I love Camelot and king Arthur retellings, but this one did not do it for me. I felt as if this whole book was all tell and no show. I also really did not like Guinevere's character or how she reacted to things. Sad because I really enjoyed a lot of Kiersten White's books!

I have not had the time or interest to get through this book, unfortunately. I requested based on the author and would love to get to it eventually.

Okay I wouldn’t have requested this if I had realized that it was the first book in a series, because I knew it would hook me and now I’m dying for more.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me this ARC of The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White.
I love the tale of King Arthur, and I love books by Kiersten White, so when I requested this book from Netgalley, all I could ask is "what could go wrong?"
The answer is nothing. Nothing could go wrong. The Guinevere Deception follows the tale of a witch taking the identity of the infamous queen to protect Arthur from dangerous magic. Not-Guinevere is a complex and whimsical character packed with mysteries that even she doesn't know, navigating Camelot's courts through eye eyes of a wild witch raised by Merlin. All of the most famous characters are here, or at least mentioned: Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, Mordred, Merlin, the faerie queen, but all of them are different from how you saw them before. This book is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing from page one, even knowing King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table from my childhood. Even if White's other books weren't your style, The Guinevere Deception is worth a read. Or two. Or three.

This is my first Kiersten White book but I'm sure as hell it's not the last! This is a retelling of an Arthurian legend you didnt know you need. It's dark, characters are amazing and writting is perfect. What do you need more? I cannot wait for the second book!

I really loved the beginning and ending. It did seem to drag a bit in the middle with not a lot happening. I loved Guinevere and Mordred, but the Arthur character seemed a little flat

I will be continuing on with the series and feel like it will likely come together a lot more in the second book.

A great start to a new series and a really interesting take on the Guinevere/King Arthur/Merlin setup. Loved the way that magic works in this world, as well as the whole "Guinevere is protecting Arthur but no one can know" premise.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.

I'll be the first to admit I'm a hard sell on Arthurian stories, BUT White's writing is lovely that I was immediately pulled in--I loved the re-imagining of such an old (and often androcentric), story. Vivid characters, a fully-realized world, and a story with twists and turns that kept me going until the end!

The Guinevere Deception is a thrilling YA book that readers 18-24 would love. But this just feels like another Robin Hood girl moment in Tv making and I’m over it.

I was slightly skeptical about this book before I started it, but I loved it! I am a sucker for Arthurian stories, so perhaps that is what doomed me. This book contains most of the main characters, but it reinvents many of them in unique ways. I loved how she recreated Lancelot--inspiring!

I would have liked to see some of the relationships developed a bit more, but I suspect that will come in the sequel, which I eagerly await.

TL;DR (really): read it!

Thanks Netgalley for the free e-arc

You’ve heard the story of the boy who saved Camelot with Excalibur… now it’s time to meet his queen.
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White takes us to Camelot through the eyes of a young witch known as Guinevere, though that isn’t her given name. Sent by Merlin, her father, Guinevere travels from a convent to the forest to immediately wed King Arthur and be crowned his queen. Magic has been fully banned in Camelot, so while her talents are critical in keeping Arthur safe, she must keep them secret to avoid banishment or death.

As Guinevere struggles to learn whom she can trust, readers are also kept wondering where the threat against Arthur will come from. Merlin has given her little direction, but being a witch sent to his side, it must be a magical threat. Thus, Guinevere has a hard time discovering the people who are illegally practicing magic without revealing her own true nature. Not to mention that he days are filled with the queenly duties of “visiting” the noble ladies of Camelot. Guinevere thinks they’re ridiculous too. 😉

Everyone has a secret.
As per usual, I was certain that I understood who the bad players were in this story. I was wrong. Several times I thought “this is the moment of the truth!” only to realize it was just a hurdle onto the journey of the true climax in the story. I was thoroughly entertained. Throughout the story I was learning and mistrusting others right alongside Guinevere. Her character is so open and honest. I admire Kirsten White’s choice to have Guinevere often make the harder choices rather than the desirable ones. Those moments were reminiscent of true adulthood, it was very queenly for a YA story.

“The Camelot Betrayal“ – Book two in the “Camelot Rising Trilogy” releases November 10, 2020.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

4.5/5 Stars

What a fun and delightful retelling!! I have always loved the Arthur/Camelot stories, and we so rarely get to see it from Guinevere's POV. This was a refreshing and unique take on the tale, and I loved how the author crafted it. From Mordred to Merlin to Lancelot, it brought a new flavor to the (round) table. I also loved the way magic was spun into the story. I cant wait to dive into book 2!

Brangien is a complying Guinevere on her travels. I like the name Brangien. The route on the travels changed from farmland to forest like magic .The beginning was a bit slow paced. I couldn't get interested in the characters or events but liked some details.

A unique take on a classic tale, White once again exceeded my expectations with her portrayal of Guinevere and the beautiful world of Camelot.

This is a wonderful take on the Arthurian legend. The characters were fabulous, and the writing was superbly done. This is a book that is being considered for the 2021 Evergreen Teen Book Award top nominees, and with good reason.

I am not likely to purchase this book unless it becomes a nominee--not because I wouldn't recommend it, but because circulation patterns in my library are trending to realistic fiction.

I really love to see women supporting women. Especially in literature. Too often in YA we always see women out against each other via gossip or slut shaming. I enjoyed seeing Guinevere shutting it down. The characters really make this book. The pacing was a little slow at first but it worked out by the end.

I can’t wait for the next one.

Enjoyed but lost interest about halfway in. I’m looking forward to the second book either way and hope to reread it when i’m in more of a mood for it.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

I absolute love retellings and reimaginings of classic tales! It was fun to get more from Guinevere’s perspective and I loved all the twists and turns the book took. There were times when the story dragged but overall it was a fun read and I look forward to picking up the sequel.

I really enjoyed this book! I like that the magical elements blend so well with the royalty aspect of an old English feel. I think one of the best things about this are the relationships Guinevere has with the different characters and it's interesting to see how they develop over time. I hope the next book is more plot driven, but I enjoyed this because it was more of a character driven novel!

As a fan of anything Arthurian since watching Quest for Camelot as a child, I was so, so excited to pick up a copy of The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White, and it did not disappoint. White managed to bring some new twists to the age old tale,

Princess Guinevere comes to Camelot with a single mission--protect Arthur at all costs, but she isn't actually a princess and she certainly isn't Guinevere. She's Merlin's daughter and she's there to ensure Arthur's safety with her knot magic, but there's a catch--magic is illegal in Arthur's Camelot. I really loved that we got to see the story from Guinevere's perspective as she's often not the center of any Arthurian stories. Her character growth from the beginning of the tale to the end is astounding. We see her transform from a naive girl in an unfamiliar world into a completely different person. Arthur wasn't my favorite as I felt he didn't add too much to the story--but that can all change in the next book. Lancelot might be my favorite part of the story as White took that character in a new, unexpected direction.

I think White really blows the readers away with the amount of twists she manages to fit in to this book. I will say the first half of this novel felt a bit mundane with Guinevere going about Camelot, watching duels, meeting people, trying to snuff out who was plotting against Arthur, but the second half felt like a completely different story. I don't want to reveal too much as I believe this book is best experienced when you don't know what you're getting into, but I think it is a fantastic start to a new series.

I give The Guinevere Deception four out of five stars for being an exciting entry into the Camelot Rising series. The magic. mystery, and unexpected twists make for an exciting Arthurian retelling anyone can enjoy. I highly recommend this book for fans of the legend, as well as anyone who is a fan of YA fantasy in general.