
Member Reviews

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is everything I wanted out of the sequel to The Guinevere Deception. I love a good Arthurian retelling and this series is definitely not disappointing.
We picked up right where the first book left off, with action after action. This book reads so fast, because there is just always something going on.
As this series continues, it has been a real pleasure to get to learn more about Guinevere and Arthur. Never mind all the outstanding supporting cast. I think I may actually love Lancelot and Brangien more than the main characters.
The writing style is also something that makes this book a pleasure to read. I had a hard time putting this book down once I really got into it.
If you have not read The Guinevere Deception, start NOW! If you have read it, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick up The Camelot Betrayal and immerse yourself into the world of Camelot, you will not regret it!
Now when does the third book come out? Asking for a friend ๐

I thoroughly enjoyed The Camelot Betrayal!
Many of the things that bothered me about the first book, The Guinevere Deception, were improved in this one. Primarily, this one didnโt just feel like a summary of a story. There was more showing instead of telling, which helps the reader connect to the characters and story exponentially. I hadnโt realized how many odd time-jumps and quick lists of everything Guinivere did in the day there were in The Guinivere Deception until I could compare it Betrayal. It made it easier to be in the book, as well as a more pleasant read.
We also get to know the characters and their relationships a lot better. I love Guinivere and Lancelotโs relationship, and it developed so well through the book. I understand why they trust each other, why they are friends. The same with Brangien and Dindrane. And Mordred. The only relationship I feel isnโt truly developed is Arthur and Guinivere. I think thereโs too much reliance on the fact that itโs a given theyโre together because, you know, legend, and not enough showing. Guinivere mentions (a lot) that she felt like she knew Arthur the moment they met, but as the reader, we donโt have that magical connection. I know I should like Arthur, but heโs justโฆ.bland. Heโs somehow the least interesting character in the entire book.
I think the plot was also better paced in The Camelot Betrayal than The Guinivere Deception. Thereโs still a lot going on, but itโs not quite as overwhelming. However, Guinivereโs internal monologue was a bit repetitive. I get that sheโs anguishing over the things she did and trying to figure out who she is, but I started skipping the paragraphs where Guinevere just listed every bad thing she thought sheโd done.
Overall, though, The Camelot Betrayal was an enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages. Iโm already looking forward to the next book in the series!

I loved The Guinevere Deception so had no qualms about signing up to the blog tour for the second book in the trilogy! Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours & Delacorte Press for the review copy.
The Camelot Betrayal picks up after the events of The Guinevere Deception. Mordred has betrayed Camelot and used Guinevere's blood to bring his Grandmother, the Dark Queen, back to life. Now Guinevere spends her days trying to be everything to everybody: Queen, friend, witch, protector. Her days are spent patrolling the woods with her trusted Knight Lancelot to search for the Dark Queen's taint, and also learning how to be a Queen, taking over parts of the day to day running of Camelot, something she has little knowledge of. So when someone claiming to be the real Guinevere's sister turns up, Guinevere believes this to be an attempt from the Dark Queen to infiltrate Camelot. She is unwilling to trust Guinevatch, and instead pushes her away until the young girl takes matter into her own hands. To survive Guinevere is going to have become better at the one thing she always fails at, she will have to learn to become not just the witch, but the Queen that Camelot deserves.
I absolutely love the amount of gender bent re-tellings we are getting treated to atm, and Guinevere is definitely becoming a favourite character of mine. She is incredibly resilient, whilst at the same time constantly questioning her decisions and through them herself. She doesn't believe herself worthy; of being Queen or of Arthur, and through it all she is still trying to learn the truth of who she is. Is Merlin her father? Where does she come from? We get a greater insight into her background in this book, but I think the author is building us up to a much bigger reveal. This book is definitely strong on the female characters from the brash and unique Brangien to the brave and loyal Lancelot, and while we do have male characters playing a part in the plot, their main reason for existing is to further Guinevere's story line.
If I have on issue with these books it is the pacing. I found the same issues I had in book one in this, we get a lot of story for the first 75-80% of the book before the story picks up pace. While there are some action scenes throughout the plot, they don't seem to further the main story line in any way, in fact they are more like separate plots all in themselves. I have every faith that the author knows what she is doing, and that all these little sub plots will come together at the end, but they do make the book lack pace in parts and I found my reading speed to be really erratic.
White's descriptive writing and ability to implant the reader into the story is something I love. You can't help but be transported to Camelot, to feel as though you are wandering the streets and corridors, and you certainly can't help but bond with the characters. And while it may be easier to bond with the likes of Guinevere and Lancelot, the protagonists, the good guys that we are supposed to be rooting for, White has a talent for making her antagonists equally as likeable. We don't have a true 'baddy'. No one we can place all the blame on. In fact most of the stories antagonists are people whose stories have been twisted. I know we are heading for a big reveal and I an incredibly excited to see where the story leads.
Plot twists galore, a well written love triangle, an unreliable narrator and brilliant side characters make this a truly unique twist on the Arthurian legend we all know and love. If you're looking for a story you know but with a twist, one where the usual male MC gets relegated to a side character and instead the story becomes that of the women, then look no further. An easy 4* read and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final instalment.

