“Fascinating. . . . Kiersten White has taken the best parts of the Arthurian legend and made them all her own.”–Renée Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn series. A new fantasy series set in the world of Camelot that bestselling author Christina Lauren calls “brilliant,” reimagining the Arthurian legend . . . where nothing is as magical and terrifying as a girl. terrifying as a girl.
Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land.
Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself? THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY
“A rare and enviable mix of impeccable writing, heart-stopping action, lush scenery, and complex, relatable characters . . . brilliant!” —New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren
“Stunning. . . . will leave every reader hungry for more.” –Somaiya Daud, author of the Mirage series
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Fascinating… Kiersten White has taken the best parts of the Arthurian legend and made them all her own.
A rare and enviable mix of impeccable writing, heart-stopping action, lush scenery, and complex, relatable characters… brilliant!
The Guinevere Deception was my first book by Kiersten White and it took a different direction than I thought it would. Kiersten gives the King Arthur legends an unexpected twist that will leave you wanting more from the last page. Also, let’s note that the cover of this novel is absolutely stunning!
Though the story had a bit of a slow start, I was immediately intrigued by Guinevere and Mordred’s chemistry. Guinevere is sixteen and has been raised in a convent. She leaves home to wed King Arthur; however, turns out this young woman isn’t the real Guinevere but a changeling witch sent by the great Merlin to protect Arthur.
I didn’t feel much chemistry between Arthur and Guinevere. Arthur was brooding. He wasn’t the main focus in the story. Alot of the plot dealt with Guinevere hiding her true identity and the fact that she was a witch for magic has been abolished in Camelot.
This was definitely a book that gave me a lot of mixed feelings but it is also a book that readers should go into with an open mind because Kiersten will hands down surprise you, especially with her writing!
DNFed at 50%
I was super excited when I received this book from Netgalley, sadly this book was not for me. I normally really like her books and her retellings but this was just fell short for me.
It just didn’t hold my interest at all and I finally DNFed it at around 50%.
For one it just felt like the story or Guinevere, who by the way bot really Guinevere (not a spoiler it states it right in the beginning) ll over the place, we bounce around a lot in the story. It also was a bit on the slow site and it felt like never ending.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, Arthur who was not there a lot but mentioned and talked about I liked but again it was hard for me to connect to him if he is hardly there.
Guinevere seemed lost herself and all over the place with no real direction so I had a even harder time to connect to her.
Of course there were another people but most just were meh….. I had some thoughts about what is about to come and will be a plot twist so I asked a friend who read it all how it ends and such. But I was not surprised and basically everything I thought would happen did happen.
Overall, meh book for me. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it this time around. I’m sure there will be plenty of people who will love it.
I rate it 2
Camelot has kicked out Merlin, and moved into a magic free zone. It is forbidden to use magic inside the borders. Arthur is under some sort of danger so he must marry a protector (Guinevere) disguised as his bride. This protector is a magical person and King Arthur knows. So what is going on ?
Guinevere who isn’t Guinevere is sent to save the King. She must protect him from what ? she doesn’t know, how would she do this saving ? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know a lot. Merlin her father but not her father sent her to marry King Arthur with instructions to protect him. Guinevere spends a lot of time wandering around making friends, watching for danger, longing for clarification on her duty in Camelot. She must focus on everything because she doesn’t have a clue what she is supposed to do there. Sure protect Arthur, but how ? She must find the danger without anyone knowing she’s magical, except she’s not very good at being sneaky. I felt sorry for her, she was expected to do this great thing with not a clue of what or how.
Arthur, he’s an odd duck. Rarely there, and when he’s around he’s not very interesting. He’s young, overburdened, and distant. He knows why she is there, and yet he rarely talks to her, leaves for days with no notice and just disappears. I really can’t say much about the character I didn’t get to know him to have much feelings except indifference. he just wasn’t there enough.
The last 25% had some awesome twists, finally Guinevere had a direction. She of the characters started to show their true colors. I never saw that twist coming.
The story was good, I enjoyed it but tired of the wandering girl bit. There was so much unsaid about these characters I never really got to know them. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series.
I definitely get the lure of the Arthurian legends, and do enjoy a good story set in that world. Overall, this was one that I did really enjoy. I’m not as well-versed in this world as other people are, so there were some things I was definitely learning about the legends and people as I read, and others that I wasn’t quite sure of the characters and had to go do some research outside of the book to make sure I realized who each of them were in the stories. The world White has built in this book is once again so deep and vivid and haunting in some parts. The characters are well-fleshed out, and used to keep you either on your toes to decipher story arcs, or else they fill in the story in such a way that it helps you figure things out with plenty of “ah-ha” moments. I loved how Guinevere made one of her best friends with a person that normally you would read in a story as someone who caused problems for her. To have that person really be someone who just needed to be given the chance to be a good person, even with all her shortcomings and gossip/social climbing traits that were expected of women in those times. I’ll be intrigued to see how the story will carry on with Merlin in the predicament he ends up in, and the Lady of the Lake as well as the Dark Queen all playing their roles in this game of a plot. It is hard to decide if I can fall in love with Arthur, because of his many absences from his queen, but then there is Mordred, and what happens with him, can we trust him, is he really on a bad path, or maybe he has the right way of thought? So many twists and turns and things to keep you thinking and wondering and waiting for the next book.
While this was good, it did not blow me away the way The Conqueror’s Saga and the first book in the Slayer series did. I’m still excited enough to be awaiting the next book though, but I’ll be patiently waiting for the year or so that it takes.
I read this book last weekend and really loved. The characters are so captivating. I know I’m suspected to say I loved the book because I just love the King Arthur’s legend, but this is a different story what makes it so interesting. Guinevere isn’t a fragile woman, she knows what she wants. Or she guess it… 😉
I won’t give any spoil but if you like a good story with an interesting characters, you need read it.
I couldn’t stop reading. So I’ve read the second too, but it is for another review… 🙂
I haven’t been a huge fan of Arthurian legends since Merlin went off air. They’re often annoying to me because the women are so badly treated. And here is a fantastic retelling that has a great place for women and tells a new and fascinating version of magic in Camelot. I loved every relationship being formed and I have so many questions I need answered! Hopefully the next book will have the answers!
A fun, different take on the Arthurian legend.
This is absolutely captivating and most definitely unputdownable! This version has some very entertaining twists but retains the heart of the Camelot legend. I love who Lancelot turns out to be! Sheer brilliance! Our Guinevere is sweet and naive but by the ending of this you understand that she’s coming into her own and the foes had better be prepared! This one will be taking them on just as she is, just as she’s meant to do! Merlin remains both elusive and intriguing and I’m waiting for him to make a big scene sometime within the next books. Readers have to have theories as to the missing memories of our Guinevere. I know that I do! I cannot wait to see how things come together to unravel the past. So much that Arthur says makes me think it has a double meaning. And can we just take a moment to applaud the nephew!? He was cunningly brilliant and I was so torn between him and his uncle king when it comes to the romance! I so want to see the Arthurian legend play out but with a united and devoted king and queen, who thinks the other one is their everything. But that ending with the longing pierced my heart quite a bit. This is the first that I’ve read from this mesmerizing author and now I can’t wait to discover more of her worlds.
Some of your hardest decisions will unmake you, and will give you a new purpose. But is that new purpose enough to fulfill you. And what if you were wrong?
I was happy when I open my december Owlcrate box and saw that this book was inside, as it was on my book wishlist.
The Guinevere deception is an King Arthur story retelling. Princess Guinevere as came to Camelot to wed Arthur. Merlin has send her there to protect the king against those who want to see Camelot fall.
But Guinevere as a secret. She hide her true name, and her true identity. She’s not the real Princess but in fact she’s a changeling.
Really loved the story and all the twist in this Arthurian legend reimagining. This is the first book of the trllogy. Can’t wait to read the next one.
This is a retelling of the story of King Arthur but it is not the one you know and is told from the perspective of Guinevere. This story is shrouded in mystery and by the end there are still so many unanswered questions. There is so much intrigue and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The characters are incredibly interesting and especially enjoyed Guinevere and Lancelot. There are multiple possible love interests and I am very interested to see the future directions that takes.
I love The different twists on the classic story and am thrilled both by the plot and it being told from Guinevere’s perspective. There are plenty of God’s to the old tale while keeping it fresh and full of life.
