I love this trilogy so much! I think it fits the "man vs. nature" trope so well without being heavy handed. I love how we see Guinevere reclaiming more of her role, even if she's not entirely sure who, or what, she is. I will say, I wish we had more Mordred, but that's mostly because I love my sassy dark child. The love...square(?) between Guinevere, Mordred, Arthur, and Lancelot is so intense!

Y’all- I read The Guinevere Deception earlier this year and LOVED it! I immediately preordered this one as soon as I could and then request the ARC too because i NEEDED it ASAP!

I have zero chill when it come to Arthurian retellings and this series is no exception- its hands down a favorite!

The Camelot Betrayal is the second book in this series and it satisfied all of my expectations and hopes!
Just like the first in this series this book is a slow build filled with twists and turns and a jaw dropping ending! I don’t want to give away too much about the plot, but this book has a lot to do with Guinevere’s inner turmoil over her identity and how she fits into Camelot!
Filled to brim with fantastic side characters, BEAUTIFUL friendships, magic, slow burn romance, and enough mystery and confusion to keep you turning the pages!
And y’all- THE ENDING!!! Ahhhhhh.
Ok, I need the third book NOW!

The Camelot Betrayal is out TODAY! Just trust me, if you love anything Arthurian you NEED this series! It’s so fresh and unique which is hard to do with a group of characters that have been around so long!

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousechildrens for sending me the EARC of this book!

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me access.

As much as I loved the first book, this one did not live up to the expectation. The beginning was super slow and irrelevant. Towards the second half and the end, it finally picked up speed and I couldn't put it down. I need all the answers now!

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦."⁣
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The Camelot Betrayal is the sequel to The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White. Continuing with the fantasy retelling of King Arthur, I enjoyed this book even better than the first.  There were some questions I had after the first book that were answered in this follow-up. I still really love that Lancelot is a woman in White's series, with the same unbeatable reputation we're familiar with from the legends. I feel like I've been immersed in a lot of Camelot-esque stories this year between other books I've read and a popular Netflix series I watched, and this book only added to that immersive fun. I think this is a trilogy so I'm already anxiously awaiting the third book. I can't wait to see what happens with Guinevere next.  ⁣
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𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Delacorte Press 𝘢𝘯𝘥 NetGalley 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.⁣
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I was ready to leap back into the work of Camelot as presented in this world, and did so eagerly. In fact, I reread the first book (a favorite eARC of 2019, thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley for both) just for the fun of it. Normally I have managed to forget almost everything about a book between first and second readings, but the story of Guinevere, Arthur, Brangien, Lancelot, and Mordred remained fresh in my mind. I would say if you have read the first book, no need to reread - just take the plunge back into the political intrigues and personal machinations of this world.

The Camelot Betrayal begins shortly after The Guinevere Deception ends. Guinevere has chosen Arthur and Camelot, but she is unsure - should she have joined Mordred? Is fighting against her nature to protect people who don't want her protection actually worth it?

Unlike many second books, this story does not suffer from pacing issues. Each piece contributed to the whole, moving us toward an inevitable conflict between the forces of magic and humanity. Even the hints (and more than hints) of romance added progress and momentum.

There were periodic plot points that were more or less interesting (an awful lot of conversation about the wedding of Guinevere's friend, Dindrane, became quite tedious for example), but ultimately I think this is a very, very strong addition to the Camelot retellings. I'll look forward eagerly (and preorder!) the third book, excited to see how this story progresses.

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
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3,5*
Pros: Still a fantastic retelling of King Arthur, now including more of the original tales. More complex characters and a lot more depth to the narrative. LGBT+ representation and wholesome romance. Full of witchy vibes and featuring awesome spells. Interesting battle between good and evil, and a better understanding of the shades between.
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Cons: Felt more like a collection of "filler" arcs than a book on its own. Too many tangents and abandoned plotlines. Flaws from the first book remain in this one. Bit on the predictable side.

This next installment in White's Arthurian Trilogy really raises the stakes in every sense, but it also delves much much deeper. Inasmuch as it is a "heroic/legendary tale" there is also a deep sense of emotional realism that underlies the narrative, especially in this second book. It takes a look at what it means to be a hero and heroine and the cost of that, both to the hero themselves and those effected by their actions. Guinevere goes through some tough stuff in this one, and at times its painful and uncomfortable to read. Not all is happy and well even when you're saving people, taking down the bad guys and trying to do the right thing. It's not as simple as making mistakes. It's making the right choice and still having to face consequences. Overall a way deeper look into the hero archetype - however some may not pick up on this at all - but it's there to see if you're looking for it.