I'm furious. This book is SO GOOD. OH MY GOD. I have never, never felt so thrown from a book. I have gone in every direction trying to piece together what the next moves would be, where and how things would unfold, who would do what, and what would happen to who, and in the end I could never have predicted what happened. Things I loved about this: the story. It was told so well, the layers and development hiding all of the secrets. The characters, I Love these characters. They are multifaceted and experience the range of human emotion and aren't just stock characters which they so easily could be. To take such well-known characters and make them more than anyone could have thought of... I just.. I love it so much. I love that we got to explore Lancelot and Guinevere's relationship more. I wondered if we would be heading in that direction and I see how we could be and I'm very excited about it. However, I am also very excited about Mordred and himself and everything that he is. *coughs* .... Anyway... Truly, this book had me feeling all the feelings. I haven't felt like this since 2012 in the height of tumblr fandomonium. The passion I feel for this book and this series is out of control. I am GUTTED that I have to wait a whole entire year before I get to know the next chapter of the story. What're another 365 days, right?

While I did enjoy the first book, this one felt sor of lacking, being so focused on the characters that the plot seemed to take a backseat. I love the world around Arthurian myths, and I want to like this series, so I'll likely read the 3rd book when it comes out, but I'm not sure how I'll feel.

I was hoping for more from this one. The overall story is very interesting but this book was a lot of stop and go. It didn't know which direction to go in. No real focus on any one foe. Did learn some more background on Guinevere but it is still a bit confusing. I will read book #3 just to see what will happen.

After the way the last book ended, I was very anxious going into this one. This was such an amazing second book to the series! There was so much character development here. Guinevere is trying to figure out where she belongs and who she can trust in this world that she's been thrust into. I really enjoyed watching her character grow in this book. I really liked seeing her bond with Sir Lancelot develop. I do not like King Arthur for her though. I am hoping Mordred is going to be her love at the end of the book but we will see!

A totally reasonable sequel, this is one where you can tell it's the middle of the trilogy though - it dragged a little in places. I really enjoyed the characters and wanted more from the romance! I can't decide which side of the triangle I'm most rooting for, but I'm here for it. I especially liked that Guinevere is flawed, she can protect herself, and she's also anxious about being found out. I am *definitely* pumped for the final installment, the ending of this one was perfection.

Not as enjoyable as <i>The Guinevere Deception</i> in certain ways, but I did like the growth Guinevere herself underwent and how she struggled with her magic and the fallout her choices often caused. Other characters received some much-needed development, and the ending has me invested enough to finish the trilogy.
However. This wasn't so much a problem when I read the first book, but the pacing here gave me whiplash. The central threat introduced in <i>The Guinevere Deception</i> took a backseat so White could introduce Guinevach, who may or may not be bad; allow time for Guinevere to save a damsel in distress; shift the focus to attending a wedding; allow for even more Guinevech trouble; introduce yet another threat; all before finally wrapping up with the big baddie. Too many new characters were introducedโsome who would have benefitted from more page time, others who literally contributed nothing to the storyโand there were so many plot threads going on here that didn't completely mesh together.

