Love this book and the trilogy! I love retellings with a modern twist which I think the author does really well. I loved the And I Darken series so I couldn't wait to read this series. Without spoilers, I think this was a wonderful end to the series.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my least favorite in the series.

I’ve loved reading this whole series. I love the way it celebrates the Arthurian legend but centers around female characters. There’s really something magical and immersive about it.

If you know me at all, you know I really struggle with third-and-final books in a series. I long for them. I dread them. Too often I put off reading them until the last possible minute. Then I read them, remember all over again why I fell in love with the series or characters, and can’t believe it took me so long to read the book. Which is pretty much what happened here, too.

Guinevere is such a great character. I loved the way she wrestles with finding the balance between protecting the people she loves and giving them respect and autonomy to take the risks they deem appropriate. And the way she faces questions about her own existence and her value.

I love that the story celebrates Arthur’s magnetism and shows his pursuit of being a good king but also acknowledges his flaws. It made him seem like a much more real person than some of the other Arthurian stories that I’ve read in which he seems too much a legend and not enough an actual person.

One of the amazing things about the story really is the way that it’s not just Guinevere’s tale. She builds friendships and relationships with many women around her. They play key roles in the story and in her journey, and I loved how that played out.

All in all, I think this is a great fantasy series, and I’m so glad I read it. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo or Brigid Kemmerer will enjoy this series.

Check out my reviews of the first two books in the Camelot Rising series: THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION and THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL.

OH.MY.GOD. I Loved this book SO MUCH!!
I read it in 10 hours. I haven't read a book that fast in months! And the book hangover! I always commend an author who leaves me with a strong book hangover that makes it hard to start anything else! I have been consumed by this whole trilogy for two days and it has overtaken my mind. The Arthurian Legend was never one of my favorites, but I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover of The Guinevere Deception, and now here we are: a new obsession for me!

I love the feminist spin on the legend. Guinevere is a fantastic lead and each of the side characters are so strong and powerful in their own ways. I love the girls supporting girls and I love the girls telling other girls when they're being stupid out of love. Guinevere's story and emotions are so complex and Kiersten White handles them brilliantly. I am SO sad this series over but what a SPECTACULAR finale it was! My heart was racing, I was on the edge of my seat, and there were knots in my stomach almost all of the ten hours. The world that White built is all consuming and so easy and comfortable to get lost in. I still don't want to come out of it. I wad not expecting to like this series so much, but it drew me in from the very first page and even after the last page it won't let go. All of the stars for this amazing book and series!

4 STARS

Guinevere is at the mercy of Morgana, and she is less certain than ever of how to proceed.
By sealing herself outside of the barrier that protects Camelot, Guinevere fell directly into Morgana’s trap. Now, she rides north toward the clutches of the Dark Queen, cut off from her allies, her magic, and her purpose.

Except not everything is as it seems, and unlikely partnerships open the way for Guinevere to learn more about herself and her murky history. To save Camelot, she will have to push her limits and uncover deeply buried secrets. More than that, she will have to come to terms with who she is. Who she was.

Who she might still be.


After a bit of a slump in The Camelot Betrayal, The Excalibur Curse returns in full force!

At last, the series begins to reach the answers to the questions that have been so compelling, and each scene is a leap towards a pitched conclusion. I struggled somewhat with the second book due to its slow pace and political intrigue facets, but this was more my speed. At last, Guinevere is actively pursuing her history, where she had previously just spun her introspective wheels to the point of frustration, and she no longer steps back to allow fate to sweep over her. This time, Guinevere will do everything in her power for Camelot. This time, she is prepared to defy her instincts and her fears.

And while this new side of Guinevere occasionally frustrates, still somewhat prone to indecision, I enjoy her so, so much more. At her core is impulse driven by compassion, and she is so deeply conscious of others’ wellbeing. She also finds herself far more conscious of personal autonomy as well, and I love the change it brings about. It doesn’t just mean she stands up for herself and is more willing to use her voice. It also means she sets about trying to bring change for all Camelot, to bring support and protection for those people who do not have it under the current laws.

