This book was captivating from the very beginning. A different twist on King Arthur that was refreshing! I enjoyed the characters and overall flow of the story

Thank you for the chance to read and review this wonderful book!!!

Likes:
-. LOVVEEEE the twist on the King Arthur theme.
- The mystery behind who Guinevere really is.
- hints of the original King Arthur story interwoven throughout the book.
- the LOVE story that takes place. I love how Arthur and Guinevere still find a connection even though things aren't exactly what they seem.
- the Magic system in this book is so easy to follow and pretty straight forward.
-. action packed from the beginning through to the very end. Almost impossible to put down.
- THAT ENDING! I need more NOW!!!!!

Dislikes:
-I did get a little lost in the plot half way through wondering who was who and how they all related together but it wasn't a major problem.
- THE NEXT BOOK ISN'T PUBLISHED FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR.

There really wasn't much that I didnt like about this book. I thought that the writing was beautiful, the story was so intriguing and I could hardly find it in me to put the book down and do normal things like eat and sleep. I just wanted to keep reading and reading!!!

I will most definitely be waiting for the next book to devour and find out what crazy twists and turns can possibly happen next!! AH! Thank you again to netgalley and the publisher and of course the author for this beautiful book and for giving me the opportunity to read and review it!

I started off reading this book during a reading slump so for the first 8% I was a little out of touch with what was going on. I was really intrigued by Guinevere’s personality and back story. She is not all she appears to be, hence the title of the book. There are so many twists in this book that I’m not even sure how much I should say about the story or characters. When I got out of my reading slump, this book clicked so well with me. I loved everything that was going on and was on the edge of my seat. I was starting to ship Guinevere with a character who was NOT Arthur about halfway through. There is a mysterious character referred to as the patchwork knight and I was so sure I knew what was going to happen with this person but I was really surprised when I hit that particular twist. I’m not completely familiar with Arthurian legend but I really loved how Kiersten White approached this retelling. SUPER shocked about the major twist at the end. I seriously cannot wait until the next book comes out. I will definitely be buying myself a copy of this book and recommending it to fantasy fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Guinevere Deception
By: Kiersten White

*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟
Guinevere has always been my favorite character in Camelot, so the idea of reading her perspective was very intriguing. This story, however, was not what I expected. Guinevere is not really Guinevere, rather she is an imposter sent to protect Arthur. Throughout the story, there is this question of who is she really, and I found it kind of annoying. Arthur was not likeable to me. Something about him was weird. The second half of the book is better than the first, and it will be interesting to see where this goes next. Overall, I found The Guinevere Deception lacking that certain sparkle and shine, and I was disappointed. I think younger readers will like it better than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of "The Guinevere Deception" in exchange for an honest review. I have only read one book by this author and that was quite a few years ago. I'm interested in reading other books by the author because I enjoyed this one so much! I know only a little about King Arthur and his knights of the round table and the sword in the stone. Actually, the only thing I know is the taken from the musical "Camelot" and Disney's cartoon "Sword and the Stone". I wasn't sure about whether I would enjoy this book or not. I was so pleasantly surprised. This novel takes on the myth with a fresh perspective. Here Guinevere isn't what she seems. She is the daughter of Merlin, the wizard. Merlin sets up a backstory for Guinevere after his own banishment from Camelot and when she turns of age she is set to be wed to Arthur in an arranged marriage. She vows to protect Arthur and the lovely Camelot. Magic is forbidden in Camelot but there is black magic at play. Guinevere is a really great character and I liked her a lot. As she uses magic herself she loses pieces of her memory so she struggles with gaps here and there in her own mind about her past. I really enjoyed watching her interact and get to know others in Camelot including knights and knight hopefuls such as Lancelot. Lancelot is an amazing character here. It is probably my favorite version of this famed knight. As this is the first novel there is a few chapters at the beginning where I was really confused and where the world and base of the story is set up. I made it through those and then was enraptured and went through the book fairly quickly. I didn't love the ending, probably because it was the first book in the trilogy. I made a few guesses and some of them turned out fairly correct and others were completely off base. If you have thought about reading this one and delayed I would suggest you rectify that immediately.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews on my blog https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

I love a good re-telling, and I'm a big fan of Kiersten White. (Full disclosure - I work with her super nice husband Noah, but that doesn't influence my opinions). I also love stories about Camelot, so when I was allowed a chance to read this book from NetGalley, I was so excited!