The Guinevere deception was one of my favorite books of the year when I read it. I had such high expectations of book 2. Boy was I wrong, because this blew away even my high expectations. The character building in this was a true testament to Kierstens ability to write a masterpiece and not make it boring. We see this slow burn of a love that keeps your heart affluter. While this book wasn't action heavy it definitely delivered the spot I needed it to fill in this series. I CANNOT wait for the next book and to dive into this entrancing story!

I received a complimentary copy of The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White from Delacorte Press through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Camelot Betrayal came out today, November 10th!
Since this is the second book in a series, I won't be going into much detail about the plot of The Camelot Betrayal. I don't want to spoil The Guinevere Deception for anyone who hasn't read it yet! I'm mostly going to discuss my feelings about the second installment in the Camelot Rising trilogy. I really enjoyed this book! There's a lot of focus on building the relationships between the characters and a few new characters are introduced, all of whom I liked. My favorite thing about The Camelot Betrayal was definitely the friendship between Guinevere and Lancelot truly blooming and becoming more complex. I adore Lancelot (but I think we all know I'm a sucker for a fierce lady with a sword)! This book also does something a lot of fantasy stories fail to do: it shows us a heroine who saves the day but truly grapples with the aftermath of what she has done and how her actions affect others. There is a lot to love in this book. The ending also promises us an epic final installment in the Camelot Rising trilogy. I'm so excited to see what will play out in the final book! I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a female-centered Camelot retelling!

I really liked The Camelot Betrayal and its depiction of Guinevere. She's a character who is unsure and afraid, but still manages to be strong and loving and have a close group of friends/allies who she (mostly) doesn't push away. I liked getting more into her mind and memories in this story and learning more about her as a Queen. I will say I was a little frustrated by the whole sister plot. It turned out better than I thought it would, but there wasn't enough time for a good payoff. I wish the Big Reveal had happened earlier to give us more time to see the results. I also needed 1000% more Mordred. The parts where he showed up were some of my favorites and I'm hoping to see a lot more of him in book 3. I'm very ready for the final chapter in this story and for more answers and quests and forbidden flirting and knights!

Epic second installment of Kiersten White's newest fantasy trilogy. Fantastic Arthurian retelling that examines human nature,, the price of power with a backdrop of romance and treachery. The novel has adequate pacing and is engaging. Fans of fantasy won't be disappointed but I can see this story appealing to a variety of audiences. You don't want to miss out on this one! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in exchange for my honest review.

The sequel to The Guinevere Deception was everything I could have hoped for. The ending was such a good cliffhanger, and it left me dying to know what's going to happen in the third book. The story dragged a little in the middle, but I think that tends to happen in the middle book of trilogies. The writing was, as always, phenomenal. Kiersten White has a way with words and I love the way she tells her stories. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, mythology, and fairy tales.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Childrenโs Delacorte Press for providing The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the first book in this series by White for the new twists in a classic story. Guinevere and Lancelotโs relationship is one of my favorites. Their friendship and loyalty make this top-notch relationship goal.
I will say after the cliffhanger in the first book, I was beyond excited to read the second one, however, I was worried about what answers we might/might not get. Book two is another slow burn, not the action-packed story I craved, but it held my attention and deepened my adoration for Lancelot and Mordred. I know weโre supposed to cheer for Guinevere and Arthur, but I canโt do it. Mordredโs respect and unconditional love for Guinevere is everything. Can I be Team Lancelot and Team Mordred?
Guinevere is struggling to discover who she is, which is frustrating. Her naivete. She jumps to conclusions and makes hasty decisions. It can be difficult to now scream at her, BUT I think she grows in this one and Iโm even more excited to see who she becomes.
Just a warning for anyone who doesnโt like cliffhangers. We have another one! Itโs big and it made me scream. Iโm impatiently waiting for the third installment, to see where we go from here. Iโm not going to share any other details, as I donโt want to spoil anything. I highly recommend this sequel and will definitely be purchasing both the first two books, to re-read before the third book releases.