Deeply refreshing too, is her realization of all the ways Arthur is flawed, and the ways he is still good. Though he makes a series of questionable choices, his intent is by and large good. And once he sees the truth of Guinevere, the whole of her, he becomes more receptive to her input in running Camelot and doing right by its people.

Overall, The Excalibur Curse is bursting with outstanding character development, and that’s to say nothing of the intensity of the plot.


“Just because violence shaped you does not make your very existence an act of violence.”

Seeing as this is the third book in a series, I’ll continue to stay quiet on the plot. There’s nothing worse than having a finale spoiled for you!

What I can say, though, is that I am devastated in the very best way about Guinevere’s biggest realizations. Some of the truths she must face shred her sense of self and replace it with soul-crushing misery. She tries so hard to act out of a place of compassion, of duty, and learning that important pieces of her stand directly at odds with that is nearly her undoing.

But she has the unwavering support of her friends. She has their attention, and more importantly, their love in all its forms. I nearly cried, watching the full depth of her relationships with others play out in full on the page. Each connection is complex and imperfect. More than that, though, each connection is a different sort of love. Seeing the difference between Guinevere’s passion, her duty, her family, her love completely wrecked me, and I still need to recover.

Can you blame me, though? An Arthurian retelling that not only builds on the autonomy of its typically neglected female characters, but also pushes their support of one another to the forefront?

And to cap it all off, Guinevere’s somewhat tangled love interests are treated with surprising grace and clarity. Even though the series is over, everything is handled in such a way that you can see what the future of Camelot looks like, can see how these precious bonds will grow in time.


The Excalibur Curse is worth pushing through The Camelot Betrayal.

It provides a truly satisfying conclusion to a series rife with uncertainty. Better still, the love and hope tracing the edges of this installment makes my heart grow at least three sizes. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the power of compassion to elicit change, especially in fantasy settings. And in times like these, we could all use the warm fuzzies, right?

If you’ve gotten this far in the Camelot Rising series, I recommend you finish it. The closure isn’t just worth it.

It’s exactly what Camelot needs.


CW: gambling mentions, violence, child abuse, animal death, nudity, loss of a loved one

[This review is now live on Hail & Well Read.]

Thank You to Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was honestly disappointing compared to the first two. Guinevere felt like she lost her way, the calculating careful but still headstrong girl turned entirely headstrong. More so was the relationships she had. The entire book felt like she was settling for Arthur and settling for a world that did not give back what she deserved. I really thought she was going to end up with Mordred, there were more than enough chances, and then Lancelot but neither one happened. The end of the book felt more like the author was trying to push her idea that feminism is awesome and rules the world(which it totally does) rather than finishing the story. This book lost the drive and adventure I felt from the first two and I honestly don't even know what to say anymore, Usually the last book is some of the best writing but it felt the exact opposite. I lost my comfort series at the worst time.

Amazing from start to finish! I love everything about this book! I couldn’t put it down! I wish I could give it more than just 5 stars!

The Excalibur Curse picks up right where The Camelot Betrayal left off. Guinevere has been captured by the Dark Queen, Morgana and their forces. They intend to use her to lure Arthur into a trap and destroy Camelot's forces. With secrets left to unravel and a battle this final book was setup to be a thrilling conclusion to a trilogy that sought to retell a classic legend.

Alas, I found this book to be the most disappointing in the trilogy. Instead of the fast-paced action packed conclusion, the pace and plot dragged from one conversation to another. This coupled with the lackluster reveal we've been waiting for regarding Guinevere's true nature just disappointed me.

After the reveal the majority of conversations revolve around Guinevere coming to terms with the implications and refusing to accept what everyone else in Camelot already knows - it doesn't matter who Guinevere was or what happened for her to be, but she is here now, her friends and her city love her, and living is what matters.

Finally, I found the ending to by bit heavy handed as Kiersten White's theme for the books is finally put out plainly. After enjoying the first book so much and living with the second book, I expected more from the finale than a 3 page climatic fight scene, a fairly obvious reveal, and to be hit over the head with the female empowerment theme.

If you've made it to this book- I hope its what you wanted.
If you're thinking about starting the trilogy, I can no longer recommend.

I adore nearly everything that Kiersten writes so it's no surprise that this story captured my interest. I can't wait to chat with other readers about this conclusion to the trilogy. Guinevere has been through so much and this final installment is full of twists and turns.

This was a really good and safisfaying ending to the trilogy! It's not my favorite in the trilogy but overall I would still recomend this trilogy to all my friends! Star rating= 4/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion. Was very satisfied with the ending and how everything came together. Guinevere grew and learned about herself and surprisingly so did Arthur, which I did not expect.

There’s not a lot I can say while avoiding spoilers, but overall this was a good trilogy and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White is a fitting end to the trilogy. All three books made me rethink the entire Arthurian legend, but this final book really got me looking at it long and hard from many different angles. In true White fashion, I ended up switching my sympathies from Arthur to the Dark Queen as she fights to maintain magic in the world. I wasn't expecting Guinevere to change as much as she did, and the ending was equally unpredictable. I love how White manages to take such a famous, very masculine, story in which the women do not fare well at all and turns it on its head to make it fresh and exciting and very feminist. Well done!

Rating: 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Unspoilery Blurb

After being captured by the Dark Queen’s forces, Guinevere must uncover the mysteries of her past to embrace her present. Using her wits and magic, Guinevere stands between Camelot and the forces of darkness.

Unspoilery Review

The first book was fun. The second book was interesting, and the third book was beautiful. I love how everything wrapped up in this final book. It truly brought the plot, the threats, and the characters full circle. It wasn’t perfect, but I did have a great time reading it!

The only drawback to this book is that the big reveal is kind of a letdown and it causes Guinevere to make sudden, thoughtless decisions for the middle section of the book.

That being said, I had a wonderful time going on the quests with these characters and discovering the magic in the world. Also I enjoyed considering the balance between good and evil, meeting morally grey characters, and contemplating the impact of ignoring the humanity of others.

Guinevere was such a wonderful main character, and I am so proud of how she grew in her abilities and confidence in this series. Going on this journey with her was wonderful, and Kiersten White truly wrote a gorgeous story full of violence, magic, and love. I adore how this series tells the story of the powerful women often left out of Arthurian myths and challenged readers to be both strong and compassionate.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Arthurian mythology or fairytale retellings, morally grey characters, and sacrifices.

My Review: I have really been excited for this conclusion to the series, so far I have really enjoyed the twists White has added to the Arthurian legend. This book definitely continued the trend, I was a little worried about the whole betrayal bit and how it would be portrayed but I loved what she did with it. The Lancelot character she created will forever be the one that I picture in my mind when hearing the name. The same goes for Mordred, I like how he is so morally grey, he wants to do the right thing but his right just doesn't line up with Arthur's and his connection and feelings are simply used against him. I found Guinevere to be on really unsteady legs throughout this book, and while she does grow into her new self a bit, I still found her to be very unsure and so easily manipulated. I feel like we are just seeing the beginning of who she would become and I would have really loved to see her settle into the role she found for herself a bit more before we saying goodbye to this series. All in all it was a really good conclusion to a very unique take on the traditional legends.

My Rating: I absolutely love the way White is able to twist classic and long standing stories on their heads and give us a completely new take and perspective. This has been one of the most unique retellings of the Arthurian legends I have read. I give this conclusion to the series a rating of Four Paws!

I LOVE the women in this series. We get a high quality addition to the cast in this final outing in Fina: warrior of the north, gifted bisexual flirt, and honorable friend. However, for all the strong friendships and celebration of all kinds of love, this finale offers little new content in the relationships that made me love this series. It mostly circles back on itself in a reflective way while Guinevere struggles to understand herself, her history, and what she wants from the people in her life. I love her, and I even love her angst. Her intense introspection is something I enjoyed in the first two books, but it was always balanced with action. Here, the revelation of her background brings forth some weighty questions, necessitating a major decision. The ongoing conflict between Camelot and malevolent magical forces tests loyalties and priorities. During the turmoil, she makes the same mistakes again and again while trying to forge a future she can be proud of. Guinevere spends most of the book in her own head with little only rare examples of the sparkling interactions that make her story shine. Guinevere didn't deserve this finale. It was my least favorite in the series despite the stellar cast.

It's hard to do this spoiler-free, but I was highly stressed about my ship for Guinevere. It's up in the air not because of indecision but lack of self-knowledge and a personal blindspot towards romantic love. THEN, my ship prevailed (I think) but it got less time on the page than both the other options (it's a full quadrangle, out here) and it wasn't particularly decisive or romantic despite the long emotional journey to get us to that point (on literally the last page). I felt deflated after all my building concern and excitement led to such an anti-climactic result.

While the questions raised were interesting and thoughtful, they looped through the story without the benefit of the great character elements driving the first two installments. It's strange for me to get the conclusion I want and still leave dissatisfied and underwhelmed. I would have appreciated more plot and more emphasis on the heartfelt relationships that make the trilogy sing. I'm still glad I read the series in its entirety, and this is my favorite version of Camelot to date.

This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions where I spent most of the time screeching and breathing heavily. I one point, I was stopping after every chapter to breath and assess what had just happened and prepare for what was to come. I'm going to have to be spoilery here because I just have so many feelings about this book and I need to talk about them.

Guinevere, as described by Brangien, hopes for and believes in the most, best version of that person. This does mean that she can be naive at times and that can be frustrating. It felt like some of the drama in this book was based solely on her being unable to see that some people are untrustworthy. Granted, in the end, it did mean that it was all dealt with instead of just part of it, but still. I liked her journey through this story. She was having to come to terms with her feelings for all of these people in her life, specifically Lancelot, Mordred, and Arthur. She starts processing it emotionally as well as mentally. I appreciated that to some effect. I liked that she wasn't thinking in shoulds as much and that she was caring more about how people made her feel. Also, I liked her relationship with Fina! I loved that she made a friend in her circumstances and I loved Fina as a person. Gay, wily, fun, and strong, Fina was an awesome new character.

Into some more direct spoilers, I loved the scenes with Guinevere, Lancelot, and Mordred. I mean I loved them. In my heart of hearts, dream of dreams, I wanted them all to be together as one big happy polyamorous threesome. I mean, why not??? They exist in the world and the chemistry between the three of them was unparalleled. I'm just saying, that was a huge missed opportunity and I hope that one day the ending can be rewritten and I get that ending. (Or maybe I just read some fanfiction by someone who agrees with me). I'm really happy that this book embraced queer!Guinevere and that we got the Lancelot/Guinevere relationship from the original tale. By the end of this book, my feelings towards Arthur got even worse. I just don't like the dude. I'm not all that sorry about it. I understand that he isn't a bad guy, but his idea that he should conquer the south and that that is his right and the people will all realize that and follow him willingly and happily is just... that's colonizer mentality my man. I'm not into it. Guinevere wasn't either thankfully, but she didn't make any headway in that conversation with Arthur because he disregarded her all the time. I know that they tried to show that he was changing and open to new ideas, but I'm not convinced.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't everything I wanted, but that was asking a lot from a genre/age range that tends to avoid sexual and romantic diversity. I am happy that Iron Widow is a poly relationship and I hope more will follow, I just really wanted to have this one also be an example that they don't have to chose either or, they can have both.

Guinevere’s plans to seek out Merlin and demand answers and aid for Camelot have gone horribly awry. Captured by Mordred, his mother Morgana, and their allies from the northern tribes, Guinevere instead finds herself being escorted to the northern throne of the Dark Queen, the fey creature that threatens the entire island. With Arthur leading his forces into an ambush, and Lancelot forced to remain in Camelot to maintain the magical barrier Guinevere left to protect the city, Guinevere is on her own. She doesn’t know why the Dark Queen wants her, but Guinevere knows she must escape and find Merlin if Camelot is to survive. But the secrets Guinevere finally reveals on her journey are devastating and leave her wondering if she’s the right person to save Camelot after all.

THE EXCALIBUR CURSE is a bit of a messy conclusion to a series that has always been a cozy, feminist retelling of the Camelot mythology. It very much leans into into a quieter form of storytelling, with simple language and contemplative pacing, rather than being full of fireballs and nail-biting moments. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed about the series; these books were made to curl up in front of a fireplace with, hot beverage in hand.

What undercut my enjoyment in this outing, however, was unfortunately the character of Guinevere herself. Guinevere has always been an uncertain young woman, trying to find her place in the world, and I don’t begrudge her that coming of age journey. In fact, it was a factor I loved in the first book in particular. But in this final installment, I had hoped that Guinevere would have found her footing, ready to fight battles through more subtle means than her warrior husband Arthur. Instead, an early reveal leaves her adrift for much of the book. For almost half of THE EXCALIBUR CURSE, if not more, Guinevere questions her usefulness and place in the world and is generally on a path of mopey self-destruction. It leaves her fixated on the wrong goals, removing any urgency instilled by the rising Dark Queen.

That said, I continue to applaud the book’s examination of the many kinds of love and friendships that can be found in the world. As Guinevere examines herself, she also examines her relationships, trying to determine if she truly is in love with anyone, from Mordred to Arthur to Lancelot. And as always, the series promotes female friendships and women working together. The finale relies on Guinevere’s collected female friends at court coming together to outmaneuver the men who are determined to fight against a magical foe with nothing but swords.

THE EXCALIBUR CURSE may stumble a bit across the finish line, but I nonetheless have enjoyed my time with this series. While I love a bad-ass woman with a sword, I also enjoy a heroine who finds her own way to be powerful. Guinevere is not a warrior and lives in a society where women are supposed to defer to men, but that doesn’t stop her from fighting to protect her kingdom. Through subtle magics and the simple act of standing up to those who are wrong, she wages her own war. If you find yourself heading out to a cabin this winter and want a tale of magic and dark woods, this might be a series to pack.

4 stars

Thanks for the free book PRH International! I got an advanced reading copy of this book but it has no influence on my review.
I love Arthurian legend and had read with great pleasure the first two books in this series.

The last book certainly did not disappoint even if it took me some time to fall back into the story!

In The Excalibur Curse, we will finally learn who Guinevere is. I was half surprised by the news as I had guessed some of the truth but it still was heartbreaking to learn and put Guinevere with an impossible choice to make!

After being captured by the Picts , Morgana and Mordred, she’ll be lead to meet with the terrible Dark Queen! I confess that the Dark Queen gave me shivers and all I felt was revulsion with her moths, spiders and other creepy crawling creatures! She was a perfect repulsive villain!
But the Dark Queen is not the only villain here!
Less obvious at first but more lethal, Merlin is far from the hero of the legend! We realize that he has played everyone in his game to accomplish his vision of what Camelot and the island should be.
Using Guinevere in his scheme, burdening Arthur with Excalibur and the task to rule, he has sacrificed many innocents with his plans. I loved that Kiersten White chose to show Merlin not as the savior but as a power-hungry wizard.

What I also loved was Guinevere.
She is fundamentally good to her core. And her goodness will have her shoulder so much guilt. She’d rather sacrifice herself, her needs, her wants if that will help save others.
She is simply impossible not to love. That also gives many possible relationships throughout the series. Will you be team Mordred? Team Arthur? Team Lancelot? All won’t be happy and I confess that I am sad for one of them who deserved better.
Seeming weak at first sight, it’s her humanity, her love that makes her strong in the end. Being “just a girl” is the most powerful thing in the world in the face of magic.

True to the other two books, women’s role in that instalment was important. It showed that they certainly were not helpless or incompetent creatures and Guinevere truly intended to give them a voice and power. With Lancelot being a woman, joined by another woman warrior, Fina, that series remains an ode to the power of women.

You have danger, secrets, magic, choices, sacrifices, friendship, passion, love and courage in that series!

Very well done Mrs White!

WELP - I am a huge fan of this series but this final book left me disappointed. I loved Kiersten's rendition of Camelot and it was so exciting to see the characters again as they continue their journey, but something just fell short for me. The main concern I've always had is the relationship developed in the story. I wanted them to be more realistic and leave me cheering them on as "end game", but it just wasn't clicking for me. I loved the story's progression as the finale comes to a conclusion but I really think something was missing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series and the version of Camelot that Kiersten Curse developed but this finale was just bland compared to the first two books and their overall plot and character development.

Thank you, NetGalley for an eARC for my honest review.

Happy Monday y’all! Ugh I hate how the last few working days before a vacation always seem to drag on so much longer than they should- I’m off for the rest of the year starting Wednesday and I want it to be here now! While the days have been dragging, you know what else has been dragging? Reading! I’ve had the hardest time staying interested in the books I’m reading and I can’t tell if it’s because I’m not enjoying them (well, with this one, that was the reason, but you’ll read all about that later) or if it’s just because everything is going so slowwwwly! Anyway, thank you so much to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for letting me read The Excalibur Curse! This is the third book in the Camelot Rising series and I loved books one and two, which I why I was super excited to read it (and very disappointed when I just didn’t like it).

The Excalibur Curse 3/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

While journeying north toward the Dark Queen, Guinevere falls into the hands of her enemies. Behind her are Lancelot, trapped on the other side of the magical barrier they created to protect Camelot, and Arthur, who has been led away from his kingdom, chasing after false promises. But the greatest danger isn’t what lies ahead of Guinevere—it’s what’s been buried inside her.

Vowing to unravel the truth of her past with or without Merlin’s help, Guinevere joins forces with the sorceress Morgana and her son, Mordred—and faces the confusing, forbidden feelings she still harbors for him. When Guinevere makes an agonizing discovery about who she is and how she came to be, she finds herself with an impossible choice: fix a terrible crime, or help prevent war.

Guinevere is determined to set things right, whatever the cost. To defeat a rising evil. To remake a kingdom. To undo the mistakes of the past… even if it means destroying herself.

Guinevere has been a changeling, a witch, a queen—but what does it mean to be just a girl?

The gripping conclusion to the acclaimed Arthurian fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White finds Guinevere questioning everything—friends and enemies, good and evil, and, most of all, herself.

So there’s nothing really wrong with this book, per se, but in books one and two, I really liked Guinevere and the way she worked with the people around her to make Camelot better and learn more about who she was, but in this book, as soon as she realized who she was/how she became who she was, she was so completely focused on fixing a wrong that she believed was done, and it felt as though she was wanting to do that no matter the consequences (and that was pretty much the whole book- like other things kind of happened, but the whole book felt like it was Guinevere trying to get rid of the version of herself that existed today to make room for the Guinevere that she took over). And that just made for such a boring story in my opinion. Also, it felt like Arthur became a completely different person too! Like he was so much more… evil, without a moral compass and I know that he was supposed to be doing everything he could to follow the path that Merlin left, but what about asking himself whether there was a good reason to what he was doing or not? Besides not being a fan of the way the plot ended up taking shape and where the characters went in their journey, I did enjoy the writing (I always enjoy Kiersten White’s writing style haha) and the pacing. I would say read this book if you’ve read the first two to get the closure you need, but don’t go into it with high hopes.