First of all, gorgeous cover! I loved the story, magic, and romance in the book, wouldn’t expect less from Kiersten White!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. The world building was great and I fell in love with the characters. Definitely an amazing book!

Fun and engaging, recommended to fans of YA fiction and fantasy, or action books in general - even if they aren't already fans of Kiersten White.

This Camelot-inspired fantasy by Kiersten White will definitely satisfy your urge for kings and queens and political intrigue, with a dash of magic. As someone who read Morgan Le Fay books as a kid, this was made for me and I'm so glad, Kiersten White decided to retell the story.

I included it in a list for The Young Folks "Book Buying Recommendations for Mood Readers": https://www.theyoungfolks.com/review/140005/book-buying-recommendations-for-mood-readers/

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've been a fan off and on of Kiersten White's other series, so when I heard about this book I was both excited and comprehensive. Could a King Arthur retelling be unique and interesting enough to keep me interested? The answer is yes for this book with a teesy bit of 'well....'

It does take a bit of reading (I'd say more than 60-70%) for things to really start happening but it did towards the end with twists and turns and a satisfying cliffhanger. The characters were initially dull but there were hints of more development. This book was a bit of a jumping point for this series so I'd be interested to read more installments.

Overall I'd say this was a good book for those in need of a King Arthur retelling with a twist.

Big Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

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.

This book was everything I wanted out of an Arthurian reimagining: girl power, familiar characters with just enough twists to be new but still beloved, and MAGIC. I appreciated in particular that it works through rather than around some of the hard realities of womanhood (everything from periods to propriety to social rules) without ever actually making any of the female characters seem weak, helpless, or resigned as a result. I'm also super appreciative of the way the "love triangle" of the classic myth has been reinterpreted (and hoping we might get some wlw scenes in the next book). And, of course, I'm fascinated by the mystery of the Lady of the Lake and what exactly is going on with magic, water, and Guinevere's past. Even more exciting is to have a high fantasy retelling that I'm comfortable handing to young teens as well as older teens, but that won't talk down to them or to older readers. Kiersten White has done it again, and I'm so excited to start sharing this one!

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.