The mystery behind Guinevere herself only deepens in this book, and just when we think we are going to learn more about her history, what we learn only propels the mystery even wider and deeper, there's always another level here.

There's still not much romance here, so for those hoping for that don't get your hopes up too high, you'll get a drop here or there but Arthur leaves much to be desired as a male romantic lead (yeah I'm definitely team Mordred over here). Speaking of which, I am glad that Mordred got some screen time despite the fact that he's no longer located at the center of the action. I was disappointed at the end of book one to see him relegated to his semi bad guy role like always (he's usually portrayed as a morally gray character but who eventually does in fact lose himself to the dark side - someday someone will write a version where he is the hero). I loved that Morgana finally showed up (for me there can't be Arthurian legend without Morgana) along with other characters (Isolde is brought into the fold - hooray!) I was happy to see.

All in all I really liked this one, despite all the bad stuff constantly happening (Yup its that middle book in the trilogy so lots of action and reaction, roadblocks, detours etc.), and even though the ending was intended (I think?) as a big "oh no", I was very much "oh yes!" Cannot wait for the next one!

Warning: spoilers for The Guinevere Deception ahead.
“The real stories are always worse.”
After the events of The Guinevere Deception, Guinevere, a changeling witch who still cannot remember her past, must aid Arthur against the nefarious and newly-resurrected Dark Queen. Guinevere must play the part of queen by day while by night she and Sir Lancelot, her loyal knight, try to protect Camelot with forbidden magic. But when Guinevere encounters a girl at court claiming to be her sister from Cameliard, she must use all her powers and wits to uncover the so-called princess’ motives.
The Guinevere Deception is perhaps one of the most gorgeous and lushly-written depictions of Camelot I’ve ever read— and I’ve read my fair share of Arthurian retellings. Kiersten White’s sumptuous descriptions of the city carved from a mountain and her way of weaving together magic and mystery is truly special. The first book left off on a bit of a cliffhanger and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second installment of her trilogy. The Camelot Betrayal definitely suffers from some second book problems— it has a lot of work to do up top to remind readers of the jam-packed plot of the first novel (Guinevere is a witch who ties magic knots and has hand powers, she’s afraid of water, her maid is a boss, Mordred is a stone cold fox whose dad was the Green Knight, Merlin’s a huge liar trapped in a cave, Lancelot was the Patchwork Knight, etc.). It makes sense that the novel’s start was a little bumpy, taking its time to remind us of each character and their backstories. The book is also interestingly structured— starting off with its core mystery of Guinevere’s sister, then going off on a rescue mission, and only coming back to the main focus at the end.
These faults aside, it was a fun read. Guinevere and Arthur’s will-they-won’t-they relationship only grows in tension, despite the two already being married, and Guinevere’s search for her own identity as she tries to navigate how to best wield power is truly interesting. However, for a series that could have easily turned into a played out love triangle, The Camelot Betrayal is that unique YA book that is actually about friendship— all the ways people can show and receive love, how to respect friends’ boundaries, and how to love others well. For that theme alone, so well-executed in the great friendship of Lancelot and Guinevere, it is well worth the read.

3.5*

“Life that could turn to death with a shift of the wind. Unpredictable and brilliant and beautiful and terrible.”

I dove into The Camelot Betrayal excited for the love square, and to finally get some answers about Guinevere, not Guinevere. Unfortunately I feel like the love square lost the edge of my favorite angle, and I think we have even more questions about who Guinevere is. That’s not to say I’m not longer intrigued, because the potential triangle that is left really was built in this one. A continuation of Mordred’s understanding and just the magical chemistry he has with Guinevere. The deep friendship and connection that Guinevere has with Lancelot. Lancelot is full stop devoted to her queen, and it’s just. sigh. I love that both potential love interests want Guinevere to be her best self even if they have two very different versions of showing and achieving that. Arthur, my sweet baby love. I love him and I wanted him to be end game, but in this book he was questionable. His priorities are different and j respect that, but we shall see. For him to be back in the game things in book three have to be majorly different, and unless the author shocks the heck out of me, I don’t see it coming.

