3.5 stars
This was a great retelling with a twist. Every chapter I was eager to hear the thoughts from the evil queen. The love triangle between Guinevere, Mordred and Arthur had me all over the place and rooting for different guys every other chapter. Guinevere's character development throuout the book was great along with her relationship with Lancelot. White does an amazing job of building these relationships and the world with detail and without boring the reader. What I loved the most was the fact that this was the first book in a series that wasn't purely world building. I think a lot of that plays into the fact of it being a retelling, but White makes it her own brand new story with plenty of plots twists and turns and am ending that will for sure make you want to read the next book.

This book wasn't what I expected. I didnt love it and I didnt hate it. It just fell kind of in the middle for me.

3.5 stars. I've been a fan of Arthurian Legend for years, so it is always fun to read a book set in that world. This one definitely takes a different approach at the legend though. In this one, Guinevere is not actually Guinevere. The real Guinevere is dead. Merlin sends in another girl taking on Guinevere's identity to become queen. Arthur knows from the beginning who she is. The marriage is basically a cover. She is there to protect him from unknown threats. Being familiar with Arthurian legend, I know who the bad guys are supposed to be. This series promises plenty of twists on the ordinary legend though. Who knew Mordred could be so likable? Who knew there might be a lot more to the lady in the lake? Merlin has even more secrets and layers than I ever gave him credit for. This series definitely takes a different approach to the character of Lancelot as well. Being Arthurian legend, there has to be some aspect of a love triangle, but this one definitely takes a backseat. It is there, but with different players and different ideas of betrayal. When you know from the beginning that Arthur and Guinevere aren't actually in love, it changes the whole potential for a love story. I'm definitely interested to see what will happen with this trilogy. This was a good first installment.

This was not a hit for me, but I can imagine an audience among teens. It wasn't really compelling to me.

PERFECTION, pure and simple. I ADORED this book and the author's unique and feminist take on the Arthurian legend, and I'm so incredibly excited for the next volume in the series!

I put this book down months ago and haven't in me to pick it up again. I became bored waiting for something to happen and just couldn't vibe with the story.

❝ “Women are strongest when bearing one another’s pain. We each take a little on ourselves. No one dies, and we all heal together.” ❞

Kiersten White is one of my all-time favorite authors and I especially loved her Vlad the Impaler retelling, And I Darken, so when I heard about her new series based on Arthurian legend, I was super excited (especially when I was fortunate enough to receive an arc). However, with that said I did feel like this one progresses slower than her other books.

In the Guinevere Deception, our main character Guinevere is an imposter sent by Merlin to protect Arthur. While Arthur is in on the plan, he is still in the dark in a way because he knows very little about his new bride. Neither he nor Guinevere knows what the threat is, so they find themselves seeing enemies everywhere.

Guinevere’s character was very mysterious between her paralyzing fear of water and the gaps in her memories. I loved how she saw wonder everywhere and how she fell in love with Arthur as a king and leader. I think her admiration for him rather than a strictly romantic bond gave the story an interesting twist (although–-fans of romance–don’t worry, there’s romance too!) I think, however, that part of the reason for why the story felt so slow was that we had so many questions about Guinevere and almost none of the big ones were answered in this book.

❝ There was good, and there was evil, but there was so much space between the two. ❞

Arthur was another great character. He could feel a little distant at times, especially when he was in “king mode”, but there were also times with Guinevere where he could relax and act like the young man he was. I loved those moments!

There are so many other characters that I would want to talk about, so I’ll just say that Kiersten did a great job of mixing elements of Arthurian legends along with her own ideas. When it comes to retellings, I think it can be boring if the retelling is too much like the original. The Guinevere Deception keeps the most iconic parts of the legends (sometimes bending them when it comes to the gender or the relationship between certain characters), but the plot is fresh and wholly her own. She also explains a good deal of history throughout the story so readers that are not very familiar with Arthurian legend will not have a hard time keeping up.

I think that while the Guinevere Deception may have a few bumps, it’s a good start to a magical and thrilling new series. Definitely do yourself a favor and check it out!

4.5 stars)

I couldn’t put this down and read it all in one day. It had everything I loved in a fantasy book: interesting characters, great friendships, LGBT representation, romance that isn’t the main focus but is interesting, and they even talked about menstruation!!! Yes!