The concept for this book is great. The Dark Queen, who held dominion over the forests and nature, has been defeated. Peace has come to Camelot and it is thriving. As a result of the war with the Dark Queen and magic, Merlin has been forced out of the city and magic is banned. Anyone found practicing magic is banished, or worse, executed. Princess Guinevere arrives in Camelot to wed a stranger - Arthur. The catch? The real Guinevere is dead and the woman that took her place is a witch sent by Merlin to protect Arthur from those who would see him fail and Camelot fall.

Guinevere is Merlin's daughter. She was raised alone with him in a forest. She is not familiar with people or their customs, let alone life at court. Her task of protecting Arthur is already hard enough, but she must also navigate the halls of court and the inherent dangers that come with it. She doesn't know what is expected of her, and certainly can't trust anyone. As she finds her way, Guinevere is constantly on alert for dangers to Arthur, and determined to fortify the castle and Camelot with magical protections. Oh, and she also has to deal with the minor matter of being married to a stranger - that is a King - that is a legend - that is a handsome, strong, caring man...

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The worldbuilding is enough to set the tone, but not so extensive that you get annoyed and want the author to get on with the story already. Guinevere is fierce in her efforts to protect Arthur, even though using her magic physically injures her and puts her in danger. She is strong and brave and determined. But like all of us, she also questions her decisions, lacks confidence and worries about her place in the world. She has to figure out how to overcome her fears and doubts, without letting anyone know about them. She also discovers that Merlin was not completely truthful with her about a lot of things, and there are many secrets she doesn't know about her task to protect Arthur. This understandably makes her angry - and reckless. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers.

As is often the case with first books in a series, the majority of the book sets the stage for all of the action to come in the next books. This book drags at times in the middle, and there are places where it feels a bit repetitive. (This is why my rating is not higher) The action does pick up in the last half of the book, however, particularly when she meets Lancelot. The cliffhanger ending is great, with promises of lots of action to come. I look forward to the next books in this series and will definitely read them.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Guinevere Deception, the first book in the Camelot Rising trilogy, alters many details in the Arthurian legend. Lancelot is a woman, Mordred is Arthur's right hand man and Guinevere is an impostor sent by Merlin to protect Arthur. Magic has been banned in Camelot, so Guinevere must wield her magical powers in secret, as she strives to discover threats to Arthur's well-being. Meanwhile, Arthur is out fighting battles, trying to save his kingdom. This fresh take on the Arthurian legend has a decidedly feminist twist and will appeal to fans of the original, if only to see how this very popular author changes it up.

I have been so excited for this one! I've only been passingly familiar with the legend of king Arthur but the idea of seeing the events from Guinevere's perspective was too good to pass up. The writing style of this was just as good as Kiersten's other books and it was easy to fall in and to pick back up. Admittedly, I read this one almost painstakingly slow because I didn't want the book to end. Even when I would read just a few pages at a time, I fell into the world and it was so much fun to imagine it. Even though I wasn't familiar with the details of the Arthur legends, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I felt like everything was explained but not in a way that would have bored someone more familiar.

The pacing of this is slower than traditional YA fantasy. While I really enjoyed this, because I loved taking the time getting to know Camelot and Arthur and Guinevere and the side characters, I know it may bother some people. I feel like this ends on a note that will make it such an exciting trilogy to read and I can't wait to read it!

I also LOVED some of the changes she made to the traditional story and I can't wait to see where she takes them.