Ok into the non-romantic plot, who the heck is Guinevere? What the heck is the Dark Queen planning for Camelot? We still really don’t fully know, maybe some clues are dropped or maybe I’m just playing aloof, but I feel hopeful for what we will learn and end up with in book three. I feel like in TCB Guin was working hard to protect Camelot and figure out who she is and what she wants, whiles keeping up with her secrets and appearances. She of course falls into many bad circumstances along the way, because would she be not Guinevere without being kidnapped or held at knife point? Probably not. I loved that throughout this story we met new characters, and they even had their own stories that added a layer to Guinevere’s story. I also sort of liked that we got growth from those around her while she felt she was at a standstill. It’s like she’s being held underwater and swimming and swimming, but she can’t get where she wants to be. I’m just hoping in TEC she breaks out from everything holding her back, gets some answers, and maybe some love too.

If I said I know what to except going into the next installment, I’d be full stop lying. I think that there are so many potential avenues for what will go down in the finale of this series, and I’m excited for it and to finally have some answers. I think this was a good second book, because it added some new characters and some new questions. Sigh, is it 2021 yet?

“...It felt anything but safe. It still felt right, though.”

First off, can we just take a minute to admire the cover? It is absolutely stunning! Secondly, I'd also like to start off by saying that I am a HUGE King Arthur/Camelot/Merlin fan so was very excited to be chosen to receive an eARC of the second installment of this series.

I think one of my favorite aspects of the book was definitely the different relationships and their progression in this book. Having Sir Lancelot be a female is a wonderful change to the original tale, and I love how close she and Guinevere are! This is hard for me to admit, but I am definitely leaning towards Lancelot or Mordred for Guinevere! They just seem more compatible to Guinevere that I am having issues shipping Arthur and Guinevere together. I've see a few others state that as well, so at least I am not alone!

Overall, I love how much Guinevere has grown in this installment and I look forward to her future growth as well. It is a wonderful addition to the series and I am counting down until the next book! Be warned, this one ends in a cliffhanger! :)

Disclosure: I received an ARC from TBR & Beyond Tours, the publisher & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Guinevere had sworn to protect Camelot. She would not break that promise, whatever else she broke today.”

4 stars

I didn’t know I loved Authorian legends until Kiersten White told me I loved Authorian legends. Reading The Guinevere Deception, I was intrigued, I was delighted, I was hungry for more. But, if I thought the ending of the last book left me begging for the next book, this ending has completely destroyed any sense of patience I thought I had.

We see Guinevere really grow into herself in this book. There is a constant battle between who she is, who she was, and who she is supposed to be. We see her face magical obstacles and also plainly human ones. She encompasses not only a Queen, a woman in her own right, but also a teenage girl who is just trying to figure out her place. That is something we can all relate to whether or not we are tying knots out of our hair to protect the maybe-would-be-is-he? love of our lives.

I only have two major complaints. One, the “quest” was weird, forced, and took up a good chunk of the book. This side-plot comes out of nowhere, and even though I can see how it impacted our characters, it just didn’t feel like it flowed into the rest of the story or plot. My second major complaint is can Guinevere not have weird romantic tension with everyone? This is in no way a spoiler because it is my own interpretation of the read and not explored in this book, but are she and Lancelot actually just friends? Am I the only one who finds their weird flirtation/friendship kind of… odd? And then there’s the absolutely slow slow slooooowww burn with Arthur that we started to flesh out in the first book, but goes almost nowhere, AGAIN, in this book. I’m hoping there’s finally a romantic decision in the third book instead of all this weird flirtatious tension between Guinevere and every other major character. I honestly don't care who she chooses, Lancelot, Arthur, Mordred, herself - just a decision! please!

Despite these qualms I have that ending more than fully made up for my complaints. It was suspenseful and surprising! I am so anxious to see how this leads us into the third and final installment of the Camelot Rising trilogy. I do think White has her hands full with all of the loose ends she’ll have to fit into The Excalibur Curse. But I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Guinevere gets herself into next…. Maybe she’ll manage to go more than half a page without being kidnapped!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's--Delacorte Press for the ebook ARC of The Camelot Betrayal

I'm sad to give this one 3 stars because I loved the first one so much and it was a 5 star read. This book suffered from what I like to call "second book syndrome" where you keep waiting for the whole book to see how the plot progresses and some action and plot progression happened but it ended up feeling like an "in-between" book to me and I wished for more. Either more action or more scenes with the "bad guys/girls" or something. When I finished I was left wanting more. I also didn't feel that urgency to read and to finish that I felt with the first book. The bar was high in my mind of what I expected from the story and it didn't live up to the expectation. I'm also worried that if this is a 3 book series, there will be a TON packed into the 3rd book that could have been more spread out and some added to this book. I hope the author-Kiersten White makes this into a 4 book or even more series so that the last part of the story doesn't feel rushed and too much packed into one book to end it.

