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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
No matter what in every Arthurian story Mordred’s betrayal will always break my heart. Even though I already know how it’s going to end I always expect and then beg for him to choose Arthur (and in this story Guinevere) and he never does.
With that being said for most of the book it was a solid 3, dragging a bit but still good. But the last third had me invested and screaming at the page.
With that being said for most of the book it was a solid 3, dragging a bit but still good. But the last third had me invested and screaming at the page.
Meh idk about this one. I like it but it really felt like something was missing.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a cute read. It was slow paced and nothing significantly happens until you get to the very end.
This was really good. I felt the spiciness from the beginning of the book, and no, I don’t mean THAT kind of spicy. I mean the ambiance was full of darkness which I love in a book. I don’t know what is actually going on with the romance, but I need a solid one!!! Please!! The twists were great and that ending was fire. Reading the next book next.
An interesting take on the Arthurian Legend. I am all for anything that could get readers interested in more Arthur.
This is purely not for me any more. I used to be obsessed with Arthurian stories, and back in the day I would have probably read it and really enjoyed it. But I'm not as into that now and not into more historical types of fiction/fantasy.
The problem with knowing the warmth of the sun is how keenly you feel its absence when it shines elsewhere.
Like most children, I've always been fascinated by the Arthurian legend: knight and magician were all I aspired to become when I was younger. Obviously, the synopsis of The Guinevere Deception had me immediately hooked.
Had I noticed it was by the same author who wrote And I Darken (such a terrible disappointment), I wouldn't have been surprised by either the writing style or the poor characterisation in The Guinevere Deception.
What kills me is that this book had so much potential, yet failed in so many ways... To be quite honest, although I was so excited I read it overnight, I probably won't remember much about it in a few days.
THE PLOT
As I wrote in one of my updates, the beginning of this book was really good: a changeling witch trained by Merlin posing as queen to ensure King Arthur's protection, human-eating trees, mysterious knights... Definitely a big yes from me.
Guinevere was painfully indecisive (I had to keep reminding myself that she's supposed to be 16) and she spent most of the book uselessly wandering around Camelot, chatting with characters and not doing much of anything...
She wakes up, she does some cute magic tricks involving hair and knots (I'm so bitter about the lack of real magic), she goes to the market, she daydreams about Arthur and/or Mordred and then her day is over. What was the point?
THE CHARACTERS
Guinevere and Arthur were both awfully bland and I felt absolutely nothing reading about their growing romance.
It won't surprise anyone if I say that charming, brooding Mordred and fierce, mysterious Lancelot were undoubtedly the best parts of the story.
THE ENDING
That was the most dynamic and dramatic part of the book... and it lasted 20 pages.
This is not the retelling I've dreamt of and I'm severely disappointed, again. However, I guess I'll read the next installment when it comes out?
Like most children, I've always been fascinated by the Arthurian legend: knight and magician were all I aspired to become when I was younger. Obviously, the synopsis of The Guinevere Deception had me immediately hooked.
Had I noticed it was by the same author who wrote And I Darken (such a terrible disappointment), I wouldn't have been surprised by either the writing style or the poor characterisation in The Guinevere Deception.
What kills me is that this book had so much potential, yet failed in so many ways... To be quite honest, although I was so excited I read it overnight, I probably won't remember much about it in a few days.
THE PLOT
As I wrote in one of my updates, the beginning of this book was really good: a changeling witch trained by Merlin posing as queen to ensure King Arthur's protection, human-eating trees, mysterious knights... Definitely a big yes from me.
I am always the last defense between anyone and the king. And no one has ever gotten him through me.Sadly, Kiersten White kept us in the dark about what was really going on for so long that by the time it was all explained, I was completely bored and disinterested.
Guinevere was painfully indecisive (I had to keep reminding myself that she's supposed to be 16) and she spent most of the book uselessly wandering around Camelot, chatting with characters and not doing much of anything...
She wakes up, she does some cute magic tricks involving hair and knots (I'm so bitter about the lack of real magic), she goes to the market, she daydreams about Arthur and/or Mordred and then her day is over. What was the point?
Names that were titles gave power among men. True names gave power among the things that came before men.On top of that, the "plot-twists" were way too predictable:
Spoiler
1) Brangien being Isolde's lover instead of Sir Tristan. 2) Lancelot being a woman is great, but the way it's written, it doesn't add anything to the story? Like, she appears from nowhere and saves Guinevere, bringing her to a witches' village that they leave not even three pages later, without any explanation (I know it will probably be mentioned in the next two books, but that just felt rushed?). Also, the author just glossed over Lancelot becoming a knight even though it was a major issue just a few chapters earlier?THE CHARACTERS
Guinevere and Arthur were both awfully bland and I felt absolutely nothing reading about their growing romance.
Women are stronger when bearing one another's pain.Although I liked the way most women were portrayed in this book (both physically and mentally strong, as well as independent, smart and resourceful), it didn't feel like the story was taking place in the 5th-6th centuries. In addition, Guinevere being referred to as a "girl" while her romantic interests are respectively 18 and 19 years old irked me.
It won't surprise anyone if I say that charming, brooding Mordred and fierce, mysterious Lancelot were undoubtedly the best parts of the story
Spoiler
(to be honest, that cheek kiss Guinevere gave Lancelot had me squealing).Mordred sighed. "Do you know why I never lose? [...] Every moment touching iron, every breath taken in well-ordered, stifling Camelot, every minute near Arthur and Excalibur is pain. My life is pain. What have I to fear from you?"
THE ENDING
That was the most dynamic and dramatic part of the book
Spoiler
(Mordred knelt next to the hand [coming out of the ground]. "Guinevere, I am so pleased to introduce you to the Dark Queen. My grandmother." I GASPED.)This is not the retelling I've dreamt of and I'm severely disappointed, again. However, I guess I'll read the next installment when it comes out?
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Reading this book felt a lot like taking a dive into the old and known movies about the Arthurian legend. I knew that this was different from the start as our story began with a wedding escort, where Guinevere (who isn't actually Guinevere) travels to Camelot.
What I want to point is that the story is slow; Kiersten gives quite the page into world-building and by the end of the book I felt like I was living in Camelot. There are the known characters of the myth here but the roles are a little different, yet not without the suspicion that someone is trying to destroy Arthur and his dreams of a better world.
By the end of the book where true action took place, I had my suspicions about Guinevere's true identity, but I don't know how that will help in the next book. On the other hand, I wouldn't count this as a love triangle; Arthur seems to be more in love with his dream rather than Guinevere and she may look timid but she hides great power.
Overall, this was a good book in this series, and I hope to see the next one with more action.
Reading this book felt a lot like taking a dive into the old and known movies about the Arthurian legend. I knew that this was different from the start as our story began with a wedding escort, where Guinevere (who isn't actually Guinevere) travels to Camelot.
What I want to point is that the story is slow; Kiersten gives quite the page into world-building and by the end of the book I felt like I was living in Camelot. There are the known characters of the myth here but the roles are a little different, yet not without the suspicion that someone is trying to destroy Arthur and his dreams of a better world.
By the end of the book where true action took place, I had my suspicions about Guinevere's true identity, but I don't know how that will help in the next book. On the other hand, I wouldn't count this as a love triangle; Arthur seems to be more in love with his dream rather than Guinevere and she may look timid but she hides great power.
Overall, this was a good book in this series, and I hope to see the next one with more action.