I couldn’t fully get into the story. The characters were land and didn’t seem real. They were just blobs of shapes that didn’t have enough character for me to care about. Seeing as how the first chapter was an introduction and usually sets in motion if the reader will like the story I found it a bit boring and superficial.

"Men are hungry fools.  If they cannot eat it, wear it, or use it, they kill it anyway. They spread like fungus through the heart of the world."

The Guinevere Deception was a fun retelling.  I've also been a sucker for Camelot stories and Guinevere is my favorite character. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to hear that this series was being written. I enjoyed the differences between the original tale and this version. Kiersten White tells a good story but I did feel like something was missing. That probably is only because this is the start of the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book once it's published so I can find out what happens next, and some background questions I'm still left pondering.

3 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Although I'd definitely give this 3.5 stars if that were a rating option.

Disclaimer: Even though I received a NetGalley of this book, I based my review off the physical copy I had purchased.

The writing was great. I absolutely loved the first few chapters but then it got a little predictable and a little less enjoyable. I guess I just wanted a little something more dark and disturbing to happen. But it was just an original retelling.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White is an Arthurian reimagining featuring forbidden magic, dangerous jousts, enchanted forests, and questing knights—only this is a tale spun from Guinevere’s own voice.

When I discovered that White was releasing a new series inspired by Arthurian legend with the emphasis on Guinevere’s viewpoint, I knew I wanted to read it.

The story opens with Guinevere on her way to Camelot to wed King Arthur. The twists given is the fact that she is not the true Guinevere raised in a convent waiting to make her alliance and marriage to Arthur, but an impostor—a Changling sent in secret by Merlin to protect him.

Guinevere’s past is shrouded in a cloak of mystery, with her memories of Merlin unclear, yet she feels an undeniable need to protect King Arthur, leaving readers wondering if there is more to this deception.

I was intrigued. Not only did we have Guinevere’s perspective, but now because of the twist, we are questioning her reliability as narrator. Readers get a behind the scenes look of Camelot as she maneuvers herself in court life while battling wits with an unseen force that seems intent on harming Arthur.

What about the magic? Well, magic is outlawed in Camelot, resulting in Merlin’s banishment from court. But it remains still, seeped into the land and water.

White creates dangerous settings of enchanted forests and lakes where magic is wild and untamed. Some of my favorite passages centered on quests that involved these places.

There also is a strong vibe of magic/nature versus religion/man, yet there is no simple answer for Guinevere as she remains a part of both worlds. This duality plays a critical role later in her character development.

I also thought it was brilliant to use something as inconspicuous as knot magic and Guinevere’s practice of it to protect Arthur. Creating a sense of supernatural and witchery to the story, while remaining believable that she could hide its use from everyone.

King Arthur and Modred offered plenty of moments of romantic tension. Each has their flaws, but both are charismatic in their own unique way. The court is populated by familiar characters from the Arthurian legend adding to its overall feel.

The main issue I had with the book is how long it took for any real action to take place and move the plot along.

The plot meanders a lot in the beginning. Readers know of the deception but are left feeling as if everything is on hold. Then there is a big reveal, and the story really comes together.

It became nearly unputdownable for me at the end. Although the setting, magic and Guinevere won me over, the slow, slow movement hampered my overall enjoyment.

The last third of the book ensured that I will be reading the next installment—I love the direction the story is leading to. I’m looking forward to finding out more about Guinevere’s past, the fate of Arthur and his court, and which romance will continue to evolve.

In the End
Recommended to readers looking for a feminine inspired YA retelling of the Arthurian legend.

I love retelling a which is what drew me to this book initially. The beginning starts out a little slow and I kept putting it down and coming back to it. However it really picks up once you get past the first third of the book. The only thing I had trouble with was the constant hinting at who the main character really is. I think that is was made it feel so slow going. I enjoyed a lot of the side characters and I’m interested to see where this story goes.