It was still good and I will continue the series and I will still recommend the series to others but, after being blown away by the first one, I was let down by this one.

In my opinion, this series is getting better with time. I was much more involved and felt more for the characters in this installment than I did in book one. There are still questions that need to be answered but more happened in this novel. WAY more action this time around.

I always find it difficult to review the middle book in a series because I don't want to give anything away. I honestly cannot wait to find out what happens, next but cannot think of a way to tell you why I am so excited without giving away some pretty massive spoilers.

Looking forward to book three!

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was a decent sequel to the first book. I do, at times, find Guinevere to be a bit over-the-top with her hand-wringing and "Who am I! Why do I always hurt people!" It gets old, since she does it frequently in this book. I understand it is all for the plot purpose of White moving to get Guinevere to choose to leave Camelot. I predicted a bit of the ending because of this, and I can't say I'm not disappointed in how this book ended, especially because it ends on such a cliff-hanger.

However, there were moments of really good action and character development, and intrigue. I enjoyed the continued building of this Arthurian world, and seeing how White has repurposed it for this re-telling. I love the magic and it's a strong fantasy novel. I am curious to see how it will end and I will read the next installment, even if I'm afraid what's going to happen will probably disappoint me.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I really enjoyed the first book and I love a good King Arthur retelling. I also loved the way Tristan and Isolde’s story was woven into the plot and was eager to know more about them.

Some Things I Liked

As mentioned above, I love the Tristan and Isolde elements. I hope we get more Isolde in the next book and that Tristan also finds someone special. I loved the idea of weaving these tales together.
The Last Kingdom vibes. For anyone who’s read my blog posts before, you know I’m a big fan of the show. I loved the way Hild, Isolde, and even Guinevere’s stories felt like the hit Viking show. Guinevere’s identity crisis is very reminiscent of Uhtred’s and I also really enjoyed the morally grey characters and their parallels.
Mordred. He’s definitely my favorite. I wanted more of him but I loved every scene I got. He’s such an interesting and, I suspect, misunderstood character. I really hope he’s featured more prominently in book 3.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

The romance. It’s way to slow burn for my taste. Also, the love square is unbearable. Everyone is going to get hurt and the only resolution I can see for that is if two or more characters involved die and I would just hate that. For the record, I’m Team Mordred.

Series Value

I’ll definitely stick with this series. The beginning of this book had a slow start but it really picked up in the second half. The titular betrayal cut me deep and I’m going to be on the edge of my seat waiting for book 3.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this book. I was a little bored in the beginning because the romance was slow and there wasn’t much action but it really ramped up and the second half was fantastic. I can’t wait to see what happens in the final installment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White – I am super excited to read the next book in this series. Despite not having a release date, I’m still patiently waiting for it. I have no doubt it will be a thrilling conclusion to this series.
The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae – if you are also Team Mordred, and you enjoy moral greyness, and a charismatic villain, try this series.

REVIEW: The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White

*spoiler alerts from here*

I received this e-ARC from @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse in exchange for my review.

In the sequel to The Guinevere Deception, Guinevere tries to find out who she is and what her place in Camelot is supposed to be.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

What I liked:
⭐️ I have been rooting for Guinevere and Arthur this whole time, even if I shouldn’t be. I really love Arthur as a character and think they balance each other out well. There was a lot of development on this front in this book.
⭐️ Guinevere really gets to develop strong, lasting relationships in the sequel. Her bond with Lancelot is especially powerful, but I was happy to see her connecting with people more and more.

What I didn’t like:
⭐️ Nothing... really... happened? There would be instances of action, followed by chapter of Guinevere feeling guilty for what she had caused with her magic. But nothing really driving the plot forward.
⭐️ The end felt mismatched with everything else. I think we were supposed to feel confused, because Guinevere was, but really, it felt like a different book.
⭐️ Brangien and Isolde are reunited, and I was happy for both of them but disappointed to see Brangien become a much less significant character after this. She stopped being involved in almost anything. I know Guinevere was protecting her, but the vibe that she could no longer be useful because she was “coupled” was strong and I didn’t love it.