I recognize that this book wasn’t perfect and that it may not be everyone’s favorite. The stakes in the plot did it seem high to me so I wasn’t worried about any characters, but the way it ended? I’m definitely excited for the next one.

This was a YA book that grabbed my attention from the very moment I saw it. What could be more intriguing than the idea that Guinevere, future queen of Camelot, was not at all who she should be? The Guinevere Deception is an interesting twist on the age old tales of King Arthur and I greatly enjoyed the fact that this is from Guinevere’s perspective.

The girl who is not Guinevere clearly has an affinity for the forests and it soon becomes clear that her father is none other than Merlin, who was banished from the kingdom. Arthur is trying to banish magic from Camelot so that it may thrive in the world of men, though it pains him to do so, for Merlin was a dear friend. This imposter Guinevere is Merlin’s effort to help Arthur and keep him safe because surely none could reproach the queen and she should be able to use her subtle magic to ward him.

Guinevere and Arthur are both extremely likable characters from the get-go and while they are married in name both know this is sort of a sham. Arthur knows Guinevere’s identity and wow, I was relieved that there didn’t have to be an awkward, secretive element between them. Even Brangien, Guinevere’s handmaiden, was shockingly likable. Mordred, as I feel he is portrayed in every Arthurian book I’ve come across is slightly untrustworthy and he really tries to make some moves on the queen. Totally scandalous. Actually, he mostly told her that he would love her way more than Arthur ever would because he had to love and care for an entire kingdom which was true. I liked him more than I expected as well, even despite some of his actions later in the book.

There’s a slight element of threat and danger in the book from the Dark Queen who was supposedly defeated years prior, but it was never as creepy or dark as I hoped. Even when she was at her most threatening I was unconcerned for the wellbeing of the characters. The story takes a great deal of time to really take off as far as action goes, but I enjoyed the slow build up and the time given to get to know the characters.

Overall, this was an enjoyable young adult fantasy and I’ll be curious to see how the rest of the trilogy plays out.

I've been reading @authorkierstenwhite for over a decade but I really think her historical fiction and retellings take her writing to a next level.
If you've heard this story starts slow, try it anyway. I loved the story from immersive beginning to explosive ending. I've always loved the idea of Camelot and to have a whole story (trilogy really) about women in history was an exciting way to read about this famous tale.
This story is perfect for the fantasy lover in your life who also loves historical fiction or reimaginings.

Guinevere is on her way from the abbey where she has been living to the waiting arms of the kingdom of Camelot where she is to marry its beloved King Arthur. Guinevere has many secrets and very few confidants. For instance, Guinevere isn't Guinevere, and Camelot is not safe from the magic it has only very recently beaten away from its borders during the war waged against the Dark Queen. However, the magic continues to be a threat to the kingdom and Arthur himself, shifting and terrorizing the land and forests beyond the King's influence. Guinevere-not-Guinevere may be the only protection the king has from the dark forces that wish to work their way into the veins of Camelot. And she may have the answer to defeating it...if she could only remember who and what she really is.

The Guinevere Deception was a novel full of twists, turns, and deeply buried secrets. Curiosity is definitely a driving force throughout the book. There are some points where it gets a little tedious, and iif you have not read the tales of King Arthur and Camelot, you may not connect as well with the story itself.

I have not read the classic tales and I felt a little lost at some points, but I also learned quite a bit about the stories themselves. However, i believe i would have enjoyed it much more if I had known they were required reading. Nevertheless, there are so many loose ends yet to be tied that I will be picking up the sequel.

I definitely enjoyed this book, but had a couple of small qualms with it that made me lean toward the 3-star rating (some of the language and parts of the setting felt historically inaccurate, I didn't love a few of the changes that the author made to the Arthurian legend). Still, I will likely read the next books in the series since I do want to know what happens to the characters!

The Guinevere Deception is the first book in the Camelot Rising series by Kiersten White.  This is a retelling of the King Arthur stories that many of us grew up loving.  They have always been a favorite of mine, so when I learned about this book, I had to read it.  I want to be upfront to say that I originally received this as an ARC through NetGalley, but life got in the way, so I didn't get to read it ahead of publication.  I did end up buying my own copy, because I loved the idea so much.

