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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a sucker for anything King Arthur related, but this one just blew me away. I really loved how it was more about exploring identity and self-worth more than the romance aspect, and I cannot wait to see where the series goes.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
So, I loved this. But the reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I have so many questions. And some places where a little slow.
I think I will re-read it when the other two books are out, and see if all my questions are answered.
I think I will re-read it when the other two books are out, and see if all my questions are answered.
Another example of a good concept not well executed. I liked the creative liberties take with the Authorian legend, but bland characters populated the pages, and the fact the MC didn't know who she was exactly made it especially hard to care about her or anything that was happening. The plot meandered for quite a bit, forcing me to keep turning the pages. The last 40 or so were actually pretty good, but I feel like there was a missed opportunity to build up to that ending better. Will not pick up the sequels.
Kiersten White's take on Camelot is an engaging fantasy adventure that pays homage to the old legends while still being an original take on the characters and mythology. Hand this to fans of dark fantasy. Recommended.
Read more at Bookish Adventures.
Read more at Bookish Adventures.
4.5 stars. This was almost everything I wanted it to be. It had a few predictable, overly cheesy teenie scenes, but it was still really good and reminded me of what I love most about Kirsten Whites books. They are fast reads and really engaging, they have twists and turns, and the bind together her own stories with the retelling aspect super well.
It was ... okay, kinda meh. Probably won't read sequel, might skim through it, but yeah, just meh
The Guinevere Deception - a "feminist take" on medieval Camelot from the tale of Arthur and Merlin and the Sword in the Stone and all that. It's told from "Guinevere's" perspective
Arthur is depicted as a shining Sun to his kingdom which he rules with optimism and kindness. Guinevere is dead, and a changeling witch takes her place as queen (secretly) to protect Arthur from magical attacks. (Arthur is in on this, which was, to me, a very surprising choice to make from a storyline standpoint.) All the side characters were forgettable knights that I cannot remember the names of. Even Arthur didn't have much character to him. He just kind of bumbled around? And he was my favorite, I wish so badly they had expanded on him because at least he's mildly interesting??? That would be my first issue with this book, I think - every character didn't have a foundation, really. Unless you're maybe deeply familiar with the mythos, no character is explored very deeply. And there were so many opportunities! Any friendship with the knights (one in particular who ends up as a VILLAIN in what felt like a lazy twist of how-scary-can-we-make-this-because-we-forgot-to-add-a-serious-plotline-that-wasn't-completely-ambiguous) was quickly shoved into the budding-romance category, which was silly, frankly, because she's married to Arthur? I know it's explained that he was gone all the time and that's why she KISSED another knight? His nephew, nonetheless, if you can believe it. But, still, even if she was seriously lonely, the whole dang time she was going on and on and on about her duty to Merlin and Camelot and the future and all that. Just for her to kiss another knight? Because she feels a literal physical spark every time she touches him? Let me just tell you, I got zero butterflies from this pairing. I was shocked when it was even presented that way. I didn't see it as a romantic thing until it was blatantly stated, and even then I was like "I thought the whole point was that this girl doesn't need a partner besides Arthur?" There was no badass-queen Guinevere the witch happening in this book. (I'll get into that.) Originally, the tense atmosphere was partially enough, though I wanted more. But then the tense atmosphere was gone, because everyone was suddenly very in-and-involved with secret Guinevere's magic wielding? When the whole circle knows what's up, you don't feel that tension anymore, which, for a story with no real character development, is kind of the only thing it has going on.
I could go on about this, but it's just. not. worth it.
My second gripe with this book was the perspective it was told from. Guinevere (or, fake Guinevere) has a staggeringly boring inner monologue. I would say it brings to mind Twilight's Bella-monologue, but even that is at least campy. No, really it brings to mind Hush Hush's inner monologue. Which, if you're familiar with Hush Hush, is a little tragic. Guinevere thinks about approximately 3 things total, and none of it is particularly interesting. There are multiple times throughout the book where she is saved, needs to be saved, faints, is completely helpless, is captured, etc. Every time she meets a problem, she cries for a man or thinks about how she desperately wishes a man were there. Girl, you know magic! It's even hinted to her by that knight she kissed that she's way more powerful than she remembers being (due to an amnesia that is never really explained except for 'Merlin Did It!') So why on earth is she crying for a men that don't know magic???