In conclusion: I was disappointed by this sequel, and I had hoped for more.

The Camelot Betrayal takes place shortly after the events of the end of The Guinevere Deception and it was surprising how easily I was able to fall back into the world of Camelot and this story. This book focused a lot on Guinevere and her character development and I was 100% here for it.

Guinevere continues to struggle to figure out how she belongs in Camelot and her place as Queen. Throughout The Camelot Betrayal, she has to make tough decisions and she ends up questioning herself, especially when it came to the use of her magic. Character-driven books are either hit or miss for me, but since I was so invested in Guinevere I absolutely loved the focus on her growth.

Another aspect of the story with a heavy focus is Guinevere’s background, thanks to the arrival of Guinevach, the real Guinevere’s sister. New pieces of information are revealed and speculated upon, but nothing is confirmed. Guinevere’s background is one of the thing’s that intrigues me the most so I was hoping for more concrete information, however, even with the small crumbs we were given I was happy that I had guessed one of those pieces correctly. I’m really looking forward to learning the whole picture in the next book!

I know I’m in the minority with this opinion, but I really loved Guinevere’s budding romance with Arthur! Maybe it’s because I was never a fan of Mordred, but I found it to be very sweet and realistic. There is clearly a lot of respect, trust, and friendship already between theme, and the spark of desire that has now been flamed was perfect. I don’t believe they’re without flaws and I’m not sure if I even believe they’ll actually fan into anything more, but a girl can dream!

For the most part, the plot was pretty forward moving. There were a few spots where it seemed to slow down too much for my liking, but it picked back up pretty quickly afterward. I will admit that I had expect a bit more action-wise regarding the Dark Queen and magic and struggled to find the “main plotline” for this book. Once I came to terms that there really wasn’t more going on other than important character development for Guinevere and other smaller plots involving beloved side characters, I was able to move past my reservations and enjoy this more fully.

The Camelot Betrayal was an excellent installment for this series and continued to be full of all the Arthurian folklore I love. The story is more focused on Guinevere’s character growth than anything, but it was all beautifully written. I cannot wait for the third book!

I really liked the first book in the series (see my review here), and I absolutely love King Arthur and Camelot stories. I absolutely loved how this is the very first book I’ve read that is told from Guinevere’s POV and it doesn’t paint her as arm candy or a total ninny. And Lancelot is a female knight! There’s some really strong girl-power vibes in this series, and I was all about it.

Like the first book, this one is seriously slow for so much of the book. It took me so long to get into it, because I kept reading and reading and waiting for something to happen. Instead, there were a lot of things going on and it felt like the groundwork was being laid for a bunch of subplots that I knew would somehow get all rolled up together, but it just took forever to happen. But then I hit the last quarter of the book and things started moving really quickly. I still didn’t see how everything worked out until close to the end, so it wasn’t very predictable, which is a good thing.

I like Guinevere’s character, and I think her character flaws make her more relatable. At times, I found her irritating, but then I had to remind myself that she’s only 17 and deals with some really heavy burdens, which made it easier to like her. So much of the book focused on her internal struggle to figure out who she is, who she wants to become, and how to reconcile the things she has done. On top of that, she had an incredibly frustrating tendency to run away from situations rather than just address them directly, but I think that’s going to become a big part of her growth process as both a person and a queen. But I still got the feeling that she’s a good person, who is tough and loyal, and genuinely wants to help. I think that she and Arthur are good for each other.

I love Brangien and Lancelot’s characters. I think they make the story, especially since they’re the characters that we really get to know the best. Arthur is less of a well-developed character than the women are, and I kind of feel like it’s payback for the boatload of male-centered Camelot stories that are out there.

As usual, this one left off on a major cliffhanger, and I immediately want to read the next one, even before this book has actually been released. Hopefully the final book in the trilogy will be a little faster-paced, but I’m definitely going to be tuning in for the conclusion.

3 STARS


Last we saw, Guinevere had brought back the Dark Queen.

It wasn't entirely her fault, given that Mordred tricked her. But now, back in Camelot and with the threat temporarily beaten back, Guinevere begins to doubt her role in the kingdom. How can she protect Camelot if she has had a hand in releasing such power? How can she protect Arthur?

And more importantly, why is she here? Because Merlin lied to her, so clearly lied to her, and now, whatever purpose she once held close to her heart is muddied. What is her role truly meant to be in Camelot, where her magic is forbidden and her existence is founded on a lie? What can she say to the sister she has never known, now knocking at her doors? And when the danger comes calling, is there anything she can do, or is this the end of it all?




The Camelot Betrayal is the political intrigue counterpart to its adventurous predecessor.

That's not to say it's lacking in adventure. After all, there is a rescue, a dragon, a wedding, and plenty more still after that to go around. What else could you ask for in an Arthurian tale? But rather than focusing on protecting Arthur and Camelot, this time, Guinevere is focused on knowing herself.

It's a difficult thing to do, given the blank spaces in her memory. She cannot remember a time before Merlin, cannot recall the true name she so long ago gave away to the flame. Her own existence is a mystery to her, and as concerns close in around her, Guinevere can't help but face the flaws that come hand in hand with this lack of knowledge. How can she be a proper queen of Camelot when there's still so much she doesn't know about herself? Worse, how can she be a queen when there is so much she cannot tell her people?

But to cap it all off, this time, Guinevere must navigate court politics as they challenge her relationships with her dearest friends. The arrival of the real Guinevere's sister sets her qualifications into question, whispers of impropriety create a rift between her and Lancelot, not to mention Lancelot and the other knights, and still she and Arthur have no heir, something Camelot has noticed but neither party is ready to approach, not with their relationship built on necessary secrets.



"Threats could be vanquished or disarmed, but questions lingered as long as wounds."

This is where The Camelot Betrayal falters. As much as I loved seeing Guinevere explore the options and consequences of her actions, she was almost painfully introspective. Diving into the same questions over and over while pushing the supporting cast away is more frustrating than anything, and lends itself painfully well to a case of second-book syndrome. This could have been a story where Guinevere leans into her own agency and begins to sever her connection to Merlin, who used her for his own gain. It could have been a story that highlights the good relationships she does have in Camelot these days.

But in spite of a few scenes of greater character depth for the supporting cast (particularly Lancelot, the likely lesbian after my own heart), it's a lot of internal doubt and questioning on Guinevere's part. And questions lingering as long as wounds is no fun when it's the same questions for nearly three hundred pages.

It leaves us teetering on the edge of a great book, or at least a great finale. These questions must lead somewhere, and we're so close to seeing exactly where. But in the meantime, they've slowed the book's pace and left us spinning in circles next to Guinevere, while once again, Arthur rides forward. For a series about Guinevere finding herself, there's perhaps a little too much acceptance in being left behind. And too many poor consequences for the moments where she does forge ahead as herself.



I'll still be around for the Camelot Rising finale.

Too much still lies unresolved, and I need to know if Lancelot and Guinevere get together. I can't keep being teased with all these love interests when there's a perfectly good, perfectly devoted butch lesbian knight right there! Let them kiss, dammit!

But shipping preferences aside, I think The Camelot Betrayal is laying the groundwork for an explosive finale. I'm sure we'll get to see Guinevere decide which iteration of herself is the truest, and we'll see all the consequences fall on Camelot, be what they may. 

But in the meantime, The Camelot Betrayal suffers from second book syndrome, and I wish it hadn't. Nonetheless, if you have any interest in seeing this trilogy through, be sure to pick it up starting tomorrow, November 10th! There's at least a good heap of sword and sorcery in it for you if you do. ⚔️✨



CW: violence, animal death, child death, loss of a loved one, sexual assault mention, implied domestic abuse, suicide mention

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 10am EST on 11/9/20.]

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

I have questions. So so so so so so SO many questions right now guys.

The Camelot Betrayal was a really good book to dive into. I mean, I got sucked in and each chapter and page was going by so fast. A lot happens in this book and the twists and such made me think so many things.

Honestly, so many ships and so much chemistry and sparks flying left and right throughout this book. Of course things happen that tried to sway me from my potential ships but I stayed strong and kept pushing through. Not sure what the outcome will be for anyone romantically but I'm hopeful for someone to be happy in the end.

Also, I got more of Mordred and I was a very happy girl. Also Lancelot was still lovable in this book as well. Ugh, so many characters to fall in love with - except for that little girl. Other than that, Guinevere definitely grows throughout the book and is starting to figure out who she truly is. It just sucks that I'm confused about it all right now.

I'm not going to lie. That cliffhanger ending has me developing so many questions. Heck, the whole book gave me a long list of them. I'm hoping that the next book will give me some amazing answers and excitement.