The Guinevere Deception
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.
In Kiersten White’s first book in the Camelot Rising series, The Guinevere Deception had me hooked as soon as I read the concept. Twisting this iconic legend by changing Guinevere’s identity is brilliant. I love how she further messes with the story of King Arthur by changing the gender of the famous knight, Lancelot. Making her a woman further emphasises one of my favourite themes of this story: female friendships. Guinevere’s bond with not only Lancelot but also other women is a central part of this story. It’s always refreshing to read about women supporting each other, especially in such a magical setting.
I love a good romance, and Deception had me swooning as the interactions between Guinevere and Arthur’s nephew Mordred became less combative and more romantic. The chemistry between these two jumped off the page. At first, I wanted Guinevere to have a relationship with Arthur, which may still happen – there are two more books, after all. But the more I read how Mordred clearly cared for her, the less I felt like there was chemistry between husband and wife but more of a sense of duty and friendship. It didn’t surprise me when Guinevere let Mordred go at the end of the book. She may love him, but her duty to Arthur and Camelot couldn’t be ignored. The stakes were too high. However, if I don’t see more of Guinevere and Mordred in the next book, I may lose my mind.
Not only am I excited for future pining from my favourite couple, but I want to see how White dives deeper into Guinevere’s true identity. Is Merlin really her father? What was her life like before the nunnery? I have so many questions! It’s going to be a challenge to wait until the next book comes out.
The Guinevere Deception is full of deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances – perfect for any fan of Guinevere and her king.
Guinevere Deception Rating: ★★★★★
In Kiersten White’s first book in the Camelot Rising series, The Guinevere Deception had me hooked as soon as I read the concept. Twisting this iconic legend by changing Guinevere’s identity is brilliant. I love how she further messes with the story of King Arthur by changing the gender of the famous knight, Lancelot. Making her a woman further emphasises one of my favourite themes of this story: female friendships. Guinevere’s bond with not only Lancelot but also other women is a central part of this story. It’s always refreshing to read about women supporting each other, especially in such a magical setting.
I love a good romance, and Deception had me swooning as the interactions between Guinevere and Arthur’s nephew Mordred became less combative and more romantic. The chemistry between these two jumped off the page. At first, I wanted Guinevere to have a relationship with Arthur, which may still happen – there are two more books, after all. But the more I read how Mordred clearly cared for her, the less I felt like there was chemistry between husband and wife but more of a sense of duty and friendship. It didn’t surprise me when Guinevere let Mordred go at the end of the book. She may love him, but her duty to Arthur and Camelot couldn’t be ignored. The stakes were too high. However, if I don’t see more of Guinevere and Mordred in the next book, I may lose my mind.
Not only am I excited for future pining from my favourite couple, but I want to see how White dives deeper into Guinevere’s true identity. Is Merlin really her father? What was her life like before the nunnery? I have so many questions! It’s going to be a challenge to wait until the next book comes out.
The Guinevere Deception is full of deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances – perfect for any fan of Guinevere and her king.
Guinevere Deception Rating: ★★★★★