    The story starts off with you following Guinevere on her journey to Camelot to marry Arthur.  This reminded me, in a way, of the movie The First Knight.  They started off in similar ways, but White takes her own spin on this classic tale from the beginning.  Guinevere and her guards come across a grouping of trees.  She sees no problems with them, until Branigan, her handmaid, tells her that the trees weren't there on their way to pick up Guinevere.  This opening scene shows a lot, especially when you look back on it after finishing the book, but the biggest take away is this -- Guinevere is not the real Guinevere.  The real one is dead, and the girl on her way to Camelot is a deception on a mission to protect Arthur from an unknown threat.

    One thing I love about the way White writes this retelling is that she crafts it to be her own creation.  Things do not seem thrown or shoehorned in to make the take a more modern one, or something on par for the times.  Everything seems natural.  There are a few hiccups and slow parts, but you travel through this journey with Guinevere.  You see the world through her eyes, learning along with her just where the deceptions truly lie within her life at Camelot and the world beyond.

    I found myself curious to see where the story would lead, and just how the classic characters from these tales would make their appearance.  I loved every twist and turn.  I am excited to see where the story goes in book 2 when it comes out later this year.  I also want to check out some of Kiersten White's other novels now after getting a taste for her writing style.

In a Camelot without magic, Guinevere - a young girl who may not be what she seems - takes it upon herself to protect the king and kingdom from enemies within and without. I'm a big fan of Kiersten White's previous trilogy so to say I was excited to receive this ARC would be an understatement. Although I wish that more would've happened (there are entire parts of the book that I found myself skimming out of boredom), with a beautiful and vivid backdrop and sympathetic characters, I found myself devouring it in a short time. A must read for fans of Camelot or Arthurian myth!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is definitely one of my favorite King Arthur retellings. This was so beautifully written and I was attached to nearly every character to the point it hurt. I went into this book not really knowing anything about it. I only knew that it was a King Arthur retelling. Okay, now the rest of this review isn't spoiler free so if you stop reading here, please listen to this. Read this book. Okay! Spoilers:

I absolutely loved the uncertainty of Guinevere's heritage and what she might truly be.
Lancelot being a girl (or I'm not quite sure because there was this one line that made me question if maybe she wasn't cis) was the epitome of amazing. And I swear, if Guinevere doesn't end up with Lancelot, I will scream. They had such a good connection and they understood each other. Come on.
I also really really love that Tristan and Isolde are not actually together. When in fact, Tristan was a beard for Isolde and another woman named Brangien. Love that for us.

The sequel for this comes out on my birthday and I can't wait for it!!

Title: The Guinevere Deception
Series: Camelot Rising
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Delacorte Press Library Binding
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: YA | Fantasy | Re-Telling
Rating: 4 Stars

In a Camelot where Magic is banished, Guinevere is sent by Merlin to be Arthur's wife, and Queen of Camelot. To be its protector. To be HIS Protector.
I love the secrecy and the bond between Arthur and Guinevere. As her life is unfolded before her she must decide to be a queen or a shield for her husband and her kingdom. I think that Guinevere's naiveness is very sweet, she was so powerful but had to play the soft-spoken regal lady she is supposed to be.

OMG!! This was so good. The story of Arthur Pendragon has always been one of my favorites, the storyline was so good and it keeps you on your toes. I kept going back and forth on what I felt for the characters and when an author can do that I know that they very good writers. Kiersten White absolutely blew me away with this story. I can't wait for Book 2.


Disclaimer: I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

While I am a huge fan of Kiersten White and the King Arthur legend, this book is just not what I wanted and needed for a genderbent retelling. I found myself bored and felt that all around it was lacking. This was a DNF for me.

OK, wow, I'm not even sure where to start with this one. The whole plot is cloaked with mystery and magic and I wasn't sure who was truly good and who wasn't throughout the entire story... I'm still not! And don't get me wrong, because this is absolutely great and right for this book, it makes it hard for me to write a review focused on characters. Because I have absolutely no idea what is truly motivating any of the characters. But it's kept me thinking, and it has me wanting more, so it's definitely done it's job.

