You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very fun, definitely YA but really enjoyable and still intriguing. Definitely reading the others. The world building could be better but still sets the scene and the characters up enough.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
TL;DR: A retelling that forgets to enchant. Flat characters, slow pacing, and a plot that hides too much too long. The ending was engaging, but it’s not enough to save the whole tale.
Full Review:
I usually enjoy stories based on Arthurian mythology. I mean... swords, secrets, sorcery? I’m in. But The Guinevere Deception felt like a retelling that forgot to cast its spell.
From the start, the premise had promise: a witch sent by Merlin to protect Arthur? Yes, please. But the execution... Not quite. The story drags, holding back its cards for so long that suspense turns into indifference. I kept waiting for the hook, that “a-ha!” moment, but Guinevere mostly just wandered. Her mission was too vague, the stakes too soft, and the pacing too slow to spark real investment.
And the characters were bland across the board. I couldn’t connect with Guinevere, and Arthur, supposedly the central figure, barely left an impression. Mordred was somewhat intriguing. The dialogue, which sometimes felt anachronistic, didn’t help either; I couldn’t shake the feeling that the setting wasn’t anchored in any real time or place.
The ending finally brought energy and drama. The kind of urgency and surprise I’d been craving all along. But after slogging through so much buildup, it felt like a last-minute apology I wasn’t invested in accepting.
I won’t be continuing the series, but I’m not mad I gave it a shot. Just a little disappointed it didn’t live up to its magical roots.
Full Review:
I usually enjoy stories based on Arthurian mythology. I mean... swords, secrets, sorcery? I’m in. But The Guinevere Deception felt like a retelling that forgot to cast its spell.
From the start, the premise had promise: a witch sent by Merlin to protect Arthur? Yes, please. But the execution... Not quite. The story drags, holding back its cards for so long that suspense turns into indifference. I kept waiting for the hook, that “a-ha!” moment, but Guinevere mostly just wandered. Her mission was too vague, the stakes too soft, and the pacing too slow to spark real investment.
And the characters were bland across the board. I couldn’t connect with Guinevere, and Arthur, supposedly the central figure, barely left an impression. Mordred was somewhat intriguing. The dialogue, which sometimes felt anachronistic, didn’t help either; I couldn’t shake the feeling that the setting wasn’t anchored in any real time or place.
The ending finally brought energy and drama. The kind of urgency and surprise I’d been craving all along. But after slogging through so much buildup, it felt like a last-minute apology I wasn’t invested in accepting.
I won’t be continuing the series, but I’m not mad I gave it a shot. Just a little disappointed it didn’t live up to its magical roots.
Couldn’t Put It Down
I have been reading Arthurian books since middle school, when my dad gave me Hawk of May, by Gillian Bradshaw, to read. So, when I saw this book I was intrigued. It did not disappoint. I really liked the writing and story telling.
I have been reading Arthurian books since middle school, when my dad gave me Hawk of May, by Gillian Bradshaw, to read. So, when I saw this book I was intrigued. It did not disappoint. I really liked the writing and story telling.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such a fun read. Really well done, the setting, characters and plot all fit really well together to transport you to a world that feels surprisingly grounded and real. Bits of humour, and the moments of action were exciting and fun.
I originally rated this 4 stars back in 2021 and felt a bit underwhelmed by Guinevere as a character. But after rereading it now… I have to admit, she surprised me. Her strength is quieter, more internal than I gave her credit for the first time around, and I appreciated her arc a lot more this time. She's thoughtful, conflicted, and dealing with a lot, and I liked watching her wrestle with identity and power.
Still not a perfect book—the pacing has its slow moments, and some of the Arthurian elements feel like background dressing, but the writing and clever twists kept me hooked again. And yes, I still want way more of Lancelot.
Glad I gave it a second chance. Sometimes characters just need time to grow on you... or maybe I just needed to grow into them.
Still not a perfect book—the pacing has its slow moments, and some of the Arthurian elements feel like background dressing, but the writing and clever twists kept me hooked again. And yes, I still want way more of Lancelot.
Glad I gave it a second chance. Sometimes characters just need time to grow on you... or maybe I just needed to grow into them.
I know this one is super polarizing, either people love it or hate it. There's no in-between. However, I enjoyed the tar out of it. I am a genuine sucker for a good King Arthur retelling and this hit right in the feels. The romance was a good, but light subplot which I personally like. The retelling of the characters were entertaining. This had a fresh plot which is something I feel is desperately needed right now. I'm a sucker for a strong, smart female lead and this hit right on the mark. I definitely plan on continuing with the series in the future.
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.
Excellent! So creative and imaginative! Suspenseful! Can't wait for the sequels!
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I liked this one. It was an I treating take on King Arthur. I liked the characters and the magic. I liked seeing Guinevere figure out why she is there. Very interesting twists.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes