Just felt like I was reading a childrens book. Could have been better. Thankyou to the Author, the Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed how atmospheric this story was. I am sucker for all of the genres blended together and thought they were all well done. So glad I had a chance to read this title!

The Princess of Selgovae and The High King by Bryce Gibby

The Princess of Selgovae and The High King is a fantasy fiction with a retelling of King Author. This book is an interesting retelling of King Author. Like other tales, this story is loaded with mystical tales and magical elements, making anything possible in such a world. The book is loaded with myths and tales, showing the author Bryce Gibby must have researched prior to writing this book.
While the characters had a lot of development, it was hard to follow them all in the beginning. At times the book drug a bit, especially with the length of the chapters. It made it hard to find a stopping point. The story was able to incorporate a lot of different storylines and elements, maintaining your interest.
The story was a wonderful trip into a fantasyland of myth and magic, pulling you in and holding on until the end.

High fantasy can be a difficult genre to write and the author certainly shows that they have read all the great classics from King Arthur, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien. The tale is richly detailed and belongs on the same shelf as the previous authors. My only hang up with this novel was that the writing style. The voice was difficult to decipher and I needed to reread many times to make sure that I understood whose POV, the next action, etc.

I just want to say that I love that there are pictures in this book, and they are also very beautiful! However, I don’t think I would have finished this book if I hadn’t gotten an ARC, and I will not be continuing the series. I don't think this story was for me. I'm not the biggest fan of King Arthur retellings, and I didn't realise that that was what this was when I requested it.

The writing style is very special, sort of third person, while at the same time having some of Vivienne’s thoughts. Makes for a weird reading experience where you don’t really get to know any of the characters. I don’t love the “old-fashioned” style that the characters speak in, although I do understand that this fits with the time period this book is supposed to be set in. I also don’t love all the religion and I don’t know how to put it other than it feels very pro-christianity and the christening of Europe. That along with the father as the head of the family that you have to obey, does make me not like the book as much. I’d rather the princess developed into a strong character on her own, making her own choices without God or her father’s words being more important than her own thoughts.

I love the story of King Arthur and the creating of Excalibur. I loved the details of the forest and land and the added pictures of what the author intended the characters to look like. Thank you for sharing this great story!

This book was not for me, and at times I was thinking about not finishing it.

The story itself is not bad, the writing is okay, but the style itself was an issue for me, especially since English is not my first language, it made the book a bit hard to read for me. The pacing was also weird at times and not very even.

What I really loved however, was the artwork I found in the book. I know some people prefer not to see artwork and only use their imagination, but I think they were beautiful and quite unique.

This book has a lot of tropes! Impressed by how many it managed to incorporate! Also, a guide was very useful to figure out what was going on in the story! It is very descriptive and that was sort of a drag at times, but it would quickly pick back up!

First off, the cover is gorgeous! I have slightly mixed feelings on the book, overall I enjoyed it and I could tell the author did a lot of research. I really loved the kinda grounded historical take on the Arthurian legends and I did feel transported back to Roman Britain. I did find it started to get a little too heavy for me with the Christianity and I wasn't expecting that, I actually went to double check and see if it was Christian Fiction, not that there's anything wrong with Christian Fiction, it's just not what I tend to read. I had a bit of a tough time connecting to the characters and I didn't think there was much development. I think what really shone through was the descriptive writing and world building!

The Princess of Selgovae is a beautifully written knight story that includes a plethora of tropes that would appeal to many readers. For example, the story includes war, romance, adventure, history, witchcraft, and other topics. Witchcraft and love sold it for me, honestly!

I absolutely adore tales of kings, knights, princesses, and royal love. I don't care how many books are out there that fit this description, I will continue to read them. However, The Princess of Selgovae is quite different from the books in this genre.

What I am most impressed about this book is how much research Gibby had to do for this book (or at least I think he had to do!) This book talks myths, Rome, the British Isles, and hardships. I'm not well versed on these topics, so they were interesting to read about, even if this book is a work of fiction. Gibby's writing kept me intrigued, even as I was taking in all this information about the world at this time and the wars happening.

And of course there is a love story woven in there because what good knight/king book doesn't have? I loved reading about the princess and the high king over the span of 12 chapters.

Overall, this book was extremely entertaining and something I would recommend to readers who enjoy these sorts of retellings. I cannot wait to read more!

This book is a wonderful retelling that captures The Knights of The Round Table well. It does move very quickly and seems a little bouncy throughout the tale.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Princess of Selgovae and the High King</i> in exchange for
an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Princess of Selgovae and the High King</i> by Bryce Gibby is a spellbinding tale of royalty, power, and forbidden love set against the backdrop of a richly imagined medieval world. Gibby effortlessly transports readers into a realm filled with court intrigue.

<h4>The Details</h4>

At the heart of the novel is Princess Eira, the headstrong and courageous daughter of the Selgovae tribe, and High King Lachlan, ruler of the rival kingdom. When their worlds collide, their initial animosity soon blossoms into a forbidden romance. This threatens to unravel the fragile peace between their peoples.

Gibby's prose is lush and lyrical. It certainly immerses readers in a world brimming with vivid imagery and vibrant characters. From the majestic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands to the opulent halls of the royal court, every detail is meticulously crafted. Truly transporting readers to a bygone era of knights and chivalry. I have to say, though, that it is heavily based on faith/religious aspects, making it not everyone’s cup of tea.

Gibby also weaves a complex tapestry of supporting characters, each with their own motivations and desires. From loyal knights to conniving courtiers, every character feels fully realized and adds depth to the narrative.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Princess of Selgovae and the High King</i> is a sweeping epic that will enchant readers from beginning to end. With its compelling characters, lush prose, and captivating plot, Bryce Gibby has crafted a timeless tale that will linger in the minds and hearts of readers long after they turn the final page.

Honestly, when I initially picked up this book on a whim, I wasn't expecting much. It didn't seem like the kind of story that would capture my interest. Yet, to my surprise, it quickly became a page-turner. It's a peculiar concoction, akin to a flavorful masala, blending various elements that individually appeal to us into something remarkably tasteful. While it doesn't break new ground, there's a timeless quality to it, something that transcends any particular time or place, making it universally relatable.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the inclusion of a guide to deciphering outdated terms, a thoughtful touch often overlooked in many works of this genre.

As much as I found the prose beautiful, I must admit that its excessive descriptive nature occasionally detracted from the narrative flow. This verbosity prolonged my journey through the book, somewhat dampening the overall experience.

This book had gorgeous artwork and I was very intrigued by the premise: Princess Vivienne is the only living person besides the loyal smiths who knows where Cedician steel is forged and how to reach the concealed location, so soliders from rival kingdoms are after her. She meets King Arthur and romance ensues.

This book is written in an older English writing style that is a little more difficult to consume than most fantasy I've read, so it did feel quite a bit slower, for that reason. There was also a lot of history and geography based on ancient Britain that was pleasant but didn't add great meaning to the story.

I felt like the beautiful artwork aimed at my generation and peer group of fantasy readers, but the text wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The story does have promise and was interesting, but it wasn't my favorite fantasy that I've read in the last year.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Wendy and Bryce for providing a gorgeous illustrated hard copy and press box, this book will sit beautifully on my shelf and I will include in my tiktok fantasy videos.

The Princess of Selgovae is a fantastically written story that anyone who enjoys stories about knights, courtship/love, witchcraft and fantasy. I’ve been reading more fantasy and getting into historical fiction, but I’m also a romance girl to my core, and this really satisfied all of my favorite tropes.

I was really impressed with the pacing of the story as well. I struggle sometimes with fantasies and the world building, and sometimes feel sluggish working through some of the necessary time it can take to bring a world to life. I didn’t feel like this at all reading this story. I was invested fairly quickly and found myself flying through trying to figure out where the story was going.

Overall, I found the book to be extremely well paced and entertaining and it’s something I would recommend to readers, as it’s one I can see myself revisiting from time to time when I find myself in a reading slump.

This was a pretty good story if you're into stories about the British Isles during the time of King Arthur. This tale focuses on the Princess of Selgovae (Vivien/Lady of the Lake) and Knight Arthur, who becomes High King. Shortly after Vivien is driven into hiding by the Saxons who have murdered her father and taken over Selgovae, she is able to find sanctuary in a hidden place, where her father's secret forges live. I liked this fresh take on who Arthur, Merlin, and the Lady of the Lake were to the land and to each other, and it was also interesting to hear how the knights came to be. There is a strong thread of Christianity that runs through the tale which I did not mind, but some might find off-putting. Sometimes it fit in perfectly with the story and other times, it kind of pulled me out of the story. But that was partly the style of the tale.

The style was not something I was used to, and it felt like I was reading a history book rather than a regular novel. It was better than the usual history book, but it still felt like someone was telling us a story that took place during that timeline and interrupting their story with interesting historical facts. As such, although the writing was beautiful and I enjoyed the age-old story from a different point of view, I had a hard time fully connecting with the main characters.

Overall, I would say that it's a pretty good tale and worth checking out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The Princess of Selgovae and the High King" initially caught my attention with its intriguing premise, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. This book offers a meticulously crafted world, rich in detail, with characters that leap off the page. Fans of fantasy, historical romance, and Arthurian legends will find much to enjoy in this captivating tale. From the beautifully realized setting to the well-developed characters, it's clear that the author has poured their heart and soul into crafting this story. I particularly appreciated the blend of historical elements, mythology, and a hint of romance, all woven together seamlessly. It gave the narrative a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the books I cherished as a child, yet with a fresh and unique twist. The plot is engaging and well-paced, keeping me eagerly turning the pages late into the night. Each character felt relatable and multi-dimensional, undergoing significant development throughout the story.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I must admit that the cover design could have been more captivating, considering the depth of the story within its pages. Nevertheless, this minor detail did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the reading experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Princess of Selgovae and the High King" to anyone seeking an immersive and enchanting journey. I eagerly anticipate diving into the next installment. Thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to experience and review this remarkable book.

this was a very LotR-esque book, with lots of adventure and fun!! the writing was a little bland it could be a little preachy, but it was all in all a fun read!

The Princess of Selgovae and the High King is the first book in a new fantasy/historical fiction book by Bryce Gibby. It isn't the type of book I usually pick up, but I did really enjoy the story.

The characterization was excellent, helping me to understand the motivations and personalities of the main characters. The way the characters talked set the stage for a time long ago--I'd use the word gentle to describe most of the dealings that people had with those in their communities. There was a "gentleness and thoughtfulness in this story that is missing in most books these days, and I really appreciated that escape from the times we live in.

Moreover, the settings were also well done, giving me the ability to picture them in my mind, and the story itself unfolded in a way that brought everything together.

To add even more enjoyment to the story, there are drawings throughout the book of some of the main characters. They are very detailed and are a surprising addition.

I'd give this book 5 stars.

Where to start. I wasn't sure how I was going to like The Princess of Selgovae and the High King though I have found myself pleasantly surprised. If you are a fan of book with an amazingly written world, with incredible character building this book is for you. I think this book is well suited for many audiences, such as fantasy lovers, knight in shining armor and those who love historical romance.