This story had a lot of really interesting ideas. Good action and great retelling! However, the constant teasing of the main character's mysterious background does get a little tiresome after a bit and the main character does feel a little bland because of this constant hinting. I kept easily picking it up and putting it down over the course of two months, hence why I only gave 3 stars. I liked a lot of the side characters and I'm very curious to see where the series goes. i think it has a lot of potential but had to take a lot of time setting up the foundation. Great for any lover of Arthurian Legend!

"He had advised her to fight as a queen. But that meant not being able to fight at all in this terrible world of men."

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Random House/Delacorte Press. Trigger warnings: death, violence, self-injury, severe injury, blood, poison, bug horror, spiders, abduction, threats, sexism, possible transphobia (characters are never explicitly identified as trans, though interpretations are possible, and one is maligned when their gender is discovered).

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to marry King Arthur, famed for his goodness and for casting magic out of the fabled city. But magic is difficult to banish for good, and Arthur has kept ties with his old ally, Merlin, who senses an impending magical threat to the kingdom. Guinevere–whose true identity has been kept secret, even from herself–has been sent to protect Arthur and Camelot. Navigating the roles of queen and protector, Guinevere discovers that the restless magic stirring outside the kingdom’s borders may not be the biggest threat–it may already be inside the city’s walls.

This is my first Kiersten White novel, but it won’t be my last. I’m fond of Camelot retellings, but like with Oz stories, I’ve never found one outside of a TV screen that I found worth coming back to more than once. Thanks to The Guinevere Deception, I stand corrected. In short, I loved everything about it, which means I probably can’t be trusted to do anything but gush for the rest of this review. First and foremost, White is a beautiful writer, capable of capturing both the depth of her characters and the quiet loveliness of her world in a way that looks effortless. I loved her style, and I’d read more of her novels just for that. As a whole, I like how much the book emphasizes female characters, how they defend and save each other, and how power isn’t limited to physical strength (but some of them have that too!).

I’ve always thought Guinevere was more complex than most adaptations give her credit for, and White’s Guinevere finally brings some well-deserved depth to the character. Her history is appropriately murky, so much that even she doesn’t fully understand who she is or where she comes from. Her loyalty to Arthur is admirable, and her commitment to protecting him is no less fierce for having to be kept entirely a secret. I’ve read some reviews complaining about the crisis of identity she has toward the middle of the novel, but I loved that as well. First, I think it’s absolutely necessary to the mythology of the Guinevere character that she tries to fit herself into the role of queen, even at the cost of her own identity. If you’ve ever tried to fit yourself into a role in which you emphatically didn’t belong, then you’ll recognize the emptiness that comes from that loss of self. Second, can we just let our female heroes be weak sometimes? Can we let them make mistakes? Particularly when those mistakes are the turning point of some really excellent character development? Of course it’s painful to watch. Of course we want better for her. Characters need to struggle, and Guinevere needs that particular struggle to be who she is by the end of the novel–an identity that, I suspect, is only beginning to transform over the course of the series.

If loving Guinevere wasn’t enough, the rest of the characters are equally wonderful. This is how I always wanted to see my literary friends in Camelot. Arthur is an easy hero to like, warm and kind and always characterized by the ambivalence of being a good king and a good husband. Above everything, his relationship with Guinevere is a solid friendship, which comes with its own complications. Mordred is basically perfect. He’s charming and elusive, always with a hint of darkness, and at any given point in the novel, I never had any idea whose side he was on–as it should be. White gives us just enough to make him likable and just enough to keep us doubting his motives (since Mordred is, traditionally, a villain in the Camelot story), and I was as drawn to him as Guinevere is. White puts her own twists on the Lancelot character as well, and I couldn’t have loved it more.