The Camelot Betrayal continues to challenge Camelot mythology, looking at the legend through the eyes of Guinevere rather than Arthur. That flip of perspective changes everything. It modernizes the story in and of itself. Add in other โcontemporaryโ elements like a female Lancelot and a same-sex love story, and it becomes an infinitely more relatable tale.
As with The Guinevere Deception, Arthur remains my least favorite character. He still comes across as kind of one note. Mordred plays a smaller role in The Camelot Betrayal, so heโs not as interesting, either.
Itโs fair to say that women really move the action forward in The Camelot Betrayal. And, as is so often the case, a lot of what they are doing is behind-the-scenes. Between Guinevere, the Dark Queen, Lancelot, Brangien and a number of surprise characters, thereโs a lot of action and drama that unfolds.
Author Kiersten White does an excellent job allowing the story to unfold at the pace required. It never feels as if sheโs using people or things to propel the narrative forward.
Guinevere is an interesting character; in that sheโs learning about her origins at the same time as readers. This adds to the overall ebbs and flows of tension throughout.
I canโt wait for the third book in this series.

I love this trilogy so much! I think it fits the "man vs. nature" trope so well without being heavy handed. I love how we see Guinevere reclaiming more of her role, even if she's not entirely sure who, or what, she is. I will say, I wish we had more Mordred, but that's mostly because I love my sassy dark child. The love...square(?) between Guinevere, Mordred, Arthur, and Lancelot is so intense!

Yโall- I read The Guinevere Deception earlier this year and LOVED it! I immediately preordered this one as soon as I could and then request the ARC too because i NEEDED it ASAP!
I have zero chill when it come to Arthurian retellings and this series is no exception- its hands down a favorite!
The Camelot Betrayal is the second book in this series and it satisfied all of my expectations and hopes!
Just like the first in this series this book is a slow build filled with twists and turns and a jaw dropping ending! I donโt want to give away too much about the plot, but this book has a lot to do with Guinevereโs inner turmoil over her identity and how she fits into Camelot!
Filled to brim with fantastic side characters, BEAUTIFUL friendships, magic, slow burn romance, and enough mystery and confusion to keep you turning the pages!
And yโall- THE ENDING!!! Ahhhhhh.
Ok, I need the third book NOW!
The Camelot Betrayal is out TODAY! Just trust me, if you love anything Arthurian you NEED this series! Itโs so fresh and unique which is hard to do with a group of characters that have been around so long!
A huge thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousechildrens for sending me the EARC of this book!

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me access.
As much as I loved the first book, this one did not live up to the expectation. The beginning was super slow and irrelevant. Towards the second half and the end, it finally picked up speed and I couldn't put it down. I need all the answers now!

"๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ถ๐ฏ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฏ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ."โฃ
โฃ
The Camelot Betrayal is the sequel to The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White. Continuing with the fantasy retelling of King Arthur, I enjoyed this book even better than the first.ย There were some questions I had after the first book that were answered in this follow-up. I still really love that Lancelot is a woman in White's series, with the same unbeatable reputation we're familiar with from the legends. I feel like I've been immersed in a lot of Camelot-esque stories this year between other books I've read and a popular Netflix series I watched, and this book only added to that immersive fun. I think this is a trilogy so I'm already anxiously awaiting the third book. I can't wait to see what happens with Guinevere next.ย โฃ
โฃ
๐๐ช๐ด๐ค๐ญ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ: ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฆ๐น๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ Delacorte Press ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ NetGalley ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฆ๐น๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ.โฃ
โฃ