My third problem would be kind of a combo of what I've already written, which is just that the 'feminism' tries so hard to be prominent and self sustaining in a way, but it just fell flat. That's because they never had it really ingrained into the plot. They just felt the need to mention that it was a thing a million times.
Also, as many other readers have mentioned, the writing and dialogue uses words that weren't even invented at this time period. The book really didn't even feel like it was in the time period it was supposed to be in. It felt like a YA romance adaptation of medieval times, which was a combination that did not sit right with me. Bummer, because it had a lot of potential. Don't think I'll read the second or third one unless theyre really different.
Arthur is depicted as a shining Sun to his kingdom which he rules with optimism and kindness. Guinevere is dead, and a changeling witch takes her place as queen (secretly) to protect Arthur from magical attacks. (Arthur is in on this, which was, to me, a very surprising choice to make from a storyline standpoint.) All the side characters were forgettable knights that I cannot remember the names of. Even Arthur didn't have much character to him. He just kind of bumbled around? And he was my favorite, I wish so badly they had expanded on him because at least he's mildly interesting??? That would be my first issue with this book, I think - every character didn't have a foundation, really. Unless you're maybe deeply familiar with the mythos, no character is explored very deeply. And there were so many opportunities! Any friendship with the knights (one in particular who ends up as a VILLAIN in what felt like a lazy twist of how-scary-can-we-make-this-because-we-forgot-to-add-a-serious-plotline-that-wasn't-completely-ambiguous) was quickly shoved into the budding-romance category, which was silly, frankly, because she's married to Arthur? I know it's explained that he was gone all the time and that's why she KISSED another knight? His nephew, nonetheless, if you can believe it. But, still, even if she was seriously lonely, the whole dang time she was going on and on and on about her duty to Merlin and Camelot and the future and all that. Just for her to kiss another knight? Because she feels a literal physical spark every time she touches him? Let me just tell you, I got zero butterflies from this pairing. I was shocked when it was even presented that way. I didn't see it as a romantic thing until it was blatantly stated, and even then I was like "I thought the whole point was that this girl doesn't need a partner besides Arthur?" There was no badass-queen Guinevere the witch happening in this book. (I'll get into that.) Originally, the tense atmosphere was partially enough, though I wanted more. But then the tense atmosphere was gone, because everyone was suddenly very in-and-involved with secret Guinevere's magic wielding? When the whole circle knows what's up, you don't feel that tension anymore, which, for a story with no real character development, is kind of the only thing it has going on.
I could go on about this, but it's just. not. worth it.
My second gripe with this book was the perspective it was told from. Guinevere (or, fake Guinevere) has a staggeringly boring inner monologue. I would say it brings to mind Twilight's Bella-monologue, but even that is at least campy. No, really it brings to mind Hush Hush's inner monologue. Which, if you're familiar with Hush Hush, is a little tragic. Guinevere thinks about approximately 3 things total, and none of it is particularly interesting. There are multiple times throughout the book where she is saved, needs to be saved, faints, is completely helpless, is captured, etc. Every time she meets a problem, she cries for a man or thinks about how she desperately wishes a man were there. Girl, you know magic! It's even hinted to her by that knight she kissed that she's way more powerful than she remembers being (due to an amnesia that is never really explained except for 'Merlin Did It!') So why on earth is she crying for a men that don't know magic???
My third problem would be kind of a combo of what I've already written, which is just that the 'feminism' tries so hard to be prominent and self sustaining in a way, but it just fell flat. That's because they never had it really ingrained into the plot. They just felt the need to mention that it was a thing a million times.
Also, as many other readers have mentioned, the writing and dialogue uses words that weren't even invented at this time period. The book really didn't even feel like it was in the time period it was supposed to be in. It felt like a YA romance adaptation of medieval times, which was a combination that did not sit right with me. Bummer, because it had a lot of potential. Don't think I'll read the second or third one unless theyre really different.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No