All in all I love this book and even though I left with just as many questions as I started with I can’t wait to learn more and see which direction the sequel takes.
THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION, (Book one in the Camelot Rising Trilogy), by Kiersten White, is a re-telling of Camelot that I simply never wanted to put down. Honestly, this surprised me to some extent. As the legend of King Arthur and Camelot have long been a favorite of mine, I didn’t expect to like–let alone love–an “altered” version of it.
We begin with “Guinevere” being escorted to meet her future husband, King Arthur. Only this woman is not quite what she seems. She has been sent by her father, Merlin, to protect Arthur from some imminent threat . . . Unfortunately, that is all she knows for certain.
“. . . the past holds her secrets dear, and try as I may, I can not coax them out of her.”
The characters I love are all here–along with some additional ones–but their roles/personalities are all the author’s invention. In a Camelot where all magic has been banished, a young woman uncertain about her own role is all that stands between Arthur and an unknown danger.
Yet, if she is discovered, she could cost him everything.
“. . . It was not easy, revolving around someone who did not revolve around her.”
I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how I would feel by the ending of this novel, the first in the projected trilogy. However, the characters quickly became “themselves”, and I wasn’t able to see them any way other than how the author intended. This fun and unique retelling was quite a treat, and I enjoyed all the little details that made this story feel so “real”. I am looking forward to reading more from Kiersten White in the future.
Recommended.
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.
A new twist on the famous legend of Camelot. Merlin is in hiding as an outcast, magic is forbidden and Guinevere is not really Guinevere at all. She is actually Merlin’s daughter who comes to Camelot to protect Authur from unknown forces of evil. This book is full of mystery, magic, love and betrayal. It was an all around delight of a retelling!
Camelot and magic along with Arthur and his knights make this one a must read. Guinevere is not the “true” Guinevere but one sent to save Arthur and Camelot as well as magic. Story is a bit slow paced at first with the world and character building. Twists and turns in the story as well as likable characters. Ending was faster and made it well worth the read.
Amazon Vine Review
I absolutely loved the world of Camelot and its characters. This story was full of surprises and double-crosses. It definitely was a slow build but I did not mind it all, it simply allowed me to get to know the characters better. I also loved the mystery behind Guinevere and how slowly it revealed her background. I hope that we get to know more about her in the next book as well as the other characters.
Stunning. A captivating and dark tale of magic and loyalty, its end will leave every reader hungry for more.
“There was good, and there was evil, but there was so much space between the two.”
Ok. So before reading this one I read some of the negative reviews, so I was mentally prepared for the first parts of the story to be slow rolling. And it was exactly that, slow slow rolling. But oddly, I enjoyed it. I am someone who does NOT usually enjoy so much building of a retelling world, but this is sort of an alt universe Camelot, so there was a bit of building that was necessary. It definitely picks up around the halfway mark as reveals are made and we stop building so much.
Guinevere, or not Guinevere, is the POV that we follow along the journey in book one and having her see Camelot and the roads before from “fresh eyes” really worked. I also loved the new parts of Camelot and even the attributes to characters that I’ve read in past iterations of these stories. I don’t want to say TOO much, but I will say that White has written a story where the characters have room to grow. This is book one of three and I think she gave us a GOOD starting point in a new world. I saw some complaints that the beginning of this story is so anti-feminist and I really didn’t get that. I would expand on that opinion, but I feel that it could spoil some of the book, but I personally think the author is doing something brilliant here. A message is weaved tightly in this one and it’s there if you’re paying close enough attention. It’s unique and I enjoyed it.
There is a “coming of” storyline with Guinevere. She is finding herself, because at this point she really doesn’t know what’s wrong or right or what to believe. There is a bit of a confusing/frustrating love story. There is a bit of LGBTQ+ representation, and the potential for more to come. There is mystery and suspense. There is lore and magic. There is a reimagining of a story we’ve probably heard/seen numerous times over the years, but I enjoyed this fresh take on it.
I don’t know. I just genuinely ended up liking this one. I didn’t want to put it down to take care of real life things, and to me that is an indicator of a good book. It starts off slowly, but I feel the ending and the possibilities for the future, make this one worth pushing through for.