Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publishing date in exchange for an honest review. King Author is one of my favorite stories. I have read every retelling there is. I really enjoyed this retelling based on Guinevere's side with a twist. I loved the magical and mysterious aspect of Guinevere's past and I can't wait to continue the story and figure out all the missing pieces of her past. Kiersten is the woman when it comes to retellings. She knows how to weave a mythodical story and add her own elements to it.

To be honest, This was a bit of a letdown. While I didn't mind the writing as I've enjoyed Kiersten White books previously. There was just something missing from this one. I loved the idea and the setting, but the execution just didn't sit well with me. I just wanted so much more than what was given. I wanted more character development, I wanted more magic. It was also extremely short, overall it was just okay.

This might be one of my favorite books by Kiersten White to date! I enjoyed this book tremendously and cannot wait for the next installment.

From the world building, to the characters, to the magic, to the secrets they harbor, and the various plot twists this book definitely did not let me down. White's writing has always been something I've loved and this time was no exception. The twist she put on this classic story worked so well and it is most definitely NOT your average retelling!

What a way to start off 2020!

I enjoyed this so much! I switched between the book and the audiobook, and I loved experiencing this story both ways.

I love the twist that this story had, and the way Guinevere was told. I admire her as a heroine, with the strength and abilities that she has.

And that ending? Eep! I definitely cannot wait for more.

The Guinevere Deception is a fantasy retelling of King Arthur. In a world where magic is abhored and protection of land means more than love, White gives readers Guinevere, a girl who constantly deceives herself, wields magic, and is married to a King covering for his wife who is the epitomy of what he has been defending against.

White provides readers with lush description of Camelot, a kingdom based on tradition, justice, and a little bit of magic. Who wouldn’t want to live in a land where you get to experience jousts and the grandeur of feasts?! That’s what Medieval Times is for, right?! haha. While at times a little scary, Camelot sounds like a place I wouldn’t be opposed to visiting.

That ending, though! I could kick myself for rooting for a certain someone and Guinevere being together. Although, I do find some potential for her and a different certain someone being together. Anyone else feel the same?

The Guinevere Deception is a story of the power of women, justice, and how even those you trust can deceive you…including yourself. White brings readers Guinevere, a kind-hearted soul who is only looking acceptance of all, the defeat of evil, and reciprocated love.

This was incredibly disappointing. I probably should have DNF'd it, but I decided to power through. I felt like nothing happened and the plot didn't seem to matter. Very many aspects were also poorly explained and I felt as if the characters were not fleshed out enough.

It's not White best work, but is enjoyable like a black coffee is for me, which I don't like, but I have to drink it anyway.

I really loved this. Seeing a different take on such a classic story was great. The author writes beautifully and I was entranced the whole time. I don’t think I’ve ever read something by this author and this made me want to go back and look at more of her books.
Overall, I would give it a 4/5

Guinevere-who-is-not, at Merlin's behest, pretends to be Guinevere, who is betrothed to marry King Arthur. In truth, she is Merlin's daughter and has learned magic from him. She is to marry Arthur because Merlin foresaw that Arthur is in danger and Guinevere can protect him. Once in Camelot, Guinevere meets Arthur's knights, does some snooping, and marries the king. She gets into some trouble, truly befriends Arthur, and learns her true reason for being at Arthur's court.

I was sorely disappointed in The Guinevere Deception. I loved White's And I Darken and was burned by The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, but I wanted to give another of White's a shot-- especially since this series opener is being touted as Popular. But, this just didn't do it for me:

Pros:
- I like the relationships Guinevere develops her maid (Brongian (sp??)) and Dendron (spinster sister of a knight (sp??)). Yay for women helping women!
- I was surprised at who the Patchwork Knight turns out to be. Perhaps that is part of the Camelot canon of Sir Malory, but I'm not familiar with that vignette.
- LGBTQIA: Nothing is explicit on the page, but we get hints of a character being trans and another being bi/pan.


Cons:
- ALL the anachronisms! I started listening and got about 20% in, then went on vacation for 8 days, then came back and finished it. In the last bit, the anachronisms were about plays/theatres (only early by about 800 years. *barf*), and at the time of writing this, I don't remember precisely what the anachronism pre-vacation was, but I remember thinking: "Oh, surely [thing] didn't exist back in the Dark Ages."
- It is way too leisurely paced. It is so slow that I often found myself zoning out while listening.
- The audiobook narrator's voice is too breathy. Why? Why does it need to be breathy?
- Guinevere gets her period for the first time in this book --after she's been married (at age 16). I don't have a problem with A) discussing in books about periods or B) that she gets it at age 16 because research shows that back in the day, girls did get it later than they do now #thanksbetternutrition I have a problem with how it is handled. It is brief and super weird for Guinevere to get married AND then get her period. Like, it felt like immature writing. How was the period-starting relevant to the story? Just make Guinevere have had her period before-chapter-1 and then this wouldn't have been an issue. It felt a bit like White was trying to be Tamora Pierce... and it just flops.
- The deception inside a deception is a boring twist. [SPOILER AHEAD] It would have been much more interesting if Guinevere had gone to marry Arthur knowing that it was for her own protection-- then she and Arthur could have actually formed a friendship based in truth.
- Rarely am I fan of third person narrative.


LGBTQIA: Nothing is explicit on the page, but we get hints of a character being trans and another being bi/pan.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Guinevere marries Arthur to protect him and keep an eye on him, at the request of Merlin. Little did Guinevere know that her life would be turned upside down.

It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. It started out slow as Kiersten White built the world that Guinevere and Arthur live in, but then the action started. I loved seeing a different side of the famous folklore of King Arthur that isn’t focused on Arthur but rather his queen.

I’m definitely going to check out more of L
Kiersten White’s books (already have Slayer downloaded to my Kindle!), but I’m also excited to see what is in store of Guinevere and Arthur after the ending of the first book. I’ll be interested in seeing how the fight everything that happened at the end of the book.

I feel a multitude of ways about this book. Firstly, it has gorgeous writing, with a really satisfying reading experience at the line level. Arthur and Guinevere’s relationship had a lot going for it, but I wish there had been either more of a push toward a romance for them, or so much less that they were clearly just devoted friends and partners in deception. I wanted to see more from several side characters, and I wished that most of Guinevere’s past hadn’t been rather inexplicably hidden from the audience, which I think contributed to a lack of tension throughout.

This was a new, interesting take on classic Arthurian mythology.

An intriguing twist to the tale of Guinevere. I can't say I fell in love with this book but it did hold my attention for the majority of the story and left me wanting more. I felt like the change to the original story wasn't as organic as I was hoping and thus it took me quite some time to finish the book. But I will say that this book made me appreciate Kiersten White's writing style more and I look forward to reading more of her work.