Plot-wise, it’s not as fast-paced as one might expect for all the magical threats and sword-fighting. I didn’t mind because I was wallowing in character and beautiful sentences, but it might bother readers who prefer more action or suspense. There’s a lot of downtime while Guinevere puts up magical protections and tries to unravel plots, but I enjoyed the forays into the magical world-building and all the secrets of Camelot. It’s a lush magical world and, like Guinevere, I expect we’ve only scratched the surface of it. Most of the mysteries are quiet, with no major plot twists, but I prefer consistency to surprises. The ending has a sense of thematic closure, but nothing is really resolved. I wanted much more, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the trilogy (which doesn’t even have a title yet 😭).

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

I am absolutely obsessed with anything having to do with Arthurian myths. This is the first book of Kiersten White's that I have ever read, and I can definitely say it won't be the last.

This story is fantastic! Right away we are introduced to the main character Guinevere, and all we know about her is that she is the daughter of Merlin, sent to protect Arthur from impending darkness. Magic has been banned in Camelot, exiling Merlin in the process. This presents a problem for Guinevere, who must keep her magic hidden while using it to protect Arthur and Camelot. Adventure ensues as Guinevere does her best to figure out why she was truly sent to Camelot, and to determine who is really a friend to Camelot, while unraveling truths and histories she never expected.

I loved the word building in this book. Camelot was amazing, and I loved experiencing Kiersten White's vision of it. The romance was a slow burn, and I loved the interactions between Arthur and Guinevere. It was refreshing to read a book that didn't feature "insta" love. The female friendships in this book are amazing. I appreciated the fact that females weren't pitted against each other, but rather come together by finding common ground.

I gave this book four stars ⋆⋆⋆⋆ because I wish we would have gotten more background on Guinevere's past. I was left with quite a few questions by the end of the book that weren't answered. I am assuming it is because the information will be included in the next book. Why do I have to wait a whole year to read the next installment?!

This book was an amazing read! I loved this retelling! What an amazing take on a classic!
I'm so excited for the next one to come out!!

I enjoyed the story, but I felt that it dragged in a lot of places. This book couldn't keep my attention, and I can't exactly pinpoint why. I really liked the characters, especially Guinevere. I thought her mystery was as intriguing as the mystery of the entire novel itself. I just wished that this book could have held my attention a little more.

OMG I GOT THE ARC! I don’t care if it’s a week before it gets published - I AM EXCITED!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I also have the physical book and YET I still read the ARC first - props? I think so.

The Guinevere Deception was a wild ride. Honestly, I don't read a lot of king Arthur retellings so I was really excited for this one to come out. After reading it, well.. I'm still secretly screaming for book two. Even though the ending was predictable, I still enjoyed this book. The one thing I would change is the pacing though because some chapters were dreadfully slow for me to power through. Whereas others went by so fast.

Guinevere and Arthur were okay. Or should I say fake Guinevere and Arthur were okay. I was initially intrigued by this whole fake persona.. because I wanted to know more about this witch - like her real name. Yet, at the same time.. I lost my interest in this while I kept chugging through this book. Other than that, not a lot happened in this book.

Yes, we had that darkness lurking throughout each chapter and the threat of an evil queen. Yet, those weren't the only threats for Arthur. I don't really know how else to explain it.. but it kind of reminded me of those awful day time dramas. Kind of laughable but I wanted to see how this one was going to end.

Overall, it was okay and I was definitely expecting more from this one. Maybe the second one can redeem this? No idea.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher, for offering this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kiersten White’s latest trilogy is a feminist study into the character Guinevere, a figure in Arthurian legends who is often regulated to the sidelines as a prize, an adulterer, a villain, and an opportunistic traitor—but never the architect of her own story. With The Guinevere Deception, Guinevere has found her voice at last, but in true White fashion, her story is full of interesting twists and unexpected choices.

For instance, when we meet Guinevere, she is journeying from a convent to Camelot in order to wed her future husband, King Arthur—and she isn’t truly Guinevere. The real Guinevere died tragically, and unbeknownst to everyone, a changeling raised by Merlin has taken her place. Casting all knowledge of her past aside, including her true name, “Guinevere” intends to be a source of magical protection for Arthur against his enemies, even though Camelot has exiled all magic and ousted Merlin. But exiling magic doesn’t stop the forests and lakes from wanting to reclaim the land, and the ideal of Camelot has as many enemies in man and beast as Arthur does. Perhaps the greatest threat might be Guinevere herself.

