I was so excited to dive into "Camelot Burning" – I mean, Arthurian legends + steampunk? Yes, please! And while I really enjoyed the takes on the story and familiar characters Kathryn Rose crafted, I often find the writing dense and clunky, which made it hard to get through this book.

I loved that Vivienne, the main character, has access to both high society as a handmaiden to Guinevere as well as to the outskirts of society as she moonlights as Merlin's apprentice, and thought that the characterization of Merlin as a recovering magic addict was a very creative and intriguing touch.

As for the romance plot, Vivienne love interest is Marcus, Lancelot's squire, and honestly, I found him very hot and cold, which made it was hard to engage with their story and root for the two of them as a couple.

Ultimately, I think "Camelot Burning" was a better concept than it was an actual book.

I was super excited by the concept of this book and ready to dive in. I really wanted to love it, and while it was fun, something just felt off. Maybe it was that I couldn't connect to the characters well, but the plot didn't pull me in despite its attempts at being propulsive. It was still kinda fun, but nothing particularly impactful.