While the story of King Arthur and Guinevere is well known, there is so much more in this retelling, and things are so very different. This story is told through Guinevere's perspective, so we are left guessing as to the real thoughts and desires of the other characters. And even Guinevere's true purpose is hidden, from us and from herself.

Guinevere has chosen to support Arthur and stay by his side, but she is conflicted by so many things. Magic is not permitted at Camelot, yet she is magic. She feels she cannot do what is needed if confined to Camelot, but needs to be near Arthur to protect and help him. She has no idea who to trust, and while some of her friendships prove true {so far}, not all of those she has given her trust appear worthy of it in the end. But are they?

We only see the other characters through Guinevere's eyes. Arthur appears to be a loving King, there to protect his people and do what is right to keep them safe. But he keeps things from Guinevere, and I worry there may be much more beneath the surface. Originally, Guinevere distrusts Lancelot, until she learns the secret behind the mask. Lancelot appears to be completely devoted to the Queen, and I hope this remains so. Brangiem, Guinevere's maid, also appears to be completely loyal to her Queen, and again, I hope this is true.

As for the other two main characters in this piece, I still have no idea if they are truly allies to Guinevere. Merlin and Mordred are both hiding so much from her, but do they truly care for her and want her well, or will they be her undoing? In the origin story, Mordred is evil and seeks to destroy Arthur. I went back and forth trying to decide if he remained that way in this story, or if he was truly who he appeared to be, a loyal knight to Arthur and devoted to Guinevere. And while, in the end, a huge secret is revealed about Mordred, I am still not 100% convinced of where his true intentions lie. As for Merlin, he has told many lies and hidden so much from Guinevere. Is he still loyal to Arthur and his ideals, or does he have some hidden purpose that he is pursuing? Or is he helping Arthur in a totally secret, deceptive plot? And who is Guinevere's mother?? {I think I know, but I could be wrong}

I have so many unanswered questions after this first book in the series. Hopefully they will be answered as the story continues...

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley and the publishers {Random House Children's and Delacorte Press} in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had been looking for a King Arthur retelling since the release of the more recent King Arthur movie. When I heard that Kiersten White was releasing a retelling, I knew I had to read it. I was pleasantly surprised by how much it surpassed my expectations. I loved all the characters, especially Guinevere. Its nice to have the story told from her perspective, and even more, have a mystery plot going on behind the scenes. I was hooked and loved all the action, the love tension, and the character development. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Title: The Guinevere Deception
Author: Kiersten White
Pages: 336
Genre: Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Guinevere does not know what to expect of King Arthur. Having only just met him, neither knows anything about the other. But they do know one thing. Guinevere is here to protect the king not only as the queen but with her forbidden magic. The only problem is, the real Guinevere is dead. 

Oh No's

I had no idea this was the first book of a series. I wholeheartedly believed that this was a standalone novel and reading those last chapters absolutely destroyed me and my expectations. I was so frustrated before I finally looked it up and saw that there will indeed be another book. Sigh. I will absolutely buy into this but can we please put books numbers on books or something? 

Yay's

The magic system. What small details and specifics to the magic that I really enjoyed. Guinevere and her magic really helped bring this book together since that was her main purpose for being her. The mystery behind her powers and what she could do really helped aid this story.

"With each bit of breath magic, she felt more winded, as though she had been running. It would fade with time. The door was not right for breath, so she spat on it. Arthur laughed at that. She shushed him, but was secretly pleased. 

Pg. 37

I just loved Arthur and Guinevere together oh my god they were so freaking cute! Their moments were really cute to me and it's very rare that I enjoy a romance but this one was just so sweet and innocent. 

Finally,

This was a great novel that I will definitely be continuing with the series. The sequel title has been released as The Camelot Betrayal and it looks magnificent!

My similar recommendation for this novel would be The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

Favorite Quote

"'This is a very fine chicken,' Guinevere said. 'Does it have a name?'

'My pa calls them all the same thing.'

'And what is that?;

The girl's eyes grew even wider. 'I cannot say in front of a lady.' Then she whispered it, unable to stop herself. 'He calls them, Shit-for-Brains.'"

Pg. 89

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-PM