I had a great time with The Guinevere Deception. White has pulled back a bit from the darkness of The Conqueror’s Saga to suffuse this story with a dreamy and idyllic mood you expect to encounter when you enter Camelot. The prose is romantic, colorful, and wistful, yet a creeping, sinister feeling also lurks underneath as Guinevere attempts to unveil the magical threats against Arthur. There are chivalrous knights and courtly manners as much as there are brutal clashes and cunning politics, all of which Guinevere must acclimate to and navigate with little guidance.

That isn’t to say this novel is action-packed. It’s character-focused over plot-focused, and events unfold gradually as Guinevere figures them out. The biggest mystery, however, is centered around Guinevere herself, why she was raised by Merlin, who she is—and why she can’t remember the crucial details about herself that she should.

Characters surround her, of course, but only certain ones truly matter. Idealistic Arthur, her king and husband. Dutiful Brangien, her handmaiden. Fickle Merlin, a wizard as wise as he is unknowable. Cunning Mordred, a knight, the king’s nephew, and grandson of the Dark Queen. The mysterious patchwork knight, an undefeated combatant. Each of them form intriguing relationships with the new queen of Camelot, and I was enthralled with exploring each one.

But of course, if I had to choose a favorite, c’mon, it’s Mordred. Obviously.

Part of enjoying this book comes with enjoying the characters. The other part is the magic system. I was fascinated by the way Guinevere conducts magic, more ritualistic than free-forming, a system of give and take and anchoring. It’s unlike any magic I’ve ever read about before. There’s no garbled Latin or rhyming chants. It’s the forming of knots, of scrying, of trading parts of yourself to make the magic stronger. It’s more raw and elemental. Magic itself seemed to be its own character, an oppressive force over everything, and it was one of my most favorite parts of the book.

Ultimately, I loved this book because I loved Guinevere. Her struggles, her insights, her uncertainties. She was starkly real, capable of both cunning and resourcefulness as well as romantic yearnings and deepest sympathy. Her scene with the dragon, for instance, made me tear up, which is a rare event. White wrote that scene so well, making it both sorrowful and powerful, and moments like that are what cemented this story as one of my favorites this year.

That being said, there’s a reason I didn’t give it full marks. It got to the point where I began to seriously wonder if a climax was ever going to happen. Guinevere was doing things, certainly. She was feeling all types of ways. Events were happening in the background that seemed important and was building toward something, but the book just didn’t want to get to it. It wasn’t until my last 30 minutes of reading that the climax and denouement were both squeezed into the last few chapters, and once that happened, it was lightning-fast and not entirely satisfying. Even if I did ultimately like what happened, I expected a bit more.

Then, of course, there’s Guinevere’s choice. From a feminist standpoint, I was disappointed in her.

You see, I can understand why Guinevere believes in the romanticism of Camelot and what King Arthur means for it. What I cannot yet understand is why she settles for it for her. The narrative reaffirms over and over again that Guinevere has no true place in Camelot, that she will never have Arthur’s love the way she wants, that she will not be able to practice magic or be a queen the way she wants. Camelot is good for everyone else, except her, yet she is the one who is sacrificing everything so they can have their happy ever after.

I sincerely hope the next books shake Guinevere out of this mindset (and they probably will) because she’s too interesting to just be the Girl Who Settles. And Mordred and [redacted] are both right there.

Fortunately, there’s still so many unanswered questions and mystery unfolding, so many things teased in this first book that will be fleshed out and resolved in others. All of the relationships are tangled and interesting, and I can’t wait to see how they develop and what becomes of our changeling queen. (Our queen who strongly veers towards being bisexual, may my hopes soon be proven and rewarded.) Oh, dark Google, how long must I pine, awaiting for my fair sequel?